The Three Sisters (5)

"Mmm..."

Lucilla, who had been nodding off, finally fell asleep. Her two older sisters watched her with soft chuckles.

It was about time to head to bed.

"Looks like Lucilla's getting sleepy too. Shall we wrap things up?"

"Yes, sister."

The two tidied up the cards they'd been playing with. Lucilla, still dozing, was hoisted onto Veronica's back.

"I'll head out now. Sleep well."

"You too, sister."

Now fully recovered from the flu, Ellensia spent time with her older sister and younger one. Or rather, they were practically glued together.

Wherever she went, her two sisters trailed her with worried eyes, refusing to let her out of sight. But she understood. After losing their mother, they couldn't bear the thought of losing another family member.

That was what family meant.

"We played the whole day away..."

They'd had so much fun it almost felt excessive. Perhaps that's why memories of the past bubbled up in Ellensia's mind.

Surely it was like this before.

There ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had been times like that, hadn't there? Back when they were little, the three of them spent so much time together.

Being alone was always boring, but together, it was joyful. Just visiting another room created something to do, and even hide-and-seek in this vast mansion had them laughing and chatting endlessly.

On days when Veronica studied, she'd drag Lucilla along to hide and watch secretly. When she got scolded harshly, they'd cheer her up. And for celebrations, they'd make them even bigger.

There was that one time they stayed up all night playing in secret. Just by going to each other's rooms. Just by syncing their schedules. Even just staying home.

It was fun.

As long as the three of them were together.

"...It was like that."

But could it be like that in the future too? The moment the question arose, Ellensia sank into gloom.

In the future... back then...

"No matter how hard I try... it won't work anymore, will it?"

"What won't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠work, Lady Ellensia?"

"...!"

Ellensia whipped her head around at the sudden voice, then relaxed. Thankfully, it was only Tia who'd overheard.

"Ah. T-Tia. Haha."

"Today... I've unintentionally startled several people. More importantly, what do you mean by 'it won't work'? If there's something you need, you can ask me."

"N-No, it's not like that."

And it didn't seem like she'd heard the whole thing either.

"...I know you don't like ordering the servants around willy-nilly, Lady Ellensia. But sometimes, I wish you'd be a bit more demanding. You always try to do everything yourself."

Tia gazed at her steadily for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

Apparently, her talk of "trying somehow" had been interpreted as her past desperate attempts to manage things alone.

...That was a relief.

"Everyone works so hard. You too, Tia. How could I?"

"That's what troubles us more. When you handle things yourself, it feels like we're not properly serving our lady... Oh."

"Got it. Got it. Tia, clear these empty plates. Happy now?"

"...This is exactly our job."

Relief washed over her three times. That conversation must never reach Veronica or Lucilla's ears, even by accident. It was lucky Tia had only caught the mumble.

And even if she had, she hadn't heard it all. In fact, her misunderstanding was a true blessing.

And finally... having someone she could ask for help.

That was fortunate too.

Clink.

Tia set down the dishes she'd been clearing for a moment.

"Lady Ellensia. May I ask you something...?"

"Yes?"

Tia hesitated in a way that was unlike her.

"What's wrong?"

"Well..."

She paused again. But this time, she spoke up.

"Did something happen with the Duke?"

"Huh?"

The problem was, the question caught her completely off guard.

"Um. Tia. I have no idea what you mean. Something with the Duke...?"

For a question preceded by such a long pause, it felt utterly out of left field. Ellensia gave an awkward smile in response.

"...You truly don't know either?"

"Yeah. Sorry. Nothing comes to mind."

Nothing did. The only thing she knew was that the Duke had stopped by her room to deliver medicine.

"This is troubling. There must be a reason Lady Veronica is so angry..."

"What? Sister got mad at you, Tia? That can't be... Why would sister get mad at you...?"

"Ah, I've confused you. My apologies. Lady Veronica didn't get angry at me, Lady Ellensia."

"Then?"

"I could only infer that she was angry. I don't know the exact reason... but I do know at whom."

Tia continued with a troubled expression.

"She firmly declared she won't attend breakfast tomorrow. That's what I meant."

"Sister's skipping breakfast...?"

Skipping breakfast. At first, Ellensia just tilted her head. But...

Thinking deeper, she understood Tia's words instantly.

The Duke...

Yes. The target of Veronica's anger was none other than the Duke. She didn't even want to see his face tomorrow morning.

She was so furious she'd told Tia she'd skip the meal entirely.

But why? The Duke didn't do anything wrong...

Around that thought, images of Lucilla and Veronica surfaced.

Veronica's uncomfortable expression, reluctant to mention it. And

"What's the point if that old man saved it!"

Lucilla snapping back in anger. And

"Why can't you just be grateful, sister! Because of that old man, you got s—...!"

"Lucilla. That's enough."

Lucilla fuming, and Veronica stepping in to stop her.

Something had been missed in between. The flu and the medicine. Not gratitude, but blame. Veronica's anger directed at the Duke.

And... the words Lucilla hadn't finished.

"It's because of that old man that you got sick, sister!"

That was surely it.

"Tia. What exactly did sister say?"

"Lady Veronica said..."

"...Lady Ellensia?"

Everything clicked into place. The final key was Ellensia herself.

She didn't know how they'd figured it out, but Veronica and Lucilla knew. That she'd visited the Duke early that morning.

"Isn't this Widen's diagnosis report?"

"Pardon? Well, yes it is..."

Flip.

Reading the flu symptoms written by their family physician Widen turned suspicion into certainty.

"Sorry, Tia. I need to go see the Duke for a bit."

If he'd noticed in the Duke's room and kept her warm from the start, no issue would have arisen. If he'd warmed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her when early symptoms appeared and shielded her fully from the cold, it wouldn't have worsened so much.

The dizzy spells every two minutes or so. Matching the first early symptom she'd shown in the Duke's room.

The first to act had been the Duke himself.

That was Veronica's conclusion.

But that conclusion was...

Wrong. I got sick right after leaving the Duke's room.

It was utterly wrong—a false accusation leading to wrongful blame.

Night fell over the ducal residence.

Activity levels dropped. Time to sleep, preparing for the leap into tomorrow.

The children drifted off one by one. Servants sought rest.

But I still had much to do. Time to revise documents and gather data one by one.

"Your Grace. Here's the summary you requested."

"Good."

"And... the hair dye."

Servants should obey the Duke—me—naturally, but they clearly wouldn't take kindly to it. Such details emerge in minor orders.

I'd requested dye per the tutorial... but what he brought was.

No special magic or superior effects. Just the simplest, weakest dye that vanished with a single wash.

Replacing the Duchess as Duke was like a rolling stone displacing a fixed one. For those who'd served the honorable Freyvelric house, following some unknown commoner was humiliating.

And if there'd been no issues, fine—but now, word had spread that we'd neglected Ellensia's flu, harming their true lady.

They wouldn't view favorably the one who'd hurt their real master.

Yes. From this moment, I had no allies in the ducal house.

I had to face that squarely.

Cheap stuff like this is easy to get for that reason.

I even needed to exploit it.

No need to complete this tutorial now. Better to wait for the right moment.

"Good work this late. Go rest—"

Knock knock.

As I dismissed the servant, someone knocked.

"Your Grace. May I come in?"

This voice... Ellensia?

Why is she here?

It should be her bedtime after spending time with Veronica and Lucilla.

"Sorry if you're busy. But I have something important to say."

"Uh, Your Grace...?"

The servant fidgeted. He needed to leave; she wanted to enter.

No choice.

"...Open the door and leave us."

"Th-Then I'll take my leave!"

The servant shut the door behind him. Now, only two remained.

The stage was set for talk.

"I don't know why you've come, but sit first."

"..."

"Ellensia?"

...Yet strangely, no words came.

Sorry. Because of me, the Duke... So I came to apologize.

The misunderstanding from my flu. Someone must've seen me entering your room this morning... It got twisted, and you heard harsh words from Veronica and Lucilla...

Sister's anger shouldn't be aimed at you. Lucilla's blame neither. All the keys are with me.

Yes. That's right.

I read Widen's diagnosis on the flu too, but I was fine in your room. The first chill hit in the corridor...

Everyone's mistaken just because I visited. Especially since you got the medicine...

Sorry. I'll explain properly to sister and Lucilla myself, clear the misunderstanding.

This wrongness had to be righted. It was purely her fault.

It wouldn't be odd if he were angry. Normal to vent about undeserved scolding. Even lament being blamed like a criminal despite fetching the medicine.

She'd accept it all.

However.

Righting it would confirm one fact.

If I say this... sister will...

That she had left her alone. That Veronica was the one who could have kept her warm but didn't.

Meaning sister endangered her—turning into a sharp arrow, carving deep wounds.

She knew better than anyone what kind of person Veronica was. Already scarred from losing their mother...

"...That's."

Mentioning it would wound her sister irreparably.

Sorry should come without hesitation. It was obvious.

But her mouth wouldn't move.

She stood like that for a long while.

To such an Ellensia, the Duke approached first.

"Ellensia. If you've come thinking you've done wrong, that's a misunderstanding."

"...Pardon?"

"It's the truth. You've done nothing wrong."