74: The Lord’s Chambers
There was a room for me in the lord’s mansion.
To be precise, it was the ‘lord’s chambers.’
Only the lord and their relatives were allowed to use it.
There was only one bed—a large four-poster.
I had slept with my parents when I was young, but after a certain age, I had slept in the guest room.
So—it wasn’t strange for me to claim the bed, large enough for three people, and tell Leticia to sleep elsewhere.
As the villainous sister, I could also have her sleep in the servants’ quarters. While it wouldn’t do for my sister to be looked down upon by the servants, perhaps Ciel’s room, as a high-ranking servant, would be acceptable…? And wouldn’t my sister be more comfortable there? —Yes, that might be a good idea.
Ciel, placing our luggage in a corner of the room, asked for confirmation.
“So, Lady Adelheid, is it alright for you to share a bed with Lady Leticia?”
The inner beasts within me, the jockeys of my mind, mounted their horses and took off.
“That’s fine,” galloped ahead, a seemingly sensible choice.
“Have my sister sleep in the servants’ quarters,” was a tempting option for a villainous sister.
“It’s okay for an older sister to use her younger sister as a body pillow, right?” was completely out of control.
The spectators in the stadium of my mind cheered wildly for their chosen horses.
“…Ciel, explain your reasoning.”
It was a surprisingly close race, so I decided to prolong it.
I had a faint hope that all the horses would fall during the long race, creating a fourth option.
“First, Lady Leticia is undoubtedly a relative of the lord.”
That was undeniable. She was the lord’s sister, even if only a half-sister, and the first in line of succession.
“If they sleep in separate rooms, there are security concerns. We would need to assign servants to each of you. And since it would require an additional room, there would be a slight increase in expenses.”
Structurally, the lord’s chambers were the most secure room in the mansion. Having all those who required protection in one place would make it easier for the guards.
While it wasn’t like paying for an extra room at an inn, since this was our own mansion, it would still require time and money to prepare. I didn’t want to waste money. I understood that.
While it was a paltry sum for a family of our means, a noble’s status was ultimately determined by their financial power—not their lineage.
Impoverished nobles were… pathetic. Especially for their subjects.
We shouldn’t be wasteful.
The fact that I had given Leticia an attic room and kept her allowance relatively small, as dictated by the setting of [Moonlight Liberium], was based on that principle.
It made it difficult for me to argue against Ciel’s reasoning.
“Besides, you shared a room with her during your first overnight trip for the riding lesson.”
…So there was a precedent.
Right, of course, I had saved money by not getting a separate room. And we had shared a bed before. Of course.
My inner noble lady, usually kept under wraps, emerged in full force.
While I had initially banished her to the sofa with a blanket and pillow, I was also the one who had let her into my bed when she was frightened by the thunder.
I felt a surge of recklessness, wanting to embrace the third option and declare, “Leticia, you will be my body pillow. Sisterly affection? Don’t be absurd. This is purely objectification! Mwahahaha!”
But I had to calm down.
Negotiations continued until the other party was exhausted and gave up.
I couldn’t give in so easily.
I was Adelheid von Vanderwaals.
The current head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”
“Um… Elder Sister…”
Leticia looked at me.
What was she going to say now?
No matter how adorable she was, I wouldn’t be swayed.
I steeled my resolve.
My sister, without a word, gently tugged on my sleeve and gazed at me intently.
Of course, I was instantly swayed.
…So, silence, huh?
That couldn’t be helped.
My resolve was to withstand any adorable words from my sister, not any adorable actions.
But was there any older sister who wouldn’t be swayed by such a cute gesture?
Could you even call yourself an older sister?
――No. Absolutely not.
“…Fine, whatever… it doesn’t matter.”
Even so, I tried my best to maintain my villainous sister facade and shook off her hand, which was still clutching my sleeve.
I immediately regretted it.
My sister still didn’t say anything.
But she smiled faintly.
And I… could only respond with sarcasm.
The men—the [Capture Targets]—who were openly affectionate towards her, must be seeing an even more adorable side of my sister.
A dark feeling, like a spreading stain, seeped into my heart, and I was bewildered.
I was used to malice. Our family thrived on it.
However, despite being called cold, heartless, cruel, ruthless, and wicked, I had never given such orders out of personal spite.
Perhaps that was why I was called those things.
Looking at my sister’s smile again, the dark cloud in my heart dissipated.
She was truly a precious sister, too good for someone like me.
…Would it be wrong to hug her and sleep with her…?
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