Chapter 5

Lady Carrow was no longer a lady, nor would she ever see the light of day again.

Father had held her quietly in bondage before informing Lord Cain and his parents of what had happened, and when the king learnt of what she had attempted, he removed Lady Carrow’s eyes.

He did this, mind you, in a waiting room at the palace where my father had brought Lady Carrow, and in front of Lord Cain and his mother.

Apparently, we had traded one traumatic event for another.

Well, at least it’s not a fear of women.

“What the hell is wrong with him?!”

“Don’t scream in my ear, Yuri.”

“But-!”

“We prevented the first trauma flag, so we should be celebrating, no?”

“…I think so, but…”

“Yuri.” I held up a finger and Yuri floated down to sit on in oh so naturally. “Tell me.”

“In some stories where the characters try to change the original scenario, the world itself reacts and tries to force the original story to happen.”

“The world itself?”

She nodded. “I know you were joking earlier, but what if all we changed is what traumatised Lord Cain?”

“If that was the case, Yui and I’s relationship wouldn’t be as good as it is, no?”

“…True, but…”

“Don’t worry.” I lightly rubbed her head with my pinkie. “We’re doing the right thing.”

For me.

Well and them - maybe.

Still, I smiled a little.

Yuri had gotten quite used to my little commands like a tiny bird. I wonder if she’s noticed herself.

Admittedly.

I stopped petting Yuri.

I wondered what Yui’s reaction would be. I had kept the plan about the party quiet; I would hate for this to cause a rift between us.

“I need to see Yui.”

***

“Lady Yui, Lady R-”

“Onee-sama!”

“Ugh!”

A bear hug with the weight of my younger sister’s love was a powerful thing.

Had I not been learning swordsmanship and training my body, she would have cracked some bones.

“That looked painful.” Thank you for stating the obvious.

Still, I hugged her back gently.

Maybe this was my punishment for yesterday.

“Yui, can I speak to-?”

“Of course!”

She pulled me into her room but kept Teles and the others outside, including the little fairy; this is why you shouldn’t leave my side, Yuri.

We sat down on her sofa, and she nuzzled against my side.

Thankfully, she doesn’t appear to be in a bad mood.

“Did you have fun last night?”

“Yes! It was a wonderful party and you looked amazing in your dress. Everyone I spoke to complimented you.”

“Of course.” I stroked her head, making her giggle. “I’m your big sister, so it’s only natural that I look my absolute best. I do wish I could have enjoyed it for longer, but I had important work to do.”

“Important work?”

“Do you remember when I stepped out briefly with Teles and some knights?” Yui nodded. “Last night, I had to protect Lord Cain from a very bad person.”

“A bad person?” She asked.

I nodded. “I had deduced that something bad would happen, and so I moved quickly to stop it. Forgive me for not telling you sooner, Yui.”

“It’s fine, Onee-sama. I was just shocked when I couldn’t find you.”

“If I hadn’t moved when I did, Lord Cain could have been hurt. It was dangerous to even let Teles know.”

“Why?”

A dangerous question to ask, even more dangerous to answer.

“It wasn’t a matter of trust, it was a matter of eyes and ears,” I said. “There was always a chance, no matter how small, that someone malicious might have overheard and interfered and endangered not just Lord Cain, but myself, Teles and all those who knew.”

“…Onee-sama, am I a burden to you?”

“Who dares say such things about you?”

“No one has said it, but you’re just so amazing and perfect, and I’m…” Her little fists tightened. “I don’t want to be a burden to you. Whenever people praised you last night, I agreed with every word but then I worried I couldn’t stand by your side forever.”

“Yui.” I lifted her chin so she was looking into my eyes. “I do not care what anyone else says - you are my sister and you can always stay by my side.”

“But that isn’t good enough!”

“Why?”

“Because.” She put a hand on her heart. “I don’t just want to be protected forever! I want to become someone you can trust, someone who can fight alongside you and protect you. I know what you’ll say and I know you’re so great on your own that you don’t need my help. Even so!” Yui knelt before me on one knee. “Let me become someone who can stand by your side!”

“Yui…”

Now, what should I do about this?

On one hand, Yuri wanted to be useful to me.

She didn’t want to just stay as a bystander. She wanted me not to dote on her and instead let her grow wings. If Yui become a loyal pet with valuable skills like Teles, then it would make my overall position in the world stronger.

On the other - if Yui grew older, wiser and more capable, she might see my true nature and despise me for it, just like in the original story.

If that happened, I’d be creating my own downfall.

Yes, at present, Yui loved me and hung off my every word as if I were an intoxicating rose.

However, people change as do their feelings.

Had Yuri not warned me of the future, I would have come to despise Yui from deep within my core. Mother and Father would have grown more distant and come to loathe that I was their child.

I couldn’t allow it.

I tried to declare as much, but the words caught in my throat.

Her eyes.

So pure.

So determined.

So full of love.

So anxious of rejection.

I sighed and smiled sweetly.

“Understood. If you are willing to go that far, then I won’t say no.”

“Really?!”

“However.” Ah, she looks heartbroken; how cute. “It will not be an easy road. It will be hard work, painful, stressful and you might learn things about yourself that disappoint you. Even then, are you willing to try?”

“I won’t try; I’ll definitely succeed.”

“Wow, how reliable.” I held out my right hand. “I have high expectations, Yui.”

She beamed, took my hand and kissed the back of it. “I will meet every single one, Onee-sama.”

***

“How did this happen?!”

“Must you scream so loudly?”

“Why? Why is the heroine working to support the villainess?! It doesn’t make any sense! Oh, God, Buddha, Dalai Lama, help us! Anyone! The villainess is-! Geh!”

“Yuri.”

She shrieked; her wings trapped between my fingers as I used the oni-face that she was oh so fond off.

“Eek! Finally, it’s happened. She’s lost all of her humanity and turned into a beast that’ll devour me! No, yada, non, no-bueno! Someone, save me! Please, hear my voice!”

“You really have a flair for the dramatic, don’t you?” I sighed and released her. “This should not be a bad thing for you, no?”

“It’s the worst!”

“Why?”

“Why?! She flew right into my face before screaming this time. “The heroine, rather than studying to prove herself a worthy daughter of the Armina household, is now training to become your loyal tool!”

“And?”

“And?!” She huffed. “And, she says!”

“If both of us are working together, then-”

“Let me just stop you right there. If the villainess was working with the heroine to save the world or protect the male leads, then that would be a wonderful thing. However!” She poked her tiny finger at me. “The heroine working hard to support the villainess is not the same thing!”

“Is that so?”

“It is!”

“But aren’t you working with me to save the male leads and reach the best ending?”

“T-that’s-”

“If it weren’t for you helping the villainess, the original story would never have reached this point. So.” I giggled. “In a way, this is entirely your fault, Yuri.”

“…Eugh, the villainess is trying to gaslight me into thinking I’m the one responsible. What a terrible person.”

“Yuri.”

“Eeek!”

I smiled softly. “We have already crossed this bridge, so there’s no reason to worry about what has already occurred. Instead, we should be focusing on the future and-”

“I am, with great trepidation!”

“Then.” I stared at her with cold eyes. “Help me so that the future you fear so much doesn’t come to fruition.”

Otherwise, my future will never exist.