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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: As Expected, Big Sister is Stupid
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A week had already passed since I'd given Roselia a little push to mend her relationship with Camilla.
"Can I feed you?"
Camilla nodded shyly at Roselia's gentle question.
Perched on the fork was a baked potato steaming invitingly.
Roselia blew on it lightly to cool it down, then carefully slipped it into Camilla's mouth.
"Thank you, Mother..."
"Of course."
Roselia beamed with satisfaction at Camilla's bashful thanks.
In the Rahel Tani dining hall, the two were sharing a tender moment, feeding each other bites.
Watching them made my heart feel unexpectedly warm.
My plan to improve Roselia and Camilla's relationship had been going smoothly so far.
The mere fact that Camilla, who used to only appear at meals at night, had shown up on her own during the day was proof enough of how much closer they'd grown in just the past few days.
Even now, it struck me as a pretty brilliant idea.
Pair up the two who were destined to become villains, plant the seed of love between them, and prevent their descent into darkness. Love was a powerful force that could turn even villains good. It was like catching two rabbits at once.
The lingering unease deep in my chest had faded quite a bit. At least for now, I could set aside my worries about them.
"...What an obnoxious look on your face."
I must have gotten lost in thought without realizing it.
When I snapped back, Camilla was staring at me with cold, cooled eyes.
Cough, cough.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and turned my gaze to the table.
These days had been more peaceful than I'd expected.
The potions I'd made were selling out faster by the day thanks to word of mouth, and Camilla seemed brighter now that she was getting closer to Roselia.
'For the time being, I can just focus on saving up money.'
The dinner ended in a harmonious atmosphere before I knew it.
I was about to head straight to my room to prepare tomorrow's potions when—
"You."
A hollow voice, but one I'd grown familiar with.
Camilla called out to me from the end of the long corridor.
"Huh? Me?"
Camilla just stared at me without a word.
A chill ran down my spine for no reason.
Still, her eyes seemed much softer than before.
Camilla approached without a word and suddenly grabbed my hand.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she started leading me somewhere.
"Wh-what?"
"Come with me."
The place her small hand guided me to was none other than Camilla's room.
"What are you thinking?"
"Huh?"
"Mother told me. That you wanted us to get along."
It seemed Roselia had spilled the beans.
It might have been easier to grow closer to Camilla naturally if she hadn't said anything.
"Why did you say that?"
Camilla's piercing gaze bored into me from so close I could feel her breath.
But strangely, it wasn't as frightening as before.
Maybe because I knew her past now.
In my eyes, she looked like a child covered in thorns to hide her deep wounds.
Abandoned at just four years old, turned into an experimental subject on the black altar—a tragic life.
Thinking of that fateful past, my feelings toward the current Camilla were closer to pity than fear.
"The Countess told me. About what you've been through."
Camilla's pupils trembled faintly.
Clear bewilderment flickered in them.
"...You heard?"
It must have caught her off guard.
A past she wouldn't want anyone to know about.
"...So it was pity?"
Her eyes locked onto me.
A sharp gaze like it could slice flesh. Something akin to murderous intent lurked within.
Before her misunderstanding could deepen, I gently took her hand. Her small, fragile body trembled slightly at my sudden move.
"Camilla, I'm jealous of you."
"...What are you talking about?"
"The Countess told me. You have incredible talent in magic. And you're incredibly smart."
"Uh...?"
"A genius that only comes along once every few centuries, she said?"
I looked straight at Camilla with wide eyes.
She was the one who averted her gaze from my firm stare.
"You're right. I have no talent in magic, or anything else."
"..."
"No matter how hard I try my whole life, I might never get revenge on the people who tormented me. But you're different."
I wasn't special.
Just ordinary—maybe even a bit dull.
Roselia, Camilla, and the protagonist of this world.
I had no right to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them, shining with innate talent. I was just a minor, colorless extra who wouldn't even merit a single line in the story.
That's why I couldn't stop. Struggling not to end up that way was all I could do.
"You have shining talent. If you set your mind to it, you can shake off those wounds someday."
Camilla said nothing.
Silence settled naturally.
"You could become someone everyone looks up to."
I just wanted her not to turn into a villain.
With that wish in my heart, I continued.
"The people who tormented you in the past? Compared to you, they're just pathetic nobodies."
Maybe I was projecting my own desires onto her.
"So... I hope you don't get too caught up in the past."
I let go of Camilla's hand.
Having poured it all out, a wave of embarrassment hit me.
Had I gotten a bit carried away in my excitement?
I glanced at her cautiously.
Camilla was still staring at me with a dazed look, silent.
"A-and, this world has so many beautiful things!"
The lengthening silence made the awkwardness thicken.
Unable to bear the heavy mood, I blurted out hastily.
"Delicious food, amazing scenery, fun entertainment...!"
"..."
"With your abilities, you can have it all. So... what I'm trying to say is..."
My lips moved on their own.
On second thought, it probably sounded like meddling to her.
But since I'd started, I wanted to get it all out.
"I hope... you grow up bright and happy."
That was the last thing I could say to her.
Thank goodness. Before the silence dragged on, Camilla spoke first.
"It's magic."
It was quite out of left field.
Not getting it, I tilted my head.
"Huh?"
"That scroll you made. It's real magic."
"...Huh?"
"Magic you created through effort."
Camilla muttered softly, avoiding my eyes.
Her pale earlobe seemed faintly flushed.
"I was wrong. You can do magic too."
It was unexpected.
This time, I blinked in a daze.
Had... Camilla just complimented me?
Even admitting her own judgment was off?
"Th-thanks?"
"And... even if you annoy me a little, it might be okay."
Camilla turned her head back to look at me.
In those once-empty violet eyes, a faint, inexplicable light shimmered.
"Huh? No! I won't annoy you. Don't worry!"
I waved my hands frantically in response.
It was for her sake, but for some reason, her brow furrowed.
"If we don't get along, Mother will get suspicious."
Hm.
Not wrong.
Roselia wasn't oblivious, and just recently she'd even asked if Camilla and I had fought.
"...So."
Camilla took a step closer to me.
Violet eyes holding a faint glow.
They sparkled like amethysts in soft light.
"We need a decent relationship."
To avoid raising Roselia's suspicions, we should act like we get along.
It was a bit surprising. I hadn't expected her to suggest it.
"Y-yeah... sure."
No big deal for me.
Pretending to get along was easy enough.
"So, are we good now?"
Did she think we'd been fighting?
I'd just figured I was keeping my distance.
"Yeah. We're good."
No need to correct her.
If she called it reconciliation, fine.
I extended a hand for a reconciliatory shake.
"..."
Camilla frowned at my offered hand, clearly displeased.
"Forgot what Mother said?"
She stared straight at me and took another step forward.
Close enough that our toes brushed lightly.
Camilla leaned in gently.
Smack—
A soft touch grazed my lips.
Warmth spread gently.
Camilla pulled back as if nothing had happened.
"...Huh?"
I touched my lips in a daze.
"As expected, Big Sister is stupid."
Camilla spat the short insult and snapped her fingers.
Vivid mana rose around her like tendrils.
The tendrils wrapped around my waist and shoved me right out of the room.
Bang— The door slammed shut forcefully.
In an instant, I'd been unceremoniously booted out.
"...What was that?"
I stood in the corridor, stunned, staring blankly.
My hand lingered on my lips.
Camilla's warmth still seemed to linger there.
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