Chapter 4: First Part ③
Schwarz Camellia (16) and Weiss Camellia (16) are twin brothers.
Perhaps because they were fraternal twins, Schwarz inherited their mother’s appearance, while Weiss inherited their father’s.
Both have golden hair and blue eyes, but Schwarz is a refined… androgynous beauty, while Weiss is a sharp and refreshing handsome man…
From young noble ladies to elderly noblewomen, the twins, as a set, enjoy overwhelming popularity.
Their popularity rivals that of some idol unit.
Incidentally, they even have a fan club, and every year they are ranked No.1 in [Most Wanted as a Son], [Most Wanted as a Brother], and [Most Wanted Unmarried Noble to Marry].
The eldest, Schwarz, excels in academics and is hailed as a genius in magical mechanics, while the second son, Weiss, is unparalleled in swordsmanship… especially in magic sword techniques.
Naturally gifted as magicians, blessed with exceptional looks, and with promising futures, the twins were highly sought after.
The Emperor desperately wanted them as attendants for his son.
That is why he had every intention of making the youngest daughter of the Camellia family the Crown Princess.
If their sister became Crown Princess, the twins would naturally be appointed as the Crown Prince’s attendants…
However, Iris Camellia suddenly fell ill, and that plan fell apart.
The twins’ talents are desired by everyone.
Even if they refused to serve as attendants, the Prime Minister or the General would never let them go.
If the Emperor forced them into service, Schwarz would likely shut himself away in a research institute, while Weiss would happily head to the frontlines at the border.
If that happened, backlash would be inevitable… especially from the Emperor’s younger brother, the General, as well as the Empress Dowager, who serves as the official president of their fan club, and the Empress…
Even the Prime Minister might abandon his duties out of frustration.
Originally, the chance of the twins serving the Crown Prince was fifty-fifty, but with Iris withdrawing as a candidate, it dropped below twenty percent.
────And now, that possibility had become zero.
It is true that until a year ago, Iris had feelings for Julius.
She would follow the Crown Prince wherever he went, and if any noble lady tried to approach him, she would intimidate them.
The twins watched this with exasperation, but after Iris fell ill, they began to properly pay attention to her.
Even if she had gone about it the wrong way, Iris had simply wanted the one she loved to notice her.
Her parents had a poor relationship, and her older siblings always prioritized themselves over her.
She grew up without knowing love.
And then, she fell in love.
For the first time in her life, she fell in love.
In her own way, Iris wanted Julius to look at her…
But a child who does not know kindness or love can only understand obsession and possessiveness.
By the time they realized that they should have been the ones to show her love and guide her properly, it was already too late.
“Iris! Iris! Ah, why—!”
“…So noisy… what is it—… Iris!?”
“Are you serious… hey!”
The hallway erupted into chaos, and when Schwarz and Weiss stepped out of their rooms to see what was happening,
they saw Iris being carried by their father, her pure white apron dress stained bright red, her body limp.
Their mother followed behind, running and crying.
The twins stood frozen in shock.
Grabbing a passing servant, they were told briefly what had happened in the living room.
“…The young lady… coughed up blood!”
Hearing those words, the twins could hardly believe it.
The sister who had been energetically chasing after the Crown Prince at the ball just a month ago… coughed up blood?
They had heard she had been bedridden with a cold recently and had even laughed, saying, “At least she’s quiet now,” but…
Could it be something far worse?
Thinking that, a chilling sensation ran through them.
Then, upon hearing the physician’s diagnosis, the family was struck with even greater shock.
“…Congenital Excessive Magic Production Disorder… Angel Disease.”
The illness Iris had developed was
an incurable disease… one that might improve in adulthood, but until then, she would live on the edge of death.
Why their sister?
They could not believe it.
But day by day, she grew thinner, her healthy complexion turned as white as snow… and even her hair, inherited from their mother, became pure white.
The one who cried upon seeing this… unexpectedly, was Weiss.
On the morning her hair turned white, Iris, who had once taken pride in her shining golden hair, greeted Weiss and said with swollen, red eyes,
“It matches your knight uniform, doesn’t it, Brother? My white hair is lovely too, isn’t it?”
She smiled bravely as she said it.
That strong-willed Iris… had cried.
Seeing her trying to smile through it, Weiss could not help but cry.
…Had Schwarz been there, he surely would have cried as well.
Whenever the twins visited, Iris would smile happily.
As if her illness meant nothing, she would cheerfully ask them to read to her.
They had never realized she would be so happy.
When they mentioned this to Professor Lark, he gently scolded them.
“Children become selfish because they feel lonely. That is why you must show them love. Right now, you are her only emotional support.”
Now, they understood those words all too well.
And so, Schwarz and Weiss became complete sister-lovers.
…Unaware of this, any noble who mocked their sister in front of them found themselves unable to leave their territory… or rather, prevented from doing so.
Now, speaking about their sister in front of the twins had become strictly forbidden.
In the game, the twins felt apologetic toward the Crown Prince, who was constantly followed by their sister, and served as his attendants to restrain her.
After the Crown Prince ending, they vowed lifelong loyalty to atone for their sister’s actions.
Incidentally, both were popular enough to become additional romanceable characters in the fan disc.
*
“Hey, Iris.”
“Yo, Iris.”
“Good day, dear brothers.”
On the morning of Solle Day (Sunday), my brothers came to my room, and after greeting them, they each held out a book—one bound in crimson, the other in dark blue.
“Which one do you want today?”
“Brother Lutz’s is Inspector Himmel’s Case Files: The Vanished Bride, and Brother Is’s book is Luster’s Adventure Record?”
“Oh! You read that well. This one is a mystery novel where Inspector Himmel searches for his beloved who was abducted during a church wedding and gradually uncovers the truth of the case. It also has a romantic element between the hero and heroine.”
“This one is an adventure story where the female hero Luster journeys to the Spirit Forest with her childhood friend, a young magician. Along the way, they face many hardships, but overcome them together!”
“My!”
I could not help but sparkle with excitement.
…To be honest, neither of these are really children’s books, but they must have gone out of their way to buy books aimed at women for me…
I could never complain.
Their criteria for choosing books is somewhat questionable…
They usually bring books recommended by their classmates, but do those classmates even realize I am only six years old?
…However, when I think about it, I get to hear my handsome brothers’ beautiful voices up close, and they read romance novels aloud.
Schwarz would likely read calmly… but Weiss would probably blush deeply while reading…
It seems their classmates intend to make me die of excitement.
Before I regained my memories, I was quite foolish.
Yes, very, very foolish.
Now that I think about it, in the game, I was a villain who bought grades with money, and later it was exposed that I had threatened classmates into doing my homework.
While my brothers were geniuses who learned to read at four, I, at six, could barely read, so they read books to me while also teaching me letters.
Both of them have voices like famous voice actors, so I cannot help but feel moved… ahem, deeply touched when they read to me.
Moreover, they even hold me on their laps while reading.
I am very happy.
Extremely happy.
I had thought my handsome brothers disliked me…
But recently, have they not become a bit overprotective?
After thinking for a while, I pointed to Brother Lutz’s book.
“I would like Brother Lutz’s book.”
“Tch, I lost…”
“Hah! I win…!”
Brother Lutz smiled triumphantly and lifted me up.
“Brother?”
“The weather is nice today, so let’s read outside.”
“Oh! I agree!”
“Then let’s have Nelke prepare tea outside.”
And so, I spent my childhood in relatively peaceful days.
…Though I was ill, these were days in which I grew mentally stronger.
I learned many things, bonded with my family, and faced my illness with all my strength.
However, strangely enough, my brothers did not become attendants to the Crown Prince.
When I asked them if it was alright not to serve His Highness, they made displeased faces and said they had “politely declined.”
Huh? That is different from the game.
But they only became attendants because I was his fiancée candidate, to clean up after my actions.
Now that I am no longer his fiancée, there is no reason for them to serve him.
Furthermore, I was surprised that Granard-sensei inherited Professor Lark’s research and became a pediatrician.
He was supposed to become the school doctor, yet now he serves as Professor Lark’s assistant and is said to be certain to become an associate professor due to his dedication to researching Angel Disease.
As for Nelke… rather than being a cold, scheming butler, he has completely turned into a mother figure toward me, becoming a caregiver, nurse, and super butler all in one.
He was supposed to become a butler to take revenge on me, yet his loyalty is so strong that it is frightening.
Furthermore, one year later, I would begin formally corresponding with the Crown Prince.
Julius-sama turns out to be surprisingly diligent, and we exchange letters every three days, giving me quite a headache…
With all these irregular developments, I begin to wonder… is this really the world of a game…
No…
…That is merely an excuse.
I had completely forgotten my position.
Yes, I had completely forgotten that I am the villain who bullies the heroine of an otome game.
Suddenly, the story leaps ahead, but please consider this a prologue to the middle part.
“Iris Camellia… this is the academy trial that will judge you.”
Seated in the judge’s chair is His Highness the Crown Prince.
At the defense stand stand Nelke and my brothers, burning with anger.
At the prosecution stand are Wahrhait-senpai, the top student of the knight course, and Edel-sama, the top student of the law course, both looking at me coldly.
As magical support stands Lotos-senpai, the top student of the magic course, and at the witness stand, Granard-sensei looks at me with concern.
And in the gallery…
Seeing the heroine, Lillie Boden, seated with composure as she gazes at me, I finally understood my position as the defendant.
This is the final event in Julius’s route that determines affection levels: the [Academy Trial].
A trial to judge Iris for harassing Lillie.
However, in this event, the heroine must testify only to the truth.
If even a single lie is told, Julius’s affection drops drastically, leading to a bad ending.
Moreover, since Julius’s route is also a reverse harem route, the affection of all characters present at the trial will drop to zero… and the heroine will reach a bad ending.
She must understand.
That I am [Iris Camellia],
but not the Iris Camellia of the game.
“Then, the trial begins.”
With that cold voice, I faced my decisive moment.
However, that is a story for another time.
It seems it will be quite long, so I shall end here for today.
Until we meet again in the middle part.
Farewell.