The Kind Older Sister Is No More

“I apologise for Sir Gertin’s rudeness in his stead… Please forgive him.”

“This isn’t something you should apologise for.”

“But…”

When Noel coldly answered her, Riel nodded with a sullen look and then followed the Countess. When the Count looked at all the maids who had gathered around the place, the maids hurriedly moved away so they could not be seen. 

“I did not know you to be such an absent-minded man.”

When the Count spoke to Boris in a cold tone, Boris lowered his head. The Count looked at Boris with a pathetic look, and then he turned to Noel.

“As far as I know, the Grand Duke of Kristen is a family with a long history of elegance and dignity, but I guess you aren’t like that.”

“I’m sorry to make such a fuss in your house, Count. But even though I had sent a letter to Miss Irene Chase, I didn’t get any reply, so I came here by myself to know what was going on.”

Boris, who was surprised by the word “Grand Duke of Kristen” from the Count’s mouth, looked back at Noel. Irene also had a puzzled look on her face. Noel had mentioned a letter - one that she had never received.

Noel’s words made the Count frantically cough. Irene intuitively could tell that her father had stolen Noel’s letter for her.

      Irene looked at the Count, devastated. She had never thought that he would do that to her. 

“But I think I came at the right time. I have something for you, Count. Come here, Miss.”

Noel reached his hands out to Irene whilst Boris and the Count turned their gaze to Irene. Boris snorted at that because he was confident that Irene would not come even if Noel called her. Boris pompously yelled at Irene.

“Irene! Go back to your room! We’re going to have a man-to-man agreement here!” Boris said this while looking at Noel with a confident face.

Irene has never disobeyed me.

Irene had always given Boris whatever he wanted except when he had asked for a more sexual relationship. So, he was also confident this time that Irene would listen to him and not the Duke of Kristen.

But I, too, was a little surprised.

If Noel were a ‘normal’ Kristen, Boris wouldn’t be able to hope to fight him, but the Duke of Kristen in front of him had an uncertain future. There was no reason to fear Noel because it was unlikely that he could ever take over the dukedom.

Most importantly, if Boris could get his hand on Irene, he would also get his hand on Count Chase.

Although Riel shook me for a moment.

What kind of a man would not fall for that when there was temptation coming from a small and slender girl? Boris thought that his instincts had only swayed him for a while. He did not doubt that Irene would not understand him if he explained it well. But what happened was different from what he had expected.

“Irene!”

When Irene came down the stairs and headed towards Noel, the shocked Boris screamed at her. The Count also looked surprised because he did not realise that Irene would make that choice. Irene would be in trouble if she went to Noel. Also, the Count had thought that nothing good would come from that choice and would only escalate the already uncomfortable situation.

But Irene still walked on her own and only looked at Noel Kristen. Suddenly, she looked different from Irene that the Count knew.

“I’m sorry, Duke. I should have taken better care of the letter.”

“It’s all right.”

Noel relieved Irene with a gentle smile at her apology. Boris looked at Irene, who was standing beside Noel, his face crazed over, revelling with absurdness at the situation unfolding before him. His eyes were shaking as if he could not bring himself to believe what had just happened.

“The reason why I had to come here despite the inconvenience is to inform you of this.”

Noel gave a signal, and then his secretary, who was standing far behind him, approached. Irene and the Count, who were not aware of the secretary’s existence because he was out of their sight, were surprised to see him. The secretary handed a bag of documents to Irene and the Count and then backed out again.

“This…”

“I want you to take a look at those documents.”

After Noel said that, the Count and Irene checked the content of the documents. Boris nervously looked at them because he was the only one who did not receive anything. 

There was quite a lot of paperwork inside, but it all stated one main thing. It was a certificate and statement that Boris, the second son of Viscount Gertin, used his fiancée’s name, Irene Chase, to take a loan from many places.

“What is this?”

The Count strongly crumpled the paper in his hands and looked at Boris, fury written all over his face. Irene could not move her eyes from the papers. The first day Boris had taken a loan from the statement was when he and she officially became engaged.

Everything was planned. From the very beginning, Boris had approached Irene because he was aware of Irene’s background.

But why? Irene would have been filled with a sense of betrayal if this had been before, but now she couldn’t feel anything. Ah, that was because Irene could not feel any love for Boris anymore.

When the Count threw the papers on the floor, Boris hurriedly checked them. Boris’ hands were trembling when he saw the content of the paper.

“That...! It’s a fabrication! He’s lying!”

“How dare you say it’s only a fabrication when you can clearly see that it is a notarial act! How dare you deceive me! What a relief that I know this now!”