˖:✧ ⑅•.⋅༻♔༺•⑅ ✧:˖
I was the same age as His Highness, Prince Cody, my fiancé. His dark eyes, which were somewhat covered by his black hair, showed his strong disposition. He was a bit intimidating just like any other royalty, but he could still be considered as a lively boy.
When we first met, His Highness, Prince Cody looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.
“We’re engaged. When we grow up, we’ll be husband and wife, just like our parents.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Dahlia, no. Since we’re going to be a couple, just call me Cody instead.”
“But…”
I hesitated but Prince Cody refused to budge.
“I want you to call me by my name.”
He seemed like a younger brother to me, even though we were the same age.
“Alright… Cody.”
Cody smiled once I called his name.
Since then, Cody started coming to the mansion to visit me often. I could sense Andrea’s and Betty’s moods were getting worse by the day, but it’s not like I could tell the royal family and my fiance not to come.
My father was genuinely happy that I had captured Cody’s heart and even praised me.
◇◇◇
“Onee-sama, you’re so mean!”
Betty glared at me with tears in her eyes. Cody, who came to our mansion to hang out, became confused as he stared at us two.
“It’s rude to barge inside my room without knocking when I have guests.”
Cody and I were having tea on my room’s balcony. The weather was nice so invited Cody over. But of course, Cody’s escort and my own lady-in-waiting also came with us.
The two of us were talking when Betty suddenly entered my room. Cody’s escort mistook the sudden intruder for a suspicious person and reflexively grabbed the hilt of his sword at his waist.
When he saw that it was Betty, he stared at her looking very puzzled as he went back behind Cody.
“You’re making a fool out of me again, calling me a commoner and whatnot?”
“I don’t remember doing that. Where did you even get that idea?”
“How could you not be aware of your own arrogance? How could you be Cody-sama’s fiancée when you’re so unaware of your own arrogance?”
When did she start calling my fiancé by his first name? One has to ask a prince’s permission first, otherwise one has to add the respectful title to his name.
I secretly glanced at Cody, but he also seemed confused by the situation. But from the way he looked, I couldn’t tell if he let her off or not.
Even if he hadn’t, he probably didn’t even notice that she called him by his first name.
“So, what are you here for?”
“Oh, right. Onee-sama, you’ve been in my room again without my permission, haven’t you?”
“You’re the one who’s been going in and out of my room without my permission.”
“You’re so mean.”
“Ignoring me now?”
Betty trembled as tears streamed down her face. Cody looked at her worryingly.
“I only have a few dresses and accessories unlike Onee-sama, who has everything.”
Oh no. I’m sure you’ve been calling everyday all the shops here with Andrea. You obviously have more than I do.
“I can’t believe you ripped up my dress.”
She said, holding out a ripped dress. She probably ripped it up herself.
“So mean.” Cody whispered but Betty and I heard it.
I saw Betty lower her head to secretly smirk.
Betty looked at me and asked with a trembling voice as tears welled up in her eyes. I feel nauseous.
“You’re too much. Are you so desperate to turn me into a villain?”
“Onee-sama, if you hadn’t done this to me, I wouldn’t have⸺”
Betty choked on her words.
“Do you know how much one of those dresses cost? You don’t. That’s why you ripped it up without so much hesitation.”
Betty retorted, “Onee-sama, you’re the one who tore it apart. Don’t put the blame on me.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Mean. You’re mean.”
With that, Betty ran out of the room as she cried.
“…Dahlia. You really didn’t do it, did you?”
I answered Cody’s suspecting words, “I didn’t.”
I’m not sure if he believed me.
“Cody, did you let her call you by your first name?”
He was taken aback by my abrupt question. Then he immediately remembered that Betty just called him by his first name.
“Ah. That’s because we’re going to be a family, so your sister is also important to me.”
“…I see. Did Betty ask you to call her by her first name?”
“Yes. She said she wanted to know me better because we’re going to be a family.”
“…I see.”
That was how Betty took everything away from me.
I sighed sadly, trying not to let Cody notice.
˖:✧ ⑅•.⋅༻♔༺•⑅ ✧:˖