9. A Mysterious Chest Pain
The carriage traveled along the cobblestone road leading to the Royal Castle of Eustasia.
I had completely missed the opportunity to detach myself from my clinging sister.
In the four-seater carriage, my intended seating arrangement was for me, the head of the family, to occupy the two-seater by myself, with Leticia and the maid sitting in front.
However, for some reason, Leticia and I ended up sitting next to each other, with the maid comfortably occupying the two-seater alone.
This looked like we were close sisters.
I was supposed to be the ‘half-sister who begrudgingly acknowledged her “back alley” origins out of obligation to atone for my father’s infidelity,’ ‘repeatedly tormenting her due to her background.’
That was the setting.
However, it was too early to panic.
The next scenario involved the First Prince of our country meeting Leticia.
We didn’t get along, but I could acknowledge his abilities.
Though his naive praise of a shady family like ours before truly understanding its ‘necessity,’ and his tendency to condemn such things after, made me question his character.
The other two [Capture Targets] weren’t bad either, but if Leticia took a liking to the prince…
…Well, I could entrust my sister to him.
A sharp pain stabbed at my chest.
It was late autumn, a time of changing seasons when one was susceptible to colds.
I lightly rubbed my chest, wondering if there was something wrong with my lungs.
“Are you alright?”
My sister peered up at my downcast face.
“――It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“I see. But please be careful not to catch a cold.”
I wanted to say the same to her.
Although it was a bit further down the line in the sequence of events, she was ‘destined’ to catch a cold.
…And her room was a freezing attic.
Even though the bedding was of the finest quality, meant for guests, and I had subtly renovated it to allow heat from the floor below to rise.
Still, it wasn’t a room meant for human habitation.
Much less for my precious little sister.
I truly didn’t want her to sleep in such a room.
“…You should be the one to take care.”
I scoffed at myself.
Take care of what?
That was my role. ――It was supposed to be my role.
To provide a warm room with a fireplace, fine bedding, nutritious meals, and the best medical care if she caught a cold.
If I had any proper familial affection, I would have done so.
But I was both an older sister who wished for her sister’s happiness and the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”
I ‘needed’ her.
I needed someone like her, a ‘story protagonist.’
…A ‘convenient miracle.’
Feeling guilty, but justifying it by telling myself that she would be happy in the end, I decided to use my own sister.
What right did I have to say anything?
What meaning did my words hold?
My sister nodded at my words—and, for some reason, smiled.
“Yes! I grew up in the ‘back alley,’ so I’m quite healthy!”
Her radiance was dazzling.
She didn’t hide her origins. She didn’t feel ashamed.
She was so happy with such a simple expression of concern.
I looked away, gazing out the window.
“Walk along the carpet, stop in front of the King, and greet him…”
I overheard Leticia softly rehearsing the procedures for the [Ceremony of Recognition] and looked at her.
Her expression was serious.
Come to think of it, for me, today’s main event was meeting the First Prince, one of the capture targets, but for my sister, it wasn’t.
Her first time at the Royal Castle. Her first time before His Majesty. Her first… noble ceremony.
It would be strange if she wasn’t anxious.
My sister looked up, and our eyes met.
“Elder Sister. Is there anything I should be particularly careful about?”
“Let me see…”
I thought for a moment.
I had already informed her of the ceremonial procedures, which had been decided in consultation with the Royal Castle.
I had Ciel make her practice her greetings.
If there was anything to be worried about… it was her lack of ‘stage presence.’
“Elder Sister is kind, but I’ve never met any other nobles, so I’m a little nervous…”
…I felt like a strange assessment was mixed in there.
One that, as the ‘Villainous Sister,’ I absolutely couldn’t tolerate.
However, I decided not to address it now and offered simple advice.
“Just be confident.”
“Yes.”
Leticia nodded solemnly.
“…And after that?”
“Be confident.”
I repeated myself.
“Is that… all?”
“That’s all.”
I nodded.
“…Well, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to get complacent…”
“Yes.”
“This ceremony… hasn’t been performed since before any of the current nobles were alive, so no one knows what the correct procedure is.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. …Don’t worry.”
I gave my bewildered, adorable sister a small smile.
Not as an older sister, but as the head of the family.
With a hint of ‘Villainous Sister’ mixed in.
“You are my… a blood relative of the Vanderwaals family.”
My heart was weak, unable to say “my sister.”
Well, as a ‘Villain,’ that was probably the correct approach.
This time, I smiled like a true ‘Villainous Sister’—like the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” baring my teeth.
“If anyone dares to insult the honor of our family, I will make them pay.”
“…Yes, Elder Sister.”
No, why does she look happy about that?
It was a smile that had broken the spirits of countless negotiators, a truly villainous smile if the world were divided into good and evil. I wanted her to be afraid.
Unable to bear my sister’s inexplicably joyful smile, I looked out the window again.
Feeling the warmth of my sister leaning against my arm.
…I suddenly realized that the pain in my chest had vanished.
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