The Kind Older Sister Is No More

8 - Mysterious Letter

Upon arriving at her residence, Irene felt that the distance was far too short. The moment Irene had caught sight of her destination, the positive and hopeful feelings she had had from before instantly vanished.

Irene tucked away her gold coins before departing the carriage and going back into the Chase mansion.

It turned out to all be pointless to do because not a single one of her family welcomed Irene when she arrived. Perhaps because Irene was back from a crowded ball, the empty hall in her house felt unusually large and cold. However, being an occurrence that was completely normal for her, she did not feel saddened by the lack of human presence welcoming her return to the house. When Irene was about to go upstairs, she saw a figure standing at the top, waiting for her.

"You're already back, sister?" Riel asked whilst beautifully smiling at Irene.

"Why are you here..."

"No matter how long I waited, my sister did not return. So, I was waiting for you here."

Irene looked shocked at her answer. Then Riel gently came down the stairs and stopped one stair above Irene. Riel was shorter than her peers, so her height at that moment was equal to Irene's, despite the fact that she was standing one stair above.

Riel opened her mouth after gazing at Irene from top to bottom.

"My sister is so pretty. I bet men would line up to dance with you at the ball."

"I'm tired. So please get out of my way."

Usually, Irene would be worried and take off her shawl to cover Riel's shoulder because she was afraid that Riel would catch a cold. But, instead of being concerned about Riel, Irene just calmly passed her.

"You've changed, sister."

Irene turned her head. Riel was looking at her with a tearful face.

"Are you still mad about Boris? I think you should judge the situation from another perspective. You should be glad to know your fiancé's true nature, who falls in love with your own sister. You almost married him without knowing that fact. So, shouldn't you thank me instead? Why are you getting angry at me? I can't stand it if you avoid me. It's hard for me. My heart pounds so hard whenever you have ignored me, and I feel suffocated. It feels like I am about to die because-"

"Riel." Irene cut off Riel's words with a chilled tone.

Riel dropped her head down and buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders also began to tremble.

"Stop using your illness as a weapon."

"..."

Irene's words made Riel's shoulders stop shaking, and then, Riel's emotionless purple eyes looked up at Irene. Receiving that look, Irene paused for a moment and continued her words.

"What you were saying was right. If I hadn't seen you and Boris kissing, I would have married him without knowing his true nature. But that's my problem and none of your business. I'll take care of my problem. So don't ever say that I should thank you. Because I'm not grateful at all."

"..."

Then Irene turned her back and went up to the third floor.

Riel, who was left alone on the stairs, clenched her fist, her body quivering. She bit her lips to the point where her lips were bleeding, and then tears fell from her eyes.

♔♔♔

"Irene Chase. She is the eldest daughter of Count Chase. She was born in the 334th Imperial year, on the 22nd of December. She lived with her aunt, Mrs Friedan, until she was three years old and then lived with Count Chase. She entered the Academy at age seventeen and graduated three years later. She has a younger sister who is a year younger than her. Perhaps because she rarely attended any social events, not so many people know about Irene Chase. She also didn't have many friends when she was a student at the Academy. I found a few people who knew about her in the Academy, but they didn't seem to have any notable impressions of her."