Chapter 15
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister Episode 15 Whatever collateral the creditor demands. It could be the Parkision mansion. It could be the territory itself. 'Perhaps they might even demand Parkision as a whole.' It was Jenin, after all. On the surface, a devout Archbishop. But his true nature was that of a greedy moneylender. Roel was his only son.
"The late Duke and Duchess borrowed an enormous sum from my father, you see. Even I, who handled the finances, was kept in the dark about it."
Roel spoke with an air of regret.
"My father believes the new Duke should be made aware of this as well."
"A demand for swift repayment, then."
"Not quite, but the repayment deadline has already passed. Moreover, the funds my father lent were meant for constructing a new cathedral... I'm afraid we cannot wait much longer."
Roel trailed off with an expression of deep regret, though his true intentions were transparent. Jenin and Roel, cornered and desperate. They intended to use money as a weapon to break Alexis. I understood now why I hadn't played this card in my previous life. 'Because I hadn't tightened the screws on this father and son so swiftly and thoroughly before.' Of course, even now I was giving Alexis as much leeway as possible. An Archbishop and brother to the deceased former Duke. And a loyal retainer of the previous Duke. 'Casting them out overnight would burden me as well.' Especially without evidence of wrongdoing.
"My father says he will grant a one-month extension. If you wish, I can arrange a private audience with him..."
"I understand. You may leave now."
A flicker of bewilderment crossed Roel's face. 'She's refusing the offer of a private meeting?' Even the great Alexis, I thought, would beg to see Jenin. It seemed pride wouldn't allow her to show desperation. 'But once she understands the weight of debt, she'll come crawling to me soon enough.' Besides, he had one more key to shake Alexis's resolve. Roel extended a document toward Alexis.
"The Earl of Volgo asked me to deliver this to you."
"I have no interest in news from that man."
"It concerns Miss Cyrilia."
Alexis's eyes, which had shown no interest in the document moments before, suddenly sharpened. Alexis accepted the document. 【Inheritance Claim Notice】 'This is...!' The Empire follows the principle of primogeniture. But lately, the other siblings had been demanding their share of the inheritance more frequently. They made their demands with the consent of their own retainers. This gave the heir a headache. They had just assumed their position and needed to win people's favor. If disputes erupted from the start, it would be a disaster. So they would typically divide the inheritance appropriately and reach a settlement. This document was used in such situations.
"Dreiny Volgo, as guardian of Miss Cyrilia, has come forward demanding her inheritance share."
"Roel, surely you're not ignorant of the Empire's fundamental principles. Why didn't you dispose of this worthless matter at your level instead of bringing it to me?"
"Because I do not know Miss Cyrilia's wishes on the matter."
"What?"
"Have you inquired what Miss Cyrilia's opinion is regarding the inheritance?"
"...."
"She may very well desire it."
Her face turned glacially cold. Roel felt a chill run down his spine at Alexis's expression, yet internally, he wore a smile of satisfaction. 'She's wary of losing her own share.' The more one possessed, the more pronounced it became. Roel knew this from personal experience. 'Because Alexis's own father, Kanan Parkision, was exactly like that.' Roel's father, Jenin, was Kanan's fraternal twin. A difference of mere seconds. That gap made the two brothers' lives worlds apart. Kanan had shared nothing with Jenin. Instead, he urged him to devote himself to the divine, lest he covet what was his. 'She pretends otherwise now, but once Alexis recognizes Cyrilia as a rival, her true nature will emerge.' I would exploit that crack in her anxiety. Humans were most vulnerable when afraid.
"Of course, Your Excellency's intentions matter most to me. If you command it, I shall destroy the Inheritance Demand Document this very moment."
"No, never mind. You may go."
Alexis issued the dismissal coldly. Roel left the Conference Hall, stifling a bitter laugh. Once he disappeared, Alexis released the breath she had been holding. 'Ask about Cyrilia's opinion? As if she'd covet such a thing....' Alexis froze in place. She was horrified by her own thought. Because in her past life, Cyrilia had been the complete opposite.
"I'm so furious I can't stand it, knowing you'll have everything all to yourself, Sister! Why not me? Why!"
With eyes blazing with murderous hatred, Cyrilia screamed. Yet Cyrilia coveting an inheritance? That made no sense. I found myself thinking of the Cyrilia from my past life and the young Cyrilia now as though they were entirely different people. Hair like silver woven from moonlight, and skin pale as milk. Across it spread a delicate strawberry-pink flush, and plump, supple lips. Those lips curved into a crescent smile, eyes sparkling as if lost in a dream, as she spoke. 'Big sister!' Young Cyrilia grinned and bounded toward me, then vanished like smoke. It was an illusion conjured by Alexis. Alexis's expression grew colder than ever before. 'Cyrilia's true feelings are irrelevant. I am the head of this house, and I will do as I see fit.' The family's finances were already in shambles, with repairs needed everywhere. Above all, the lives of the territory's people were in disarray. And on top of that, an astronomical debt. In such circumstances, I could not afford to concern myself with Cyrilia's 'feelings.' 'To earn money, would I have to resort to that again?' The thought left me reluctant. Alexis recalled the sword hanging in one corner of her chamber. It was a blade that had accompanied her through her previous life as well. 'A sword stained with countless lives.' In her past life, Alexis had earned money through monster subjugation campaigns. In her first cycle, after being cast out from the family, she worked as a mercenary. In her second cycle, as a duke, she organized subjugation squads directly. The monsters appearing in Black Nightmare Valley, north of the Capital, were a plague upon the Empire. Within a few years, they would spill beyond the valley and devastate the entire Empire. It was she who faced Ikellos, the valley's master, whom even the Emperor's elite forces could not overcome. 'You are stronger than any human I have ever met. But alas, it is unfortunate. You alone cannot defeat me.' Before encountering Ikellos, she had earned considerable wealth through monster subjugation. The Imperial rewards and byproducts harvested from the monsters had been quite lucrative. 'But it is far too dangerous.' One must stake their very life. Besides, this was not a time to abandon the Dukedom. 'What am I to do?' A third life. By this point, I thought all problems would reveal their solutions. 'I thought everything would be simple. It was only simple when Cyrilia helped me....' Alexis faltered. Cyrilia again. Whenever such troubles arose, she was the child who always offered a clue, as if by chance. 'I lack the shame to seek hints from someone I believe has no importance of heart. No matter how dire the circumstances.' All the help I received until now was merely coincidence. More than anything, she and I— 'We are bound by a karmic thread destined to destroy each other.' Using that as my excuse, I turned my back on Cyrilia for all these years. That innocent child who smiled so purely, so earnestly, for my sake. And now I'm supposed to accept her help? How utterly shameless of me. * * * "Please, I beg you—give me your son!"
"I-I cannot! My son is a delicate prince I've raised like a hothouse flower! I won't give him to a savage princess like you!"
In a room of the Parkision Ducal House mansion. Two people clutching dolls were performing with passionate fervor. The wild-haired, disheveled princess was me. The Emperor and the beautiful prince were played by Dain. Dain had become my favorite playmate these days. 'Alexis must have assigned him to watch me, didn't she?' Sometimes he came directly, but mostly he lingered about, observing from a distance. So I decided to keep him here permanently. 'Watch all you like!' If I turned it to my advantage, it would be an opportunity to build trust. With my heart-shaped braids freshly done by the new maids, my eyes sparkling with fervent light, I cried out: "If I show you my true feelings for the prince, will you give him to me?"
It was such passionate acting that the pink ribbons trembled with each gesture.
"True feelings? Let me see them then."
"Yes!"
I quickly snatched the prince doll from Dain's hands. A kidnapping, in other words.
"Ah, Miss! You said you'd show your true feelings!"
Dain, who had been playing along with awkward acting, protested in bewilderment.
"This is my true feeling, Your Highness! If I cannot have you, I'll destroy you!"
"Kidnapping is a crime! And besides, someone is watching us!"
Dain stammered as he spoke. 'Right. Someone is watching.' I turned to face the unexpected audience. Alexis stood at the doorway, arms crossed, staring directly at me—though I couldn't tell when she had arrived.
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