The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 142

142: [The Final Ball]

We entered the grand hall of the Royal Castle, the ballroom, its floor covered with a plush carpet.

“Head of the Vanderwaals Ducal Family, Lady Adelheid von Vanderwaals. [Lady Leticia von Vanderwaals. Welcome.]”

…Hmm?

In such settings, important figures were announced last, their titles and names proclaimed.

However, in [Moonlight Liberium], the two announced here were supposed to be the [Protagonist] and her chosen [Capture Target], the couple destined to be together at the end of the scenario…

Well, there had been many deviations from the script.

I supposed it wasn’t that strange.

And besides…

“So that’s the rumored…”

“The ‘Saintess Who Saved the Nation’…”

“How beautiful…”

“And that dress…!”

“They look lovely together.”

I was satisfied with the murmurs of admiration directed at Leticia.

My sister was the most beautiful girl in the world.

The world was finally catching up.

While there might be some flattery mixed in, it was a stark contrast to the harsh glances, the cold atmosphere, and the snide remarks she had received at the [Ceremony of Recognition].

And my sister… was truly lovely.

The dress she wore, accentuating her beauty, was a work of art, crafted with “Tailor’s” heart and soul—or perhaps even a piece of their soul.

A pale pink dress with puffed shoulders.

A thin black ribbon, both physically and visually, cinched the delicate shoulders.

This was in accordance with tonight’s dress code, ‘to wear something black,’ a sign of mourning for the victims of the epidemic.

That thoughtful gesture, that beautiful sentiment, surpassed any work of art.

The ruffled choker at her neckline was also tied with a thin black ribbon.

The white ruffles lightened the otherwise heavy black, and the black ribbon at the shoulders was echoed by her white gloves.

The long gloves, extending past her elbows, left only her upper arms, her neckline, and a hint of cleavage exposed. While they couldn’t completely conceal her ample bosom, it was… acceptable.

The large bow tied at her back, while making her look slightly younger, also perfectly complemented her innocence. She was the cutest in Eustasia.

Her intricately braided hair, slightly more mature than usual, tied back with a red ribbon, was adorable. The combination of contrasting elements made her the most beautiful girl in the world.

Wait, was she a fairy? No, a saintess.

I was wearing a pale blue dress. That was all.

However, as befitting the head of a ducal family, it seemed to be just as, if not more, elaborate than Leticia’s.

The skirt had multiple layers, and the bodice, naturally drawing the eye, was adorned with intricate embroidery… that probably explained “Tailor’s” dark circles.

I had told them to keep the ruffles to a minimum, but they were strategically placed at the neckline and the hem of the skirt, and the wide sleeves had three layers of lace ruffles.

While I wondered why they had gone to such lengths for my dress, perhaps I should be grateful for having such a dedicated, meticulous tailor who didn’t cut corners.

For noble families, a ball was an opportunity to display their status—their ability to afford skilled artisans, their connections to renowned ateliers—and the frills and lace, in particular, were where differences in skill and budget were most apparent.

Well, our “Tailor” didn’t care about their own effort or the cost of materials… for better or worse.

The black required by the dress code was incorporated in the ruffled choker at the neckline and the ribbon around my upper arm, the same design as Leticia’s.

I rather liked this dress.

The cool color contrasted sharply with Leticia’s warm hues, making me look more… villainous.

And its more elaborate and luxurious design, compared to hers, seemed almost… gaudy… next to my adorable sister.

Leticia stood tall and proud.

The difference in our… bust sizes… was noticeable, but I was the one who had taught her to always stand tall and proud, to face the world head-on.

That was what it meant to be a noble.

However, she leaned slightly against me, her hand gripping my arm tightly.

She was still nervous. How endearing.

I gently patted her hand, and Leticia looked up at me.

And then she smiled brightly.

Honestly, who was she trying to charm?

Her older sister was already smitten.

Suppressing those frivolous feelings behind a composed facade, my sister and I stood in the ballroom, the air buzzing with gossip.

We were supposed to be the last to be announced—among the guests.

“His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness, First Prince Konrad von Eustasia.”

The only one announced by title alone, without their name, among tonight’s attendees, was the current King of Eustasia.

In our country, there was only one King, one His Majesty.

While he was sometimes accompanied by the Queen, tonight, he was with Konrad.

…Was Prince Konrad my sister’s chosen partner? Was that why no one came to escort her, because he would be appearing with His Majesty?

Would he become my brother-in-law…?

I glanced at my sister, and she, as I had done earlier, gently patted my arm and smiled.

Her unexpected smile made my heart ache.

…What did that gesture and that smile… mean?

While I was confused, the sharp clang of the royal guards’ halberds striking each other brought the chatter to an abrupt halt, and I focused my attention.

The actors were assembled.

Leticia and I, Prince Konrad, Knight Commander Felix, Chief Physician Louis—while there was one minor villain among us, the stage was set.

In the sudden silence, His Majesty walked to the center of the ballroom.

“I am pleased to be gathered here again with those who will shape the future of Eustasia.”

His Majesty gestured, commanding attention, and then began to speak.

“While the end of the epidemic has been declared, it is not truly over. First, I would like to offer our condolences to those we have lost. …A moment of silence.”

His Majesty placed his hand on his chest and closed his eyes.

We followed suit, our hands on our chests, our eyes closed.

In the brief darkness, I reflected on the past.

How many had died. How many had I killed. How many… had been killed?

What had killed those who died in this epidemic? The disease? Fate? …Me?

I couldn’t bear the weight of it all.

Even knowing that, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could have done more.

This moment of silence might be just self-serving sentimentality.

A ritual for the survivors to… come to terms with it all.

Even so, surely everyone here—well, most everyone—was, to some extent, mourning the dead, and we shared that grief.

The epidemic didn’t discriminate between nobles and commoners. …Though I had to admit there was a difference in mortality rates.

Even so, there had been casualties among the ruling class of every nation. There would be chaos for a while.

His Majesty began to speak again, and we opened our eyes and lowered our hands.

“As leaders of this nation, we must not forget those we have lost, and we must look to the future. But today is also a day of celebration. A day to dance, to converse, and to strengthen our bonds.”

His Majesty concluded his speech.

One of the things I respected about His Majesty was his brevity.

He got straight to the point.

A rare talent, indeed.

As someone often subjected to long-winded speeches from important people, I was truly grateful.

And since they were sometimes valuable sources of information, I couldn’t simply tune them out, which was annoying.

His Majesty’s speech scene in the game was described as, [At the end of His Majesty’s speech, my name was called.], so only a portion was directly quoted, but even hearing the whole thing, it was a good speech.

And it was short.

“[We faced this epidemic together. However, I would like to acknowledge one individual in particular.]”

…Here it comes!

“[—Leticia von Vanderwaals, the ‘Saintess Who Saved the Nation’.]”

All eyes turned to my sister.

I had considered promoting this title, used even in the game… but I hadn’t done anything.

So, this was something she had earned herself.

A testament to her efforts in finding the cure and ensuring its fair distribution.

My sister, thus summoned, walked to the center of the ballroom, before His Majesty.

His Majesty addressed her.

“[Do you have any requests? While I can’t promise everything—speak your wish.]”

“[I have no requests. I simply ask for your continued support for those affected by the epidemic.]”

Leticia curtsied gracefully and replied with a composed demeanor.

Ah, my sister was so admirable.

I nodded inwardly, enjoying my sister’s dignified appearance.

Since I was in a good position to see her face, to witness the [Event] firsthand, I didn’t have to harbor any disrespectful thoughts about wanting to trade places with His Majesty.

“[I grant your request.]”

This part had been pre-arranged.

A bit of theatrics was sometimes necessary for statecraft.

Next was the lead-in to the ball.

“I have sworn to serve Eustasia and fulfill my duties. It is all thanks to Your Majesty, and to my Elder Sister, who rescued me from the ‘back alley,’ acknowledged me as her family, and provided me with a noble education.”

…That wasn’t in the script.

I felt a shiver down my spine, sensing a deviation from the scenario.

“Truly a model subject. [But are you certain you have no other requests?]”

“[Then just one. …May I… choose my dance partner?]”

I was relieved that the deviation was brief, and the dialogue returned to the [Official Scenario].

In a setting like this, requesting and receiving permission from His Majesty to choose your dance partner was effectively a proposal.

While not a formal proposal, it meant receiving the King’s blessing.

It was a ‘request’ and a ‘reward’ befitting the climax of a romance story.

“[Very well. —Whom do you choose?]”

There were three options.

[1. “I would like to dance with His Royal Highness, the First Prince, Konrad.”]

[2. “I would like to dance with Knight Commander Felix.”]

[3. “I would like to dance with Chief Physician Louis.”]

This was arguably the final [Choice].

…However, in the [Log] of [Moonlight Liberium], the option corresponding to the character you had been pursuing was highlighted, leaving little room for choosing anyone else.

I wondered what would happen if you chose a different one.

Was there a scenario where none of these options were highlighted?

Who would my sister choose?

My sister opened her mouth.

She took a deep breath, a pregnant pause.

Time seemed to stand still.

Everyone, holding their breath, watched, trying to discern who the “Saintess Who Saved the Nation” would choose, a choice that would affect the future balance of power.

Of course, I was no exception.

And yet, I couldn’t help but avert my gaze.

I couldn’t bear to watch…

…to see her choose someone… other than me.

My sister seemed to have turned towards me.

Feeling the weight of all eyes on me, I couldn’t avoid her gaze any longer, and I looked at Leticia.

She looked at me directly and, in a clear voice, ‘chose’ her partner.

“—I would like to dance with my Elder Sister.”

Oh, her ‘Elder Sister’? Who was that?

…Elder Sister?

Me?

“…What?”

I blurted out, without thinking.