Suddenly older sister? Luna quickly turned around to look at the door.
“Princess, I’ve been waiting for you to come!”
“Have you been well, Francis? Have many more subjects been added to your studies? Isn’t it tough?”
Then Francis’s buoyant voice was heard, like a puppy wagging its tail upon seeing its owner. So he could make such a face, yet he ignored me like that…
“When I was living in the count’s family, I had to eavesdrop on lessons from outside, but now I can proudly…”
Francis was beaming as he rambled on to Siani.
“And the tutors here are much better than those at the count’s family!”
“Then that’s good.”
Siani then stroked Francis’s hair. It was incomprehensible to Luna why she would bother to assign a tutor to such a lowly creature.
Siani walked past Francis towards the interior.
What should I do? Luna felt her mouth getting drier by the moment.
“…Are you asleep?” Siani stopped in front of Inein, who was soundly asleep inside the barrier.
“Inein, are you sleeping?”
“…”
Then whoosh, the barrier opened again.
What is that? The barrier that had been firmly closed to her as if telling me not to speak, now opened.
“I see. Sleep well.”
After passing by Inein, Siani approached Vallentin.
“Vallentin, have you been well?”
“Uh… Princess, what brings you all the way here?” Vallentin immediately lifted his head at Siani’s voice. “I thought you were too busy favoring Redian.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Yes.”
Their conversation was utterly natural, though devoid of any laughter.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“I was wondering how I could become a cunning fox like Redian.”
“A cunning fox?”
“A fox? Or rather devil? Anyway…” Vallentin shrugged and answered. “Princess, you wouldn’t imagine the things you’d see.”
Then he smirked, resting his chin on the desk. “One day, you’ll understand why that guy was the strongest even in that hellish underground castle.” It was a sly smile as if casting a curse.
Arrogant b*stards. Luna, hiding behind the bookshelves, glared at them persistently. They treated her as if she was invisible when she entered, but why only to her older sister…
“I see. You keep working hard too.” Siani briefly spoke to Vallentin as well.
Why does older sister talk to such lowly creatures?
And Siani’s caring and kind demeanor towards them was utterly incomprehensible to Luna. She never once looked at her or Irik, who grew up with her, like that. What is so good about them!
It was discrimination after all. Whether it was them or her, they were all the same level of lowliness, so why!
“…”
While sneaking a look at that scene, Luna clenched her teeth tightly. But at that moment.
“Luna.”
“O-Older Sister…”
Siani had approached close enough for their eyes to meet.
* * *
“Luna, what are you doing here?” I had suspected Luna might be near Redian, but still…
“Luna at the west building library?”
“Yes.”
“Daisy, has the announcement I made been conveyed throughout the duchy?”
“Of course, Princess. Everyone was wondering what was going on.”
So Luna must have heard it too.
“But everyone’s cautious because the Norma are in the west building. But she went there…”
Coming to make excuses or confess, or even just staying quietly, would have been insufficient… I headed to the west building immediately after hearing from Daisy. Passing by the Norma, I found Luna standing behind the bookshelves.
“Ah, that, I came to borrow a book from the west building.” She gave me an awkward smile.
“Really? Most of the books here are also in the main building, aren’t they?”
“Ah… I just thought it was a nice day for a walk.”
Of course, where Luna roams is not my concern. But at this moment, after the announcement was made. And her target is not the books but the Norma. These two points made it a matter I had to care about.
“You always end up in strange places when you say you’re going for a walk.”
“Y-yes?”
When she stole the burdock from the pantry, Luna said the same thing. She was just going for a walk.
“Luna, you must have heard the notice. So shouldn’t you be in my room right now, not here?”
“…!”
Luna’s eyes wavered. That meant she knew what ‘that’ notice was.
“Older Sister, what are you talking about? That notice has nothing to do with me.” She whimpered as if wronged. “Why would I go to your room? I didn’t steal the burdock. And that’s just something the servants use for cleaning.”
“Do you not remember running into me in the courtyard on the night of the eve?”
“…!”
“That’s when I saw the burdock in your basket.”
A chilling silence fell for a moment.
“Ha, Older Sister, that’s absurd.” But Luna immediately covered her mouth and gasped. “You must have seen it wrong, Older Sister. Why do you always accuse me?”
Her eyes grew teary.
Why always?
“Why do you hate me so much? I’ve always tried my best to be seen well by you!”
“…Ha.”
I could only sigh. I had thought to make a decision based on Luna’s reaction, but if this is how she responded…
“Luna, do you know that burdock powder leaves a trace when it gets on clothes?”
“Yes, yes?”
Burdock powder, being used for disinfection, was potent. So if it got on clothes or splashed, it left a blue trace.
“On the day the skin disease started spreading in our duchy, I brought the clothes that the servants were going to throw out.”
It was the day I asked for the servants’ clothes to treat Redian.
“Lady, here you are. I have brought some clothes for you to change.”
“Is it okay for me to wear it and throw it away later?”
“Yes. It’s one of the clothes the maid gave me to throw away anyway.”
Since Luna had shared the cake she made the previous day, it was natural that traces would remain on someone’s clothes.
“The part where the cake piece fell had traces of burdock powder.”
“…”
Luna’s face turned pale instantly.
“I told you clearly. Be smart.”
“Older Sister! It’s not that!” Luna opened her mouth as if searching for an excuse.
“Come to my room to talk.”
But I had no intention of listening here. According to the notice, whether Luna came to confess or make excuses, she had to come to me directly.
“… I’m really wronged.”
Luna’s gaze dropped, trembling with anxiety.
“I’ll prove it somehow. That it wasn’t me.” Leaving those words behind, Luna quickly left the scene.
What should I do?
Watching Luna’s retreating back gave me a headache. It would be simpler if she was either very smart or very wicked. It’s most troublesome when someone innocent like Luna clumsily attempts something.
“Did you come here because of her?”
Then Redian’s voice came from behind.
“I was happy thinking you came to see me…”
He then slightly frowned.
“You said you weren’t waiting for me.”
“I’m not waiting. Just saying.”
Ah, our consistently Rere…
“Is it about that ointment incident?” Redian’s gaze followed Luna’s retreating figure, indifferent. “She’s wicked.”
Wait a minute. Are the original novel’s male and female leads supposed to split like this?
“What were you looking at?”
Well, they’ll figure it out themselves.
I finally looked at the book Redian was holding. Curious about the book, I checked.
Uh?
I had to doubt my eyes for a moment.
“Summer Night’s Dance. This…”
The title of the novel I was possessed into, the original story. The male lead reading the book of the original story, what’s going on?
“What’s this about?”
I hurriedly checked the part Redian was reading.
Ah, it’s just the same title.
But reading a few lines, the content seemed completely different.
That’s right.
After being blindsided in so many ways, I was taken aback.
“Peidion.”
“…Huh?”
Then Redian spoke. “It’s about why Peidion, the devil king, was sealed by the goddess.”
“It’s in the creation myth. The goddess sealed the devil to establish the Meteora Empire.”
I was also familiar with the name by now.
Peidion.
The king of hell commanding the devil legions.
The devil god reigns over the fallen angels.
“No.”
But at that moment, Redian’s voice was somehow…
“They say it was because the devil dared to love the goddess.”
It was very serene.
Suddenly older sister? Luna quickly turned around to look at the door.
“Princess, I’ve been waiting for you to come!”
“Have you been well, Francis? Have many more subjects been added to your studies? Isn’t it tough?”
Then Francis’s buoyant voice was heard, like a puppy wagging its tail upon seeing its owner. So he could make such a face, yet he ignored me like that…
“When I was living in the count’s family, I had to eavesdrop on lessons from outside, but now I can proudly…”
Francis was beaming as he rambled on to Siani.
“And the tutors here are much better than those at the count’s family!”
“Then that’s good.”
Siani then stroked Francis’s hair. It was incomprehensible to Luna why she would bother to assign a tutor to such a lowly creature.
Siani walked past Francis towards the interior.
What should I do? Luna felt her mouth getting drier by the moment.
“…Are you asleep?” Siani stopped in front of Inein, who was soundly asleep inside the barrier.
“Inein, are you sleeping?”
“…”
Then whoosh, the barrier opened again.
What is that? The barrier that had been firmly closed to her as if telling me not to speak, now opened.
“I see. Sleep well.”
After passing by Inein, Siani approached Vallentin.
“Vallentin, have you been well?”
“Uh… Princess, what brings you all the way here?” Vallentin immediately lifted his head at Siani’s voice. “I thought you were too busy favoring Redian.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Yes.”
Their conversation was utterly natural, though devoid of any laughter.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“I was wondering how I could become a cunning fox like Redian.”
“A cunning fox?”
“A fox? Or rather devil? Anyway…” Vallentin shrugged and answered. “Princess, you wouldn’t imagine the things you’d see.”
Then he smirked, resting his chin on the desk. “One day, you’ll understand why that guy was the strongest even in that hellish underground castle.” It was a sly smile as if casting a curse.
Arrogant b*stards. Luna, hiding behind the bookshelves, glared at them persistently. They treated her as if she was invisible when she entered, but why only to her older sister…
“I see. You keep working hard too.” Siani briefly spoke to Vallentin as well.
Why does older sister talk to such lowly creatures?
And Siani’s caring and kind demeanor towards them was utterly incomprehensible to Luna. She never once looked at her or Irik, who grew up with her, like that. What is so good about them!
It was discrimination after all. Whether it was them or her, they were all the same level of lowliness, so why!
“…”
While sneaking a look at that scene, Luna clenched her teeth tightly. But at that moment.
“Luna.”
“O-Older Sister…”
Siani had approached close enough for their eyes to meet.
* * *
“Luna, what are you doing here?” I had suspected Luna might be near Redian, but still…
“Luna at the west building library?”
“Yes.”
“Daisy, has the announcement I made been conveyed throughout the duchy?”
“Of course, Princess. Everyone was wondering what was going on.”
So Luna must have heard it too.
“But everyone’s cautious because the Norma are in the west building. But she went there…”
Coming to make excuses or confess, or even just staying quietly, would have been insufficient… I headed to the west building immediately after hearing from Daisy. Passing by the Norma, I found Luna standing behind the bookshelves.
“Ah, that, I came to borrow a book from the west building.” She gave me an awkward smile.
“Really? Most of the books here are also in the main building, aren’t they?”
“Ah… I just thought it was a nice day for a walk.”
Of course, where Luna roams is not my concern. But at this moment, after the announcement was made. And her target is not the books but the Norma. These two points made it a matter I had to care about.
“You always end up in strange places when you say you’re going for a walk.”
“Y-yes?”
When she stole the burdock from the pantry, Luna said the same thing. She was just going for a walk.
“Luna, you must have heard the notice. So shouldn’t you be in my room right now, not here?”
“…!”
Luna’s eyes wavered. That meant she knew what ‘that’ notice was.
“Older Sister, what are you talking about? That notice has nothing to do with me.” She whimpered as if wronged. “Why would I go to your room? I didn’t steal the burdock. And that’s just something the servants use for cleaning.”
“Do you not remember running into me in the courtyard on the night of the eve?”
“…!”
“That’s when I saw the burdock in your basket.”
A chilling silence fell for a moment.
“Ha, Older Sister, that’s absurd.” But Luna immediately covered her mouth and gasped. “You must have seen it wrong, Older Sister. Why do you always accuse me?”
Her eyes grew teary.
Why always?
“Why do you hate me so much? I’ve always tried my best to be seen well by you!”
“…Ha.”
I could only sigh. I had thought to make a decision based on Luna’s reaction, but if this is how she responded…
“Luna, do you know that burdock powder leaves a trace when it gets on clothes?”
“Yes, yes?”
Burdock powder, being used for disinfection, was potent. So if it got on clothes or splashed, it left a blue trace.
“On the day the skin disease started spreading in our duchy, I brought the clothes that the servants were going to throw out.”
It was the day I asked for the servants’ clothes to treat Redian.
“Lady, here you are. I have brought some clothes for you to change.”
“Is it okay for me to wear it and throw it away later?”
“Yes. It’s one of the clothes the maid gave me to throw away anyway.”
Since Luna had shared the cake she made the previous day, it was natural that traces would remain on someone’s clothes.
“The part where the cake piece fell had traces of burdock powder.”
“…”
Luna’s face turned pale instantly.
“I told you clearly. Be smart.”
“Older Sister! It’s not that!” Luna opened her mouth as if searching for an excuse.
“Come to my room to talk.”
But I had no intention of listening here. According to the notice, whether Luna came to confess or make excuses, she had to come to me directly.
“… I’m really wronged.”
Luna’s gaze dropped, trembling with anxiety.
“I’ll prove it somehow. That it wasn’t me.” Leaving those words behind, Luna quickly left the scene.
What should I do?
Watching Luna’s retreating back gave me a headache. It would be simpler if she was either very smart or very wicked. It’s most troublesome when someone innocent like Luna clumsily attempts something.
“Did you come here because of her?”
Then Redian’s voice came from behind.
“I was happy thinking you came to see me…”
He then slightly frowned.
“You said you weren’t waiting for me.”
“I’m not waiting. Just saying.”
Ah, our consistently Rere…
“Is it about that ointment incident?” Redian’s gaze followed Luna’s retreating figure, indifferent. “She’s wicked.”
Wait a minute. Are the original novel’s male and female leads supposed to split like this?
“What were you looking at?”
Well, they’ll figure it out themselves.
I finally looked at the book Redian was holding. Curious about the book, I checked.
Uh?
I had to doubt my eyes for a moment.
“Summer Night’s Dance. This…”
The title of the novel I was possessed into, the original story. The male lead reading the book of the original story, what’s going on?
“What’s this about?”
I hurriedly checked the part Redian was reading.
Ah, it’s just the same title.
But reading a few lines, the content seemed completely different.
That’s right.
After being blindsided in so many ways, I was taken aback.
“Peidion.”
“…Huh?”
Then Redian spoke. “It’s about why Peidion, the devil king, was sealed by the goddess.”
“It’s in the creation myth. The goddess sealed the devil to establish the Meteora Empire.”
I was also familiar with the name by now.
Peidion.
The king of hell commanding the devil legions.
The devil god reigns over the fallen angels.
“No.”
But at that moment, Redian’s voice was somehow…
“They say it was because the devil dared to love the goddess.”
It was very serene.
