Chapter 34: The Past — After She Was Gone (2) Continued
…
After burning every piece of discarded debris at his feet to ash, the ground was stained black.
The items that had once been gifts were now nothing more than blackened lumps, which the servants who arrived later began to clear away.
Leaving the aftermath to them, Cain returned inside the mansion.
His destination was his sister’s room.
—No, his former sister’s room.
He walked the long corridor he knew by heart, his feet remembering the way even without conscious thought.
He stopped in front of Faustina’s room.
Since she had left, no one had entered it.
He raised his hand, about to knock out of habit, then remembered there was no one on the other side anymore and gave a self-mocking smile.
The moment he lowered the doorknob—
“Ah, there you are, Brother!”
A voice he had wished not to hear for a while stopped him in his tracks.
“Elvira.”
“I told Lune to go call you, but you didn’t come at all!”
He looked at the puffed-up Elvira with emotionless ruby-red eyes and let out a quiet breath.
“Has His Highness returned?”
“Yes.”
“I was able to speak with Lord Bernhard, and it made me so happy!”
“We haven’t been able to see each other much lately, so I was feeling lonely.”
“I see.”
His interest gone, Cain pulled the door open.
“Then return to your room quickly.”
“Elvira has no time to waste.”
“I know.”
“I have preparations to make to become the Crown Princess!”
“The preparations will be handled by those around you.”
“What you must do is undergo the queen consort education that Fana had been receiving all this time.”
…
Elvira’s face darkened immediately, drawing an obvious sigh from Cain.
With Faustina gone and Elvira becoming the next crown prince’s fiancée, both the Vitkenshtein family and the royal family had no choice but to hastily make Elvira suitable to become Crown Princess.
At the noble academy, her grades were average at best, often closer to below average.
Compared to Faustina, who had consistently placed first or second every term, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Furthermore, Faustina had received queen consort education from a very young age, while Elvira had barely a year’s worth at most, leaving a vast gap in what they had learned.
If you have time to hang your head here, go back to your room at once.
Cain said this coldly, and spots of moisture began to form at Elvira’s feet.
Her slender shoulders trembled as she let out sobs.
“Hic… ugh…”
“W-why are you always so cold to me, Brother…?”
“I’m only stating what should be obvious.”
“I’ve told you this many times.”
“The ones who didn’t listen were you, Mother, and His Highness.”
“If you understand, then return to your room at once.”
“…To be honest, I don’t want to see you anymore.”
!!
When she lifted her face, merciless ruby-red eyes were calmly looking down at her.
Whether it was sorrow at not being understood, or fear toward the brother standing before her, her trembling would not stop.
“Elvira.”
“You say I’m cold, but I said the same things to Fana.”
“If you have time to cry, prove them wrong.”
“She clenched her teeth, struggled desperately, and kept pushing forward.”
“Of course I praised her and treated her gently.”
“But what about you, Elvira?”
“Even after being mocked by Fana again and again, you only cried, played the tragic heroine, painted Fana as the villain, and hid behind protection.”
“I told you over and over, but you never listened.”
“That is who you are now.”
“You.”
“Y-you can say that because you don’t know how frightening Sister really is…!”
“Do I look like such a pathetic brother that I’d be afraid of my own sister?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Then go back to your room at once.”
“And prepare for what only you can do to become Crown Princess.”
…
In the end, without saying what she truly wanted to convey, Elvira returned to her room in a dejected state.
After watching her unreliable retreating figure, Cain entered Faustina’s room.
‘Brother, will you grant me my final request?’
‘After I’m gone, I want you to dispose of everything in this room as you see fit.’
‘If there’s anyone who wants something, you may give it to them.’
‘If I asked Father, the work probably wouldn’t progress at all.’
‘A cool-headed brother like you would be able to decide quickly and throw things away, right?’
‘Cold-hearted, am I?’
‘Ouch!’
Recalling his final exchange with Faustina, Cain reached out and touched the untouched belongings in the room.