I Married My Sister’s First Love

Chapter 35

Bang!

The loud crash of the door startled her body, which had been resting.

Just as she was about to snap and yell in annoyance, Irene recognized the visitor and quickly put on a smile.

“Brother!”

She ran toward him and naturally linked arms.

“You’re back!”

“…….”

“How was it? Did you bring me a gift? If you’re not busy, tomorrow we can—”

“Irene.”

Her cheerful chatter was abruptly cut off by Herman.

His stiff tone made Irene shrink back as she studied his face. His expression was hardened as if he was on edge.

Herman let out a deep sigh and turned to her.

“Is it true? Did she become a Spiritist?”

There was no need to ask who he was talking about.

Seeing Irene hesitate to answer, Herman had no choice but to accept the truth. Unable to hide his unease, he nervously bit his fingernails and muttered,

“At this rate, the duchy might fall into that wench’s hands…”

As he gnawed on his nails, he recalled what had happened.

—

“Lord Herman, I heard the wonderful news that your younger sister has awakened as a Spiritist. What a great blessing! Congratulations.”

The news hit him like a bolt of lightning.

Herman had tried to console himself, thinking it must be false, but the truth was confirmed the next morning in the newspaper.

Ebony Dominique—the disgrace of the duchy—had become the only Spiritist in the world. The shocking news had spread across continents.

But how?

That useless sister, who had never even dared to resist him despite all his bullying—how could someone like her possibly become a Spiritist?

It had to be some kind of trick.

Herman vowed to uncover the truth as soon as he returned to the Dominique estate.

And if his foolish sibling was lying, he would make sure to teach her a lesson—only tell lies you can get away with.

That’s why, the moment he arrived today, he had stormed straight to Ebony.

That had been the plan…

—

“Wow, Ebony! A-Amazing!”

“Even I didn’t expect this… I guess contracts are incredible.”

She hadn’t lied.

She hadn’t used any tricks.

She had awakened as a Spiritist.

The newspaper reports were true.

Herman was crushed.

Since his older brother, Leonhardt, couldn’t return due to his wife’s illness, Herman had been lucky enough to take over the successor training.

If Leonhardt officially became a son-in-law to his wife’s family, that meant Herman would become the next head of the Dominique family.

But now, an obstacle had appeared, putting his future at risk.

Even though Ebony was unloved, Duke Edward was a man who valued ability over sentiment.

If his daughter was more competent than his son, he would undoubtedly choose her as his successor.

Even if Leonhardt remained heir, Herman would be pushed aside in the inheritance.

Ebony, not Herman, would be next in line to inherit the fortune.

For the sake of his future, he had to get rid of this thorn in his side.

Herman grabbed Irene’s shoulder tightly and said,

“You’re on my side, right, Irene?”

“B-Brother?”

“We have to take her down. We must. For the sake of the duchy!”

“…….”

“Irene, you can do this, right?”

His grip on her shoulder tightened. Blue veins bulged across his tense neck.

—

“Can I do this?”

Irene barely held back a laugh.

This was exactly what she had wanted.

She had played the role of a good girl for too long, unable to act freely.

And now, her foolish brother had finally offered her a way forward.

“Of course, Brother. To protect our beloved duchy, I must help you.”

Though it was late, there was still time.

She would use this idiot to crush that wretched girl.

She would reclaim her rightful place and prove who the true Dominique was.

“So, Brother, you have to help me too.”

Herman turned to her in confusion.

Irene toyed with her pitch-black hair and closed her eyes.

A faint smile curled her lips as she spoke in a calm voice.

“Because I’m the real one.”

Herman’s face twisted.

“What… are you talking about?”

“Brother, you’ve always said it yourself. That I feel more like your real sister than Ebony does.”

“Of course! That’s because you have more qualities of a true Dominique, so I was just joking—”

“But what if it wasn’t a joke?”

“…What?”

Irene watched Herman’s eyes waver.

“You know that Ebony and I were born at the same time in the same place, right?”

She directly pointed out that the Dominique sisters had been born in the same moment.

“Yes, you were born in the duchy too.”

“Then isn’t it possible that we were switched?”

“What?”

“I inherited the duchess’s silver hair. I have her charming personality. Doesn’t that make more sense?”

“But Ebony inherited our mother’s power. That proves she’s the real daughter of Duchess Violet.”

If anyone asked who resembled Violet more, the answer was undeniably Irene.

But there was one undeniable fact—Ebony Dominique had inherited her mother’s power as a Spiritist.

That was the ultimate proof of her true lineage.

“Yes, exactly. That’s the strongest proof there is.”

“So then—”

“But I inherited it too.”

Irene’s next words made Herman freeze.

“I also awakened as a Spiritist.”

“What… did you say?”

Herman’s eyes shook violently.

“Then why didn’t you say anything before?”

“I only just summoned my spirit recently. I’m still learning how to control it.”

Irene sighed, acting as if she regretted not revealing it sooner.

“Besides, I didn’t want to hurt Ebony. If people knew I had inherited the duchess’s power, it would prove that she’s the fake one.”

She covered her face with both hands and let out a shaky breath as if holding back tears.

Herman clenched his jaw.

“That doesn’t make sense. There has never been a case of two Spiritists appearing at the same time!”

Irene suddenly stopped crying.

She slowly lifted her face, her eyes sharp and unwavering.

“Exactly. That means one of us is lying.”

“…….”

“Brother, who do you think that is?”

She started walking in slow circles around Herman.

“Isn’t it strange? That girl was completely powerless, yet she suddenly summoned a spirit—and even controlled it effortlessly.”

“…….”

“That’s not something that happens overnight.”

Despite her soft voice, a hint of mischief gleamed in her eyes.

Herman, who had been resisting, was beginning to waver.

Even if he wanted to believe what he saw, Irene’s words made too much sense.

Summoning a spirit and mastering it took years.

Yet Ebony, who had shown no sign of power before, had suddenly summoned a spirit and displayed immense talent.

If she had awakened a long time ago, she would have flaunted it sooner.

So why now?

Why was she suddenly rising after years of silence?

It didn’t add up.

“…Yes, she must have used some trick.”

There was no way a useless girl like that had truly become a Spiritist.

“She must be lying.”

Herman’s eyes burned with determination. His fists clenched so tightly that his veins bulged.

“Liars must be exposed.”

No matter what, he would tear off Ebony’s ugly mask.