Chapter 16: The Main Story Has Begun

Ultimately, I couldn’t see Alyssa all day that day. 

She seemed to be going around telling everyone I was frail, but shouldn’t she at least have asked for my permission?

…She didn’t even eat dinner or return to her room.

I stayed up, waiting to scold her properly, but my younger sister didn’t come back even as the full moon rose high into the night sky.

 …Where could she have gone?

Her warmth was absent from the empty bed, making me wonder if I had been alone from the start.

It wasn’t that I felt particularly lonely. 

If anything, her absence should have been a relief from her bothersome presence, yet there was a nagging unease in the corner of my heart.

If I see her tomorrow, I’ll have to give her a proper scolding this time.

– – –

“Miss Amy, are you alright…?”

“…Ameri, bring me coffee instead of tea today.”

In the end, I couldn’t sleep a wink.

Where on earth could that foolish sister of mine have disappeared to? 

The only place she could return to is the dormitory… 

Or maybe, given how many secrets she still hides, she has somewhere else to go.

“That’s not difficult, but… are you really alright? You have such dark circles under your beautiful face.”

“I’m fine. I can even manage a day without sleep. Besides, today is the academy’s entrance ceremony, so I can’t afford to miss it.”

That fool Alyssa will surely show up there. 

Once the representative address is over,

I’ll catch her immediately. 

She deserves to be punished for acting on her own without telling her older sister anything.

“Understood. But if you feel tired, please let me know right away.”

“Thank you, Ameri.”

After drinking the coffee Ameri brought me, I bathed and tidied myself up.

In a place full of women, letting your guard down even once can lead to ruin. 

I had to present myself as composed and elegant as possible.

“Miss Amy, please follow me~. We’ve prepared a special area for the S-rank students~.”

“Thank you, Miss Marybell.”

I followed Marybell, who had been waiting at the entrance, fully prepared. 

But, as expected, there was no sign of my sister.

“Miss Marybell, have you seen my sister by any chance…?”

“If you mean Alyssa, I haven’t seen her since last evening. She told me about your frail health and then disappeared.”

“…Thank you, Miss Maribelle.”

“Feel free to ask me anything if you’re curious. I can answer absolutely anything~.”

“You’re very reliable.”

Thump, thump.

Even though I was merely heading to the ceremony venue, my heart was pounding wildly.

A suffocating unease, as if something irreversible was about to happen.

If I could just see Alyssa, perhaps this anxiety would subside. 

But that foolish sister was nowhere to be found, no matter where I looked.

Even after stopping students and asking, I couldn’t find her. 

Her radiant blonde hair and striking blue eyes were unforgettable once seen, so they surely hadn’t spotted her either.

“Now, please sit next to me~. Once Alyssa’s address is over, the principal’s speech will begin, but S-rank students don’t have to stay for it~.”

“…Is that really alright?”

“The principal will come to our classroom later. That’s what it means to be ‘special,’ don’t you think?”

Special…Something I had never possessed, something I had only ever longed for.

I couldn’t become a special person to Mother. 

The only thing I could do was find competence within the ordinary.

Mother, please look at me. 

Today, my tutor praised me.

Mother, I performed a complete piece during my piano practice. 

They said I have the talent of a great musician.

Mother, Mother, Mother...

Why are these unpleasant childhood memories surfacing now, of all times? 

This was supposed to be my moment of being special.

Thump.

As the lights in the auditorium dimmed, the stage at the very front lit up brightly.

The chatter that had filled the auditorium quieted as everyone’s attention was drawn to the stage.

Tap, tap.

Footsteps echoed through the now silent auditorium.

Confident strides, a straight posture.

Beautiful…

A low murmur of admiration, short but intense, resonated with everyone.

“Hello, everyone.”

My younger sister, Alyssa, stepped onto the stage.

Alyssa…

The S-rank seating was very close to the stage, allowing me to meet her blue eyes.

For a moment, she looked into my dull brown eyes, bit her lip, and then shook her head slightly before turning her gaze back to the front.

What are you thinking…

“I am Alyssa Rosewell, honored to serve as this year’s freshman representative.”

Clap, clap, clap.

“I’ll skip the boring introductions and get straight to the point. I’ve heard that the freshman representative is granted a special privilege at this academy.”

Rustle, rustle.

Special privilege?

What is that?

This is the first I’m hearing of it…

“…Miss Marybell, is what she’s saying true?”

“There is such a privilege, but… it’s surprising. No one has invoked it in the past forty years.”

Even Marybell, with her usual whimsical demeanor, was caught off guard by Alyssa’s declaration.

“How does she plan to deal with the aftermath? I don’t know the full extent of her authority, but outside of this academy, we’re nothing more than the daughters of a mere baron. If there’s a high-ranking noble who takes offense to us…”

“Al…!”

I tried to stop her, even at the cost of my own shame, but my throat tightened.

I couldn’t swallow. 

My breathing grew labored, and heat rushed to my face.

It was unbearable.

Painful and agonizing, but even so, I had to… stop her.

“Authority means the power to change the policies of Philia Academy at my discretion. This matter has already been approved by the headmaster, so I hope there are no objections.”

Crackle, crackle.

“This year, Philia Academy will advance based on the principle of the strong prevailing and the weak perishing. The academy’s original purpose is to nurture outstanding talent—to raise individuals who will contribute to the nation and become pillars to support the next millennium! Those who entered this academy on a whim, merely to gain the title of a graduate because of their father’s persuasion, are not needed here!”

My sister’s radiant figure was now painted over with a grotesque image of myself.

It was undoubtedly her speaking, but the figure standing on stage was no longer anyone but me.

“For one year! Over the course of quarterly exams, prove your improvement with high scores! Those who clearly demonstrate progress will be rewarded, and the weak will face consequences.”

Gulp.

The sound of dry swallows echoed from everyone present.

No one could stop my sister’s madness-filled speech as it rushed toward its finale.

“The consequence is expulsion from the academy. Those who show no improvement will be expelled. All of these terms have been agreed upon with the headmaster, the great mage who upholds the Empire, so I hope there will be no complaints.”

“What are you saying! I entered this academy by paying a legitimate donation—”

Thud, clatter.

“If you have complaints about my policies, defeat me. Whoever it may be—if you can defeat me, I will rescind all these policies and voluntarily withdraw from the academy.”

At some point, a brilliant golden sword appeared in my sister’s hand.

The sword, shining brightly enough to illuminate the dark auditorium, radiated an overwhelming power that no one could resist.

“My magic is the magic of light—the magic of Andrea, the founding monarch of this nation.”

No one could utter another word.

Every student, professor, and parent in the auditorium had no choice but to submit to her words.

A wielder of light magic, unseen since Andrea herself.

What use were noble titles in the face of such might?

Tap, tap.

After finishing her speech, my sister bowed her head and disappeared behind the dark stage.

Those left behind were frozen in various states—terrified by her madness, intimidated by her power, or awestruck by her beauty.

As for me, my feet were already moving, following her to the back of the stage.

“Alyssa!”

“…Sister.”

Panting, I reached the back of the stage and was relieved to find my sister still there.

Alyssa avoided my gaze, her blue eyes trembling with unease, but soon she steadied herself and looked at me directly.

“You shouldn’t be here. Please return to your seat.”

“Are you… out of your mind!?”

“Why did you do something like this without consulting me first!? Have you even considered what will happen to our family once we lose the protection of this academy’s shield…?”

“Our family will be fine—”

“And your safety! Even if you possess the power of the founding monarch, there are countless ways to kill someone! Nobles are well-versed in such methods! Why, Alisa, why!?”

“Sister…”

Clench.

“It’s not too late. Take my hand, and let’s apologize together. I’ll personally plead with Lady Sharen and Miss Marybell on your behalf—”

Smack.

“It’s okay.”

“…Alyssa?”

“I’ve realized that I need to act more decisively. If I want to break free from the predetermined flow, I must create a new one myself.”

“So please, Sister, enjoy your time at the academy. That’s all I wish for.”

I couldn’t bring myself to stop Alyssa as she brushed my hand away and walked off.