New discoveries, characters, hardships and adversity.
A villain named Duke Aquitaine has joined the play.
That’s all.
Even knowing this fact, my stance hasn’t changed.
Right, I’ve always been consistent.
Having fun and hanging out with Unnie Remi, reciprocating my parents’ affectionate touches with affection of my own, and although it would end up being a one-sided love, generously sharing it with Anna Unnie.
What I need to do remains unchanged.
All along.
Forever.
Until my soul decomposes—
Betrayal? Schemes? Backstabbing?
I’ve experienced so many shabby things that I can’t even count them. This case? Honestly, it feels too flimsy and weak.
To be honest, I don’t even think about such people anymore.
Instead, I feel a bit sorry for them?
Fighting only works if we’re on the same level to begin with.
“Ugh… Anna Unnie is so scary these days…”
“…She must be stressed from studying. Come on! Let’s play together! That first princess says she’ll become a queen. Hmph!”
After that, the snowball I’ve been rolling for months finally started rolling towards Remi too.
Our sisterly bond, which used to be very good, began to crack slowly. Even pranks that would normally be enjoyed started to be met with sharp retorts, so Remi must’ve also gotten angry.
Hmm… Sorry.
If the investigation results are to be known, Duke Aquitaine is indeed responsible. The one who gifted Anna Unnie the black pearl earrings and cast a curse.
After a little investigation, I could feel a dark energy flowing from those earrings, wrapping around Anna Unnie.
Of course, I can’t jump to conclusions just because of that, but my intuition, which I trust above all, was saying so.
My intuition is almost like a magical conch shell.
The verdict is death penalty, bang bang.
The one who will die is me.
“…Unnie, did you finish your homework?”
“….Eep!?”
“…Haa…”
“I… I was going to do it right after playing!”
Unnie Remi was always the same.
Every day, loafing around, going to the flower garden with me, playing hide-and-seek, eating snacks, repeating that kind of life.
So lazy… Unnie…
Lately, she seems to have gained some weight, should I just gobble her up?
Wow.
“—Nyum.”
“Kyaaa! A-Aris!!”
“It’s the curse of lying! —Nyum.”
“I-I’m sorryyy!!!”
I gently bit her belly fat. Not hard, like a kitten nibbling its owner’s finger.
Did they call this chattering? Can’t quite recall.
Then, with a gasp, Remi turned around. She seemed ticklish, breathless and blushing.
Oho?
This is her weak spot.
Having made a good discovery, I bit her a few more times. Her reactions were so delightful. She yelled not to, but that didn’t matter. Nom.
One bite, two bites….
Thanks to Unnie’s vigorous movements, the two of us lost our balance and rolled in the flower garden, covering ourselves in dirt.
“Ah… Aris!!”
“Hehe~ Can’t catch me~”
I successfully escaped, darting away from Remi at full speed. She was chasing me with a smiling face.
Huh, she’s too fast.
“O-Unnie! Count! What’s the count!!”
“There’s no such thing! If you get caught, I won’t let you go! We’re going to the bath together today!!”
“—Noo!!! That’s unfair!!!”
It seems like Remi is really serious today.
If I get caught, maintaining a good look will be tough.
With a resolute determination, I left the flower garden. Remi chased after me.
Although I was running at a speed hard for a child to match, thanks to her natural talent, Remi was managing to keep up somehow.
Impressive. Wow.
Is this real genius?
If she adds effort on top of this, a fearsome human might just be born.
The sincere side of Unnie that shows occasionally.
Every time I see that, I wonder if I should’ve been planning to induce Anna Unnie’s inferiority complex using Remi.
Being the second princess, it would be possible to tear everything down if she really put her mind to it, wouldn’t it?
Well, now it’s too late though.
“Woaaaah!!”
“S-Stop there!!”
Hehe, gotcha!
I smiled at Remi, who was slowing down as her stamina was running out.
Hey, who would stop just because you say to? Unnie Remi is really naive—
—Thud.
“—Ow!”
“….!!”
Here I am.
Oh no, I crashed right into her.
My light and fragile body couldn’t withstand the impact and I fell on my butt. The person I crashed into stood there frozen.
A shadow fell over me.
To anyone watching, it would look like I rushed in and collided without a thought.
Well, I knew that someone was walking from there.
And also, who it was.
“……Aris.”
“Anna Unnie! Long time no see—!”
Anna Akaia.
My big sister.
The first princess.
She was looking down at me, sprawled on the ground.
After a long time of not seeing her, she looked incredibly fatigued.
Even in the shade, it was clear that she had lost weight.
Anna has started serious succession training. She began to study and train in martial arts, cutting into her sleep time, to the point where I worry for her health. It must be because of that.
Thanks to that, I haven’t had much chance to hang out recently. Even when I did see her, it was only way off in the distance studying a few times.
Truly, she’s changed a lot.
Humans can change so quickly in such a short time.
“Anna Unnie, have you been well? Have you eaten well? Oh, right, I made a new flower crown yesterday, and—”
“—Aris.”
“…Huh?”
For a moment, I thought I misheard.
Her voice was so cold.
It sent chills down my spine for an instant.
Wow, I almost really fell for her.
Her voice, unable to hide her fatigue and frustration, felt as if a heavy responsibility was pressing down on Anna’s shoulders. She was just a fool desperately trying to work hard to repay the burdens that only serve to ruin her.
She probably just wanted to live happily with her little sisters.
Anna would only want to meet the expectations of her youngest sister, who approaches her, despite being someone who speaks little and has no charm.
A kind king exalted by our father, a mother who welcomes us warmly, two cute little sisters overflowing with playfulness.
Under normal circumstances, she would have grown up well in such an environment and become a queen to lead the kingdom.
What a shame.
“—If you have no business, then leave. Aris.”
“…Unnie..?”
“No, I will leave. There’s still much I need to do. So, that’s it.”
Without even looking back at me, without extending a hand, Anna turned back on the path she came from.
My palm, scraped on the ground when I fell, hurts.
—Slurp.
“…gulp.”
I raised my palm and sucked the blood leaking out.
It just tasted like water on my tongue, perhaps the only difference was that it felt sluggish down my throat?
Covering my mouth with my palm, I smiled.
“……Anna…Unnie…? Why….?”
“…….”
“Unnie! Don’t go…! Unnie……!!”
“…….”
I shouted. I was trying to throw her a lifeline to stop her relentless steps, the foolish sister who was heading into hell.
After all, it was me who dropped it.
But her steps didn’t halt. The only thing that trembled was her shoulders, signaling she had heard my words.
This growing pile of guilt must be weighing down on her even more.
Since when did things go wrong, I wonder if she thinks about that?
Because she lacked talent?
Because she wishes to be a ‘good king’ despite that?
She’s probably having such amusing fantasies as if Remi’s talent was somehow inside her.
“Unnie..! I’m sorry for bumping into you! So… let’s not part…let’s play together…Anna Unnie…”
“….It’s already past the age to be playing with such games.”
With that cold advice as her last words, she turned away and disappeared from my sight completely.
To untangle this incomplete loop of hatred, I need to return to the beginning and find out why she so desperately craved to be a ‘good king’.
Because she felt cozy in her family’s warm embrace.
Because she wanted to become like our parents.
Because she had the support of her cute little sisters, Aris and Remi.
Because she wished for her family to happily live in a prosperous country.
Her gratitude for the happiness she received throughout her life.
That’s why she wanted to become a king.
But now, it’s all too late.
“Don’t go…..Anna Unnie….”
“Aris?! What’s wrong! Why are you sitting there in the corner?!”
Catching sight of me wiping my tears with my small hands, Remi rushed over.
I cried.
Today is such a happy day.
Isn’t the day someone is born the happiest day? And on that day, everyone cries together.
On joyful days, we cry.
Yeah, that’s right, I’m just so happy that I’m crying.
“Aris..yes, that’s right. Dhuk!”
“Uwuh…Heeeng….”
The fuse of the firecracker was lit.
The fuse would burn slowly, much like the flamboyant tongue of a rutting deer.
I’m so looking forward to it. I might not be able to sleep properly from now on? It feels like I’ll be staying up all night every night.
It’s so hard to wait.
I’d like to sincerely thank the duke who gave me those earrings. For shortening the duration.
Well,
I don’t know when that’ll be.
But one thing is certain—
The upcoming explosion will be, yes, truly beautiful.
“Hunting competition, huh…..”
“Well, wouldn’t it be good for a change of pace? Dear. It seems like Anna has also been having a rough time lately.”
“If that’s the case….”
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