Chapter 36
"......The greatest dishonor of my life."
After a heavy silence, Aria let out a sigh and spoke up.
"But if it's for Shushu sis, I'll bear even the dishonor. Let me be clear—my true family is just Shushu sis. We're less like parent and child and more like partners working for Shushu sis's happiness."
"Truly audacious."
"Say brave, instead."
Sharp glares flew between Kaiser and Aria. They were both curling their lips in smiles as they looked at each other, but the air crackled with an unmistakable battle of wills.
"Fine. Then what about you, Kashmir?"
I flinched under Kaiser's gaze turning my way.
Truth be told, I still wasn't sure. Whether I belonged in a place like this. Whether it was okay that this situation had twisted so far from the original story. Whether I could afford to open my heart to anyone.
I feared getting hurt in relationships with others. I knew all too well how far people could fall for love, so even the idea of something precious forming terrified me. That was why, aside from Aria, I hadn't formed deep bonds with anyone else up to now.
But......
In exchange for avoiding hurt from people, my solitude had become excruciating. I had to be Aria's pillar of support. I couldn't lean on a child who was already suffering. Nor could I pour out everything to her. Aria wasn't a friend—she was the little sister I had to protect.
An empty void gnawed at me, an unquenchable thirst burning in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, I'd needed a reliable shoulder to lean on without reservation for a long time now.
"......I'm really nothing special."
My vision blurred. My eyes might have even grown a little hot. I knew my self-esteem was pathetically low, but building confidence in myself had always been impossibly hard for me.
"Still, if someone who's only good at swinging a sword is okay... then I want to become the Duke's daughter."
I wanted to taste carefree happiness, even if just once.
"That'll do."
Kaiser chuckled softly, ruffling my hair before pulling me into a tight embrace.
"Kashmir Crisis, Aria Crisis. Welcome, my daughters."
That winter day was one of dazzling wonder, one I'd never forget even if my entire life wore away to nothing.
Aria Crisis is a genius.
No one could argue against that simple statement.
She was an undeniable genius of the century.
Too easy.
She never forgot anything she'd seen once. Subjects requiring application like math or magic, games like chess that demanded spatial awareness, tactics, and intuition all at once, probability calculations, deduction, essays—anything that took brainpower was effortless for her.
And among those, she was most adept at reading and manipulating people's emotions.
Aria excelled in tasks demanding keen observation, innate senses, intuition, and quick situational grasp.
She was cunning. She knew precisely when to yield and when to push forward. She could read the razor-thin line of propriety and discern whether the person before her was a wolf that would tear her apart or a guardian who would protect her.
In Aria's eyes, Kaiser Crisis was a wolf that could never harm her. He had fangs that could rip out her throat in an instant, yet he could never attack.
But why did the man who never once helped sis when she was struggling show up now to aid us?
She'd provoked him because she was certain he wouldn't hurt her. She never faced a beast without that certainty.
Aria resented the intrusion into their world of just the two of them. Kashmir was hers alone. Her sister. She'd agreed to share their world for Kashmir's happiness, but she hated it.
She knew Kashmir was someone anyone could fall for, shining so brightly, and she wanted her to be loved by many. But now that it was happening, the thought of sharing Kashmir's love twisted her guts.
"Hello, Young Master."
Aria Crisis's wariness toward Kal Crisis stemmed from all this.
After finishing their talk in the study, Aria cornered Kal just outside.
Kal, who had been staring fixedly at Aria as she curved her eyes and flashed a friendly smile, smirked in return.
"You act like that in front of Shushu, but you don't need to put on that act with me."
"If you say so, I'll drop it gladly."
The smile vanished from her coral lips in an instant. Kal let out a hollow laugh at the abrupt shift.
"We can drop the formalities when it's just us, right? Our status is the same now anyway."
"Do as you like."
Aria twisted her lips. An icy chill wrapped around them, too frigid for mere attraction.
How many probing glares were exchanged in that tense standoff? Aria spoke first.
"I don't like you or your father."
"Feeling's mutual."
"But you love Shushu sis."
A straight fastball accompanied by a sneer, and Kal affirmed it with silence.
Even after landing the hit, Aria's expression soured as she peered deep into his eyes before roughly sweeping back her bangs.
"......Not a lighthearted thing, is it."
"Ha...... Yeah. Sis has always drawn people in."
Aria was gifted at reading others' emotions. What irked her more, since this outsider resembled her sister, was the heavy, obsessive madness in his eyes when he spoke of Kashmir.
"One question. Do you want Shushu sis's happiness, or do you just want to possess her?"
"I want Shushu happy."
"More honestly."
"Ideally, in my hands."
"You're insane."
Aria flashed a smile laced with disgust, meeting his gaze with twisted eyes.
"I want sis happy in my hands too."
Two pairs of eyes filled with dark, sticky obsession. Their gazes were mirror images.
"You definitely want Shushu's happiness, right?"
"Yeah."
"And you know I'm necessary for that?"
"......Yeah. It shows."
Kal spat it out grudgingly, his face twisted in dissatisfaction as he barely acknowledged the unwelcome truth. Aria grinned fiercely.
She knew full well how vital she was to her sister's life.
"Hate to admit it, but you seem necessary for sis's happiness too."
"Probably. I'm someone sis cherishes."
This time Kal grinned, and Aria scowled in distaste.
"But the one sis loves most is me."
"We'll see if it stays that way."
A fierce battle of wills raged between two pairs of eyes—different in hue but matching in feverish intensity and emotion.
How long had they glared? Aria gritted her teeth in a smile and extended her hand to Kal.
"For sis's happiness, we'll have to face each other often, even if we hate it. Let's get along from now on—not as siblings, but as comrades."
To Aria, family was one person only. She had no intention of letting anyone else into that warm, profound place besides Kashmir. Her eyes, requesting an unavoidable alliance, brimmed with open displeasure.
"Yeah. For Shushu's happiness."
Kal, equally displeased, gripped her hand in an awkward shake and yanked it back quickly.
"Then head in, Brother Kal. See you at dinner."
Aria donned the mask of an affectionate little sister in a flash, beaming sweetly. Kal, his face furrowed, soon wore the guise of a doting brother and smiled warmly.
"Sure. See you later. Rest well."
Then they turned their backs.
As they faced away, their expressions cooled to the same frigid temperature.
Not a drop of blood connected them, yet they were eerily alike.
Ah.
Ah.
The thought dominating both their minds was identical.
Disgusting.
Disgusting.
The visceral revulsion toward their own kind. Hatred of one's own kind.
From the day I became Kashmir Crisis, I was swamped without a moment's rest.
"Miss! What perfume for your debutante? I've narrowed it to five—pick one!"
"Debutantes wear at least one accessory engraved with the family crest by tradition. Brooch? Necklace? Hairpin?"
"Lip color? Society's trending pale pink now, but red shades would suit you too."
All for debutante preparations.
From now until a week from today, you and Aria must prepare for the debutante. The timeline's tight, but better to get it done this year than push to next.
Debutante. The grand stage for noble ladies and gentlemen turning fifteen, entering adulthood. Held annually at the Snowflake Ball, success here shaped one's entire social career.
Five maids besides Maria were assigned to me personally: twenty-somethings named Ren, Dalia, Cherish, Penny, and Bell—young but seasoned.
"When you burst in breaking the door, I thought I'd seen the Grim Reaper. That intimidation, that aura...... You're the coolest lady in the world. Women with swords are the best."
The maids, initially wary, soon treated me like an old friend after spending time together.
"This is Helena Levito, Countess, in charge of ladies' etiquette training."
The next day, Aria and I got a tutor for crash etiquette before the debutante.
The middle-aged woman introducing herself as Helena Countess eyed us cautiously. Our adoption into the ducal house was the kingdom's hottest topic, so curiosity was natural.
"I've heard both of you need to start from the basics. Time's short, so we'll skip foundations and cram only the essentials for the debutante. The schedule will be intense."
Even knowing our commoner past, Helena remained courteous. I gave her high marks as we began.
"Walk softly and lightly, hands clasped demurely before your dress—not swinging. Greet other nobles with a graceful, haughty nod. Only curtsy deeply to royalty or His Holiness the Pope. Feet together."
As expected, noble etiquette was intricate. Helena taught a torrent at high speed, with classes slated for four hours daily until the eve of the debutante.
But two factors her perfect curriculum hadn't accounted for:
"Lady Aria is flawless. Like a graceful heron. Heavens! Such perfect poise—grasping the key point after one demo!"
Aria was this world's heroine, poised to reclaim her throne in high society.
And
"......Unbelievable. You memorized everything after one look? That's not possible...... Tango steps too? Without even watching properly?!"
I was a Sword Master with genius-level instinct for anything physical.