My Life Was Taken by My Charm-Wielding Sister—But It Ends Here (The Mind-Reading Noble Lady’s Journey to Happiness After Escaping Her Toxic Family) - Episode 2

The day after that incident, Otilie was summoned by her father. Apparently, he wanted to “have a talk” and requested she join him for a meal.

(Dining with Father, huh…)

Her heart felt heavy. She couldn’t find any joy in it at all. Compared to being able to have meals two days in a row, the mental strain of having to talk with her father and her sister Iama was far greater.

(What could he possibly want to say to me? …What must he be thinking of me?)

Just imagining it made her body feel as heavy as lead. Even so, Otilie descended to the dining hall at the appointed time.

“Oh my, what a surprise. So, you’re still alive, Otilie? I hadn’t seen you for days, so I thought you might have collapsed and died in your room.”

The moment she saw Otilie, her sister Iama spoke those words. After letting out a cheerful giggle, she muttered softly, “Just kidding.”

[It would’ve been better if you had died, though.]

Immediately after, that inner voice reached her. Even though Iama knew Otilie could hear it. Forcing a vague smile, Otilie took a seat at the vacant chair.

“Having you join us makes the meal taste bad, you know. It’s so dreary. It feels like the dining hall gets all damp and gloomy.”

“…I’m aware.”

That was precisely why Otilie made a point of taking her meals in her own room. Iama knew that circumstance perfectly well. Knowing it, she deliberately put it into words, inflicting emotional wounds on Otilie.

Just then, their father entered the dining hall.

“Father!”

Iama rushed over to him. As Iama smiled and said, “I missed you,” their father gently embraced her.

“Ah, Iama! You’re still the cutest in the world today.”

Saying this, their father slowly turned toward Otilie.

[Compared to that, look at Otilie. No trace of cuteness no matter when you see her. Can’t even manage a proper greeting to her father? You good-for-nothing.]

The air grew tense. Having completely missed the timing for a greeting, Otilie timidly bowed her head and said, “It’s been a while, Father.” Her father snorted dismissively. Watching the two of them, Iama smirked and lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Hey, why did you invite Otilie to the meal? Couldn’t we have dined together just the two of us, like always?”

“Sorry, Iama. Of course, I’d prefer to have a meal with just you too. But I had something to discuss with Otilie.”

“Discuss what?”

After seating Iama, their father began speaking deliberately.

“Soon, there will be a party at the royal palace. It’s been decided that Otilie will be brought along as well.”

“Huh…?”

“Otilie too? And to a royal palace party? Why, all of a sudden?”

Until now, only Iama had been allowed to attend evening parties. Otilie had never been given even a single dress suitable for such occasions, and her very existence had been nearly forgotten within the mansion. Neither Iama nor Otilie had ever expected a day would come when she would be invited like this.

“My cousin—Her Majesty the Queen—has expressed a desire to meet Otilie. We can’t possibly refuse, can we?”

“Her Majesty the Queen? That’s the reason?”

Realizing that their father had no active desire to include Otilie, Iama softened her attitude just a little. However, she soon let out an exaggerated sigh.

“But that’s a problem, isn’t it? Because Otilie was so incompetent and lazy that all her tutors ran away, she hasn’t received a proper education, right? Her manners are lacking, her appearance is poor. Won’t she be ridiculed as disgraceful by the other nobles?”

Iama said that, but the tutors hadn’t left because Otilie was incompetent. It was none other than Iama herself who had charmed them and made them do her bidding. Otilie had no way of knowing that, though.

“More importantly, why would Her Majesty want to meet someone like Otilie? …Instead of me? I don’t understand.”

“Your point is valid, and I don’t know the Queen’s reason for wanting to meet Otilie either. But we cannot refuse the request. Starting tomorrow, we’ll assign a tutor to Otilie. We’ll have to fix up her appearance to some extent as well.”

“Eh? But Father, that would mean…”

“Think nothing of it. Just consider Otilie as your foil. It’s said that His Highness the Crown Prince will also attend this evening party, so it’s the perfect opportunity, isn’t it?”

“Oh my, Lord Varick!?”

Saying this, Iama’s cheeks flushed bright red.

Crown Prince Varick was a seventeen-year-old youth renowned for his handsome looks and brilliant intellect. However, he rarely made appearances at evening parties and other such events, so Iama and other young ladies had been waiting for a chance to meet him.

“If we don’t bring Otilie, out of consideration for the Queen, neither I nor Iama can attend the evening party. By enduring this just for a little while, you’ll gain a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It would be foolish not to take advantage of it, wouldn’t it?”

Iama was aiming for the position of Varick’s consort. There were rumors that the royal family had begun selecting his marriage partner, but for now, it remained just a rumor. In other words, all the young ladies were still on equal footing—in a level playing field. In that case, approaching Varick himself was the quickest method.

However, no matter how beautiful and charming Iama was, she couldn’t charm someone she had no opportunity to meet. In short, she absolutely had to attend this evening party no matter what.

“Well, given the circumstances, I suppose there’s no helping it just this once. As you say, Father, I’ll have Otilie act as my foil.”

Saying this, Iama chuckled lightly.

(I really don’t want to go.)

Thinking this, Otilie secretly sighed.