YWTO 02

Chapter 2

Today was a joyous day.
Though she wasn’t her real sister, her adopted sister had become the crown princess.

“Does it matter whether we share blood? She’s a far more precious sister than I could ever be.”

Eureine thought as she quietly sipped her tea.

It didn’t feel right to compare herself to her sister, Ayla.
Ayla was a Guide—a being chosen by divine revelation.
That made her the most sacred person in the Empire… no, on the entire continent.

It was only natural that such a person would marry the Crown Prince—
a noble royal who carried the blood of the Divine Beast and possessed the power of an Esper capable of wielding its energy.

An Esper Crown Prince who defeated wicked monsters,
and a Guide who could control the Divine Beast’s energy.
It was a union of the most exalted beings.

Simply being invited to this occasion was a tremendous honor.

“Congratulations, Ayla.”
Eureine smiled warmly at the girl sitting before her.

At her words, Ayla lifted her teacup gracefully.
The pearls pinned into her golden hair glimmered softly,
and her bright green eyes sparkled as she smiled—a gentle, serene smile that suited her perfectly.

The garden where the banquet was held bloomed with countless white flowers.
Dressed in a white gown that seemed to match them, Ayla looked absolutely radiant.

“Sister. Even if you are my sister, it’s not proper to call me that so openly in public. What would people think if they heard?”
She added softly, relieved that the attendants had already left.

“Ah, yes… you’re right.”
Eureine lifted her cup, looking slightly embarrassed.

Of course.
Eureine was only a noblewoman, while Ayla was now the Crown Princess.
And on top of that, Ayla had achieved great merit by weakening the forces of the dark magicians.

Once, Eureine had looked at Ayla fondly as her younger sister, even when she received divine revelation.
But things had changed.

Now, Ayla was a woman destined to become the Empress.

Still, it felt strange that Ayla was drawing such a clear line between them.

Seeing Eureine’s stiffened expression, Ayla smiled gently and placed her soft hand over Eureine’s.

“I hate it when people say bad things about you, sister…”
Ayla’s eyes welled up pitifully. She looked like an angel.

That was how Ayla had always been—from the very first day she entered the Duke of Tarbargen’s household, she’d never changed her kind-hearted nature.

“Thank you. No—thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”
Eureine corrected herself with formal grace.

Ayla blinked in surprise, then giggled.
Her dimples deepened as her pink lips curved into a lovely smile.

“Thank you, sister. Though… it still feels a little strange.”

“It’s quite all right,” Eureine said brightly.
Today truly was a happy day.

From now on, she would live by Ayla’s side, serving her faithfully for the rest of her life.
It wasn’t a bad life.

For someone like her, who had only ever brought shame to her family name, no greater honor could be imagined.

“Oh my.”

Ayla suddenly stood up with a radiant smile.
“Your Highness.”

She quickly bowed.

Eureine, knowing exactly who stood behind her, also lowered her head without hesitation.

Golden hair that gleamed like the sun,
and cold, piercing blue eyes—the marks of imperial blood.

The Crown Prince acknowledged her greeting with a brief nod before moving to Ayla’s side.

His golden hair shimmered with a reddish hue, like sunlight itself.
Ayla’s hair, on the other hand, was a soft, silvery gold—moonlight made flesh.

The two of them looked perfect together:
Ayla with her platinum hair and green eyes,
and the Crown Prince with his red-gold hair and blue eyes.

They truly seemed born for each other.

“Did I keep you waiting? I meant to come early, but I got caught up with some things.”
The Crown Prince smiled warmly as he wrapped an arm around Ayla’s waist.

Ayla smiled tenderly, her expression melting with happiness.
“No, not at all. I haven’t been waiting long.”
Her voice was sweet and smooth, like honey.

The Crown Prince chuckled. “Good. Shall we sit?”

With that, he quickly pulled out a chair for her—
as if worried her delicate legs might ache from standing too long.

Ayla sat gracefully, as though it were only natural.
Eureine smiled, satisfied by the sight.

The days ahead would surely be as blissful as this moment.
And perhaps… she, too, would have a place in that peaceful life.

“Now, maybe… I can be useful, even just a little.”

Then perhaps her father and brothers would finally look her way.
That thought alone filled Eureine with joy.
To be someone useful—perhaps that was what she had lived for all along.

She was so happy.
She only wished her dear sister a lifetime of happiness.

But then, the Crown Prince’s gaze—until now fixed on Ayla—shifted toward Eureine.

She hadn’t sat down yet.
He hadn’t invited her to.

She hesitated, expecting his permission to sit at any moment,
and reached quietly toward her chair.

“Not yet?”

Instead of those expected words, something else came out—cold and indifferent.
The tone was strange enough to make Eureine frown faintly, her head still bowed.

Ayla turned toward her.
“Ah, soon.”

The moment she said it—

“Huh?”

Thud.

Eureine suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed the table for support.
But her body swayed several times before—

Thump.

—she collapsed onto the grass.

It was a disgraceful sight.
Eureine, a noblewoman raised to maintain her dignity at all times,
had fallen unceremoniously to the ground.

Unthinkable.
And yet, she couldn’t help it.

Her throat constricted; something clawed at her insides.
Her strength drained away, her limbs trembled, and a shrill ringing filled her ears.

In that instant, she realized something was terribly wrong.

Even though Ayla had been adopted into the Ducal House,
many still resented her common birth.
Had one of them finally struck today?

Her insides burned.
But even as pain tore through her, her thoughts were for Ayla.

If someone had poisoned her during the banquet,
then the culprit must be close to Ayla—
and her sister’s life might be in danger.

Her heart pounded wildly.

Then—

Gurgle.

Blood spilled from her lips.
The poisoned blood was as black as ink.

“Th-the tea… it’s… poisoned…”
Eureine gasped, forcing her head up to look at Ayla.
She had to warn her, somehow.

What…?

But when she met Ayla’s eyes, she froze.

Ayla was smiling—twirling a lock of golden hair around her finger,
her dimples deepening as she grinned sweetly.

The Crown Prince stood beside her,
his hand on her waist, watching with cool amusement.

They were smiling.
Watching her collapse—as if they were enjoying a play.

And in that instant, Eureine understood.

Ayla hadn’t taken a single sip of her own tea.
And the tea Eureine had drunk—Ayla had prepared it herself.

“You… you… it was you…?”

Her suspicion turned to certainty.
Her affection twisted into a searing, unforgivable betrayal.

Her vision blurred, but she forced her eyes open.
She didn’t want to believe it—but reality was merciless.

How could you do this to me?
All I ever wanted… was a future where we could be close.

Drip. Drip, drip.
The blood vessels in her eyes burst,
and red tears streamed down her face.

“Sister, you were always so kind to me—so caring.
But I hated it.”
Ayla crouched down and took Eureine’s trembling hand,
still smiling that angelic smile she’d always shown her.

“It felt like you were giving alms to a beggar.”

She chuckled softly.

“And it seems our family felt the same.
Father and our brothers… they agreed to have you killed.”

What…?

Eureine’s eyes flew wide open.
She couldn’t believe it.

What? What did you say?

All her life, she’d struggled to earn her father’s and brothers’ approval.
And now she learned they had agreed to her death?

No… it couldn’t be true. She didn’t want it to be true.

Hot, red tears streamed down her cheeks.

Then the Crown Prince’s cold, razor-sharp voice cut through the air.

“You learned what you were never meant to know.”