Chapter 16
I hesitated. Somehow, I had to make Renette lose any affection she had for me right here and now. It would have been far better if she’d just cursed me out the moment we first met and that was the end of it.
What should I do? Should I pick my nose? Say I’ve got something stuck in my teeth? No, I needed something more decisive…
Suddenly, I thought of the picture frame in my hand. There was no need to think any further.
“Then I’ll draw a picture for you! For reference, this is my level of artistic skill!”
I shoved the drawing right in front of Renette’s face. Her eyes went wide.
“Oh my?”
Renette examined my drawing very slowly, with a careful expression, then announced her verdict.
“Hmm… What is this painting supposed to represent? Primitive humans climbing a tree to pick a banana, falling off, smashing their head on a rock, bouncing off from the impact, and then plunging off a cliff—am I correct?”
“Ah, well…”
Is it really that bad?!
“I’m joking. This is Ash, right?”
The villainous older sister was sharp.
“That’s right.”
“And you’re saying you’ll draw me like this too?”
I nodded vigorously.
“…Anastasia, do you know what I hate the most? Ugly things, unsightly things, dirty things, pitiful things—and anything that insults my beauty.”
I waited tensely for what would come next.
Now she’ll say she’s disappointed in me and leave, right?
Or maybe she’ll slap me?
“But still… how strange. Just when I’m about to get angry, the moment I look at your face, my heart completely melts. This is a first for me.”
“…What?”
I doubted my ears. Renette muttered in a deep, contemplative voice.
“I’d heard rumors that the Count Sinclair’s daughter was exceptionally beautiful, but I thought they were all exaggerated nonsense. Now, I can only curse myself for discovering you so late. Anastasia, I’ll admit it. You’re a peerless beauty capable of destroying my entire value system. I think I’d adore you even if you were eating maggots.”
Is this a death flag? I only have two years left to live—am I losing even that now?
“Um…”
“Poor Anastasia. To possess such deadly, venomous beauty that can charm everyone, yet be fated to die at any moment… how tragic. I want to make you part of my collection. If only I could display you in my basement and admire you alone until the day you die…”
“Renette, you’re saying some extremely dangerous things out loud right now.”
The villainous sister gasped and covered her mouth.
“Oh! I’m so sorry! You’re not angry, are you? If Anastasia were to hate me, I might faint from shock. Just imagining it is terrifying. I never knew I was this tender-hearted.”
Her coquettish, sweet voice was charming enough to make my heart race—but I had already lost all motivation.
Life really isn’t much, huh. Death flags get raised this easily…
“May I take my leave now?”
While wondering if I should start preparing my memorial portrait—no, my funeral portrait—I hugged the frame back to my chest.
The villainous sister put on an innocent expression.
“Of course! But since you promised to give me a painting, let’s set a date. When would be good? An hour later? Two hours later? Or perhaps secretly at midnight?”
She truly lived in a realm beyond that of ordinary people.
I slowly backed away, then blurted out in rapid-fire speech.
“I’ll send you a letter when I recover my strength! Please enjoy the party until then!”
As if to avoid hearing her reply, I turned and walked quickly. Renette shouted after me.
“I’ll be waiting!”
When I reluctantly glanced back, the villainous sister was even waving at me. She looked so bright and cheerful it was absurd.
I hurried into the carriage and only caught my breath once we had left the marquis’s estate.
“S-So scary…”
My hands were still shaking. I’d been so focused on getting back at Ash that I completely forgot the fact that the villainous sister was quite close to him.
The two didn’t share deep affection, but they met whenever it suited their needs.
She liked Ash’s handsome face and his non-clingy attitude, and Ash was the type who never turned away a woman who came to him.
Come to think of it, it felt like she’d noticed something…
“Welcome back.”
As I stepped down from the carriage, a handsome man who could make fairy-tale princes weep greeted me.
It felt as though my field of vision suddenly brightened, like stepping into sunlight after being shut away in a dark, gloomy space.
“Adele! I missed you!”
Without realizing it, I hugged Adele. The fresh citrus scent tickled my nose, and a smile naturally spread across my face.
As always, Adele behaved politely, and I obediently put some distance between us.
“Whew, I finally feel safe.”
“You look tired, Anastasia. Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest?”
Adele examined me with worried eyes. I replied energetically.
“I’m fine. I got all dressed up nicely—changing already would be a waste. Let’s go out and have fun. You must’ve been bored waiting for me, right?”
“I was worried. He’ll definitely try to get revenge on you.”
I agreed with Adele.
“With that temper, there’s no way he’d stay quiet. Oh, right—did you put any other spells on Ash?”
Thinking of the villainous sister’s words, I asked. Adele wore a faint, unreadable smile.
“It’s nothing serious.”
“I heard Ash likes pretty women, but he was kind of cold to me.”
Even the villainous sister fell for my looks! Though that’s not exactly a good thing…
“You held his hand and even gave him a drawing as a gift. I simply took precautions so he wouldn’t develop inappropriate feelings. I severely restricted his sexual desire, appetite, and need for sleep. He’ll suffer for a few days.”
The answer was firmer than I expected. That drawing was currently stuffed into the corner of the carriage…
As I hesitated, Adele smoothly changed the subject.
“Did you enjoy your first social gathering?”
“Everyone was kind, so it was nice. Lady Renetia Bliss was especially… k-kind to me.”
I stammered without thinking. I pretended not to notice Adele’s gaze.
“I’ve met Lady Bliss a few times myself. At the last hunting competition, she bought the albino gazelle I caught because she wanted to have it stuffed.”
“I guess I should be glad she’s only stuffing animals… for now.”
I muttered in a voice barely louder than an ant.
The scariest thing about the villainous sister was that once she wanted something, she’d go half-crazy until she got it—without caring about anyone around her.
And what she wanted was usually something rare, splendid, and beautiful—whether animal or human.
“I’m glad you liked her. Would you tell me what happened?”
I blinked in confusion.
“Didn’t you already know everything?”
I thought he’d been watching through magic.
Adele didn’t deny it.
“I’m curious about your thoughts, Anastasia. Listening while we take a walk sounds nice.”
As he said that, Adele held out his hand, and I naturally took it.
Holding his hand had become all too familiar. It was smooth, soft, and warm—so pleasant it felt like my hand might melt.
We chatted idly as we left the count’s estate.
I looked around. Apart from a few small shops, the street was quiet. There was no one else around.
“That boy isn’t here today. Did he finally give up?”
“It rained heavily a few days ago. He might’ve been swept away somewhere by the rainwater.”
Adele said it in such a calm voice that I was horrified.
“That’s a terrifying thing to say.”
Was that a joke? It had to be a joke, right?
“Anastasia, forget people who aren’t worth your concern.”
He was gentle, yet firm. I nodded.
“Mm. Well, I’m sure he’ll manage somehow. You don’t need to worry either, Adele.”
For a moment, Adele seemed about to say something—but my attention was drawn elsewhere.
“Huh?”
I spotted roses displayed at a flower shop built from bricks stacked and painted like brushstrokes.
The pink roses looked very different from the ones I knew.
“Adele, look at that. The roses are tiny.”
I let go of his hand and walked over to the shop. Up close, they were even more fascinating. Countless roses, each no bigger than my fingernail, were blooming.
If you didn’t look closely, you might think they were baby’s breath painted with a brush dipped in pigment.
Sensing someone, a man—probably the shop owner—came out.
“Welcome—oh!”
His eyes widened when he saw me. I pointed at the adorable roses and asked,
“What are these roses called?”
I waited for an answer, but the man just blinked several times, then shook his head vigorously.
“Uh… um… I’m sorry. What did you say?”
I burst out laughing. His reaction was so honest and obvious that it was more amusing than upsetting.
“I’ll buy all of these. Please deliver them to the Sinclair estate.”
“Th-thank you! I’ll serve you with my utmost sincerity!”
Serve me? The flowers?
Leaving the man who couldn’t pull himself together after seeing my face, I tugged Adele along.
“Let’s go, Adele.”
He followed readily, though he seemed deep in thought. After a few steps, I tilted my head.
“Adele? What’s wrong?”
“You smile easily in front of anyone.”
It was a rather unexpected remark. I replied casually.
“Do I? I’ve never really thought about it.”
“It’s not out of obligation, is it? Not because you were ordered to—just because you genuinely want to.”
“Is that strange?”
His red eyes, unreadable in intent, fixed on me.
“You don’t seem like someone suffering from an incurable illness. Recently, even though you sense death approaching, you don’t despair or cry. Honestly, the you from before was easier to understand.”
Only then did I grasp what Adele was getting at.
“I realized it wouldn’t help anyway.”
“Have you given up?”
“I guess so.”
Adele lowered his gaze. Had my words hurt him? Because it sounded like I’d abandoned hope?
“Do you have no intention of asking me to save you?”
What was that supposed to mean?
“Most people believe that with magic, anything is possible. And maybe that’s true. Perhaps even curing Anastasia wouldn’t be entirely impossible…”
I felt all the blood drain from my body and cut him off.
“Adele, don’t ever say that again.”
Magic was never omnipotent.
Especially for someone like me, whose life was already at its very end—restoring me with magic would require an enormous price.
In ancient times, it was said that a king of one nation offered a thousand sacrifices to cure his illness. And his end was said to be miserable and horrific.
“I don’t want to live at the cost of shortening your life.”
My voice broke. When I grew emotional, Adele spoke more gently, trying to persuade me.
“What if it isn’t my life? What if it’s someone else’s? Would it be acceptable to use as a sacrifice someone who’s never even met you, Anastasia?”
The words were dangerously sweet—and painfully tender.
I fell into deep thought
