There were rumors that my fiancée, Evangeline of the Marquis Ashford family, was tormenting my stepsister, Darcinea, born to my stepmother.
Though I admonished her daily to conduct herself in a manner befitting the next Crown Princess and, eventually, the next Queen, Evangeline would not heed my words.
Even when I hinted at "dissolving our engagement" as a last resort, she remained unmoved and departed from my presence.
This work is published on AlphaPolis.
| Published | Title | # |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/08/31 18:00 | Finale Ⅱ (Ralph's point of view) | 9 |
| 2021/08/31 18:00 | Finale I (Ralph's point of view) | 8 |
| 2021/08/30 18:00 | karma | 7 |
| 2021/08/29 18:00 | Crown Prince | 6 |
| 2021/08/28 18:00 | Return | 5 |
| 2021/08/27 18:00 | Ball II | 4 |
| 2021/08/26 18:00 | Ball I | 3 |
| 2021/08/25 22:23 | A fleeting youth | 2 |
| 2021/08/25 22:18 | A noble duty | 1 |
Claude Rafferty, the first prince of the Regalia Kingdom, is engaged to Evangeline Ashford, a noblewoman of high standing. Despite her reputation for grace and intelligence, Claude finds their relationship strained and their conversations purely transactional. Their dynamic shifts when Claude encounters Evangeline's younger half-sister, Darsinia Ashford, at the Royal Academy. He is immediately captivated by Darsinia's charm and innocence, contrasting sharply with Evangeline's perceived coldness.
Claude discovers that Evangeline treats Darsinia poorly, often ignoring her pleas for attention and even orchestrating subtle acts of harassment through her entourage. This behavior deeply troubles Claude, who believes a future queen should embody compassion, much like Queen Joanna, who doted on him after the death of his younger brother, Stephen. Claude confronts Evangeline about her treatment of Darsinia, particularly regarding a pair of earrings Darsinia desired. Evangeline adamantly refuses to part with them, citing a lack of reason to appease her father's illegitimate daughter. This exchange escalates, with Claude accusing Evangeline of jealousy and bullying, and Evangeline remaining unyielding. Claude, frustrated by her stubbornness and believing her incapable of empathy, hints at reconsidering their engagement. Evangeline, surprisingly, accepts this, leaving Claude unsettled.
The following day, Claude visits the academy to speak with Darsinia. She expresses regret for Evangeline's behavior, attributing it to their differing social standings. Claude reassures her, emphasizing the importance of commoners to the kingdom. He also inquires about Evangeline, learning she might be absent from the academy, possibly due to their recent confrontation. Claude finds Darsinia's company pleasant and innocent, a stark contrast to his interactions with Evangeline, which he finds tedious and overly analytical.
Upon returning to the palace, Claude is met by his aide, Ralph McLaren, who expresses concern about Claude's frequent meetings with Darsinia. Ralph reveals that these meetings have become a subject of gossip at the academy, with rumors suggesting a romantic involvement. Claude vehemently denies this, explaining he is merely consulting with Darsinia to help Evangeline change her ways. Ralph, however, presses the issue, questioning Claude's judgment and hinting at the political implications of his actions, particularly given his mother's lower social standing. Enraged by Ralph's insubordination and veiled insults, Claude strikes him and forbids him from entering the palace without permission.
Later, at a royal ball, Evangeline is conspicuously absent. Claude enters alone, facing questioning glances. The Ashford family patriarch, the Marquis, then makes a shocking announcement: Evangeline has been disowned and expelled from the family. He claims this is due to Evangeline believing Claude had broken off their engagement. This revelation causes a stir, especially when Evangeline's maternal grandfather, Count Davis, vehemently protests the Marquis's harsh actions, revealing that Darsinia is not the Marquis's biological daughter but the child of a former prostitute. The ensuing argument exposes Darsinia's true origins and the Marquis's questionable marriage.
The truth about the earrings emerges: they were a pre-engagement gift from the late Prince Stephen to Evangeline. The Queen, Stephen's mother, reveals that she had intended for Stephen and Evangeline to marry and had continued to support Evangeline financially after Stephen's death. Claude realizes his misjudgment, having accused Evangeline of greed when Darsinia was the one attempting to exploit her. The ball ends abruptly, and Claude faces reprimands from his father and the Prime Minister. Rumors spread, damaging Claude's reputation, and he finds himself increasingly isolated.
The narrative then takes a dramatic turn with the return of Prince Stephen, who was believed to have died years ago in an accident. He had been rescued and lived as a farmer, only recently regaining his memory after encountering Evangeline. Stephen's return is met with joy by the royal family, and he is quickly appointed Crown Prince. Evangeline, now under the protection of her grandparents, the Davises, attends a ball with Stephen, her demeanor transformed. The public perception of her shifts from a cruel sister to a courageous woman who sought out her first love.
Claude, meanwhile, is stripped of his authority and relegated to a remote palace. Darsinia, for her public insult to Stephen, is executed as a commoner after her adoption is invalidated. The Marquis and his wife also face execution for their involvement in Darsinia's abuse and their role in Stephen's attempted murder. It is revealed that Stephen's "death" was orchestrated by the Queen's faction, including Claude's mother, to clear the path for Claude's ascension. However, Stephen survived and was secretly replaced by a look-alike.
Claude is eventually executed by poison. Evangeline, having fulfilled her role in exposing the conspiracy and avenging Stephen, succumbs to illness. Ralph McLaren, who had secretly loved Evangeline, is left to care for her legacy. The story concludes with Ralph living a quiet life with his wife and son, reflecting on the tragic events and the true meaning of love and sacrifice. The final scene reveals that Evangeline's coffin was empty, hinting at her survival and a possible new beginning.
 | Become a Novelist https://ncode.syosetu.com › ... "My sister wants it, so I should give it to her," you say, but... Author: Yuka Ogasawara. My fiancée, Evangeline of the Marquis of Ashford, is giving birth to her step-sister, Dulcinea, born to his second wife... |
 | Alphapolis https://www.alphapolis.co.jp › novel My fiancée, Evangeline of the Marquis of Ashford, is rumored to be oppressing her stepsister, Dulcinea, who was born to his second wife. She is the next Prince and Princess, and ultimately the next Queen. |
| Become a Novelist https://ncode.syosetu.com › ... The woman before me was Evangeline Ashford, the daughter of the Marquis of Ashford—my fiancée. Evangeline was a year younger than me, so I wasn't particularly close to her, but her mother was a concubine from a viscount family... |
 | Everystar https://estar.jp › Fantasy 3 Oct 2021 — [Completed] "My sister wants it, so I should give it to her," you say, but... The story of a man who abandoned his fiancée, a perfect lady, to fall in love with his stepsister. [Completed]. Ogasawara... |
| Alphapolis https://www.alphapolis.co.jp › novel I struggled to decide on a category, but since there is a heartwarming couple between a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old, I decided to call it romance (;^ω^). It's just a short story that I came up with spontaneously, like a one-scene scene. I removed all proper nouns except for the princess. |
| Become a Novelist https://ncode.syosetu.com › ... In the end, the ball celebrating the crown prince's enthronement was postponed. Afterwards, Evangeline's sister-in-law, Darcinia, who had shown disrespect to the crown prince, was captured by the knights and thrown into the dungeon. |
 | Web Novel Scooper https://web-scooper.com › info "My sister wants it, so I should give it to her," you say, but... Total points: 66154 / 9 chapters in series / Last updated: 2021-08-31 · My sister stole my sister's child and broke off our engagement, but she has a promising future... |
| Alphapolis https://www.alphapolis.co.jp › detail [Complete] "My sister wants it, so I should give it to her," you say, but... Yuka Ogasawara. My fiancée, Evangeline of the Marquis of Ashford, is my step-sister, born to my second wife... |
| Everystar https://estar.jp › users › novels Yuka Ogasawara. Updated November 7, 2021. Fantasy. Completed. 1 hour 32 minutes (54,967 characters). [Complete] "My sister wants it, so I should give it to her," you say, but... The perfect lady... |
| Become a Novelist https://ncode.syosetu.com › ... You say, "Your sister wants it, so you should give it to her," but... Author: Yuka Ogasawara... You could have gently guided your sister. You shouldn't discriminate against her just because her mother is of low social status... |