Ep.8 - The Sisters' Tale (3)
Ep.8 - The Sisters' Tale (3)
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The love between them began to go awry one day, when Eva returned after enduring a full day of subtle disregard and persecution.
That day, Neva had been waiting for Eva from the front of the mansion.
Eva quickly recovered her smile at her beloved sister's greeting, but Neva did not soften her expression even at her younger sister's smile.
"Eva. Why didn't you tell your sister."
Neva said in a slightly stiff voice. Eva didn't understand what Neva meant and asked what she meant, but.
"...Your sister already took care of it. Don't worry. I'll protect you."
Neva left only that meaningful remark and hugged Eva.
The next day, when Eva went back to school,
strangely, a tense atmosphere hung over the school.
There were no friends laughing and chatting as usual, and even the teachers all seemed to be watching Eva warily.
At first she only felt something was off,
but the three students who had been particularly malicious towards Eva came hesitantly, utterly terrified,
"Eva, s-sorry... I think we've been really mean to you. Will you accept our apology...?"
As they bowed their heads, trembling, Eva finally realized what had happened.
Neva had caught the ones who badmouthed her and given them a proper scolding.
"Uh, yeah? Ah..."
Eva scratched her head as if troubled, but accepted their apology. They bowed, sniffling as they said thank you, God, over and over, and disappeared; from that day on, no one dared speak ill of Eva.
Honestly, Eva felt inwardly pleased.
She was happy that her sister had looked after her, thank God, and she was happy that thanks to her cool sister, she was no longer ridiculed.
Since there were no more students chewing her out, a few friends naturally formed,
and the teachers no longer compared Eva to Neva.
Going to school, unlike before, became quite enjoyable.
In a life better than before, Eva gradually regained stability.
The more she hung out with her peers, the more she smiled.
But,
something began to change little by little...
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"Eva, why were you late again today? Hm?"
"Ah, sis... it's not that, I was wandering around thinking what flowers to plant in the garden..."
"I told you to come on time. Do you know how worried I was?"
Neva had gradually become strict.
Neva, who had always been kind and easygoing, was growing stranger.
"Put the flowers away and come inside quickly. Right now."
"B-but still, sis. Wanna smell this flower? It's really nice. Huh?"
"...Okay. It's nice. Now that's enough, come inside."
She hardly smiled.
Even the blossoms Eva had picked couldn't bring a smile back to Neva's lips.
With each passing day, Neva began controlling every aspect of Eva's life, and if Eva didn't follow even a little, Neva punished her.
"Go to your room. Right now."
"No, sis...! Really. A butterfly landed on the flower so I waited a bit..."
"I said go in. Right now. Don't talk back."
The punishment was simple.
Staying in your room until you reflect.
"Tomorrow, don't go to school and just stay home. I'll let them know."
"Huh...? Why?"
"Because you didn't listen to me, Eva."
Originally, it was preposterous for a mere student to interfere with attendance or anything, but Neva's word, having already begun to receive the favor of the [princess] who would rule the country in the future, was indeed absolute.
And, her word was absolute even at home. Neva's word, which stood in for that of their parents—and God—was not something Eva dared defy.
"...Okay."
"Quickly wash up and let's sleep. And, that friend, is she a decent kid? She isn't bothering you, is she?"
"She's not bothering me. She's just a friend..."
"What's her name."
"Why do you need her name...?"
"Quickly. What's her name."
"P-Pione."
"...Fine. Got it."
Neva began managing Eva's entire life.
Unlike the happy, leisurely days of the past,
for Neva—who now had no leisure at all—
the last remaining precious family was a treasure she had to protect at all costs, no matter what.
Even through all the grueling training, Neva never let go of Eva.
Neva's eyes were always fixed on her younger sister,
and if anything even slightly worrisome happened, she would apply that strict standard and safeguard her sister.
No one dared speak to Eva.
No one at all.
But Eva could feel it.
"All students who received failing marks must stay. There is supplementary class."
Her own talent was terrible, and she was still scraping bottom, but.
"I failed again. My mom said if I fail one more time she'll strike me from the family register..."
"Who among us isn't failing!"
And, by her side, there were failing student friends who scraped bottom along with her, but.
"...Ah, Eva, you may go."
She didn't receive harsh supplementary classes or training like other friends,
didn't get scolded, didn't hear nagging,
"...Yes."
merely receiving special treatment from professors who were watching out for Neva, who was strongly favored to become the [next queen's escort knight]...
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"Eva. I specifically told the professors to exempt you from supplementary class. Why were you late? Did the professors make you take a lesson? Tell me. Right now, I'll..."
"...It's not like that. I just waited because I wanted to go with the others..."
"So you broke your promise again. Go to your room."
"But, sis! I-I know you care about me, but this actually makes me feel self-conscious..."
"Go to your room."
"..."
"I said go to your room."
Eva always received special treatment.
Swordsmanship training, exempt.
Wooden sword practice, exempt.
Supplementary class, exempt.
Even failing marks, all exempt.
"No. You might get hurt. You're weak, Eva, so skip all those classes."
"Yeah..."
No one even dared to teach her anymore, and they just glossed over things while gauging Neva's reaction.
"Where are you going?"
"Uh, yeah! Flower viewing with the kids..."
"No. It's dangerous."
"But we said we'd all go together...!"
"No. If you're going, go with me or don't go."
Even when going somewhere, Neva always followed,
and when Neva followed like that, Eva would be called to the principal's office at school the next day...
"Um, Miss Eva? You know well, but your sister, you see, hm? It's an extremely important time. A critical period when she must not miss school or training. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
"...Yes."
She was scolded quietly. Very quietly.
So much so that it didn't even feel like a scolding, while receiving excellent treatment, sitting in the principal's office chair with everyone walking on eggshells around her.
The implication to please not hinder her sister's future and to just quietly listen to her sister was subtly wrapped in very kind and gentle words...
"That's right. It's good for you too, Miss Eva, if your sister does well, isn't it? Aren't sisters supposed to look after each other? You have such a good sister. Let's also endure a little for her, Miss Eva."
"Yes..."
Eva's life was tuned by Neva.
Unlike her parents, who had left and were beyond Neva's reach,
Eva was an existence Neva could sufficiently control.
Unlike her parents,
to protect Eva, Neva did her best.
"Sis, at school we're all going on a field dispatch..."
"Where did they say you're going?"
"Um, towards Mythricia Hill..."
"Okay. We'll head that way too."
"...Ah, no. I said I'd go, but I'm just going to stay home..."
"Ah, is that so? Good. You did well."
Eva still loved Neva, but it was inevitable that she grew gradually exhausted.
Even so.
Even so, up until now she could endure it.
Eva felt pitiful for not being able to keep up with her sister and only staying in the shadows.
Unlike those days when she tenaciously participated in training despite everyone's ridicule and harassment,
the present—where everyone watched her mood and tried to curry favor with Neva—felt even more miserable.
No one compared her to her sister anymore,
but that was the same as saying she wasn't even worthy of comparison.
In Neva's arms, where she could no longer grow or change, Eva grew gradually exhausted.
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"Sis! What did you say to them!"
Then, one day,
when even the friends she had barely made began to watch Eva's mood and smiled awkwardly,
Eva finally couldn't hold it in and got angry at Neva for the first time.
"Stop it now! I'll live my own life, so please stop! Am I your doll? Do I have to do exactly as you say!"
It was the pent-up inner feelings bursting out.
However, from Neva's point of view, who had devoted herself wholeheartedly to her younger sister,
the sight of her sister angrily lashing out at her with a sharp voice...
"..."
took on a completely different meaning.
"Go to your room."
"No! You go! From now on, we'll use separate rooms! I'm sick of sleeping together too!"
That day,
Neva grabbed Eva by the arm, dragged her to the room,
threw her inside,
and locked the door from outside.