[TKOSINM] 245 – Because I Hate You

Shut.

Riel, who came out of the room, walked down the hallway without hesitation and eventually collapsed down to the floor.

“Wah!”

It was too much...

In order to appear as relaxed as possible in front of the Emperor, she endured it even though her stomach was turning upside down. As a result, nausea welled up in her neck.

Barely soothing her upset stomach, Riel grabbed onto the nearby railing and staggered up to her feet. She then slowly took each step forward at a time.

With the cold wind making her body temperature drop, she was in the worst condition, but there was a smile hung on her lips.

I’m sure my sister will wonder why I’m doing this.

Riel, who barely made it to the place where her carriage was situated, got inside and laid herself down. Soon, she felt the rocking and rattling of the carriage. Riel closed her eyes for a few seconds, then slowly blinked them open again.

Because I hate you, sister.

♔♔♔

“I like my sister the most in the whole wide world.”

Riel nodded vehemently when her mother asked whether she liked her sister. Her movement was so excessive that she had to stop for a breath from the arisen nausea.

“Riel...! I told you not to overdo it.”

“Mom, where is sister? I want to play with her.”

“You are not feeling well, so just rest for now.”

Riel’s face hardened at her mother’s words. Riel threw the teddy bear she was holding onto the floor. She shouted.

“I want to play with my sister! Mother, please tell sister to come to me.”

“...Wait a minute. I will bring her.”

“Come back quickly, okay?”

“All right.”

At Riel’s little tantrum, her mother sighed helplessly and rose from her seat. After her mother left the room, Riel dangled her feet impatiently, waiting for Irene to come.

When my sister comes, I want to play with dolls. We will draw as well.

There were so many things she wanted to do that it was hard for her to list them all.

Riel, feeling uncomfortable sitting, lay down. Still, she did not take her eyes off the tightly shut door for even a second.

Soon after, the door swung open again, and Irene came in, holding her mother’s hand. As soon as she saw Irene, Riel jumped out of her bed and rushed over. Her mother, startled by the sight, let go of Irene’s hand and hurried to Riel.

“Riel! Are you hurt anywhere? How many times have I told you to be careful!”

“Hehe. I’m sorry. I just want to play with my sister real soon….”

Sigh…

“At this rate, you must be really obsessed with your big sister.”

Her mother shook her head helplessly. She could not stop her after all. As she sighed, Riel clung to Irene, refusing to part.

Riel extremely liked Irene. As long as she was with her, all her weaknesses seemed to disappear, leaving only the superior version of herself. Even her frail body became a weapon in front of her because the only one that her parents and the servants laid eyes on was herself, not her sister.

“I like sister the most. Do you like me?”

“Yes, Riel.”

It was only for her own good. A being who stood one level below her, boosting herself up; a bland background figure for her to outshine. To Riel, Irene was that figure.

Until she knew the truth.

♔♔♔

“If it becomes known that Irene is of the royal family, we are finished. What on earth did your sister think when she entrusted Irene to us?!”

“...Anyhow, since we have already accepted it, it cannot be helped. We have no choice but to raise her while hiding her from the public eyes as much as possible.”

“What if we tell His Majesty now…?”

“Then what about my sister who hid Irene?”

“What are we going to do then?”

“... Let’s just keep this as a secret for now and keep an eye on Irene to make sure this does not leak out.”

“Hah...fine. But do it yourself. I have no affection toward that girl Irene….”

Riel, who went to her parents’ bedroom to sleep with them, heard a shocking story.

Is my sister royalty?

She could not believe it. No, more like, she did not want to believe it.

Sister, cannot be. How could she be more than me, we’re meant to be sisters. Sisters.