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

38: Harsh Words

“Ciel, I will see the Chief Physician out. You stay with my sister.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Leaving Ciel with my sister, I escorted Chief Physician Louis, medical bag in hand, out into the hallway. The air in the hallway, devoid of the knotholes that subtly warmed the attic room with heat from below, was noticeably colder.

“Chief Physician Louis, thank you for your time today.”

Although condescending, I did offer my thanks.

While it didn’t turn into a heart-pounding romantic event, it was a medical examination, as he had said.

So, perhaps it couldn’t be helped that I, slightly flustered by my sister’s illness, had preemptively done everything I was supposed to do reluctantly after he instructed me to.

There were no absolutes when it came to illness.

“Lady Adelheid, I had thought that your ruthlessness was due to political considerations.”

Oh?

――This wasn’t in the [Text Log].

Leticia had no way of hearing our conversation in the hallway.

“But it seems I was mistaken.”

I had been slightly hopeful.

Due to his position as Chief Physician, he held greater authority than I did, as the head of the Vanderwaals family, in medical matters.

I hadn’t expected him to confront me so directly with such harsh words.

This was… promising.

“She admires you, you know.”

That was the extent of my detached, observational composure, like watching a board game from above, until I heard his words.

…Leticia… admired me?

“Don’t be absurd…”

I tried to dismiss it, but he pressed on, unrelenting.

“It was probably her first time seeing a physician. She must have been nervous, wary… and yet, she obediently underwent the examination. Do you know why?”

…I knew. Of course, I knew.

“It was because you were there. Because she believed you were there for her.”

Because I was there.

Because she had made a ‘promise’ with me.

The Chief Physician continued, as I hesitated, searching for the right words.

“――Doesn’t it pain you to leave your own sister, who admires you so much, in a room without even a fireplace?”

Of course, it pained me.

Even so, I would do it—that was my ‘role.’

So, I laughed mockingly.

“She’s a child born out of wedlock, a product of infidelity.”

She wasn’t responsible for that.

I understood that much.

…Even if it was a way to deny her mother and our father.

I had wanted to grow up as sisters born from the same mother, without anyone pointing fingers at us.

“…Even so, your sister has been recognized by His Majesty as a member of the Vanderwaals family.”

“Yes. I’m simply behaving as a noble should.”

To be precise, I was simply behaving as a villainous sister should.

I wanted to direct any complaints to the unseen playwright.

“Confining your own sister to a freezing attic room doesn’t strike me as proper behavior for a noble.”

His gaze was direct.

The gaze of someone who believed in justice.

And in order—in ideals.

I liked that gaze.

…Because it was something I couldn’t hold onto.

“You’re quick to sympathize with those who catch your attention, aren’t you, Chief Physician?”

“Huh?”

I scoffed, trying to appear as mean as possible.

“In the ‘back alley’ where she lived, rooms without fireplaces are common.”

Even those with fireplaces often couldn’t afford firewood.

In that case, a room without a fireplace was better, since there were fewer drafts.

If you looked down at the capital at night, the “back alley”—excluding the red-light district—would probably be shrouded in darkness.

While the Vanderwaals distributed food and winter clothing as part of our charitable work, it was ultimately just a temporary fix.

I didn’t believe that living in the slums was inherently bad, but it was also a fact that, on average, there was a higher concentration of criminals there.

I understood that in the “back alley,” crime was a realistic option for survival.

I, too, was a ‘criminal,’ in a way—just state-sanctioned.

How many of those living in that district weren’t guilty of squatting?

“Surely His Majesty is aware… of the existence of the ‘back alley’… the slums.”

A dumping ground abandoned by the government—that was the “back alley.”

Criminals flocked there, establishing their territories… and as a result, maintaining a certain level of order.

It functioned, albeit in the worst possible way, as a safety net.

The residents of the underground were surprisingly compassionate. While those in dire straits were sometimes targeted, most were taken in and given food and work.

…Even if it was a recruitment tactic by criminal organizations, even if the work involved illegal activities, still…

Perhaps the emergence of such districts was a historical inevitability.

But with enough time—and money—they could be eradicated.

In the long run, there was nothing good about having slums.

…I had considered eliminating that district.

After learning that my sister lived there.

First, I considered taking her away.

Then, I considered taking this opportunity to begin treating this festering wound in our country.

…But my sister needed it.

She needed the title of ‘from the “back alley”‘ for the future.

An [Event]… a situation would arise that required action from those in power, but where the words of nobles wouldn’t reach.

My sister would resolve it.

Using the Vanderwaals name and the bonds she forged with the [Capture Targets].

However, if she were a noble by birth, her words wouldn’t reach the ears of those who needed to hear them.

She had to know the realities of the “back alley.”

She had to know the suffering of the poor more deeply than anyone, and retain enough kindness to reach out to them even after gaining power.

And at the same time, she had to be in a position to convey their voices to the nobles.

――How casually they set such expectations.

Such a burden.

Such saintly behavior.

Did fate demand such a thing from a single girl?

“…Even so,” Chief Physician Louis said, his face contorted with frustration, “the Royal Medical Corps dispatches physicians in case of epidemics.”

“Despite your motto, ‘Ideal medicine is preventative medicine; it’s about not getting sick in the first place’? ――That’s laughable. If an epidemic were to break out in that district now, you wouldn’t be able to contain it.”

I laughed, but I was the same… no, worse.

I was only acting for my sister’s sake.

The Vanderwaals’ power was limited.

And the Vanderwaals’ purpose was to maintain the nation… not to save the poor.

“The ‘back alley’ has existed since before I was born… it can’t be eradicated overnight. But I will eradicate it before I die.”

This Chief Physician… he could probably do it.

I didn’t know if my sister would be by his side then.

If this Chief Physician followed his convictions, staying true to his path, as the game’s script dictated…

Then, the slums would disappear from this country.

“…I’ll be looking forward to it.”

I laughed sarcastically, trying to sound as villainous as possible.

It was a problem created by fate.

If only they had created a happy country.

A country with no problems to solve, where people could simply enjoy romance.

37: The Chief Physician’s Examination

“[It’s a pleasure to meet you… I’m Leticia] von Vanderwaals.”

My sister responded to the Chief Physician with the [Official Line].

However, as usual, it was slightly different; she included her surname.

Following the [Text Log] in my head, I felt like she only gave her first name in [Moonlight Liberium].

However, for a noble, it was proper to give their full name, including the family name.

Perhaps this was a result of her noble education.

Could I finally relax?

After all, this [Event] was just a medical examination.

The encounter with Chief Physician Louis was comparatively subdued compared to the encounter with Prince Konrad, tied to the Ceremony of Recognition, and the encounter with Knight Commander Felix, tied to the riding lesson.

He was a fine young man, and his status was no less impressive than the other two, but he wasn’t the type to make young ladies swoon.

While he sometimes seemed unreliable, he wouldn’t be the Chief Physician of the Eustasia Royal Medical Corps if he truly were.

Besides, judging him by my Vanderwaals family head standards was a mistake.

“[Excuse me, I’ll check your forehead.]”

The Chief Physician reached out and placed his hand on my sister’s forehead to check her temperature.

…Palpation was the standard practice of the nomadic people.

They believed that no matter how much medical technology advanced, and no matter how sophisticated the tools became, healing should be done with human touch.

I understood that.

I understood, but…

“[Please open your mouth and stick out your tongue.]”

Leticia stuck out her tongue as instructed.

…Even I had never seen her make that face.

“[Let me see your wrist.]”

The Chief Physician checked her pulse, just like Ciel had done.

Somehow, this felt… different from when Ciel did it.

“[Now, let me listen to your heart.]”

Chief Physician Louis took a stethoscope out of his black leather medical bag.

It was an expensive item, the kind only the Royal Medical Corps used.

Eustasia’s medical technology was renowned as the best on the continent.

Even those from the nomadic people didn’t shy away from using the latest medical instruments.

I knew that, but…

Louis placed the stethoscope on Leticia’s ample bosom, over her nightgown.

…I trusted him. He was a sincere physician.

He was also the only one of the three [Capture Targets] who wasn’t on bad terms with me.

However, I couldn’t help but think that for my sister’s examination, Vanderwaals’ family physician, a woman who fit the image of a kind, elderly lady, would have been better…

There were female physicians in the Royal Medical Corps, and if it weren’t for the [Event], I wouldn’t have specifically requested the Chief Physician.

Besides, he was a surgeon renowned for his godlike surgical skills; his specialty was surgery.

After listening to her heart for a while, moving the stethoscope slightly, he removed it from my sister’s chest and looked at me, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

“…Lady Adelheid, this is a medical examination.”

“Yes? …I know that.”

This wasn’t good.

I was acting like a concerned older sister.

――As I watched Leticia obediently undergoing the examination, the [Text Log] describing her inner thoughts played in my mind.

[Having the stethoscope pressed against my chest made me blush. …I hope he thinks it’s because of the fever.

This was the first time a man had touched me like this.

Perhaps noticing my gaze, he… Dr. Louis, smiled gently.]

While it seemed like she was confusing the fluster of a medical examination with romantic excitement, it was part of the plot: a young woman, feeling vulnerable due to her illness, developing a slight crush on the kind, handsome doctor who cared for her.

And then I realized.

…Wait, the Chief Physician wasn’t noticing Leticia’s gaze and smiling.

I tried to figure out what was interfering with the event.

And I immediately realized.

…It was me.

Leticia was looking at me.

While her face was indeed flushed, perhaps due to the fever, she didn’t look particularly embarrassed.

Perhaps it was because I had made her promise to ‘cooperate with the examination.’

Since she wasn’t giving him the ‘I’m embarrassed, but I can’t help but look!’ kind of gaze, it was only natural that he wouldn’t give her anything more than his usual doctor’s smile.

…Wait, was this okay?

The other two seemed to have entered a high-favorability route, despite the deviations.

Leticia was currently dazed from the fever, and her somewhat melancholic, fragile air was… well, it was like seeing a new side of my sister, which made my heart race.

――But I couldn’t see a future where the Chief Physician’s favorability towards her would increase.

Anxious, I looked at Leticia… and my sister, though looking weak, gave me a reassuring smile.

What was I supposed to do when she smiled at me like that, concerned about me?

“[There are no other abnormalities… besides the high fever. Please rest, and you should recover soon. …I will insist on it.]”

He glanced at me, his eyes cold.

He probably found it unacceptable that I, the head of a noble family, had left my sister, even if only a half-sister, in this condition.

He was a sincere man with a strong sense of justice, who prioritized his patients.

And then I realized my fatal mistake.

…He was supposed to persuade me, the villainous sister, to provide a more suitable environment for her recovery, but it was already taken care of.

I’m sorry, Chief Physician Louis.

I apologized inwardly to the third [Capture Target].

I had probably ruined all of his key scenes…

36: [Encounter with the Chief Physician]

I heard the sound of a carriage stopping outside the guesthouse.

Ciel must have returned with the Chief Physician.

A moment later, there was a knock, followed by Ciel’s voice.

“Lady Adelheid, I have brought the Chief Physician.”

I glanced at my sister.

“Leticia, the doctor is here.”

“Okay…”

My sister reached out her hand.

I naturally took it and helped her sit up… but I wondered if this was behavior befitting a villainous sister.

…I would forget about that for now.

She was unwell. This wasn’t the time for games.

Besides, I wasn’t involved in this part of the story.

Would a ‘villainous sister’ really stay to watch her sister’s examination?

“Leticia, I’ll be leaving—”

“No…”

My sister’s hand grasped my sleeve, as if pleading with me not to go.

It would have been easy to shake off her weak grip, yet I couldn’t.

“Stay…”

“W-why?”

Why would she want someone like me to stay?

She must be feeling vulnerable because of her cold.

But even so… I shouldn’t be the one she wanted by her side.

“I’ve… never seen a doctor before…”

That gave me pause.

…Medical care wouldn’t reach the “back alley.”

While there might be something resembling a town doctor, they were probably closer to quacks.

Being sick made one feel vulnerable.

And being examined by an unknown person would amplify that feeling.

My sister gazed at me.

Her face was flushed with fever, her eyes looking up at me.

“…Is that… not allowed…?”

How could I say no?

…No, wait, I should refuse, I thought, coming to my senses.

I was afraid of disrupting the scenario.

“…Lady Adelheid?”

Ciel’s puzzled voice came from outside the door.

I hesitated—and then made up my mind.

“You must promise to cooperate with the examination. If you can promise me that, I will stay.”

“…Okay. I promise.”

My sister nodded.

Her words were both childish and resolute.

“—Enter.”

The door opened, and a young man entered with Ciel.

“[It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leticia.]”

He wore the white coat with black trim of the Royal Medical Corps of the Kingdom of Eustasia.

The small brass badge, a stylized holly and laurel leaf design, also identified him as a member of the Royal Medical Corps.

The round cap he wore also had a patch with the same crest.

While the round cap, with its white and black trim matching his coat, added to his height, without it, he was about the same height as me, perhaps a bit shorter.

However, standing next to my sister, it might be a suitable height difference.

Short black hair, kind black eyes behind round glasses.

He greeted her with a gentle smile.

“[My name is Louis. I’m the Chief Physician of the Eustasia Royal Medical Corps.]”

He looked like an ordinary young man, but at the young age of twenty, he was not only allowed to wear the coat of Eustasia’s prestigious Royal Medical Corps—but, as indicated by the brown raptor feather attached to his cap—he had also been chosen as Chief Physician, a brilliant talent.

Since the Royal Medical Corps operated on a council system, the position of Chief Physician didn’t hold much authority in peacetime; it was closer to an honorary title.

However, he possessed both medical skills recognized by all and a sincere heart.

His name, and his slightly different skin tone from what was common in the city… Like Knight Commander Felix, he wasn’t a pure Eustasian; there were rumors of Eastern blood, or conversely, Western blood.

No one knew the truth—probably not even himself.

He was from the ‘nomadic people.’

People who traveled across borders, gathering and passing down medical knowledge, their mission to save as many lives as possible.

They welcomed promising individuals, offered protection to those in need, and sometimes settled down as local physicians.

Divided into groups of a few dozen, they traveled through various countries. ――Currently, all the countries on the continent had a treaty granting them the privilege of crossing borders freely without paying tolls.

The rural villages of each country relied on the medical care provided by the nomadic people.

They had a deep connection to this land, as the founding king of Eustasia had once offered them protection when they were persecuted as undesirables in other countries, laying the foundation for the later treaty.

It wasn’t hard to imagine that the nomadic people had played a part in this country’s rise to power.

――If fewer people died from trivial injuries and minor illnesses…

That directly translated to national strength and prosperity.

It was said that the nomadic people were also involved in the foundations of Vanderwaals’ herbal medicine, but it was an area of ongoing research, and the details were lost to history.

Chief Physician Louis had settled in this country when he was about ten years old.

Despite being underestimated as a suspicious boy, he had earned recognition through his sincerity and, above all, his skill, rising to the position of Chief Physician in ten years through extraordinary effort.

…He was clearly not someone you would call for a simple cold.

“…Lady Adelheid, may I begin the examination?”

“Yes.”

He held immense authority in medical matters, and, even more so than the Knights, he was absolutely inviolable.

The Medical Corps was an independent organization directly under the nation, immune to any outside interference.

That being said, realistically, he couldn’t ignore the authority of the nobles, so his demeanor towards me, the head of a ducal family, was polite.

Medicine was also politics… everything was a tool of politics.

He sat down on the round chair I had been using and looked directly at my sister.

“[Hello again, Leticia. I’m Louis. Please relax.]”

With the [Official Line], the examination began.

---

Eustasia Royal Medical Corps, Chief Physician
Louis

CV: [Censored]
Sample Voice: 1 Sample Voice 2 Sample Voice 3

A physician of the Eustasia Royal Medical Corps. One of the capture targets in [Moonlight Liberium].

Coming from the “nomadic people,” he possesses insight and skills beyond his young age of 20 (at the time of his appearance).

He has a gentle and honest personality. While he values the Vanderwaals’ medicine and respects their experimental results, as the head of the Medical Corps, which prioritizes the weakest, he sometimes clashes with Adelheid. He likes to see his loved ones smile.

However, since this is a Yuri game, he’s just a normal capture target.

<<< Home >>>

35: My Sister’s Trust

The duties of the Vanderwaals family head were many and varied. My decisions sometimes influenced the fate of the nation.

Therefore, being the head of the family was a busy position.

I was busy sending positive vibes to my sister sleeping in bed, chanting, “Get well, get well.”

Sitting on the round chair by the bed, watching my sister sleep, I was struck by my own powerlessness. That was why, even though I knew I couldn’t do anything, I wanted to stay by her side.

At least, so she wouldn’t be alone when she woke up.

My sister slept soundly, but she woke up before noon and, with my help, went to the restroom.

Back in the room, Leticia shivered.

“I’m cold…”

“Should we change your clothes? I’ll open the closet.”

“Okay…”

I took a thick negligee and a large towel from the old closet.

People seemed to think that nobles were constantly waited on by maids and servants, unable to even dress themselves, but that wasn’t true.

I wondered where that image of nobles came from.

Well, there were some pampered, insufferable brats and clueless young ladies with their heads in the clouds.

But we nobles were the ‘ruling class.’

What we ruled depended on the family. Military, politics… or rather, wasn’t everything politics?

Even war was merely a political tool.

Besides, only the poorest nobles didn’t manage their own territories.

If you were a noble, you had a role to fulfill.

Where would you find a noble who couldn’t even dress themselves?

Unless it was some peculiar fetish.

I assumed the stories of maids helping nobles into elaborate evening dresses had been exaggerated for amusement.

“Should I leave the room while you change?”

“No… it’s okay…”

She shook her head.

Then, her eyes still unfocused with fever, she looked at me.

“…Can I… change my underwear too?”

“Yes, of course.”

I nodded.

“Will you… get them for me…?”

…Was it the fever?

Or… did she simply trust me, as a woman, as her sister?

“…Yes.”

Feeling like I was being tested, I knelt down, opened the bottom drawer, and took out her underwear.

I had left this to Ciel. I had accompanied her as her bodyguard and wallet, telling her she could choose whatever she wanted.

While pretending to be a sister uninterested in her sister’s attire, I hadn’t specified a budget, but perhaps I should have bought her something finer.

…Was she being considerate?

When I returned, my sister was trying to take off her nightgown—or rather, she was about to.

Then, she seemed to get stuck, her arm caught in the sleeve or neckline.

“…Big Sister… pull…”

“Alright, alright. Here.”

Smiling wryly, I pulled the sleeve, helping her remove the nightgown—and my sister’s bare skin came into view.

Since she had taken off her nightgown, it was only natural, but she was half-naked.

My sister, still looking dazed, looked at me without making any attempt to cover herself.

“…Will you… wipe my back…?”

“Yes.”

Flustered by seeing my sister naked for the first time, I unfolded the thick towel and gently patted her skin, absorbing the sweat.

I quickly got used to it.

I had never had such an occasion before, but she was sick, and my mixed feelings were replaced by a desire to avoid burdening her.

After I finished wiping her back, my sister slowly raised one arm.

Understanding, I placed the towel under her arm to absorb the sweat.

I did the same with the other arm… and then my sister raised both arms slightly.

“…Leticia?”

“The front too…”

The front?

…The front?

I froze for a moment, then shook my head, dispelling any inappropriate thoughts.

I repositioned the towel and moved it from her back to her front—

A soft, unfamiliar sensation.

They said people desired what they lacked.

The soft, firm… feeling of that part of her body, even through the towel, was alluring, even for someone of the same sex.

I forced myself to maintain a calm facade.

Fortunately, this was just an older sister wiping the sweat of her feverish younger sister.

What was I even thinking, with her in such a state?

Women. Women.

Sisters. Sisters.

I chanted those important words twice to dispel any impure thoughts.

“Ah, and under my chest…”

I wiped her stomach as instructed.

While different from her chest, it was also soft, and I liked it.

“Not there…”

Huh?

As I tilted my head inwardly, my sister took my hand.

She guided it to… ‘under’ her breasts.

The area I would call her ribs.

“Sweat gathers there…”

Oh, I see.

So, breasts had an ‘underside.’

It was a concept I wasn’t familiar with.

Having cooled down from the unexpected revelation, I was able to calmly lift her ample breasts and wipe the sweat that had gathered beneath them.

My sister, still facing away from me, slowly put on her fresh nightclothes.

Then, kneeling, she fumbled with her underwear.

She didn’t seem to mind my gaze at all.

I wrapped her discarded clothes in the towel.

I would give them to the maids in the laundry room later.

My sister turned around, looking weak but smiling.

“That’s better… thank you, Big Sister.”

“…I’m glad.”

I, on the other hand, felt… conflicted.

I might develop a peculiar fetish.

34: [The Sickbed Event]

――My sister had caught a cold.

I keenly felt the inescapable hand of fate.

This was the introductory event for the male character, the ‘Chief Physician,’ one of the [Capture Targets].

The idea of making the protagonist sick just to introduce the Chief Physician was tragically shortsighted, making me question the unseen playwright’s sense of drama.

Despite my subtle preventative measures, my sister had caught a cold.

I, determined to fulfill my duty as the villainous sister, went to her room, accompanied only by Ciel.

My sister, lying in bed—using the fine bedding from the former guest room, as I had intended—looked up at the sound of the opening door.

I immediately launched into a harsh rebuke.

“[How pathetic. If you can’t even manage your own health, I shudder to think what the future holds.]”

My sister winced.

In the game, she didn’t utter a word, represented only by an ellipsis.

The impression the player received, the words swirling in their mind, were left entirely to their imagination.

My sister’s lips parted slightly.

I thought she was about to retort—but then…

Tears welled up in the corners of her closed eyes, and she apologized in a small, trembling voice.

“I’m sorry… please don’t abandon me… I’m sorry…”

Meanness quota filled!

Guilt gnawed at me, threatening to shatter my heart.

“—Ciel.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

My head maid, who had been standing silently behind me like a shadow, approached my sister, placed a hand on her forehead, and then gently took her wrist from under the covers to check her pulse.

Then, she gave her diagnosis.

“It appears to be a cold. Her fever is high, but she should recover with rest.”

“I see. …Should we call a doctor, just in case?”

I tried to steer the conversation casually.

As casually as possible.

…Casually?

“Yes. I’ll arrange for—”

“Contact the Royal Palace. Summon the Chief Physician.”

“…We also have Vanderwaals’ family physician in town…”

“That’s an order… Contact the Royal Palace. Summon the Chief Physician.”

Casually wasn’t happening.

There was no reason to specifically go to the Royal Palace and summon the Chief Physician…

If only she had fainted at the palace or something.

If I didn’t have the game knowledge and the sense of duty to force the event, I would have simply left it to Ciel.

I wondered what would have happened if I had given her a room with a fireplace.

But I couldn’t—wouldn’t—change the main plot points.

As a last resort, I had given her nutritious meals and herbal remedies like candies, tea, and liqueur for preventative measures, but my sister still caught a cold, just like in the game.

The bedding should have been better than in the game, but that didn’t seem to help.

“E-Elder… Sister… it’s… okay. You shouldn’t… go to such lengths… for someone like me…”

“It’s decided. I don’t want some random physician poking and prodding me, after all.”

I needed a more convincing justification, a more plausible official line.

However, since I couldn’t expect such support from this crappy fate and the unseen playwright, I just gave a vague excuse.

“B-but…”

“――Since when did you become important enough to question my decisions?”

I forcefully shut down my sister’s protest, as befitting a villainous sister.

“You just stay in bed and rest.”

I walked to the bedside and patted her head—well, her hair.

I also gently stroked her hair with my fingertips.

“There’s water in the pitcher… Ciel, after you’ve sent a messenger to the Royal Palace, prepare some nutritious drinks that are easy to consume, even when unwell.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ciel nodded.

“—Leticia. Have you used the restroom? Do you have any appetite?”

“Um… well… I don’t need to use the restroom yet… and I don’t have any appetite…”

“I see. Then rest for now. —Ciel, you’re dismissed.”

I removed my hand from her hair.

I turned my back on my sister.

“Send a maid later—”

My sister’s hand reached out and grasped my sleeve.

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

I turned around and looked down at her with a cold gaze, questioning her intentions.

“…I want… Big Sister… to stay…”

For a moment… various responses flashed through my mind.

Jockeys mounted their horses and began to race in the racetrack of my mind.

First, the simple “Alright” nod took the lead.

Then, “Big Sister will stay with you!” emerged as a strong contender.

“Should Big Sister stay and keep you company?” lurked close behind, waiting for an opening.

…But any of those would surely alter fate.

Leticia, her eyes unfocused with fever, looked up at me, resembling a baby bird.

…I had once raised a baby bird that had fallen from its nest.

No, I couldn’t say I raised it… I merely prolonged its life for a few days.

The chances of a baby bird, deprived of its nest and parents, surviving under human care were slim.

――I was Adelheid von Vanderwaals.

The villainous sister in [Moonlight Liberium], destined to torment my younger sister.

So, I roughly shook off her hand.

My sister’s eyes squeezed shut, and she turned her face away.

Her arm fell limply back onto the bed.

Then, turning my back to her, I declared,

“—I have duties as the head of the family.”

As I spoke, I moved a round chair from the corner of the room to the bedside.

“…Lady Adelheid?”

“Ciel, you’re dismissed. …And you will act in my stead today. Only bring matters to me if you require my judgment.”

I sat down heavily on the chair.

“I will be watching over my sister.”

“…What?”

My sister’s eyes widened, and she stared at me.

“Yes, Lady Adelheid.”

Ciel bowed respectfully.

“Then I will take my leave. I leave the rest to you.”

“Yes, you’re dismissed.”

I nodded to Ciel.

I was inwardly grateful for her competence.

A few seconds after Ciel left, I took my sister’s outstretched hand.

“You’ll catch a chill.”

I tucked her hand under the covers.

“…Big Sister…”

“I’ll only allow you to call me that while you’re sick. I’ll be strict with you once you’ve recovered.”

I was already being far too lenient, but it couldn’t be helped.

…Even during [Official Events], I couldn’t be complacent. I had a duty to ensure my sister’s… the protagonist’s… well-being.

I would follow the general outline of fate, but the script I was given was full of holes.

Well, I suppose it would be tedious if every mundane conversation was described in detail.

This much was within the performer’s discretion.

“If you can sleep, try to get some rest.”

“…Okay.”

Despite her apparent discomfort from the high fever, she smiled shyly.

“Thank you, Big Sister…”

Her earnest demeanor as she closed her eyes, after saying such a thing, almost made me want to lie down next to her.

But that would definitely be outside the performer’s discretion.

Chapter 33: Change of Seasons

――My sister was supposed to catch a cold.

Snow had begun to fall.

Winter was fast approaching Eustasia.

Amidst the unfamiliar lifestyle, the hardworking protagonist would fall ill, catching a cold, and during her visit for treatment, she would meet the young Chief Physician of the Royal Medical Corps—

That was the plot, that was the event.

But…

…I decided to resist fate, just a little.

To be precise, I decided to test it.

To see how much power this fate, the one I was following towards the guillotine, truly held.

A sister whose existence I hadn’t even known.

And the [Events] that unfolded, accompanied by numerous [Official Lines].

These were enough proof to acknowledge that this world was the setting of the romance simulation game, [Moonlight Liberium], and that the story was progressing even now.

…However, there were also differences.

Even on a theatrical stage, actors sometimes flubbed their lines. They improvised to compensate for set malfunctions or their co-stars’ mistakes.

That was how I was trying to keep this story on track.

…What would happen if I resisted?

Or if I hadn’t known the story?

Perhaps it was a meaningless hypothesis.

I already knew.

I held a relatively important position, as the villainous sister, the half-sister.

But I couldn’t help but wonder.

――For example, what if I hadn’t gone to get Leticia?

What if I had decided to resist my fate on the guillotine?

What if I had deemed my half-sister an ‘enemy,’ a threat to my power?

…What if I had sent assassins after her, burying her in darkness?

Would this story have even begun?

I couldn’t choose that path.

――She was my sister.

My one and only, adorable little sister.

So, just a little.

I decided to test how much danger there was of deviating from the game’s scenario… how likely it was that she would be put in harm’s way.

“Elder Sister… what’s this?”

“Herbal candies.”

After breakfast, I handed Leticia a cylindrical glass bottle filled with pale green candies.

They had several benefits, but in short, they were throat lozenges.

“Why…?”

“It’s the change of seasons.”

“Elder Sister, today’s tea is different.”

“It’s good to have some variety.”

The tea after lunch was infused with herbs and sliced ginger.

A standard remedy among commoners, and no different for nobles, it was a classic preventative measure and treatment for colds.

“It’s a bit spicy, but that’s probably good for my throat.”

“It’s the change of seasons.”

“…Is this… alcohol?”

“Herbal liqueur, to be precise.”

After dinner, a small glass of dark brown liqueur was served.

It was a Vanderwaals product, commercially available, recognizable by the gecko crest on the label, a long-time bestseller.

Along with our legitimate territorial management, it was one of the few Vanderwaals revenue sources with a ‘positive image.’

“…To prevent colds?”

“It’s the change of seasons.”

My apologies, change of seasons.

I wondered if my sister—the protagonist—would still catch a cold, despite my thorough preventative measures. There was an event where she caught a cold.

Her room was in the attic, but thanks to the ‘renovations,’ heat rose from the floor below, and the bedding was high-quality.

She was also well-nourished now.

While it wasn’t impossible for her to catch a cold, it wasn’t inevitable either.

If she didn’t catch a cold, the event where she met the third Capture Target, the Chief Physician, might not happen.

If fate intended for the story to proceed according to the script, my sister would catch a cold.

And she would meet the third Capture Target.

――If fate was immutable, I could proceed with peace of mind.

If fate could be easily changed—I couldn’t blindly trust the scenario of [Moonlight Liberium].

Even if it meant more bloodshed, I might not be able to simply offer my head.

If chaos were to come, it was my duty, as the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” to prevent it if possible, and if it did occur, to quell it swiftly.

There were no exceptions.

Peace for Eustasia.

I would eliminate anything that threatened it.

That was the Vanderwaals’ philosophy.

Happiness for Leticia.

I would eliminate anything that threatened it.

That was my belief.

…Leticia finished her herbal liqueur, emptying her glass, and made a strange face.

The distilled liquor, infused with various herbs, had a peculiar smell.

While its preventative and curative effects were enhanced, the taste… wasn’t guaranteed.

As the Eustasian proverb went, “Medicine must be bitter to be effective.”

There was a similar proverb in another country, “A good medicine tastes bitter.”

Indeed, in pursuit of medicinal efficacy, taste was often sacrificed.

This herbal liqueur was, to be honest, unpleasant.

…But Leticia, for some reason, smiled.

Could it be that she liked the taste?

If so, her sense of taste was… unexpected.

Leticia looked at me, her smile deepening.

“Vanderwaals medicine is expensive, but it’s effective, even in the ‘back alley.’ I’m happy you’re looking after me, Elder Sister.”

My sister’s cuteness was… unexpected.

…What should I do? Her adorableness was my biggest obstacle.

I had done what I could, however small.

A mild cold would probably be cured.

The preventative measures should also be effective.

…Would my sister still catch a cold?

Chapter 32: The Knights’ Gossip

After finishing our meal and leaving the dining hall to return to our room and prepare to leave… my sister stopped.

She pointed towards the other tables.

“Um… Elder Sister? Could I have a moment?”

The Eustasia Knights, who had undoubtedly been eavesdropping, had finally stopped talking about the weather, but now they were only talking about their training schedule. What a peculiar bunch.

They hadn’t left their seats after finishing breakfast, likely so as not to miss a single detail.

For them, starved for entertainment, this was a rare event.

“…? Sure.”

I agreed, even though I didn’t quite understand what she was up to.

…Perhaps that was my mistake.

She walked towards the knights and bowed.

“Hello! I’m Leticia von Vanderwaals.”

And then, she cheerfully introduced herself.

I couldn’t help but exchange a look with Ciel, who was standing beside me.

However, unsure of what to do, we froze.

Well, Ciel, as a maid, could afford to wait for instructions, but I, as the head of the family, had to decide on a course of action.

Or rather, before I could even decide on a course of inaction, Leticia smoothly continued.

“I’m here with my Elder Sister for horseback riding practice… unfortunately, due to the heavy rain, it’s been canceled for today.”

“O-oh, is that so? That’s too bad.”

One of the few female knights, with short brown hair, who was sitting closest to my sister, stood up and took a step forward, responding to her.

In the Kingdom of Eustasia, there were no gender restrictions for knights and soldiers serving in the military.

However, the overwhelmingly male-dominated environment was understandable, considering the demands of wearing armor and wielding a sword.

Furthermore, the few female knights were often assigned as guards for female royalty and nobility, and their reactions to this varied. Some were pleased with the relatively safe work, some lamented the lack of opportunities for active duty, and some pondered the true meaning of knighthood.

“Yes. But yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Knight Commander Felix… and I’d like to talk to the rest of the Knights at the Royal Castle sometime, if possible.”

…Leticia?

I couldn’t understand my sister’s actions or her intentions.

I didn’t even know if this was in line with the official scenario.

“W-well, if it’s alright with us…?”

The female knight glanced at me.

I chose to ignore her.

I felt bad for putting her in such an awkward position, but I was afraid of saying anything careless.

“I’ll excuse myself now. —See you later!”

Leticia waved to them and returned to my side.

After we left the dining hall, I could clearly hear the buzz of gossip behind us.

“Hey, wasn’t that the Vanderwaals girl?!” “The one riding the white horse yesterday, right?” “She was super friendly!” “Is she aiming for the Commander?” “Nah, if that were the case, she wouldn’t bother talking to us.” “They seemed to get along better than the rumors suggest.” “A girl who enjoys her food is a good girl.” “What’s that supposed to mean? But yeah, I get it.”――

…Save the gossip for when you’re a little further away.

But I understood.

Ciel, walking three steps behind, must have heard them as well, but she didn’t say a word.

My sister… probably didn’t hear them. When I glanced at her, she was smiling at me.

I quickly averted my gaze.

Back in our room, alone, I addressed my sister.

“Leticia, why did you do that just now?”

Leticia tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“Huh? …Because you told me to.”

“I did?”

“You said, ‘Speaking with people from various walks of life, broadening your horizons, deepening your knowledge, and building connections are also important skills for a noble.’”

…Me? Was it my fault?

I mentally weighed the pros and cons, and, just like with the guards, I couldn’t see much harm in befriending the knights.

…Between the guards and the Knights, it seemed like my sister might someday command an unexpected amount of military power.

According to the script, military power shouldn’t be necessary—but I didn’t know how the future would unfold.

“…Yes, I did say that. Soon, you’ll be able to go out freely. Then, you can interact with the Knights.”

“Okay!”

That was still a bit further down the line.

Once the story progressed to a certain point and the [Player] became more familiar with the game, her range of actions would expand—or rather, be [Unlocked].

Until then, while she might go to the Royal Castle for the recognition ceremony or to the ranch for riding lessons, those were predetermined [Events], not driven by the protagonist’s own will.

After that, she would be able to act freely, except for certain events.

And so, my sister would interact with the [Capture Targets] without my knowledge, sometimes choosing options and deepening her relationships with them.

Without my knowledge.

Without my involvement.

…But would it really be alright to let my sister out of the mansion?

I couldn’t predict my sister’s actions outside of the [Official Events].

…Or rather, I was starting to feel like I couldn’t predict her actions even within the events.

For now, I would consider it a success, since the Knights’ favorability towards my sister seemed to have increased.

Chapter 31: At the Breakfast Table

The guesthouse dining hall was furnished with a variety of wooden tables—rectangular, round, large, and small—each occupied by guests.

While I couldn’t see Felix, it seemed the other tables were filled with members of the Eustasia Knights.

They apparently lacked the courage to sit near the head of the Vanderwaals family, keeping a respectful distance.

As expected of the Eustasia Knights, who received etiquette training, they weren’t gossiping within earshot.

However, their conversations were… shallow, to say the least. Things like, “Nice weather today,” “Yeah, it rained hard yesterday, but it’s nice today,” “It really is a beautiful day.” It was as if they were just making sounds with their mouths.

Their acting was atrocious.

They should just stay silent.

…No, that would be too quiet.

They were trying to be considerate, in their clumsy way—even if it was misguided.

There was no doubt they were eavesdropping.

Oblivious to—or perhaps aware of—the attention she was attracting due to the strangely unnatural conversations at the surrounding tables, Leticia, sitting across the round table from me, was smiling brightly.

I didn’t know what she found so amusing, but her gaze was fixed on my face—I wished it were piercing.

If it were a harsh glare, it wouldn’t bother me. As the head of the Vanderwaals, I needed a thick skin.

However, her gaze was pure… and I could only interpret it as adoration for me as her older sister.

I knew I had a bad personality, so I couldn’t believe I was worthy of such a look.

I understood it was necessary for the story, but why had fate made my sister so pure and adorable?

“Elder Sister, please teach me how to ride again today.”

And when she finally spoke, it was this.

I wanted her to dislike me so much that she wouldn’t even want to look at me—however, in [Moonlight Liberium], her inner thoughts about me were so sparsely described that I couldn’t understand what was going on in her mind.

Ultimately, I would be sent to the guillotine.

As a scapegoat, embodying the old ways, the old aristocracy.

It was the same method I had used countless times in the name of national interest. I had no right to complain.

In our country, the guillotine was the ultimate form of dishonorable execution and was rarely used. It shouldn’t be used in my lifetime.

However, three years ago, in the Principality of Ruins, the revolutionaries used it against the old royal family… and the citizens used it against the former revolutionaries.

I hadn’t ordered that. As far as I knew, it was a spontaneous act by the citizens.

Well, regardless of the process, I was going to the guillotine. That was the scenario.

However… my sister would plead for my life.

Of course, it would be denied. That was how the story went.

My final event, [The Guillotine]… even if I was a mean-spirited, unsympathetic older sister, if my death meant taking away my sister’s only remaining family… if she was hurt by it, that would be sad.

So, I was trying to minimize the impact of my death on her.

I was aiming to become someone she would be relieved to see gone… someone she would hate.

However, whether she expected something from me, whether she held some illusion about what it meant to be an older sister, remained a mystery. My sister… didn’t seem to hate me.

…What I feared wasn’t being hated by my sister.

Of course, it wasn’t the guillotine either. That was ‘predetermined.’

But.

What if.

What if…

――What if I wasn’t hated?

What if Leticia possessed such extraordinary purity that she continued to care for her only remaining family, despite all the meanness she was subjected to?

My death would leave a scar on her heart.

…If my existence remained in my sister’s heart, even in such a way, I supposed that would be alright. That thought alone showed how twisted I was.

“Elder Sister…? Are you feeling unwell…? Do you have a fever…?”

My sister leaned closer, reaching out to touch my forehead, and I pulled back, avoiding her hand.

“…No. You seem to be looking forward to your riding lesson.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to practicing with Elder Sister.”

Why did she correct herself just now?

“Lady Leticia, regarding that matter…”

Ciel arrived, a welcome interruption to my faltering words.

Today, she wasn’t wearing the dashing tailcoat from yesterday but her usual long-skirted maid uniform.

Some noble families had their maids wear shorter skirts or more revealing tops, but I couldn’t understand what they thought maids were for.

She deftly carried three square wooden trays laden with breakfast.

With graceful movements, Ciel placed the trays in front of me, Leticia, and herself, in that order, before taking her own seat.

Since this was a casual trip, not a formal occasion, I had instructed her to join us.

Besides, Ciel was practically family.

“Due to last night’s heavy rain, the riding grounds are unusable. So, unfortunately, today’s lesson is canceled.”

“…What?!”

Leticia’s eyes widened, and she looked at me.

“I-is it really that bad? I don’t mind getting a little dirty…”

“It’s not just ‘a little.’ Besides, do you intend to get your clothes, not to mention the horse, covered in mud?”

I had undergone such training.

――But my sister didn’t need it.

She was meant to be loved, not hated.

“Ugh…”

Leticia slumped in disappointment.

“Lady Leticia, it’s not far, and once you’re more experienced, we can make it a day trip. We’ll arrange another practice session.”

“Yes… but, Elder Sister…”

Leticia glanced at me.

That look pierced my heart, and the ‘good older sister’ within me smiled, thinking, “Yes, let’s practice together again.”

――But that was an illusion.

“I’m busy. I can’t accompany you every time.”

I dismissed her flatly, and she slumped again.

However, this time, she recovered quickly.

“—If I become… a better rider…”

Leticia paused.

I waited for her to continue, wondering what she was going to say.

“Will there be another opportunity… to ride with Elder Sister?”

…There was.

There was a [Horse Riding] event.

“…There might be such an opportunity.”

I smiled faintly.

My sister’s face lit up.

“I’m looking forward to it!”

…It probably wouldn’t be the enjoyable event she was imagining.

It was an [Official Event] where I would subject her to petty, mean-spirited pranks, and the three [Capture Targets] would defend her.

A key item for the story would also appear later.

But that was still far off.

It was late autumn now; that event would take place early next summer, after a winter and a spring.

She wasn’t yet skilled enough to ride freely on her own, and, more importantly, she hadn’t met the ‘third’ Capture Target yet.

Every time she acquired a new skill befitting a noble, I climbed another step towards the guillotine.

――I would endure any dishonor.

No matter what kind of death awaited me at the end of this path, it wouldn’t stop me.

If the scenario for my sister’s happiness was already written, I would simply follow it.

“Come on, let’s eat.”

I picked up a roll from the plate and tore off a piece.

It was still warm in the center, and a pleasant aroma wafted up with its warmth.

“Okay!”

Watching my sister mimic me, tearing off a piece of bread and smiling at the scent of wheat, her adorableness almost made me smile as well, but I restrained myself with all my might.

30: “Good Morning”

The night of the thunderstorm had passed.

I sat in my usual attire on a chair by the window.

Across the round table, two elegant chairs faced each other, but the one opposite me was empty.

The storm clouds had long since departed, and beyond the lace curtains of the window, where the thick, heavy winter drapes had been opened, stretched a cold, bright blue sky.

From this seat, on a clear day, one could see horses being exercised in the paddock, but today, due to last night’s rain, the ground was too wet.

I sensed movement from the canopy bed.

Glancing over, I saw Leticia, sitting up and looking around, murmur,

“Huh… Big Sister…?”

“You’re finally awake? The sun’s already high in the sky.”

I had been thinking of waking my sister for breakfast, but it was convenient that she woke up on her own.

However, I didn’t say that, opting instead for a slightly sarcastic remark.

Affection was built on accumulation.

Then, the same should be true for meanness.

“Good morning, Big Sis…”

“Call me ‘Elder Sister.’”

My sister nodded at my words.

“Yes, Elder Sister… I… thunder…”

Leticia trembled.

She must have recalled last night’s fear with her own words.

“…Last night… I think I used Elder Sister as a body pillow…”

“Don’t be absurd. Was it a dream?”

My sister tilted her head, looking down at her hands.

“…No, it wasn’t a dream. My hands remember…”

Leticia wiggled her fingers.

Then she looked up, her blue eyes gazing intently at me.

“And I feel like… Elder Sister hugged me…”

“…Don’t be ridiculous.”

Inwardly, I broke out in a cold sweat.

Did her body really remember?

I thought I might have hugged her briefly while she was awake, but that didn’t count.

The sleeping draught I gave her last night should have blurred her memories from before she fell asleep… I decided to trust the Vanderwaals’ special medicine.

Of course, there was a possibility she had a tolerance to the drug.

…However, to assume that she also possessed the special skill to prevent me from realizing she was awake, on top of that tolerance, was unrealistic.

Leticia was the protagonist of [Moonlight Liberium].

But she would navigate this aristocratic society as an ordinary girl—or rather, with her ‘ordinariness’ as her weapon.

Simplicity, innocence—straightforwardness.

Qualities we nobles lost somewhere along the way.

Qualities Leticia desperately tried to protect.

…Qualities I didn’t possess.

I adopted a cold tone and said curtly,

“You must have been dreaming. Go wash your face.”

“…Right.”

My sister smiled weakly.

I wanted to do anything to restore the strength to that smile, but I couldn’t. It was a trap.

――This was right. This was how it should be.

Leticia, spotting her slippers—which she had kicked off before getting into bed last night and which I had tidied up—quickly slipped them on and disappeared into the washroom.

My sister was energetic from the morning.

As I stared blankly at the faint afterimage of her back, she quickly reappeared, swinging the door open.

Just as I had instructed, she had washed her face and looked refreshed.

Then, she ran towards me.

“Good morning again, Elder Sister!”

…What had happened to her listless expression from a moment ago?

But this cheerful demeanor was more like Leticia.

“…Yes, good morning.”

Leticia smiled as I returned her greeting.

I was almost captivated by her adorableness.

I abruptly averted my gaze, turning towards the window.

My sister sat in the chair opposite me and looked at me.

Why was she looking at me when she could be looking out the window?

…The expression she had worn while recounting her past to Prince Konrad and Knight Commander Felix flashed through my mind.

That was also a side of her.

A girl with no shadows, simply pure and innocent, wouldn’t be able to navigate the path ahead.

She knew.

The depths of this country.

She knew, deep in her bones, how poverty narrowed one’s options and robbed one of their humanity.

And she would soon learn.

The heights of this country.

How wealth also didn’t guarantee one’s humanity.

Within this love story, she would come to understand the peculiarity of her own position.

She couldn’t lean towards either side.

She was born in the “back alley” and would be raised as a ‘noble.’

I would provide her with a noble education.

And I would teach her the darkness that nobles carried.

I would be her cautionary example, teaching her, more than anyone, that noble status didn’t guarantee humanity, through my meanness.

I was a supporter of the aristocracy.

…However, precisely because I was born and raised as a noble, I held no illusions about nobility, much less about individuals.

We nobles weren’t valuable because we were noble.

We were only allowed to exist as long as we fulfilled our roles and obligations.

The stability we enjoyed was earned through bloodshed.

However, that stability wasn’t absolute.

Just three years ago.

There was a small country bordering the Kingdom of Eustasia, the Principality of Ruins.

They shed blood to ‘overthrow the nobles’ and declared their ‘independence’ as the Republic of Ruins.

…Without any knowledge of statecraft, much less national defense, they plunged their country into chaos and were carved up by neighboring countries.

Our Eustasia also took a piece of the pie.

The “Eustasia Knights” were dispatched for ‘conflict mediation.’

――What was the point?

They abandoned their royally recognized lineage and their small but capable knight order, loyal to that lineage, a force that would burn anyone who dared to touch it.

They ravaged fields, shut down mines, disrupted trade—they starved their people to overthrow the nobles—what was the value of that rebellion… that ‘revolution’?

Most of the people weren’t happy, and wealth quickly began to concentrate.

In the hands of the ‘usurpers’ who had accused the royal family of usurping their wealth.

Repeating the cycle of the aristocracy.

The Eustasia Knights were called ‘heroes who liberated them from oppression’ by the people of that country.

The Vanderwaals merely nudged the rumors in the right direction.

And then, through political marriages with neighboring countries, we gathered the remaining ‘royal blood’ and resurrected the ‘legitimate royal family.’

They were welcomed with open arms.

――Because the announcement coincided with the reopening of the market, accompanied by food aid.

Of course, the Kingdom of Eustasia mediated the conflict from a humanitarian perspective, providing food and supporting industrial recovery.

There was no falsehood in that.

It was just that a portion of the wealth flowed into our country.

And to other countries as well.

The new royal family was essentially a puppet regime controlled by neighboring countries.

Perhaps in a hundred years, they would achieve true independence, but until then, it was effectively a division of power among the neighboring countries.

Even so, according to my beliefs, it was better than a war over ‘unclaimed territory.’

If the flames of war spread across the continental map, they would eventually reach our Eustasia.

It was… understandable that Knight Commander Felix, who had personally led the troops… lost a few of his men, and understood what had truly happened, held some resentment towards me.

He was a simple, rough man, but he wasn’t stupid.

Even so, I had only done my job.

Peace for Eustasia.

That was the Vanderwaals’ mission.

Even if history were to repeat itself eventually, at least while I still had my eyes open…

Our family crest was a gecko, a wall lizard with ever-watchful eyes that never closed.

I gazed at Leticia.

“…Elder Sister?”

“Duty and loyalty… Do your best. As a noble of Eustasia. As a member of the Vanderwaals.”

She didn’t have to inherit the blood-soaked history of this family.

Leticia could forge her own path.

However, the accumulated wealth, the vast territories, the “shadows” envied and feared throughout the continent, whose true nature was unknown, and their information network… wouldn’t go to waste.

“—Yes, Elder Sister! Duty and loyalty!”

Her “duty and loyalty” was still cheerful.

These words succinctly described the relationship between the royal family and the nobles: in exchange for military service and various obligations, they were granted territories and the right to collect taxes.

A noble’s duty. Loyalty to the nation.

She didn’t yet understand the weight of those words.

Even so, it was fine.

…I liked the way my sister said “duty and loyalty.”

I had a feeling that Eustasia after my death would be an even better country.

29: A Night of Thunder

I heard my sister’s voice.

“Elder Sister…”

My eyes snapped open.

I quickly assessed the situation, eyes still closed.

There was only my sister’s presence.

Confirming that, I opened my eyes and sat up.

My sister sighed in relief.

“…Can I… come over there?”

But what was with her demeanor?

――A tearful, frightened voice.

The tone of Leticia’s voice instantly heightened my alertness, jolting me awake.

Even in the dim light of the dying embers in the fireplace, I could tell something was wrong with my sister.

The room was warm. She had a blanket draped over her shoulders and was clutching a pillow, yet she was trembling—the cause of her trembling didn’t seem to be the cold.

Her voice told me one thing—she was afraid.

The rain had intensified.

The constant drumming of the rain against the roof, combined with the overflowing gutters, created a symphony of dripping and splashing sounds.

Then, the rumble of approaching thunder echoed, intensifying my sister’s fear, and she looked around nervously.

The moment she squeezed her eyes shut, a deafening crash reverberated through the air.

“—…!”

Lightning must have struck nearby.

My sister let out a wordless cry.

“…Th-thunder… I… I only have two fears…!”

Another rumble of thunder, the sound of the storm clouds gathering their power, echoed, and my sister’s shoulders trembled.

Then, kicking off her slippers, she climbed onto the bed and clung to me, burying her face in my pillow.

“—!”

Another crash of thunder, and my sister tightened her embrace.

If this was an act, she could join the Vanderwaals “shadows” right away; her fear was that genuine.

I placed my hands on her shoulders.

“I-I’m sorry… but just… just for now…”

“Wait here.”

“Elder Sister…?”

I stood up, slipped on my slippers, and went to the water pitcher on the bedside table.

I poured water into a glass.

Then, I took out the medicine I carried with me, unfolded the paper packet, and poured the powder into the glass.

I swirled the glass, dissolving the medicine in the water.

Another rumble of thunder, followed almost immediately by a stomach-churning crash.

The storm clouds seemed to be directly overhead.

“E-Elder Sister…”

Covering her ears with her hands, Leticia huddled, her voice trembling as she called out to me.

Just this once, I would allow her to call me that.

“…Drink this.”

“O-okay…”

Removing her hands from her ears, Leticia took the glass and drank the contents without hesitation.

I placed the empty glass on the bedside table and patted her shoulder gently.

“Get under the covers and go to sleep.”

“O-okay…”

As instructed, she adjusted her pillow, got under the covers, and looked up at me.

“Elder Sis—”

“I’m going to sleep too.”

I lay down next to her, and my sister gazed at me intently.

Her face was close.

“Um… Elder Sister… is it okay… if I hug you?”

“…Yes. Until the thunder stops.”

Everyone had their fears.

Just as I was afraid of hindering her happy future… she also had her fears.

The mansion, and this guesthouse, should have been protected against lightning strikes, but the “back alley”… was probably not as well-equipped.

Another rumble of thunder echoed.

I held my sister’s head, as she timidly and hesitantly snuggled closer, and pulled her to my chest.

“—!”

“Close your eyes. This room is safe, and the storm will pass soon.”

Another clap of thunder, but this time, Leticia didn’t seem as frightened.

As I had said, the storm clouds seemed to be moving away; the intervals between the rumbles grew longer, and the thunder sounded more distant.

While the wind wasn’t strong at ground level, it seemed to be quite powerful higher up, judging by the sound against the windows.

“—There’s nothing to be afraid of. Fate is on your side.”

To say she was loved by fate… her destiny was quite unusual.

But she would find happiness.

As the protagonist of the story.

Another rumble of thunder.

“I’ll cover your ears. Go to sleep…”

I gently covered her ears with my hands.

“O-okay…”

The warm breath against my chest gradually slowed.

As I held her, my sister’s tense body began to relax… and she went limp.

Then, she began to breathe softly, falling asleep.

The Vanderwaals family also excelled in pharmacology.

Primarily in the field of poisons, but… poison was far more reliable than something that was neither poison nor medicine.

What I had given Leticia was a mild sleeping draught.

I hadn’t brought anything too dangerous, but I always carried a few medicines for emergencies.

As expected of a Vanderwaals sleeping draught, it was quite effective.

After confirming she was asleep, I hugged her tightly, one last time.

I wouldn’t be able to do this while she was awake.

Perhaps the ‘villainous sister’ thing to do would be to banish her to the servants’ quarters and have Ciel comfort her.

But I didn’t want to deprive Ciel of sleep, and I didn’t want my sister to fall for Ciel either.

Besides, I wanted to do this, just once.

I gently released my sister and adjusted her position so she would be more comfortable.

I softly ran my fingers through her short blonde hair.

The embers in the fireplace faintly illuminated its beauty, like captured sunlight, in contrast to my silver hair.

I stroked her hair one last time.

Because I wouldn’t be able to do this while she was awake either.

“…Goodnight, Leticia.”

I could say the things I wanted to say but couldn’t, now.

…Even though I was a useless older sister who could only say such things while she was asleep.

My adorable little sister.

The [Protagonist] of this world, chosen by fate.

――She had already endured so much.

The time I could spend with her was short.

――She would face even greater hardships.

Her only blood relative, her older sister, was a haughty young lady who didn’t understand her affection.

However, the selfless protagonist, despite being subjected to her half-sister’s meanness, would remain unbroken, undistorted, growing into a true noble, while ‘retaining her commoner’s perspective.’

That was a true noble.

An ideal… a virtuous being that didn’t exist in reality.

――Did fate demand such a thing from a sixteen-year-old girl?

Did it intend to burden her, who had apparently lost her parents at a young age and struggled alone in the “back alley,” with even more?

A burning rage surged within me, then dissipated without a target.

――I, too, was complicit in fate’s plan.

“Elder… Sis…”

I flinched, but she mumbled something unintelligible and then sighed contentedly.

However, despite my efforts to make her comfortable, she rolled over in her sleep and clung to me.

…Was she awake? I touched her cheek to check, but there was no reaction.

I tried to sleep, but my sister’s warmth, her softness, everything about her clinging to me made it difficult to fall asleep.

I had also half-forced myself awake in the middle of my sleep.

…Should I take a sleeping draught too?

But having Leticia next to me while she slept was a rare—and, in principle, forbidden—occurrence.

I had to wake up before my sister tomorrow.

So, I wouldn’t rely on medicine.

Resigned, I wrapped my arms around Leticia, who was clinging to me, like a body pillow.

Her warmth and softness lulled me back to sleep.