The conflicting voices in my head echoed—both believing in my sister and doubting her at the sa ti.
She still had so common sense. She had even said before that marrying Percival wouldn’t be so bad since she’d be able to spend money freely.
But my sister was the kind of person who couldn’t do things she didn’t want to do! Even if that thing was as basic as "You shouldn't kill people!"
As I wrestled with my thoughts, Percival continued guiding us with his usual friendly deanor.
"Now, please step down here. The lake you see over there is truly beautiful. Lady Doris, do you like it?"
"Haha, yes, it’s very pretty."
The water shimred in the sunlight, but all I could think about was whether my sister was nodding toward the lake to gauge its depth.
"That pit over there was used centuries ago for ritual sacrifices by the priests. Do you see the black, glossy stone mound? It was originally white stone."
My sister leaned in and whispered to .
"What’s a ritual sacrifice?"
"A ceremony where a sacrificial offering is burned as an offering."
"Oh, that’s interesting. Now that I look at it, they must have paved the ground with stone to prevent the fire from spreading—"
"Do you really have to be interested in this of all things…?"
"…Huh?"
My sister’s eyes had been practically sparkling at the ntion of ritual sacrifices, but she blinked at my question, confused.
anwhile, Percival, who had been walking ahead, suddenly hurried back to continue his explanation.
To be honest, the scenery was beautiful. It was like a vast, untouched version of a botanical garden, the kind I had admired back when I first entered this world.
But my mind was too preoccupied with both figuring out Percival’s true motives and worrying about whether my sister had made up her mind about sothing truly reckless.
Apparently, that much was obvious—even to Percival.
He grinned playfully.
"Lady Doris. I’m starting to worry that my tour might be boring you. Are you having a good ti?"
"Yes, yes! Of course! The pond you showed us earlier was truly delightful! Where are we heading next?"
The office worker part of my brain answered reflexively.
It was the sa survival instinct that had kicked in every Monday afternoon during drowsy library etings.
It did have the downside of producing sowhat nonsensical responses, but Percival seed satisfied.
He smiled and continued.
"I’m relieved to hear that. Now, over there, you can see a villa. It was gifted by a lord to his mistress over a century ago."
"Oh my, for a hundred-year-old structure, it’s quite well-maintained!"
"It has remained intact in the architectural style of that era, making it a valuable historical site."
"It really is beautiful! I imagine it must have taken a lot of effort to build."
"Indeed. The lord loved his mistress so much that he even built a grand garden just for her."
"Keeping a mistress is already morally questionable, but building an entire house for her? Sounds like a lightweight in both thought and morality."
"…"
"…Ah, I an—ahem. What a lovely piece of trash—I an, cultural heritage!"
Damn it. I got too relaxed and forgot this bastard was exactly that kind of person.
Percival stared into the distance for a mont.
anwhile, my sister clutched her stomach, silently laughing.
At least she was having fun…
Lunch was served midway up the mountain, beneath an elegantly designed patio.
Honestly, I just wanted to eat in peace.
But my sister had already downed half a bottle of wine, and my secondhand embarrassnt forced to continue the conversation with Percival.
"You seem to know all the best places, Your Highness. Do you visit this area often?"
"I used to co here whenever my thoughts grew heavy. Especially up there—at the convent, which will be our final destination. The sisters there helped greatly, so I made sure to support them in return."
"Oh my…"
That doesn’t suit you at all!
I barely swallowed the words.
Percival, oblivious, continued on his own.
"This is actually my first visit in two years. But I see that nothing has changed, and that is a great comfort to . I’m glad you’re enjoying this place as well."
"It’s such a beautiful location. It feels like we’ve been invited into Your Highness’s secret garden."
"Oh my, what high praise. Now I feel pressured to find sothing even more spectacular to show you."
My sister frowned at the saccharine exchange, as if the wine had suddenly lost its flavor.
Just keep drinking, sis. I’m in professional networking mode here.
But then, Percival said sothing that almost made drop my smile.
"I’ll be sure to remind Tristan that he should take his fiancée to nice places more often. My younger brother is oddly narrow-minded—he only ever thinks of the capital."
"…I see."
Now that I thought about it, every "nice place" Tristan had taken to was always either within the capital or in its imdiate outskirts.
But that wasn’t because he was narrow-minded.
It was because—
He had been too busy living his life to explore anything else.
He was soone who had trained with a sword until he could face monsters alone.
Soone who had taught himself about monsters.
Soone who, when others assud he would inherit Blue Atrium effortlessly, went out of his way to study its records.
The mont I thought of that, I found myself speaking up in his defense.
"Even so, the places His Highness has taken were always beautiful. Even during the hunting tournant, despite being busy, he took the ti to escort to a breathtaking lake."
"A lake? Is there even a lake in the royal hunting grounds?"
"Yes. He said a distant ancestor used it as a water source while fortifying a siege during warti. I didn’t get to see the ruins subrged beneath it, but even at night, it was wonderful—"
"Oh, that lake? Haha!"
Percival suddenly burst into laughter.
"…Your Highness?"
"I didn’t expect Tristan to still be fond of that lake. You see, that place was his childhood hideout. Whenever he fought with the family, he would run off there. Of course, only he thought it was a secret."
"…"
"Did Tristan actually tell you about his mories there? Then, of course, you had to think it was beautiful. But there’s no need to say such nice things about it to —"
"It wasn’t an act. It was beautiful."
I cut off his patronizing mockery with firm finality.
That night at the hunting tournant, the lake’s scenery had burned itself into my mory.
I could still recall its colors and sounds the mont I closed my eyes.
A place where sky and water alike were bathed in the sa deep night—
Not a dazzling sight, but one that filled my mind with serenity and joy.
As if I had hidden myself beneath the wings of Nyx, the goddess of the night.
Now I understand why Tristan had chosen that lake as his secret retreat.
Percival’s expression stiffened.
What?
Why?
You started it.
And if anyone had the right to badmouth Tristan from that night, it was !
That bastard almost kissed when he didn’t even have feelings for ! I still haven’t yelled at him enough for that!
Just then, my sister—who had nearly finished half the bottle—spoke up.
"Oh my, Your Highness and your brother must have had a great relationship. Or perhaps Tristan was simply very kind."
"…Excuse ? Well, we fought often, as siblings do. But occasionally, we made up."
"If I were in Tristan’s position, instead of hiding from a bully, I would have dug a pitfall trap. If he broke my heart, I’d at least break his leg in return."
"…Excuse ? I never said I bullied Tristan."
"Then you fought him fairly?"
"…Older brothers are naturally a bit rough. That’s just how boys grow up."
"Shall I deliver that statent directly to His Majesty the Crown Prince?"
"…"
"Hmm. This wine is delicious."
"…Lady Natalie, I believe you may be a bit tipsy. Perhaps we should leave soon."
My sister had deliberately used the wine as an excuse.
And Percival, for the sake of his own dignity, chose to play along.
But I knew better.
She wasn’t even remotely drunk.
Her slightly flushed cheeks were nothing more than a natural tint, like blush powder.
As our maids finished gathering our things, she whispered to .
"Doris. Don’t make defend Tristan."
"That was defending him?"
"I did my best."
"Oh, I can tell. You really tried."
"…Why does it feel awful to hear that from you?"
"Oh? Do you really feel awful?"
I blinked up at her innocently.
She looked dumbfounded for a mont.
Then, finally—she burst into laughter.
"…No. I feel great."
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