A girl who resembled my younger sister took delicate steps forward.
No, to be precise, the expression “resembled” was misleading. After all, the girl before me was one of my younger sisters.
Ria Percus.
Once, she was called that. Moreover, after being abandoned by our family, she became the tragic protagonist who lost that name and her life entirely.
Of course, I was not free from that sin either.
The girl had committed no wrongdoing. She was merely a victim of a foolish decision to not retrieve her, deceived by sweet words promising to cure her incurable disease.
It was the responsibility of our family.
Thus, it was my responsibility as well.
Every time I faced the girl, a part of my heart ached, likely because guilt had become a blade, chastising me.
Yet, I couldn’t muster even a warm expression.
Threats poured out from the gaps in my clenched teeth.
“The academy is not your playground… Even you must know that there’s no way you could return alive, right?”
It was not bravado.
My words contained only stark truth.
The academy was not merely a nursery for the offspring of precious status. It was a cradle that produced talented individuals, staffed with various renowned figures to teach them.
At this point, President Delmore was regarded as the most promising candidate for the next Master.
From the legendary monster hunter, Professor Derek, to Professor Adriana, known as the “Witch of the Misty Forest.”
Aside from me, there were three archmages and high experts.
No matter how much one might consider the Seven Deadly Sins, if there were this much combat prowess present, I was confident I could at least match them. Unless my opponent was a force beyond the standard like a Master, that conclusion was sensible.
The girl likely knew this fact as well.
Nevertheless, her expression showed no change. Bold and captivating, her lips carved a mischievous line.
“Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, Sir… But could you not worry too much? I’m not entirely thoughtless myself.”
As she spoke, the girl subtly tilted her chin to reveal her collarbone.
There was a small dot there. Just like Ria had.
“By the way, my original form doesn’t have that dot. Just something to engrave in your heart as it will be a fact you come to learn someday.”
I smirked dismissively, as if it weren’t worth responding.
Her tone was still overtly revealing the desire to possess me. Did she mean to imply that I would somehow come face to face with my biological sister in the nude?
Of course, I didn’t let my guard down.
Even though she said she was not her original form, there were countless ways the girl could stain this place with blood. For example, by self-destructing like the test subject she had once shown.
Just imagining it was a horrific disaster.
I chose, for the time being, not to provoke the girl too much.
“How did you get in here? The academy’s security shouldn’t be that lax…”
“Did you forget? I share the same genes as that fake… Unless you’re a human crazed with incest like my brother, it’s natural you wouldn’t notice.”
It wasn’t an incorrect statement.
I clicked my tongue, pulling my hand off the sword handle I had rested it on because the people around us were starting to look at us with curiosity.
That didn’t mean my mood was any better.
Before long, the girl was in front of me, extending her hand. Showing that she was unwilling, I reluctantly grasped her hand. A cold voice scratched my throat.
“How bold of you to show your face… Don’t you consider what you did?”
“Oh my, really? However, I clearly remember what your family did to me… What do you say, should I tell you?”
Ultimately, I was the one who was at a loss for words first.
Groaning softly and avoiding her gaze, the girl stifled a laugh, clearly enjoying the moment with me.
And then soft music began to flow.
The men and women gathered in the center of the banquet hall were gradually aligning their movements with one another. It meant the peak of the “Feast of Saints” had begun, with the dance continuing until midnight.
There was still time left until midnight.
That meant there was ample opportunity to converse with the girl.
Recreating a dance I had learned long ago, I asked with my spiky voice.
“…Do you know what happened to Selin because of you?”
It was a pointed question, thrown out with a clench of my teeth.
Yet, the response from the girl was carefree.
“Ah, Selin? I wonder what happened… She’s one of my precious clients, so I can’t help but worry a little.”
Her innocent expression seemed to genuinely reflect that she was only just now remembering. Acting as if she was concerned.
I couldn’t hold back the surging emotion any longer.
“You made her that way!”
“I didn’t do it alone.”
With a smirk, the girl spoke with a tone void of remorse.
“I merely granted Selin’s wish. And now she is paying the price.”
“Trampling over someone else’s wound? And you call that a fair transaction…!”
“Ah, enough about that boring supporting role!”
With a tone disinterested, the girl cut off my words and slipped into my embrace.
It was a movement in accordance with the sequence of dance.
Yet, as she dove into my arms with a seductive smile, the intention behind it was anything but innocent.
Then, she twirled back to her original position.
“How about we talk about something a bit more interesting?”
“…What’s your intention?”
It was something I should have asked long ago.
Every action came with a reason. Especially if someone like a member of the Dark Cult’s Seven Deadly Sins was deliberately infiltrating enemy territory.
Was she trying to ruin the Feast of Saints?
At first, I thought so, but surprisingly, the girl showed no further movements. She was simply dancing and matching my steps.
At my overt suspicion, she chuckled lightly.
“Ahaha! Don’t be so wary, brother. I told you… today is a day for beloved couples to join together. It’s a day for the two of us, isn’t it?”
“I don’t particularly love you.”
“You’re going to soon.”
Giggling, the girl’s golden eyes glowed brightly in the shadows.
“I came to warn you, brother… I believe something fun is about to happen.”
“Something ‘fun’.
If the lunatics of the Dark Cult described it that way, it was nothing short of a horrible disaster for most people.
Naturally, my expression hardened significantly. The more my tension increased, the sweeter her whispers became.
“Just remember one thing… I’m on your side. You can ask me for help if you need it.”
“Of course, it’s a ‘transaction’, right?”
“Puhuhu… Is there anything in this world that isn’t a ‘transaction’?”
It was a remark revealing the distorted worldview of the girl.
She expressed a strong mistrust of humanity, implying that pure benevolence did not exist.
Yet, I could not blame her. What made her that way was our family after all.
It was then that the girl leaned her upper body back and fell into my arms.
It was not an impulsive move. It was a pose that belonged in the dance manual.
Naturally, I supported her body with one arm. Her pure white legs soared, revealing an enchanting curve.
I shyly averted my gaze to the side. The girl’s face became even more satisfied.
With a fragrant allure, temptation followed.
“…Don’t you want me? If you devote your life, then I’ll give you mine in return.”
“My only wish right now is for you to disappear quickly.”
“But your eyes say otherwise. Well, fine… It takes a lot of courage to affirm one’s desire.”
The corners of the girl’s eyes gently curved. She looked like she found me unbearably cute.
How audacious of her.
Thus, the dance, which seemed to stretch long yet was short, came to an end.
The sound of bells marking the end of the Feast of Saints resonated.
Pollen scattered from the sky, and amidst the clapping sounds, warm laughter erupted everywhere.
Though it was a story that had nothing to do with me.
Only occasionally did I hear whispers from people who cast quick glances at me.
“Sir Ian is dancing with his younger sister?”
“Oh my, such brotherly affection… Or maybe it’s a younger sister who is throwing a tantrum so she doesn’t lose her brother?”
“Surely, there can’t be something like that between blood siblings?”
That wasn’t the case.
Amid the cackling laughter echoing in the background, I silently glared at the girl. She merely gazed upward into the void with a contemplative look.
“Blessings from the Heavenly Deity…”
“Why? Did you desire blessings from the Heavenly Deity even as the Virgin Saint of the Dark Cult?”
“Curious.”
As she spoke, the girl softly bit her smile.
However, for some reason, that line seemed a bit lonely.
I suddenly found myself at a loss for words.
“Will that incompetent favoritism really bestow blessings upon the abandoned child?”
That was the end of it.
The girl said nothing more and simply turned away, leaving without a word.
It was surprisingly cleanly wrapped up.
I had been worried she would cause a scene until the very end.
Peeking at her until she completely disappeared from sight, I then encountered a familiar figure’s visit.
“Did, did you enjoy yourself, Sir Ian…?”
Though she was smiling, the shivering corners of her mouth were undeniably pitiful.
Imperial Princess Sien, the fifth princess of the empire.
Having faced the Seven Deadly Sins of the Dark Cult, even a princess now seemed cute to me. I let out a faint chuckle and asked the princess.
“Why did you concede?”
“That, well, there are various circumstances! I didn’t really want to concede…!”
As her words became longer, the princess gradually lost strength in her shoulders.
Eventually, she drooped and murmured in a depressed tone.
“I didn’t really want to….”
I silently gazed at the despondent face of the princess for a while.
Then I glanced up at the ceiling where pollen was falling, taking in the sight of people gathered and engaging in conversation at the banquet hall.
The music was still playing.
“…Is the banquet now over?”
“Y-yes?! That’s not the case….”
My hand quietly extended.
The princess was startled and gazed at me blankly with her hands clasped to her chest.
That sight was rather cute. Ultimately, I couldn’t help but break into a faint smile.
“Your Highness, may I dare to ask you to dance?”
It was quite a long wait before a response came back.
Her expression went from foolish astonishment to one with a glimmer of moisture in her eyes, finally breaking into a smile.
“…Yes!”
The princess nodded.
The Feast of Saints that night continued just a bit longer.
