GMHYS 16

Chapter 16

In the past, my brother used to be a rather kind and decent person—kind enough to celebrate my friend’s marriage.

“For someone of the royal family, he’s surprisingly nice. You’re marrying a good man.”

I even ran my mouth like that to my friend who was marrying him.

But once my brother became king, he changed. His words from the night before I left for Boswell to marry still linger vividly in my mind.

“You must do well for Medici to survive. Belisa, this marriage isn’t just yours. Once a week, observe Boswell’s movements and report to me by letter. Don’t forget—everything you do is for us.”

Instead of a blessing, he gave me homework.

He didn’t look like a loving brother sending his sister off to a new life—he looked like a king planting a spy in another country. Does becoming king change a person? Or was this who he was all along?

My brother didn’t care who it was, so long as they brought benefit to Medici. Just think of how Eleonore held my brother’s hand and stabbed me in the back.

After hearing I had miscarried and could no longer bear children, my brother’s messages dwindled.

Not that I’d done well as a spy anyway. Back then, my home with Frederick—and my own happiness—were what mattered most.

I had no idea what I was capable of.

I foolishly believed that being nice was enough. Dixie wrapped the medicine she’d acquired in paper and tied it with a ribbon around a carnivorous rabbit’s neck. The carnivorous rabbit flicked the ribbon disdainfully with its paw.

“Do you truly think such a thing is fitting for one such as I? I am the seventh son of Medeia! I am not a creature who goes about wearing such flimsy ribbons!”

It protested, lips puckering in a pink pout and its little forepaws waving wildly. Perhaps it meant to look threatening, yet it was not frightening in the least.

I fiddled with the ribbon and said,

“All you need to do is put this into the cake the chef is making. It’s not difficult, Lord Larino.”

“…You’ll keep your promise?”

“Yes, Lord Larino. In any deal, isn’t trust the most important thing?”

Larino pressed a paw to his forehead and sighed. His soft white fur trembled with the exhale. Then he spoke gravely:

“I did not come here to perform such petty tasks… but since you beg so desperately, I suppose I have no choice.”

I released the carnivorous rabbit into the corridor. Even without directions, he headed straight toward the kitchen. Today was lamb roasting day—one of his favorites. That scent alone was enough to guide him.

“He’ll do it properly, right?”

“Of course. Tonight’s dinner is lamb.”

I answered Dixie confidently and then smiled coldly.

Dixie wasn’t innocent anymore either. The truths I forced myself to learn had hardened my maids as well. And they would only grow harder from here.

Click.

“Oh my, the cake is beautiful, sister.”

Eleonore’s voice sounded sweet as she admired the cake on the dessert plate, her eyes sparkling as she turned it this way and that. The fluffy whipped cream topped with colorful fruits did look adorable.

If the carnivorous rabbit completed his mission, that pretty thing was nothing more than a poisonous mushroom in disguise.

“I’m glad you like it, Eleonore. You’ve had a hard time since I’ve been ill, haven’t you? You’ve cared for me so much.”

“That’s only natural, sister.”

Eleonore’s cheeks flushed pink.

She looked at me with soft, affectionate eyes. Eyes I once foolishly trusted. Eyes that made me believe betrayal was impossible.

Eleonore wore the perfect mask to deceive people. Behind that mask, she stabbed me in the back and feasted on what was mine.

Now, nothing about her seemed sweet—only nauseating.

“For your sake, I would do anything.”

What disgusted me most was that some part of that statement was true.

Until her mask fell, she was loyal—comforting me when I lost my child, finding whatever I needed no matter the cost.

Eleonore always gave me her best.

“Compared to your efforts, this is nothing. Go on, try it. I asked the chef to make it special.”

“You should have some too, sister.”

I shook my head lightly.

“I shouldn’t. Cake is still too heavy for me.”

Which was precisely why today’s dessert had to be cake—so no one would question why I didn’t eat it. Since the royal physician advised me to be careful with food, Eleonore didn’t suspect a thing and nodded readily.

“So it was truly prepared just for me?”

Her eyes sparkled.

“Thank you, sister.”

Eleonore picked up a fruit dusted with powdered sugar and popped it into her mouth. Each time her pretty little lips chewed, I felt something blossom inside me—dark, triumphant, inevitable.

I lifted my teacup to hide my smile. Warmth flowed through me. Once, I would never have imagined such a thing.

But the world was more corrupt than I knew. The herbalist Dixie visited handed over poison without hesitation after hearing only:

“My lady wishes to poison her lover’s mistress.”

The world was always like this—I was the only fool who didn’t know.

“You’re saying such dramatic things over a slice of cake. You’ll be leaving for Xavier next week—do you want anything before you go?”

“Hmm…”

Eleonore’s eyes shone like starlight.

“I want to wear a wedding dress as beautiful as yours, sister. I want to marry, build a family, and find someone who becomes my person. That’s all.”

She smiled brightly. She’d said something similar before—her dream was to have a wonderful husband. Back then, it sounded innocent. Now it chilled me to the bone.

“…I’ll help you, Eleonore.”

Eleonore blinked wide.

“You will achieve everything you wish for.”

She giggled sweetly.

“It sounds lovely just hearing it—but truly, all I need is you, sister.”

She wanted what was mine. Always had.

Now, I finally understood. Eleonore was rotten to the marrow. With the last remnants of hesitation scraped clean, I spoke:

“Eat more, Eleonore. For the chef’s sake, if nothing else.”

“Yes, sister!”

Outside, merely dealing with Crown Prince Frederick was exhausting enough—but at home, a hunter awaited Lucian.

“When are you going to see her again?”

Amelie, the hunter, pouted, stubborn eyes wide. Lucian let out a weary sigh.

“Why?”

“Be—because! You’re going to see that ugly sister again…”

Lucian narrowed his eyes. Ever since he first met Belisa, Amelie asked this every day.

“You want to see Princess Belisa.”

“N-no! I told you it’s not that! I’m worried you’ll meet that ugly sister! You don’t understand anything!”

“Then I shouldn’t meet her?”

“When did I say that?!”

Amelie stomped her feet. Lucian swept his hand through his hair. The older she got, the harder she was to understand. He could comprehend her words, but not her meaning. It was as if they spoke different languages—

Lucian in the common tongue, Amelie in some ancient child-language.

“Then what do you want?”

“You’re such an idiot, Lucian!”

Lucian climbed the stairs after her.

“You do want to see Belisa.”

“No, I don’t!”

His eyebrow twitched. Amelie suddenly rushed over and pummeled his leg with her tiny fists.

“Amelie!”

“You really are stupid! You don’t understand my heart at all!”

Lucian wanted to cry more than she did—but she burst into tears first. Would Belisa understand her better? Was it wise to trap those two together on the same ship? Lucian scooped her up under his arm.

“Uwaaaah… Lucian is a meeeanie…”

Carrying a sniffling, snot-dripping Amelie, Lucian trudged down the hall, utterly defeated.