The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 144

144: Two After the Dance

After finishing our dance, Leticia and I were surrounded.

The bards’ and jugglers’ familiar refrain from the tavern, “Remember our faces and names, folks!” came to mind.

The only difference was that there was no performance.

I barely managed to tolerate it, all because my sister had become important enough for people to want to remember her face and name.

Looking at it most favorably, my sister was being treated with respect.

So, I couldn’t exactly be rude, and as I was responding politely, the three [Capture Targets], whose first dance I had stolen, approached us.

…I tensed for a moment, wondering if one of them would ask my sister to dance.

Konrad smiled, his features perfectly composed.

“You two must be tired. If you’d like, we can take over from here.”

My opinion of Prince Konrad doubled.

Though, considering my initial opinion, doubling it didn’t mean much.

Was he capable of such consideration?

We usually just exchanged barbs or silent glares.

“Oh, how honored we are, Your Highness!”

The young ladies—and even some older women—gasped and twittered; Konrad was popular with a wide range of ages.

“Knight Commander, I hear you just returned from suppressing a gang of bandits targeting caravans. I’d love to hear about it.”

Felix was popular with the men and some of the… more athletically inclined… young ladies.

“Chief Physician, if you wouldn’t mind… perhaps we could speak privately…”

Louis, for some reason, seemed to attract the most… intense… young ladies.

In any case, I gratefully accepted the three men’s offer to act as decoys.

We moved away from the center of the ballroom, towards the tables laden with drinks and refreshments.

“You must be tired, Lady Adelheid, Lady Leticia. Please, have some of this.”

Ciel, who had been standing discreetly behind us, offered us each a glass.

“Thank you, Ciel.”

“Thank you, Ciel.”

We accepted the glasses and took a sip.

Apple juice spritzer. A classic, but the sweetness of the apple soothed our tired bodies, and the fizz of the carbonation cleared our heads. As expected of Ciel.

While the glasses were small, a thoughtful gesture to allow us to sample various drinks, I finished mine in two gulps.

“We had this at the park too. I like it.”

Leticia, who had also finished her drink, smiled shyly.

“Yes, it’s quite popular in town.”

“The ones I’ve had before were… diluted with water. And very weak.”

That was because they were just diluted with water.

“…………”

――I couldn’t say that, so I simply smiled vaguely.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

She had nothing to apologize for.

I had lived my life accumulating wealth, power, and influence.

As a ducal lady, the future head of the family, and now, the current head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” the [Villainous Sister] of [Moonlight Liberium].

The head of the family would soon change.

To a girl who knew, better than anyone, the value of small happinesses, who had lived a life of frugality.

“…The town I lived in… I’m not ashamed of it.”

Leticia looked down at her empty glass.

She twirled it in her hand, as if seeing the diluted apple juice from her past.

Then, she looked up.

Her deep blue eyes met mine.

“…But I wish… that taste… would become a thing of the past.”

I didn’t know if it would happen soon.

But many people now knew about that town, the district where the “Saintess Who Saved the Nation” was born and raised… the dark underbelly of this country that we had ignored for so long.

Chief Physician Louis was concerned, and Prince Konrad and Knight Commander Felix must also have their thoughts on the matter.

And, more importantly, the residents of that district themselves wouldn’t tolerate the current situation.

Then surely, they could make that town a thing of the past.

Not by erasing it, not by pretending it never existed, but by slowly integrating it.

There were no official boundary lines, after all.

My sister gently touched my arm.

She shifted into an escort position—and then prompted me to walk.

While it was a bit… unconventional, it wasn’t uncommon for the person being escorted to lead the way.

I glanced at Ciel, and she gave me a subtle nod.

Since she hadn’t stopped us, it probably meant… do as you wish.

We were led to the side of the ballroom.

This was usually my designated spot at balls.

I had no lukewarm friendships to rekindle at such events.

The Vanderwaals family had no need for such things.

I rarely attended balls anyway, and after making the minimum necessary greetings, I always became a wallflower.

A poisonous wallflower, perhaps.

We stood in the shadow of a curtain draped in a wall niche, a purely decorative element.

However, it was a surprisingly versatile space, often used for private conversations… or whispering sweet nothings.

Leticia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“—Forced smiles are exhausting.”

What a blunt remark.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her words, so uncharacteristic of my sister, yet laced with a familiar venom.

“Indeed.”

Perhaps I should have reprimanded her, but I agreed completely.

It was exhausting to constantly wear the mask of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

While this was her place… perhaps aristocratic society wasn’t suited for my sister.

However, in the [Ending] of [Moonlight Liberium], the [Protagonist] resolved to live in aristocratic society.

Because she wanted to be with the person she loved.

Because she knew she could make a difference.

Because she had been guided by fate.

“…Leticia.”

“Yes, Elder Sister?”

My sister responded with a smile.

Even though she had just said that forced smiles were exhausting.

“…You’re free to do as you wish for the rest of the evening. You are the guest of honor, after all.”

That sounded… like something a good older sister would say.

I inwardly praised myself.

“Yes, thank you, Elder Sister. I will enjoy myself.”

My sister moved closer, our shoulders touching.

My sister… I couldn’t predict her actions, even a second in advance. It was terrifying.