The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 34

34: [The Sickbed Event]

――My sister had caught a cold.

I keenly felt the inescapable hand of fate.

This was the introductory event for the male character, the ‘Chief Physician,’ one of the [Capture Targets].

The idea of making the protagonist sick just to introduce the Chief Physician was tragically shortsighted, making me question the unseen playwright’s sense of drama.

Despite my subtle preventative measures, my sister had caught a cold.

I, determined to fulfill my duty as the villainous sister, went to her room, accompanied only by Ciel.

My sister, lying in bed—using the fine bedding from the former guest room, as I had intended—looked up at the sound of the opening door.

I immediately launched into a harsh rebuke.

“[How pathetic. If you can’t even manage your own health, I shudder to think what the future holds.]”

My sister winced.

In the game, she didn’t utter a word, represented only by an ellipsis.

The impression the player received, the words swirling in their mind, were left entirely to their imagination.

My sister’s lips parted slightly.

I thought she was about to retort—but then…

Tears welled up in the corners of her closed eyes, and she apologized in a small, trembling voice.

“I’m sorry… please don’t abandon me… I’m sorry…”

Meanness quota filled!

Guilt gnawed at me, threatening to shatter my heart.

“—Ciel.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

My head maid, who had been standing silently behind me like a shadow, approached my sister, placed a hand on her forehead, and then gently took her wrist from under the covers to check her pulse.

Then, she gave her diagnosis.

“It appears to be a cold. Her fever is high, but she should recover with rest.”

“I see. …Should we call a doctor, just in case?”

I tried to steer the conversation casually.

As casually as possible.

…Casually?

“Yes. I’ll arrange for—”

“Contact the Royal Palace. Summon the Chief Physician.”

“…We also have Vanderwaals’ family physician in town…”

“That’s an order… Contact the Royal Palace. Summon the Chief Physician.”

Casually wasn’t happening.

There was no reason to specifically go to the Royal Palace and summon the Chief Physician…

If only she had fainted at the palace or something.

If I didn’t have the game knowledge and the sense of duty to force the event, I would have simply left it to Ciel.

I wondered what would have happened if I had given her a room with a fireplace.

But I couldn’t—wouldn’t—change the main plot points.

As a last resort, I had given her nutritious meals and herbal remedies like candies, tea, and liqueur for preventative measures, but my sister still caught a cold, just like in the game.

The bedding should have been better than in the game, but that didn’t seem to help.

“E-Elder… Sister… it’s… okay. You shouldn’t… go to such lengths… for someone like me…”

“It’s decided. I don’t want some random physician poking and prodding me, after all.”

I needed a more convincing justification, a more plausible official line.

However, since I couldn’t expect such support from this crappy fate and the unseen playwright, I just gave a vague excuse.

“B-but…”

“――Since when did you become important enough to question my decisions?”

I forcefully shut down my sister’s protest, as befitting a villainous sister.

“You just stay in bed and rest.”

I walked to the bedside and patted her head—well, her hair.

I also gently stroked her hair with my fingertips.

“There’s water in the pitcher… Ciel, after you’ve sent a messenger to the Royal Palace, prepare some nutritious drinks that are easy to consume, even when unwell.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ciel nodded.

“—Leticia. Have you used the restroom? Do you have any appetite?”

“Um… well… I don’t need to use the restroom yet… and I don’t have any appetite…”

“I see. Then rest for now. —Ciel, you’re dismissed.”

I removed my hand from her hair.

I turned my back on my sister.

“Send a maid later—”

My sister’s hand reached out and grasped my sleeve.

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

I turned around and looked down at her with a cold gaze, questioning her intentions.

“…I want… Big Sister… to stay…”

For a moment… various responses flashed through my mind.

Jockeys mounted their horses and began to race in the racetrack of my mind.

First, the simple “Alright” nod took the lead.

Then, “Big Sister will stay with you!” emerged as a strong contender.

“Should Big Sister stay and keep you company?” lurked close behind, waiting for an opening.

…But any of those would surely alter fate.

Leticia, her eyes unfocused with fever, looked up at me, resembling a baby bird.

…I had once raised a baby bird that had fallen from its nest.

No, I couldn’t say I raised it… I merely prolonged its life for a few days.

The chances of a baby bird, deprived of its nest and parents, surviving under human care were slim.

――I was Adelheid von Vanderwaals.

The villainous sister in [Moonlight Liberium], destined to torment my younger sister.

So, I roughly shook off her hand.

My sister’s eyes squeezed shut, and she turned her face away.

Her arm fell limply back onto the bed.

Then, turning my back to her, I declared,

“—I have duties as the head of the family.”

As I spoke, I moved a round chair from the corner of the room to the bedside.

“…Lady Adelheid?”

“Ciel, you’re dismissed. …And you will act in my stead today. Only bring matters to me if you require my judgment.”

I sat down heavily on the chair.

“I will be watching over my sister.”

“…What?”

My sister’s eyes widened, and she stared at me.

“Yes, Lady Adelheid.”

Ciel bowed respectfully.

“Then I will take my leave. I leave the rest to you.”

“Yes, you’re dismissed.”

I nodded to Ciel.

I was inwardly grateful for her competence.

A few seconds after Ciel left, I took my sister’s outstretched hand.

“You’ll catch a chill.”

I tucked her hand under the covers.

“…Big Sister…”

“I’ll only allow you to call me that while you’re sick. I’ll be strict with you once you’ve recovered.”

I was already being far too lenient, but it couldn’t be helped.

…Even during [Official Events], I couldn’t be complacent. I had a duty to ensure my sister’s… the protagonist’s… well-being.

I would follow the general outline of fate, but the script I was given was full of holes.

Well, I suppose it would be tedious if every mundane conversation was described in detail.

This much was within the performer’s discretion.

“If you can sleep, try to get some rest.”

“…Okay.”

Despite her apparent discomfort from the high fever, she smiled shyly.

“Thank you, Big Sister…”

Her earnest demeanor as she closed her eyes, after saying such a thing, almost made me want to lie down next to her.

But that would definitely be outside the performer’s discretion.