The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 11

11. Waiting Room Anxieties

――I was getting anxious.

“Leticia, would you like some tea?”

“No… I have an audience soon…”

Leticia and I were alone in the waiting room near the audience chamber.

The maids were waiting in the next room. They seemed visibly relieved when I dismissed them so they wouldn’t interfere with the event.

Even though they might be called at any moment, it was probably more relaxing than being in the presence of the head of the family and her daughter.

I discreetly checked the time on the grand grandfather clock.

This was bad.

The time for the audience was fast approaching.

And yet, the [Official Event] wasn’t happening.

The audience was just an excuse concocted by the unseen playwright to get Leticia into a dress.

The proof was that it was glossed over in the game.

The beautiful illustration—the [Event Still]—was of the encounter with the prince.

However, for that to happen, she had to go to the restroom before the audience, be late, rush back in a panic, and bump into the prince.

Why incorporate such an uncertain, spontaneous event into the scenario?

Furthermore, it was all part of a set piece: me scolding my sister for being late, and the prince stepping in to defend her.

I could handle my part.

The prince, well, he must have been drilled on how to treat a lady. He would probably defend my sister.

That part shouldn’t be a problem.

However, if they didn’t meet in the first place, there was nothing I could do.

I briefly considered abandoning the event altogether, but he was a [Capture Target]—one of Leticia’s potential love interests.

I had to rigorously assess whether he was a man I could entrust my sister’s life to.

But it was only natural that my sister wouldn’t need to use the restroom.

She had gone as soon as we arrived in the waiting room.

I checked on her, but since we had plenty of time, she wasn’t in a hurry, didn’t bump into the prince, and returned as usual.

Of course, being mindful of time was important.

But just this once, I wished my sister wasn’t so sensible.

In the capital of Eustasia, where the clock tower bells chimed regularly, even the residents of the “back alley” were probably conscious of time.

I couldn’t think of a plausible reason to stop my sister from going to the restroom.

I subtly offered her drinks several times, suggesting she might need to go again, but she refused.

No matter how much I prayed to fate, my sister showed no signs of leaving her seat.

…Time was running out.

I didn’t know the exact time of the [Event].

But—I couldn’t wait any longer.

“Leticia, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll wait—”

“You’re coming with me.”

I decided to force the event to proceed.

However, my sister tilted her head, looking puzzled, and stated the obvious.

“Me? Not a maid…?”

I didn’t even need a maid in the first place.

I frequented the Royal Castle. And it was just a trip to the restroom. Even for a noble, an escort wasn’t necessary.

Unless there was a risk of assassination.

“――Do you have a problem with that?”

I gave up on trying to explain rationally and glared at her.

I was truly grateful that I had left Ciel behind.

She would have been discreetly waiting nearby, not in the next room.

She would have accompanied me, just in case.

She would have subtly taken it upon herself to fetch Leticia.

――With someone as capable as her around, I was confident the event wouldn’t happen.

“…No.”

My sister lowered her gaze, avoiding my stare.

I was confident in my ability to intimidate with a glare.

I was the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” after all.

However, she softened her expression, looked up—and smiled.

“I’m happy you chose me to accompany you, Elder Sister.”

I lost my confidence in my glare.

Even though I was the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals”…

Help me, Ciel.

My sister’s mental fortitude was too strong.

For a moment, I found myself seeking help from Ciel, who wasn’t even there.

Ciel rarely changed her composed expression, but when she did smile, like when she was concerned about me when I was exhausted from work, it made my heart skip a beat.

I felt like Ciel used to smile more.

――Back when she was my governess and tutor, not my assistant head of the family.

She had taught me, after prefacing that it was separate from the manners a lady should learn, that “the power of a glare is important.” When she glared at me with her cold eyes, a shiver ran down my spine.

From that day forward, I swore to myself that I would never make an enemy of Ciel.

I wanted to be praised by her, to prove that her teachings were correct, to meet her expectations—to see her smile.

Because of Ciel, I was able to improve myself.

But that was all in the past now.

Ciel wasn’t here. She shouldn’t be.

She would help me—she would help me.

Her top priority was surely me… if I wasn’t being conceited.

But now, I had to manage on my own.

I was the current head of the Vanderwaals family.

And the ‘Villainous Sister’ of [Moonlight Liberium], destined to torment my sister.

“Let’s go, Leticia.”

“Yes, Elder Sister.”

My sister rose and followed me.

…I couldn’t choose my birth.

Becoming the head of the family was my predetermined fate.

But this role was different.

It was the first ‘role’ I chose for myself.

――I would see it through.

Because I was the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

Even though I had lost a bit of my confidence just now.