You’ll Regret Stealing Him from Me — My Sister Who Took My Fiancé and Celebrated Was a Fool - Chapter 1

“Seraphina, I am breaking off our engagement.”

“Um… Could we discuss this later?”

My fiancé, Lord Roderick Vandering. His sudden declaration made me involuntarily voice my confusion.

The venue of the social party was bathed in the glow of dazzling chandeliers. The clinking of custom-made glasses in a toast, the refined rustling of silk dresses, the sophisticated laughter of nobles. It was a night where the most distinguished aristocrats of the kingdom gathered to dance elegant waltzes. A space adorned with splendor.

To announce the dissolution of an engagement on such a grand stage, at a party hosted by none other than the host himself, was unprecedented.

The host of tonight’s party was my fiancé, Roderick—the eldest son of the ducal house, a man with an impeccable title.

The one actually orchestrating the social party was me, Seraphina Altvier. The preparations for tonight’s event, which I had been working on for months, were meant to be a crucial stage to elevate his reputation.

As his fiancée, I wanted to support him. That was why I had poured my heart into analyzing the guests’ tastes, overseeing everything from menu selection to music arrangements and venue decorations. The party was proceeding flawlessly. No, had been proceeding exactly according to the meticulously crafted schedule I had checked over and over again.

Lord Roderick, though impeccable as an aristocrat, was not particularly skilled in the finer details of managing social gatherings. That was precisely why I, his fiancée, renowned in this field, was here to support him.

I had made sure to assign him tasks with minimal influence or responsibility, allowing him to feel a sense of fulfillment. Greeting guests at the entrance, paying respects to important attendees. I had arranged it all so that Lord Roderick could enjoy the satisfaction befitting a host.

All of this because I genuinely loved directing and managing social parties.

Since my youth, I had built up experience, taking pride in sparking small revolutions in high society with fresh ideas. Seasonal-themed parties, dinner parties featuring foreign cuisine, concerts by up-and-coming musicians. Each one was my brainchild, each one a success. That was why I was truly grateful for this opportunity. I had been excited.

The Vandering ducal house’s party. A glance at tonight’s guest list would tell you; royal relatives, ambassadors from various nations, heads of the kingdom’s foremost merchant families.

If even one of these esteemed guests were to take offense, Lord Roderick’s reputation would suffer. And yet, he intended to cause trouble here, of all places?

The noble guests were watching us. I could hear their hushed whispers. The attention was palpable. Ladies hiding their faces behind fans, gentlemen clearing their throats conspicuously. Right now, all I wanted was to focus on the party.

“So, you’re just going to brush this off? Running away from the conversation?”

“Running away? That’s not my intention. But right now, our priority should be the guests.”

“Priority? You think a vile woman like you has any right to speak of priorities?!”

His voice grew louder. The music in the venue stopped. The dancing nobles paused and turned to look. The entire hall might have heard. There was no salvaging this now. This was the worst possible outcome.

“Please, think about what should take precedence right now.”

All I wanted was for him not to cause trouble. Months of preparation for this party were about to be ruined by his words. Every ounce of effort I had put in, trying to ensure nothing went awry. All of it was about to go down the drain.

I could feel frustration threatening to show on my face, but I forced it down, maintaining a gracious smile. My mother’s words echoed in my mind: “A noble lady must never lose her elegance, no matter the circumstances.” Especially not when people were watching.

Ignoring my concern, he charged ahead. Puffing out his chest as if playing the righteous hero, he declared:

“This is what should take precedence, Seraphina! You’ve been stealing the credit for party management from your own sister, Isabella! The truth is, you’re nothing but a despicable fraud, an absolute villain!”

“…Excuse me?”

His voice boomed loud enough for everyone to hear. The room buzzed with murmurs. The word “villain” echoed through the hall. Ladies exchanged glances, gentlemen frowned. Oh, this was it, wasn’t it? The reputation I had worked so hard to build was being torn apart. My spirits sank.

Baseless accusations. What did he mean, stealing credit for party management? The countless successful social parties I had planned and executed. Was he claiming they were lies? That the honor should have gone to Isabella instead?

Of course, my sister was involved. Just as I expected. The same old pattern.

I was sick of it. My relationship with my sister had always been strained. Since childhood, she had coveted my belongings, stolen my friends, and tried to take credit for my achievements. Knowing she thrived on reactions, I had avoided engaging with her as much as possible. I thought she had quieted down lately, but it seemed she had been preparing this grand scheme all along.

“We can discuss the details in private later. For now, shouldn’t we prioritize our guests?”

“No, we settle this here and now. Let everyone hear just how terrible you’ve been!”

Roderick’s eyes burned with excitement, as if he fancied himself a righteous knight exposing evil. I had never realized he could be this foolish. Destroying the very party I had poured my heart into preparing for his sake.

The party was beyond salvaging now. In my heart, I apologized profusely to the noble guests I had so carefully invited. The debut of the new dessert Baroness Hamilton had been looking forward to, the musical performance Count Monteverdi had been eager to hear—all ruined. Later, I would have to make amends in countless ways: personal visits, apology letters, perhaps even gifts. What a mess.

At the same time, I could feel anger rising. To make such absurd accusations at this moment, in this place after months of preparation, after all the effort I had put into this party for his sake. If this was my sister’s goal, then she had succeeded brilliantly. Oh yes, truly. To destroy everything, I had built in an instant. What a masterstroke? I truly resented that she was family.

Just what had my sister Isabella whispered into his ear?