Reclaiming the Sister's Sweet Revenge
p>The Empire's envoys arrived sooner than expected—only a week.
The envoys carried a suitable amount of gifts to express the Emperor's goodwill toward Solea. After staying just one day, they announced their intention to return to the Empire at once.
Relations between the two nations had soured enough that lingering for much longer would be unwise.
p>“Come on, Rua. Take my hand.”
p>“Thank you, Oppa.”
p>Rua took my hand and stepped into the carriage.
She had wedged her favorite doll into the crook of one arm because the journey ahead would be long.
Although Solea borders Lakeland, it would still take us four days to reach the frontier.
p>Rua and I sat facing each other inside the carriage.
At first she sat naturally opposite me, but I could tell something was bothering her.
p>“Why? Is the seat uncomfortable?”
p>“No. It’s wrong.”
p>Rua shot to her feet, switched seats, and leaned her shoulder against mine.
p>“It’s been a while since we’ve been alone, just the two of us.”
p>“Yeah. How could I not enjoy my cute little sister playing with me?”
p>I gently pinched her cheek and pulled it, and Rua burst into a delighted “Eeeee~.”
p>Just then, a knock sounded on the carriage door.
p>“Your Highness, Princess. We’re about to depart. Are you quite comfortable?”
p>“Very much so. Please guard us well.”
p>Rua smiled sweetly at the knight who had come to report departure.
p>The knight’s face brightened like the sun itself.
p>“I will lay down my life for you!”
p>Once the knight left, Rua turned back to me.
p>Her smile was far brighter and more unrestrained than the one she had shown the knight.
p>Rua never held back in front of me. She revealed herself completely.
p>“The Empire’s escort troops are there too. Why give up your life?”
p>“I like it that way. I’ll give my all to the escort mission.”
p>As she spoke, the carriage began to move.
p>“It’ll take about four days. What should we do on the way?”
p>“What do you mean? Play with me.”
p>She nuzzled her face against my arm.
p>“This is enough to make me happy.”
p>“Oh, now that I think of it…”
p>I reached behind the carriage seat and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box.
p>“What’s this?”
p>“You’ll know when you open it. Open it yourself.”
p>Rua picked up the box and first smelled the aroma before opening it.
p>Her eyes widened in shock.
p>“Oppa, this can’t be…”
p>“Exactly what you’re thinking.”
p>Inside the box were pastries from Café Lyonnaise, the Lakeland specialty I had bought on the way back from the Empire yesterday.
p>I remembered how delicious they were and had gone back with my teacher to get more.
p>Delfin, who ran the stall, recognized us from afar and shot up from his seat.
p>“My prince and princess! I’ll give you the best price!”
p>And when I said the gifts were for my sister, he lowered the price even further because I was handsome, rich, and kind.
p>“Thank you so much. They won’t let me eat desserts because they say I have to manage my diet in the capital.”
p>Rua’s eyes sparkled as she examined the pastries in her hands.
p>They didn’t even shine as brightly as the jewels the Empire had sent as gifts.
p>Even without taking them out, the sweet scent filled the carriage.
p>Rua’s expression when she took one into her mouth…
p>froze.
p>‘Is it not to my liking?’
p>“Oppa.”
p>“What is it?”
p>“This is unfair. It’s unfair how delicious it is.”
p>Rua’s frozen face slowly melted.
p>She wiped her chest with a sigh of pure relief.
p>“By the way, these aren’t from Solea, are they?”
p>“Correct. How did you know?”
p>“If there were such delicious pastries in Solea, the royal palace would have received them long ago. The Empire’s envoys brought them, didn’t they?”
p>Rua’s sharp instincts worked even in this moment.
p>I wanted to brag that I had gone to the Empire and bought them, but that would sound ridiculous.
p>“I’m a little angry with the envoys. If they brought something this delicious, they should have given it to me first.”
p>“Exactly. They’re not subtle at all.”
p>“But eating this makes me even more excited.”
p>Her expression had turned serious again.
p>“The Empire is a large and developed country. When I go, I’ll absorb everything and make it mine.”
p>A ten-year-old saying such words was simply amazing.
p>Every single sentence was full of spirit.
p>Just watching her eat the pastries made my heart swell with pride as her older brother.
p>Rua didn’t finish all the pastries in the box.
p>Still, as if regretting it, she licked the crumbs off her fingers.
p>Looking at that, she was just a child.
p>I was only fifteen; I shouldn’t have said it aloud.
p>But inside, I was an over-thirty uncle.
p>“Oppa, should we play chess?”
p>“Chess?”
p>With nothing to do, Rua pulled out the chessboard.
p>Without even asking if I liked it, she naturally started.
p>Rua loved all kinds of games.
p>But she especially loved competing against others.
p>The problem was that even once she lost, she would sulk for a long time instead of accepting it as a game.
p>And she would train desperately to win the next time.
p>I had played chess with Rua before.
p>Three games straight, and I lost all of them.
p>After I lost three times in a row, Rua lost interest in playing me and stopped asking.
p>There was nothing else to do, and her sparkling eyes made refusal impossible.
p>“I’ll be the white piece.”
p>“You’re the white piece? I should be the one to choose.”
p>“No. I’m not good at chess.”
p>Playing chess I hadn’t touched in over ten years was strangely nostalgic.
p>Even before, I wasn’t good at it, but since I hadn’t played for so long, maybe my skill had actually decreased.
p>Thankfully, I still remembered the rules.
p>“Then I’ll start with the black piece.”
p>The moment Rua made her first move, we fell silent.
p>Rua gave every game her all, so I had to answer her with all my heart.
p>There was also the worry that if I won too easily, she would accuse me of letting her win.
p>The more I played, the more I was surprised.
p>One was Rua’s skill.
p>I had never known she was so good.
p>Her moves were incredible.
p>The other was my own unexpected strength.
p>I could see exactly how far she aimed and how to block it.
p>And I kept looking ahead two or three moves.
p>The result…
p>“Hee… I lost.”
p>I had won.
p>In truth, Rua was the one who had made me stop playing chess.
p>Being defeated three times in a row by a younger sister four years my junior made me question whether chess was even a fun game.
p>“Let’s play again.”
p>Rua’s face was filled with frustration.
p>“When did you practice?”
p>“Never.”
p>“That’s impossible! Don’t lie!”
p>Her expression said she refused to believe it.
p>This was the feeling of victory.
p>I didn’t know why Rua hated me so much now, but she was still the adorable little sister.
p>But in my previous life, she had been the one who ended me with a plot I couldn’t escape.
p>So the thrill of victory felt even sweeter.
p>“But what if I really did practice?”
p>“The famous chess-playing father of the Empire also lost to me. I even took chess lessons because it was fun, and the teacher who taught me lost too. How could I lose to Oppa…?”
p>Rua trembled, clenching her fists.
p>“Then let’s play again.”
p>“No way.”
p>“Hmph… why!”
p>“Your face looks scary right now. If I win one more, you won’t leave me alone.”
p>“Where would that even happen! Ah, that means you’ll win the next game too, right? I can’t stand it! I won’t stand it! Let’s play again quickly!”
p>Ignoring my will, Rua started setting up the board again.
p>Suddenly the carriage lurched violently and stopped.
p>Rua’s chess pieces toppled over.
p>I opened the window and stuck my head out to check.
p>“What is it?”
p>“I’ll find out right away.”
p>The carriage Rua and I were in was right in the middle of the envoys’ procession.
p>The distance to the front was considerable, so it would take time to go back and check what had happened.
p>A single escort knight galloped off at full speed.
p>I had sent the knight ahead, but I already knew what had happened.
p>It was clear.
p>From the forest, the sound of swords being drawn.