Our Sien Likes Flowers
Should I just wax it off?
“You really have a silver tongue, don’t you?”
“Yes, I suppose I do.”
I shrugged in response.
Sisen Alencia. From the past to the present, she had been utterly devoted to destroying Sien. Even in my previous life, when I lived as a villain, I barely remembered her. But this life could be different. That was why I had carefully studied not only her but the other two Alencia siblings currently attending the academy as well. Yet…
“If you’d like, I could teach you how to do it my way.”
It was nothing special.
“Judging by that glare, I suppose not.”
I let out a small chuckle and dipped my head once. When I lifted it again to meet Sisen Alencia’s eyes, a thick killing intent coiled around my throat. It was fine. I could endure it. In my last life I had withstood far worse emotions—and inflicted them, too. Above all, the knowledge that Sien would never have to suffer those feelings again was reason enough to bear it. It was the only reason I needed to bear it.
“Do you truly believe a worm like you can interfere with our family’s affairs?”
“I fail to see how helping Sien counts as interference.”
“That child must become stronger. She possesses the power to do so, and she must.”
“That isn’t for you to decide.”
“Everything is for the family.”
Pure white hair, nearly primal in its hue. Cold, blood-red eyes closer to crimson than violet. These were the traits every Alencia was expected to carry. Most of them did—except Sien. Only she possessed ash-gray hair and amethyst eyes that set her apart from the rest.
The founder of House Alencia, Amara Alencia, had been the same. The Dragon Slayer who had single-handedly slain a legendary dragon. What made it possible was her Authority.
Those who deeply inherit the blood of an Authority user shall likewise be able to wield that Authority.
Anyone interested in history knew the tale. In the kingdom’s eight-hundred-year span, Authority users had appeared a handful of times beyond the four founding families. Yet in the present day, Authority was dismissed as mere legend—because not one had manifested in nearly two hundred years.
The world was more peaceful than ever. Commoners’ lives, while not perfect, were no longer steeped in poverty. An age of contentment had arrived. People could find satisfaction and happiness in their own lives, and so they turned away from the unfair, unreasonable power known as Authority.
———Until Sien Alencia, who carried Amara Alencia’s blood in its purest form, appeared.
In the one family that pursued strength more fanatically than any other.
A peaceful world. A power-obsessed house. A girl who appeared at the perfect moment bearing something close to Authority. A despised marionette. A story so packed with clichés that even a fool could see where it was headed.
That was why I—as someone who had already lived through it—knew exactly what would come next.
“No one can stop us.”
———This was the precursor to upheaval. A forewarning of fate’s inexorable pull.
“Nothing can stop us.”
It had to be stopped.
“That includes you, commoner. There are no exceptions.”
The pressure around my throat tightened. My windpipe constricted until even drawing a single breath became difficult, yet I could still endure it. I would endure it.
“———Our Sien likes flowers.”
“…What?”
“She prefers doing her makeup at her age rather than holding a sword, and surprisingly, she’s incredibly good at drawing…!!”
Sisen Alencia’s brows furrowed. For a northerner like her, that expression meant genuine bewilderment. As expected, the killing intent thinned, and my breathing eased.
“Of course, she looks stunning in combat gear, but when she wears the dress she’s always wanted—truly, I think she resembles an angel…!”
“…….”
“I want Sien to smile all the time. In my opinion, no expression suits her better.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Can’t you tell? I’m bragging about how pretty she is, you damn sister…!”
“———Hah.”
Her face remained flat, as if the conversation no longer held any value. Sisen Alencia clicked her tongue, her expression making it clear she considered this a waste of time.
Cough—.
Nearly two minutes later, the killing intent finally dissipated completely. Only then could I draw a proper breath.
“You’ll never get to see this side of Sien in your lifetime…!”
One quick breath. I steadied myself and called out to Sisen Alencia as she turned to leave.
“…If you keep ruining Sien like that—”
Sisen Alencia stopped. With her back still turned, she answered.
“You’re the one ruining the child. Not us.”
“Then let’s set her free.”
“———.”
“If both of us believe our actions are destroying her, then we should let Sien be free. If you truly are her older sister, that is.”
“…….”
Sisen Alencia’s head turned slightly. The pure white hair sliding across her shoulder and the crimson eyes that glanced back were threatening enough to stop a heartbeat. But—
“I am this child’s sister and her family.”
Unlike before, there was no killing intent in her voice at all.
“Then what are you to her?”
Instead of her usual certainty, her tone now carried simple curiosity—an honest desire to understand something beyond her comprehension.
“The person who will make Sien happy, you damn sister.”
With the same unwavering conviction, I smiled and answered.
“I shouldn’t have asked.”
Sisen Alencia let out a short, hollow laugh.
“Father said tantrums are the last resort, Sien.”
Muttering those words, Sisen Alencia stepped through the door and left the conference room.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. I counted the fading presence until I was certain her influence could no longer reach me. Only then did I release the long breath I had been holding back.
Still, I managed to say everything I wanted.
A soft smile rose to my lips from the refreshing sense of relief. I chuckled and turned my head.
“…Your sister’s terrifyingly strong, huh?”
The entire time Sisen had been present, Sien’s face couldn’t even be called human. No—it was so utterly devoid of emotion that the word “expression” itself felt meaningless.
You must have lived like that your entire life.
That was why I worried. What if you began to struggle again? What if trauma swallowed you whole and the color I had finally drawn out of you faded back into that dry, lifeless white?
I wanted you to become someone who could smile happily over even the smallest things.
In truth, fate and all the rest of it could go to hell. For me, your smile was more than enough.
“I think I’m going to get a lot of ‘prettiness’ from your sister later. Even I have to admit that was one hell of an intense first greeting.”
I had done everything I could to shield her. In my own way, I believed I had protected her well.
So now—what expression was Sien making?
“How about it, Sien? Do you admit I’m irrevocably on your side?”
Joy and guilt. A mixture of emotions so tangled they formed an indescribable, tearful face. The girl who remained ice-cold when holding a sword was now widening her eyes as much as possible, desperately trying to hold back tears while forcing a smile.
“Of course, you idiot…!!”
“Sien. You know what they say—if you laugh while crying, you’ll grow hair on your butt, right?”
“I’m not crying…!”
The little puppy girl dashed over and threw both arms around me in a fierce hug. Sien rubbed her face vigorously against my shoulder, then lifted her head and beamed.
“See…! Not a single tear!”
The dampness I felt on my shoulder told a different story. As expected of Chloe’s friend, her shamelessness had grown—but who cared? She was smiling so brightly.
“Yeah. You were just smiling the whole time, huh?”
I gently stroked Sien’s head. She had surely endured a great deal of mental strain while facing Sisen.
Hehe. Sien gave me a bashful smile at my touch and buried her face against my shoulder again.
“But… you don’t dislike women with hair on their butt…?”
Then came the sudden, random remark. Her amethyst eyes peeked up, carefully reading my reaction.
“Shouldn’t I just wax it off?”
I deliberately gave her nonsense.
“…That’s not what I was asking.”
Sien frowned, puffing her cheeks in clear dissatisfaction.
“Rain, you idiot.”
A smiling face was beautiful, but this pout suited her just as well.
The Alencia family had been displaying strange movements for some time. Information I received long ago had placed Sien Alencia—the youngest daughter—at the very center of it all.
Among the four great families, Alencia was the most tyrannical. The moment suspicious circumstances were detected, the royal bloodline that rightfully ruled the kingdom should have taken appropriate action. However, the problem was that they were both founding contributors to the kingdom and a ducal house. Even for the Laenifel royal family, moving against them without solid evidence was impossible.
Authority. Manifestation. Attempt.
Yet ignoring the warning those three words carried would have been equally foolish.
Intelligence work was required. Extreme secrecy. The number of people in the know had to be minimized, and since they were touching a ducal house, someone with matching authority had to step forward.
Kirsch Bliss von Laenifel.
First in line to the throne and the sole princess of the Laenifel Kingdom. It was decided that she would take action.
Conveniently, Sien Alencia’s enrollment at the academy had just been confirmed. It was the perfect opportunity for infiltration.
Naturally, she could not use her real name. She was the king’s trusted successor and the beloved princess. Her name was the kingdom, and the kingdom was her name.
The first step was leaking false information. The rumor spread that the princess had begun taking on practical duties in preparation for officially inheriting the throne. Since she was fifteen—the ideal age to enter the academy—overturning that fact required carefully planted misinformation.
The second step was, of course, approaching Sien Alencia. House Laenifel was a magic-swordsman family that wielded both magic and swordsmanship. While each member’s talents differed, the princess possessed greater aptitude for magic than swordplay. Nevertheless, to get close to Sien, she chose the knight division.
So far, everything had gone smoothly. The problem was that a campaign to slander Sien Alencia was already underway within the academy—and it was being orchestrated directly by House Alencia.
The princess was bewildered by the nonsensical situation, but it wasn’t a major issue. The academy was a four-year institution. Even if she couldn’t approach Sien right away, an opportunity would surely arise later. For now, she would lie low and observe.
But then—
The intervention of an unexpected figure. The truly absurd situation in which a commoner boy admitted through the quota system had stepped forward to defend a ducal daughter.
How should she navigate this chaotic turn of events?
The princess agonized over it for weeks, nursing a headache the entire time. Then, watching the commoner who had grown close to Sien Alencia, she suddenly reached a conclusion.
She would approach him first.
The moment the decision was made, the princess moved swiftly. A subjugation mission provided the perfect excuse to get closer.
“It’s nice to meet you, Rain.”
Kirsch Bliss von Laenifel.
“My name is Keith Eipen. I’ll be joining the vanguard team with you this time. Please call me Keith.”
She extended her hand to Rain under the name Keith Eipen.