Chapter 2

Before leaving, I met my sister once more.

My sister, who was to become the king's concubine, would not live in the castle. Of course, not even after becoming a concubine. Normally, one would think that entering the harem would be the norm, and from a security perspective, living in the castle would be better. However, my sister rejected the harem.

The reason was this:

"It's tiring. If I'm going to be watched all the time anyway, I might as well live as I please."

My sister, whose beauty had only grown more refined since two years ago, shook her loose curls and declared it boldly. Her assertiveness was as strong as ever. Her every word and action was lively, exuding confidence, but it was never to the point of making others uncomfortable. My sister was confident in herself, but she was also someone who never slacked off in her efforts to match that confidence.

I visited a mansion about ten minutes away from the castle. Surrounded by a wall, the mansion was lush with greenery and planted with colorful flowers. My sister had asked the king to prepare this mansion for her. "If you want to see me, please come here," she had said.

Although she was to become a concubine, she had moved here as soon as the king promised to restore my honor. When I visited my sister, she welcomed me at the entrance with great joy. We embraced amidst the attention of many people.

My sister invited me into her room and made tea for me herself.

"Normally, I should leave it to the servants, but it's fine in this house."

The mansion, which seemed rather plain when walked through, clearly put effort into its furnishings, even for someone unfamiliar with antiques. It was neither too lavish nor too austere, carefully balanced. Despite its outward appearance being flashy, it was a house that suited my sister, who didn't really need much makeup or accessories. I had worried that she might have become more flamboyant since becoming a concubine, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

I sat in a soft chair that seemed to invite sleep and leaned back. Since she was the only one living here, and she knew I was a bit lazy, she only said, "Get up when someone comes," and then elegantly took a tea-drinking pose. We chatted for a while, and I reported on the two years since I was expelled from Kirsten. However, my sister wasn't particularly surprised by anything related to me.

"I asked your brother and everyone else to keep an eye on you."

"Ah... So you did investigate."

"Of course. We're not so foolish as to obediently follow the expulsion of our sister."

However, my sister propped her cheek and looked at me, seemingly disappointed.

"If you were having a hard time, I was ready to take you to grandmother immediately. But you, you started living alone so calmly and seemed to be enjoying it."

My sister sighed deeply, but she must have been troubled at the time. I was grateful for her offer to run away with me, but a certain word caught my attention, and I tilted my head to ask.

"Grandmother... Which grandmother?"

"Our mother... The maternal side."

I wondered if my maternal grandparents, who were said to despise me as an illegitimate child, would really help. However, my sister dismissed it with a "Silly," saying it was an act.

"Given the circumstances, she had no choice. At the time, grandfather and grandmother were angry, so it ended in a way that was safe. If the main family had been allowed to intervene, you would have been sent to the countryside by now."

Indeed, she looked as if she was trying to suppress a headache.

"Yet you, without a care for my worries, lived freely... No, it's fine. Complaining any further would be pointless. It's enough that you're doing well."

She said this and gave me a knee pillow, just like in the old days. However, hearing about the grandparents changed the situation. I asked if my father knew, but she shook her head with a bitter expression.

"Grandfather and grandmother might have been aware, but he's hard to understand. After Mother became like that, he stopped talking to us about anything."

Their relationship seemed strained, and there was nothing I could do about it. Seeing the shadow in my sister's expression, I changed the topic. Of course, it would be about the king's proposal that changed her life. I asked how she won the king's heart, but she tilted her head.

"After attending a banquet hosted by the king, we started talking, and after a few times... he asked me to become a concubine."

"...Huh?"

"Um?"

"Isn't that enough for a man over fifty... Ah, over thirty years older than you to propose?"

"Fix that bad mouth of yours before you enter society."

She smiled wryly at the word "uncle" but didn't deny the age difference.

"It's the king's word. I couldn't refuse."

"But if you really didn't want to..."

"You need to understand the connections in noble society. If you don't, you'll be taken advantage of."

"But, sister, you should understand what I mean, right?"

"Of course. Thank you for worrying about me."

I understood what my sister was saying. Perhaps because I'm Japanese at heart, I tend to think "Just refuse" when I hear such stories. I understand that in this world, such thinking is disrespectful, but...

My sister smiled gently and said, "Don't worry," as she leaned in and whispered in my ear. Despite being blood-related, the approach of a beautiful woman made me flinch.

"But, if I can bear the king's child, wouldn't that be a wonderful story?"

She had plump, lustrous lips and a seductive smile.

"Wait, are you planning something like that?"

"Planning? That sounds bad. Yes, there are already two princes, and even if I bear a child, the throne would be far away. I understand that well."

"...Right."

"But the world is still unpredictable. There are rumors that the empire's interference is increasing and that war might break out."

Her eyes, which smiled seductively, revealed a side of her I didn't know.

What a surprise. My sister seemed more ambitious than I thought, so I quickly changed the topic.

"Sister, even though this place is far from the castle, it's good that you don't live there. If rumors spread that you're consorting with other men, it would be a problem, wouldn't it?"

"Oh, I thought you were still a child, but you're quite mature."

I cut out the part that would mark me if the empress and other heirs heard it.

"As a concubine, such rumors are always spread. Besides, in such an environment, one can't even relax. They say we're monitored even at night, and I absolutely don't want that."

"Ah, you've thought that far..."

"Indeed. ...I'm glad you have the right knowledge."

Well, I'm in my thirties, so...

"...I'm already sixteen, you know."

"Yes, you're sixteen. ...I didn't celebrate your birthday. I'm sorry."

"That's fine. I understand you had a position to maintain."

"It's okay to be a bit more rebellious. From now on, I can be more flexible."

"Sister, don't draw too much attention to yourself."

"Don't worry. I won't meddle in politics. I'll just welcome the king here, so you can relax."

My sister seemed to understand the difference between the empress and her role. She probably genuinely didn't intend to meddle in politics and was focusing on receiving the king's favor.

The king, who had never had a concubine before, was visibly favoring the new concubine, which suggested that the surrounding environment was changing. And that applied to me, her younger sister, as well.

"By the way, is it true that you had a marriage proposal?"

I was pulled out of my sentimental mood by a direct question.

I had anticipated this question would come from somewhere. In fact, I visited my sister partly because of this matter.

"Sister, that... That is..."

"The proposal is forceful, but the man is the second son of the Rodenvalt family and not a bad person. The duke also insisted, so I don't think it will end badly."

No way. I already turned it down, didn't I?

However, my sister didn't know that. I had already chosen the other option, and the Kirsten people were still trying to figure out what to do.

"Sister... I appreciate your concern, but proposing marriage is going too far..."

"Yes, I thought so at first, but considering your future, a marriage alliance would be good."

How do I refuse this...

My sister was enthusiastic about my marriage, making it hard to intervene. I sat up and tentatively asked about the reason for the two proposals.

I wanted to know why there were two proposals.

"Sister, there was another proposal besides that one..."

"Another one? ...Ah, could it be the one the main family was pushing? I remember my brother being angry about the poor choice of a border lord."

I see. So the main family was supposed to arrange the other proposal for me. They must have been trying to send me far away, not just within the country. I should have asked my brother, but he had been busy since the day of the choice and hadn't returned home. Even if I tried to ask the servants, they were under a gag order, and I could only get as far as "The old man has connections..." from them.

The main family had to push the proposal forward and couldn't back out. They probably thought I would choose a young man, right?

"Wow... A lot of people are involved—"

"Yes, it must be because of my request... ...Karen?"

Hmm. This isn't good, is it?

If nothing else, this is tarnishing the reputation of the king and the Duke of Rodenvalt.

"...Sister?"

"What is it?"

Her voice was gentle, and it reminded me that my sister used to sleep with me until I was expelled by Mother. We used to fight a lot, but now we're good friends.

"...I'd be happy if you could share some of your favorite earrings."

"Sure, but why?"

"To cheer me up when I see them."

"Oh! Wait a moment."

My sister hurried to another room, and I crossed my arms, thinking.

This is not good, this is really not good. I have a bad feeling that if I leave this as it is, I'll be manipulated by adults.

I cut short our plan to spend the evening together and left early. However, on my way out, my sister saw me off all the way to the gate. It made me feel a bit sentimental, but it also made me a bit suspicious.

"...Still, the carriage is taking a long time."

"Yes, it is. I wonder what's taking so long."

The carriage didn't come. My sister was trying to buy time with obvious conversation, but at the time, I didn't realize the significance of her actions.

After waiting for about ten more minutes, I decided to look for the driver, only to be told that the carriage was broken.

"Well, I'll walk home then, sister."

"Walk home? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'll be fine. There will be more people on the way, and there won't be any suspicious characters. It's not dangerous."

"Absolutely not! It's dangerous!"

I was dressed simply, almost like a commoner. I wasn't wearing any jewelry, and the area was safe. There would be more people on the way, and there was really no need to worry, but...

"Sister, are you hiding something?"

Her shoulders visibly tensed. Ah, she really is hiding something, isn't she?

In such situations, it's best not to get involved in my sister's schemes. To begin with, it's not good that she's hiding something from me. I dodged her attempt to grab my hand and tried to leave quickly.

"...No, it's too late, Karen."

My sister smiled slyly, and following her gaze, I let out an un-ladylike gasp. Although it was still quite far away, a black object had entered my peripheral vision.

I couldn't see the coat of arms, but from the driver's attire, the construction of the carriage, and especially the magnificent chestnut horse, it was clear that this was a carriage from a prominent family.

"Sister, what have you done? What did you do? I'm scared."

"Don't worry. I just wanted to have a little talk."

I became serious, and my sister clenched her fist excitedly. Ah, she really did something terrible, didn't she?

My suspicions were confirmed. The grand carriage was accompanied by several guards, and the guards were so intimidating that they could make a child cry just by standing there. There were women among them, but they lacked any softness.

To put it simply, a group of stern, unsmiling professional soldiers, and they were terrifying.

Sister, what have you done?

The carriage door opened, and the person who stepped out made me close my eyes.

Sister, you need to reconsider what a surprise means. If you meant it as a surprise with malicious intent, then you hit the mark, but if you thought I would be happy, then you're way off. The man with lustrous golden long hair kissed my sister's hand and smiled charmingly.

"It seems I'm late. I apologize for my tardiness, Lady Subrova."

"I'm relieved you made it, Rinald. Is the Duke of Rodenvalt well?"

"He is well. He was disappointed not to see you today due to his duties."

"It's fine. The Queen's duties are more important than my trivial matters."

"That's harsh. But my feelings for you are genuine."

"Subrova" is the family name given to my sister, who is to become the second wife, or rather, a concubine. The man was trying to please my sister, and my sister was playfully pouting, "It doesn't matter to you, does it?"

Oh, this is going to be a hassle.

As expected, this was the other marriage candidate. He was only ten years older than me, but seeing him in person made me tremble with fear.

Oh, he's scary. I don't like this. He's not just pretty; his facial features are almost divine. It's clear he's well-trained, with a straight posture and a dignified presence. Giving a man such beauty, God must really like unfairness.

When he turned to me, he took my hand, just as he did with my sister. ...I think a few times in life is enough for a hand kiss. His refined gesture made my cheeks flush, but I managed to suppress a "kyah" sound, which I consider a good score.

My sister's attempt to cover her mouth with a fan was slightly excessive.

"Miss Karen, I presume. I am Rinald, the second son of Rodenvalt. I believe you have already heard of me, and I am introduced as your fiancé."

He must be used to making women blush, as he sighed dreamily and spoke gently, but I didn't miss it.

Fiancé? What are you