You’ll Regret Stealing Him from Me — My Sister Who Took My Fiancé and Celebrated Was a Fool - Chapter 19

Several days had passed since I arrived at the Liebenfeld household.

After finishing breakfast, I secluded myself in the study, poring over documents about the Liebenfeld family. Historical records detailing the achievements of successive heads of the family, military exploits, records of exchanges with closely connected noble houses. Piled high on the desk were the materials Lord Maximilian and Lady Eleonora had prepared for me.

I read through each one carefully, taking notes as I went. As I traced the words, I marked important sections and drew lines connecting related pieces of information. Simply reading wasn’t enough to commit things to memory. Writing them down, organizing them, systematizing them that was my method.

The founder of the Liebenfeld family had been a hero during the kingdom’s founding. In an era when the kingdom was still just a small nation, the first head of the family had defended it from invasions by neighboring countries. His valor and strategic insight were still featured in military textbooks today.

Successive heads of the family had achieved numerous feats on the battlefield. Battles against northern barbarians, border conflicts with the eastern empire, pirate suppression in southern waters. In every era, the Liebenfeld name had been etched into history. And it wasn’t just about fighting. Protecting the people, valuing soldiers, avoiding unnecessary sacrifices such descriptions were scattered throughout the records.

The family had earned deep trust from the royal family and had repeatedly saved the kingdom from crises. Particularly striking was the story of the head three generations prior, who had protected a young crown prince from a rebellion. His life-risking display of loyalty was still recounted today.

Moreover, the Liebenfelds were among the most historically significant and influential military noble houses. They enjoyed the trust of other military nobles and were seen as central figures capable of uniting them in times of need.

I meticulously listed the names of closely connected noble families. Military ties, battlefield alliances, generational friendships trying my best to organize the complex web of relationships and commit them to memory.

To ensure the success of a social gathering, understanding the backgrounds of the attendees was essential. Who was on good terms with whom? Which houses were in conflict? What achievements did each person have? What topics did they favor? Without grasping such information, I couldn’t arrange proper seating or choose appropriate conversation topics. Such failures had to be avoided at all costs.

My neatly organized notes already spanned dozens of pages. The names of military noble families close to the Liebenfelds, their heads, major achievements, family structures. I recorded everything in as much detail as possible. Though I hadn’t met these people yet, my notes painted a rough picture of each.

“Lady Seraphina, you’re so diligent.”

Hearing the voice, I looked up to see Lady Eleonora standing at the study’s entrance, watching me with a gentle smile.

“Ah, Lady Eleonora!”

I hurriedly tried to stand, but she waved her hand to stop me.

“Please, remain seated. I hope I’m not interrupting your studies.”

“Not at all. I was just about to take a short break.”

It wasn’t a lie. I was indeed a little tired. I had been reading nonstop since breakfast, and my eyes were strained. My shoulders were stiff, too. But when engrossed in something, such fatigue tended to fade into the background. Before I knew it, it was nearly noon.

Lady Eleonora sat beside me and peered at the notebook on the desk. Her eyes widened slightly.

“My such thorough work.”

Her voice carried surprise. My notes contained meticulously organized information about the Liebenfeld family.

“Yes. I want to properly meet Lord Maximilian’s expectations of me.”

It was the truth. Lord Maximilian had engaged me for my knowledge and experience in social gatherings. To live up to his expectations, I needed to deeply understand the Liebenfeld family and the nobles connected to them. Not just superficially, but down to the core.

“Thank you, Lady Seraphina.”

Her sudden gratitude caught me off guard.

“I’m truly happy you’re taking the Liebenfelds so seriously.”

“But please, don’t overwork yourself. If you ruin your health, it defeats the purpose.”

Her words were so kind that resisting the urge to lean into that warmth was difficult.

“I’ll be fine. I’m enjoying the reading.”

I smiled as I answered. That, too, was true. Though tiring, it wasn’t painful. Rather, acquiring new knowledge was enjoyable. The more I learned about the Liebenfelds, the more I understood their greatness.

“The Liebenfeld history is fascinating. Generation after generation, they’ve protected the kingdom. Their battlefield achievements are remarkable, and the royal family’s trust in them runs deep.”

I shared my genuine impressions.

“And it’s not just about fighting. They protect the people, value their soldiers. Such accounts are everywhere. They possess not just strength, but kindness, too. I’ve come to see just how proud a lineage this is.”

“Oh…”

Lady Eleonora’s eyes grew moist with warmth.

“Maximilian truly made the right choice in selecting you. Having someone like you join our family makes me so happy.”

Her words warmed my chest. I was being acknowledged. Accepted. That realization seeped slowly into my heart.

And so, I could strive even harder. I wanted to be of use to this family. I wanted to meet Lord Maximilian’s expectations. That was what I truly felt.

“Thank you, Lady Eleonora.”

I bowed my head with heartfelt gratitude. Words alone couldn’t express how happy I was.

As my morning studies reached a stopping point, Lord Maximilian visited the study. In his military uniform, he looked as dignified as ever, though slightly weary. He must have just returned from a meeting at the palace. A busy man, indeed.

“Seraphina, do you have a moment?”

“Of course.”

I quickly tidied the materials. Lord Maximilian sat across from me, his expression serious as he spoke.

“I’d like to discuss our future activities.”

“I’m listening.”

I straightened my back and waited for his words. His deep blue-gray eyes gazed straight at me, filled with expectation and trust.

“As the Liebenfelds, I want to increase our presence in high society. As I mentioned before, your knowledge and experience will be crucial for that.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“So, I’d like to hear your thoughts on how we should proceed.”

Lord Maximilian’s words were always concise and straightforward. No wasted breath, only what needed to be said. It felt very military-like and made me slightly nervous. I had to choose my words carefully.

After a moment’s thought, I answered cautiously yet candidly.

“First, I’d like to attend parties hosted by military nobles to understand the reality.”

“The reality?”

Lord Maximilian looked mildly surprised.

“I doubt there’s much for you to learn by attending those.”

His tone carried a hint of humility. No, not humility perhaps low self-esteem. He seemed to accept that military noble gatherings were inferior to those of civil nobles.

“No.”

I shook my head firmly.

“I’ve never attended military noble gatherings and don’t know much about them. Pretending to know what I don’t would be foolish.”

Lord Maximilian’s eyes widened slightly. In them flickered surprise and something else. Admiration? Or perhaps relief?

“I see. Pretending to know what you don’t is foolish, is it?”

He seemed to ponder this before nodding approvingly.

“Pretending to know what you don’t is foolish. Exactly right. On the battlefield, such pretense gets you killed. Not knowing the terrain, the enemy’s strength, the weather making plans while hiding such ignorance guarantees failure.”

His voice carried the weight of experience.

“True, that’s important. So, it’s the same in high society?”

“Yes. If anything, it’s even more crucial there.”

I answered earnestly.

“Sending invitations without knowing attendees’ backgrounds might place adversaries at the same table. Choosing dishes without understanding guests’ preferences could cause offense. Acting without knowledge is a shortcut to failure.”

Lord Maximilian nodded solemnly, listening intently to every word.

Lord Roderick had dismissed such concerns. No matter how thoroughly I explained party preparations, he’d brush it off. “No need to sweat the small stuff,” he’d say. “Don’t be so uptight.”

But the small stuff mattered most. The accumulation of tiny considerations determined a party’s quality. Thoughtfulness toward each guest separated success from failure.

“I see.”

Lord Maximilian nodded deeply.

“Then let’s attend a military noble gathering soon. I want you to experience the atmosphere firsthand. See everything with your own eyes then give me your honest opinion. The good and the bad.”

“Thank you. I’d love to.”

I smiled, delighted. Lord Maximilian respected my opinions. Treated me as an equal. This dynamic felt wonderfully comfortable.

He listened seriously to me. Sought my input. Respected me. And trusted my judgment.

“Also…”

Lord Maximilian continued with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask. Military noble customs, unique cultural aspects. Things that seem obvious to us might be unfamiliar to you.”

“Yes. I’ll take you up on that.”

His consideration made me incredibly happy. He didn’t see my lack of knowledge as shameful. Rather, he valued my willingness to learn.

He listened seriously to me. Sought my input. Respected me.

With him, I could build a relationship of mutual trust. That conviction grew steadily within me.