# Chapter 18: 18
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But that laugh seemed to offend Margaret.
—What are you laughing at? Do you think the gift I gave you is funny?
Radis shook his head instead of answering.
It wasn't the dress.
Radis laughed at herself.
She knew better than anyone that expectations would only lead to misery, so she couldn't help but laugh.
How dare he hope again even after having died so horribly not long ago?
"It's the perfect dress for me," Radis said.
At that, Margaret glared at her.
-Brilliant. It's the dress you'll wear to His Highness Olivier's birthday party. Of course it suits you.
But Jurich, who was ecstatically wearing her yellow dress, was horrified.
-Mother?
Radis could see Jurich's lips twitching as if to say:
—Are you crazy?
She didn't say it directly, but Radis knew: Margaret was a vain woman who highly valued outward appearances.
No matter how expensive it was, she always made custom dresses for each season. He even went to the extent of selling winter blankets just to pay off clothing debts.
She would rather sleep in the winter with only thin summer blankets than sell a fur shawl to cover her shoulders at a tea party.
How could such a person give that kind of dress to his daughter and take her to a high society banquet?
-Sure.
Margaret looked at Radis with a fierce, imploring gaze.
-Because? After trampling on the family's honor and humiliating your younger brother, do you think being confined to that room is punishment enough? Do you really think that's all? My God. If you have a little bit of consciousness in you, even the size of a fingernail, that can't be it, huh? Don't you think so, Radis?
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Radis decided to attend the birthday banquet of Olivier Arpend, the third prince of the Cardia Empire. And it wasn't because of the "awareness" that Margaret demanded of him.
Now that Radis had accepted the situation as his new reality, he was aware that he had to change.
She couldn't continue to sit still in her room while she waited for her harsh destiny to knock on the door.
Just in time, the birthday banquet was to be held at the residence of Marquisate Russell, the most influential noble house in the south.
Many people would attend this banquet. Radis didn't know when else he would get an opportunity like this again.
It was a long shot, but since Radis was desperate for any opportunity, she couldn't pass it up.
That's why Radis was going to attend that banquet, even if she had to wear such a horrible and tacky pink dress.
—Radius.
In the carriage heading to the marquis' residence, Jurich called out to her.
Jurich looked as beautiful as a spring fairy, as she was wearing a yellow dress that matched well with her soft blonde hair. But he looked like he was about to cry.
—Don't come near me once we reach the banquet hall. That dress... was 90 percent off in the catalog. If someone recognizes it, what should I do?
Radis accidentally tried to respond, "What's wrong with my dress?", but Radis realized why Jurich was so worried when he saw his expression.
Radis looked at his younger sister with new eyes.
Because she grew up with Margaret's distorted affection, Jurich was like a princess who never grew up.
This princess would later become engaged to a man from a viscount house with the full support of the Tilrod family.
It was a good family to marry into, considering that the Tilrod family did not have a noble title.
Of course, this was only possible with an adequate dowry.
To raise this money, Radis had to kill many monsters just for the magic stones he gave to his family.
Radis' blood, sweat, and tears were exchanged for gold coins that were used to purchase Jurich's dresses and jewelry.
While Jurich put on a white rose that symbolized a new bride and left the Tilrod mansion thanking her family, Radis was left immobilized in her bed, dying in extreme pain.
On such a good day, the moans that leaked out served as a shadow beneath Jurich's bright future.
However, although he married without problems, Jurich's happiness did not last.
Although Radis was ostracized in that mansion, she learned of Jurich's tumultuous marriage.
After sighing, Radis spoke.
—Big sister.
Jurich just looked at Radis with puzzled eyes.
—You have to call me "Big Sister", Jurich. This is how it should be. Instead of focusing on how expensive the dress is, you should consider the person wearing it more important. It doesn't matter how expensive your clothes are...
—Big sister? Ha!
Suddenly, Margaret interrupted Radis' sincere advice.
—You have to act like an older sister to be called that! Shouldn't you behave the same way you want to be called first?
Radis looked at Margaret with an exhausted look.
At this, Margaret's complexion changed.
—W-Why are you looking at me like that?
"If so, should I start calling you 'Margaret'?"
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Valiz