Chapter 4
Years of suppressed anger were beginning to rise to the surface once more.
“Come on, Sister! Let’s go! I’ve prepared everything.”
Serena grabbed Elia’s hand with a bright, innocent smile.
‘She was the only one I trusted in this house…’
She had been a flower-like beauty, and Elia had once been captivated by that innocent appearance—never realizing that thorns were hidden beneath those petals.
On the table placed to the right of Serena’s room were a teapot, teacups, and an assortment of delectable desserts arranged elegantly.
Her room was several times larger than Elia’s attic, and a few maids were present to serve during tea time.
“You’ve always been so frail, Sister. I had these tea leaves brought in specially from a foreign land.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. Go on, have some.”
Elia lifted the teacup adorned with pink petals. The tea had long since lost its warmth, and the cup felt as cold as stone in her hands.
‘In the past, I would’ve been so grateful for your thoughtfulness that I’d drink it without a second thought.’
She glanced up briefly at Serena.
Serena, meanwhile, had instructed a maid to brew a fresh, steaming cup for herself.
Now that Elia could see Serena’s true colors, her heart churned.
Clink.
When Elia set the cup down without taking a sip, Serena’s eyes grew noticeably cold.
“…Why aren’t you drinking it?”
“…Just because. By the way, where exactly did you get these tea leaves?”
“Huh? …Didn’t I just tell you? Our family thrives on trade—you know that. Mother went to great lengths to get them for you. Oh! She even said she’d send more when you leave for the North!”
Elia lowered her gaze to the reddish, tiny leaves floating in the cup once again.
The old Elia would have been moved to tears by such words.
But now, she knew the truth hidden behind that smile.
“The same mother who utterly despises me personally?”
Serena’s face faltered with shock at the unexpected remark.
“W-What are you talking about, Sister? Why would Mother hate you? Oh—right! Jenny, bring it over.”
At Elia’s words, Serena’s eyes darted nervously as she signaled to Jenny.
“You’ll love this when you see it!”
In her hands was a crimson dress—just as extravagantly gaudy and thin as the ones Elia remembered from her previous life.
“Wearing this in the North will totally make you look like a proper Grand Duchess, don’t you think?”
“Ha. Serena, it’s winter.”
Serena still treated her like a fool, as if expecting her to be thankful for such hollow gestures.
“It’s fine! It has long sleeves—it’s perfect for the weather!”
“The North is much colder and harsher than here.”
At those words, Serena’s expression twisted slightly, and she lowered her head. Moments later, tears glistened on her pale cheeks.
“Sister, you’ve changed so much. You won’t even drink the tea I offered… or wear the dress…”
Another performance of her “sweet younger sister” act—it made Elia’s skin crawl.
As Serena began to cry, the surrounding maids started murmuring.
Elia almost laughed at the sheer audacity of Serena painting her as the villain again.
Several maids quickly offered handkerchiefs, which Serena took like she had done it countless times before, dabbing at her tears.
“Serena. That’s enough.”
“…What do you mean?”
Serena’s earlobes flushed red at Elia’s chilling tone.
“What do I mean? Let’s see…”
“…?”
“I was always so grateful. Grateful for the stale bread you left behind… Grateful for the worn-out dresses full of holes you so kindly passed down to me.”
“…”
“I even accepted those necklaces you tossed me like charity. Back then, I truly believed it was all out of sisterly love.”
Why hadn’t she seen it then, when it was so obvious now?
“S-So you’re saying… you don’t feel that way anymore?”
Serena had been the only one who showed Elia kindness in the Marquis’ household.
“…But every time you offered me those things, Mother’s wrath always followed, didn’t it?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Are you saying I did that on purpose?”
“You would know best, wouldn’t you?”
It had always been the same—Serena would give her something, and soon after, the Marchioness would appear and torment her viciously.
“So you’ve thought that all this time? About everything I’ve ever done for you? Were you even grateful?”
Elia looked straight into Serena’s aggrieved face as she spoke the truth she’d once buried.
“Yes. I was grateful—until Mother saw those things and beat me, claiming I stole them from you.”
The memories—and the long-dormant anger—came rushing back like a flood.
“Do you remember? You always came to me after the beating to tell me it was all a misunderstanding.”
“T-That’s because I was scared too…!”
Serena sprang from her seat in agitation, her voice rising.
“You told Mother about my secret, didn’t you?!”
At Elia’s words, Serena’s face froze as her wide eyes darted up.
“N-No! What are you saying? We promised it would stay between us!”
Serena shouted involuntarily, as if screaming would erase the truth.
“Shh. Maybe send the maids away first, Serena?”
“…”
“Of course, I don’t mind them hearing—but if you’re fine with it, go ahead.”
“W-Wait.”
Her face turned pale as fear gripped her.
“Right! That’s a good idea. Everyone, leave us for a moment.”
Serena turned around, and the maids bowed and retreated at her command.
“Why would you bring this up now, Sister? You know I promised to keep your ability a secret from Father and Mother.”
“Yes. You said if Father found out, he might sell me off somewhere.”
“That’s right!”
Serena blurted it out without hesitation, and Elia let out a small, cold laugh.
“And now? Isn’t being sent to the North the same as being sold?”
“You’re becoming the Grand Duchess despite being an illegitimate child! Isn’t this a great opportunity for you?!”
Serena’s true feelings slipped out in her panic.
“An illegitimate child, huh… So that’s what you’ve thought of me all along.”
“I-I didn’t mean—!”
Serena’s face flushed bright red with embarrassment and panic.
“…Should I just tell the truth and see what happens?”
“No!”
Serena screamed suddenly.
“Heh. Afraid I might steal the spotlight that’s always been yours?”
Serena’s pupils trembled violently at those words.
“Sister, you’re acting so strange right now. Have you changed already just because you’re going to be the Grand Duchess?”
“Hmm, have I?”
Elia gently swirled her teacup. The tea leaves floated, twisting in the cooled liquid.
“What did you even eat to become like this? Don’t you realize I’m the only one in this house who’s treated you like a human being?!”
“Oh? Like a human being?”
Elia fixed her gaze on Serena, who was too blinded by rage to notice that her mask had completely fallen away.
‘This is the real you.’
Then, Elia tipped the cold tea over Serena’s head.
“Kyaaa! What—what are you doing?!”
Melanesia.
A tea that drained mana—a poison to someone like Elia, whose every ability required it.
The pale stream trickled down Serena’s golden hair, soaking it.
“Compared to what you’ve done to me, this is nothing.”
That dreadful tea—Serena had made sure Elia drank it regularly.
“W-What have I ever done to you to deserve this?!”
“You’re really asking because you don’t know?”
“…”
Elia locked eyes with Serena, whose pale brown irises quivered. Her long lashes trembled like leaves in the wind.
“You’d better keep quiet about this. The moment you open your mouth, I’ll tell Father all about my ability.”
At those words, Serena shuddered violently, lowering her head. Her damp hair clung in ridiculous clumps.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Sister, wait!”
Elia ignored her pleas, rose from her seat, and walked to the door.
Thud!
As soon as the door shut, Serena’s enraged voice rang from within.
“Wait! I said WAIT! I told you to WAIT!”
As Elia stepped out, the maids stationed outside hurried past her, panic-stricken, rushing toward Serena’s room.
“Ha… I’m so exhausted. I just want to get back to the North as soon as possible…”
Elia murmured blankly as she gazed out the large window in the hallway.
Snowflakes were falling silently outside, even here in the Empire—just like in the North.
A quiet, bitter winter was passing.
Before long, the wedding day was drawing near. Perhaps thanks to Elia’s threats, Serena and the Marchioness had stayed unusually quiet.
In preparation, Elia focused on two things: recovering the mana drained by Melanesia and getting medicinal herbs from Jenny.
“It was so hard to gather this much all at once.”
“I see. You’ve worked hard.”
Elia accepted the heavy pouch of herbs from Jenny—it was a substantial amount.
“Jenny, here. Take this.”
After inspecting the herbs, Elia picked up a jewel she had set aside and handed it to Jenny.
“This… Isn’t this the jewel the Marquis gave you for your coming-of-age ceremony?”
Jenny’s eyes sparkled as she accepted the gem.
