Blood Can't Lie
"...Mm."
As my eyes fluttered open, a very familiar ceiling came into view. It seemed I was back in my room from before enrolling at Sunrise Academy.
"Agh...!"
Feeling a bit disoriented about why I was seeing my room's ceiling, I tried to sit up—only for excruciating pain to surge through my entire body. I ended up curling up, trembling uncontrollably. That's when someone quietly gripped my hand.
"...Young Master."
"Kania."
We stared at each other in silence for a while before opening our mouths at the exact same moment, as if on cue.
"It's all my fault..."
"Sorry for showing you such a pathetic mess."
We finished speaking and fell into another quiet gaze.
"...What do you mean, your fault?"
Eventually breaking the silence, I forced a smile and continued.
"You didn't go to Cardia because you didn't want to, right? Sure, it caused a bit of a scene, but if it means your curse can be lifted..."
"No, that's not... it's not that..."
"Hm...?"
But for some reason, Kania's face twisted in anguish, and soon she began to sob.
"Kania...? What's wrong...?"
"I-I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Young Master..."
"......?"
Finally, Kania prostrated herself over me on the bed, apologizing in a trembling voice. As I patted her back in confusion, trying to comfort her...
- Thud... thud...
""......!""
Footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing closer to my room. Startled, Kania and I hurriedly pulled away from each other.
- Creeeak...
The door opened, revealing my sister, Aria Raon Starlight. We exchanged a quick glance and seamlessly slipped into our act.
"Young Master... what the hell did you do to my little sister...?"
"Beats me—I didn't do anything."
"But that potion..."
"Get out!!"
I yelled, hurling the pillow beside me at Kania. It hit her face dead-on the next instant.
"...Huh?"
I froze for a second before recomposing myself, snorting inwardly as I grumbled.
...Why didn't she dodge?
I'd secretly signaled her to dodge when I threw it, but Kania hadn't moved. Did she miss the signal? Or did she take the hit on purpose to make our act more convincing?
Either way, I felt terrible for her.
"...As you command."
As those thoughts raced through my mind, Kania left the room with a pained expression.
"...Disgusting bastard."
The moment she was gone, Aria's icy tirade began.
"If anything happens to Cardia... I'll blow your head off... you trash..."
"...Hanging out with lowly scum and turning lowborn yourself, Aria?"
"What did you just say?"
"Playing around with trash makes you complacent. Got it?"
Aria's face paled with rage at my words. I snorted derisively at her and pressed on.
"We're the heirs of the Starlight Duke's family, wielding unchecked power in the empire. Kania and Cardia are rootless plebs scraped from the filthy back alleys."
"...Ha."
"Instead of wasting affection on such filth, you should be honing your social graces for the family's sake..."
"Shut up."
Aria cut me off with a feral growl, gathering Star Mana in her hand as she advanced.
"You can't talk back to the acting head..."
"Your mouth just spews vile crap every time it opens."
"What?"
"I'll shove the Star Mana you're so jealous of right down your throat. Open wide, trash."
With that, Aria aimed her hand at my face, a complex magic circle materializing in her palm.
...As expected from my smart little sister.
I gazed at her, lost in thought for a moment.
If I, as the 'Star Knight,' wielded Star Mana within, my sister Aria was the 'Star Sorceress' who unleashed it outward. Having inherited our mother's prowess—the greatest Star Sorceress in Starlight history—she would one day become a magnificent mage safeguarding the empire.
Moreover, my sister had a kind heart. Unlike the rotten empire's nobles, she loved caring for and aiding the impoverished citizens.
In the previous loop, she'd used the family's wealth to support them right up until the empire's fall. Of course, she'd turned away any corrupt nobles who came knocking.
And finally, my sister was utterly adorable. As a child, she'd toddle after me, eyes wide like a startled rabbit when I turned. Then she'd beam and throw herself into my arms...
"Open your mouth, you piece of trash."
"...Mm."
Snap out of my reminiscing by her cold voice, I looked up to find Aria inches away, glaring contemptuously with her magic circle trained on my mouth.
...Karma's a bitch.
The Aria who'd weep bitterly, cling to me begging me to stop bullying the servants, kneel pleading for her kind brother to return—she was gone. As my villainy dragged on for months, years, decades, her heart wore down until only contempt, disgust, and loathing remained.
- Snap!
With a flick of my fingers, servants flooded into the room.
"...Get her out."
""Understood.""
At my curt order, they swarmed Aria. Even as the empire's top scoundrel, I held legal authority as the acting head, so they had no choice but to obey.
Of course, one spell from her would send them all flying—but duty bound them to try, forcing Aria to yield.
"Ha, pulling rank, huh?"
As expected, she dispelled her magic once they grabbed her. But she raised a hand to halt those dragging her out, then resumed her cold scolding.
"How's it feel, usurping Father's position?"
"...Classy."
"You psycho—is that even human?"
Dealing with her was growing too painful even for me. I'd tried brushing her off to shoo her away, but she resisted the servants—channeling Star Mana to hold her ground—hurling words at me nonstop.
"So... you're the one who did that to Father?"
"...What?"
"He was healthy, then collapsed on his way home into a coma. Even the empire's best doctors can't explain it."
"........"
"Stress doesn't just fell someone like that. Someone's behind it... and you know Father had no enemies."
"...Aria."
"Don't say my name, you disgusting creep. Anyway, only one person in the empire wants Father down."
Tears streaming, she jabbed a finger at me.
"Now that you're acting head with a smug grin, what did you do to him? That's it, right?"
"...Take her away. Now."
"Next it'll be me? You took Mother and Father from me... now my life too?"
"...I said take her away."
"Mother in heaven must be weeping for you..."
"GET HER THE FUCK OUT, YOU IDIOTS!!!!!!!"
I finally exploded, roaring at the top of my lungs. The servants—who'd been half-assing it for Aria—glared coldly at me before dragging her out.
500pt (Rampage)
"............."
I lay there blankly staring at the system window before dragging my weary body up and shuffling to my desk.
"...Hoo."
I pulled a family photo from a hidden drawer in the desk, gently stroking the beaming faces of Mother, Father, Aria, and me as I murmured.
"...I can hold on. For now."
I lingered there, etching those happy memories into my mind.
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"...Why are you sitting like that?"
"Ah, it's nothing..."
"Looks good, all relaxed."
Time passed, evening arrived, and dinner at the Starlight Duke's Mansion began.
"...This is a 75-year-aged wine airlifted from the Western Continent."
"75 years?"
"Yes, cultivated personally by a master vintner who..."
- Crash!!
"...At least 100 years."
"...Yes, sir."
I wrecked the mood right from the start, dismissing the minor villainy point popup. As the wine glass shattered, I straightened up—only to spot Cardia shrinking again—and spoke.
"...Your posture's slipping again?"
"S-Sorry..."
"Fine, you're cute, so I'll let it slide."
Flashing a sleazy grin, I watched Aria across the table make a nauseated face and snap.
"Hitting on someone my age... psycho."
I ignored her, slicing my steak and casually asking Cardia.
"...Cardia, any changes in your body?"
"Pardon?"
"Y'know... suddenly feeling hot, or a tingling ache in your lower belly..."
Aria's face soured as she overheard my tense question, while Cardia nodded quietly.
"N-Now that you mention it... I've felt a bit warm, and my lower belly's been tingling since earlier..."
"...Oh!"
Grinning ear to ear, I offered her a perfectly cut piece of steak, thinking to myself.
...Finally, awakening to the 'Power of Healing'?
The symptoms I'd asked about were the precursors to awakening the Power of Healing. By tomorrow morning, it'd fully manifest, neutralizing Kania's curse to some degree.
That meant I'd share less life force with her, easing my burden going forward...
"Trash."
".....?"
Aria suddenly trembled all over, resuming her abuse. I lost count of how many times she'd called me that.
"...Cardia, sleep with me tonight. It's been a while."
"Y-Yes? B-But..."
"Cardia sleeps with me tonight... don't even approach. I warned you."
".....?"
I tilted my head at her, and Aria stared daggers into my eyes.
"...Come near, and acting head or not, I'll blast your junk off. Got it?"
".........."
Her glare was so fierce I instinctively crossed my legs, vowing never to stray near their room by mistake.
"...Young Master, aren't you going to bed?"
"...Huh?"
Kania, seated beside me at the head table to separate me from Cardia, asked softly.
"...Cardia's more important right now. She needs to eat well to boost her healing power."
"Is that certain?"
"...Probably?"
"........."
She stared coldly at me for a moment before rising quietly.
"...I'll take my leave."
Then Kania vanished somewhere. Where during dinner?
"What disgusting crap did you say to make Kania look so pissed?"
"...Aria."
"This won't do. I have to get Kania out from under you somehow..."
- Crash!!
"...Eek."
I'd been about to let her words slide, but hearing she'd pull Kania from my service made me smash the cup in my hand.
"Even I have limits to how much I tolerate your insolence, Aria..."
Staring at my bloodied hand, I suppressed my boiling rage and hissed coldly.
"One more time, and I'll disown you and ship you to the back alleys with Cardia. If that's fine, keep talking."
".........."
"Good, you get it. Now shut up and eat."
Aria bit her lip hard, bowed her head, and picked at her food. I glanced at her, then at the system window, smirking bitterly.
1pt (Fuming)
...Can't fool the system, huh.
Kania had become someone truly precious to me without me realizing.
.
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.
"...Haaah."
Finishing dinner and my acting head duties, groans escaped me naturally.
Not because the work was hard or complex—I'd played duke's duties with Serena as kids, so this was child's play.
The issue was my body's condition.
"...Hoo, what a mess."
I'd focused on recovery these past days but had too much to handle, so I hadn't rested properly. My state was still dire—especially the shoulder wound, still prickling painfully.
Wincing at the full-body ache, I sighed and opened the skill shop for the first time in ages.
"No stamina recovery or healing skills. Typical."
Cursing the system's stinginess, I impulse-bought everything left.
"...Well, I had to anyway."
A brief regret, but with nowhere else to spend points, I leaned back in my chair for a short rest.
- Creeeak...
As I relaxed, the door swung open. Thinking Aria had barged in again, I tensed defensively—but it was Kania.
"...Young Master? What's with that ridiculous pose?"
"Nothing... nothing at all."
I flushed slightly and played it off. Kania smiled faintly at me before approaching and setting something down.
"...What's this?"
"Sandwich and coffee. Your favorites."
"Uh... thanks, but why all of a sudden?"
Blinking in confusion, I watched her point at my body with a wry smile.
"Not eating means your wounds won't heal."
"Ah."
Sheepish, I realized she was right. Kania turned toward the door.
"Thanks for the snack, Kania."
I smiled to see her off, but she halted right at the threshold.
- Click!
"...Kania?"
Locking the door, she approached slowly and whispered.
"...Please undress, Young Master."
"...What?"
"Time for your medicine."
"Oh... right? But I can apply it myself..."
"No, I'll do it thoroughly. There are wounds you can't reach."
Scratching my head awkwardly, I cautiously removed my top.
"...Then, let's begin."
I ate the snack she'd prepared, entrusting my body to her touch. Time passed like that.
"...Young Master."
"Yeah?"
After silently applying ointment for a while, Kania gazed at me misty-eyed and asked.
"Is something wrong?"
"...Nothing's wrong."
Forcing casualness, she frowned.
"Then why are you trembling so much?"
"........."
She was right—my body shook badly.
"It's nothing. Just... tired..."
Truthfully, it was a mix: Father comatose next door, my sister's hatred, anxiety from depending too much on Kania when she wasn't near.
But admitting that would worry her, so I lumped it as 'tired.' Still staring, she smiled faintly.
"...Shall I hold you, Young Master?"
"...Yeah."
Embracing me gently, she whispered.
"...Are you worried about what Aria said earlier?"
"No, not that..."
"Don't worry. I'm prepared to stay with you until death."
"........."
Feeling her soft voice and warmth, I replied quietly.
"...You don't need to go that far."
Silence filled the room.
- Bang bang bang!!
"Open the door!!!"
"".......!""
Aria's furious pounding shattered it. Kania pulled away in panic; I fumbled to dress in kind.
"...Ha?"
Aria forced the door open with magic, tilting her head at our flushed faces before striding purposefully somewhere.
"What're you—"
She yanked a file from my desk drawer, turned, and stormed out.
".........."
Staring blankly after her, I noticed Kania picking up the medicine box beside me and removed my shirt again, murmuring inwardly.
...That file Aria took—I've seen it before.
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"Then, good night."
"Yeah... you too, Kania."
With endless duties keeping me until dawn, I finally sent Kania—who'd helped all night—back and headed to my room.
...Good thing I brought that cat doll.
Stress maxed out, but lately it rolled over exposing its belly, meowing for pets—thinking of rubbing it eased the tension instantly.
- Hic... sob...
"...Hm?"
Whistling cheerfully en route, I heard muffled sobs. Ghost in the mansion? Tensing, I followed the sound to Aria and Cardia's room.
"...What the?"
Tilting my head, I masked my presence with Star Mana, crept to the door, and peered through the keyhole.
"Hic... sob..."
Inside: Cardia sleeping soundly on the bed, Aria kneeling on the floor, weeping over the file she'd swiped from my study.
Curious what moved her so, I focused Star Mana in my eyes to read it...
...Ah.
I sighed inwardly.
...You're doing the same as me, huh.
It was a photo of our mother. Seeing her soothe her loneliness with it, I smirked bitterly—true sister, blood and all—and turned to leave.
But...
"Oppa... why are you like this... why..."
Flipping the page to a photo of child-me giving her a piggyback, she sobbed harder. Cold sweat down my back, I cast Mind Reading.
...No.
The popup filled me with deep despair.
"Where did that pure boy go... why'd you become this monster..."
Seemed Isolet wasn't the only new wildcard anymore. Another had emerged, surpassing her.