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

8. The Carriage to the Royal Castle

The letter from the Royal Castle arrived three days after Leticia’s audience dress was completed.

The deliberation was over, and Leticia was to be recognized as ‘Leticia von Vanderwaals.’

Along with this, she was granted an audience with His Majesty the King.

I wondered if it couldn’t have been handled with just paperwork, but it wasn’t a bad excuse to showcase my sister’s dress.

Besides… it was also the [Capture Target]’s debut.

I knew him, but for my sister, it was an important meeting.

I didn’t know if he would end up with my sister. ――The probability, simply put, was one in three.

Even so, the prospects offered by the title of ‘First Prince’ were significant.

He wasn’t a bad person, but… we weren’t compatible.

He had a political cleanliness complex, unable to accept a family like the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” whose livelihood was a shady business that completely disregarded the ‘official’ laws of the land.

Conversely, perhaps he wouldn’t be a bad partner for her in a future without the Vanderwaals.

This country was reaching a point where it no longer needed our family.

――It was my sister’s choice to make.

“Leticia. Are you ready?”

I knocked lightly on the changing room door.

“Yes!”

“You may enter.”

The reply came immediately. From both my sister and Ciel.

Ciel opened the door inward.

“…………”

“…How… do I look?”

Leticia, shy in her dress, looked so lovely I almost wanted to keep her all to myself.

A violet color, brighter and more vivid than the navy blue of my usual jacket and skirt.

Trailing skirts had long gone out of fashion in the Kingdom of Eustasia, but vestiges of the style remained, with skirts that almost touched the floor considered formal.

Probably due to the cold.

It was common to add layers under a dress skirt to create a natural fullness, but in this country, fur lining was often used for warmth.

It was also a way to flaunt one’s wealth, demonstrating the ability to heat one’s home. In contrast to the long skirts, bare shoulders paired with long gloves seemed a contradictory display of modesty and extravagance.

But it suited her, so it was fine.

“…Are you wearing your usual outfit, Elder Sister?”

“Eh? …Ah. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a practical outfit for the head of the family.”

The ‘me in the game’ also seemed to wear the same outfit all the time, except for special occasions.

“Tailor” seemed to want me to add more variety to my everyday wear—in other words, to commission more clothes from her.

“I see…”

For some reason, Leticia seemed slightly disappointed.

“…Will there ever be an occasion… for Elder Sister and I to wear dresses together?”

However, regaining some of her cheerfulness, she asked me that.

“…Perhaps there will be.”

…Perhaps there would be such occasions at social gatherings.

For tea parties, lighter dresses were sometimes worn, but everyday clothes were also acceptable.

However, formal attire was required for evening events.

But the only official event where Leticia and I would attend together in dresses…

…was the [Final Ball].

The day that would irrevocably separate our paths and end the history of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

The day of parting, yet to come.

The day the ‘Villainous Sister’ would meet her demise was still far off.

“Let’s go, Leticia.”

“Yes!”

I left Ciel, who had been helping Leticia dress, in charge while I was away.

“Ciel. I leave things in your hands.”

“…Yes.”

Unusually for her, she had offered to accompany me when I told her to stay behind, but I insisted.

Going to the Royal Castle to meet His Majesty the King—while sounding like an important event—was routine for our family.

For the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” one of only three ducal families in Eustasia, and the ‘officially unofficial’ watchers in the shadows.

Of course, today was special.

However, having Ciel come along would be… problematic.

For one, it wasn’t in the game.

Another reason was—having a capable maid like Ciel present might cause the following [Event] to fail.

The scenario was somewhat… forced.

Of course, when actors perform on stage and immerse themselves in their roles, such minor details become insignificant.

Even so, there’s a limit.

…Flaws in fate were probably everywhere.

If we simply lived our daily lives… this world would surely deviate from the scenario of [Moonlight Liberium].

That was unacceptable to me.

As the head of the Vanderwaals family, I judged that not changing this fate was in the best interest of the majority—at least, of Eustasia.

Therefore, I would thoroughly eliminate any possibility of altering fate.

I accepted this because my sister’s happiness was guaranteed, and at the same time… it would bring happiness to many more people.

That’s how I was raised.

The established order of priorities was unshakeable.

Peace for Eustasia. That is the Vanderwaals’ raison d’être.

I am Adelheid von Vanderwaals.

The current head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

The single wall lizard, protecting this country.

…And a single older sister, wishing for her sister’s happiness.

As I boarded the carriage, Ciel offered me a wrap.

“Here. It’s cold today.”

“Thank you, Ciel.”

There was also a lap blanket on the carriage seat.

Both the plain gray wrap, the lap blanket, and the carriage itself were warmed with heated stones.

She was capable.

I deliberately took only one of the two blankets provided.

Without even looking at my sister, I got into the carriage.

…I didn’t have the courage to look at Leticia’s face, so I pretended to look out the window.

Then Leticia boarded the carriage—

And, despite it being a four-seater carriage, she sat next to me.

“…Leti… cia?”

Unexpected.

I couldn’t maintain my ‘I’m not interested in you’ pose, pretending to be fascinated by the scenery outside, any longer. Turning to her, my sister smiled.

“It’s cold today.”

And she leaned against me.

I couldn’t help but glance at Ciel, but she simply watched us, her expression unchanged.

…Was she saying this wasn’t unusual?

Then Ciel lightly nudged the accompanying maid’s shoulder.

“…Excuse me, Lady Adelheid.”

Bowing her head, the maid moved past me and sat opposite Leticia.

The door was closed from the outside, and the maid locked it from the inside.

The small window connecting the driver’s seat and the passenger compartment opened slightly.

“Lady Adelheid. May I depart?”

“…Proceed.”

I nodded, giving the driver permission, even though he couldn’t see me.

The carriage started with a creak and lurched forward.

Leticia, unaccustomed to carriages, lost her balance and reached out instinctively.

I caught her, and our eyes met.

Her blue eyes, the same color as mine, were wide.

Then, she narrowed her eyes slightly, her cheeks softening into a smile.

“…Thank you, Elder Sister.”

Leticia settled back into her seat, leaning against my supporting arm.

And, as she had done before, she gently leaned against me again.

“It’s… cold today, but… I’m warm.”

“…………”

Is it really… not okay to hug her…?

7. A Familiar Outfit

A few days later, “Tailor” delivered the first completed outfit.

Even for everyday wear, it was remarkably fast.

When my sister, changed in the next room, appeared in the drawing-room, I gasped.

“I’ve never worn anything like this before…!”

Leticia was ecstatic about the clothes, the quality of which was incomparable to anything she’d worn before.

“They feel so wonderful!”

“Of course they do!”

“The fabric is so smooth, it doesn’t catch at all…”

“I spared no expense.”

“I can’t even feel the seams…!”

“That’s because I took special care to understand Lady Leticia’s measurements…”

“Tailor” beamed, her face flushed with satisfaction, as she chimed in with Leticia’s delighted exclamations, nodding in agreement. The torrent of praise from my sister must have been incredibly rewarding for a tailor.

My sister twirled around, her red skirt flaring.

The dynamism of her movements, expressing her joy with her whole body, was truly adorable.

Then, like a dog wagging its tail, she ran straight towards me.

She held the hem of her skirt and twirled again in front of me, allowing me to take in the entire ensemble, from the top of her head to her toes, and even her back.

“How do I look, Elder Sister!? …Do I… look good?”

“Y-Yes. …Well, you’re presentable now.”

I had been speechless, and my sister’s question snapped me back to reality.

I thought, “That was quite a sarcastic, mean remark for something blurted out reflexively…” but only for a moment.

“Thank you! See, “Tailor,” she complimented me!”

“Naturally. My clothes suit you perfectly…!”

These two are far too resilient.

Did they actually take that as a compliment?

…It made me seriously reconsider how harsh I should make my future ‘meanness.’

The reason I was speechless earlier wasn’t because of my sister’s cuteness…

Well, my sister is cute enough to make me want to prevent her future beheading…

A white shirt and a red jumper skirt. A large gold button at the chest, emblazoned with the Vanderwaals gecko crest, gleamed prominently. Probably the same one as on my jacket… matching.

Her neatly cut blonde hair, now receiving proper nutrition, baths, and care, was regaining its original shine.

She looked completely different from when we first met.

…When I saw the first outfit “Tailor” made for Leticia, a chill ran down my spine.

It was identical to the outfit the protagonist always wears in [Moonlight Liberium].

I hadn’t given her any instructions.

I left it to the tailor’s discretion.

…And yet, the design was exactly the same. Astonishing.

The clothes I always wear were also made by “Tailor” before I knew about [Moonlight Liberium].

My sister’s existence.

The matching pocket watches.

The familiar lines.

Along with these, this was another example of an inescapable ‘force.’

Whether the future of this world is predetermined… I don’t know.

I don’t believe that everything that will happen is set in stone.

This world is like a stage someone created… but I don’t believe all my actions are predetermined.

The [Events], in my interpretation, are like points.

Like scenes in a play, prominent events are extracted from a larger set of occurrences to advance the story. That’s probably the ‘official history.’

However, how we connect the dots… is up to the actors… to us. It’s our freedom. Surely.

We might even be able to change the future.

But that’s precisely why.

I choose the future that should be.

That way, at least my sister’s happiness is guaranteed.

If fate is on our side in this uncertain world.

I choose that.

“Lady Leticia. This is for everyday wear, but what should we do about a second outfit?”

“Ah, um…”

She couldn’t have just one outfit.

Even my sister, from the “back alley”… the slums, had a few outfits and rotated them properly.

…Though they were all rags that a noble family would use as cleaning cloths or to wipe down horses in the stables.

They were all similar, and honestly, I could barely tell them apart, nor did I see the need to.

But even in those clothes, my sister was cute. Cute enough to make me want to hug her.

However, she’s even cuter now… and I want to make her happy after all the hardships she’s endured.

Even if it’s not me who makes her happy.

Just being able to set the stage is enough.

I am her one and only older sister.

Even if she comes to hate me.

Even if my head is separated from my body.

That much will never change.

“Could I have the same design…?”

“If it’s the same design, it will be finished quickly… are you sure?”

Watching the two of them, “Tailor” tilted her head slightly.

Leticia nodded.

“Where I used to live, I always wore similar clothes… so I think I’d feel more comfortable with the same design.”

“Yes, understood.”

I see. So that’s why.

The sister in the game always wore the same outfit except for special [Events].

I thought it was a common ‘protagonist marker’ in stage costumes.

The reason I usually wear the same—design of—clothes is also due to similar circumstances.

I am the head of the Vanderwaals family, and what I need is not fashion, but attire that allows those who know to recognize me at a glance as the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

I’ll wear a dress if the dress code requires it, and besides, dressing somewhat plainly on a daily basis makes formal attire stand out more at social events.

“Besides, I really like this outfit.”

“Tailor’s” face broke into a smile.

“Fufu…. You’re a tailor’s dream, Lady Leticia…!”

I’m glad my sister likes it.

“…Ah, also, Lady Adelheid. Regarding the cost…”

“Use whatever you need.”

I said curtly.

The Vanderwaals coffers are full.

We have plenty of undeclared funds, but our legitimate territorial management is also profitable.

Besides, “Tailor’s” shop has become a legitimate source of income.

“Tell Ciel the necessary amount as usual. —It wouldn’t do for rumors to spread that the Vanderwaals’ new relative looks like a street rat.”

I smiled, one corner of my mouth lifting.

“Just make sure you don’t do anything disgraceful that would tarnish the family name, Leticia.”

It was an expression I had practiced countless times in front of my mirror since learning of my future as the ‘Villainous Sister.’

Using sarcastic, cutting words had twice the effect.

‘Street rat’ is a common insult for residents of the “back alley.”

The phrases “new relative” and “tarnish the family name” were also meant to be sarcastic digs, implying that she was, after all, just a half-sister.

Even though I find her incredibly cute as my blood-related sister.

I couldn’t show that.

I needed to be thoroughly disliked before my inevitable [Beheading].

I thought the [Events] leading up to it would be enough, but I decided that daily reinforcement was important.

However, contrary to my expectations, Leticia, instead of grimacing, smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Elder Sister. You acknowledge me… as a relative of the Vanderwaals, and you’re worried about me.”

What’s with that positive attitude?

I’m being mean, you know.

…She’s supposed to dislike me, right?

 

6. Safe haven

The lanky “Tailor” moved like a spider, silently circling behind Leticia.

Then, she extended her long arms.

“Now then, if you’ll excuse me…”

“Eek!?”

Leticia flinched, her eyes widening as her ample bosom was groped, a muffled mmph escaping her lips.

I reacted immediately, shoving the tailor away and rushing to Leticia’s side.

“J-Just now! She… she touched my chest!?”

She hid behind me.

…Making me her safe haven?

Me.

Someone like me.

A warm, fuzzy feeling, something akin to sisterly happiness, welled up in my chest. I wanted to savor it… but…

That wouldn’t move the story forward.

I’d ruminate on it later. For now, I opened my mouth to do what needed to be done.

“Leticia, calm down.”

“Big Sister…”

I also wanted to savor being called “Big Sister,” but I didn’t have time for that now.

Cursing fate, I was also guided by that very fate, which brought my sister and me together.

“Call me Elder Sister. I taught you that, didn’t I?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right…”

I told her that when it was decided she would be welcomed into our family.

The education to instill proper noble speech, behavior, and manners would come later.

I would mainly leave that to Ciel, who was also my tutor, with occasional lessons from me and other characters.

That’s how the script goes.

However, I at least told her to address me as “Elder Sister.”

That scene isn’t in [Moonlight Liberium].

However, Leticia in the game, except for our first meeting, always calls me “Elder Sister.”

So, I assumed that the ‘me in the game’ must have taught her that at the beginning, and I followed suit.

The Leticia I know always called me “Elder Sister.”

…Being called “Big Sister” is new, and it makes me so happy….

For a moment, I thought, “Maybe it’s okay to change this much,” but…

I have no intention of changing fate.

“So, Elder Sister… why did that person suddenly grope my chest? Is that some new kind of greeting?”

As she said that, I noticed Leticia had linked her arm around mine.

Ah, my sister is so cute.

But how is it that her chest is pressed against me just by hiding behind me and leaning in?

Even if I tried the same pose… unless I deliberately pressed against her, it would never happen.

Why, with such a natural movement, are her breasts…

“Well, yes, it’s a kind of greeting…”

Just as I was getting lost in a maze of thought, “Tailor,” who had been standing around awkwardly, muttered, averting her gaze.

“I’ve never heard of such a decadent greeting. Refrain from using misleading expressions.”

However, turning her gaze to me, she placed a hand on her chest and insisted,

“But! I just want to thoroughly understand the body of a cute girl—”

“Close your mouth this instant.”

Leticia, seemingly frightened, tightened her grip on my arm.

And her chest pressed tighter against me.

Feigning composure, I explained carefully.

“…Leticia, it’s normal for a tailor to touch a client’s body for measurements. She is a top-class tailor.”

“Tailor” puffed out her chest and smiled smugly.

“But, like… squeezing and… and…”

However, my sister seemed unconvinced. She released my arm and wiggled her fingers.

With the pressure gone from my arm, I felt a slight chill.

“Tailor” averted her gaze again and muttered,

“I can’t tell unless I do that much… Lady Leticia is quite well-endowed.”

“Be quiet.”

――Apparently, she was sued by a client for this kind of behavior and fled to this country.

If only… if only she were a bit more articulate.

I questioned her intensely, but she declared with unwavering conviction, “I swear on my shears that I did nothing untoward. I simply did my best to create the finest garments.”

And the finished garments are indeed superb.

Her touch… might be a bit strong, but her claim that it’s necessary for her work is true, and I judged that she had no ulterior motives.

In fact, until she was unfortunately sued, her obsessive attention to detail for accurate measurements was accepted in light of the quality of her work.

What a shame.

Thanks to that, I was able to employ such a skilled tailor, so perhaps it was for the best.

…Was even that part of fate’s script?

I met her before I knew about [Moonlight Liberium].

I don’t know what her character setting was in the game.

Probably, the protagonist doesn’t know either.

But she was exiled from her country, drifted all the way to the Kingdom of Eustasia, and became my exclusive tailor.

Just as the scenario dictated.

“But…”

Leticia still seemed unconvinced, glancing at “Tailor.”

“…Lady Adelheid. Permission to speak.”

“…If you say anything strange again… you understand, don’t you?”

“Tailor” nodded.

I nodded as well and granted permission.

“…Lady Leticia. As the exclusive tailor of the Vanderwaals family, I swear I have no strange intentions. I simply want… to… dress cu… I mean, girls…? No, women… attractively… Yes! I want to help bring out a woman’s charm. I want to do my best for that. That is all.”

Barely safe.

She usually gushes to me, “Cute girls should wear cute clothes! I want to bring out the charm of cute girls with the clothes I make!!” So, she probably rephrased it carefully.

Her conviction is unshakeable, as if she’s received some divine revelation.

It’s quite suspicious, but she’s doing her best to use palatable language.

I appreciate the effort.

“Is… that so?”

Even though I understand it’s necessary for her profession… I would also be uncomfortable being touched all over by a man.

That’s why there are many female tailors, especially for nobles.

Dealing with capricious nobles is high-risk, but nobles are nobles. High society is an excellent advertising platform. It’s also high-reward.

I lightly placed my hand on Leticia’s shoulder, who was looking at me.

“Besides, Leticia, we’re both women, aren’t we?”

“Yes… that’s true.”

A pang of pain… shot through my chest for some reason.

There’s no way “Tailor” would make a mistake like leaving a needle behind.

Even so, I gently touched… and caressed my own chest.

“But, it’s a little…”

Leticia, glancing at “Tailor” again, was probably still wary from the earlier shock.

…At this rate, she was probably fine in the “back alley” as well.

Despite the high crime rate, there’s a kind of order. It’s not a completely lawless zone.

The possibility that something happened in the past, making her wary, can’t be entirely dismissed.

For now, if my sister is uncomfortable, it can’t be helped.

She absolutely needs clothes befitting a duke’s daughter.

I turned my gaze to “Tailor.”

“”Tailor.” You can take measurements by sight, can’t you?”

“But… that would compromise the quality…”

“Tailor” protested.

I narrowed my eyes.

And spoke in a cold voice.

“You can, can’t you?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Tailor’s” eyes teared up.

Perhaps feeling sorry for her, Leticia’s wariness eased slightly.

“Um, well… Elder Sister, you also have your clothes made by “Tailor,” right?”

“Well, yes.”

The clothes I’m wearing now are also her handiwork.

This navy blue jacket and skirt set, with the Vanderwaals crest embroidered on the chest, has become my trademark as the head of the family.

I also entrust her with my dresses for social occasions.

“So… um, if she doesn’t touch you, the quality… suffers, right?”

“Yes…. There will be a difference in comfort… As for the appearance… I doubt anyone would notice… but…”

It’s not absolute.

Some nobles have a discerning eye.

My sister nodded once.

“Then… I’d like to formally request you to make my clothes, “Tailor.””

“Yes, Lady Leticia.”

Good. It seems the scenario will proceed as planned.

“Then, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Yes!”

“Tailor” nodded confidently.

Having finished my business, I turned on my heel—

…and my sleeve was tugged.

Looking back, Leticia was holding onto my sleeve.

“…What is it?”

Turning back, she hesitantly took my hand and pulled it towards her chest.

Perhaps misjudging the distance, my hand brushed against her, but unlike with “Tailor,” she didn’t seem to mind.

And then she said,

“I want… Elder Sister… to stay too.”

――I thought about brushing her hand away, saying, “I’m busy.”

I thought that would be the correct response as the ‘Villainous Sister,’ the ‘Mean Older Sister.’

But.

“Is that… not allowed?”

With my sister making such a face… could any older sister refuse?

I silently pulled my hand away.

And sat down on the drawing-room sofa.

“…It seems I need to personally observe the work of my exclusive tailor from time to time. “Tailor,” if the results are unsatisfactory…”

“I will ensure your satisfaction…!”

“Tailor” grinned.

She was confident.

…Perhaps it would have been better if she had a little less confidence.

Even though she has the skills to match her confidence.

If she had been a bit more flexible, she might not have been driven to flee.

She might have avoided a lawsuit.

…She might not have been exiled.

With such troubled thoughts, I watched as Leticia was measured from head to toe by “Tailor,” her hands and measuring tape leaving no part of her body untouched—her chest groped, her waist grasped, her back stroked, her legs caressed.

Leticia, seemingly anxious, glanced at me repeatedly. I smiled reassuringly, and her face blossomed into a bright smile.

Perhaps I should be mean.

Perhaps I should make her dislike me more.

But at least between events…

She will eventually come to dislike me. That’s fate.

But just a little longer.

Just a little longer, I want to be my sister’s safe haven.

5. “The Tailor”

After the ‘welcoming’ event, which likely significantly lowered my sister’s favorability towards me, there’s a bit of a gap before the next [Official Event].

She will take the Vanderwaals family name and become a noble.

…However, that requires formal approval.

And not just from me, the head of the Vanderwaals family—but from a higher authority, namely, His Majesty the King.

In the Kingdom of Eustasia, nobility is officially a privileged status conferred by royal decree.

Conversely, with the King’s approval, even a girl of uncertain origins like Leticia can become a noble.

That being said, the process is usually handled with paperwork, without any elaborate ceremonies. The addition of a new member to a noble family is typically due to birth or marriage… events with undeniable legitimacy.

However, there are exceptions.

This is one such special case… where a ‘half-sibling’ is discovered.

Such things are not unheard of.

Rather, they are quite common.

Though less so when it comes to heads of families, as they tend to exercise discretion—at least enough to utilize discreet, reputable establishments that guarantee client confidentiality.

…However, instances of young nobles, thinking it a youthful indiscretion, impregnating or being impregnated by someone of good family, are relatively frequent.

I hear of such cases publicly several times a year, and in my position, I hear of twice as many. Considering that some cases are likely handled smoothly with severance payments and child support, and kept hidden, the actual number is probably even higher.

However, those children are never recognized as “nobles.”

If matters are settled relatively amicably, severance payments and child support are usually paid.

In cases of assault, not consensual relations, the perpetrator may even be executed. Legally, commoners are treated the same, but nobles have greater financial resources.

No matter where they flee, no matter where they hide, we will search for them to the ends of the earth and deliver appropriate punishment under the law—the Vanderwaals family occasionally receives such requests.

Due to the nature of the work, it’s undeniably unpleasant, but the pay is good, and more than anything, it allows us to feel a bit like we’re on the side of justice.

The circumstances vary, but the common thread is that it’s difficult for the resulting child to be recognized as a suitable noble.

Such youthful indiscretions are rarely fueled by sensible adults… by the privileged class of nobles, even if they try to extinguish them.

At the very least, the head of the family’s approval is required.

…And whether they would acknowledge the young people who sired children without even going through the formal adoption process… it’s no wonder this rule, allowing someone to become a noble solely with the King’s approval, is rarely used.

Occasionally, a parent might be blinded by love for their child, but in such cases, they can simply provide for them privately.

They can acknowledge the child, provide financial support, even live together… without bearing the responsibilities of nobility. If simple happiness is the goal, that is a much easier path.

…If my father had done so, would Leticia and I have been able to grow up as sisters, despite our complicated circumstances?

Even so, nobles are the ruling class.

They bear corresponding obligations, but they also hold numerous privileges.

And privileges are privileges precisely because they are held by a select few.

Therefore, this rule is truly rarely used.

…It’s such an archaic rule that when I first learned of it, I wondered if it was ever used in modern times.

It’s as if it exists solely for the purpose of welcoming Leticia.

Well, in any case, there’s no reason for me, the head of the family, to object.

Although there’s no way to prove it, the fact that she is half of noble blood also works in her favor.

The application will likely be approved.

However, preparations are necessary.

Even if it’s just a ceremony—no, because it’s a ceremony, formality is required.

There’s no way she can appear before the King in those rags.

She also needs everyday clothes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Leticia… I am ‘Tailor.’”

“Um, Elder Sister… who is this?”

“She introduced herself, didn’t she? She’s a tailor.”

So, I called the family tailor to the mansion.

I introduced her to Leticia in the drawing-room.

She is also a character who appears in [Moonlight Liberium].

Apparently, she not only makes everyday clothes and dresses for the protagonist but also sells [Clothing Items]? or something.

I don’t understand what [Yen] are, but it’s probably a unit of currency.

I don’t quite understand the parts of the game that don’t involve me or the main plot.

But there are people who are particular about the material of chessboards and pieces, the illustrations on playing cards, or the feel of dice, so it’s probably something like that.

“Tailor Schneider? But she said ‘Tailor’…”

“She’s from another country…”

“Tailor” bowed her head, hunching her already slightly stooped back.

She was slender and tall. And, as is common for tailors, she was hunched over. Her light blue eyes were lifeless, almost black in their darkness. Her green-tinged black hair, which hung down, partially obscuring her eyes, reminded me of the seaweed, wakame, harvested in the eastern countries and imported to our country in dried form.

She wore a simple white long-sleeved shirt and a black vest, a tailor’s way of indicating her dedication to her craft. Her trousers were also black, with crisp creases, and above all, they were free of wrinkles and impeccably stitched.

Her tie, also hand-sewn, was black as well, but with a different, lustrous sheen.

Tailors often sew their own work clothes. And they consider it a testament to their skill.

Judging solely by her skill, she is a top-class tailor.

Judging solely by her skill.

“So… I understand you have a request…”

“Tailor” timidly gauged my expression.

She has a shop in the royal capital, but it’s funded by me. I’ve limited her noble clientele to orders placed through the Vanderwaals family.

Supporting, protecting, and monopolizing skilled artisans is a noble’s duty… but it’s not just that.

I judged it best for her, given her nature.

For her to continue her current life, she needs me… the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

In other words, she cannot defy me.

“I’ve found my half-sister. Until the official announcement, this must be kept confidential.”

So, I stated the facts succinctly, without concealment.

She’s a craftswoman, not interested in worldly gossip.

“Yes…”

“So—can you tolerate her wearing these rags?”

A ghostly light flickered in her pale blue eyes.

“Certainly not…”

Even if they hold sentimental value, they are not clothes fit for a noble.

“First, a few sets of everyday clothes.”

“Yes.”

She smoothly pulled out a notebook from her vest’s side pocket, took the pen from her breast pocket, and began taking notes.

“Then, a dress for her audience with His Majesty.”

“Yes…!”

“Tailor’s” face lit up.

“That’s all for now.”

“Yes…”

“Tailor’s” spirits sank.

“…Depending on the results, I intend to commission you for my sister’s clothes in the future. For now, focus on the task at hand.”

“Yes…!!”

Life returned to her face.

For better or worse, she is a craftswoman.

It’s true that I plan to commission her for my sister’s clothes in the future.

It’s still far off, but I’ll eventually need to prepare a dress for the [Final Ball].

And the dress I wear then will surely be of her making as well.

---

Vanderwaals Family, Exclusive Tailor

Tailor

CV: None

The exclusive tailor of the Vanderwaals family.

An unvoiced, money-grubbing character in [Moonlight Liberium].

In the game, they tailor the protagonist’s clothes and also make clothes for government officials according to the scenario. (They also make swimsuits.)

Age, real name, and background are unknown.

A foreigner who was picked up by Adelheid after washing ashore on Eustasia’s “backstreet” and has been indebted to her ever since.

Becomes reasonable when complimented.

Became a tailor because they wanted to dress cute girls in cute clothes.

Loves cats.

4. An Icy Bedroom

The day arrived to welcome my sister into my home.

I would deal with the noble status later.

First, I had to ensure her—the [Protagonist]’s—safety.

I had guards shadowing her, and I received their reports.

In the few days she was given, Leticia hurriedly said her goodbyes to her workplace—my sister worked as a maid in a bakery—and to her neighbors.

I didn’t know the extent of fate’s support, so I had to be doubly careful.

I didn’t know if she had guards in the game, but I couldn’t assume everything would go according to the scenario.

If, by any chance, an [Event]… a calamity that couldn’t be resolved without relying on fate… occurred—I would deal with it then.

However, by that time, my relationship with my sister would likely be strained.

As I was reading—or pretending to read—a book in the tearoom, one of the maids addressed me.

“Lady Adelheid. Ciel has returned with your sister.”

I deliberately didn’t respond until I finished the page.

Then, I placed a bookmark and slowly rose.

“I understand. Proceed as instructed.”

“……Yes.”

The fact that she—Leticia—is my half-sister, and my ‘instructions’ regarding my blood relative, were already common knowledge.

My relationship with the servants, excluding Ciel, was neither good nor bad. I prided myself on providing a decent working environment for a noble household, so my reputation probably wasn’t that bad.

But from now on, the servants would likely dislike me.

――I eagerly went to greet Leticia as she arrived at the mansion, escorted by Ciel.

However, I used the [Official Lines].

“[Is that all your luggage?]”

“[Yes.]”

Her luggage consisted of a single shabby trunk.

…That was all she needed.

“[Throw it all away later.]”

“[Eh…? ]”

My sister’s eyes widened.

Without pausing, I continued.

“[Such ratty attire is unbefitting of the Vanderwaals family.]”

Even I sighed inwardly, thinking, “There’s a way to say things, you know.”

I couldn’t tolerate my own flesh and blood sister wearing such shabby clothes.

…The ‘me in the game’… perhaps she was genuinely a mean-spirited young lady who would say such things.

If Ciel had educated her, she wouldn’t be like this… would she?

At least, Ciel’s name doesn’t appear in the scenario. I was even afraid that having her present when meeting my sister might alter the scenario.

Perhaps Ciel doesn’t even exist in [Moonlight Liberium].

I ignored the accusing glances from the other maids.

Ciel alone was enough as my ally.

Besides, I had the backing of fate.

“[…Yes.]”

My sister reacted as she did in the game.

She looked down, as if wanting to say something, but she held back and didn’t express it outwardly.

I replayed the [Text Log] in my mind. If I recall correctly, my sister’s inner thoughts were like this:

――[I looked down. They might be tattered clothes to a noble, but to me, they are precious. They are treasures filled with the kindness of the people of the “back alley.”]

…I felt a pang of guilt, thinking, “I’m sorry for being such a useless older sister.”

Incidentally, the sister in the game was resourceful enough to collude with the maids, pretend to throw everything away, and hide the trunk in a corner of the storage room.

If my real sister did the same, I would, of course, pretend not to notice.

Accompanied by a single maid—a plump, elderly woman with red hair, not Ciel—I led my sister to her room.

Through the marble entrance hall, a display of aristocratic power, down the carpeted hallway… by the time we reached the attic, the flooring had changed to worn wooden planks.

This was the custom throughout the Kingdom of Eustasia—’practicality.’

It was practical to decorate the entrance hall to showcase the power of a noble family.

Similarly, it was practical to maintain the areas used regularly to a certain degree.

However, it was not practical to decorate a storage room.

“[This room… is… ]”

My sister was speechless at the lack of aristocratic luxury in the room.

I spoke, taking care to sound as sarcastic as possible.

“[It suits someone raised in the “back alley,” doesn’t it? …Do you have any complaints?]”

“[No, Elder Sister]. …Just being under the same roof as you makes me happy.”

My sister’s shy demeanor… For a moment, I considered defying fate.

Hugging her, apologizing, giving her my room—no, maybe even sleeping in the same bed like close sisters—

………………Wait. Reason. Do your job.

I almost got lost in my daydreams. Dangerous.

…Speaking of which, was there such a line?

I replayed the game’s text log in my mind… hmm?

Indeed, her only line was [“No, Elder Sister”]….

――It seems there are some differences from the game.

“Ask the maid about the rest. I will fulfill my noble obligations, but I am busy.”

I turned on my heel.

My sister called out to my back.

“Ah, Elder Sister… Thank you very much!”

A pang of pain shot through my chest.

That line wasn’t in the game.

I’ve also spoken several lines that weren’t in the game.

Being insulted would have been better.

“…Oh, well. It’s no use saying such things to her. She doesn’t have any human emotions.”

As I descended to the first floor, I overheard the elderly maid’s words of comfort.

Don’t underestimate the Vanderwaals’ sharp hearing.

――Doesn’t have any human emotions, huh?

Back in my room, I closed the door and leaned against it.

I pulled out the pocket watch, usually only its silver chain visible, from the breast pocket of my dark blue jacket and flipped it open.

The three hands ticked, and the gears moved busily.

If only.

If only I didn’t have any human emotions.

If only my heart were a clockwork mechanism like this pocket watch.

…If only that were the case.

Entering the assigned attic room, she—Leticia—looked around appraisingly… and her eyes fell on the old bed.

“The bedding… wow, it’s so luxurious…?”

As she approached and touched it, she felt the smooth texture and sinking softness. Even she, unfamiliar with luxury goods, could tell it was top-quality.

“Oh, the bedding in the guest room just happened to get old, so we were ordered to dispose of it. I snatched it. Don’t worry, they won’t notice. We were told we could do whatever we wanted with it. Even though there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“‘Just happened’…?”

“That’s right. Oh, and also, if anything happens… no, even if nothing happens, come to us. This is the maids’ break room downstairs, and there’s always someone here. We can offer you some sweets and tea, and there’s a fireplace. Come warm up before you go to bed. …Your sister is like that, and nobles’ meanness is insidious. But… hang in there. Don’t give up.”

“…Yes.”

A thick, warm hand rested on her shoulder.

After the maid left, as she unpacked her meager belongings alone… that warmth seemed to fill her chest.

――Or so she thought, but regardless of that.

Yes, even though the room had no fireplace.

“…It feels… warm… somehow?”

She stopped unpacking and looked around, but there was no fireplace, nor any other apparent heat source.

No one without godlike observation skills would notice the change in the room.

The day before, the head of the family herself, avoiding conspicuous areas and taking the utmost care not to compromise the floor’s durability, had enlarged the knotholes in the floorboards with a drill, allowing the heat from the fireplace below to rise through.

3.【Necessary ‘Meanness’】

I was preparing to welcome my sister.

Granting her noble status would come later.

First, I would bring Leticia into my home.

I secretly assigned guards, gave her enough money to avoid getting caught up in crime, and gave her a few days to prepare. My sister would likely have people she wanted to say goodbye to.

In the game, the protagonist younger sister’s room is an attic without even a fireplace.

――On the day of the first snowfall, driven into the attic used as a storage room, the protagonist warms her hands with her breath and says:

[“It’s cold… isn’t it…? But it’s better than nothing, having a roof that doesn’t leak and glass windows that keep out the wind and snow…”]

I don’t know her background.

Even in the game, it’s only hinted at and ‘kept vague.’

A half-sister who grew up in the “back alley,” sharing the same father—that’s all I know.

It was a bit surprising that our father had the ability, whether through affection or lust, to have a child with someone other than his designated partner.

You should have paid more child support…! I sent a resentful thought towards my deceased father, or perhaps the unseen playwright.

I voiced my inner thoughts to shake off my hesitation.

“The meanness itself… is necessary.”

For the ‘Villainous Sister’ to be sent to the guillotine, meanness is necessary.

Actions worthy of being called evil.

Malicious, ‘meanness.’

While each individual act falls within the realm of meanness, they accumulate enough to warrant the guillotine—enough that anyone would judge me as evil.

The denunciation of me, which takes place towards the end, begins like this:

[Giving her own flesh and blood sister a freezing room unbefitting her status]—

In truth, I wouldn’t mind giving up my own room, and as befitting a noble family, we have guest rooms, and it would be easy to renovate a spare room or two.

It should be easy.

I sighed.

“Honestly… what was the ‘me in the game’ thinking? It would have been fine to simply dote on my sister.”

Even now, I have a desire to do so—not that I don’t.

However, working in such a shady business, one understands how insignificant human power can be—and one understands that history has a flow.

I don’t know if it’s appropriate to call it fate… but there are moments when something beyond human comprehension compels people to act.

My fate has already been decided by the unseen playwright.

So has my sister’s.

And fortunately, she has a happy fate awaiting her.

If the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals” is to be a sacrifice for that, so be it.

However… I cannot allow my cute little sister to freeze.

I can’t say for sure that it’ll be alright just because this is based on a game world.

Cold can kill.

Winters in this country are long and harsh.

Even the live-in maids in our house are given rooms with fireplaces, albeit shared rooms.

That much is easy for the Vanderwaals, one of the most prominent noble families.

And yet, she’s alone in an attic without a fireplace.

It’s a great story for garnering sympathy.

But who is she selling that sympathy to now?

I will obey what is called fate.

I will follow the general outline presented to me.

I will not let anyone change the ending.

However, I will take the liberty of handling the behind-the-scenes—the unwritten spaces between the lines.

I will not allow my one and only blood sister to freeze, not even for fate.

I pulled the cord and rang the bell, summoning the head maid.

After a short while, I heard a knock, knock, knock.

“Ciel. Come in.”

“Yes, Lady Adelheid.”

I spoke without getting up from my chair, still facing the wall at my desk.

I heard her enter the room and close the door behind her. Without wasting any more time, I told her my business without turning around.

“Have that attic in the corner cleaned.”

“Yes. May I ask the reason?”

As my assistant head of the family, and formerly my governess and tutor, she is my most trusted subordinate.

“I’m assigning it to my half-sister.”

“…With all due respect, that room is currently being used as storage. It has no fireplace. It’s a bottom-of-the-barrel environment, perhaps even worse than the stables.”

Even she, with her usual restraint, voiced her objection.

“I’m aware of that, and I’m telling you to do it. Begin preparations immediately.”

“…Yes.”

…It’s an absurd order.

A pointless, shallow, mean-spirited prank… ‘meanness.’

Still, she nodded.

Ciel obeys my orders.

I am the head of the Vanderwaals family, and she is my assistant.

“Also, double the servant budget.”

“…Yes?”

I sensed Ciel’s rare bewilderment at the lack of connection and the abrupt change of topic, but I continued.

“Use it for firewood. I hear the fireplace in the servants’ break room isn’t always lit, but from now on, it should be kept burning. Use any leftover funds for snacks or whatever they like.”

The servants’ break room is—directly below the attic assigned to my sister.

“Also, change the bedding in the guest room. Leave the disposal of the old bedding to the servants. They can take it home if they want. It’s going to be thrown away anyway.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

She had a puzzled air, as if to say, “What is this master talking about?”

I didn’t have the courage to turn around.

“…May I… ask for a detailed explanation?”

“I cannot answer. Unnecessary remarks are strictly forbidden. Consider this an order from the head of the Vanderwaals family, Adelheid von Vanderwaals.”

“Understood, Lady Adelheid.”

“Good. Then, I leave the details to you. Submit the expenses as usual. —Begin preparations.”

After Ciel left the room, I stood up and locked the door.

Then, returning to my original position, I slumped over my desk.

“[This scenario]… feels forced…”

What a low-level prank.

And yet, it will cause real harm.

In a novel, it might be a single page, in a play, a single scene… but for my sister, it’s a room she’ll live in for at least a year.

The roof will likely get scorching hot in the summer due to the sun, but this is the Kingdom of Eustasia, with its cold climate. She’ll just have to endure it.

But the cold is unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.

I can only assume the person who wrote this scenario has never experienced a snowy country.

“…Ciel was definitely suspicious…”

I’m a little concerned about how I appear to Ciel right now.

I, the current head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals” and the protector of this country, the Wall Lizard, was molded by her, my tutor.

She trained my body, honed my skills, and sharpened my intellect.

Seeing me engage in such an intellectually bankrupt prank, is she crying inwardly?

…Is she… disappointed?

“Oh dear…”

I wriggled, crossed my arms, and used them as a pillow.

This is a sight unbefitting the head of the Vanderwaals family.

I’m not familiar with the nuances of the ‘Villainous Sister’ role, but I know that a villain shouldn’t let their guard down, appear slovenly, or show weakness in public.

“…I wonder if Leticia will be disappointed.”

I can’t give her the luxuries she might expect from a noble family.

What if… she was expecting that?

I can’t act like a kind older sister to her.

What if… she was expecting that?

Even so.

Even if she never thanks me.

She is destined to be loved by men in positions envied by women all over the world, and to find happiness.

Everyone in this country will know her name as the “Saintess who Saved the Nation.”

The head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals” is a stepping stone for that.

That’s how the [Scenario] is written.

So, even if I can’t make her happy.

My meanness surely has meaning.

It should.

---

Vanderwaals Family, Head Maid

Ciel

CV: Censored

Sample Voice 1 Sample Voice 2

The head maid of the Vanderwaals family and assistant to the head.

A support character in [Moonlight Liberium].

However, she is basically a beginner’s guide and does not get involved in the scenario.

She has served the Vanderwaals family since before Adelheid was born, and acted as her governess and tutor. She is 29 years old, 7 years older than Adelheid (at the time of her appearance).

She has a wide range of knowledge and skills, which she also instilled in Adelheid.

She is Adelheid’s most trusted subordinate, and also her ideal woman.

<<< Home >>>

 

2.【Meeting of the Sisters】

I stared intently at the girl before me.

In a sense, it was a familiar face.

I know the story of [Moonlight Liberium].

I followed the three stories, each featuring the [Protagonist] girl falling in love with one of the three [Capture Targets], like reading a novel where I was the protagonist, like watching a play performed just for me.

――I know how this girl will live out the story from now on.

What she will think, what she will say, how she will face difficulties—everything.

But this was the first time I had seen her with my own eyes.

The first thing that caught my eye was her short, tangled, and dull blonde hair, different from my long, wavy silver hair.

Like me, she had the fair skin common in the snowy Kingdom of Eustasia, but the moisture and firmness… were incomparable.

Her clothes, too… I felt a pang of guilt for even thinking this, but they were worn out… cheap.

This is the “back alley.”

How harsh it must be for a girl with no parental protection, no backing whatsoever, to live in these slums without losing her pride.

It would be misplaced to pity her.

There are countless people like her… Many girls who had no choice but to resort to whatever means necessary to survive.

I wear well-tailored, aristocratic clothes, my hair and skin are well-maintained, and I even have a maid with me.

She is alone, in soiled, tattered clothes, with unkempt hair and skin.

Standing face to face… the difference between aristocrat and commoner was stark.

The only real difference in our physique, despite me being taller, was that… wait, am I the one who’s malnourished? There was that much of a difference.

In the chest area, for example.

I couldn’t help but stare.

…It’s a wonder she’s safe in such a dangerous area.

…She is safe, right?

Shaking off my anxieties and distractions, I looked her straight in the eyes.

――Blue eyes, just like mine.

The eyes that stared back at me were the same color as the ones I always saw in the mirror.

I felt the blood flowing through my body whisper.

It told me that the person I must protect was right in front of me.

Embrace her, cherish her in my arms, and if anyone dares to harm her, destroy them.

I felt like a mother bear with her cub.

Is this the power of fate?

Or is it the connection between those who share, even if only half, the same parents?

She is my younger sister.

With a quiet certainty, I decided to proceed with the [Official Lines].

The idea of hugging her at first sight, acknowledging her as my sister, and proceeding casually did cross my mind for a moment.

But that would be a bit… outside the performer’s discretion.

“[Miss Leticia? Are you claiming to be related to the Vanderwaals family?]”

“[…Yes. When I turned sixteen, my mother gave me a small box, telling me to look inside. Inside were a letter and… this pocket watch.]”

We exchange the official lines, (probably) word for word.

Then, the silver chain pocket watch she offered is taken by the maid I brought as an attendant—the head maid, Ciel, with her long black hair tied in a bun at the back and tucked into a cap. Ciel examines it and then hands it to me.

“Hmm…”

It seems I can speak lines other than the official ones.

What I just said wasn’t much of a line, but at least I can vocalize normally.

I can deviate from the script, just a little.

Then, if I accumulate these small differences—perhaps I can change fate.

Perhaps I will be able to.

I looked at the small pocket watch resting in my palm.

It probably hadn’t been cared for. The edges were slightly rusted.

I don’t know how many years it’s been, but it should have been kept in a box, and even before that, regular maintenance would have been out of the question, so it’s only natural.

The crest engraved on the lid of the pocket watch was a wall lizard gecko.

The wall lizard gecko, clinging to walls and moving silently, is the symbol of Vanderwaals.

As one of only three ducal houses, it is a noble family with power second only to the royal family, and a family that symbolizes the dark side of this country.

Its nickname is “the Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

That is the kind of family I head.

The infamous, feared yet respected crest is embroidered in gold thread on the badge on my chest, and a small silver gecko hangs from a chain on Ciel’s neck ribbon.

Naturally, the crests of noble families are strictly controlled, and only those related to them can use them.

And—this watch looked exactly the same as the crested pocket watch I now keep on my chest.

My father’s pocket watch, now a memento, was much larger.

My crested pocket watch was a gift from my father.

Click, I open the lid.

The hands were stopped, but the glass covering the dial was clean.

The inside is the same… or so it seems.

I thought this watch was one of a kind.

…Wasn’t it a gift meant only for me?

“[And, this photograph was with it…]”

A worn photograph.

There’s talk that color photographs will be possible someday, but for now, they’re still black and white monochrome.

The photograph given to her showed a man and a woman standing side by side.

The woman was sitting in a chair, and the man had his hand gently on her shoulder.

The man was wearing well-tailored clothes. The woman was in a dress, but she seemed somehow unaccustomed to wearing it… but it’s a small photograph.

Photographs are expensive. This one looks like it’s from more than ten years ago, and no one but a nobleman would think to take a photograph.

…The man looked like my father.

I turned the photograph over and looked at the back, but it was blank.

――I had hoped that the date, place, and the people in the picture would be written there.

“[The man looks like my father. Who is this woman?]”

I asked what I already knew.

I ‘know’ the answer, and even if I didn’t, it’s easy enough to guess, but still.

“[…My… mother.]”

“…[I see.]”

But knowing something intellectually and experiencing the [Event] are different things.

My deceased father’s favorability rating keeps plummeting.

What have you been doing, Father…?

Seeing my father, much younger than when he died, made me want to sigh inwardly.

Oh yes, yes, you’ve placed a striking item to make a visual appeal, haven’t you?

I feel incredibly exasperated by the unseen playwright’s methods.

I wish they had considered the feelings of the daughter whose father cheated on her mother.

…Come to think of it, my sister’s father had another family, and her mother might have been just a plaything.

I felt a strange kinship.

An unpleasant kinship, but kinship nonetheless.

“[May I see the letter?]”

“Ah, yes. [—Please.]”

I felt a momentary sense of dissonance.

I realized immediately that her line was slightly different.

Like the pocket watch, Ciel took it first and glanced over it.

She is the head maid, the assistant to the head of the family, and the one who manages the Vanderwaals’ dark side—the “shadows.”

She is a guard capable of handling rough situations, but she is also an excellent butler.

Since she handed it over immediately, I read the contents as well.

Hmm.

In the ‘original story,’ I didn’t show any particular reaction.

I couldn’t react.

It simply stated that Leticia’s father was a nobleman… the head of the Vanderwaals family.

My sister’s mother.

Please… tell me what happened….

The details are not revealed in the game.

There are plays that deal with such topics, but here, the element of ‘noble illegitimate child’ is the only important thing… I suppose.

I understand that having the protagonist’s past narrated at length on stage would only worsen the pacing unless it’s significantly related to the main plot.

I understand, but…

Since it was a part I was quite curious about, I was disappointed.

“Um… is something wrong?”

“No. …Ciel. What do you think?”

If I acknowledge her, this scene will end.

However, the provided evidence was too flimsy.

“…………”

She fell silent, which was unusual for her.

She closed her ash-gray eyes and touched the small, silver, flower-shaped hairpin in her left bangs, as if in thought.

But it was only for a brief moment. She quickly opened her eyes and began to speak in her pleasant, slightly low voice.

“…The pocket watch, the photograph, the letter. Individually, they are the kind of evidence that could be gathered if all one needed to claim to be a nobleman’s illegitimate child was to gather such things.”

I felt uneasy.

If she denied it, I would have to force the scenario to proceed as planned.

“…However, I believe it to be true.”

But Ciel continued.

“…Why is that?”

She thinks logically.

I was taught by Ciel herself to always look at reality, gather information, predict the future, and act to choose a better future, rather than relying on wishful thinking.

Such flimsy evidence is too weak to believe.

Unless there’s a reason.

Unless it’s the push of fate itself.

“The two of you bear a strong resemblance. …If you two are not sisters, then what are you?”

My chest felt filled with warmth.

I did think we looked somewhat alike.

But I didn’t think it was to the extent that someone would say that.

――I have a younger sister.

A half-sister. It seems my father had an affair. If I acknowledge her as a relative, it will complicate things politically, like the right of succession to the title.

I’ve never even met her before.

But she’s my sister.

I’ve known of her existence for three years.

I knew, even though I shouldn’t have.

This world is a stage for a story.

[Moonlight Liberium] has indeed begun, just as I knew it would.

Even if some exchanges that would be omitted on stage are allowed, as long as I don’t try to change things, it will surely unfold as fate dictates.

I will try to bring this story to the ending I know.

I will strive for that.

For my one and only sister.

I’m sure she’ll come to hate me.

But that’s okay.

I intended to do this, but I also had doubts.

But meeting my real sister has strengthened my resolve.

I aim for the guillotine.

No matter what awaits me.

I extended my hand to the protagonist of the story.

And I uttered the lines that would conclude this chapter.

“[—I acknowledge you as a member of the Vanderwaals family, Leticia. …No, Leticia von Vanderwaals.]”

My sister hesitantly took my hand.

Perhaps she had been nervous, as she relaxed her shoulders and softened her expression.

Then, she smiled at me.

“…Yes! Big sister!”

…I like the lines I don’t know, too.

---

Image: Leticia von Vanderwaals

Character Profile

• Main Character: Leticia von Vanderwaals

• CV: (Censored – Voice Actor Name) *Name Changeable

• Scenario Set 1 Scenario Set 2 Scenario Set 3

• The eldest daughter of the prestigious Vanderwaals family, her goal is a love story. In [Moonlight Liberium], she is the main character. While facing various difficulties that befall the kingdom, she falls deeply in love with someone. A cheerful, energetic type of protagonist. She possesses hidden stats of kindness and consideration, and her “commoner background” makes her feel closer to the people than other nobles. She seems to hold a deep affection for Adelheid.

1. The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine

――I am the [Villainous Sister].

…That’s not something anyone told me.

However, one day, I suddenly realized it.

This world seems to be the stage of a romance simulation game… or some kind of theatrical performance called [Moonlight Liberium].

I came to know what would happen next.

There is a [Protagonist] in this world.

It was my younger sister.

…A half-sister whose existence I hadn’t even known.

From now on, the story begins.

My sister, gaining noble status as the daughter of the Duke of Vanderwaals, the family I head, will fall in love, and together with her lover, will confront the calamity that will befall this country—the Kingdom of Eustasia.

That’s the plot.

A typical love story, the kind I’ve seen countless times.

The slightly unusual aspect is that the story doesn’t dictate who my sister falls in love with.

There seem to be three candidates, and it seems the protagonist—apparently called the player—can choose who she ends up with.

A romance simulation game… it’s like reading a novel where you are the protagonist, or like a participatory play… it’s an unfamiliar concept, so there are parts I don’t quite understand, but for now, I’ve interpreted it as meaning there’s some sort of fate governing this world.

In that story, I was destined to be executed.

The role assigned to me is that of ‘the mean half-sister, a haughty young lady who doesn’t understand the kindness of others.’

Apparently, as a result of bullying my sister, I’m sent to the guillotine.

After my execution, my sister becomes the head of Vanderwaals, marries someone from a distinguished group including the next king, the highly trusted knight captain, or the sincere chief physician of the royal court, and they live happily ever after… that’s the plot.

First, I understood that my role was quite unfavorable.

However, simply put, I just need to avoid being mean to my sister.

It’s a strange feeling, but the moment I learned of my sister’s existence… I felt a protectiveness towards her.

If someone told me some kind of fate was influencing me, I would believe them.

However… if fate is omnipotent, it could just manipulate my personality.

There’s no need to inform me of the future in the first place.

It would simply arrange things so that I would naturally act that way.

Fate is that simple.

Me being mean to my sister? —Even if she’s a half-sister, there’s no reason for me to do such a thing to my own flesh and blood.

…But what if there was a reason?

If I were to be mean.

If I were to advance the story according to the game, according to the script of fate.

Then, my sister’s happiness would be guaranteed.

A happiness befitting the protagonist of a story.

I decided not to resist fate.

I have a younger sister.

Just thinking about it makes every day enjoyable.

――What is the purpose of my life?

It’s a question often used as a theme in stories and poems.

I knew the answer.

For the Vanderwaals family. ――For the country.

That’s all.

Vanderwaals, bearing the gecko as its crest, is a single wall lizard.

Our job is to cling to the walls and keep an eye on the dark underbelly of this country.

Simply put, it’s a state-sanctioned shady business.

My mother died when I was young.

My father also died shortly after I turned eighteen, and I succeeded him as head of the family.

My sister is sixteen, six years younger than me. My mother was alive when she was born, which makes me think she’s the product of my father’s infidelity, which is somewhat complicated.

But, my sister is cute.

I know her story—the scenario of [Moonlight Liberium].

…My sister is incredibly cute. Pure, kind, lovely, spirited, and proactive—yes, as expected of a protagonist.

Someone like her deserves to be happy.

It should be that way.

Trials will come to this country.

But almost everything will go well.

Ah, except for the mean older sister, who was probably placed there because someone thought it would be boring if the romance progressed smoothly.

If I follow fate, everything will go well.

I will make the story I saw a reality.

I will give my sister happiness.

――It would be a lie to say that it doesn’t bother me at all that I didn’t inherit the blood of my beloved mother.

My father, the former head, was strict and devoted to his work, so we weren’t particularly close, and knowing about his infidelity makes me feel a bit… well, you know.

But, she’s my only sister, my own flesh and blood.

What I feared wasn’t being beheaded on the guillotine if I followed the script of fate—

It wasn’t that.

I was simply afraid that it might all be a delusion.

I no longer have any blood relatives.

I just live for the sake of the family, as ordained.

I was afraid that I might be harboring such an elaborate delusion and relying on it for emotional support.

But, fate began the story.

It was three years ago that I realized I was the villainous sister.

And today, three years later, my sister is before me.

In a room in the slums, holding a pocket watch engraved with the Vanderwaals crest, the wall lizard gecko.

From this moment, [Moonlight Liberium] begins.

It wasn’t all a delusion.

All the information I didn’t know back then was true.

There were no dates in the game, but I figured it was about time, judging by the ages and the opening line, “As winter approached.”

…If nothing had happened and winter had arrived with the snow, my heart would have become a winterscape.

“[—I am Adelheid von Vanderwaals, head of the Vanderwaals family.]”

I speak the predetermined [Game Text].

I had a slight expectation of some paranormal phenomenon, like my mouth moving on its own and speaking the predetermined lines once the event started, or being unable to utter anything else… but nothing like that happened.

I’ll experiment with that in detail later. For now, I decided to introduce myself as the game dictated.

I wanted to hear my sister’s self-introduction, just like in the game.

“[Nice to meet you… Leticia… is my name …Big sister.]”

I wonder if it’s okay to hug her?

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Image 1: Adelheid von Vanderwaals

Character Profile

• “The Vanderwaals Family’s Daughter” Adelheid: Adelheid von Vanderwaals

• CV: (Censored – Voice Actor Name) T/N: lol

• Scenario Set 1 Scenario Set 2 Scenario Set 3

• The eldest daughter of the prestigious Vanderwaals family, her goal is the guillotine. In [Moonlight Liberium], she is the older sister of the light’s incarnation. Though destined to be Leticia’s stepping stone, she possesses two hidden strengths: a sharp mind that cuts through deception and the power to perceive the truth. (Hidden Information) She seems to be pursuing the guillotine while manipulating events, but perhaps she has a different goal in mind.

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Image 2: The Day Before the “Villainous Meeting”

• Panel 1: It’s necessary… to be cruel and overbearing from tomorrow… but… is that really okay?

• Panel 2: Cruel… overbearing… like that?

• Panel 3: …I have no taste for it.

• Panel 4: But… My younger sister, Leticia… will become unhappy if I deviate from the scenario… I’m sure of it… I think… (Adelheid von Vanderwaals, 22)