21. Matching Riding Outfits
“Ciel, what is the meaning of this?”
“The meaning of what, exactly?”
Having just checked into the ranch’s guesthouse and been shown to our room, I was interrogating Ciel.
“I’m asking why my sister and I are sharing a room.”
“Considering the number of people, I thought this would be the most suitable arrangement. …Although we weren’t expecting to require much assistance, I’m the only maid on this trip, which led to this room assignment. …Shall I have them prepare a separate room for you now?”
She was right.
…So I could have avoided this if I’d brought another maid.
But increasing the number of servants would have subtly increased the budget and the burden on the horses pulling the carriage, and I didn’t want any more maids giving us knowing looks. Above all, I didn’t want to introduce any ‘uncertain elements.’
I had already experienced the lack of fate’s support during the incident with the prince.
And now, I was experiencing the thoroughness of Ciel’s support.
I never dreamt there would come a day when I cursed the ‘competence’ of the person I trusted most.
Leticia, who had been quietly observing the situation, hesitantly spoke.
“Um… Elder Sister, do you… dislike sharing a room with me?”
Of course not!
…If only I could answer that way. How much easier it would be.
…Getting a separate room… well, while the Vanderwaals’ coffers were ample, that would be a waste of money.
I liked and trusted slush funds, but I hated wasteful spending.
“…Well, we’re traveling. There are bound to be some inconveniences.”
“So…?”
Ciel looked at me expectantly.
I sighed and nodded.
“There’s no need to change rooms.”
“As you wish.”
“Elder Sister…”
My sister breathed a sigh of relief, her anxious expression transforming into a radiant smile.
…My sister was truly adorable.
She could probably captivate any of the [Capture Targets].
Who she would choose… I didn’t know.
I wasn’t involved in any of the romance events.
However, I could participate in the events where she met them.
For some reason, the unseen playwright insisted on involving the ‘villainous sister’—me—who was supposed to be a nuisance.
I knew all of them.
Her three potential love interests—the First Prince, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Eustasia, the Captain of the Eustasia Knights, and the Chief Physician of the Royal Medical Corps—were all important figures in the kingdom.
I also had their personal information.
However, I couldn’t say I was personally close to any of them.
Even excluding Prince Konrad, the person we were about to meet wasn’t on good terms with me.
…Could I really trust them to care for my sister?
I wasn’t certain.
According to the story, they all eventually fell head over heels for her, each showering her with affection in their own way.
Whether I approved was another matter; what mattered was whether Leticia approved.
So far, the future I had seen had mostly… mostly come to pass.
My sister’s existence. The clothes “Tailor” made. The timing of the encounter with the prince. My sister and the prince’s self-introductions—and so on.
…Although my sister tripped, and the prince’s important line was missing, Prince Konrad seemed to have taken a liking to Leticia.
My sister was adorable, so I was confident that if I orchestrated their meeting, they would eventually be drawn to each other.
Even the legendary beauty from the eastern country, said to be a fox spirit in disguise, would be no match for my sister’s charm.
I would believe it if someone told me she was a fairy.
As the head of the Vanderwaals, all that mattered was that Leticia would quell the coming calamity.
And as an older sister… I wanted my sister to find happiness.
One step at a time.
Tracing the path of fate.
No matter how different the journey, as long as my sister was smiling in the final scene, that was all that mattered.
“Ciel, once you’ve changed, go ahead and prepare the horses. We’ll be there shortly after we’ve changed as well.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ciel bowed and left the room.
I took the riding clothes out of my trunk and tossed them rather unceremoniously at my sister.
“Get ready.”
“Okay.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, the open trunk between my sister and me, and started unbuttoning my jacket.
—Then, following my lead, my sister sat next to me and began to change as well.
…We were both women, and sisters, so there was nothing strange about it.
There shouldn’t be.
But I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at her, so I finished changing while deliberately averting my gaze.
At the entrance of the room, I tucked my trousers into my long boots, keeping my back to my sister so I wouldn’t see her.
I heard the rustle of fabric behind me.
A moment later, I sensed my sister, presumably finished changing, putting on her long boots.
Then, I heard her cheerful voice.
“Ready!”
“Slow…”
I turned around, intending to add a sarcastic “You’re late,” as befitting a villainous sister, but the words caught in my throat.
My sister, seemingly misinterpreting my silence, looked anxious.
“Is something… wrong? Do I look strange?”
No.
Quite the opposite.
…She looked… cute in that outfit.
A vibrant red riding jacket, a color that was becoming Leticia’s signature, paired with slim, form-fitting white breeches and dark brown leather riding boots.
While the design was the same as mine, they looked completely different.
As “Tailor” had said, ‘Lady Leticia is quite well-endowed,’ so the chest area was likely cut differently.
The color was also different; mine was navy blue. But that wasn’t the point.
Her short blonde hair and the activewear suited her, giving her a dashing air, which was both cute and refreshing.
I was beginning to understand “Tailor’s” oft-repeated philosophy, ‘Cute girls should wear cute clothes.’
I had thought I understood the power of clothing, having been raised as a noble lady… but it seemed I had been foolishly arrogant.
“…You should thank “Tailor.” The clothes are… not bad.”
I felt sorry for the third Capture Target, the Chief Physician, but at this rate, the second [Capture Target], the Knight Commander, might be so captivated by my sister’s charm that his turn would never come.
But the first Capture Target, the prince, had also seen Leticia in a dress.
It seemed a competition for my sister’s affections was about to begin.
…I hoped it wouldn’t be too ungentlemanly, or the country might be split in two. I prayed my sister wouldn’t be called a femme fatale.
“Yes! I’m grateful to “Tailor”!”
She had come to trust someone she had been so wary of before.
“And to you too, Elder Sister… thank you.”
…What was she saying?
“Me? I haven’t done anything to deserve your—”
“Elder Sister! …These are the clothes you ordered!”
Interrupting me, my sister exclaimed, then continued in a calmer tone.
“Of course, “Tailor” made them, but you’re the one who paid for them, right?”
“…It’s Vanderwaals money.”
“But you’re the head of the family, the only one who can authorize such spending, right?”
“…………”
…My sister was persistent.
She was making me realize that I had been relying too much on the title of ‘Head of the Vanderwaals Family’… on the nickname “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”
Most people who stood before me were intimidated. They understood the weight of this name… the ‘power’ this position held.
I was taken aback by Leticia, who showed no fear whatsoever.
“—Besides, I’m happy because they’re similar to your usual clothes, like we’re matching.”
Facing Leticia, her face flushed, I fell silent.
…I was losing.
I, too… when I saw my own riding outfit, already tailored and delivered, the same design as Leticia’s but in a different color, I was surprised.
There was no way “Tailor” would cut corners on the design.
Which meant… she thought it ‘suited Leticia’—
That an outfit designed to complement mine, in a different color, would suit my sister.
…That was it.
I was a little happy when I realized that.
Such a trivial thing as matching outfits with my sister in different colors made me happy.
And—I was overjoyed that my sister felt the same way.
That’s why… I was losing.
No, perhaps I never stood a chance from the beginning.
I was the villainous sister, and she was the protagonist.
“…Let’s go.”
“Okay!”
Leticia followed behind me like a duckling.
She smiled at me when I glanced back at the corner.
I turned the corner, forcing myself to look away.
――So far, the events were proceeding mostly according to the scenario.
But it was impossible to perfectly replicate such a complex story.
Besides, I was probably the only one aware that we were acting out a play.
That’s why I was trying to steer the gradually diverging storyline back on track.
Following the key points of the [Events], I would ensure that things proceeded according to fate’s scenario.
That’s why…
…It didn’t matter how different the journey was.
It shouldn’t.
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