Chapter 10
I saw my elder sister smiling at me.
Her amber eyes, shining like jewels, seemed faintly moist.
“Thank you for apologizing, Tia. I don’t mind anything that’s happened until now.”
I lifted my face.
That can’t be true.
I caused her so much trouble, bullied her… she must have been hurt deeply.
“It’s true, I did get slapped, but it wasn’t Tia’s fault. I tried to snatch your stuffed animal by force. But… I couldn’t bring myself to tell Father about it.”
Ellie admitted her own mistake.
“It’s me who should be apologizing. I’m really sorry.”
My sister lowered her head and apologized to me.
She must have carried guilt about that incident too.
“I’m going to tell Father about it even now. It’s my fault you were sent to the annex.”
“No, it’s all right. Recently, I’ve even started to think living at the annex isn’t so bad.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Honestly, it just means I’ll have fewer chances to run into Liam, Gilbert, or even Father.
“Okay, but if anything troubles you, you must tell your big sister, all right?”
“I’ve actually wanted to grow closer to you for a long time, Tia.”
She’s beautiful like a doll, and kind too—of course I’d fall for her.
My favorite person is way too kind!
“M…me too! I want to get along with you, Sister!”
And so, Tiana and Ellie talked until sunset.
Their speech gradually grew more casual, and they naturally became closer.
My sister then pulled a box out from under her bed. She said it contained things precious to her.
Inside were nuts, a diary, and other keepsakes. I had thought she was more mature, but seeing such childlike treasures made her seem very endearing.
“The flowers you gave me, Tia—I’ll trim some before they wilt and use them as bookmarks.”
“You don’t have to go that far, I’ll pick more for you.”
“No, I want to use the flowers you gave me today. As a memory. I’ll even make one for you, Tiana.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
I was so happy. She would make one for me too.
When my sister looked down, something at her neckline glinted. A chain? Something hanging from her neck, maybe a pendant. But if so, why keep it under her clothes?
“Sister, are you wearing a pendant under your clothes?”
“Yes, I am.”
She said so, then revealed the pendant hidden beneath her dress.
What caught my eye was a large pink gemstone, rimmed with diamonds.
“This is such a beautiful jewel.”
It felt different from other gemstones… as if it held something special.
“This was given to me by Mother. Look at the back.”
【 【 ᠻ . 𝔄 . 】 】
“…These letters—they’re Mother’s name.”
“That’s right. She gave me this just before she went to the villa for treatment. It was a special gift.”
A beautiful necklace.
“But this pendant is very rare. It’s called a Magic Crystal Stone and has a special power. They say it will protect you if you’re ever in danger.”
“But since there was only one, Mother struggled over whether to give it to you or me… and in the end, she gave it to me.”
Of course. Mother’s health worsened because of me, after all.
“When she gave it to me, she said: ‘The pendant goes to Ellie, but if danger ever comes, as her older sister, you must protect little Tia properly.’”
“…I see.”
Mother had been thinking of me too.
Even though it was my fault I ended up living apart from the family.
I hope that someday, when I see her again, I’ll be able to talk with her.
While we were still chatting, the maid Lily came in.
