Episode 18
My half-sister Biat still wore a gentle smile, as if it had been painted on.
Her voice, too, was exceedingly kind.
“Yes, it seems the guardian stone has manifested for you.”
“That can’t be……”
With an expression of disbelief, I looked down at my two hands.
What had I said at this point in the past? Searching my memory, I pushed the very same words from back then out of my mouth.
“But Sister, it isn’t glowing now.”
Of course, I already knew the answer that would come from her.
“That is only natural. Manifestation is a temporary phenomenon.”
And Biat did not disappoint my expectations.
“That is only natural. Manifestation is a temporary phenomenon.”
Watching her say the exact same thing as in the past, I felt strangely relieved.
To be honest, I had been a little uneasy.
My chance encounter with Rakein on the way to the village, and the conversation I had with my half-sister upon returning. All of it had differed from the future I knew.
Of course, I knew these were the results of my having acted differently from the past. But if things changed from the very beginning, wouldn’t the future I knew become useless?
Unlike Biat, all I had was this one body and my memories of the events that would happen over the next two years.
Well, I had the guardian stone too, but since I had not properly assimilated with it and its level was negligible, it was better to consider it as good as nonexistent.
While I was briefly lost in other thoughts, Biat continued speaking. Her voice was kind and soft, as though she were comforting her startled younger sister.
“Originally, when a guardian stone manifests, the chosen one must absorb it. So the owner of that guardian stone is you, Herna.”
“Pardon? I’m the owner of the guardian stone? That’s impossible……”
Searching through my memories of the past, I spoke the same words as I had then. I let my eyes tremble as if I could not believe it, and made an expression as though I had no idea what to do.
Even as I put on the best performance I possibly could, I could not help feeling anxious inside.
What if she saw through me, or grew suspicious? The woman before me was by no means an easy opponent.
Fortunately, Biat did not seem to notice.
By the time my clenched palms had grown damp with sweat, the words that came from her mouth were, as expected, the same as in the past.
“But Herna. Your sister would like to stop you from absorbing the guardian stone right now.”
“Pardon?”
I deliberately widened my eyes and stared at her. As if asking why.
Then Biat continued in a calm, gentle tone, as though explaining things to a child who knew nothing.
“Looking at previous cases, when someone absorbs a guardian stone before coming of age, there have been instances where its power was diminished.”
“Ah……!”
“Of course, Herna, that may not happen to you. But do think about the possibility that it might.”
Biat cut herself off as if to give me time to think, then smiled gently. But when I hesitated, she continued softly.
“It would be troublesome for the abilities of the head of House Kroizen to fall short of other families’, but before that, you would become the subject of people’s gossip. You would not want that, would you?”
It was a threat prettily wrapped as advice. One that carried a powerful message telling me not to absorb the guardian stone now.
And yet, not a single crack appeared in her expression.
Yes, that was why she had been able to deceive me so completely for two years.
The me of the past had not understood, but the me of now could.
My half-sister Biat was telling me this.
If someone half-made like you cannot even wield proper power, you will become a laughingstock. So do not think any useless thoughts and wait until you come of age.
A sneer rose of its own accord inside me, but I showed nothing and quickly nodded.
Whether satisfied with my answer, I saw the curve of her lips lift a little higher.
“There are only two years left until you come of age. If you endure just two years, you can safely become the owner of the guardian stone. Let us work hard together until then, so that you may become a proper heir to our family.”
Along with those kind words, the white hand that had once been extended to me when I collapsed in the hall was once again held out before my eyes.
The image of my past self, moved to tears as I took that hand, was projected over it as well.
Though I did not go so far as tears, I took that hand tightly with moved eyes and an emotional expression. Inwardly, I let out a cold laugh; outwardly, I repeated my thanks over and over.
Until satisfaction appeared in Biat’s eyes.
At her words telling me I must be tired and should go rest, I gladly left the reception room and glared at the closed door. No, I glared at Biat, who would be plotting behind that door.
Ah, my half-sister, as cunning as a snake and as deadly as a poisonous flower.
I am truly glad you are unchanged. If you were not, my revenge might have lost its way and wandered aimlessly.
Feeling the fighting spirit I had held down blaze up, I turned away. This time, I swore firmly that I would not be defeated so futilely.
***
“……”
Biat silently glared at the seat where Herna had been sitting until moments ago.
From the moment the reception room door closed, the soft and gentle smile that had lingered around her lips had vanished as if washed away.
All that remained was a twisted, rigid line of her mouth.
“……Why, why only that child……!”
The suppressed anger she had endured and endured burst out in an instant.
Biat’s beautiful face twisted frighteningly, and strength entered the fist she had set on her lap.
Even so, she did not shout or throw things. Such frivolous behavior was not something a person who would become the master of Kroizen should do.
Biat’s hand, which had been clutching the hem of her dress tightly enough to crumple it, loosened at the sound of the reception room door opening.
Her mother, the Marchioness of Kroizen, was entering.
The Marchioness’s face was pale, without a trace of color, and her two eyes blazed with rage.
“Mother.”
As if nothing had happened, Biat rose gracefully from her seat and greeted the Marchioness.
The Marchioness, too, straightened her back and approached her.
“What did you do about the guests?”
At her daughter’s question, the Marchioness reached out and took her arm. A chill that flowed through the thin white glove settled over Biat’s arm.
“Do not worry. I handled it well and came back. More importantly, it seems we need to discuss something else.”
The Marchioness ground her teeth without a sound. Fury flickered in her eyes, enough that if Herna had been before her, she would have wanted to stab her to death with a knife.
“My beloved daughter, Biat. Tell me. What shall I do with that demon-like girl who dared steal what was yours?”
The Marchioness’s voice as she whispered to Biat was low and sinister.
“I will do as you wish. If you ask me to lock her away until she withers to death, I will do so, and if you ask me to get rid of her, I will remove her without leaving a trace.”
She had already been an eyesore. And yet that child had even snatched away what her proud daughter should have received.
With murderous intent boiling up, strength naturally entered the Marchioness’s hand as she gripped Biat’s arm.
Biat gently covered the back of her mother’s hand with her own.
“Please restrain yourself, Mother. Lock her away? Though that child may be half-blooded, she is still a Kroizen. We cannot sully the name of Kroizen in such a way.”
“But……!”
“Getting rid of her is also out of the question. You know, don’t you? What happens if the chosen bearer of a guardian stone is murdered.”
At Biat’s words, the Marchioness closed her mouth.
There was no way she would not know. It was a widely known fact.
If the chosen bearer of a guardian stone was murdered, that guardian stone would not manifest for a long time.
In fact, such a thing had happened in House Hubert several hundred years ago.
The moment his older brother was confirmed as the chosen bearer of the guardian stone, the younger brother, blinded by jealousy, murdered him.
As if being punished for killing his brother, that younger brother had to wait more than ten years before he could barely absorb the guardian stone when it finally manifested.
“We need only wait one year and ten months, Mother. That much time will pass quickly.”
Biat spoke calmly, as if soothing the Marchioness.
One year and ten months. That period was known from an old incident in House Clemens.
After the guardian stone manifested, the second son of House Clemens, who had gone out to buy a gift for his fiancée before absorbing it, became vegetative due to an accident.
House Clemens did its utmost to care for the second son, but as the Emperor’s death drew near and power became necessary, they had no choice but to kill him.
Yet astonishingly, the guardian stone immediately manifested for the eldest daughter. That period had been one year and ten months.
Afterward, scholars belonging to the Imperial Family began researching the bond between guardian stones and their chosen bearers, focusing on the incidents of House Hubert and House Clemens.
They found several more similar cases and presented a noteworthy conclusion.
The bond between a guardian stone and its chosen bearer weakened over time if it was not absorbed. And once a certain period had passed, if the chosen bearer died, the bond would be severed immediately.
However, no one could offer an opinion on the exact length of that period. There was too little data, and it was not something that could be tested.
In the end, the period required for the bond to be severed was settled as one year and ten months, as confirmed by House Clemens.
But the results of their research were not made known to the public.
The Imperial Family and the four houses that possessed guardian stones concealed the results of the research.
In order to prevent unforeseen tragedies within the families, the secret of the bond between guardian stones and their chosen bearers was passed down only to the head of the house or the person who would become the head, through confidential documents.
“One year and ten months……”
When the Marchioness muttered lowly, as though chewing the words, Biat patted her hand and whispered.
“Please treat that child well, Mother.”
“What are you saying now? It is hateful enough that she stole what should have been yours, and yet you tell me to treat her well?”
Meeting the Marchioness’s still-blazing eyes, from which her anger had yet to fade, Biat slowly let a smile bloom on her lips. It was soft and gentle, yet somehow cold.
“You must treat her well. So that child can trust us with everything and leave it all in our hands.”
“……?”
“And show everyone. Show them that we cherish and care for the child who will become the owner of the guardian stone. For one year and ten months.”
The Marchioness’s eyes widened in surprise as she understood the meaning contained in her daughter’s words.
“Biat, surely you don’t mean……?”
“Yes, Mother. That is correct. That child will enjoy a different life from the one she has lived until now. The life of a Kroizen. And the moment she mistakenly believes she possesses everything of Kroizen.”
Biat paused for a moment and laughed without a sound.
A smile like a deadly poisonous flower bloomed thickly on her lips, and her elegant lips, tinted rose, moved with a chilling air.
“I will take every last thing from her.”
Even that child’s life.
Biat did not say the final words, but the Marchioness could instinctively understand.
A smile slowly bloomed on the Marchioness’s lips as well.