There is no happy ending

Therefore, the three Drian sisters mostly took care of themselves and each other, unless they were out and about. They were each other’s lady and handmaiden.

‘Don’t you know I gave up my color to Eris the other day?’

‘What? Why is it a concession that you’re later than me?’

‘Because I’m the younger sister. Aren’t older sisters supposed to give way to younger sisters?’

‘Heh…….’

‘And I’m the debutante of the year.’

It could be said that they were pretty good friends.

‘Are you going to block my path like your sister?’

Eris glared at my youngest sister with pointed eyes at her next words.

She was now treated like a child in the Count’s household because she was past her prime. Unable to deny her youngest’s words, Eris bit her lip and threw away the dye she was applying to her nails.

‘This is so annoying. Why do I have to listen to you?’

‘Because you’re the reason the social scene is the way it is.’

‘…….’

Eris’s mouth made a clicking sound. The second said with a straight face.

‘Don’t be mad at her. You’re the only one who gets hot in the summer.’

They were right. Eris gulped down her share of the tea on my table. It was cold, with a refreshing taste. It had a slight apple flavor from the sliced apple. The sisters’ tea was hot, but Eris’s was cold.

Eris hadn’t enjoyed hot tea in the company of others since last spring. It was because of Bianca Morning. Eris said.

‘I’m annoyed!’

‘Why are you so annoyed?’

The answer came back immediately. Eris wanted to pick up the teacup and throw it in anger, but she knew the approximate value of the teacup, so she didn’t. She put the teacup down and sulked.

Eris had a lot to be angry about. She resented being kicked out of Bianca’s pack this social season, and she resented being treated like an afterthought by her youngest sister because of her age. She even blamed her sister for it.

The second looked at Eris indifferently and said.

‘I bet there are more people annoyed by your sister.’

‘You’re just saying that because your sister is annoying you?’

‘We’re more annoyed that this social season is a mess, so stop it.’

The second one said, ‘I’m sick of it, then picked up a paintbrush and carefully painted her nails with a light pink pigment. There was no sincerity in her words. But it was enough to irritate Eris.

‘After all, you’re the reason they broke up.’

‘Why is that because of me?’

‘Because you’re the one who started the rumors.’

Eris glared at him sharply, but her piercing eyes did nothing to hurt him.

There were so many things I wanted to have. But after realizing there were some things you couldn’t have no matter how hard you tried…… Drian hated the world so much.

And then she wondered.

‘Why was I born Eris Drian?

The question became even more intense at the Debutante Ball.

It sounds like a dream, but at the time, Eris thought she would be the center of attention. She fantasized countless times about holding the hand of the most handsome man, dancing with him, falling in love with him…… and living a life that others envied.

She wanted to be loved.

She wanted to be the envy of others.

But Eris was not an object of love, nor an object of envy. She was just a simple young lady of a simple manner. That was Eris, and she had her seat at the table.

‘His Royal Highness the Duke of Winston and his partner, the Marquise of Bianca Morning, are seated!’

The servant’s shout came from the entrance as the air in the hall warmed with the faint excitement of the crowd. People who had only glanced at Eris’s entry turned to look at the entrance.

Their eyes were dazzled. There were two people there with a presence that would make everyone else forget. A petite girl walked in, accompanied by a handsome man of impeccable height, with gorgeous blond hair and a face that seemed to be sculpted to perfection.

The girl was.

Unlike Eris’s stiff, unkempt brown hair, she had curls of a dark bronze color that looked like the night sky in the dark. She had brilliant, upturned green eyes, unlike Eris’s pale watery eyes. She had a small, slender, soft body, just as Eris had always wanted, but her shoulders were straight and her expression was fixed.

Eris knew instinctively.

‘Oh, she’s the one,’ she thought instinctively.

No one had told her, she just knew.

‘……No, she’s the one who’s going to be in the hall for the rest of eternity.

How do you think Eris felt at that moment?

Half wanting to get to know her, half feeling ashamed of herself. A mixture of admiration, jealousy, inferiority, and… something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It would be better if she stopped caring, but she couldn’t.

Maybe it was because Bianca was wearing a dress that Eris wanted, made of blue Gromsan ivory, beautifully patterned, and embroidered with silver. Perhaps it was because she was wearing a dress that Eris wanted, and it caught her eye.

Eris wanted to get to know her, even if she didn’t get to be the heroine, because she felt like she would be something if she got to know the heroine. If only she could look at herself with those fresh eyes and say, ‘Eris,’ in front of others…….

As she danced to the music, all her attention was on Bianca, but that shouldn’t have been strange. She assumed the others were just like her.

When Bianca headed for the terrace, she didn’t miss it. She knew it was ugly to run, but she walked, almost ran, to catch up to her, otherwise she wouldn’t have time to talk to her.

‘……who?’

Bianca asked.

She must have explained during the introduction of this year’s debutantes, but Eris didn’t seem to be in Bianca’s memory. Well, Bianca was more like it. Eris smiled.

‘I’m Eris Drian, Count Drian’s mistress, and this year’s Debutante, along with Youngae.’

‘Aha.’

Bianca’s ruddy lips drew an arc. Bianca held out her hand. It was an invitation to shake hands. Eris took Bianca’s hand.

‘Morning, Bianca.’

Good thing she was wearing gloves, or she might have offended Bianca with her clammy palms. With that thought, Eris shook her hand.

It was a heavy greeting for Eris, and a light one for Bianca.

‘It’s nice to meet you.’

‘Me too, but…… do you mind if I go inside to rest for a while? My feet are a little sore.’

Her voice was more relaxed than expected, and her demeanor was friendly. Eris could picture herself with the title of ‘Bianca Morning’s friend’. Eris laughed.

‘Of course. I must have caught her unawares. See you later.’

‘Yes, next time.’

Bianca rolled her eyes and smiled, then stepped onto a nearby terrace. She didn’t check the people on the terrace. At first glance, she thought she saw a man’s shadow on the terrace. Eris recognized the silhouette and thought of Bliss.

What kind of relationship did they have? She wondered. Eris opened the door to the terrace just a crack, hoping to eavesdrop on their conversation. A pleasant, mid-bass voice spoke to Bianca.

‘Bianca, who were you talking to?’ Eris held her breath to hear their conversation.

‘Why?’

‘You said you’d wait for me, but you’re later than expected.’

‘Were you dying to see me?’

‘No way…….’

There was a low chuckle, so who was she talking to? Bliss nudged Bianca. There was a low sigh, presumably from Bianca.

Eris’s face flushed red at the next words.

‘There you go, you clueless girl.’

‘Why don’t you tell me her name?’

‘I don’t remember, she didn’t look like she was worth remembering… ah… she wore a raggedy dress, you could tell.’

Eris did not listen to the rest of their conversation. She couldn’t bear the shame any longer.

The ragged dress, the words directed at her and through her. Despite this being her debutante ball, Eris hadn’t been able to get a custom-made dress made just for her. She couldn’t afford it.

There were so many things she wanted. But after realizing that no matter how hard she tried, there were some things she couldn’t have……… Diane hated the world so much, so much, so much.

And then she wondered.

‘Why was I born Eris Drian?

The question was followed by a statement.

‘I could have been born Bianca Morning instead of Eris Drian…….’

Eris liked Bianca, she wanted to be like her, but Eris was Eris, she could never be Bianca. She wanted to be close to Bianca as if that would be enough to satisfy her since she could never be Bianca. But that, too, was impossible.

For Bianca Morning, Eris Drian was nothing more than a girl, a woman in a ragged dress, not worth remembering. Hatred grew in her heart. Now Eris wondered something else.

‘Why does Bianca Morning have everything?

‘Why does Bianca Mowen have everything?

Eris couldn’t help but be envious of Bianca Morning.

She was beautiful, she had a great house, she had a lot of money, and she probably had a lot of dresses that Eris could only dream of. That alone should be enough…… She also had a wonderful fiancé. How could she live that life?

‘I want to be Bianca.

There was a time when she had that wish, but it didn’t come true. Eris’s wish had been perverted.

‘I want to be Bianca, but I can’t be Bianca, so…… I want Bianca to be insignificant like me.’

I truly want Bianca to be insignificant.

I want Bianca to be so insignificant that I can cover her with the palm of my hand. I wish Bianca could do to Eris what Eris did to Bianca.

It’s a sinister thought, but she can’t afford to think about it.

So she starts a rumor. After a long, long time of snooping around Bliss, she found out what she could about the silver-haired woman, and she spread the word. It was a good thing it was the social season. Rumors traveled fast, and it was hard to know where they came from.

Perhaps no one could sympathize with the shame and anger Eris felt. Even Eris herself often didn’t understand and didn’t speak out.

But…… people have unreasonable sides. We all do.

Even if Bianca earned Eris’s hatred, she would still be the morning of Falborn. So what’s a little loss when you have so much, I guess?

After all,…… it was Bliss Winston who cheated on her. Eris only overheard the story by accident and luck.

It was an affair that would never have come to light without her, but wasn’t Bliss the one who caused it anyway?