Chapter 0 : Prologue

My Serena. 

The Star of Tonight.

Seven years have passed, all for the sake of giving her a happy ending.

While my heart swells with emotion, seeing how wonderfully she has grown fills me with pride.

“How is it? 

Do you like it?”

“Yes. 

Thank you, unnie.”

As I finished styling her hair, I was rewarded with a smile brighter than the moonlight.

Beyond the mirror, a graceful beauty sat demurely, smiling.

Who could possibly imagine that this Serena was once a soot-covered girl from the past?

The girl who had closed herself off from the world, who never smiled, could now laugh more joyfully than anyone else.

The eyes that had once lost their light, convinced that hope was nothing but a lie, had regained their sparkle—enough to gaze upon a future filled with happiness.

Even though I was the one who raised her, I couldn’t help but feel astonished at how completely unrecognizable she had become from her past self.

“You look the most beautiful today, out of all the Serenas I’ve ever seen.”

“Unnie, come on. 

Why are you saying something so embarrassing?”

“I’m not joking, you know?”

I was being completely sincere.

Yet, since she took my compliment as a joke, I retaliated by poking her cheek.

“I’m really looking forward to tonight. 

Aren’t you?”

“Well, yeah… but I feel like you’re more excited than I am.”

Ah. 

Looks like my emotions were showing on my face.

But I can’t help it, can I? I’ve been counting down the days for this—Serena’s true happiness.

After all the effort I put in, shouldn’t I be just as happy as she is?

“Of course! 

You’re finally going to end up with the prince!”

Tonight is not only a celebration of Serena becoming an adult, but also the day she officially unites with the prince she’s been carefully building a relationship with.

They both have feelings for each other, and both have kind hearts. 

There’s no doubt that a fairy tale-like happiness awaits them in the future.

Ah… 

So this is what it feels like to send off a daughter.

Just thinking about letting go of the one I cherished and raised makes me tear up.

But I have to hold back my tears for now. 

I can cry all I want at their wedding.

“…I see. 

Unnie, do you… want me to marry the prince?”

“Huh? 

Of course I do.”

Is she getting nervous now that the time has come?

I guess that’s understandable.

She’s stepping beyond just friendship into something deeper.

I get it. 

I haven’t been married myself, so I can’t say I understand completely, but still…

“Oh no! 

Look at the time! 

Should we head down now?”

Snapping back to reality, I glanced at the clock on the wall—only about five minutes left until the event started.

Since everything was ready, we should start heading down to greet the guests who gathered to celebrate Serena—

“Unnie. 

I don’t want to marry the prince.”

—For a moment, everything in the world seemed to stop.

The only sound that remained was the ticking of the clock.

My mind went blank, and the excitement swelling in my chest froze over.

What… what did I just hear?

“I won’t marry the prince. 

I never wanted to, and I don’t believe it will make me happy.”

“Serena… why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

I wished I had misheard her.

But that wish shattered completely as our gazes met—her eyes more resolute than ever.

We were so close.

The happy ending was right in front of us.

Why?

Did they have a fight when I wasn’t looking?

Or… did she fall for someone else without me knowing?

“Please, don’t do this. 

What’s the reason—?”

“I love you, unnie.

No, I’m in love with you.”

“…What?”

Her unexpected answer swallowed up all the words I was about to say.

“S-Serena… 

What are you—?”

She said she loves me.

And not in a familial way.

I could see it in her eyes.

I couldn’t accept it.

But once her emotions burst forth, there was no stopping them.

Serena suddenly stood up, wrapping one arm around my waist while grasping my wrist with the other.

It was as if she wouldn’t allow me to escape.

In her eyes, I saw raw, desperate sincerity—almost pleading.

“I exist because of you, unnie. 

Everything I am, everything about me… you gave it all to me.”

“Please… understand.”

She whispered as she pulled my hand to her chest.

Her soft breasts were more than I could hold with one hand, and their warmth was intoxicating.

The sigh that escaped her lips as my hand touched her was impossibly sweet, making it hard to resist.

For a moment, I almost forgot that this was wrong.

The way her flushed face exuded both embarrassment and longing was dangerous—too alluring.

“T-This isn’t right… 

Stop.”

“Why isn’t it right? 

You said you’d do anything for me.”

The promise I made to her when she was a child, with our pinkies entwined.

Bringing that up now… that’s just unfair.

Why is she being so cunning?

“I’ve grown up now. 

I’m an adult. 

So… please don’t see me as just a little sister anymore.”

No.

This isn’t the happiness meant for you.

I knew I had to say that.

But I had never once scolded her harshly before, and now, the words wouldn’t leave my lips.

Perhaps taking my silence as permission, Serena’s face inched closer.

Her arms tightened around my waist, leaving me no room to escape.

If I tried using magic to push her away, she might get hurt.

As her soft, cherry-colored lips approached mine, a bittersweet scent brushed past my nose.

That was when I realized—

It was the fragrance of the perfume I had gifted her for tonight.

And with that thought, our lips met.