IBYDH 3

Chapter: 3

Silvia resented the fact that no one paid her any attention—but if you actually tally up all the evil deeds she’s committed so far, isn’t that only natural?

Silvia, however, was unable to accept that “natural” outcome as natural at all.

While she was stewing in her resentment alone, Eirin was carried away.

After all, the sisters’ fight had ended with Eirin’s arm broken—there was no way the banquet could continue after that.

Once the birthday banquet fizzled out in such a mess, Silvia shut herself up in her room, cutting herself off from the outside world.

Which meant, in other words…

She broke Eirin’s arm and still hadn’t even apologized.

But hiding alone in her room didn’t make the wrongdoing she had already committed disappear.

If anything, the longer she stayed hidden, the worse things became.

“Rumors have spread even to the marketplace. Our family’s name has fallen into the dirt.”

I had nothing to say.

It was true that Silvia Atlante had done something pathetic, and it was also true that because of it, House Atlante had become fodder for gossip.

“Until Eirin’s arm has fully healed, you will remain quietly confined in the annex. Do not think of coming out until I summon you. Stay there and behave yourself.”

The Duke issued his warning coldly.

“If the name of Atlante is stained again because of you… then you will not be forgiven by anything.”

The moment he finished speaking, a sharp presence poured out of the Duke.

An invisible pressure that sent chills down my spine.

Killing intent.

That honed killing intent—clearly meant as a warning—was directed straight at me.

“……”

I swallowed dryly and tried to think calmly.

The Duke wasn’t releasing killing intent with the intention of actually harming Silvia. I knew that much.

If he truly meant to kill her, he would be emitting something far worse than this.

Still, Silvia Atlante’s untrained, fragile body trembled violently.

It felt like I might collapse at any moment, and I clenched my teeth to endure it.

Damn it. This feels awful. Not just bad—utterly disgusting.

Taking a long, deep breath, I forced the boiling anger down.

Hoo…

Only after my mind had settled did I open my mouth.

“I understand. As you say, Father, I will reflect on my actions for the time being.”

At that, the killing intent radiating from the Duke disappeared. It seemed he was satisfied with my obedient response.

Having withdrawn his killing intent, the Duke shifted his gaze back to the documents on his desk, as though he had lost interest in me entirely. He was clearly signaling that he was done talking and that I should leave.

So he really did call me here just to warn me.

He didn’t ask why I did it.
He didn’t ask whether there had been some other reason.
He didn’t ask if it had been a mistake.

And this isn’t the first time.

Even when I traced back through Silvia’s memories, the Duke had never once asked her questions like that.

Not even when she first began to go astray.

The day Eirin burst into tears for the first time because of Silvia.

That day, too, the Duke had only scolded Silvia for causing a disturbance in the mansion and forbidden her from leaving her room for a week.

He never asked why she had made Eirin cry.

Back then, Silvia waited. She waited for the Duke to scold her—and then ask her why she’d done it. She thought long and hard about how she would answer that question.

Young Silvia agonized over what she should say to make her father’s anger subside, waiting and waiting.

“When Father comes, I’ll say this: ‘Eirin played with my rabbit doll without asking. The one you gave me as a present. The rabbit doll is mine, so I just took it back. But then Eirin cried. Was I wrong?’ If I say that, what will Father say? Will he scold me?”

But no matter how long she waited through the night, the Duke never came.
He didn’t come even after her confinement ended.

It was complete indifference.

And it hadn’t happened just that once.

From that day until now, the Duke had never once been curious about any of the countless things Silvia had done.

Whenever he received reports about her, he simply issued punishment with cold detachment, as though carrying out a duty—nothing more.

Is there some reason for it?

Perhaps the Duke had circumstances I didn’t know about.

All I had were the memories Silvia herself experienced and felt—there could be something she never realized.

But even so…

That still didn’t justify neglecting one’s own child for all these years.

The former Silvia was undeniably cruel, ill-tempered, and committed acts that were hard to forgive. There are many people she owes apologies to. But can all of that really be blamed on Silvia alone?

From a very young age, she never received proper, affectionate care.

A Duke indifferent to his children.
A Duchess absent from the mansion.
Nannies and maids who doted on the younger sister and paid Silvia no mind.

There was no one beside Silvia to teach her what was right and what was wrong, or why certain things should not be done.

I’m not trying to justify all of Silvia’s sins. I’m just saying—there are others who must bear that burden of guilt alongside her.

And if there was someone who should share responsibility for Silvia’s downfall, it was the very person who allowed her to go astray.

I opened my mouth toward that person.

“Father.”

The Duke looked at me as if to ask why I still hadn’t left.

Even now, his eyes held no confusion over his daughter’s sudden behavior—only faint annoyance.

That gaze twisted something painfully in my chest.

Seeing that… really does make Silvia pitiful.

I didn’t bother to smooth out my frown and continued speaking.

“You didn’t ask why I did it.”

“What?”

“I may be a pathetic daughter, but I’m still your daughter. Yet it feels like you’ve never once asked me why I did something—no matter what trouble I caused.”

The Duke furrowed his brow, clearly not understanding what I was saying.

At that expression, my fragile hope that there might have been some reason shattered completely.

Right. What was I expecting, anyway?

With even the last shred of expectation gone, a sarcastic tone slipped out on its own.

“Well… I suppose you wouldn’t be curious about what a useless daughter who causes nothing but trouble is thinking. Sorry for asking something pointless.”

Still receiving no response, I smiled faintly at the Duke.

“Don’t worry. Just like I always have, I’ll stay shut in and live like I’m dead—without meeting anyone.”

For the time being.

Just before the door closed, I saw the Duke staring at me with a stiff expression.

Seeing that stunned look—one I’d never seen on his face before—felt like a ten-year-old blockage in my chest had finally cleared. It was refreshingly satisfying.

Once outside, I found the butler wearing a strange expression.

Did he overhear what happened inside?

But the butler didn’t ask about what had occurred. Instead, he professionally did his job.

“The annex where you will be staying has been prepared.”

“Really? Thank you.”

At my response, the butler hesitated for a moment.

Guess it really is strange for me to speak politely.

Honestly, it felt strange to me too—more precisely, my body felt strange.

If I answer without thinking, casual speech just slips out.

Because the original owner of this body rarely used honorifics with others, I had to consciously pay attention to speak politely.

It’s probably fine to speak casually to the butler, but he’s much older than me. It doesn’t feel right.

If I keep trying, I’ll get used to it eventually. For now, I should make an effort to mind my manners.

As I was making that resolution, the butler—having composed himself and returned to his usual calm demeanor—asked,

“Is there anything you would like to bring with you separately?”

“Hmm… just some clothes to change into should be enough. Oh! And if there’s a pen and some paper, that too.”

“We will move everything from your room without leaving out a single item.”

“That will be fine.”

“May I guide you to the annex immediately?”

“Yes.”

I followed behind the butler as he led the way.

As expected of a wealthy ducal household, the mansion was enormous.

The main building alone—where the family lived—was the size of a department store. And though slightly smaller, there were still two more buildings roughly the size of school buildings.

The east wing, where the servants stayed.
And the old west wing, built long ago and no longer in use.

Judging by the direction we were heading, it seemed clear that the annex I would be staying in was the west wing.

As we crossed the garden connecting the main building to the west wing, someone called out to me from behind.

“Big sister!”

It was Eirin.

…I really didn’t want to see Eirin for a while.

It had only been one day since Silvia broke Eirin’s arm.

Even though I hadn’t done it, the memories and emotions were vividly etched into this body.

Because of the creeping guilt mixed with faint resentment, I wanted to pretend not to notice Eirin.

But when the butler spotted her running toward us, he stopped, leaving me no choice but to stop as well.

Eirin hurried up to us and asked me with a worried expression,

“I heard you’ll be staying in the west wing. Are you okay?”

How does she already know I’m confined to the west wing?

It was something I myself had only just learned.

Tilting my head in confusion, I soon remembered that Eirin had always been quick to hear news.

With her gentle personality, Eirin was close to the maids as well.

Because of that, the maids often chatted freely with her, which allowed Eirin to hear mansion news faster than anyone else.

So it wasn’t that strange for her to know about my confinement.

Still, that’s fast. Impressive.

Thinking that inwardly, I replied to Eirin, who was quietly waiting for my answer.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? It’s not like the west wing is that different.”

That was complete nonsense.

Different? It’s different in every possible way.

Unlike the ornate, spotless main building, the west wing was old and plain.

Unlike the main building, which was constantly cleaned by countless servants ready to rush over at a moment’s notice, the west wing barely maintained itself with only a handful of staff.

And above all—

The main building symbolizes the Duke’s direct line. The west wing is where those who’ve fallen out of his favor are sent to reflect.

Anyone with even a little sense would know how bad it was to be exiled to the west wing.

Eirin wasn’t foolish either—she knew all that, which was why she asked if I was okay.

“But, Sister…”

Kind-hearted Eirin couldn’t bring herself to explain why staying in the west wing was not “okay,” only hesitating and trailing off. She seemed worried that saying it aloud might hurt me.

That pure innocence was exactly why everyone liked her.

Looking into the child’s clear eyes eased some of the discomfort I’d been feeling.

It was still uncomfortable, of course. Even if it wasn’t me who did it, this body had tormented Eirin and broken her arm.

But I couldn’t keep ignoring such a good child.

Even if we can’t suddenly become close, being normal sisters would be better.

And to do that, first—

“I’m sorry.”

“…Huh?”

Eirin asked back with a look as though she’d heard something impossible.

Of course. An older sister who always insulted her, picked fights, and envied her suddenly apologizing would be shocking.

Still, I continued firmly.