Chapter 2

“Teles.”

“Yes?”

“Run us a bath please.”

“Of course. Then, I’ll get-”

“No, today, I’ll bathe with just us two today. Could you please prepare some cute clothes for us after we’re done?”

“Of course, my lady.”

“U-um.”

“Don’t worry.” I gave Yui a reassuring smile. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

“What are you playing at?” The fairy whispered into my ear.

I giggled as we entered the bathroom. Teles, knowing my morning routine, had already drawn a lovely, hot bath and gotten all the soaps, shampoos and fragrances ready. I started to strip, but Yui was rather hesitant for some reason.

“There’s no need to be shy; it’s just us two here.”

Yet Yui remained frozen, an apt description given how hard she shook.

Strange.

I wanted to ask the fairy about it, but I wasn’t ready to reveal her existence just yet.

“Is-?”

Yui dropped to her knees and clutched her body. I think I heard her weep as she trembled.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Ah, right!” The fairy screamed loudly in my ear. She quietly apologised and started whispering in my ear.

…

…

…

Silently, I bent down and hugged Yui in a warm embrace.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I said, stroking her back. “I won’t hurt you, no one here will. I promise.”

Sheepishly, Yui reached out and tried to hug me back but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Yui.” I felt her flinch. “What did I say when you first got here? I said you could treat me like your big sister. I would be happy if my little sister trusted and relied on me.”

I could feel the hesitation radiating off her. Slowly, she tried to back away from me, so I released her and just watched her move. One finger at a time locked around her dress, and she slowly lifted it off.

I frowned a little.

It was worse than what the fairy had said.

As angry as I felt seeing those injuries, I only ever acted and treated her with kindness. I spoke only of happy things, delicious sweets, comfy clothes and of how cute my little sister was.

“Your hair’s really pretty,” I said, weaving my fingers and the soap through the wet, greasy hair.

“Your skin’s really smooth,” I lied, even as I tend to the bruises and most recently added scars.

By the time I was done, she looked like any other girl our age.

She was very cute and I was excited to start dressing her up.

I dried us both off, called Teles who gave us clothes, though I signalled for her to keep what she saw secret.

I did not doubt that my father knew, but what about mother or the maids?

Teles had given us both white silk pyjamas and fluffy pink wollen jumpers.

“Oh, how cute.”

“…eh?”

“You said that aloud, Miss Villainess.”

Be quiet, fairy. I coughed and lovingly stroked Yui’s cheek, though I could tell that she was embarrassed.

“You’re very cute, Yui.”

This time, I was not lying just to make her feel better.

Oh dear, steam’s bursting out from the top of her pretty head.

Afterwards, I took Yui to my bedroom and sent for tea and sweets.

Yui was very cautious in reaching out to take the cakes but once she had one, she couldn’t stop herself; each time she tried a new one, her face lit up and she munched on them like a hamster.

I smiled.

How cute you are.

I wonder…if I took one she really wanted, would she chase me around like a puppy? Maybe she’d cry and sweetly ask for it back? Oh - maybe she’d try and grab it as I held it high above my head, jumping up desperately again and again to grab it.

I giggled at those thoughts, though Yui thought I was laughing at her.

I was in a way, but she doesn’t need to know my inner thoughts.

Not yet anyway.

Not until it’s realised.

“Yui.” I reached out with a napkin and rubbed her lips. “I’m happy you’re enjoying your food but be a little careful.”

She nodded in a docile manner.

Oh?

Can I tame her like a pet?

It’d be quite nice to have such a cute, obedient pet. That would be a novel idea.

Woah, that face - that’s a villainess alright!”

“Be quiet before I suffocate you.”

My icy whisper clearly had the intended effect - she shrieked and ran away to the corner of the room.

I observed Yui’s reaction, but she didn’t hear me or see the little fairy fly across the room.

…Interesting.

An exclusive pet just for me.

I had to hold back my evil smile.

Still.

I looked upon Yui with pity.

How much has one so young suffered at the hands of her family?

Why?

Because she’s a commoner? Because money was tight? Just because you couldn’t handle the stress.

Later, after Yui had fallen asleep on my bed, I walked out onto the balcony and asked the question that had been on my lips all day.

“The original me…the one from the ‘otome game’, she didn’t know Yui had been abused, did she?”

The fairy sat down on the table next to me and nodded. “If I hadn’t been there, you would’ve come down dressed beautifully and would burst out in anger in the evening after your dad spent the whole day with Yui. He tried to explain it to you, but you didn’t listen and as your parents doted on and soothed her, your resentment towards Yui grew, especially when she sincerely wanted to love you and be your sister.” The fairy gave me a thin smile. “I never thought you’d be so sympathetic to her.”

“I’m not heartless.”

“Heh, not yet.”

“Huh?”

“Eeek! Th-that was a joke, Lady Raena.”

“Just Raena is fine. You - you’ve never told me your name.”

“Huh? Did I not? Well, I used to be Yuri Nakamura, but you can just call me Yuri.”

“Heh, Yui and Yuri.” I leant down on the table and, with my pinkie finger, lightly stroked her head. “Thank you, Yuri.”

“Y-you’re welcome. A-a-and.” She grabbed my little finger with both of her hands. “Don’t…pat my head.”

“Why?”

“It’s embarrassing. I’m not a child.”

“…True. If there was such a vulgar, perverted child as you, I’d pity their parents.”

“I’m not a pervert!”

Perverted woman or not, Yuri’s knowledge would be invaluable to me.

Based on what she’s told me, I am not entirely out of the woods from meeting a bad end.

The male love interests, their fiancés, any developments in our country and its politics that threated to upset the peace.

Anything and everything could happen.

“Yuri.”

She stopped ranting at me, tilting her tiny head to the side.

“Will you help me reach the good ending?”

“…For you?”

I shook my head. “For everyone.”

Well, mainly for me.

While I pity Yui, she is not my sister - she’s my toy. If I could have some fun playing with her and the other characters in this otome game, then that would be perfect.

If they’re as cute and as obedient as Yui, then I might have a rather pleasurable life ahead of me.

Of course, I have to play this very carefully, both for my continued survival and also to keep Yui by my side.

So far, I am the only one that can see her, but what if that’s not the case?

What if the love interests or my political rivals could see her or learn of her existence?

Yuri knows how the future of our lives will play out but that’s only if we stick to the original scenario.

Instead, the better plan would be to use the key parts of her knowledge for my own gains, then change the story so much that her knowledge becomes useless, thus reducing her usefulness to others.

Once that happens, our bond will be the only thing left for her to cling on to.

I smiled at her as Yuri stared up at me. “What do you say?”

She nodded and held up her pinkie again. “As long as it’s for everyone.”

“Of course.”

All for one, one for all.

Those words from an old book I read leapt into my mind.

I’m very excited to see what the future has in store.