Although she was still young, she knew the ranking of nobility. The Duke above the Count, the grand Duke above the Duke, and the highest status one could hold was the imperial family.
But Irene, a tool that supported her superiority, was much superior to her?
I can’t accept it!
It was something that should not have happened.
At first, it was a sense of repulsion. Riel could not accept the hideous truth. She tried to deny and reject it. But the more she did, the more authentic it felt to her and the harder it was to bear.
My sister’s place could only be where she is now, beneath me, the existence that makes me stand out, nothing more or less.
Riel recalled the wish she had made on her birthday when she was young.
With confidence, she looked straight at the agitated Irene.
I want my sister to be with me forever…
As a tool that polishes her appearance forever, let that girl show her worth, not as a member of the royal family but as her shadow.
But my sister is no longer with me.
Riel stepped down from the carriage at the coachman’s words that they had arrived. She then entered the Count’s mansion with the lights off.
After Irene left the house, nights at the County were always engulfed in darkness.
At one point, she tried to get her back. She tried to appease her with sweet talk or even threatened her, but nothing seemed to work. She did not return. Irene was growing further and further away from her reach.
A house with no light. A large mansion buried in endless darkness.
Is this abandoned household like me? Is my sister really the light?
She could not admit it because she had to shine brighter than anyone else. Therefore, …
It’s all my sister’s fault.
Riel smiled quietly as she moved deeper into the dark, imagining Irene’s ruin for having dared to leave her side.
♔♔♔
The festival was full of wonders. There were many fascinating things that Irene saw for the first time and plenty of delicious food.
The more she looked around, the more she felt like she was in a fascinating exotic world, and she wandered around with her mind at ease.
While enjoying the festival, the two became hungry at some point and headed to the most luxurious restaurant in the town. Upon recognising they were nobles at once, the owner led the duo to the quiet top floor. Thanks to that, Irene and Noel enjoyed the night view to their heart’s content without interruption.
“Irene, are you having fun?”
When Noel, who was looking at the avenue dotted with lights here and there, turned to ask her. At that, Irene grinned.
“Yes. It’s a lot more fun than I thought. What about you, Noel?”
“I’m having fun, too. More and more people are gathering.”
“As the night goes on, the festival is getting closer to its ‘ripe moment’.”
Irene rested her chin on her hand and looked down at the people on the street dancing with excitement. Although it was freezing out there, they were enjoying the festival to the fullest, as if they did not feel the cold at all.
“I think it’s fun to be here.”
Irene muttered as she shrunk the crowded scenario down the street into her sight with a pleasant smile. As for Noel, he just sat there idly and stared at Irene without a word.
Again…
A strange feeling arose inside him. That feeling of which he still failed to discover the name. Noel’s gaze lowered at the queer emotion that only appeared at Irene’s presence.
“I want Noel to have as much fun as me.”
Soon after, Irene turned back to face Noel as she beamed. The moment he caught sight of that face, Noel could now name the uneasy feeling that had been playing with his heart.
Badump.
His heartbeat accelerated, and his whole body suddenly heated up. For a moment, the dynamic world became exceptionally plain, and the noisy background submerged. Only the person before him remained in his eyes, shining brighter than ever. A precious person whose visage was engraved on his eyes, which he did not dare to hurt carelessly under any circumstances.
“Irene, I…”
“Excuse me. The food you ordered has arrived.”
Just as he was about to confess the feeling that was newly shed light upon, the waiter cut in.
“Wow, it looks delectable.”
Noel clenched his fists, trying to open up to Irene again, but he could not get the words out in the end. It was because Irene was delightfully holding out a plate to him.
“… yes. It must be delicious.”