After I, a Penniless Noble, Entered a Fake Engagement with the Most Elegant Duke’s Daughter at the Academy, For Some Reason She Started Showering Me with Love - Chapter 10.2: I Introduced My Fake Fiancée to My Little Sister, and Her Mood Took a Sudden Nosedive

Chapter 10.2: I Introduced My Fake Fiancée to My Little Sister, and Her Mood Took a Sudden Nosedive

Was it really okay to bring Yuri with me?

That worry had crossed my mind more than once during the trip—definitely more than once.

But every time, she brushed it off with,

“Trust in your darling wife, dear husband.”

…That’s exactly why I don’t trust you.

After a journey that was both comfortable and way too noisy,

We finally arrived at my family’s estate.

Standing in front of the mansion, Yuri looked up at the building and gave a thoughtful hum.

“What a charming, character-filled estate.”

“You can just say it’s run-down. Be honest.”

“Alright, it’s run-down.”

…I walked right into that one.

I wanted to complain, but I was the one who told her she could be honest.

And… well, she wasn’t wrong.

Even so, if someone asked me to describe Yuri, I’d probably say she’s a straightforward, adorable girl.

Funny how that works.

Honesty is a virtue, sure—

But that doesn’t mean you need to say everything that pops into your head.

“Yeah… It’s definitely falling apart, but—”

The cracked outer walls and uneven stone paths felt like the rings of an old tree, showing the weight of time.

The mismatched colors on the roof weren’t part of some rustic design—they were just patches where the paint had peeled off and never got repainted.

The only impressive thing about the place was its size.

That, too, was just a leftover trace of past glory.

Now, the house was way too big to maintain, and we didn’t have the money to hire help, so it kept slowly falling apart.

With so few people living here, selling it would be ideal—

But who’d buy a decaying mansion next to an abandoned mine?

And so, this huge, grand-looking, but terribly inconvenient house remained… my family home.

I didn’t even want to think about how many rooms were left unused and gathering dust.

It was exhausting just remembering.

I’d love to repurpose some of them, but I haven’t come up with a single good idea.

Right…

This is what home was like.

On the way back, I’d actually felt a little nostalgic thinking about the mansion—

But now that I was standing in front of it, I couldn’t help but think the boys’ dorm was way more comfortable.

Maybe I was just being homesick and sugarcoating everything in my head.

While Yuri looked at the estate, somehow still impressed,

I decided to double-check something important.

“You’re really planning to stay here? There are inns in the territory—”

I stopped myself mid-sentence, imagining what the inns around here must be like.

Probably no better than glorified storage sheds.

…Yeah, never mind.

“…The inns might be worse than this place, but if we leave now, we could probably make it to the next town over.”

“I don’t mind. Sure, it’s a little old, but the structure’s sound. Besides, I came here to see your family home, dear husband. Not staying was never an option to begin with.”

“Still, for a duke’s daughter, it might be… rough.”

“I’ll be fine.”

She said it with complete confidence—where that confidence came from, I had no idea.

Well, if she’s this determined, then I guess there’s no point in me arguing.

She can go ahead and experience the humble hospitality of a broke viscount’s household.

While I was thinking that, I heard footsteps on the other side of the front door.

We’d been standing around making noise long enough—guess someone noticed.

A moment later, the door swung open with energy.

“Welcome home, big brother!”

Greeting me with a bright, blooming smile was my little sister, Luluris.

She came bounding out of the house like she was about to leap straight into my arms.

It was honestly heartwarming to see her this excited to welcome me home but—

…Why is she wearing a maid outfit???

It looked good on her. Really cute, actually.

But still—why?

Barely through the front door and already something’s testing my ability to stay calm.

“I read your letter and figured you’d be arriving soon, so I was waiting! Ever since you left for the academy, you’ve hardly written and… and…”

Just like a flower bud that had started to bloom only to shut again,

Lulu’s smile quietly faded away.

Her gaze, which had been fixed on me just moments ago, slowly drifted to the side—

And locked directly with Yuri’s.

“…Big brother. Who’s this woman?”

“Who…?”

Her voice, which had been so bright and cheerful, now dropped so low it could’ve been dragging across the floor.

It sent a chill down my spine.

We’d lived together for years, but I’d rarely heard her sound like that.

The sudden shift in her mood was obvious.

Unfortunately, understanding that was just about the only thing I was good at.

Now… what was I supposed to say?

I couldn’t exactly say “fake fiancée.”

But just telling her Yuri was a duke’s daughter didn’t seem like a great idea either.

I glanced at Yuri, silently begging for help.

And she—of course—responded with a flawless, radiant smile.

Ah. Bad feeling. Very bad feeling.

I tried to stop her—tried to say “Hold on”—

But Yuri stepped forward before I could get a word out, positioning herself directly in front of Lulu.

Lulu stiffened, her shoulders pulling in like a cat sensing danger.

Yuri, in contrast, softened her expression with graceful calm.

“Good day to you. I’m Yuliana—your brother’s dear fiancée. I hope we get along well from now on… little sister.”

“…Big brother?”

Those amber eyes—so much like mine—turned toward me.

I could practically hear Lulu’s inner voice.

“Would you care to explain what’s going on?”

Yeah… I’d like to ask the same thing.

I told Yuri. I specifically told her.

No calling me “dear husband,” no mentioning the engagement.

So why did she say it!?

When I looked at Yuri for an explanation, she puffed out her modest chest proudly like she’d just accomplished something.

“I did it,” her expression seemed to say.

Why is she proud of this!?

Now I was cornered, under the sharp glare of my sister,

And really, I had no one to blame but myself for not learning from the past.

I knew better.

I knew I shouldn’t trust Yuri.

“…You’ll explain. Right?”

“…yes.”

I slumped forward in defeat.

When I looked up at the sky, hoping for an escape,

It was beautifully clear—

A sharp contrast to the mess going on inside me.