Chapter 3

My sister suddenly came back and then made another unreasonable request of me.

"This time, we're going to announce our engagement at the ball. They say they really want the family to attend. I'll give you instructions on what to wear. Make sure you do it properly."

"W... When is it?"

There are plenty of unprocessed materials, and they keep increasing every day.

If I have to prepare a dress as well, it seems I'll have to cut into my sleep time again.

"Next week."

"N... Next week!?"

"A dress can be made in a day, can't it? Including mine, it's just two days."

I almost cried as I desperately shook my head.

The design my sister gave me was very intricate, and it wasn't something that could be done in a day or two.

"C... Can't we make it a simpler design...?"

"No way! I'm inviting you as part of my family. If we're seen as a poor, backward family, it will be a lifelong shame! You must make the latest fashionable clothes I've designed!"

There was no energy left in me to argue with my sister, who was emphasizing her point.

"W... What should I do, what should I do...?"

As I looked at the details of the design, tears started to flow.

A fabric with a crêpe-like texture? Impossible, I'll die.

A dress with so many frills is impossible, I'll die.

Lace is hard enough to make just one centimeter, let alone an estimated five meters, impossible, I'll die.

Flower pattern embroidery? And so intricate? How many hands do I need? Impossible, I'll die.

Brooches and necklaces too? Impossible, impossible, this alone will take at least a week, I'll really die.

My sister's terrifying expression and her last words came back to me.

—If you can't do it, you'll go without food.

If I go without food any more, I'll die...!

I was desperate.

I had to finish it no matter what...!

I looked at the design and desperately tried to think of where I could cut corners.

I streamlined and patternized as much as possible, creating a repetitive process.

I've done a lot of menial work, so I have some skill in cutting corners.

Somehow, I managed to finish it...!

I worked non-stop for a week, taking only short naps.

***

On the day of the engagement, I stood at the venue with dark circles under my eyes.

The dress my sister designed, as befitting someone who calls herself a fashion leader, stood out among the similar motifs of the people around me, adding a bit of flair even to someone like me.

But that didn't matter.

I was filled with a sense of relief.

I... I... I made it...!

I won't forget the feeling of accomplishment when I finally put everything together by the evening of today.

This way, I won't get beaten.

I won't go without food...!

I dragged my exhausted body to the corner where light snacks were placed and drank some juice.

It's... delicious...!

When was the last time I had fruit juice with sugar?

So sweet and fragrant...!

It must be peach.

Peach juice is delicious!

Maybe the ball isn't so bad?

Looking back calmly later, I realized that the sugary juice was a bit too much for me, who had been living on bread and water for a while.

Soon, I started feeling really sick.

W... What is this...?

I feel like I'm going to vomit...

When I huddled on the floor, I heard a slight murmur from the people around me.

***

"That girl looks pale. And her appearance is a mess. Whose daughter is she?"

When Albert whispered this to her, Artemisia felt embarrassed.

"It's my sister... She doesn't pay much attention to her appearance. I'm sorry."

"Is she okay? She looks sick. She's sitting down."

"She's fine. She doesn't know any manners, so she's probably just being silly. It's embarrassing to have a sister who's not suitable for such an occasion."

Artemisia tried to pull away from her sister and tugged on the prince's arm.

***

I feel like I'm going to vomit... Someone, help me...

Sister...!

When I looked up at my sister, she was looking at me as if I were something dirty, but then she turned away and went somewhere.

Someone...

"Hey, are you okay?"

I apparently vomited.

I heard about it later.

When I came to, I was lying on a luxurious sofa in a dimly lit room.

"Get up quickly!"

I woke up with a slap.

My sister was looking down at me with an angry expression.

"What have you done? You vomited in front of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen! You could have been killed on the spot for such a disgrace!"

My body was shaking.

"S... S... S... Sorry..."

"It's not just a matter of apologizing. If you make such a mistake again, I'll be ruined. Go home now and never come back to the court."

"I... I understand..."

As I tried to stand up, my sister started complaining to our parents.

"Father and Mother, I told you to come properly, but you came dressed like this! It would be embarrassing if people thought you were my relatives, so go back with Lise!"

Mother, who was listening, seemed to think it was too harsh and spoke up.

"What are you saying... It's thanks to us that you got engaged. You can't even make decent magical artifacts, so why don't you show a little gratitude?"

"Prince Albert didn't just evaluate my magical artifacts! It was my character that was evaluated! If Lise had made the same magical artifact, the prince wouldn't have even looked at her! Look at this pale face!"

She slapped my already ragged face and shrugged.

"I've been giving jobs to my plain, uncharismatic, and useless sister who can only make magical artifacts, so I want her to be grateful."

Mother, who is usually strict, was a bit sympathetic to me this time.

"Artemisia... You need to stop. There's no one else who can replace us. Without magical artifacts, you'd just be a snobbish girl."

"There's no one who can replace me! No one is more suitable to be the queen than me with my beautiful appearance and cultivated manners!"

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

A knight in guard's uniform came in and knelt.

"Excuse me for interrupting. The bed is ready, so I will take the young lady there."

"Fine, but I'm taking her home now!"

"However, His Majesty has arranged for a physician to examine her, so..."

My sister clicked her tongue and left, saying, "Come back as soon as possible."

...Thanks to her leaving, I felt relieved and almost cried.

My sister is really scary.

"A... Actually, I'm fine. I've recovered, so I can go home by myself."

I got up from the sofa, afraid of my sister.

But my legs wobbled, and I sat down again.

"The young lady seems to be just tired, but to be safe, I'll have her examined in detail in case she has been poisoned."

The guard convinced my parents, and I was able to see a doctor.

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