Raising my Fiancè with Money

Chapter 85: Rivals

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The Delotta family was known for being wealthy from generation to generation. When it comes to choosing the wealthiest families in the empire, except for the Imperial family, they were never left out and Bloden was second in line after Delotta.

Stella and Lilia, the daughters of the two families, were always on the list of comparisons. A family that is considered to be one of the wealthiest in the same status, and even the same environment.

Until then, Stella had felt a subtle superiority towards Lilia. After all, it was Delotta that stood at the apex.

However, as time went by, Bloden gradually came up, and eventually the situation got reversed. In the midst of an equal struggle, Bloden jumped over Delotta. From then on, being compared to Lilia was a daily routine for Stella.

— She’s the same age as Miss Bloden, right?

— Compared to Miss Bloden…… Ahem.

Every time Stella passed by, people were busy mentioning Lilia behind her. And people’s comparisons only got worse as Bloden clearly outpaced Delotta.

As time passed, the difference became more evident. Stella Delotta has always been labeled as number two. Whatever she did, Lilia’s name followed her like a shadow.

The proud Stella worked tirelessly to beat Lilia. Dancing, studying, etiquette, socializing…. However, it was often blocked by a large wall known as Lilia.

The wider the gap, the more Stella resented Lilia. From the time Stella realized she couldn’t be equal, she showed her greed. If she couldn’t win with her talent, she wanted to take away what Lilia had, and to get rid of her temper, Stella took all the things that were touched by Lilia’s gaze.

But even so, Lilia didn’t look at Stella. She ignored her as if it were not worth dealing with.

— Bad-tempered girl.

Stella was upset that she was the only one struggling.

One day, when Stella’s days continued to chase after her, Lilia got a fiance. Lilia was busy pretending to be nice and well-behaved to her fiance. Stella found it very abominable.

She was sure it would come back to normal soon, but Lilia’s pretense of kindness continued. She became less talkative and laughed quietly even when Stella talked to her. 

After a few years, Lilia’s presence became blurry. There was no longer Lilia around all the time, who was considered the main character of society even if she stayed still.

In the meantime, Stella lost weight to imitate the heroine of her favorite novel. Since then, people’s views have changed, and Stella quickly become a social celebrity. Stella, who was always just a supporting role because of Lilia, felt like she became the main character.

But the joy was only for a moment. Because she knew this place wouldn’t last forever. Stella was anxious because she didn’t know when Lilia would take her place again.

While obsessively trying to manage herself, she continued to find a way to be ahead of Lilia. It was then that she thought of an engagement to Karhan Evantheon. Stella could become a Duchess if she married Karhan. It was a way to grab a higher status than Lilia.

Since then, Stella has been begging her parents to get engaged to Karhan Evantheon. Fortunately, positive stories were exchanged from the Evantheon family as if they didn’t hate it.

Stella firmly believed that this engagement would happen. Until Karhan said he’s dating Lilia.

“……!”

Stella opened her eyes wide. At the same time, a headache rushed in, and Stella exhaled for a moment. When she felt somewhat better, she looked around slowly.

It was an unfamiliar room. Unlike her bedroom, which was filled with all kinds of things and colorful wallpaper, it was a room with little furniture and white wallpaper. All there was was the bed Stella was lying on, a side table, and a chair.

“Is it a dream…..?”

What’s going on here? Mumbling to herself, Stella recalled her last memory. She went into the shop she had been eyeing before, and there…… Ah.

As soon as she realized, the door opened.

“You’re awake.”

Surprised, Stella got up. Lilia stood at the door with her arms folded.

“……Where am I?”

“My family hospital.”

Lilia, who loosely folded her arms, walked slowly toward Stella. Her figure was like a beast in front of its prey so Stella pulled up the quilt as if to hide. Lilia, who stopped by the bedside, looked down at Stella and said,

“Do you remember falling down in front of me? They finished your treatment for now.”

“I didn’t ask for your help.”

A harsh remark came out. Lilia raised her lips crookedly, and then said,

“You’re such a jerk.”

Stella blinked for a moment at the words that came out of Lilia’s mouth. Lilia, who said harsh words, casually glanced at Stella.

“You’d better stop taking that drug.”

Her shoulders stiffened. Stella stared at Lilia in doubt.

“W-which drug?”

She said it with a face that showed she had no idea, but Lilia opened her mouth as she knew everything.

“The doctor said if you keep taking it, you won’t be able to walk properly later. And you don’t have anything more to lose from there.”

Stella’s face flushed red. It was disgraceful that Lilia learned her secret.

Stella has so far been taking medications that are effective for her weight loss, albeit with side effects. 

At the same time, she was afraid of gaining weight, and recently, she has been unable to eat much food. She thought about quitting the drug, but she couldn’t stop taking it because she thought her body shape would go back to its original size.

While Stella was biting her lips hard, Lilia muttered lightly,

“If you need, I’ll give you a consultant I know.”

Stella was confused. What was wrong with Lilia, who always ignored her. Is she feeling superior to the fact that she has caught a weak spot? Or maybe it’s petty sympathy. Stella clenched her fist with her skinny hands.

“Are you pitying me? I’m sure you must be laughing at me from the inside!”

As Stella shouted, Lilia frowned. Stella poured out the words that she had been swallowing up until now.

“How far are you going to go to make me miserable? It’s all your fault, I’ve come to this!”

She gasped out of breath immediately, and Lilia, who was still, asked,

“It’s my fault?”

“…….”

“What did I do?”

Her calm purple eyes gleamed. Stella went speechless the moment she met those eyes. In fact, Stella knew. Lilia didn’t do anything wrong to her.

It was the evaluation and comparison of those around her that brought Stella to the brink. Stella just needed someone to blame.

“I told you to lose weight? Or did I gossip behind your back?”

Stella closed her lips. It was the first time Lilia spoke with such an angry face. She had always looked at Stella with a smile or a sarcastic look.

“Only once or twice will I let it pass. I’m not your parent, how long do I have to accept your whining?”

Stella was frozen and silent. She had to refute it, but her head still wasn’t working properly. Stella clenched her blanket and uttered only a sentence.

“……I hate you.”

“For the first time we agree. As do I.”

Stella was shocked for a moment by her quick reply. She had never said it so openly before, but she didn’t expect Lilia to respond right away. Stella, who recalled what Lilia had done wrong to her, slowly opened her mouth.

“You even stole my fiance.”

“Let’s be honest. There were only talks about engagement, and you were just a stalker.”

“Stalker?!”

“Is it a stalker who follows people day and night or am I mistaken?”

Stella bit her lip and stared at Lilia. She was annoyed because she couldn’t say a word. Stella threw down the blanket she was holding.

“Nothing helpful has happened in my life.”

“You keep saying what I want to say.”

“Oh, come on, just listen!”

Stella flared up, and Lilia nodded her head as if giving her permission to speak. Then there was silence in the hospital room. Stella opened her mouth, glaring only at the innocent floor.

“Honestly, I don’t appreciate you helping me this time.”

Lilia pressed her lips. She seemed to have mouthed, ‘Shut up,’ with her lips. Where the hell did she learn such vulgar words? Stella continued her words with a frown.

“You’ve ignored me all this time anyway. And when I’m with you, I’m annoyed because I’m always compared to you.”

Stella recalled the wounds she had suffered so far. It was a feeling of inferiority that Lilia would never know all her life.

“Even if I try hard, all I can hear is your story…….”

What the etiquette professor said still lingered in her ears.

— Do you think you’re that good? Miss Bloden learned it in two days.

Stella murmured, her eyes closed and opened.

“You had everything I wanted from the beginning…… Showing off…….”

“…….”

“That’s why I hated you.”

She felt a little relieved after saying that. She was busy picking a fight when she met up with Lilia, but it was the first time to bring out all the emotions she kept inside.

“Did you say everything?”

asked Lilia, who was silent. Stella nodded, and Lilia went straight to the point.

“I hate you, too.”

When Stella got angry, Lilia quickly went on.

“Even when I am silent you pick a fight, you stole my family’s designs, then used them. You were planning to humiliate me when you invited me to the tea party.”

 Stella shut her mouth in horror at the incoherent words. In particular, stealing carriages’ designs was tantamount to a crime.

Of course, it wasn’t something Stella did by herself. The Bloden family designer came to Dellota’s mansion and offered to sell the design, and her family bought it.

But it was the unchanging fact that they stole it. She had been feeling uncomfortable for a long time because of that. Stella’s lips were pursed for a long time.

“……I’m not sorry about anything else, but I apologize for stealing the design.”

It was an apology that didn’t feel sorry at all because she had her head stiffened. But this was Stella’s last pride. However, when she apologized, there were many things on her mind. And working with Richard to get revenge on Lilia…….

Of course, it wasn’t long before she stepped back. It was because after calming down her anger, she thought she had joined hands with Richard too hastily. In the end, she ignored all the calls from him, but it was true that they cooperated even for a moment.

“Stella Delotta.”

Stella flinched at the quiet call.

“Can you swallow the soup?”

“I don’t know.”

As one of Lilia’s eyebrows rose, Stella quickly added.

“If the soup is thick, I throw up.”

“Then let’s make it as watery as possible.”

Lilia looked straight at Stella and said firmly,

“Get counselling.”

“…….”

“I heard that eating disorders have a lot of psychological factors.”

Stella didn’t answer and chewed on her nails. With a light sigh, Lilia turned around.

“I’m going to go because I’m busy. Take a rest and go on your own.”

Stella, who was biting her nails, asked quietly,

“……Are you going to spread a rumor?”

“If I was going to do that, I would have spread it at the last tea party.”

Lilia replied with a look of annoyance. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard any rumors about me since the tea party. Lilia kept it a secret.

Stella pressed her lips. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t say it out loud. Lilia glanced at Stella and then left the room. She heard the door closing and Stella lay on the bed like she was falling down.

“What…”

The red-faced Stella only grabbed the innocent pillow.