Chapter 2

In the year 568 of the solar calendar, on the third Wednesday of the month of Fire.

On this day, Eustia attends a party hosted by the United Nations Army as the Great Saintess.

I was the Great Saintess before Eustia awakened to the power of the Saintess.

I was not reluctant to lend my precious dress, given to me by Mother, to my younger sister.

And then, Eustia created a stain on the dress that would never come out.

She claimed that a man spilled wine on her at the ball, but it was undoubtedly a lie.

The white dress with golden threads, given to me by Mother, has been unwearable since that day. When Eustia handed the dress to me and said, "I'm so sorry," with a deliberately exaggerated apology, I felt a murderous intent.

Of course, in this life, I won't let her do such a thing.

"Does the size fit?"

"It fits perfectly! As expected of my big sister!"

Eustia spun around once in front of me.

"But is it okay? It's something so important to my big sister."

"It's fine. It's for my cute little sister."

"Yay! I love my big sister!"

"Is that so?"

I put my hand to my mouth.

Danger, danger. I felt so nauseous from the disgust.

How many lies can this girl tell with that smile?

"By the way, if I get it dirty, I'm sorry...?"

She even said such things with a look up.

"It's fine."

After all, it's not Mother's.

It's a hand-me-down from the previous Great Saintess.

"But please treat it carefully, okay?"

"Okay!"

To be honest, it's far from the current fashion.

Well, I don't think this ignorant girl understands that.

She must have come to borrow the dress to harass me.

Unaware that she would be the one to be embarrassed, she is grinning.

"Phew"

"Big sister, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Oh no, no, no. My facial muscles are at their limit!

I can't do it, I can't. I have to hold it in... phew, ah, it's so funny!

I turned my face away without realizing it, but I hope she didn't notice.

"Rose. About what we were talking about earlier."

The bishop, who had been observing the situation, spoke.

I deliberately looked at Eustia and then turned back.

"Bishop. If possible, I'd rather it wasn't heard..."

"Big sister! What are you talking about?"

There, she's biting.

As always, she is energetically trying to find my weaknesses.

"No, Eustia. It's a matter that concerns you..."

The proud Eustia will definitely respond like this.

"Huh? But I'm the Great Saintess. I think I should listen to what my big sister, the Saintess, has to say, right?"

Great Saintess one-up, received!

I believed you would definitely say that.

Thank you for moving as I expected. I am grateful to God!

"Right, it would be better to hear it from the Great Saintess as well."

"...Is that so?"

The bishop said it in a flattering tone.

His attitude is completely different from when I was the Great Saintess, isn't it?

Well, it's not surprising.

After all, the Great Saintess is a public figure, hailed as a savior of the world.

She can manipulate the weather, predict the future, and offer prayers for a bountiful harvest.

On the other hand, the Saintess works in the front lines, healing soldiers' wounds and purifying miasma, which is a rather mundane role.

There are many other Saintesses besides me, and I could even be considered a common presence.

"Hmm... Oh, big sister, do you want to quit being a Saintess!?"

"Eustia... actually, I'm tired..."

I try to look as tragic as possible by looking down.

When I move only my eyes to look ahead, Eustia's mouth twists.

"Oh, I see, is that so. Hmm?"

Ah, really, this girl is so easy to manipulate, it's a relief.

"Well, big sister has been a Saintess for a long time, hasn't she? The oldest, right?"

"Yes."

"Because of working for so many years, you've become so thin and your hair so eerie, haven't you?"

I touched the hair that Eustia mentioned with a condescending look.

It's as white as snow. My body is also thin, and I'm often told that I look like a skeleton.

Well, my hair is naturally like that.

"...Yes, I suppose I do look rather unsightly."

"Uh-huh. After all, a Saintess should be glamorous. Everyone has their place, right?"

In other words, am I ugly and not worth looking at?

I can see her thoughts as clearly as if they were in my hand, looking down at me with a grin.

Truly, she is a real piece of work.

"Eustia, don't worry about me. Enjoy the ball."

"Okay! Thank you, big sister!"

Eustia headed to the ball in high spirits.

Finding my weakness and being able to harass me must be so much fun for her.

But you will never realize it.

– That I have tampered with the dress.

Outdated?

A hand-me-down from the previous Great Saintess?

That level of tampering doesn't even count.

This is a battle.

Hey, Eustia.

My attack hasn't ended yet, you know?