Chapter 24

Yuri definitely thinks she’s going to die tonight - she’s way too easy to read.

Well, I suppose that reaction cannot be helped.

Onee-sama has gone all out with her newest plan, one that would break all of the plots and ill-will gathering around her and Yuri.

To say that it was excessive would be a great understatement.

It involved a lot of people and a lot of very careful, calculating planning.

Naturally, as one of Onee-sama’s dearest and most loved people, I played a large role in tonight’s entertainment.

Primarily, my orders were to observe everything from a distance, to see without being seen, without letting others know.

There were 3 main perpetrators to the harassment and smear campaign against Yuri and Onee-sama.

Lady Perlica Riley, daughter of Marquess Riley. A prominent mercantile family who controlled roughly a quarter of all the kingdom’s farmland. If she wanted to, she could divert vital crops away from houses the Rileys did not like, ruining them and their people.

Lady Estelle White, Earl White’s youngest daughter. Their house was an ancient and proud one who were highly influential within circles interested with the country’s culture and art. A recommendation or suggestion from them could influence someone’s entire career path.

Finally, there was the biggest, most dangerous threat, the Princess of the Social Gardens, Countess Urquhart’s eldest daughter, second in line to be Prince Cain’s bride, Lady Anastasia Urquhart.

To say she was dangerous was an understatement.

By her father’s orders, Anastasia had undergone intense training to become the future queen of the kingdom. She was highly intelligent, calculating and had connections with people who lived above and below the surface, including some criminal organisations that we would need to handle after tonight.

Well, as I understand it, Teles and some select knights from the Armina Duchy should be handling them as we’re partying here tonight.

Whether everything goes according to plan or not, I don’t know.

She was the only target I wasn’t permitted to investigate; that honour went to Victoria, but she told me everything.

All three of them had roped ladies from lower ranked houses into assisting them with their harassment, and bribes and blackmail would keep them on message for tonight.

Of course, they were some of the sacrificial pawns Lady Anastasia had prepared to be disposed of at a moment’s notice.

Sadly, no matter how much we fought her tonight, she would remain undefeated.

They, just like us, had been laying down foundations for tonight.

The only difference was that we had a good grasp of their plans and moves.

Generally speaking, their plan was quite simple.

Disgrace Onee-sama’s name, directly and indirectly using Yuri, to remove her from the position of Prince Cain’s future queen.

Our plan was similar, minus the insults thrown to Onee-sama.

Onee-sama didn’t want to be the future queen.

Just as much as they didn’t want her to be.

…A thought just occurred to me.

If Lady Anastasia could be added to our ranks, we could effectively rule this country.

I’ll mention this to Onee-sama after tonight.

The first step of our plan tonight was to enter in a very daring way to capture everyone’s attention.

The matching dresses were definitely a good start.

Then came the first dances of the night.

Onee-sama made a point to dance with Yuri first, then me, then Victoria and then Yuri again.

It was a good way to discuss final preparations and make a bold statement to everyone else too.

It was considered incredibly improper to dance with the same partner in such quick succession.

It was the perfect point to anger those ladies.

So, which one of them would initiate the last dance?

“Lady Raena.”

As expected, it was Lady Anastasia.

It couldn’t really be anyone else.

While the other two ladies were prestigious, Lady Anastasia was the closest to Onee-sama in rank. Of course, both were well known among our generation though for wildly different reasons.

Still, those two - staring at each other with such overwhelming arrogance.

Not that my Onee-sama is arrogant.

She just has absolute confidence in her own abilities as she should.

“Ah, Lady Anastasia, good evening. How are you tonight?”

“Good evening. I’m in a rather pleasant mood.”

“What a coincidence, I’m too.”

“Oh?” Lady Anastasia deployed her fan before her mouth. “Why are you in such good spirits?”

Onee-sama laughed. “Is there a reason why I shouldn’t be? After all, we’re at such a delightful party surrounded by our friends and I have those dearest to me by my side.”

As expected of Lady Anastasia; her composure hasn’t faltered once.

But I can read what she’s thinking.

“This woman…I’ll tear you down from your high horse and make you regret going for Prince Cain.”

“I must confess I have similar feelings, however.” She shot a brief, dirty glance at Yuri. “I can’t say you’ve been entirely honest with your words.”

“Oh~?”

“For someone of your standing, I expected you to have better judgement when it comes to those closest to you.”

Onee-sama, don’t do anything rash and ruin all your best-laid plans.

“Should I take that to mean you’re insulting my beloved sister?”

Lady Anastasia laughed. “The fact that your mind went to her first shows that you really are a cruel woman, Lady Raena.”

Onee-sama laughed louder. “Oh no, far from it. I just wanted to clarify your stance before I respond in the appropriate manner.”

That seemed to catch Lady Anastasia off guard.

“…What are you implying?”

“I’m not implying anything. I’m just making sure you understand the severity of your own ignorance.

“If you come after me, I throw my glove at you and demand satisfaction.

“If you attack Yui, the whole might of the Armina Duchy will come for you.

“If you harm Yuri, I’ll burn your whole world down.”

Venom slowly increased with every word Onee-sama spoke.

It was, in every sense of the word, a declaration of war.

…I had spent nearly every day of my life with Onee-sama and I had never seen her so vicious before.

Some of the lower ranked ladies had been intimidated severely, as I could see their bodies trembling.

No doubt some of the higher ranked ladies were scared too, but they couldn’t falter.

Lady Anastasia especially couldn’t afford to back down now.

It was a great crime to make threats against a noble, but-

“…Are you willing to take responsibility for those words?”

“Are you?”

The two stared each other down before Anastasia went on the attack.

“Then, let me continue, Lady Raena. Yes, I was talking about someone you keep close to you, but not the noble Lady Yui, but rather the commoner you picked up and forcefully brought to our prestigious school for the sole purpose of tormenting her.”

Onee-sama smiled. “Has Yuri done something to deserve such words from you?”

“Besides from being forced into this school against her will?”

“I must confess, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh my, to think that the Armina Princess is so ignorant of her own actions.”

Onee-sama just laughed. “To think that the heiress of a Marquis would dare question a princess of a duchy.”

“I do so for the good of this country.” Lady Anastasia stared daggers at Onee-sama. “As the current candidate to be the crown princess’s fiancée, you’re not fit to stand by Lord Cain’s side.”

“…Oh~ Do tell why.”

“Very well. First, Yuri Nakamura, has had to endure endless amounts of bullying and harassment from ladies that you have personally ordered - no, forced - them into doing. It’s no small secret how little you care for Miss Yuri based on how you treat her at home, and in public.”

“I’ve seen it too,” said Lady Perlica. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I and my friends have heard and seen this bullying first-hand. Someone close to Lady Raena has told us of how you harass Miss Yuri at home, and how you relish in tormenting others for your own sadistic pleasure.”

…Victoria, what have you been telling them?

Well, I don’t think some of their accusations are false.

“We’ve heard many stories of your misdeeds,” Lady Anastasia continued. “Yuri, a commoner, was brought into your household to become your property, lower than a maid or slave, lower than even the dirt beneath your feet.”

Hushed murmurs broke out with many questions and concerns, but no one else started speaking up to join one side or the other.

Not yet at least.

They were waiting.

For the moment when it’d become clear who was winning and who was definitely losing.

The stage wasn’t set for I, Onee-sama, Victoria or others to act.

Looking at Yuri’s face, she clearly didn’t expect this development.

Sadly, the truth is that Yuri’s words and actions in this ballroom would not change the outcome for either side.

“We’re heard more foul rumours too,” Lady Perlica said. “You keep such a plain, boring-looking woman, against her will, by your side only to make yourself stand out more. Even tonight, you have dressed her in the same style dress all in aid to appeal more to Lord Cain. Truly, such shameful disgraceful behaviour for one looking to become our future queen.”

…I couldn’t bear to look at Yuri’s face.

Onee-sama; if looks could kill, this ballroom would have become coated in blood.

Actually, that could still happen.

I and Lady Victoria knew, in the depths of our hearts, that we were precious to Onee-sama, but there was someone even more special to her.

I must admit, I’m rather jealous.

“…Is there anything else you wish to say?”

To withstand Onee-sama’s bloodlust; you really are a formidable enemy, Lady Anastasia.

“Oh, are you admitting your crimes so soon?”

Onee-sama shook her head. “All I’m doing is waiting until you’ve finished telling your story.”

“Story?” Lady Anastasia scoffed. “You still won’t admit your wrongdoings? Then, perhaps once we present our evidence and testimonies, you’re tune will change. Lady Estelle.”

Said Lady and 3 of her knights came forward. She curtsied and then gestured to her escorts carrying stacks of paper and bags containing ‘evidence’.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Estelle White, and I have the displeasure of bringing Lady Raena’s misdeeds to light. What I have here are witness testimonies of her vile acts of bullying both inside our academy and in her own home. Likewise, we retrieve and preserved the items that Lady Raena sought to damage or destroy referenced in the witness testimonies. These have also been-”

“Ah~ I really can’t take it anymore.”

…Onee-sama.

“Bullying? Witness testimonies? Evidence? Who would-?”

“Lady Victoria Highland told us everything!”

“…What?”

Thinking they had caught Onee-sama off-guard and in a state of panic, Lady Anastasia allowed Lady Estelle to push their ‘advantage’.

“Lady Victoria, please come forward and attest to the truth of our claims!”

As Onee-sama anticipated.

Victoria was very well known, as was her relationship with Onee-sama and Lord Michael.

Their duel for her affection was famous, as were the rumours of the ‘secret truth’ of that day. It was a false conspiracy being spun based entirely off Lady Victoria’s vague hints and comments.

Said lady entered into the ring as graceful and obnoxious as ever.

Who does she think she’s fooling with this façade?

“Lady Victoria Highland, thank you for stepping forward despite these difficult circumstances.”

“Thank you, Lady Estelle.”

“Could you please provide your testimony about these incidents? Don’t worry, you’ll-”

“Happily.” Victoria cut her off. “I, Victoria Highland, of sound mind and before all these witnesses declare that…! I have no idea what Lady Anastasia and her friends are talking about.”

…

…

…

…

…

This might be the loudest silence that has ever been.

Here they were, 3 highly influential and powerful noblewomen with such confidence, such bravado, such a just cause, and they were immediately forced back and lost the ability to attack Onee-sama.

“W-What are you?”

“I must admit, I’m rather shocked and embarrassed to have been somehow roped into this ridiculous farce.”

“Ri-?! You-you said all those things about-”

“What did I say, Lady Perlica?”

“Y-you said how Lady Raena was cruel and mean, and-!”

“She is.”

“…What?”

“Well, Raena is. I mean, even though she has me in her life, Raena insists on keeping Yuri and Yui beside her too. Isn’t that so mean?! Keeping them by her side when she has me?!”

“…That’s not what you said.”

“It is. I mean, if it was anyone but Raena trying to do this sort of thing, then it’d be unforgivable.” Victoria sighed. “What a sinful woman.”

I know she’s right, yet I still want to hit Victoria very hard across the cheek.

Is this how Onee-sama felt when Lord Michael insulted me?

“T-then, what about those things when you said she was being cruel to your fiancée?” Lady Estelle asked.

“Oh, you mean ‘How cruel they are to keep coming between me and my fiancée’?” Victoria giggled. “Naturally, I was talking about how Lady Yui kept denying my engagement proposals to Raena.”

“It’s not just her.”

“Shut up, Lord Michael.” I don’t think anyone expected so much poison to come from Victoria’s mouth and definitely not with such a sweet voice to it. Then, with a perfect smile, Victoria continued. “I know that this country doesn’t allow marriage between women, yet, but for Lady Yui to keep my Raena away from me like this…honestly, how could she do something so cruel?”

“Please stop chasing my Onee-sama, you damn pervert.”

The words left my mouth before I’d realised.

Thankfully, no one heard me.

Their attention was on the ever-changing story before their eyes.

Even with this revelation from Victoria, it still wouldn’t be enough to put a dent in Lady Anastasia’s armour.

No, what we needed was something more - something so powerful that even she would have to admit defeat.

We had that weapon in our arsenal, but it wasn’t the time to unveil it.

Not yet.