IRBSGHC 04

Episode 04

In her hands was a crimson dress—just as excessively ornate as Elia remembered from her previous life, and far too thin to be practical.

“If you wear this when you go to the North, won’t it really make you look like a proper Grand Duchess?”

“Hah. Serena, it’s winter right now.”

Serena was still treating her like a fool—expecting Elia to be grateful, just like before, for her small, poisonous kindness.

“It’s fine! It has long sleeves. Perfect for this weather, right?”

“The North is far colder than here. And far more unforgiving.”

At Elia’s words, Serena’s expression twisted slightly before she lowered her head. Soon, moisture gathered in her pale cheeks.

“You’ve changed so much, sister. You won’t even drink the tea I give you anymore… or wear the clothes I choose…”

That familiar act—the performance of the kind, innocent younger sister—sent chills down Elia’s spine.

When Serena began to cry, the maids around them started murmuring.

Watching Serena so skillfully paint her as the villain made Elia feel as though poison were seeping from her veins.

A few maids hurried over, offering handkerchiefs. Serena accepted one with practiced ease and dabbed at her tears.

“Serena. Stop it now.”

“…What are you talking about?”

At Elia’s cold tone, Serena’s earlobes flushed red in shock.

“Yes. What am I talking about?”

“…?”

“I was grateful, you know. Grateful for the stale bread you’d already eaten. Grateful for the dresses so outdated they had holes in them.”

“……”

“I even struggled to accept the necklace you handed me like alms. It felt nice—because back then, I believed that was your way of caring for me.”

Now it was painfully obvious. Why hadn’t she seen it before?

“T-Then are you saying it’s not like that now?”

Among everyone in the Marquis’s household, Serena had been the only one who ever showed Elia kindness.

“…But every time you gave me something, Mother’s punishment always followed.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Are you saying I did that on purpose?”

“You would know better than anyone.”

It had always been the same. Whenever Serena gave Elia something, the Marchioness would somehow find out—and Elia would be viciously punished.

“Is that really how you saw everything I did for you? Were you ever grateful at all?”

Elia looked at Serena’s aggrieved face—so carefully concealing the truth—and answered calmly.

“Yes. I was grateful. Right up until Mother beat me for ‘stealing your belongings.’”

With those memories, the anger long buried deep within her began to stir again.

“Do you remember? You always came to me after the beating and said it was all a misunderstanding.”

“I—I was scared too…!”

Serena sprang to her feet, shouting.

“You told Mother about my secret, didn’t you?”

At Elia’s words, Serena stiffened, her wide eyes lifting sharply.

“N-No. What are you saying? You said it was just between us.”

Before she realized it, Serena was practically screaming.

“Shh. Why don’t we send the maids away first, Serena?”

“……”

“Of course, I don’t mind if they stay. But if you’re uncomfortable, we can talk alone.”

“W-Wait.”

Her face had gone deathly pale.

“Y-Yes. That’s better. Everyone, please step outside for a moment.”

Serena turned around. When their eyes met, the maids bowed and quietly withdrew.

“Why are you saying things like this all of a sudden, sister? You promised you’d keep your ability a secret from Father and Mother.”

“You said that if Father found out, he might sell me off somewhere.”

“Yes! That’s what I meant!”

Serena shouted her reply, and Elia let out a quiet laugh.

“Then what about now? I’ve already been sold to the North, haven’t I?”

“You’re becoming a Grand Duchess even though you’re a bastard! Isn’t that a good opportunity for you too?!”

In her panic, Serena’s true feelings spilled out.

“…A bastard, you say. So that’s how you saw me.”

“Ah—!”

Serena’s face burned red with embarrassment.

“…Should I just say it out loud and buy myself some time?”

“No!”

Serena suddenly screamed.

“Why? Afraid I’ll steal the attention that’s always been yours?”

Serena’s eyes trembled violently.

“Sister, you’re acting strange. Did becoming the Grand Duchess already change you?”

“Hmm. Me?”

Elia slowly swirled her teacup. Tea leaves floated and twisted within the liquid.

“Did you eat something wrong? Don’t you know I’m the only one in this household who treats you like a person?!”

“Ah… like a person?”

Elia stared at Serena, who was shouting in agitation, completely unaware that her mask had fallen away.

‘This is your true face.’

Elia tipped the teacup and poured the now-cold liquid over Serena’s head.

“Eek! Wh-What are you doing?!”

Melanesia.

A tea known for draining mana.

For Elia—whose ability consumed mana every time she used it—this tea had been slowly destroying her health.

Drip, drip.

The thin stream soaked into Serena’s pale blonde hair.

“Compared to what you did to me, this is nothing.”

Serena had been the one who’d served her this dreadful tea again and again.

“Ugh… What did I ever do to deserve this?!”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“……”

Elia looked straight into Serena’s eyes. The pale brown irises wavered, her long lashes trembling.

“It would be best if you kept quiet about this. The moment you speak, I’ll tell Father about my ability.”

At those words, Serena trembled and lowered her head. Her hair, soaked in uneven patches, looked almost ridiculous.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

“Sister, wait!”

No matter what Serena said, Elia stood and walked out.

Bang!

As the door shut, Serena’s hysterical voice erupted from inside.

“Wait! I said wait! I told you to wait!”

The maids who had been standing guard rushed past Elia with panicked expressions, heading into Serena’s room.

“Hah… I’m exhausted. I just want to go back to the North as soon as possible.”

Murmuring to herself, Elia gazed out the large window in the center of the corridor.

Snow was falling over the Empire—thick and heavy, just like the North.

Another quiet, bitter winter was passing.

Before she knew it, the wedding date had drawn near.

Perhaps because of Elia’s threat, Serena and the Marchioness remained uncharacteristically quiet.

As the wedding approached, Elia focused on two things: restoring the mana drained by Melanesia—and receiving medicinal ingredients from Jenny.

“It was really difficult to gather so much at once.”

“Yes. You must have worked hard.”

Elia accepted the pouch of herbs from Jenny. It was surprisingly heavy.

“Jenny, here. Take this.”

After checking the herbs, Elia picked up a gemstone from the table and handed it to her.

“This is… wasn’t this the gemstone the Marquis gave you at your coming-of-age ceremony?”

Jenny’s eyes sparkled as she accepted it.

“Yes. But I don’t need it anymore.”

“It must be very expensive…”

At Jenny’s murmur, Elia gave a bitter smile.

The Marquis had never celebrated Elia’s birthday—not once.

He acknowledged her coming-of-age ceremony only because other noble families were watching.

“Isn’t it strange? Coming-of-age gifts usually match the recipient’s eye color. But this one’s gold—almost like it was given to someone else in a hurry.”

“…Now that you mention it, the color really does resemble Lady Serena’s eyes—”

Jenny stopped herself abruptly.

“I—I’m sorry, my lady.”

“Haha. It’s fine. I already knew.”

Smiling, Elia took a sip of her tea.

At that moment, a soft chime rang out, followed by a voice calling for Jenny.

“Oh—Lady Serena must be looking for me.”

Jenny glanced at Elia cautiously.

“Go ahead.”

At Elia’s nod, Jenny hurried out.

Creak.

Elia was alone again.

A familiar silence settled over the room.

‘I’ve checked my condition, rested well, and I can feel mana—faintly, but it’s there…’

Closing her eyes, Elia inhaled deeply and exhaled. Slowly, the depleted mana began to fill her body, dispersing like mist.

She focused on gathering it into one place. If she failed, her ability could activate on its own.

She had never been good at controlling mana—neither in her past life nor now. After being drained for so long by Melanesia, perhaps that was only natural.

‘It’s still hard to activate my ability at will.’

Abilities were rare and highly specialized. They were usually inherited by noble families—though such inheritance had become increasingly uncommon.

‘I was the only one in the Marquis’s family who manifested one.’

Once one learned to control their internal magic, abilities became easier to use. That was why most ability holders attended the Academy.

A place that dominated both high society and politics—one everyone was desperate to enter.

‘Then and now, I have no intention of going.’

Before, Serena’s manipulation had forced Elia to hide her ability.

Now, there was another reason.

She didn’t have time for the Academy.

Not if she wanted to protect the people she cherished in the North.