Audience Match
The Audience Match. The father of the two daughters fell into brief contemplation. Then he realized it. A truly excellent solution. A short while later, he summoned Valentina to his private chambers.
"You've come."
"...."
"When this father asks a question, is it not proper etiquette to answer?"
"...Why did you call for me?"
"Enough. On this matter, at least, I will speak plainly." He addressed Valentina with an emotionless expression. "Do you know that at this Audience Match, we will present Palermo to the family elders?"
"....Yes. That's why you've called me, isn't it."
"Kill Bell at this Audience Match."
"!?"
"Why act so surprised? In the end, only one of you two can become family head."
"......"
"Unlike Tanya, who has no interest in the seat of family head, or Isabella, who fled the household, you're the only two left. Isn't the answer obvious...?"
"......"
"Think of the family's glory. That's all you need to consider."
"....May I say one thing?"
"No. I won't hear anything else."
"No. If you won't listen to what I'm saying right now, then I'll drop everything and head to the outskirts."
".....Speak."
"What happens if I don't kill my sister?"
"If you won't kill Bell... then I will handle it. Living longer would only distance her further from the family's glory. Ending her life swiftly would be an honorable thing for that child."
"I'll take my leave."
(Slam!)
Valentina stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
"......"
The Bonyatelli Family Head gazed at the small gift box on his desk.
"....I wasn't finished speaking yet."
....
The elders of the Bonyatelli Family had gathered in a cluster. Factions with poor relations existed among them. Some pursued only the family's honor and glory. Others sought pure swordsmanship alone. Still others focused solely on the family's practical gains. Though their goals differed, the three factions moved within the single entity known as the Bonyatelli Family to achieve them.
The family head represented the clan's opinions and served as a sort of leader conveying their own. And then... he appeared on the platform.
The family head's words were dull and pedantic. And the theme of this Audience Match was...
"The candidates for family head this time are two. One is Valentina Bonyatelli, the pride of our family."
As the family head spoke, Valentina ascended to the training grounds with two swords at her waist.
"The other is Bell. That concludes the explanation of the second candidate."
The mention of Bell caused a stir.
"Bell..? Haha, is this a joke? You're pitting our Valentina against Bell right now?"
A burly man sneered at the training grounds.
"The family head must have set his mind on killing Bell... Hoo... That heartless bastard anyway..."
Some mocked. Others pitied. But defying their words, the match began immediately.
"May this be an honorable duel under the glory of the Bonyatelli Family."
As the match started, Bell moved first. Corpo di Punta. A sharp thrust surged toward Valentina.
Valentina deflected Bell's attack with her eyes alone. Just like before, Bell attacked, and Valentina evaded. Evade. Evade. Evade again. Meaningless strikes poured toward Valentina.
She glared at Valentina, panting heavily.
"I'm... so... fucking... sick... of it! Father... this damn... family... and you... all of it!!!"
Bell unleashed a barrage combining all her attacks. Crunch. Blood sprayed. Blood gushed as she vomited from her mouth.
The Bonyatelli Family had one profoundly confusing trait. Distinguishing Bell from Valentina. The two resembled each other far too closely. To tell them apart, it wasn't eye color—but hair length. Bell's hair resembled the long locks of Valentina's future self, weathered by every hardship. But Valentina's was short, mid-length, still immature.
The one vomiting blood was Valentina.
"!?"
The entire training grounds fell silent in an instant.
"What... what the hell is this!"
Where Bell looked, Valentina stood with a rapier deeply embedded in her abdomen.
She had stabbed her little sister with her own hand. Killed her little sister with her own hand.
"Satisfied now..?"
At Valentina's question, Bell froze solid.
"No... I... this shitty..."
"What's going on here..? The one stabbed isn't that idiot Bell... it's Valentina..?"
"I see it the same way. The long-haired one is Bell. The stabbed one is Valentina."
In an instant, the training grounds erupted in chaos.
"What the hell is Valentina doing? She could've easily dodged that."
At first, such minor questions.
"Disappointing, Valentina. So much for the family's glory—this is pathetic."
"In the end, sisterly bonds, huh? Truly disappointing."
No one in the entire training grounds worried for the two sisters. The family head watched silently, saying nothing.
Bell hastily withdrew the sword and staunched Valentina's wound.
"What the hell were you thinking!..? Did I look that pitiful to you..?"
"....Sick... of it all, right..? Then wouldn't everything be solved if I died?"
"What..?"
"You said you were sick of everything. Then it should end if I die, right?"
"No.. no... that's not what I wanted.."
Bell's eyes reddened. She tore strips from her own clothes to bind Valentina's wound.
"Please... please... snap out of it... Big sis did wrong... I'm sorry.."
Consciousness faded. Vision darkened. So sleepy.
....
When Valentina opened her eyes, Bell sat beside her in a chair, dozing off with her head nodding.
"...."
Valentina lifted her clothes to check. Her wound was tightly wrapped in multiple layers of bandages.
"Thought they'd use a K Corp ampoule to heal me right away. Fucking stingy bastards."
At Valentina's outburst, Bell jolted awake beside her.
"Valentina..?"
"...."
An awkward silence hung briefly. Bell spoke first.
"Um... are you okay..?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
(Hug)
Bell embraced Valentina tightly.
"Thank god. Really... Big sis is so sorry... None of it was sincere... I must've lost my mind for a bit.."
"Yeah.."
Valentina awkwardly patted the back of her sister-figure.
"I'll go buy more medicine right now."
"No. I'm good now. See? I'm perfectly fine."
"No.. you need to rest more."
She held Valentina in her arms, unmoving for several minutes.
"....Big sis, I'm exhausted now."
"Ah.. look at me... You can't do this to someone who's hurt... Anything you wanna eat..?"
It was hard to believe this was the same person who'd hurled bottles and spewed curses at her before. Perhaps this was Bell's true face. Someone who cared for her siblings. Who only lashed out when needed. Maybe her twistedness stemmed from starved affection.
"Big sis is really sorry... I always had to be strong... but I couldn't hold on alone anymore.."
"I'm really fine."
"No.. I should've endured a bit longer. I was too hasty.."
"....."
"It's been a while, but... will you call me big sis like before?"
She didn't know what to say. She wasn't Valentina. She wanted to tell her: I'm not the person you know. I'm not your sister—I'm someone else. But...
"Yeah.. okay."
She decided to accept it. No good ending would come from changing things here. Then, after a brief hesitation, Valentina flushed and spoke to her.
"Um... sorry for always leaving you alone.."
Bell smiled and stroked Valentina's hair.
"Hehe... Good girl, my little sister... It's fine. I don't care about that anymore. I'm not alone now."
The sisters' warm embrace didn't last long. Someone opened the door and entered.
"Valentina, I am truly disappointed in you this time."
The last face she wanted to see appeared. The Bonyatelli Family Head. Her father, who held no affection for his daughters.