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“Kiyaa!”
Since then, Betty’s harassment continued. While Cody and I were walking down the hallway side by side, Betty walked past me and deliberately fell down.
“I—, I’m fine.”
Cody hastened to pick up Betty. Betty glared at me with tears in her eyes.
“That’s terrible, Onee-sama. You tripped me and made me fall.”
“You fell on your own though? Don’t blame it on me. You even went through the narrow path on purpose, so why would you push the blame on me?”
She actually stepped on my feet with her heels. Thanks to that, my feet hurt. But Cody didn’t seem to notice even though he was beside me.
“Aw, my feet hurt.”
Betty touched her ankle and looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“I hurt my foot because of you, Onee-sama, and yet you haven’t even apologized to me!”
“I won’t. I didn’t do it.”
“Such arrogance!”
“I’ll bring her back to her room for now. Dahlia, go on ahead.”
“Cody-sama?”
Betty looked at Cody, her cheeks flushed with happiness.
“There’s no need for you to do that, Cody. I’ll let the servants carry her.”
“Just-, just because I’m a commoner’s child, I don’t even deserve your concern?”
“You don’t need it, you’re not even hurt.”
“Ah-, my feet hurt.
“Dahlia, go on now. I’ll bring her to her room.”
Cody repeated, as if to end the conversation. Betty looked at me with a triumphant look on her face. What an unsightly face.
“…I understand.”
I left the two of them and went back to my room. Cody and I were supposed to have tea today so I asked the maid to prepare.
I waited for Cody to come, but he didn’t show up.
When it was time for him to leave, he looked really uncomfortable as I saw him off back to his carriage.
“They said Betty had a sprain.”
I peered back at a window and saw a doctor. He was the doctor Andrea was acquainted with. He must have misdiagnosed again. It happens often.
“Dahlia, do you hate Betty?” Cody asked hesitantly.
“I think it’s hard to accept a sister who’s only a year younger than you when your mother just died. I can understand why you can’t forgive the Duke, but…”
“Your Highness.”
My voice sounded lower than I thought it would be. Cody looked back at me in surprise. Maybe it’s because of the cold and indifference I gave off, or maybe because I turned back to calling him ‘Your Highness’. Maybe it’s both.
I closed my eyes to calm myself down.
“I hate her for taking everything I hold dear.”
“?”
Cody tilted his head, looking very confused. He hadn’t seen through Betty’s true nature yet. I think that’s the reason why he didn’t understand the meaning of my words.
“Would you like it if your things get stolen?”
“Dahlia?”
“It’s getting late now, you should go. I am your fiance, so the next time you visit, please spend your time with me.”
“Oh. I’m sorry about today.”
Cody bowed his head to me and got into his carriage. I saw him off until the carriage was out of sight.
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