"You are the next head of the family."

That's how Alice, the eldest daughter, was raised. No matter how lonely or difficult it was, she endured and worked hard, knowing she had to inherit the Elcada Marquisate.

Unlike the eldest daughter, the second daughter, Lunaria, was raised freely. Loved by her parents, she was indulged, told she didn't have to push herself with her studies.

Alice envied that, but she accepted it and persevered, telling herself it couldn't be helped since she was the eldest daughter and next in line to be the head.

However, when Alice turned eighteen.

Her parents forgave Lunaria, who had fallen in love with Alice's fiancé, and while blessing the two, declared, "Lunaria will be the next head of the family."

Alice could no longer tolerate that.

Her father had always been indifferent to them (his children), and it was her mother who had given Alice an overly strict upbringing. Despite constantly telling her, "Because you are the next head," Alice could not forgive her mother for so easily overturning that decision.

And after removing Alice from the position of next head, her parents then tried to appoint Alice as Lunaria's assistant.

This mindset, which denied Alice's very being at every turn, killed her spirit.

──If you won't love me, then I won't love you either──

Alice took action.

She no longer felt any affection for them.

◇This is a "comeuppance" story.

◇A gently sketched world. Relaxed settings.

◇Convenient plot developments. There might be inconsistencies.

◇Also posted on AlphaPolis.

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