Category: The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine

48: Snowy Morning

Waking up in my bedchamber, I noticed the unusual quiet.

Realizing the reason, I slipped out of bed, threw a robe over my shoulders, and went to the window.

My room was on the second floor, partly for security reasons.

As a bonus, it overlooked the garden, but the high walls obscured the view beyond.

The sky visible from the window was a clear, beautiful blue.

However, the whiteness and brightness of my view had nothing to do with that.

“…It’s snowed.”

A heavy snowfall, rare in the capital. It must have snowed heavily last night.

I opened the window, and the cold air brushed against my cheeks, waking me up further.

Below, the servants were shoveling snow—

“Oh, Elder Sister!”

…Huh?

It was quite puzzling why, among the servants shoveling snow, I could see the Vanderwaals’ most prized treasure, the first in line to inherit the title.

Frankly, it was beyond my comprehension.

Resisting the urge to stare blankly into the distance, thinking, There are things in this world that are beyond my understanding, I decided to face reality.

“Leticia… what are you doing?”

“Shoveling snow!”

That much was obvious.

The slightly oversized, thick beige wool sweater and the white muffler with pompoms, probably borrowed from the servants, looked adorable on her.

The slightly baggy trousers, her first non-skirt outfit since the riding breeches, also suited her well.

And in her hand, a snow shovel.

Shoveling snow was supposed to be the male servants’ job, but only female servants surrounded her.

Perhaps my surprise showed on my face, because Leticia continued,

“Most of the commuting servants couldn’t make it today because of the snow…”

I see. Certainly, aside from those who lived nearby, like Bella, the commuting servants were absent.

As for why the future head of the family, a noble young lady, was shoveling snow… I decided to accept it as just another Leticia quirk.

I thought it was one of her good qualities.

Unlike me, Leticia was well-liked by the servants and fit in with them, but surely they wouldn’t make her shovel snow.

So, she must have offered to help.

That was probably how she earned favorability points.

Indeed, seeing her in unusual attire, effortlessly working alongside the servants without a hint of sarcasm or complaint, was sending my favorability towards her skyrocketing.

But it felt somehow distant, as if there were an invisible wall between us—

“Elder Sister, why don’t you join us?!”

The vague melancholy I had been feeling vanished instantly.

The red-haired veteran maid, Bella, wearing a wool sweater twice the size of Leticia’s, not her usual maid uniform, frantically grabbed my sister’s shoulder.

“What are you saying?! You want the head of the family to shovel snow?!”

“It’s alright, Bella. Elder Sister is very open-minded.”

It was whispered, but I heard it clearly.

Bella was probably right.

However, Leticia continued to wave at me with a smile.

Where did she get that mental fortitude?

In all of Eustasia, Leticia was probably the only one who would call me “open-minded.”

Strange.

I was supposed to be mean to her.

Why could she invite the current head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals”…

…to shovel snow, of all things, so casually?

Then, her expression clouded over, noticeable even from this distance.

“…Oh, but… someone like Elder Sister… has probably never shoveled snow before… right?”

She finally realized.

However.

“…Don’t underestimate me. I’m an Eustasian woman, too.”

Ciel had trained me in all sorts of things.

Heavy snowfalls like today’s occasionally occurred in the Eustasian capital, but it didn’t usually accumulate this much.

But, she said, there was a possibility I might have to flee through snowy regions…

I wasn’t going to complain, since I had acquired many useful skills thanks to her training.

I was grateful to Ciel.

…However, I wondered what kind of situations she had envisioned to warrant such training.

I was the head of the Vanderwaals family.

Our family had ancestral wealth and authority.

I had undoubtedly received an education befitting my position.

…However, now…

Even if I were no longer the head of the Vanderwaals, I felt like I could survive.

If it was just a matter of living quietly, somewhere far away, alone.

And if…

What if…

…I wasn’t alone?

I felt like I could even provide for my sister.

Leticia, down below, tilted her head, looking at me, speechless.

Bella and the others seemed nervous.

I chuckled.

“I’ll get changed and come down. …Wash your necks and wait.”

Then, I grinned.

Bella and the others paled…

Leticia smiled brightly.

“Okay! I’ll wash my neck and wait!”

…She was disarming me.

I had heard that in the Eastern countries, they had a delicacy made from poisonous fish, detoxified by removing the internal organs. I felt like I was being slowly detoxified.

I closed the window and walked slowly towards my bed.

Then, I jumped into the covers and groaned.

“My sister is too cute…!”

I buried my face in the pillow and cried out in a muffled voice.

I lay still, slowly counted to five, and then sat up.

“…Haa…”

This wasn’t an [Official Event] or anything.

I got out of bed, straightened the covers, and opened the closet where my ‘outdoor’ clothes were kept—the clothes I wore for discreet inspections, concealing my identity as a noble.

After a moment’s hesitation, I chose a wool sweater similar to the one Leticia was wearing, except it was black.

It wasn’t that I wanted to subtly match with her or anything. Absolutely not.

It was simply a practical, active outfit for shoveling snow.

…I made excuses, even though I didn’t know who I was trying to convince, as I chose my clothes.

Opening a drawer, I noticed two pairs of fluffy earmuffs.

One was beige, probably the original color, and the other was dyed black.

From my older sister’s perspective, the sudden drop in temperature made her look cold… Leticia’s cheeks and ears were red.

“…………”

I hesitated, then picked up both earmuffs.

“Oh, Elder Sister!”

The female servants in the garden looked slightly nervous.

Well, that was only natural.

While having one more person would lighten their workload, if that person was the head of the family—especially the Vanderwaals family—it would undoubtedly increase their stress.

But my sister had invited me.

If they wanted to blame someone, they could blame Leticia. Feeling refreshingly unburdened by this convenient shifting of responsibility, I successfully ignored their subtly resentful glances.

I threw the earmuffs at my sister, who greeted me with a smile.

“Whoa!”

She looked startled but caught them reflexively.

“Here’s a present for you.”

“This…?”

Leticia tilted her head, looking adorable.

“Are these… earmuffs?”

“Yes. I had an extra pair, so—”

Leticia’s face lit up.

She eagerly put on the earmuffs.

“I’m happy about the matching present.”

“…Look closely. Yours are beige, and mine are black. They don’t match.”

“They’re matching, but in different colors.”

Leticia wouldn’t budge.

They were probably made in the same workshop. Indeed, the black earmuffs I was holding seemed to be the same design as hers, just in a different color, so she was right.

But why would she even point that out…?

Unless… she was happy about it.

Why else?

“…………”

I silently put on the earmuffs.

My sister was so cute; it was painful.

47: To My Dearest Elder Sister

The sound of Adelheid von Vanderwaals’ disgruntled footsteps faded as she crossed from the marble floor to the carpet, and finally disappeared altogether. Leticia, still in her maid uniform but without the cap, murmured, looking down,

“…Does Elder Sister… dislike me?”

“Nah, I think a little better of her now. …She’s not usually unreasonable with the servants, y’know.”

The plump, red-haired Bella picked up the maid’s cap, dusted it off, and handed it to Leticia.

“What do you mean…?”

“She’s got a point. She’s worried about your future. After all, other young ladies start their education much earlier.”

Then, Bella grinned and pointed in the direction Adelheid had disappeared.

“And look, she took the cookies.”

“Oh…”

Despite calling it ‘this’ dismissively, she hadn’t thrown the package away or given it back; she was still holding it.

Bella patted Leticia’s shoulder encouragingly.

“…I hope your feelings reach her.”

“…Yes.”

Leticia closed her eyes, clutching the maid’s cap in her hand as if in prayer.

Back in my room, I first made sure the door was locked.

Then, my mood shifting, I practically skipped to my desk and eagerly unwrapped the package.

――A present from my sister!

I was truly elated. I had struggled to maintain a neutral expression and a steady gait until I was alone in my room.

While I wanted to keep it forever, it was just cookies, as she had said.

The rational part of me whispered, “Why are you so happy about something so cheap?” but it seemed I was easily pleased.

…Was this really appropriate for someone raised as a ducal daughter, now the head of the family?

That was precisely why I was so susceptible to heartfelt gifts.

When I said ‘heartfelt,’ I meant gifts with hidden compartments containing gold coins or cryptic messages.

White cloth, pink ribbon.

Compared to the heavy boxes from upscale shops, it was a charmingly simple package.

I usually left the ‘disposal’ of such wrapping paper, boxes, and ribbons to the maids, as I knew they held competitions for them, but this… I would keep.

The cookies were wrapped in crinkled tissue paper, and on top of it lay a small card.

The message—’To my dearest Elder Sister.’

…What did my sister find so dear about me?

While the inexplicably high praise made me anxious about the future, I decided to consider it one of her subtle charms that would win over the [Capture Targets].

What a thoughtful sister, to include such a sweet message with a gift for her mean older sister.

I took out my ‘letter box’ from my desk drawer.

Made of ebony with intricate carvings and gold inlay, it wasn’t for work; it was for personal correspondence.

It held letters from my mother during her illness, a letter from my father containing advice for the future head of the family, which he had intended to give me upon my inauguration, and letters exchanged with Ciel when we had a brief period of exchanging letters… It held precious, private letters.

Prince Konrad’s congratulatory letter for my inauguration, on the other hand, had been tossed into the work letter box, which was numbered by date.

I carefully opened my personal letter box and placed Leticia’s message card on top.

Replaying the words ‘Dearest Elder Sister’ in Leticia’s voice in my mind, savoring the sound, I unfolded the tissue paper and examined the cookies.

“…How elaborate.”

I had handled the package a bit roughly, so I was worried they might be broken, but they were fine.

Not just the standard round and square shapes, but stars… and even hearts.

The heart shapes made me feel a strange sense of foreboding, and I laughed it off.

What was she thinking?

I took a bite, and a gentle crunch was followed by the sweet taste of butter and sugar spreading through my mouth.

“…Delicious.”

They were simple butter cookies, but that made them all the more difficult to perfect.

If you weren’t careful with the oven temperature, they would quickly burn.

While butter was readily available, refined sugar, once a luxury, was now commonplace and inexpensive.

That was one of the ‘spoils of war’ the Kingdom of Eustasia had won.

The fact that I could eat this now was a direct result of the prosperity built by our predecessors.

――I had inherited that.

I had a duty to increase it, improve it, and pass it on to the next generation.

Duty and loyalty.

Peace for Eustasia.

What those words brought about were these small moments of happiness.

Perhaps it was also because I was tired from being out.

I couldn’t stop munching on the cookies, my hand reaching for a different shape each time.

I wanted some tea, coffee, or warm milk, but I couldn’t bring myself to call a maid for such a snack, especially after my harsh words earlier, so I continued to eat the cookies alone.

That being said, there weren’t that many.

I ate them at a rapid pace, and finally, only one remained.

It wasn’t that I had saved it intentionally, but I picked up the heart-shaped cookie and gazed at it.

Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes.

The weight of my fate, unable to simply enjoy the cookies my sister had baked for me, hit me hard.

I felt a profound sadness.

I quickly popped the cookie into my mouth, trying to dispel the sadness with its sweetness.

“…Bitter.”

If I had simply thanked her properly, would it have tasted like this?

The color of the cookie hadn’t changed.

It wasn’t burnt.

And yet, it tasted incredibly bitter.

46: How to Use ‘Freedom of Action’

Waiting for me in the white marble entrance hall when I returned home that afternoon were Leticia and the plump, elderly, red-haired maid. Now that I thought about it, she was the one I’d tasked with looking after Leticia when I first assigned her to the attic room.

“Welcome home, Elder Sister!”

Leticia greeting me upon my return wasn’t new.

While I was always happy about it, I didn’t understand what my sister gained from it.

――However, today was different.

“…Leticia, what are you wearing?”

I put on a stern expression.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I used every ounce of my willpower to suppress the urge to grin.

“Oh, this? I didn’t want to get my usual clothes dirty, so I borrowed this.”

A simple black dress.

A white apron dress with frills at the shoulders.

A white maid’s cap perched neatly on her head.

It was the Vanderwaals maid uniform—in other words, a maid outfit.

Modest yet neat, and, according to the younger maids, a bit plain.

However, it was a universally flattering design, suitable even for older maids like the plump, red-haired one currently standing behind Leticia.

On my sister, it had enough destructive power to crush my heart.

“…Dirty? Why would you…”

“――Since you gave me ‘freedom of action,’ I wanted to do something for Elder Sister.”

Leticia smiled, and I noticed the package she was holding to her chest. Wrapped in white cloth and tied with a pink ribbon… what was it?

“I used the kitchen and baked cookies. At the bakery I worked at, we also made and sold sweets, so I learned how to make them…”

This was an unexpected way to use her ‘freedom.’

My sister, looking up at me with her head tilted slightly, offered me the package of cookies.

“…Will you… accept them?”

It felt like a confession.

That thought sprang to mind unbidden.

Her adorableness was overwhelming, like a scene from a romance.

Her slightly teary eyes, her nervous expression, all were devastatingly cute.

I could almost see flower petals scattering around her, a message window popping up despite my non-protagonist status.

――As expected of the protagonist. She would charm the men who held the future of our nation in their hands, wrapping them around her little finger.

…But how should I respond?

I didn’t know about this event.

This…

…this ‘close sisters’ kind of event.

This…

“…Well, as they say, ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’”

I deliberately chose a proverb that discouraged scrutiny or complaints about a gift, implying that I wasn’t particularly impressed.

Even so, when I took the package, Leticia’s anxious expression transformed into a bright, blooming smile.

Inwardly, I was so elated by my sister’s unexpected gift that I wanted to ask her for a dance right then and there.

But if I did, I would probably just make her dizzy again.

Perhaps my love was too heavy.

“—However, refrain from appearing in public dressed as a servant in the future.”

Nobles had a certain standard of decorum to uphold.

Servants and nobles were ‘different.’

No.

They had to be different.

Even if, in reality, there was no such difference.

We had to draw a line, make it visible.

“Yes…”

Leticia’s face fell.

It was only natural for her to be dejected if her gift was received without enthusiasm and even met with a reprimand.

What a horrible person I was. I deserved to be executed.

Leaving that for my future self to deal with, I raised my hand to comfort my dejected sister.

Just then, the elderly maid, who had been standing behind us, stepped forward protectively.

“Hey now! There’s no need to raise your hand at her for something like this!”

…She misunderstood.

I sighed and tried to explain—but the words caught in my throat.

What should I say? …“I was just going to pat her head to comfort her because she looked sad.” …?

That wouldn’t work, would it?

Seriously.

That wasn’t ‘behavior befitting a villainous sister.’

What was I thinking a moment ago?

Why did I reach out my hand?

I, the ‘villainous sister,’ had no right to do such a thing.

I raised my hand higher and swatted the maid’s cap off Leticia’s head.

“Ow…”

Leticia clutched her head.

The pin that had secured the cap to her hair clattered against the marble floor.

Seeing a single strand of blonde hair caught on the pin made my heart ache.

My sister had been hurt—I had hurt her.

In such a trivial moment, not even part of an [Official Event].

Even if it was just a single strand of hair.

I had hurt her.

“You…!”

“This is a Vanderwaals family matter. How do you intend to conduct yourself after I’m gone if you can’t even maintain proper decorum?!”

I slapped away her hand, which had reached out to grab my arm, and glared at her.

Leticia, smoothing her hair, murmured,

“…After you’re gone…?”

…Oops.

I misspoke.

“…What do you mean? You have no future in this house. —It is out of sisterly affection, even if we are half-sisters, and a noble’s duty. I am responsible for your education until you are married off to a suitable family.”

While my sister was presentable enough to be introduced to any family, this dilemma of wanting to keep her all to myself because she was too precious…

“…You intend to use your sister as a political pawn?”

“Stay out of this, Bella. You and I see things differently.”

The plump, elderly, red-haired maid—Bella—stared at me, wide-eyed.

“My name…?”

“I know the names of the servants employed in this house.”

Of course, it wasn’t out of any affection for the servants; it was simply a necessary precaution for the head of a family with secrets, who could only employ those with verifiable backgrounds.

It would be dangerous not to know the names, faces—and physiques, gaits, manners, speech patterns, and family structures—of the servants.

I silenced Bella, who seemed about to speak, with a cold glare.

She was one of the most senior maids. She was well-liked for her plump figure and kind, compassionate nature.

She was one of the reasons our family, despite being known as the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” had a relatively high servant retention rate. She was a valuable asset.

――I could even say I trusted her. At least enough to entrust her with the care of my sister, who was likely anxious in her unfamiliar surroundings.

However, she and I saw the world differently.

She had a close, loving family: a skilled craftsman husband, who would sometimes complain but also subtly brag about her, and grown children with families of their own. Since she lived nearby and commuted, I had seen them.

They sat around a large table, the curtains open to let in the sunlight, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

It was a picture-perfect scene of the peace and tranquility of Eustasia that I had sworn to protect.

Something I didn’t have.

“All nobles are political tools.”

Both Leticia and I were merely tools, cogs in the machinery of fate.

Like parts that moved the pocket watch I always carried in my breast pocket.

Even so, my sister had been given a good ‘role.’

I looked at Leticia and murmured,

“…Duty… and loyalty.”

My sister didn’t respond.

She simply stared at me, silently.

“You have… more important things to do than ‘this.’ You carry the Vanderwaals blood, after all.”

I abruptly turned away and headed towards my room.

45: [New Navigable Map Unlocked]

—-

[New Navigable Map Unlocked]

…With those words, the protagonist’s range of action expanded in [Moonlight Liberium].

The introductory events for the [Capture Targets] were over, the basic noble education was considered complete, and from this point, the game truly began.

…Or rather, from the villainous sister’s perspective, this was a milestone, a point where a burden was lifted.

From here on, it was the [Protagonist] who would be acting.

Not the [Villainous Sister].

While I still had events remaining, the important romance events would unfold without me.

In terms of romance, I was purely a nuisance.

Not just because I was the villain, but even as her older sister, I doubted I’d be involved in any romance.

Whether or not to grant my sister freedom of action… was my decision.

Some foolishly doting noble parents kept their daughters sheltered from society.

Personally, I found it ridiculous, but it was their prerogative.

I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about social gatherings myself.

The Vanderwaals family’s connections with other families were based on requests, favors, or leverage.

There was no affection. It was often detrimental.

If the ‘head’ of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals” took a liking to someone—many wishes could be granted. Would be granted.

Just like I was currently favoring Leticia.

While it was true that I had the excuse of following fate’s script…

Even without it, I would likely use my authority to bring her happiness.

I wasn’t sure if I could restrain myself within reasonable limits.

What if Leticia desired such things?

What if she grew accustomed to luxury, forgot her time in the “back alley,” and became a foolish noble?

If that happened…

――I was responsible for my sister’s future.

I would make her a true noble.

I would make her loved by all.

With that resolve, I decided to let my sister go.

Even now, I wanted to hug her, be kind to her, spoil her.

I wondered if, by doing so, she and I could become true sisters.

Before such warm feelings could grow any stronger…

I wanted to lock them away, cage them, throw away the key… keep them hidden, for my eyes only.

I wondered if, by doing so, she would look at me—only me.

Before such dark feelings could grow any stronger…

I addressed my sister, fully recovered from her cold and back to her usual self, at the breakfast table.

“Leticia, I deem you to have acquired the demeanor befitting a noble—at least, the basics.”

I should let her go.

Before the darkness in my heart consumed her innocence.

“From today onward, you are granted freedom of action.”

No matter how lonely it made me.

An older sister shouldn’t restrict her younger sister’s future.

“Freedom of action…?”

Leticia tilted her head.

In the game, you could simply move to a location by pointing at it on the map.

Just like a simple board game that didn’t consider terrain or unit strength.

But in reality, you needed a means of transportation.

“You are permitted to use the carriage, to be accompanied by servants… and you will be allocated funds.”

In the game, it was date money.

To buy clothes from “Tailor,” buy books to study, go to the theater… In [Moonlight Liberium], a [Romance Simulation Game], everything was tied to romance.

Buying clothes was to impress the Capture Targets.

Studying was to show off your knowledge to the Capture Targets.

Going to the theater was simply a date with a Capture Target.

…As the head of the family, I could have denied my sister this freedom.

I could have forbidden her from going out, restricted her funds—cherished her like a songbird in a cage. I surely could have.

But Leticia wasn’t suited for a cage.

My sister belonged in the open sky.

I was a bird of prey, more suited for cloudy skies or the dark of night.

Even sisters were different.

I didn’t want to blame it on our different mothers, so it was probably my own personal issue.

My mother was a delicate woman, suited for the brief moments of sunshine during the cold winter months.

“Leticia, your actions from now on will be evaluated. Behave in a manner that does not disgrace the Vanderwaals family. —Duty and loyalty.”

“Yes, Elder Sister. Duty and loyalty.”

From today onward, she would think and act for herself.

Away from her overbearing sister’s watchful eye, she would deepen her relationships with the [Capture Targets]—and nurture her romantic feelings.

That was the correct scenario in [Moonlight Liberium].

“I’ll… do my best.”

Leticia clenched her fists, seemingly making a resolution.

She was a young woman of marriageable age. She must have things she wanted.

And above all, she probably wanted to escape the suffocating presence of her mean older sister—

“So I can be with Elder Sister.”

…I had a vision of a birdcage being opened, but the little bird refusing to leave.

A vision of it even perching on my shoulder or hand.

My heart was weak.

I was ashamed of my own weakness.

To cling to such a fantasy.

She must have taken my words, “If you don’t want to return to the ‘back alley,’ you’ll have to work hard,” seriously.

…Who would abandon her?

Who would cast her aside?

My one and only sister.

“…I have business outside the mansion. Ask Ciel for further details.”

“Okay.”

I stood up and left the dining table.

“Elder Sister.”

Leticia called out to me.

I turned around silently, and my sister smiled.

“Have a good day. I’ll be waiting for your return.”

…Why did she waste such a beautiful smile on me?

Without responding, I turned away and left the dining hall.

I stopped in the hallway, after confirming I was alone, and covered my mouth with my hand, as if to suppress the welling emotions.

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to kill my heart.

But the remnants of those unsuppressed emotions left scars on my heart.

I opened my eyes and looked at the door behind me.

Why did my sister…

Why did she smile at someone like me?

44: My Sister’s Recovery

Leticia was bedridden for two days.

On the first day, after her bath, I left her in the care of the maids, trying to appear as indifferent as possible.

On the second day, I stayed by her side, but Ciel took care of her bath.

As a ducal daughter, she shouldn’t be completely dependent on the servants.

However, a high-ranking servant in a ducal household was often more refined and trustworthy than a lesser noble. I was referring to Ciel, of course.

And today, on the third day…

Seeing Leticia at the breakfast table, it seemed her cold had completely subsided.

Perhaps due to her reduced food intake over the past few days, her cheeks were a little hollow, and she looked slightly thinner.

But her complexion had improved, and she no longer looked unwell. When our eyes met, she smiled.

“Hmph, you’ve finally recovered.”

I spoke as sarcastically as possible, as if I hadn’t noticed her smile.

Of course, inwardly, I was sighing with relief, “Thank goodness she’s better!”

Fate was on her side, but I knew that things didn’t always go according to plan.

Anything could have happened.

When a family member was ill, a lingering anxiety remained, no matter what I was doing.

It was the same with my mother.

Now, Leticia was my only remaining family.

Seeing my sister suffer was… difficult for me as her ‘big sister.’

Especially for me, the ‘villainous sister,’ who was far from being a good older sister.

Because I felt like I was to blame.

Because I felt like a despicable criminal, an accomplice to fate, tormenting my sister.

And because it was pathetic that, despite my position, I still felt hurt when criticized, revealing my soft heart.

“Thank you, Big Sis—”

“Call me ‘Elder Sister.’”

I corrected her sharply.

“Being ill is a sign of poor self-discipline.”

That was half-true, half-false.

Some illnesses were preventable.

If you weren’t living in hardship, getting sick was something to be ashamed of.

But everyone got sick sometimes.

Everyone had a different constitution—and different luck.

…And this time, it was a ‘cold’ ordained by fate.

It couldn’t be helped, even if everyone else blamed her, I wouldn’t.

“I expect you won’t make such an unsightly spectacle of yourself again.”

Even so, I had to say this.

I had to act this way.

“…Yes, Elder Sister.”

My sister sat down and bowed her head.

While it might seem obvious, choosing my words carefully was crucial, since, surprisingly, a relatively small portion of our conversations consisted of predetermined [Official Lines].

I was trying to emulate villains from novels and plays that would make the reader think, “Wow, what a jerk…!” and root for the protagonist, but I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right.

Lost in thought, I was reassured by the new maid’s exasperated murmur.

“Leaving her in that room in winter, without even a fireplace…”

I agreed.

Tell me more.

…However, even for a new maid, it wasn’t appropriate behavior towards her employer. I could overlook gossip among the servants as long as it didn’t spread too far, but voicing it within earshot was unacceptable.

“You there? —If you have something to say, say it clearly… and be prepared to stake your job on it.”

I smirked.

The new maid paled and fell silent.

She seemed to realize how careless her words had been.

Just as I was about to say something more villainous, Leticia stood up.

Was she going to defend me?

My sister was so kind.

The mean, current head of the family, disliked even by the servants, and the kind, future head of the family, beloved by the servants—it was a good contrast.

Ciel, who was fiercely loyal to me, wasn’t here, and these small moments were surely important.

I tried to appear as cold as possible, hiding my inner expectations from my sister.

Go on, Leticia!

“Elder Sister took care of me the whole time! Please don’t speak ill of her!”

Wait, Leticia.

You’re supposed to defend her.

The new maid, flustered, looked back and forth between my sister and me before retorting,

“B-but… My lady was bedridden for two days…”

Exactly.

I nodded inwardly, cheering on the new maid.

“When I caught a cold in the ‘back alley,’ I’d sometimes spend three days in bed with nothing but water! I recovered pretty quickly this time, actually.”

…I didn’t know what kind of life she had led in the “back alley.”

But the ability to recover from a cold in three days with only water, no medicine, and no nutritious food… was that normal?

Perhaps she had some kind of blessing from fate, but it seemed more like the resilience and recovery methods of a wild animal.

“In a room like that…”

“She contacted the Royal Palace and summoned the Chief Physician!”

Unable to find the right moment to interject, I watched the scene unfold, holding my breath.

The other maids did the same.

“She’s always so harsh to y—”

“Elder Sister is always thinking of me. She helped me change my clothes when I was sick, wiped my sweat, led me to the bath, washed my hair, dried me off, dissolved medicine in lukewarm water for me, and even cooled down my soup and fed it to me…”

“…Leticia.”

Something was wrong.

I had Ciel prescribe medicine that would also cloud her memories of the cold… it should have worked.

Why did she remember everything in such detail?

“Yes, Elder Sister.”

Inwardly, I felt like things were deviating significantly from the original plan, but I couldn’t bear to hear any more detailed accounts of my caregiving.

I had simply treated her the same way Ciel had treated me when I was sick as a child.

Thinking back, perhaps it had been a bit childish.

…I suddenly wondered how Ciel and my sister would treat me if I were to catch a cold now.

“That’s enough. Make sure I never have to do that again.”

“Yes, you mean take care of your health!”

So positive.

That was what I meant, actually.

…Would my meanness even have any effect on such a positive sister…?

Compared to the average noble lady, I thought I had led a hard life.

But compared to my sister, my hardships seemed insignificant; her mental fortitude was that strong.

…However, during our bath together, I realized that wasn’t the case.

Along with the small anecdotes from her time in the “back alley,” which only I knew, not the prince, the Knight Commander, or the Chief Physician…

I realized that she wasn’t some heroic figure with a heart of steel, impervious to pain, just because she was the [Protagonist].

And yet, this story demanded that of her.

A heart of steel to endure the torment. The spirit of a saint.

I, who wanted to protect her more than anyone, was her ‘enemy.’

My role was to embody the ugliness of aristocratic society.

As the ‘villainous sister,’ I was the ‘mean half-sister, a haughty young lady who doesn’t understand the kindness of others.’

But for now, the [Sickbed Event] had successfully concluded.

The first stage of her noble education was nearing completion, and [Free Action] would soon be [Unlocked].

In the game, this meant going to meet the Capture Targets, conversing with them, raising their favorability, and taking actions to trigger [Events].

In reality, it meant that my sister had been deemed to have mastered the basics of noble conduct, and her education, previously confined to the mansion, would now include interaction with other nobles.

Either way, my sister would be allowed far more freedom than before.

From now on, Leticia would decide her own course of action.

My opportunities to interact with her at the mansion would… decrease.

…Would I get enough Leticia time?

“Let’s eat. …Do you have any appetite?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Elder Sister. Let’s eat.”

I returned Leticia’s gaze as she watched me, imitating my table manners.

And then, Leticia…

My sister…

…smiled faintly, just enough to avoid breaking etiquette.

43: A Promise with Ciel

Ciel called me “perfect.”

As a young lady, I supposed that wasn’t bad.

As the head of the family—it was an unknown.

“I have never been disappointed. You tackled every challenge without giving up and always exceeded my expectations.”

“…You’re embarrassing me.”

The praise continued.

If that were true, it was because she was an excellent teacher.

Had I been a good student?

“…So, just one thing. This is… a selfish request of mine.”

She walked around the desk, knelt before me in my chair, and took my hands, enveloping them in hers.

Her light gray eyes, darker than my blue ones, like the pre-dawn sky, held a serious glint.

She tightened her grip on my hands.

“…Even if it means disappointing me, please… always keep the option of following your heart.”

“…Ciel?”

――My… heart?

I was bewildered by the unfamiliar words.

It was certainly something she had never taught me before.

“You are allowed to be selfish. You are allowed to pursue your desires. You are allowed to follow your heart. You are the head of the Vanderwaals family… but that is merely a title, a position. It is not—it cannot be—all that you are.”

“…All that… I am.”

All that I am.

Being the daughter of the Vanderwaals family, the heir, and, from today onward, the head.

Everything up to this point had been for this.

She had raised me for this.

“If you find your own happiness… please… please don’t kill your own heart.”

“…Ciel.”

And yet, she, the person I trusted most, said she had ‘failed to teach’ me this.

“…You know… I don’t have anything I want to do.”

…What a boring person I was.

What did I used to like? ――What did I like?

“What I want to do, my desires… I can’t think of anything.”

I couldn’t remember the last time I had made a decision based on personal preference.

If I had to say, it was Konrad. I disliked that prince. We weren’t compatible.

However, even that dislike was within the acceptable range for our positions.

Once he peacefully succeeded to the throne and became king… I supposed I could interact with him professionally. He would likely do the same.

Because it was necessary.

There was a scale within my heart.

On one side, I placed the peace of Eustasia. And on the other, cold logic that deemed human lives, even affection, worthless.

Even myself, even Ciel, whom I considered more important than myself, were merely weights on the scale.

That was what it meant to be the head of the Vanderwaals.

“…It’s my fault. I relied too much on my student’s excellence… I’m a failure as a teacher.”

I chuckled.

“If you’re a failure as a teacher, Ciel, then no one can call themselves a teacher.”

It wasn’t Ciel’s fault. I was the one who hadn’t learned.

“…Ciel, I still don’t understand what you mean. I don’t know how to… do what I want.”

Perhaps I hadn’t been such a good student after all.

“But…”

I was willing to learn.

“When that time comes, I’ll remember. I… have the option of following my heart.”

I was Adelheid von Vanderwaals.

The new head of the Vanderwaals family.

Peace for Eustasia.

Duty and loyalty.

And even then…

“On one side of the scale in my heart, I’ll place my responsibilities as the head of the family. And on the other… my promise to Ciel.”

I gently squeezed her hands in return and gazed into her kind, light gray eyes, the kind I could look at forever.

“…Is that alright?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Ciel smiled.

Her long, lustrous black hair was tied back, but she also wore a hairpin in her left bangs.

It was a silver piece, shaped like a six-petaled flower… nothing too expensive.

But she always wore it.

Because I had given it to her when I received my allowance.

Just as the navy blue ribbon I always used to tie back my hair was a gift from her.

We released each other’s hands and stood up.

Ciel was taller than me, slender, with curves in all the right places, and toned… I was a little envious.

…Had I already stopped growing…?

Ciel said wistfully,

“This is the last time I’ll be able to call you that, isn’t it?”

“…You can still call me that when we’re alone.”

She shook her head.

“It’s a matter of propriety. —Lady Adelheid.”

Ciel’s serious expression was familiar, comforting even.

But I felt…

…a slight pang of… something missing.

“…May I be selfish, just this once?”

“Anything at all.”

“Will you show me that smile again?”

“…Was I… smiling just now?”

Ciel looked puzzled.

She touched her cheeks.

“You were wearing a natural, lovely smile.”

“…Oh.”

Her bewildered expression was quite rare, and I pressed on, feeling a surge of excitement.

“So, about that smile?”

“I apologize. It seems to be difficult.”

“Oh, I see…”

That was a shame.

But perhaps someday, she would show it to me again.

Would I have found my own desires by then?

…………

――I must have fallen asleep.

I felt like I had been dreaming of the past.

Perhaps it was because I had been thinking about my ‘promise’ with Ciel before I went to sleep.

I sat up in bed and looked around, but Ciel wasn’t there. She shouldn’t be.

I was an adult now, the head of a noble family.

Unless I had overslept drastically, Ciel wouldn’t come to wake me up like she did when I was a child.

Even so, I murmured to her,

“…Hey, Ciel. I think I found something I want to do.”

Something I wanted to do.

Something I liked.

――Someone precious to me.

I would follow my heart.

And I would follow fate.

She would probably be angry.

Because even though I had found something I wanted to do, I was still suppressing my own heart.

But my sister was adorable.

The scale within my heart was broken.

Or perhaps, it was functioning perfectly.

Because the only option that balanced my sister Leticia’s happiness with my responsibilities as the head of the family was to follow the scenario of fate.

So, this was my selfishness.

The desire I held. The wish I had made.

Peace for Eustasia.

Duty and loyalty.

And above all, happiness for my sister.

Engraving that in my heart, I got out of bed.

Even if there was nothing I could do.

I wanted to be by my sister’s side while she was sick.

42: A Childhood Promise

I was in my bedchamber.

I was exhausted.

I had been worried about my sister, who was suffering from a cold, and bathing with her had been… emotionally draining.

Though it was also enjoyable.

I absently stroked the empty bed beside me.

I recalled the moment when my sister, frightened by the thunder, had jumped into my bed.

Leticia had been… warm.

It had been a long time since I had slept feeling someone’s warmth.

The only people I had ever slept with were my mother and Ciel, and even that was when I was very young.

――Because I was a noble.

And our family crest was a gecko.

Our ducal family’s nickname was the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

As the first in line to inherit the Vanderwaals title, I couldn’t afford to be complacent.

However, Ciel was a strict but dependable tutor.

…If it weren’t for her…

The thought sent shivers down my spine.

I had made it this far because of her.

Because of her, I had become the head of the family.

I recalled the conversation I had with Ciel before our bath.

――I had made two promises with her.

The first promise was from my childhood.

When my noble education began, I intertwined my pinky finger with my beloved governess’s and promised, ‘I won’t disappoint you.’

The second promise was from the day I became the head of the family, about four years ago.

After my father’s death, I inherited the title… and after the mourning period, I hosted a gathering at the mansion to celebrate my inauguration.

Among the guests was Prince Konrad. While His Majesty didn’t attend, as befitting a ducal family that supported the Kingdom of Eustasia, the First Prince, Konrad, offered congratulations and celebrated the transition of power.

Some expressed concern that the successor to my father, who had succumbed to illness and passed away suddenly, was a young woman of only eighteen.

However, their concerns were meaningless.

I was the only daughter of the Vanderwaals ducal family. The eldest child and the officially recognized first in line of succession.

And, most importantly, I had Ciel.

She, who had managed the “shadows” since my father’s time, held a position arguably more powerful than my own.

While the “shadows” were officially under the direct command of the Vanderwaals family head… in reality, the authority of a leader like Ciel was unparalleled.

It wasn’t just her official authority; it was natural for subordinates who risked their lives to admire a leader they could trust.

I had received training as the next head of the family, worked alongside my father, and even issued orders myself.

While limited to relatively safe intelligence gathering, I did have some field experience.

Even so, I was still a novice.

I had virtually no proven achievements to earn anyone’s confidence.

The true test was yet to come.

Peace for Eustasia. That was the Vanderwaals’ duty, the essence of our loyalty to the nation.

However, many of my subordinates, while understanding this philosophy, weren’t motivated by ideals alone.

There were many who couldn’t live any other way.

I had a responsibility.

I had to constantly prove myself worthy as their leader.

I always carried a heavy burden on my shoulders.

“Congratulations again on your inauguration, my lady. …No, Lady Adelheid.”

After the inauguration party, Ciel and I were alone in my office, adjacent to my bedchamber.

We sat facing each other across the heavy desk.

“Thank you, Ciel. …When it’s just the two of us, you can still call me as you always have.”

Sensing an unfamiliar formality in her personal congratulations, I felt a pang of loneliness, but Ciel shook her head.

“No. It’s a matter of propriety. It would be problematic if I made a mistake.”

“I see.”

She was right.

“Lady Adelheid, I promise to provide you with my full support as your assistant head of the family. —To fulfill your duties as the head and bring peace to Eustasia… Duty and loyalty.”

“I know all that, Ciel. As the head of the family, let me make a promise in return. I will not disappoint you.”

That was my promise.

The top-tier education and… luxuries I had received were for this moment.

I was the head of one of only three ducal families in this country.

“…Lady Adelheid, I have served you since the day you were born.”

“…Yes, that’s right. I’m truly grateful.”

“Thank you. …As a reward… could you grant me one… just one, personal request?”

She rarely showed her personal side.

I felt like she had been more open when I was younger, but at seven years my senior, she had grown up—much—faster than me.

While I considered her the closest person to me… our relationship was, first and foremost, that of master and servant.

And now, she was making a ‘personal request.’

“Ask me anything. I can’t promise until I hear it, but I’ll do my best to fulfill your request.”

“Yes. …We made a promise a long time ago, didn’t we?”

I nodded.

“Yes. ‘I won’t disappoint you.’ …How did I do as a ducal daughter?”

It was a childhood promise.

I was no longer a ‘daughter.’

From today onward, I was the head of the family.

The head of a powerful noble family, bearing the weight of this house, responsible for the servants, including Ciel, the people of my territory, and above all, the future of Eustasia.

“—I have never been disappointed, my lady. …Adel, you are my pride.”

“…Ciel.”

My heart warmed at the way she called me… using the name she had used until today, despite the ‘formality,’ the nickname I had only allowed my parents and Ciel to use.

“I want you to make another promise with me.”

“What kind of promise?”

Well, I would make any promise with her.

“There’s one thing I failed to teach you, my lady. …Something important.”

“…You? Failed to teach me?”

I furrowed my brows.

My noble education had long since ended.

Of course, I was still a novice as the head of the family, but Ciel herself had said that I would naturally acquire the necessary skills through experience.

“…You were… too perfect, my lady.”

Contrary to her words about failing to teach me, what came out of her mouth was praise.

41: Bathing with a Sick Person

The Kingdom of Eustasia was a land rich in water.

It possessed volcanic regions that also served as natural borders, and was blessed with mineral resources.

These were among the reasons our nation had become a powerful one.

While much of its vast territory consisted of lean soil, making it unsuitable for food exports, its abundance of water had allowed it to avoid severe famines.

Abundant water and volcanic regions.

The combination of these two had given rise to a unique culture in Eustasia—

Hot springs.

Many major cities in the north, in particular, had flourished around hot springs.

While sanitation was a factor, the warmth was paramount. Some experts even claimed that Eustasia wouldn’t have survived its long, harsh winters without this mysterious phenomenon of warm water naturally welling up from the earth.

Now that the continent was largely at peace, hot spring resorts were also popular tourist destinations.

It wasn’t that other countries had no hot springs at all, and public bathhouses heated by firewood were becoming more common.

However, the cost of heating such a volume of water, to such a temperature, solely with firewood… was staggering.

It was understandable that public bathhouses were more prevalent in the southern countries.

High temperatures, the demand for a way to cool off, water that never froze even in winter, and a stable supply of firewood from fast-growing trees.

These three factors combined to create a luxury unavailable in the northern parts of the continent.

However, the north had its own luxuries, unavailable in the south.

Having a private hot spring, in particular, was a luxury afforded only to established noble families and wealthy merchants in Eustasia.

Due to the existence of hot springs, all hot springs were required to be registered under Eustasia’s Water Resource Management Act, also known as the “Hot Spring Act,” and were treated as public property.

However, the Vanderwaals, along with a few other families, had been granted special privileges in the early days of the kingdom’s founding.

Back then, before complicated laws existed—when might made right, the fundamental principle shared by all nations and peoples on the continent.

Incidentally, while digging new hot springs was possible, the excavators were only granted priority management rights.

They could exercise the right to operate public bathhouses or hot spring inns, or sell those rights for profit.

――I tried to clear my mind by recalling the history of hot springs in the Kingdom of Eustasia.

While the servants also used the Vanderwaals’ hot spring, since there was only one bath, it was currently divided by time slots: nobles, female servants, and male servants.

However, I had never bathed with Leticia.

I usually bathed alone, enjoying the spacious bath all to myself.

And now, I was here with my sister.

I sometimes bathed with Ciel.

If Leticia weren’t my half-sister—or if she had been acknowledged at birth—I might have bathed with her more often than alone.

So, there shouldn’t be anything strange about this. And yet…

I glanced at Leticia as I finished undressing, my long silver hair tied up and a towel wrapped around me.

She was slowly taking off her nightclothes, her movements sluggish from the fever, and placing them in a laundry basket.

…Why was my heart pounding?

I handed Leticia a towel.

“…At least cover yourself. It’s indecent.”

“Oh, okay…”

As I opened the door to the bath, the sound of rushing water, dodododo…, grew louder, and the faint smell of sulfur intensified.

The hot spring water was collected in a reservoir and then channeled to various locations through ceramic pipes.

It was also piped to the washing area, making it convenient for the kitchen maids, who could use hot water even in winter, as I had overheard them say.

There was also an open-air bath, but since Leticia had a cold today, we would only be using the indoor bath.

The existence of an open-air bath at the Vanderwaals mansion was a remnant from the first head of the family, who loved the open-air bath that had existed since before the founding of the kingdom, even after the political climate stabilized enough to build a luxurious indoor bath… or so they said.

The Vanderwaals mansion, with its vast grounds and high walls, was one of the few places in the increasingly populated capital that could still maintain an open-air bath.

Leticia and I walked across the stone floor, intentionally textured to prevent slipping even when wet.

The indoor bath was filled with steam from the constantly flowing hot spring water.

I felt a slight sense of relief at the limited visibility.

…We were both women, sisters, and my sister was sick.

I didn’t have to criticize myself for what I was thinking.

I naturally extended my hand to Leticia.

Having been raised as a noble lady, I was trained in the etiquette of being escorted… and also in the etiquette of escorting.

In situations like this, one was supposed to lightly hold onto the offered arm.

And Leticia leaned against me, pressing her chest against my arm.

This noble young lady hadn’t been trained in the etiquette of being escorted.

The soft skin pressed against my arm was hot, and her usually lifeless eyes, now burning with fever, gazed at me intently.

What was she thinking?

We were both women, sisters, and my sister was sick.

It was rude to even think… that the feel of her skin, her warmth, was alluring.

“…Leticia, you’re burning up.”

“Mm…”

She responded with a single syllable and nodded, seemingly exhausted, then continued to gaze at me with a dazed expression.

What did she find so amusing about looking at my face?

This was going nowhere.

I gently guided her to a chair in the washing area.

Then, I dipped a wooden bucket into the flowing hot spring water and poured it over her shoulders.

Leticia flinched.

“Now that you’ve rinsed off, soak in the bath slowly.”

“Okay…”

After quickly rinsing myself, I led Leticia to the bath.

And then… worried about letting her enter alone, I supported her as we both slid into the spacious tub.

A tingling warmth spread from my perpetually cold toes.

“…Ahh.”

“Haa…”

We both sighed.

Our shoulders relaxed… I realized they had been tense.

As I sank up to my shoulders, the gentle warmth seemed to melt away the stiffness.

I was almost always tense; I didn’t think I could handle being the head of the family without the hot springs.

Looking at Leticia beside me, she remained in the same position as when she first entered, her shoulders relaxed. I gently placed my hand on her shoulder and prompted,

“Soak up to your shoulders.”

“Okaay…”

Leticia’s childish demeanor was a refreshing change.

She was probably too tired to think clearly.

…From another perspective, this was likely close to her true self, without the energy to maintain a facade.

And yet.

For some reason…

“Hehe…”

“…What are you smiling about?”

Leticia lifted herself slightly and moved closer to me.

This sister of mine.

Why, in this spacious bath…

…was she trying to get closer to me?

Our shoulders touched, and I couldn’t help but stare at her.

Water droplets trickled between our skin, returning to the bath.

“…Such a big bath… I’ve… never used one alone before…”

Leticia murmured softly.

“…Leticia, have you ever used a public bath?”

“…Hardly ever.”

Leticia shook her head.

“Because… it’s expensive.”

…The standard fee for a public bath was about three copper coins.

Public baths were an important part of the public infrastructure for sanitation. Most used hot spring water and received government subsidies, so the price was quite low compared to other countries.

And yet, she called it expensive.

“But… they had jobs… cleaning the baths… everyone took turns… and you could bathe before cleaning… so they weren’t… dirty…”

She struggled to speak, her body heavy with fever. Her words were already slurring.

“I understand… you’ve had a hard life.”

“I just… lived my life.”

My sister leaned against me, our shoulders still touching.

I could feel her body tense up.

Then, tears welled up in the corners of Leticia’s eyes, and I panicked.

Who made my sister cry?

“So… don’t… call me a ‘rat’…”

――Me?

I gritted my teeth.

The derogatory term ‘rat,’ a metaphor used to denigrate those born and raised in the “back alley.”

The stage script written by the unseen playwright.

The words meant to pierce my sister’s heart.

Words I had chosen, of my own volition, to use.

Leticia had been putting on a brave face.

Smiling it off, showing her strong side.

――Just like I always acted as the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” despite the weight on my shoulders.

But were there truly people who weren’t hurt by such words?

Being insulted.

Being looked down upon.

And not being hurt by it.

Were there such people?

“…I won’t say it again.”

I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

“—Leticia von Vanderwaals. You are a daughter of a ducal family.”

And the [Protagonist] of this story.

“I know you are striving to be a lady worthy of that position.”

This world was the stage of [Moonlight Liberium].

“—No matter what anyone says.”

I knew of her efforts—past and future.

“If anyone says anything to you, tell me.”

I smiled faintly.

“…I will show them the power of the Vanderwaals.”

Only I was allowed to bully Leticia.

There were no such scenes in the script.

Only I, the ‘villainous sister,’ was allowed to bully her.

Everything else was just noise, disrupting the play.

I wouldn’t let these amateurs change the future.

Objective one: The [Final Ball].

Objective two: The [Guillotine].

――I wouldn’t forgive anyone who hurt my sister.

Not even myself.

The mean older sister was going to the guillotine anyway, so it was fine.

In the story, all sins were meant to be judged.

“…Okay… Big Sister.”

The tension in my sister’s shoulder, pressed against mine, eased.

…This scene wasn’t in the script.

But this play was long.

It had to be performed for almost an entire year.

So, just this once.

A scene where we could relax a little.

Wasn’t that within the performer’s discretion?

“Leticia… I’ll wash your hair.”

“Really…? Is that okay…?”

Of course.

“I won’t if you don’t want me to.”

“No, I want you to. I definitely want you to.”

A spark returned to my sister’s eyes.

I felt a little intimidated.

“Then… um… please.”

“Alright.”

――As I washed her hair, my sister murmured.

“I feel like… I’m missing something really important right now… but I can’t quite think…”

“It’s just your imagination.”

What was she thinking?

40: Two in the Wings

There are varying opinions on whether one should bathe when they have a cold.

However, the most important thing is the individual’s condition.

Bathing isn’t recommended if they have chills.

I asked my sister, still in bed, as casually as possible,

“Leticia… are you feeling any chills?”

“No…”

…If she didn’t have chills, a bath to warm her body might be beneficial.

However, her own preference also mattered.

Giving up on subtlety, I asked directly,

“…Do you want to take a bath?”

“A bath… I’ve been sweating… so yes, please.”

Bath time it was.

…I briefly considered foisting it off on Ciel.

Our family’s policy was that nobles should be able to take care of themselves…

Even though, as a ducal family, we were in a position to be waited on by servants, it was unacceptable to rely on them for everything.

However, even I sometimes had Ciel help me dress.

Also, since it was difficult to thoroughly dry my long hair, I asked for her assistance with that.

While I felt a bit spoiled, long hair was an important symbol of status for a noble, so I considered hair care part of my duties as the head of the family.

While long, lustrous hair was once considered a prerequisite for beauty, Leticia was adorable even with short hair, so that standard was a relic of the past.

Even so, chatting with Ciel while she took care of my hair was a precious habit from my childhood.

If it was due to illness, like Leticia today, there was nothing wrong with accepting help from a servant.

However, Ciel was responsible for both overt and covert operations and was probably even busier than I was.

If she assigned this task to me, it was probably something I should do.

Especially today, since I had neglected my duties under the guise of caring for—no, monitoring—Leticia, it was difficult to refuse.

Realizing that I wouldn’t be able to take a break like this without Ciel, I felt a deep sense of gratitude towards her.

I informed my sister of the conclusion I had reached.

“…Then, take a bath and warm yourself.”

“Okay…”

My sister nodded weakly, barely moving her chin.

Then, she looked anxious.

“Um… but I’m a little… uneasy. Could someone…”

“…I’ll be there.”

Leticia blinked.

“…Huh?”

“…I’ll be bathing anyway.”

I averted my gaze.

I braced myself for her reaction.

…When I looked back, Leticia was smiling weakly.

“…Even if it’s just by the way, I’m happy.”

Why was my sister so adorable?

I almost confessed, “Big Sister is always thinking of you first and foremost…” Dangerous. That would deviate from the scenario.

At the same time, her subdued demeanor made it clear how much the illness was affecting her.

Compared to her energy during the dance and riding lessons… she seemed… lacking.

I couldn’t tell her that, though.

“Let’s go, Leticia.”

I picked up her wrap.

As Leticia got out of bed, I draped it over her shoulders. Clutching the wrap, she said,

“Thank you.”

Then, looking at me intently, she hesitantly added,

“…Big Sister.”

…I shouldn’t allow such informality.

I should correct her, as usual, saying, “Call me ‘Elder Sister.’”

Leticia in [Moonlight Liberium] only called me ‘Elder Sister.’

There were no scenes in the scenario that portrayed us as close sisters.

This mansion, including myself, the head of the family, was merely a stage prop for granting the [Protagonist] noble status.

I was a petty villain, conveying the darkness that came with nobility through sarcastic, mean-spirited behavior. A nuisance, there to contrast with Prince Konrad, a royal, and Felix, a knight. Or perhaps a supporting role to make Chief Physician Louis, who showed a common touch despite his high status, appear more appealing.

…But some things weren’t told on stage.

It was only natural that the protagonist and villain, destined to clash and confront each other on stage, could be close friends belonging to the same acting troupe offstage.

This current moment, not depicted in the official scenario, was a preparation period, the time between the fall of the curtain and the start of the next scene. This moment, where the two of us were together, was like being backstage… I didn’t know if that interpretation was correct.

――I wouldn’t make any mistakes on stage.

I would reproduce the [Official Scenario] as faithfully as possible.

So.

So please.

Leticia naturally took my outstretched hand, as if in answer to my silent prayer.

The feeling of my sister’s weight, as she leaned on me, was comforting.

And I felt… like a real ‘big sister,’ the kind Leticia called me, the kind she looked up to, even though all I could do was pave the way for her.

…Seeing Leticia so frail and listless filled me with rage towards fate.

Even if she would eventually find happiness.

Alone in the “back alley.”

Struggling.

With an older sister like me.

Facing hardships even after gaining noble status.

At the mercy of fate.

…Even so, if she could find happiness…

That was enough.

That alone… was enough.

I shouldn’t wish for anything more.

39: Someone to Rely On

When I returned to the attic room, Ciel was just about to leave.

“Has the Chief Physician left?”

“Yes.”

I nodded, and the Chief Physician’s words echoed in my mind.

(She admires you, you know.)

…His words still pricked at me like a thorn.

Did I really appear that way?

Was that how I came across?

I felt inadequate.

Ciel leaned closer, peering at my face.

“…Lady Adelheid, are you feeling unwell?”

“What? No, not at all.”

This wasn’t good.

“I’m glad to hear that. Since Lady Leticia has a cold, please take care not to catch it yourself.”

“I understand, Ciel.”

I smiled.

It was nice to have someone care about my well-being.

…Did Leticia have someone like that?

During her time in the “back alley,” did she have someone she could show her vulnerability to, someone she could trust and rely on completely, someone like Ciel was to me—?

I suddenly imagined it.

A scenario where I lived with Leticia in the “back alley” as her older sister.

…That ‘me’ wouldn’t have everything Ciel had taught me.

Could I still act like Leticia?

Her circumstances, while common in the “back alley,” were considered a hardship in Eustasia.

My sister was innocent, yet simply because such a district existed, because her mother had lived there—simply because she was poor, she had been born into those circumstances.

It was the negligence of us nobles… the ruling class.

Without Ciel’s teachings, I wouldn’t be me.

And Leticia, too, was shaped by her past, so such an imagination was a pointless fantasy.

But.

Even if I were a hopelessly incompetent older sister without Ciel’s guidance…

If I could be with Leticia…

If there were no guillotine.

No [Events] leading up to it.

And, naturally, no encounters with the three high-ranking [Capture Targets].

If we could simply live together as sisters…

How…

“—Lady Adelheid?”

Seeing the concern veiled beneath Ciel’s restrained demeanor, a concern only I would recognize, I mocked my own weakness.

…How pathetic.

I had decided to walk this path.

I had accepted it.

I had decided to protect the future presented by this ridiculous fate, the scenario of [Moonlight Liberium].

Because it was a future where my sister would be happy.

Otherwise, her past would be nothing more than a wound inflicted by fate.

“Ciel, I’m going to check on my sister.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll give instructions in the kitchen.”

Ciel bowed… and then looked at me intently.

“…Lady Adelheid.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember… our promise?”

“…Yes. It’s a promise with you. I would never forget.”

Before I became the head of the family, I made a ‘promise’ with Ciel.

Ciel’s education had made me the successor to the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

The wall lizard, who considered ruthless political decisions to be commonplace and watched over this country from the shadows.

But I had my own desires.

Having been born a noble and enjoyed its privileges, I had obligations.

Duty and loyalty. That was the code of the nobility.

Even so, my strongest motivation now wasn’t duty or loyalty.

‘Duty and loyalty.’ Those words had become a part of me.

But if that were all, I wouldn’t have so readily accepted my fate.

I had simply… come to love my sister.

A girl I had never met, who had done nothing.

I had simply learned the story of her future.

“…Then, that’s good. —Forgive my impertinence.”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

If it weren’t for my promise to Ciel, I wouldn’t be doing this.

I felt a little bad for her, who always prioritized me as her master.

But this was my wish.

Objective one: The [Final Ball].

Objective two: The [Guillotine].

If I only had one life to live, I wanted to live it for my adorable sister.

And for my adorable sister, I would willingly die.

I simply wanted to see Leticia smile.

“By the way, Lady Adelheid, please bathe with Lady Leticia today. You usually bathe alone, but it’s unsafe for her to be alone while she’s sick.”

“What?”

Bathe with my sick sister?

I didn’t know about such an event.

…[Official Scenario], do your job.