The Kind Older Sister Is No More

“I will not give up.”

“Irene.” Noel was lost for words and could only say the name of the lady in front of him, smiling at him warmly. He was surprised by how unfazed she was. Any other woman in her place would be distraught with worry and fretting over their circumstance.

“I was definitely a little surprised. I thought that if I opened your grandfather’s heart, it would work out, eventually. But that was all that I was surprised about. It does not at all, change the fact that you have helped me. Nor does it change my mind about cooperating with you.” Irene smiled. She inched out her hand on the seat, closer to him. If you are not reading this on onedaythreeautumns.com this translation is stolen.

“...”

“So, please do not mind so much about it.” Irene reassured. She wanted to make sure that Noel was certain of her stance in this.

Irene’s mind became chaotic after she said that. Although she was resolute, she fretted as to whether or not it was the right thing to say. She did not want to worry Noel after all. She was afraid that if she sounded over-confident, he would think that she was just bluffing.

Then she heard a faint laugh. When Irene looked up at the sound, Noel’s lips had curved up in a gorgeous smile.

“Thank you, Irene.” His face was warm, and the edges of his previously anxious eyes had softened.

Irene had seen him smile often, but she had never seen Noel smiling so relaxedly like now. While looking at Noel, Irene answered with a bright smile of her own.

“Thank you too.”

After that, the conversation between them stopped, but Irene no longer felt awkward like before. Rather, she felt much more comfortable in the quietness of the carriage facing him, than in the house that she had lived in for so many years.

Soon the carriage arrived in front of the Chase mansion. As always, the gentleman Noel helped Irene get off from the carriage.

“Irene, now you do not have to see my grandfather anymore.”

Irene looked surprised at Noel’s words. She believed that it would not be long after this to make his grandfather accept her. It was sudden, but the Great Kristen had opened his heart to her to some extent. It was difficult for her to miss such a welcoming opportunity.

She understood that she had already made a deal with him and promised this would be the last day. However, Irene could not help but feel a wash of sadness that she would no longer be making a daily visit to see the Great Kristen. After all, she had become accustomed to seeing his figure the past couple of weeks, and today he had finally turned around.

“Now, I will be the one who tries to convince my grandfather.” Noel said.

“So, there is nothing more I can do.” Irene asked.

“No, there is. In everything that has been done so far – this is the most important task.”

Irene, who was speaking with a slightly disheartened face, looked up curiously at Noel’s unexpected words. What was it that she still had to do, and why was it the ‘most important task’?

As she wondered in doubt, Noel opened his mouth again.

“That is to sever ties with Count Chase.”

“Ah…”

While surprised at his words, it had also occurred in Irene’s mind that finally the time for that had come. Hearing Noel’s stern voice she made up her mind.

Even though she would still leave the Chase household when she married Noel, and enter the registry of the Kristen household, as of current, she was still the daughter of Count Chase.

There was only one way out from it.

“To give up the inheritance and all the rights of the Chase family.”

Irene needed to give up the site of the inheritance her family owned, and the part that she would receive when they passed. She would even have to sever the ties to the support fund that was most essential for aristocratic ladies and was a symbol of support from the maternal family once a lady married. She needed to forfeit her rights to everything related to the Chase family.

It was not just about rights. Noel’s meaning implied that she had to cut off all ties, verbal and on paper, with her family. Although her family only made her hateful, depressed, and hurt, they were still the people who had raised her in life so far. Her parents had brought her into this world, no matter how many hash feelings of resentment she held against them. However, this was the only way she could really get out from the clutches of the Count.

“If I safely succeed as the head of the Kristen family, we will decide whether to continue our marriage or divorce. Even if you and I get divorced later, I will make sure that you live in peace and your well-being for the rest of your life is taken care of.” Noel said.