The unexpected appearance of Noel made Irene stiff. Her gaze then shifted to Noel’s large hand which was holding her shoulder reassuringly.

“Du.. Duke of Kristen?” She stammered.

The Count and the Countess, who had followed Irene, were also taken aback by Noel’s appearance. But soon the perplexed situation turned into mayhem.

“Where are you coming from! You’re ruining my two daughters!” Count Chase screeched.

Irene narrowed her eyes at her father’s words.

Two daughters?

For Irene, she had definitely changed since she met Noel, but Riel had no relation with Noel. Irene looked over her parents and then saw Riel standing anxiously. Riel, who had come down the stairs, was chewing her nails with her teeth. It was a habit that only came out when Riel was anxious.

I see, then apparently, I took Riel’s man.

Irene thought before that her parents had just set their eyes on Noel to be Riel’s fiance, however, it turned out to all be Riel’s deceitful play.

So, you’re playing as a nice person on both sides.

If that was the case, then everything was understandable. The moment Irene found out the truth, she had to feel even greater disappointment and deprivation. In the end, their parents believed in Riel and believed that Irene was the one who took away his sister’s man.

Even though it was Riel who actually took my man.

Was not the matter that time casually disregarded all because Riel had cried?

“You don’t know because of you; how much Riel has..” Count Chase started.

“Daddy!” Riel exclaimed.

As soon as the Count was pointing his finger at Irene and trying to say something, Riel came running and stopped him. Riel’s blonde hair fluttered in the air. The light-coloured dress wavered as she came down the stairs and hurriedly came over to grab the Count’s arm.

“Eh, Riel?”

The Count looked surprised when Riel suddenly interrupted him. Riel was out of breath with how rushed she was running in. Her breath was unstable, and it almost seemed like she would collapse at any time. The Countess tried to calm her down, but Riel shook her head and looked back at Noel.

“I’m sorry, Duke. I’m sorry, Sister.”

Riel suddenly bowed her head and handed over an apology, the tense atmosphere around her quickly subsided. Her parents panicked and tried to stop her, while Irene and Noel just stared at Riel quietly.

“It’s all because of me.” She sobbed.

Eventually, Riel raised her head. Tears were falling from her purple eyes. Riel was looking at Noel. She only stared at Noel as if there was no Irene in front of her. However, Noel did not show any different reaction to Riel’s crying face.

“Honestly, I’ve been in love with you for a long time.”

“Riel, what are you talking about?”

Irene’s eyes grew wide. Noel also frowned a little. But Riel spoke weakly regardless.

Irene looked up at Noel, slightly anxious. She felt that way because the woman in front of Noel was prettier than her and had the charm to make other people want to protect her. Perhaps Boris had also fallen for Riel because of her pitifulness and charm. Irene’s heart tightened. She realised that her sister toyed with others by using her delicate and fragile appearance to manipulate them. No man could resist the charm of a young and gentle girl. Irene, on the other hand, had nothing close to the gentle appearance Riel had. She was afraid that Noel would think the same.

“I see.”

But Irene’s anxiety was utterly useless. Noel just nodded and answered ‘I see’ with a straight face.

Riel also appeared to flinch at Noel’s unexpected reaction. But Riel did not back down. She smiled faintly and with a childish tone, spoke softly.

“Honestly, I told my parents that I thought my sister had approached you on purpose. Of course, at first, I also didn’t think that my sister would do that..but..”

Even though Riel said that she did not think Irene would do that, she made room for his words to gloss over the meaning. Irene was dumbfounded, but Noel answered back, giving no time for Irene to step forward.

“I think you must have misunderstood something here.”

With Noel’s short answer, he let go of Irene’s shoulders, whom he had been holding and then carefully grasped her wrist. He pulled her to stand beside him and let go of her hand only to interlock their fingers. Irene stood beside him in a daze. Then, she saw the figure of her mother, father, and Riel standing together. Looking back, the three looked so similar that they felt like one family.

Except for me.

It was as if in the living room there was a family and two strangers.

“I was the person who approached Miss Irene Chase first.”