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 23

(Ah… How infuriating. Just what is going on here!)

Iama stood in a corner of the Einhorn family mansion. The place that had once been Otilie’s private room. Scattered across the floor were pillows and sheets shredded to ribbons by a knife, along with scattered feathers.

It had been nearly a week since her younger sister Otilie was taken away by Crown Prince Varick.

According to their father, Otilie had apparently been hired as Varick’s aide and was working at the castle. Being a royal aide meant being among the elite of the elite among civil officials. It practically guaranteed future success. She’d heard that even among the renowned Einhorn family, very few had ever attained the position of royal aide.

(And yet, that child became His Highness Varick’s aide?! Impossible. There’s no way she could handle it.)

Iama had given Otilie nothing. She’d driven her into a situation where she couldn’t even get proper meals, denied her the affection and mercy of their father and the servants, and even stole her opportunities for education by charming the tutors away. Because of that, Otilie couldn’t even hold a proper conversation with anyone. Iama couldn’t imagine such a failure being of any use.

But contrary to Iama’s expectation that she’d return soon anyway, Otilie was still at the royal palace.

(No… This must be some kind of mistake.)

Mistakes needed to be corrected. —Or rather, Iama’s anger wouldn’t subside if things stayed like this.

Iama went down the stairs and called out to one of the servants.

“Hey, you. Go to the castle and bring Otilie back.”

“To the castle? But would they even receive someone like me?”

“Don’t you understand what I said? Bring her back.”

Whether it was possible or not, what methods to use—none of that mattered. Iama only wanted results. She clicked her tongue mentally, telling them not to ask such pointless questions.

“Ah, Lady Iama… As you command.”

When stared at by Iama, the servant’s cheeks flushed bright red, their eyes becoming dreamy and unfocused.

(Yes. This is it. This is the proper reaction.)

Iama’s pride and desire for self-assertion, which had been shredded by Varick, were being satisfied.

(Just you wait and see.)

Iama glared in the direction of the royal capital and forcefully swung down the knife in her hand.

(Dolling up… What does dolling up mean?)

On the morning of her first day off, Otilie was staring intently at herself in the mirror.

Varick had invited her to go out into the city yesterday. Since finishing work, she’d been continuously thinking about what kind of outfit would be appropriate, but no good ideas had come to mind.

‘Since it’s a special date, make sure to doll up for me. …I’m looking forward to it.’

(He asked me like that, so I absolutely can’t wear something sloppy.)

“Excuse me… Oh, you’re up early even on your day off. Good morning, Lady Otilie.”

The door to the room slid open quietly, and Karan peeked her head in.

“Karan! But today’s your day off…?”

Even maids needed days off. She’d thought she’d handle things herself today, at least.

“It’s your first weekend, Lady Otilie. You must be tired? I thought I might be of some help.”

[Besides, you seemed a bit off last night, so I was worried.]

Karan smiled as she said this, and to Otilie, she looked like nothing less than a goddess right now. Otilie immediately launched into her request with “In that case…!”

“I’m going out into the city this afternoon. But I don’t know what kind of dress I should wear.”

“My! If that’s the case, please don’t hesitate to rely on me. That’s what I’m here for.”

Thump! Karan patted her chest, her eyes sparkling. Otilie nodded repeatedly.

“By the way, are you going out alone? Or will you be accompanying someone?”

“Huh? Um…”

[Ah, this reaction means it’s a date. Who knew Lady Otilie had it in her?]

Before Otilie could reply, Karan had already reached her conclusion. Otilie turned completely red from embarrassment.

(A date… Lord Varick must just be teasing me, right?)

After spending several days together, she’d realized that Varick tended to enjoy watching her reactions. Perhaps for someone of royal blood like him, the definition of a date was different from ordinary people. But—

‘Make sure to doll up for me. …I’m looking forward to it.’

Otilie shook off her distracting thoughts and turned back to face herself in the mirror.

Whatever the truth might be, Varick had specifically requested this. She told herself she ought to properly fulfill his order.

“Hey, what kind of outfit should I wear at times like this? And what about makeup, hairstyle…?”

“Let me see… Do you know your companion’s preferences?”

“Preferences…”

She remembered what Airny had told her: ‘Lord Varick prefers lovely women like you, so it’s good that you’re not wearing something that tries too hard.’

“He apparently likes cute styles.”

“I see… By the way, is it someone from the same department?”

“Huh?”

Same department—well, he was her superior, but it was probably better not to say she was going out with Varick. Otilie simply replied, “Yes.”

“In that case, let’s aim for a slightly different impression than on work days.”

“A slightly different impression…?”

What kind of feeling was that supposed to be? Before Otilie, who wasn’t quite following, could understand, Karan was already expanding the image in her mind.

[I think gap moe is important. Lady Otilie really suits that pure, model student type, and she emphasizes that fully during work, but since she’s going out specially, maybe something like a little devilish style… a sweet and spicy mix? We could choose slightly bolder lipstick and eyeshadow than usual, and for the dress—I picked out some cute ones with slightly different vibes for occasions like this. I’ve been wanting to try curling her hair too.]

An image of herself with a different atmosphere than usual surfaced in Otilie’s mind.

Her heart pounding, Otilie entrusted herself to Karan.