My Sister the Heroine, and I the Villainess - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Translator: Jawbrie

Mishuli and Charles’ fight resulted in all three of us being a little worse for wear, but overall uninjured . Of course, this was only after my efforts to stop their fighting, which included attempts to soothe and then to scold them, and sometimes restrain them . Thanks to all of this, Charles was completely exhausted when it came time for him to leave .
How tired was he? Let me put it this way .

“Prince Charles, it is about time we return to… Oh?”
“You are finally back, Oxe…”

Oxe’s arrival had looked like the coming of the savior to him .
The two who had started the fight, Charles and Mishuli, were now sitting with sulky expressions and facing away from each other . I myself was much too tired to give a detailed explanation, and so I pushed Charles onto Oxe before he could ask anything .

“Nevermind . Just take Charles and leave…”
“Ah . I won’t argue with that, as it is why I have come… But, my lady’s and Prince Charles’ clothes look rather disheveled . ”
“Don’t ask . ”

It would be most tiresome to explain .
As my face would have indicated, I was tired and just wanted this moment to be over with . Yet Oxe seemed to have mistaken me as he happily ‘Hoho’ -ed .

“Oh, were you children play fighting with swords? Ha ha ha! It is very good to be so energetic! I do think it’s good for children to be ungovernable to a certain extent . Do you not agree, Duke Noir!”
“Ah, that is true, Oxe! I am quite troubled by Christina’s actions on a daily basis, but viewing them as proof of her good health allows me to see them in a kinder light!”
“Indeed! I too am constantly surprised by Prince Charles’ unusual actions, but… Ohh . Who might this young lady be?”
“Ah, she is my daughter, Mishuli . This one is much better behaved . She is still a little shy, but she is a good child who really cares about others!”

The two adults seemed to be drunk on something .
I could not help but scowl as I saw them continue to be senselessly cheerful and strong headed in the face of clear signs of fighting .
What were they doing? No, I knew that they were enjoying a drink or two in father’s study, but it appeared that they had not stopped there . Drinking was a part of hospitality for nobles, but this surpassed the limit . Especially Oxe, was he not supposed to be taking care of Charles? What was he thinking?

“… . Hahhh . ”

I thought such things but discarded them with a sigh . Let me say it again . I am very tired . I had used up all of my energy in order to push Charles’ head down and to comfort Mishuli . I did consider that Oxe would likely be berated, should he return to the palace in this state, but that was not my responsibility .
And so I raised my head and glared at the two foolish adults and said:

“I don’t care about any of this . Would you hurry up and just do your job?”
“!?”

My low roar that was full of resentment was enough to make the shoulders of these two grown men shiver .

After my threat, Oxe promptly returned to his duties and took Charles away . When I and father were seeing them off, Charles turned around and said, “We will meet again, won’t we?” much like he had before . However, it was not I who made such plans . In any case, I told him “Don’t even think of coming again if you are going to fight with Mishuli,” which must have been very similar to stabbing him through the heart . Indeed, his face looked quite shocked, I doubt he will be jumping onto Mishuli again any time soon .
And after finishing my duties as a noble, I returned to my room to see Mishuli waiting for me .

“…Suu suu . ”

She was curled up on the carpet and sleeping . A most adorable greeting .

“Fu fu . ”

I couldn’t help but smile at this . I approached the sleeping Mishuli, and while I knew it would be very impolite, sat next to her .
Today was the first time Mishuli had ever had a temper tantrum . She had shouted so loudly, raged so vigorously, she must have gotten even more tired then I had, just trying to stop them .
At least to the point where she could not wait and had to sleep .
She looked like a cute, small animal . Still, it was not proper for her to sleep on the carpet, so I considered calling a servant to move her, but then decided against it . This was such a precious little scene . I wanted to have it for just a little while longer, and so curled up right next to her on the floor .

“So adooraable…”

I could feel her inhalations and exhalations on my cheek . I gathered my beloved sister in my arms and held her gently .
The carpet that covered the floor was shockingly comfortable . I could understand just why Mishuli had fallen asleep on it . Whether it was sanitary… Well, I will put my trust in the cleaning abilities of our outstanding servants .

“…mmm . ”

After I held her, Mishuli began to move a little but showed no signs of waking up . Perhaps it was an automatic reflex, but Mishuli, in turn, held onto me .

“No… Sister, you can’t go…”

I didn’t know what she was dreaming about, but she mumbled such things as she grabbed onto me .
It was adorable and it made me happy . I gently touched her soft and fluffy golden hair .

“I won’t go, I won’t go anywhere . ”
“… . Ehe hehe . ”

There was no exaggeration in the words I said . I knew that she would not hear them, but perhaps they would get through to her in her dreams . Mishuli smiled at my assurance . I smiled too at how innocent she looked .
But even now, my mind felt vague and tired . I was sleepy .
My eyelids grew heavy, I allowed my eyes to close . Today had been a busy day, but it was also fun . I was sure that, along with Charles, such happy days would continue to come . Thinking about this, I was ready to give in to sleep…

—-That Christina is no longer the Chris that we knew .

My eyes immediately opened .

“…!”

What was that?
My brain worked madly, trying to figure out whose voice it had been that suddenly played in my head . The identity for that voice came to me very quickly .
That line I had just heard, it was not a memory of something that I had experienced . It was just something that remained as knowledge .
It was a scene in Labyrinth Destiny that has been carved into my brain . A still, some dialogue and voices to match it . This scene had opened with the words I had just heard .

—Mishuli . You can’t help her anymore . She is not the old Chris .
—That’s not true . Surely, one day, I and my sister will be close again like we once were!
—No . It won’t happen . She used to take such good care of you, I don’t understand why she turned out like this…

In this dialogue, Mishuli and Charles were talking about their shared past, and also of their biggest obstacle, Christina .
There were not many details for the characters in Labyrinth Destiny . It was mostly just a summary, with a few scenes depicting the past of a few important characters . Of course, there were no scenes that focused on the past of Christina, the villainess .
Even so, there were things that could be deduced from scenes such as this one .
Christina had been tormenting Mishuli from the beginning of the story, but they were close as small children . Even in that story, Christina had loved Mishuli as a child .
In that case, could it mean…
I felt a chill run through me as a certain possibility entered my mind .
I had assumed from Christina’s words and actions that her attitude towards Mishuli only changed when she discovered that Mishuli was the daughter of her father’s mistress . But what if the unspoken truth was different? What if Christina was not as big a fool as I had thought, what if she wasn’t just a very emotional woman… If she had a past where she played with Charles and loved Mishuli in Labyrinth Destiny, then what really was the difference between her and I?

“…”

I’m thinking too much .
I discard this foolish notion . I am me . No such forceful power as fate exists in this worlds . Mishuli and Charles had proven this today when they fought each other .
People can live with their own will . They are not standing on stage as puppets . And so, if I were to become like the villainous daughter, Christina Noir from Labyrinth Destiny, it would be due to an unshakable belief, an irrefutable will…

“…I would never do such a thing . ”

I stopped my mind, not allowing it to go to such places, and hugged Mishuli even tighter . Feeling her softness and warmth close to me, my resolve is strengthened .
No matter the reason, no matter what happens, I will never do anything to destroy Mishuli’s happiness . As long as I live, I will protect the happiness of the most adorable sister in the world .
In order to stop myself from thinking anymore, I close my eyes once again and attempt to sleep . I understood that I was only running from it, but I didn’t care . And yet, the sleep would not come no matter how long I waited .
It should have been pitch black as my eyelids were closed .
But I felt like I had seen the face of fate for a second, the face that should have been lost in the labyrinth due to a certain bug .