Chapter 27
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 27
'And cruelly at that.'
I was terrified.
I descended from the carriage in silence.
But as Maran followed me down, he suddenly let out a shriek—"Ugh!"—and tumbled forward onto his face.
"Commander!"
"What happened?"
Dain and Alexis came rushing over.
Maran, lifting his head, was bleeding profusely from his nose.
"Someone grabbed my foot and pulled it."
"Didn't you just trip coming down the carriage steps?"
Alexis asked as if the whole thing were absurd.
"But I'm certain someone pulled my foot."
"Be more careful next time. You are an important retainer of mine."
Maran, who had been about to protest further, melted away at Alexis's words.
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Alexis truly knew how to dangle carrots before her subordinates.
'Just not for me.'
A small whimper escaped me.
Alexis's gaze fell upon my dejected form.
"Why are you standing there? Get in the carriage."
"Miss Cyrilia's carriage is over there."
"What?"
Alexis's brow furrowed as she observed the small, modest carriage.
"Get in this one."
She spoke with finality.
"But when using the official carriage bearing the Parkision Dukedom's crest, tradition dictates that according to rank...!"
"Cyrilia has ridden in this carriage before."
"That was when the Duchess was alive. She disregarded tradition anyway. Properly speaking, a young lady who is half of a viscount's bloodline should...."
"Half of her blood is the same as mine. We have a long journey ahead, and I'd prefer not to be troubled by trivial matters."
Alexis cut through the argument decisively.
Then she scooped me up in her arms and climbed into the carriage.
Through the window, I could see Maran grinding his teeth.
But Alexis drew the curtains, obscuring his expression.
"Maran likes to distinguish rank and divide the hierarchy."
Alexis spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"He comes from a family that has served as commander of the Parkision Knight Order for generations, so his pride runs deep. That's why his loyalty to our house is unwavering, but he's equally exclusionary toward those he doesn't recognize as his 'master.'"
I understood.
That's why Maran despised me.
A duchess of unknown origins from a baron's house, and her brother.
And the daughter born of that woman without proper lineage.
Moreover, they had attacked Alexis, who possessed both perfect status and qualifications.
'Maran must have marked them for elimination.'
As I pondered this, Alexis stared at me intently, then pressed my head firmly with her large hand.
'Huh?'
"There's no need to be so sad."
Alexis had misunderstood.
I wasn't sad about being disliked by someone like Maran!
'...I'm just terrified. Sniff.'
"You're also of Parkision, so no matter what anyone says, you are Maran's master. So act like a master. Make him acknowledge you as his master and obey you."
Alexis offered both comfort and counsel.
'Alexis's advice!'
I was so moved that my eyes sparkled and I nodded eagerly.
"Yes, I understand! Sister! I'll do exactly as you say! I'll be Maran's master!"
"With those rabbit-like eyes, how do you plan to make Maran obey you?"
Alexis spoke as though exasperated, but I was still delighted.
* * *
To reach the Capital quickly, we chose to sleep in the carriage rather than stay at an inn.
The carriage was large enough that it wasn't particularly uncomfortable.
Besides, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep immediately.
While I slept fitfully, something tapped my cheek gently.
I opened my eyes cautiously, and a hand was reaching through the carriage window.
"Ah, mmph!"
The hand covered my mouth.
Then Kyle's face appeared through the window.
"Shh!"
He gestured for me to come out, watching carefully so as not to wake Alexis.
I climbed out of the carriage carefully so Alexis wouldn't wake.
"Where have you been? I thought you'd run away."
"Am I a coward like you? To run away."
"Not only cowards run away."
"You're not denying that you're a coward yourself."
Kyle chuckled.
I couldn't say anything in response.
The dark dawn with only the sound of insects chirping.
I was so frightened that I clung tightly to Kyle's sleeve.
I could see Maran sleeping by the campfire, but that made me even more afraid because it was Maran.
"That guy is dozing off while standing watch. Is he really the Knight Order commander?"
Kyle glared at Maran and whispered.
"Unlucky bastard. Tomorrow, I'll make you roll a hundred times."
I cursed him without thinking.
"Did you know Maran is the Knight Order Commander? That's impressive."
"There's nothing I don't know."
I decided to flatter him, and Kyle spoke with obvious pride.
'A noble young master equipped with information networks.'
I added another item to my list of Kyle's suspicious qualities.
"Where exactly were you all this time?"
"I've been following you the whole way. I couldn't stay hidden in that box anymore. It was suffocating."
"Are you going to come with me to the Capital tomorrow too?"
"Of course. If I wasn't planning to, I wouldn't have followed you in the first place."
Then he walked behind the carriage and into the grass, dropping himself onto the ground.
When I tried to follow and sit down, he spread his cloak for me.
'Wow, no manners but he has courtesy?'
This was definitely something he'd learned since childhood.
His etiquette training was advanced level.
Another item for the list.
"Hey, look at the sky."
Kyle pointed his finger at the empty air above.
I sat beside him and looked up, seeing a stream of light flowing through the darkness like a river.
It was the Milky Way.
"Wow...."
"I woke you up to show you that. You like pretty and useless things, after all."
"Can't you speak more prettily? But thank you anyway."
My mood lifted, and I laughed softly as I gazed at the sky.
"You know...."
The moment I looked at Kyle to tell him something.
Kyle quickly turned his head away.
As if he'd been watching my face the entire time.
I tilted my head in confusion, and I heard him mutter softly in a self-deprecating tone.
"I shouldn't be doing this right now.... I didn't come all the way to Parkision Territory for this...."
* * *
"Maran, what's wrong with your face?"
We arrived at the Capital in two days.
It was thanks to riding relentlessly except when eating, sleeping, and washing.
But it seemed Maran had rolled across the entire journey.
There didn't appear to be a single uninjured spot on his body.
"For some reason, I keep falling. Yesterday, even my horse threw me off. I think I've fallen almost a hundred times today alone. It really feels like something is grabbing me and making me fall...."
"Be careful. Things are really important from here on out."
Alexis cut off Maran's rambling sharply.
"Understood! Since you've entrusted me with such an important matter, I'll do my very best."
Maran spoke with confidence.
He now knew about the plan to sell the 'Night Spirit Stone' to the Imperial Court.
Perhaps because he'd learned of it later than Dain.
His enthusiasm burned brightly.
"In fact, I've already arranged a meeting with the head of the Textile Merchant Guild, who's been expanding their influence in the Capital recently."
"Already?"
"Yes. They distribute high-quality cotton fabrics, and they say they'll soon be supplying to the Imperial Court."
"If that's true, it would be helpful."
"Right after you explained the plan, I immediately looked into it. Dain, what about you?"
"Ah, I'm still reviewing candidate merchants...."
"Tsk tsk. Time is of the essence, so we need to move quickly."
Maran clicked his tongue.
A look of triumph crossed his face.
The place where the merchant guild head had arranged to meet was a shabby building.
'A merchant who'll be supplying to the Imperial Court, they said. Something feels off about this.'
Maran blocked my path as I tilted my head in confusion.
"Miss, please wait here. Dain, you look after the young lady. I'll negotiate with the Duke and return."
"What are you talking about? We're all going in together."
Alexis spoke sharply.
"I told you. This is Cyrilia's plan."
"You're overestimating me."
"Young though you are, your talent for clever scheming is exceptional. Since we share half the same blood, it's only natural that you're remarkable. In any case, she comes with us."
"If you bring a young lady, the other party will look down on us."
"All the better if they let their guard down. It'll be easier to catch them off balance."
Alexis entered without listening further.
Dain took my hand and tried to follow.
Then Maran ground his teeth and muttered quietly.
"To think someone of such base blood dares to enchant the Duke with a little cleverness?"
"Captain! That's too harsh!"
Dain protested.
But Maran pretended not to hear and entered anyway.
Dain's expression was frustrated.
"I should tell the Duke right away...."
"No. The negotiation is more important right now."
I stopped Dain.
"Miss...."
Dain looked at me with concern.
Then a loud crash echoed from ahead.
"Ahhhhh!"
Maran had fallen hard once again.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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