57: Preparations for Horse Riding
“Horseback riding…?” Leticia echoed Konrad’s words.
“Yes. We’re planning to go to the outskirts of the capital. It will be a little later in the year… probably around early summer.”
He paused.
“[Would you like to join me?]”
“[Of course, I’ll be there too, right?]”
“[Then allow me to accompany you as well.]”
――Three distinct [Official Lines]. Three [Choices].
She would choose between Prince Konrad, Knight Commander Felix, and Chief Physician Louis.
While the unchosen ones would also participate, the events—or rather, the main conversation partner and the content of the conversation—would change depending on her choice.
This time, in the game, it was just a matter of selecting an option. There was no dialogue.
It wouldn’t make sense for her to say anything about choosing someone here and now.
Simply accepting the invitation would conclude today’s tea party and its role as the introduction to the next event.
Leticia glanced at me.
I nodded.
My sister smiled and turned back to the three men.
“I’d be delighted, if Elder Sister comes too.”
…I had intended to find an excuse to tag along.
While having a parent chaperone would be overprotective, I was her older sister. I thought I could manage it.
More importantly, that was how the script was supposed to go.
I, the villainous sister, had a role to play in this [Horse Riding Event].
Today’s tea party was just a connecting scene, almost like narration.
Therefore, what my sister said to accept the invitation wasn’t described in detail.
…However, it probably wasn’t like this.
“…Lady Adelheid, is that acceptable to you?”
Konrad looked at me expectantly, and I nodded.
“Yes. It would be rude to refuse an invitation from the First Prince, especially with such distinguished company. Will you send me a formal invitation with the date and time later?”
“Of course.”
While Konrad would prefer I wasn’t there… he had other rivals to contend with, and, more importantly, ‘with Elder Sister’ was my sister’s ‘condition for participation.’
He must have realized it was easier to agree. The matter was settled smoothly.
I was relieved that the event was proceeding according to fate’s scenario.
I would re-strategize when we got back.
…Until then… I could indulge in admiring my adorable sister, who was enjoying the sweets and tea with a cheerful expression.
That evening, back at the mansion, I sat at my desk, elbows propped up, hands clasped, lost in thought.
I closed my eyes and replayed the [Text Log] in my head.
I opened my eyes, and my reflection in the mirror on my desk stared back.
I had practiced my ‘smile’ in this mirror since learning about [Moonlight Liberium].
The villainous expression I deemed essential for the easily recognizable villain, the [Villainous Sister].
I had already used it on my sister several times, but next time, I would have to put even more effort into it.
――The next [Horse Riding Event] was crucial.
I had a major role to play. It was arguably the peak of my villainy.
Besides the significant developments in the romance, it was also the event where a key item for the story would appear.
First, I, Adelheid von Vanderwaals, the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals”… would be invited, along with my sister, to a horseback riding event hosted by the royal family.
It was clear they had only intended to invite my sister.
It was ostensibly an opportunity for the younger generation—the young prince, the young Knight Commander, and the young Chief Physician—who would shape the future of the country, to bond.
…They were all young, powerful, and handsome.
While I was still unsure about the concept of a [Romance Simulation Game], it seemed the convenient tropes of romance transcended worlds, which was reassuring.
Anyway.
I would deliberately crash my horse into Leticia von Vanderwaals—my precious sister—causing her to fall, and then declare,
“[Oh dear, Leticia. Despite all my instruction, you can’t even ride a horse properly. Perhaps you’re better suited to tending to draft horses?]”
…Did I really have to say that?
I probably did…
But the real problem was the ‘fall.’
My sister was… supposed to be injured.
Of course, it wasn’t a serious injury. It was only briefly mentioned in the text, and while it might require first aid, which would be the Chief Physician’s domain, it wasn’t a significant event.
I wanted to yell at the unseen playwright, “Don’t underestimate falls!”
And then, I would say this, plucking a weed from the ground and tossing it aside.
“[Here’s your medicine. Just right for a country bumpkin like you.]”
This wasn’t a lie; it was actually a medicinal herb called ‘Yamaidome.’
It was said that simply crushing and applying the raw leaves was effective for bruises and cuts, and brewing it into a tea could soothe coughs and relieve pain—but that was during the era of war, when medicine was scarce. Now, it was often considered a weed.
While herbal medicine was being systematically studied in these peaceful times, with many herbs being reevaluated, Yamaidome wasn’t considered particularly important, as there were many more effective herbs.
Since it grew everywhere, it was a familiar remedy, with children often told, “Just put some Yamaidome on it,” when they got minor scrapes while playing outside.
It was also edible and had been used as emergency food during famines.
Conversely, it had also been considered a nuisance in fields, and it was surprisingly rare to see it now.
However, it would later become a key item in the story.
This scene served both to reinforce my negative image as the villain and to foreshadow the importance of the item—that was the scenario.
“…Okay. Be mean, make the herb memorable… that’s the important part, right?”
And the ‘fall.’
“…That’s within the performer’s discretion.”
I began to make preparations.
A real fall was too dangerous.
She could seriously injure herself, even die, if she landed badly.
I started to mentally select personnel… and then stopped.
――Information could leak from anywhere.
I trusted my subordinates.
I knew their personal information, including their backgrounds and hobbies, I held enough leverage to discourage betrayal, and I rewarded their loyalty with appropriate compensation, including hazard pay… or so I thought.
A powerful figure who brought them benefits as long as they obeyed, with no incentive to disobey.
…As long as that was true, I could call myself the head of the Vanderwaals family.
I was used to giving orders.
As long as I had the budget to buy loyalty and the resolve to bear responsibility—giving orders was easy.
But even so…
…there were times when the head of the family had to act personally.
I formulated a plan.
I would clear my schedule completely for a day, a little later in the year. And then, I would prepare.
That should be… sufficient.
Even so, I couldn’t shake off a growing sense of unease.
I wondered if the future… was truly immutable.
Perhaps I was… just a woman obsessed with a delusion.
A woman who had thrown away a potential happiness, only to repeatedly inflict meaningless ‘meanness’ on her one and only sister.
But I knew the future.
I knew my sister would come to me, even though I hadn’t known she existed—I knew, without anyone telling me.
That wasn’t a delusion.
Therefore, all I could do was try to prevent the future from changing.
Within the performer’s discretion.
“…It is within my discretion, right?”
Sometimes, I wasn’t so sure.
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