FMLDM 29

Chapter 29

The Appearance of the Half-Sister
December 12, 2020

Yes. In the end, this was the main point. The Duke of Schpen had gone roundabout just to say this… Maybe I should just ask here if you are the Luna Guild Leader? What would happen if Macaron found out about this? I wanted to ask, but I knew I had to hold back. The Duke of Schpen seemed to have lived hiding this for quite some time… Until I understood why he was hiding it, I had to be cautious.

“No. Nothing like that.”

For a moment, the Duke of Schpen raised one eyebrow and then lowered it.

“Can’t you see that the lady is embarrassed? Stop talking about that.”

His tightly pressed lips gave off a mixed signal—angry or not, it was hard to tell. Macaron seemed quietly pleased after noticing how little interaction there was between the Duke and me. Kai and Coral, on the other hand, were completely absorbed in the fencing competition, seemingly uninterested in the adults’ matters.

“Brother, aren’t you nervous?”

“Only someone like Netro would be nervous.”

Kai’s gesture of stretching his shoulders was so cute that it instantly made me forget the previous tension.

“Right. Netro-oppa must be trembling right now.”

“Didn’t you say Netro was cool?”

That was why Kai had started fencing. I never imagined he would even enter the tournament. But… our Coral seemed to be an even more outstanding trainee than me.

“When did I say that?”

“…!”

It was as if everything had collapsed. Disappointment flashed across Kai’s face. Looking back, it was unfair—months of calloused hands bleeding and hardening again, all for Coral. Had Coral’s ideal type changed? Or was she simply training Kai?

“I think you’re the coolest, oppa.”

In that instant, the playful smile on Coral’s face seemed to know everything. Our Coral had learned well from her mother. They say daughters take after their mothers… there was no need for a separate trainer. Until just a moment ago, Kai’s face had looked dark as if his heart had fallen out, but now his color returned, and the corners of his mouth lifted toward the ceiling. Even the Duke of Schpen and Macaron chuckled quietly at the children’s exchange. But afterward, silence returned. Both stared at each other suspiciously, as if sparks might fly from their eyes. Wouldn’t it have been better to just sit the Duke next to me? I wondered, as people busied themselves around us. The carriage must have arrived at the Academy.

One of the Empire Academy’s few branch schools was where Kai and Coral studied. Luckily, it was within the Craide Territory, close to the mansion. Otherwise, we would have had to endure this awkward silence much longer. Entering the dome-shaped arena, we saw the audience stands divided into open and closed sections. The open section, for general public and students, was already full. The excitement in the air suggested everyone was thrilled. Through the gate, Macaron guided us to our room amid strict security.

The Duke of Schpen, previously treated as invisible, now came beside me without hesitation. Macaron moved to the center, and the two ended up walking together again.

“Actually, aren’t they really close?”

Clearly, they weren’t. The corridor was silent the entire way. Coral’s posture looked tense, likely because of Kai’s upcoming competition. She wasn’t participating herself, yet she was nervous… so cute! Everyone would probably think the same. Kai, meanwhile, remained confident, reassuring Coral. Wearing child-sized gauntlets and helmet, he moved forward like a little lion.

“Was Macaron like that when he was young?”

I wondered, glancing at Macaron, when Lord Momont approached Kai.

“Please go ahead to the practice hall.”

“Yes, I will.”

Kai replied bravely, but his dark eyes flickered toward Coral.

“I’ll do my best.”

When it was time to leave, Coral’s eyes reddened with worry.

“…Oppa.”

“Don’t worry.”

It was a tear-jerking scene, worthy of melodrama. Coral dabbed her tears with a small handkerchief, and Kai comforted her.

“You trust me, right?”

Nodding up and down, Kai exhaled deeply.

“I can’t survive… really, because of you.”

I chuckled at what kids said but then smiled at their cuteness. That was when the Duke of Schpen interrupted before the play even ended.

“It’s time to go.”

The Duke forced the children apart. He was unusually sensitive about Kai—allowing fencing training under the pretext of a “changer,” giving him a fine room while Kai’s own was poor, and even teaching family secrets to someone not of blood.

‘Even if you offered a fortune, few would teach their family secrets.’

While the Duke led Kai away, he glanced back at Coral several times. She waved her handkerchief, seeing him off with tears. Watching someone off to a battlefield, unsure if they’d return alive, couldn’t be sadder. Once Kai disappeared, Coral’s tears poured uncontrollably. After calming her down, I noticed Macaron observing everything.

‘Why is he watching like that?’

Was his flushed profile because he liked me? But there wasn’t a reason for that… When I linked arms with him, he stiffened and murmured just for me:

“Please… don’t look at me like that.”

Couldn’t he just be handsome or not?

“How am I looking?”

He sighed, defeated again, and sat down. I pulled Coral to my side, and her previously tear-stained face now had a clear smile.

“I like it here better, Mom.”

Lately, Coral’s playful actions were increasing. I nodded in response to tease her, and she giggled, then ran to sit on the opposite side. Other contestants began, and after a session, Lord Momont entered, unusually serious.

‘Did something happen to Kai?’

A dark thought crossed my mind. But Momont seemed more concerned about my reaction than anything else.

“Milady, your younger sister has arrived… what should we do?”

“…Sister?”

The memory of the original Calypse stirred. On the day she was born, her mother died. The Marquis of Patuang remarried, bringing in the stepmother, Akne. Shortly after, she gave birth to Lael, and misfortune shadowed Calypse’s life. Akne repeatedly abused Calypse, calling her “the girl who killed Mom,” “useless,” and giving all dresses and tiaras to Lael. Calypse, noble in name only, had no proper dress for events, becoming a target for ridicule. Socially, Calypse was deemed a fool, while Lael subtly elevated herself.

“Should I send her away?”

Meeting her would be exhausting. But even if I sent her away now, I’d have to face her eventually. Better to deal with it now.

“No. Tell her to wait.”

Macaron looked at me worriedly, probably sensing my grave expression.

“Let her in, then.”

Her red eyes showed deep concern. With Macaron there, Lael wouldn’t do anything odd, but still… it wasn’t necessary, especially with Coral present. Coral had been serious while watching, but when I relaxed, she finally smiled.

“Today, I think it’s best I meet her alone.”

“Alone… Are you sure?”

Pressing his lips together, Macaron seemed to understand something. He must have known about the half-sister, Lael.

‘I wonder how Macaron has been briefed and what he thinks.’

Our bond had grown over time, but I had no intention of exposing him to such a shameful family history. Though not truly my family, the anger buried deep inside stirred at the mention of “Lael.”

“It’s okay. I’ll go alone.”

After two refusals, Macaron relented, still concerned.

“Then let it be so.”

“….”

“But if there’s a problem, inform me immediately.”