“Christiana, this is Claudia. She will be your new mother starting today. And this child is Vicky—your younger sister.”
When Count Tenies, her father, announced this to her, Christiana couldn’t immediately process what he had said.
It was the winter of her ninth year. Less than a month had passed since her mother, Joanna, was laid to rest. In Joanna’s room, the scent of her favorite perfume still lingered. Her dresses remained hanging in the closet, and the book she had been reading mid-way was still sitting right on her bedside table.
“A new mother?”
Unable to help herself, Christiana asked back, only for Count Tenies to grimace in blatant irritation.
“That is what I said. Don’t make me repeat myself! What a dull-witted girl!”
“…I’m sorry.”
Though she apologized reflexively, Count Tenies was no longer looking at her. He was gazing fondly at Claudia instead.
Claudia was a glamorous woman. Her lips were painted a vivid lipstick, and her nails were manicured to match the exact same shade. Large gems swayed from her ears, and a heavy necklace lined with countless gemstones sparkled around her neck. Her brightly colored dress featured a low neckline, and her hair was adorned with numerous hair accessories.
She was different from Joanna in every conceivable way.
Joanna, too, had been mindful of her appearance as the countess, but her makeup had always been subtle, and she chose her jewelry based on quality rather than sheer size. While her dresses were finely made, they were modest, and she selected only a single hair ornament to match her attire for the day. Though she was frail and occasionally bedridden, on days when she felt well, she would always spend time with Christiana. She had been a gentle, loving mother who cherished her daughter above all else.
A little bird found in the garden.
Improving just a little bit at her embroidery.
No matter how trivial the topic, Christiana had always shared it with Joanna.
It was precisely because Christiana loved her mother so dearly that confusion and sorrow welled up even more intensely in her chest.
(Mother has only just passed away… Why is someone else becoming my mother already?)
Yet, what caught Christiana’s eye even more than Claudia was Vicky, who stood beside her. By all appearances, the girl was around her own age. After eyeing Christiana up and down, Vicky let out a faint smirk.
“I was born just a month after you. But I’ll let you call me ‘older sister.’ I hear you and I are half-sisters, born of different mothers.”
“Half-sisters…?”
Christiana looked toward Count Tenies. He merely clicked his tongue and turned his face away in annoyance.
(Ever since I was in Mother’s womb… no, long before that… had Father been betraying Mother and me all along?)
A lump formed in her throat. He had always claimed he was busy with work. Both Christiana and Joanna had truly believed he was away from the estate because he was working so hard.
As Christiana bit her lip, Claudia distorted her face in displeasure.
“What is with that look?! Don’t you dare give me a sullen look when I am being gracious enough to become your mother!”
“I didn’t mean to…”
“Honestly, I don’t want to be your mother either. You’re just as I heard from the Count. A thoroughly cheeky brat, and you don’t even have a magic crest yet, do you? On top of that, you look just like your gloomy mother… Absolutely hideous.”
Claudia let out an exaggerated sigh, prompting Christiana to snap her head up.
“Do you know my mother?”
“I’ve never met her. But I heard she was always pale, constantly lying in bed complaining about feeling unwell and being in pain. Just a lazy, good-for-nothing parasite, wasn’t she?”
“She wasn’t a good-for-nothing! Mother was sick!”
The moment the words slipped out, Count Tenies’ furious shout rang out, making Christiana’s shoulders flinch violently.
“Christiana! Don’t you talk back to Claudia!”
“…Yes, sir.”
“That’s right! Don’t you look down on me just because I used to be a commoner! Unlike you, I actually possess the magic crest of a dragon. Even for a commoner, I can at least shoot small fireballs, you know.”
Claudia puffed out her chest proudly. In this kingdom, most people were born with magic regardless of their social standing. Commoners possessed magical power as well, with many able to handle simple spells for daily life—such as lighting a flame, filling a pitcher with water, or using wind magic to knock down a fruit or two from a tall tree.
Count Tenies then spat out a complaints about how much trouble the Count’s household had suffered due to Joanna, who had done nothing but stay sick. Then, his expression softened abruptly as he placed a hand on Vicky’s shoulder.
“You will speak to Vicky using honorifics from now on. Unlike you, this girl is exceptional.”
“Honorifics…?”
To use polite, formal speech toward a younger sister born a month after her… As Christiana stood there bewildered, Vicky smugly thrust out her right hand.
“You’ll understand once you see this, won’t you? I’m far superior to someone like you.”