Betrothed to My Sister's Ex (ずたぼろ令嬢は姉の元婚約者に溺愛される)

I'm so sorry for taking so long to arrive.

Is this person...

Episode 11 "The Empty Princess Lives"

Is that really Anastasia?

Yes. Her hair and manner of dress are different...

but there's no mistake.

Wait. That voice!

Marie! Is that you, Marie?

Yes.

Sister... it's you, isn't it?

It is.

She really is alive.

What's going on?

So you're Count Granado.

Release Marie from the betrothal immediately!

If all you want is someone to give you noble children, then I should suffice!

Wha—?

S-Sister, it isn't that you want to marry Lord Kyros, is it?

Of course not!

He's a piece of trash who would buy a woman's womb with money and power.

T-Trash?

Lady Anastasia, why have you appeared now, after all this time?

B-Because...

There seem to be some other circumstances at work here.

I'll send word to Norman.

For now, please come to the castle.

But I...

It's all right, Big Sister.

Sparkling

Sparkling

Now you're sparklingly clean, Sister!

Y-Yeah.

Is this your room, Marie?

It's lovely!

I'm sorry, Sister.

You must be tired.

We could talk tomorrow after you've slept a bit.

No.

I have a responsibility to talk about this.

I... want to apologize.

I've never been able to protect you, Marie.

Sister...

How far back should I go...

Back when you had a fever...

That night, when Grandmother Sasha scolded me...

Grandmother?

Marie has fallen asleep.

Leave the rest to me.

Yes.

Languages from so many countries...

That's because people from many countries have sent them.

This is... Father's name, isn't it?

Why are you signing it, Grandmother?

Because everyone is born suited for some things and not for others.

That's true. Like me. I'm not smart like Marie.

Anastasia.

You possess an inventiveness that others do not.

It's an ability that will not shine through academics alone.

Grandmother!

Despite appearances, Gregor performs marvelously on musical instruments.

That path would have actually been the boy's—

M-Mama! Papa!

Don't call them here!

B-But...

It's already far too late.

In our era, we could not choose how to live our lives.

But the era you two will live through will be different.

I hope that each of you will make use of your strengths and do work that you love.

That is my only wish.

My mother has passed away.

What will happen to us?

Marie!

How much did you learn from my mother?

Do you understand Flarian?

I-I've only learned a little.

She must have caught Marie's illness.

Marie killed Lady Sasha!

It couldn't possibly have been Marie's fault.

But ever since that day, Mama has stopped seeing Marie as her daughter.

Marie.

Wouldn't you like to try attending school?

What?

It's a town school,

but I hear they teach the current usage of foreign languages there.

You like to study, don't you?

Yes, I do... but won't it cost money for me to attend?

It's all right. That's not something you need to worry about.

But the servants say they haven't received their wages for over two months.

That's because there's no need to pay the incompetent.

But...

I am the lord here. Will you defy me?

You see? Women who get a taste of education are so quick to rebel.

Entirely unendearing.

That's right.

You are a charmless, unlovely woman.

I am... not lovely.

You are ugly and impudent.

You'd never survive anywhere else.

The least you could do is study and be useful to the lord of this region.

Papa!

Why would you say such awful things?

Everything your father said is correct, my lovely Anastasia.

Marie, you understand, don't you?

You know that, though everyone loves Anastasia, you are not like her.

Yes.

Marie...

Dismissing the servants will take care of your tuition.

You will do the housework. And we'll sell your dresses, too.

Yes.

Very good.

If you obey me like this, it does grant you a tiny bit of charm.

Yes, Father.

That day, Marie's life completely changed.

She was made to work from dawn until deepest night.

In the blink of an eye, Marie became tattered and ragged.

Mama, why do you treat Marie like that?

What choice do I have?

That unlucky, sinister red hair...

Lady Sasha was cursed by that child and died.

What are you saying? What does Grandmother have to do with this?

Ah, but then there's you, Anastasia.

This beautiful blonde hair and those blue eyes...

It's as if Lady Sasha has returned to us.

It really is as if she's alive.

Mama... I'm alive.

Marie was in rags, but she was allowed into the outside world,

while I was like a doll, trapped inside the house.

Confound it!

Why aren't more significant figures proposing marriage?

Won't Marie be marrying anyone?

What man would ever want to take her as his wife?

But you're different.

As a noble's daughter,

you will fulfill the vital duty of marriage like a good girl, won't you?

Yes. It's wonderful!

The truth is, I'd like to try opening up a shop in the capital.

But...

all that I'm permitted to do is be an obedient, beautiful doll.

Crap! Where did she run off to?

That stuck-up wench... she threw herself in!

Looks like I tricked him!

Moron! Take that!

Anastasia threw herself into the river and died.

What are you doing?

His eyes...

What's your name?

A-Ana...

Arthur! Got a problem with that?

This kid seems to have some spirit.

What happened? What are you doing in a place like this?

U-Um, well, I was...

I made up a story then and there.