Chapter 8
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 8
Roel's face drained of all color.
Alexis's meaning was unmistakable.
'Roel, you are merely an employee.'
Then she addressed those still harboring doubts.
"If you don't believe me, bring Father's private records and pour water on them. It will be spectacular."
* * *
Alexis was right.
The Duke's memo used as proof was a list of luxury items he intended to purchase.
The contents were hardly significant.
When water was poured onto the memo, the letters transformed into a brilliant golden hue.
Not a single character smudged.
"Oh, how absolutely beautiful!"
"Truly, this ink is worthy of the Imperial Palace's secret use!"
The will had been proven a forgery.
"Imprison Baron Billedorf."
"N-No, my lady! I am innocent! Please, hear me out, I beg you!"
Dain dragged the pleading Baron Billedorf away.
Alexis threw the forged will onto the table.
"Someone forged the will and even murdered the scribe. It is a terrifying conspiracy to seize the house."
"Ah, Alexis. I truly knew nothing of this. I...."
Alexis continued without sparing Jenin a glance.
"Until the mastermind is revealed, I will not suspect anyone, yet no one should rest easy. Therefore—"
....
"I am postponing the appointment of a regent until the mastermind is revealed."
The assembled members of the Conference Hall murmured in agitation.
"Surely we cannot leave the position of Duke vacant!"
"My lady, I, Dreiny, will assist you. Please reconsider...."
The retainers, elders, and Dreiny cried out.
'Even in this situation, they cannot abandon their greed for the regent's seat.'
Perhaps it was because their opponent was Alexis, who had not yet come of age.
'But my sister is not someone so easily manipulated.'
I rested my plump cheeks in both hands, gazing up at Alexis with eyes brimming with anticipation.
"If you wish to avoid suspicion as the mastermind, it would be wise not to covet the regent's seat."
As expected, Alexis did not disappoint my hopes.
Moreover, with Knight Commander Maran standing visibly behind Alexis, no one dared speak further.
In the end, the Conference Hall adjourned with the position of Duke of the Parkision Ducal House left vacant.
Alexis tasked Maran and Dain with tracking down the mastermind behind the conspiracy.
Yet the mastermind was not easily caught.
It was thanks to the culprit severing the tail so cleanly.
Moreover, Baron Billedorf took his own life in prison.
'He was probably murdered.'
Of course, there were gains to be had.
A month slipped by while pursuing the mastermind.
Finally, Alexis held her coming-of-age ceremony.
The title of 'Duke of Parkision' returned to Alexis, who had now come of age.
* * *
'Something's off.'
More than off—it was deeply strange.
'Everything's going too smoothly.'
Alexis sat in the rocking chair in the Duke's Chamber, lost in thought.
This was the chair she favored whenever she needed rest.
But today, even here, her mind remained turbulent.
In my first life and my second life.
Becoming Duke of Parkision was never easy.
'In my first life, I was cast out by the family and murdered.'
My second life brought no shortage of hardship either.
I had captured the forger.
"The will was indeed forged, but it was the Young Lady who ordered it. You were trying to frame Archbishop Jenin!"
Because of that, I had to endure considerable trouble before claiming the seat of head.
So in this life, I commanded Dain.
Before bringing the forger, to give him a physical warning.
So he couldn't spout nonsense in front of people.
'I never expected he'd already be dead.'
I thought it was all over.
Until Polenom X—pushed to the back of my memory—came to mind.
'It was because Cyrilia set fire to the will.'
I'd been irritated since that child peeked over the table with only her eyes showing, waving her hand.
'Why did Dreiny bring that little thing?'
I was even angry at Dreiny.
I tried my best to ignore Cyrilia.
But when Cyrilia squirmed her way up onto the chair, my gaze followed without my realizing it.
And when she fumbled with the candlestick before hurling it at the will.
'I nearly screamed.'
After that, Roel poured water on the will, and I remembered that the ink Father used was Polenom X.
A secret ink that, when touched by water, didn't smudge but instead turned golden.
I had to admit it.
'It was because of Cyrilia.'
Without her, things would have been quite difficult.
I suddenly recalled what Cyrilia had said.
"I'm on your side, sister. I'll protect you."
That tiny thing had spoken with such resolve, tensing her plump cheeks and clenching her small fists.
As if she were so insignificant that a single breath could blow her away.
Yet that insignificant child had truly become my protector.
'Did she keep her word? Or was it mere coincidence?'
I would have my answer soon enough.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a gentle knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Upon granting permission, the door opened quietly.
"Sister...."
A still-small child appeared cautiously, just as she had been in her younger days.
Silver hair that gleamed as if moonlight had been woven into threads.
A face that looked endearing even when shadowed by sorrow and melancholy.
Gazing upon those innocent green eyes and those round, flushed cheeks was enough to make me momentarily forget the karmic debts of my past life.
Cyrilia smiled shyly, as if thrilled, her face flushed.
Yet her body hesitated, unable to approach easily.
'How irritating.'
The way her slender fingers fidgeted.
The way her small feet trembled.
When Alexis simply stared in silence, Cyrilia panicked, thinking she had made some mistake.
"Oh, no. Not sister, but Duke."
Before I realized it, I had furrowed my brow, and Cyrilia's face flushed crimson.
"That, that's not it either... Your Grace!"
"...."
"Um, uh, y-your Excellency?"
"Just call me sister."
"O-okay...."
"How long do you intend to stand there? Come here and sit."
I spoke.
Cyrilia's face brightened with a radiant glow.
The girl came running and hopped onto the prepared chair.
Her feet didn't touch the ground, swinging like a cat's tail.
'I had mentioned preparing a smaller chair.'
Unlike Alexis, who had already grown tall by that age, Cyrilia appeared two years younger than her actual age.
"You're small."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"It's nothing."
Still, it bothered me.
I should simply handle the reason I called her and send her away quickly.
It was at that moment.
"Sister, look at this!"
Cyrilia thrust something toward me.
It was a small, adorable pouch.
I accepted it without thinking and opened it to find flower-shaped confections inside.
They were brown, and a sweet fragrance wafted from them.
'Some strange food I've never seen before.'
I fixed Cyrilia with a sharp gaze.
'Did she poison it? Or is it a paralytic drug?'
Cyrilia said something unexpected.
"It was your birthday, sister. A birthday gift!"
The coming-of-age ceremony is held on one's eighteenth birthday.
Because of this, people typically celebrate their most lavish birthday in their lives.
But my eighteenth birthday had been modest.
Inheriting the dukedom took priority.
I had no time to concern myself with birthdays.
That's why I hadn't anticipated it.
That I would receive a birthday gift from none other than Cyrilia.
'She must have obtained it from the kitchen.'
I closed the pouch and set it on the side table.
"Still wasting your time on pointless things."
Cyrilia's eyes and lips drooped downward.
'She's not even a puppy, yet her emotions are so transparent.'
Thinking that, I broached the reason I had summoned her.
"You knew what kind of ink your father used, didn't you?"
At the sudden question, Cyrilia's eyes widened in shock.
"So you deliberately set fire to the will? To get it wet?"
"Sister, I don't really understand what you're saying..."
The child murmured in confusion.
The moment I saw that expression, my conviction crumbled.
'Right, there's no way that child would know such a secret. She couldn't have acted with such cunning calculation.'
My suspicion was excessive.
"Fine, you can leave now."
"A-already?"
Cyrilia asked in surprise.
The girl must have intended to play dolls with me or something.
'Is spending time with me not burdensome for her?'
I found it strange.
Even Dain and Maran grow uncomfortable when they spend too long in the same space as me.
Even as I thought this, I spoke with malice.
"If you wish to assist with the Duke's duties, you're welcome to stay. Should you know a way to revive Parkision's barren lands, I'd be delighted to have your help."
"I... I don't know anything about that...!"
Cyrilia's face crumpled as though the sky itself had collapsed upon her.
Alexis pointed toward the door without mercy.
"Then you may leave now."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org