“Alyssa , haven’t you been getting a bit too arrogant lately? Or do you think this older sister is a joke just because you’re being called a once-in-a-lifetime genius?”
“Ah, no… Sister…”
“Ha! Of course not. Alyssa , don’t forget. The only reason you were able to enter Philia Academy was due to my mere whim. Do you understand?”
Tap, tap.
My sister, Amy, wearing a sadistic smile, lightly tapped my cheek with the fan she was holding.
The pain in my body was nothing compared to the humiliation tearing my pride into shreds.
My heart felt as though it was burning, unable to endure the emotional torment.
“Alyssa , I hear you’ve been getting close to the princess lately?”
“Th-the princess is…”
Slap.
“Be quiet! I wasn’t speaking to you expecting an answer. All you need to do is listen quietly.”
I cupped my swollen cheek, struck by the fan.
I wanted to cry right then and there, but I knew that showing my tears would only fuel her sadistic pleasure.
I could only swallow my emotions.
“So arrogant, truly arrogant. That princess, from the moment I first met her at the trading company, I couldn’t stand her. It’s unbelievable how someone can have such poor taste. Naturally, the blue diamond would have suited her better, yet she foolishly accepted the ruby you chose.”
Hearing the princess, who had been so kind to me, being insulted, I wanted to argue.
But years of deep-seated bullying had long since stripped me of any resistance.
I could only hope she’d grow bored and leave me alone.
“Hmm… Oh, I’ve just thought of a brilliant idea! Oh-hohoho!”
A sense of foreboding washed over me.
I wanted to run away immediately, to desperately plead for the princess’s help.
But this place was a prison, with only the two of us trapped within.
“Alyssa , give this to the princess tomorrow as a gift.”
“This is…”
“It’s a fitting item for that foolish woman! If you fail to deliver it properly, I’ll make sure your pitiful body remembers. So, don’t make me go through the trouble again.”
Ahahaha, ahahahaha!
When I looked at the black gemstone placed on my palm, my mind went blank, turning pure white.
“I can’t take this anymore…”
“…Ugh.”
As I slowly sat up, I realized the spot where I had been lying was drenched in sweat.
The vivid remnants of the dream clung to my mind, making me retch uncontrollably.
Rustle, thud.
I pushed aside the blanket and climbed out of bed, looking at my older sister, who was sound asleep.
Her beautiful silver hair, her features far more refined than mine.
Everything was identical to the Amy Rosewell from my dream, but there was one crucial difference.
‘…My kind and gentle, real sister.’
Before fully recalling my memories, when I only had fragmented information about her, I hadn’t realized.
But now, I know for certain.
How much my sister loved me.
How much she cherished and protected me.
Cling.
As I burrowed into her soft and warm embrace, even in her sleep, my sister gently held me, enveloping me in her kindness.
Without a word, without outward displays, I could feel her love melting away the nightmares that had consumed me, bringing peace to my heart.
No matter what happens, I’ll protect her.
— — —
“…Hmm?”
It felt like I had been dreaming a pleasant dream.
A dream of holding a warm and soft puppy in my arms and falling asleep—a happy dream.
But now that I was awake, there was no one by my side.
My younger sibling, who had been sleeping in another bed, was also gone, leaving me alone in the spacious room.
…No, it’s fine. I’m just feeling slightly disoriented because I’m staying far away from the mansion in an unfamiliar place.
Instead, I should be thankful for a peaceful morning without having to see my sibling’s face.
‘…Today is the last day of the holiday, and tomorrow is the entrance ceremony, right?’
I had heard the schedule from Lady Marybell during dinner last night, but it still didn’t feel real.
Even now, as I stayed in the S-rank dormitory.
Alyssa , Sharen, Marybelll.
Could it really be okay for me to stand on the same stage as three individuals destined to leave their mark on history?
It already felt like I was far out of my depth.
Tracing it back, it was all thanks to my newfound power of darkness…
But I still wasn’t used to it.
I wished I could master it quickly and rid myself of this inferiority complex.
Prick, prick—.
“Ugh… Ah…”
I thought about getting up to look for my sibling, but a sudden pain in my abdomen forced me to collapse back down.
Since arriving in the capital, I hadn’t experienced such a seizure-like pain.
It wasn’t just my stomach; it felt as though my very soul was being crushed.
The pain expanded, tormenting my entire body.
‘It’s… getting worse…’
As a child, it had only been mild dizziness.
After growing a little, the pain felt like being pricked by a needle.
Now that I’ve matured, it has transformed into a dreadful agony, as if swallowing needles.
Still, should I be grateful that at least a headache didn’t accompany it?Â
Last time, when I sneaked out while my younger sibling was asleep, it was truly unbearable.
“Breakfast is… Miss!”
“Ameri… medicine, please…”
I was half-collapsed and rolling on the floor, but the moment I saw Ameri, who had brought breakfast, it felt like the fog in my mind had cleared.
Although I don’t know where she gets the ingredients, only the medicine Ameri makes is effective enough to ease this pain.
Ameri, who pitied me for suffering from such agony, made the medicine out of kindness.
When the pain is severe, I can hardly function without it; to me, it’s no different from a lifeline.
Mother must know this too, but why did she act that way toward Ameri last time…?
No, I shouldn’t dwell on it.Â
I can learn the recipe for the medicine from Ameri;
Mother must have considered that much.
…Surely, that must be it.
Gulp, gulp.
“Ah… thank you, Ameri.”
“Miss…”
As soon as I swallowed the medicine Ameri handed me while sitting on the bed, the pain subsided, and I felt at ease.
As expected, it’s Ameri’s medicine.Â
Without it, my personality would’ve definitely worsened.
Ameri, who had been watching me with concern, gently patted my head, making me feel cherished by someone for the first time in a while.
Many people admired me for my appearance, my position as the eldest daughter, or simply for being Alyssa ’s sister.
But Ameri was the only one who genuinely cared for me as a person.
Recently, the princess, Lady Marybell, and even my younger sibling have been warming up to me, but… for now, Ameri is still my top priority.
“Miss, wouldn’t it be better to return to the estate? I’ll talk to Madam on your behalf…”
“It’s fine, Ameri.”
“…Are you sure it’s really fine?”
“If I run away now, Mother will never trust me. I’ve worked so hard to earn her recognition as an heir.”
“…I’ll always be on your side, Miss. I’ll brew the sweet tea you like, so please wait a moment! After tea time, let’s use the bath salts you love and have a relaxing bath! I’m sure you’ll feel much better.”
“Thank you, as always, Ameri.”
Ameri smiled quietly at me, gently patted my head once more, and left the room.
Even though I felt lonely being alone in the room again, the warmth of the cup in my hands reminded me of Ameri’s love, warming my heart.
“Amy!”
“…Lady Sharen.”
However, the moment didn’t last long.
The inconsiderate princess burst into my room without even knocking.
“I heard from your sister! Amy, are you really that unwell?”
“…Alyssa told you?”
“Yes! When I spoke to her during her sword training this morning, she threatened me outright to be kind to her sister! She should fix her own attitude first!”
What on earth is she doing?
I never asked her to do that…
Ah, my head hurts in a different way now.
“I don’t know what Alyssa said, but I’m not that fragile. I’m just slightly less energetic than others, with frequent stomach aches and occasional headaches.”
“That’s serious enough! I’ll brew some herbal medicine for you right away, and you must drink it! That’s an order!”
“…I’m fine. Ameri takes care of my medicine. No matter how bad it gets, I recover quickly after taking her medicine.”
“Is that so? Hmm… But if anything happens, you must rely on me! You’re destined to become this body’s head maid, so you must take care of yourself!”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
I know the princess isn’t a bad person, but…
Her over-the-top reactions can be overwhelming.
Was she that moved by the childhood story I once told her?
“Miss, here’s your sweet tea… Oh my.”
Ameri, who came in with tea and snacks, seemed surprised—or perhaps intrigued—when she saw the princess holding my hand. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“I’ll prepare another serving. Please wait a moment.”
“Amie, you have an excellent maid.”
“…You flatter me.”
Ameri, you didn’t need to show such tact in moments like this.
Today’s supposed to be a holiday;Â
I just wanted to sleep a bit longer…
But now, it seems I’ll be stuck chatting with the princess.
“Alright, Amy. Do you have any plans after tea time? If not, how about joining me for a soak in the bath?”
“Bathing together with Your Highness?”
“Exactly! We’ll use a royal-exclusive bath additive for the soak! It’s said to be full of beneficial ingredients, so it might even help improve your frail constitution!”
Gulp.
Bathing with the princess didn’t interest me in the slightest, but the royal-exclusive bath additive?
That piqued my curiosity to no end.
The bath additives I usually use are quite expensive, but they’re still common enough for wealthy commoners like me to afford.
But what kind of fragrance could a bath additive reserved for royalty have?
Would it make the water shimmer in rainbow colors or something?
…I was intrigued.
“Just this once…”
“Great! Hehe, I’m really looking forward to this!”
As I watched the princess bounce with excitement, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made a mistake.
But any minor worries were quickly swept away by the allure of the royal-exclusive bath additive.
…What could possibly happen?
We’re just taking a bath and then leaving.
Yeah, just a bath.
…Hehe.