The next morning, I found myself at another awkward breakfast, only this time it was at our home. Sigh, wasn't it bad enough that yesterday's breakfast nearly gave me indigestion now I have to deal with this?

Yvon and I were having breakfast with our parents and eldest sibling, our older brother Yves. Although we were in the same room, it felt like we weren't on the same continent. Our Mom sat beside Yves and Dad leaned more towards them from the middle, on our side Yvon and I were quietly eating our food.

"Yves, dear," Mom called, her voice dripping with maternal affection, "Have you given any thought on the commander's request regarding deploying more troops to the border?"

"I have," he answered, "I've taken it into account while drafting the revisions to the plan we've been building to reclaim Rouge Canyon."

Then dad beamed, "You're quick to act as always, son."

Mom turned her attention to our side of the table and asked in a cheerful voice, "Yves, darling! What have you been up to these days? I've been so busy that we haven't had much time to talk lately."

Yvon muttered just loud enough for me to hear, "By 'lately' does she mean the first eighteen years of our lives?"

I stomped on his foot hard and he did a good job at suppressing his yelp.

Composing himself he answered, "I've been studying the research on the Faletusi in the imperial library. It's been quite difficult since not many scholars have tackled it."

Mom nodded but seemed to be uninterested in what Yvon was saying but she still had a cheerful expression on her face, "By the way, when is your final evaluation? I take it that this will be your last one since you two will be graduating soon. We wouldn't want to miss it now, would we?"

Yvon and I exchanged confused looks. I turned to her and said, "Mom, the final evaluation was three months ago."

She almost choked on her food, "What?"

"Also," I continued, "The graduation was held last month. Yvon and I had to miss it since it was in the same week as Yvonne's wedding, remember?"

Our parents looked dumbfounded and were speechless.

"Why didn't you tell anyone about the evaluation or the graduation?" Yves asked.

Yvon sighed, "We did, actually, multiple times. For the evaluation we asked all of you to come but you were busy planning the wedding. I asked repeatedly and after the sixth time Yvette said it'd be best if we didn't push the matter further because your schedules were full. When graduation rolled around it was the week of Yvonne's wedding and you said that our family should focus on it since our eldest sister getting married was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Dad apologized, "I'm really sorry we missed the evaluation and that you had to skip your graduation, things just got so busy."

"We're sorry, you two," mom added, "But you have to understand that your sister's wedding was important, which was why most of our attention was on it. We didn't mean to miss out on your milestones in your life."

"You don't have to explain anything to us Mom, Dad. Yvon and I knew how hectic things were," I said but deep inside I still felt a pang of disappointment.

Dad held my hand, "Still, we're sorry sweetheart. You must've been looking forward to your graduation."

"Both of us were actually looking forward to it but what's the use of crying over yesterday when tomorrow is another day?" I replied.

Yvon placed his hand on my head ruffling my hair, "While we have your attention, may I bring this one here to the restaurant today? I have to check out the new equipment in the kitchen and have her taste test a new recipe I've been working on. Would that be alright?"

"That's alright," Mom agreed, "But then you have to accompany her to the tailor this afternoon for her gown fitting. I wanted to be the one with her when she tries the gown on but unfortunately I have a meeting with the intrépolians."

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Yvon furrowed his brows in confusion, "Fitting? Gown fitting? What fitting?"

"Her wedding gown fitting," Dad said, causing us to be more confused.

"But I haven't even picked out a design yet," I interjected.

"Oh that's alright," Dad remarked, "Your older sister had three gowns made, remember? You'll be using one of those. Your mother said you liked one of them."

I was perplexed, "What?"

"Yvonne mentioned it during one of her fittings," she explained, "She said that you liked one of the gowns that they were making for her and that you wanted to wear it for your wedding. I thought that it'd be a waste to have another one made when you already have something you like! It's so nice that you two are close. I'm certain she wouldn't mind you using one of her extra gowns."

I forced a laugh and mumbled, "Oh she would mind alright and we aren't that close."

Yvon was dumbfounded and leaned towards me whispering, "Hey, your older sister told our mom another bold-faced lie."

I gave a slight nod, "Mhmm. And why are you talking as if she isn't your older sister as well?!"

Then in the midst of that, Yves dropped his cutlery, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Yvette is getting married?"

♡

After I finished preparing for our trip to town, I headed down stairs and found Yves in his uniform standing in the foyer. He was probably on his way to work.

I stopped walking for a moment to say goodbye, it would've been rude of me just to pass by after locking eyes with him. Maybe if it were Yvon I wouldn't have batted an eye but I wasn't close to Yves.

"We'll be off now, have a great day at work. See you later!"

Just as I was about to leave, Yves's voice stopped me.

"Is it true that you agreed to the arrangement willingly?"

I turned to him, surprised by his question, "Yes, I did. Is there a problem?"

Yves looked puzzled, "No, there's no problem. I'm just surprised. I didn't expect you to be compliant, I thought you'd kick up a fuss when you found out that they decided things without your opinion."

I blinked in confusion, "I what? I kick up a fuss? Where did you even get that idea? I rarely share my opinion, when have I ever kicked up a fuss, Yves?"

He shook his head, "You don't have to hide your childish side to me, I know all about it already. Yvonne told me all about how you act up when things don't go your way. I'm glad that you're maturing."

Another lie from Yvonne. Honestly I'm not even surprised anymore.

Before I could even say anything, he continued, "The agreement between the Nieges and us Oryxes to have a son from their family and a daughter from ours wed has been in place long before you were born. We're lucky that the agreement didn't specify which of each family's children were to be wed because, thanks to it, we were able to find a loophole and keep the agreement and our connection to the Serebro duchy."

"I'm sorry that you ended up being a political tool, but our parents and the officials of the county are just thinking of what would be best for the county and... for you," he added.

I'm curious as to what his explanation would be as to how being used as a pawn could be in my best interest.

"Lev is a good man. You won't find a better prospective husband here in the capital than him. Mom and Dad made a good choice pairing you up with him."

I was touched by Yves's words. When he said that our parents were thinking of what would be best for me I thought that he meant that being a political tool would be beneficial for me but he might've been referring to our parents finding a good husband for me.

"The Nieges had been looking forward to Yvonne becoming a part of their family and were disappointed when her engagement to Lev didn't happen. Now that you're Lev's fiancée and the wedding is only a few weeks away, you have to be strong. You have to remember that you're not Yvonne," he added.

A moment ago I was touched, now it feels like I'm being jabbed repeatedly.

He continued, "You don't have to match her wits or her talents. Don't force yourself to be Yvonne. You're not her. Just be yourself; you don't have to pretend to be someone you're not."

Though I was irked by his constant comparisons I bit my tongue and forced a smile, the natural looking smile I've practiced over and over again to hide my emotions. A smile that only Yvon could see through.

"I'll keep that in mind, Yves. Now I really have to go, Yvon's waiting. Goodbye," As I walked away I muttered, "And I was beginning to think that our conversation was going well, sigh."

♡

As the carriage rattled down the cobbled street, I gazed out the window with a sour expression.

"What's with the glum look? You're ugly enough as it is!" Yvonne quipped.

Irked, I threw a pillow at his face.

"Honestly, what's with that expression?" He asked, his tone more serious.

"I ran into Yves on my way out of the house and he told me that he was surprised that I didn't kick up a fuss when I found out that our parents decided on my engagement without my opinion and that he didn't expect me to be compliant about it."

Yvon was confused, "You? Kick up a fuss? We've lived under the same roof since we were kids and he says something like that? Let me guess, this tidbit of information was something dear Yvonne told him?"

"Mhmm," I replied.

"That girl is really something. I can't really understand her," he said, "She's smart and talented, you'd think being the 'golden girl' would be enough for her but no, even though she has a flock of admirers her inferiority complex just goes through the roof! I don't even understand why she has an inferiority complex to begin with!"

I sighed and went to Yvon's side of the carriage to lie down on his leg.

"I don't get why she has to put us, more you than me, down in order to put herself on a pedestal," Yvon said as he petted me like some sort of pet.

If only our older sister's negative traits ended at her narcissism and inferiority complex.