The Precious Sister of The Villainous Grand Duke

“How could you say such arrogant words?!”

Ollier wheezed in indignance at the words I said. 

“That attitude is far from a lady’s virtue, Princess! That is rude!”

“Oh my, I was just joking. Aren’t you too serious?” 

I looked around nervously as if I couldn’t understand why Ollier was angry. A lady of Ollier’s age opened her mouth as if to criticize her. 

“Ollier, why are getting angry like that? Besides, she’s right.”

“That’s true. Of course, the center of the Northern society would be the Princess of Lagrange.”

When even the young ladies around didn’t take her side, Ollier bit her lips. 

“....It wasn’t a while ago when you asked me to get you a dress that’s trending in the capital!”

I fluttered my frilled dress in front of her and smiled. A few young ladies approached me as if seduced by my appearance. 

“Did I do that? But the Princess’ dress is prettier.”

I showed the lining of the dress to the lady who stepped up and criticized Ollier as if a reward.

“It has fur on its sleeves so it's not cold at all.”

“Since the Princess has a slender body line so wearing a dress like this doesn’t make you look dull at all.”

“Even if the Southern dresses are pretty, it's cold because they’re thin.”

Succeeding in attracting attention, I stared at Ollier who had flushed cheeks, and beckoned her with a finger. 

“Lend me your ears.” 

Even as she was fuming, as if she couldn’t ignore my words, she slowly lowered her head. 

“Perhaps the reason why the Countdom of Rosiere can’t open their warehouse is that you’re having financial difficulties?”

I put my mouth near her round ears and started to whisper. As if she was surprised at how I came to know such a thing, Ollier glared at me with wide eyes. 

‘Well, the little demon told me.’

It seemed that when the demon which I had sent to check the atmosphere had entered the garden, he had secretly overheard the laments of the Countess and Ollier.

“So what? Are you threatening me using our financial difficulties?”

“Threats are only done when there is worth threatening.”

I slowly looked at Ollier’s face, coming close to her with our noses almost touching. In any case, she’s someone who was equal to that of a fiancee of an imperial family member. 

‘It’d be nice to have at least one person from the bat pack on my side.’

“Ollier.”

When I lowered my voice, imitating Dietrich, Ollier trembled in surprise. I ordered the little demon to hold her ankle tightly.

“I h-heard you can’t control demons, Princess Anissa!” 

That rumor wasn’t wrong since the little demon wasn’t mine. 

‘But I don’t have to tell you that.’ 

I smiled and lifted Ollier’s chin with the tip of my fan. 

“I’ll fill the Count’s grain warehouse for you. Then, you won’t be humiliated by the other nobles when you open it.”

“Why are you doing the Countdom a favor?”

“No reason. That’s nothing to Lagrange.”

Finding my words unexpected, Ollier’s eyes wavered. I put on a smile again to give out a warning.

“On the other hand, ruining your family is easy enough to make me yawn. Remember that.” 

“...........”

“It seems like you’ve understood.” 

I explained it to her in an easy way thinking she might not understand, but fortunately, Ollier nodded quickly. Leaving her, like a broken machine that only knew how to nod, I turned my body and started moving. 

Soon, I began to examine each guest by reading the hidden emotions in the silence that had descended. 

I made eye contact with the person who shrugged their shoulder as if thinking that the Grand Duke of Lagrange would change anytime soon, thus, there was no need to make a good impression. 

“You all know that my brother has issued a decree banning marriage.”

I also didn’t know why Dietrich suddenly banned marriage. However, since the decree was issued at a fairly appropriate time, I opened my mouth to make use of it as an excuse.

“It means Lagrange has no intention of making a successor for the time being.”

I meant it as our generation planned to rule for a long, long time, so they better get their acts straight. 

“However, you can’t control the demons for a long time.”

“And what if we can?”

“That’s impossible!” 

One of the young ladies opened her mouth in astonishment. I had tilted my head slightly at her response and had asked back.

“It’s the truth. I found a way to control the demons.” 

I continued, inhaling the scent of hawthorn trees filling the garden. 

“My words may also be wrong. However, if it isn’t, and my brother rules Lagrange for a long, long time.” 

“............”

“Will you be able to take responsibility?”

Though Dietrich’s power was terrifying, the reason why they were able to dare to rebel from opening their warehouses was that they believed he wouldn’t be able to keep his title as the Grand Duke for long. 

Fortunately, Ollier’s mother, Countess Rosiere, was a woman with a good head on her shoulder, so she was the first to stop the young lady from opening her mouth. 

“The Princess is still talking, young lady.”

“We will make this war the last Rose War. To do that, we need your cooperation.” 

Countess Devonshire raised the corner of her lips as if finding the situation funny. I looked at her and continued to speak. 

“How long do we have to live following the tail of the southerners?” 

Even those who were envious of the southern social circle so they had followed Ollier started clenching their fists at my words. 

“You’re right, Princess! What do even the southern young ladies know what to do? They only know how to shake their fans.”

“The dress you’re wearing is a hundred, no, thousand times more beautiful than Lady Ollier’s, Princess!”

Some even hit the soup table, raising the heat of the moment. Among them, the Countess of Devonshire, who had only a small smile, opened her mouth. 

“It seems His Grace isn’t only giving us his help so we can catch up to the South.” 

“We have no intention to be hypocrites like the Euclids, madam. And I have no intention of having fun like them.” 

Just in time, I opened the lid of the new teapot that the maid had brought. The smell of fragrant wine rose in the air.  

“Ha? Are you talking about having a drink in broad daylight like we’re some mercenaries?”

“Is there a reason not to?”

“If it is the will of the embodiment of the Northern society, then why not.” 

I glanced at the talkative Countess and filled my crystal glass with fruit wine. 

‘But can I drink alcohol?’ 

In the North, there was a culture of starting to drink early due to the cold weather, but I haven’t actually drank anything yet. 

‘I never drank alcohol in my previous life either since I was fighting a disease.’

“You haven’t even made your debut yet, so will it be all right for you to drink?” 

Devonshire smiled elegantly when I handed her the glass. For some reason, she reminded me of Liatris. 

“It’s fine.” 

The age of my soul was well beyond an adult. I started rationalizing as felt remorse. 

‘It tastes so sweet that it doesn’t taste like alcohol anyway.’ 

As I sipped and emptied my second glass of fruit wine, Yuric, who had his mouth shut as if trying to understand the situation, stared at me. 

“I thought it wouldn’t be good if I don’t drink so don’t break the mood. Today is an important occasion.” 

I glared at Yuric who was trying to disturb me with a somber expression.

“I know that, but I feel like I’ll be the only one who will get scolded.” 

“Who will scold you? Bring them here! I’ll scold them for you.” 

I shouted loudly at Yuric and stuck out my chest. 

“It seems you’re already drunk.” 

When Yuric gave a low sigh and started trying to stop me, the aurae of the ladies, who held onto the wool scarf like a souvenir that Madame Celine made with great care, started to turn pink.  

“Hehe.”

Since I had decided not to leave Dietrich’s fate to Charlotte anymore, I was so happy that for the first time things were going the way I wanted them to. 

“The Princess’ dress is so cute.” 

Before I knew it, Countess Devonshire, who had gone red, started stroking my cheeks.

“Phew. Your skin is like silk, too.”

“Did you like the present?”

“Of course, I like it. Today’s tea party as well.” 

“Then, will you open the warehouse to the people, Countess Devonshire?” 

“Of course. In fact, my husband is someone who falls at my feet if I just say so.” 

I laughed at Devonshire’s words.

“Is that so? Detrie’s like that, too!” 

He, too, falls at my feet if I just say so! Though the downside of that was I could die if I do something wrong. 

“Madam, I think you’re already drunk. Let me escort you inside.” 

Yuric looked at me and the countess, rubbing his hand on his face, then he turned his head to the knight standing next to me. Countess Devonshire soon disappeared from the garden, escorted by the knight. 

It seemed that the carriages had arrived at the mansion and the madams, kissing the back of my hand, disappeared one by one. 

“I really enjoyed today, Princess.”

“Lady Anissa, call us next time as well.” 

After losing my drinking friends in an instant, I started drinking the fruit wine one after the other and began looking around for people. 

“You have to tell him that I definitely stopped you.”

“Stopped what? Tell who?”

“The person who will scold me.”

“Bring him here!”

“....He’s here. Already.” 

Yuric, who fell on the empty table with a thud, sighed deeply over the top of my head. 

“Don’t hit me. I really didn’t do anything wrong.” 

Who came for him to be scared like that?

I raised my eyes to the person who dared to make my precious Yuric cry. 

“Hey!”

Notes:

‘Falls at my feet’ - Idiomatic expression - meaning: listens to whatever the person says

Bat - Metaphor - meaning: a person who easily switches sides depending on which benefits them the most