The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

59 – Family is Precious

Rosheri Petter clenched her teeth the moment she saw Eko getting off the carriage.

She wondered why Eko was accompanying the Rumanel Family members. Moreover, the always stoic Glen was escorting Eko with a warm smile, which was also inexplicable.

Rosheri’s emotions were understandable. She had no idea about Eko’s whereabouts.

In the past, when Harute and Elphia visited the Petter estate to discuss Eko’s situation, Rosheri was not present. The lord and lady of the estate had dismissed everyone, leaving no room for Rosheri to intervene.

Even after the discussion ended, the lord and lady didn’t bother to inform Rosheri of the outcome. They simply sent Eko away to a distant place.

Rosheri had let it go.

It was better for the unwanted presence to disappear somewhere. Although Rosheri was still young, she knew very well how serious a family’s bloodline was.

For her own future, it was fortunate that she didn’t have a blind sister like that.

As she was enjoying the fresh air of the hunting grounds…

“Are you not dizzy?”

“Not at all. Now that I can see, even just looking out the window makes time fly by.”

“It still doesn’t look that clear to me.”

“But if you get really close, the outline becomes visible. I think it’ll get even better in the future, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Eko chuckled.

The sister who had always been surrounded by a strong, pungent smell and kept her eyes closed was now gazing at her conversation partner with a bright, golden eye.

‘Just for a moment… What if she introduces herself as our family?’

A sense of crisis suddenly washed over her like a massive wave.

It was unlikely that her defect had completely disappeared during that time. Then, Eko’s single phrase could determine her own life.

She had to take action.

Rosheri decided on a proactive strategy.

The opportunity came sooner than expected.

While the others were away attending to their own matters, Eko was left alone, guarding her seat.

Rosheri snuck a glance and entered the tent where Eko was sitting.

Ssh.

As the entrance flap opened, Eko responded.

“Tina? Is the table with cookies nearby?”

“Haha, it seems your eyes haven’t recovered after all.”

“This voice is…”

Eko didn’t need to search far for an answer. Because the voice of the girl coming from directly in front of her had been etched in her memory for a long time.

“Rochelle…?”

“You remember well. You’ve never seen my face, yet you talk like you know me.”

Rochelle’s words were harsh, trying to provoke Eko. It was a habitual tone she used in front of Eko, but Eko’s reaction was unexpectedly different from her usual habits.

“What’s it to you? This is our tent. Just leave quickly.”

“… What?”

Rochelle was taken aback, doubting her own ears.

Eko’s sudden change in demeanor was unprecedented. The proud Rochelle was momentarily lost for words…

“… Ha, I don’t want to talk to you either, you stink of perfume. I just came to give you some advice.”

“Advice?”

“Yes, advice.”

Rochelle approached Eko, her hostility palpable.

“You, don’t think you can just mention our family name and get away with it. I don’t know how you ended up here, but that’s all in the past. Got it?”

It was no longer Eko’s concern whether my sister harbored hostility or not. Moreover, it was absurd to think that Eko would dare to mention our family name.

“I won’t do that, don’t worry. Never.”

“… Don’t say that twice.”

“I don’t lie like you do.”

“You?”

Rochelle could have backed down, but Eko’s attitude annoyed her. The memories of her obedient younger sister kept flashing before her eyes, making it hard for Rochelle to back down.

“You’re crazy? How did you get involved with the ducal family, anyway? You’re not even worthy of being a servant with those eyes.”

“I’m not blind. I’ll be fully recovered by next year.”

“Who said that? If that were true, our parents would have solved it long ago!”

“The saint said so. This isn’t a disease; it’s just… So everything you’re saying is wrong.”

Rochelle sneered.

A saint?

Sometimes, a revered figure would appear at national events. It was absurd to think that Eko was connected to such a saint.

“You know Glen won’t believe you, right? You’re just a liar.”

“It’s not a lie, but even if it were, it wouldn’t matter. Glen will believe everything I say. You don’t know, but Glen is really kind.”

“Ugh, Eko…!”

Rochelle recalled the past.

She had always been patient and approached Glen with caution, but Glen had never given her the time of day. It was strange that Glen had shown kindness to Eko, even offering her an escort from the carriage.

Back then, she thought Glen was just setting an example as the successor to the Cardi family.

“Could it be… really? That cold Glen showed a different side to this wretched person?”

As a family that had grown through marriage, Rochelle had been indoctrinated with the importance of marital relationships. Therefore, it was hard for her to accept Eko, who seemed to have effortlessly won over a superior man.

The name of the emotion she felt was inferiority.

It was as if her younger sister, whom she had always looked down upon, had stolen both her crush and her future.

“You dare…!”

Rochelle raised her hand. Until that moment, Eko didn’t notice, only sensing that Rochelle was making some kind of gesture.

Just then…

“Eko! I’m here. Look at this? The smell is amazing! There are so many delicious cookies… Ah?”

A girl opened the tent flap.

The girl with fiery red hair tied in two ponytails was blinking her bright blue eyes like the weather today.

It was Tina.

Tina still didn’t catch on to the situation at this point, so she casually greeted Rosalie.

“Huh? Rosalie? Hi! It’s been ages.”

“… Hi.”

Rosalie, with a stiff expression, maintained her posture and responded with a slight bow. Tina then asked with a cheerful tone.

“What were you doing? Your hand is in a weird position.”

“It’s nothing…”

Rosalie was about to quickly withdraw her hand when Echo questioned her in a voice tinged with anger.

“Rosalie… were you going to hit me just now?”

“… What?”

“Do you still think this is your house? Are you going to lock me up in the attic like you used to?”

“You, you…! What are you even talking about right now?!”

“What am I talking about? I’m telling the truth. I’m not like you, who can’t stop lying.”

The atmosphere reversed in an instant. Even Tina, with her innocent and pure heart, quickly grasped the awkwardness of Rosalie’s actions and Echo’s accusations.

“Did you try to hit Echo? And what’s with the attic thing?”

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“Uh…”

Rosalie’s body trembled at Tina’s changed attitude.

Tina didn’t know about Echo’s past; she only knew that there was a reason she had to rely on someone.

“Get out, Rosalie.”

Tina’s bright blue eyes glared at Rosalie threateningly.

Tina, who had always left a cute impression, now had an unfamiliar, intimidating gaze.

It was as if she had a fierce beast right in front of her, its claws unsheathed.

Rosalie, who had become frightened, didn’t say a word and quickly exited the tent.

Whoosh!

The entrance flapped open as Rosalie rushed out.

“Ah…”

Rosalie let out a frustrated sigh.

It was because she had discovered a boy of the same age standing by the entrance, waiting quietly.

It was Glen, who had been trying to get a hold of Rosalie’s identity.

Shame and humiliation surged up like a geyser.

“Rosalie Peter Young.”

“…”

“I don’t like being called ‘young lady.’ It’s uncomfortable when people address me with titles. The principal taught me not to do that.”

“What’s wrong with that? I’m a noble, so I can say whatever I want!”

“No, you can’t.”

Glen firmly denied Rosalie’s thoughts.

No one had the right to treat others with disrespect, which Glen had learned through Hart. Hart, who had the power to destroy humanity with a single thought, yet always humbled himself.

Glen had always admired Hart’s heart, which was gentle and kind, treating everyone with affection without discrimination.

He wanted to emulate Hart’s heart, which could move mountains.

“‘Authority isn’t a right that can be taken lightly.'”

“Glen said, still not a noble, so he talks like that. You’ll probably think differently later too, right?”

“It won’t change. Even if it does, there’s one thing that will never change.”

“What…”

Roshe’s expression turned gloomy, asking in a low voice. Glen had complete confidence in his own logic, so he felt a sense of injustice. Therefore, Glen spoke the truth he had learned over the past year.

It was a truth that stood at the opposite end of Roshe’s logic.

“No matter the situation, family is precious. That’s all.”

Roshe, who saw family as a means to an end, might not be able to empathize. But Glen had no intention of persuading or educating Roshe.

Glen knew what a tangled relationship was like, just like the case with Tina and her biological mother. He knew that there were relationships that couldn’t be reversed.

Glen didn’t want to share any more pain, so he bid Roshe farewell.

“Let’s keep today’s incident a secret. So, please don’t approach Eco from now on.”

“… Why are you being so kind to Eco? She’s not even prettier than me, and she’s not even family…”

“She is family.”

Glen declared resolutely.

“Maybe someday…”

The handsome young man, who looked particularly radiant today, smiled faintly.

Roshe sensed a deep sense of defeat. He didn’t want to hear the next words, but Glen continued to speak with his ideal, handsome appearance.

“Maybe I can become even more real than I am now.”