Chapter 74

Another weekend morning.

Someone knocked on Mary’s bedroom door while she was still asleep.

Knock knock.

“Mary, wake up.”

It was her second-oldest sister, Josephine.

Mary yelled back, pulling the blanket over her head.

“It’s not time for me to get up yet!”

“Open the door.”

“I’m going back to sleep, so leave me alone!”

“Help me out, will you?”

“…Huh?”

Mary was startled.

Josephine who looked just like their soldier father was not the type to ask for help. She was terrible at expressing emotions and too proud to ever admit she needed anything.

And yet, here she was, first thing in the morning, bluntly asking for help.

Is something serious going on?

Now wide awake, Mary got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and opened the door.

Josephine stood outside with an anxious look on her face.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just… can I borrow some clothes?”

“Oh, come on!”

Mary snapped and tried to slam the door shut.

But she couldn’t. Josephine had wedged her foot in the door.

And once the door was even slightly open, there was no stopping her.

As Josephine forced her way in, Mary was pushed back. She was practically dragged along with the door.

“Ugh, seriously! You’re like a bear; nothing but brute strength! Why are you barging into my room?”

“Come on, Mary, help me out. You’re the only one I can ask.”

Josephine’s earnest plea made Mary soften a little.

Well, more precisely, it boosted her ego.

After all, it was rare for her second-oldest sister to be this humble.

Mary plopped Josephine down on the bed and decided to hear her out.

“So, why do you need clothes? Don’t you have plenty? Your closet’s full.”

“I do have clothes, but… it’s the underwear.”

“Underwear? Oh, did you forget to do laundry? Don’t have anything to wear?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just… you’ve got better fashion sense than me. You know what’s trendy… and you’ve dated a lot.”

Mary frowned.

“Why are you bringing up my dating life?”

“I mean, it just means you know things. Like… what kind of designs guys like.”

“…What?”

For a moment, Mary’s mind went completely blank.

And then, a beat later, the shock hit her.

“…Are you seeing a guy today?”

“Mhmm.”

Josephine who was acting all shy lowered her eyes and gave a small nod.

Mary stared at her in disbelief.

“…Who is it?”

“Who do you think?”

“…No way. That guy?”

Josephine who was still blushing gave a small nod, and Mary let out a scoffing laugh in disbelief.

“You’ve completely lost it.”

“Do you think something cute would be better? Or maybe… something a bit bold?”

“Don’t ask me. How would I know?”

“Come on, give me some advice. I’ve been invited over to his place today.”

“And why is your underwear choice such a big deal, huh? What are you planning to do with it exactly?”

“I-I just want to be prepared… just in case.”

Seeing Josephine’s face turn red at last, Mary started to feel her irritation rise.

“Big sister! You know I don’t like that guy.”

“What do you mean, that guy? That’s no way to talk about your future brother-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law, my foot. And you didn’t like him either, remember? Weren’t you the one always saying you wanted to call off the engagement?”

“That was back then…”

“And now it’s different? What, did you finally fall for his face?”

“Well… he is kind of handsome…”

Josephine trailed off mid-sentence.

Mary was glaring at her with a terrifying look in her eyes.

Josephine quickly cleared her throat.

“I didn’t like him before because of some misunderstandings, that’s all. But now that we’ve cleared things up, I realize I was partly at fault too.”

“…Wow.”

As she listened to Josephine speak, Mary felt a sense of fear creeping in.

To think that someone could bend the will of her stubborn, iron-willed sister this far…

What did that bastard do to her?

Though Josephine could be frustrating at times, she had always been kind-hearted at her core.

The thought that someone so dear to her had been deceived by a shameless man made Mary’s blood boil.

“Big sister, did something happen? Did he threaten you or something?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

But Mary refused to believe a single good thing about that so-called Baron Winslet.

She remembered the one time she’d crossed paths with him, his arrogant attitude, the way he looked down on people….it had left a terrible impression.

That man was not the kind of person capable of having a healthy relationship.

“Wait…did he drug you? Or hypnotize you? Maybe we should run a brainwashing test. He’s a mage, isn’t he? What if he’s learned some kind of shady dark magic?”

“Mary, don’t talk about him like that.”

“No. I won’t ask any more questions. Just wait. I’ll get you away from that man’s clutches no matter what it takes.”

Faced with this utter lack of communication, Josephine could only press a hand to her forehead and let out a deep, weary sigh.

“Haah… never mind. I was wrong, Mary. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll just pick something myself and go, so don’t worry about it.”

“Wait, you’re just gonna go? Wearing what, exactly?”

“What choice do I have? I’ll just wear whatever I’ve got.”

“Oh come on! You can’t be serious!”

Mary stomped her feet in frustration, then finally gave in with a groan.

“Fine, sit back down. I’ll pick something for you.”

“But you just said you don’t want me seeing that guy!”

“I don’t! But what if that jerk looks down on you because of how you’re dressed? I couldn’t stand that!”

“Mary! Thank you! I knew I could count on you!”

“Ugh, don’t cling to me. And don’t make a mess of my room. Just sit on the bed, got it?”

In the end, things went exactly how Josephine wanted.

Mary always talked with an attitude, but when it came to family, she was no different from her sister. She cared deeply for them.

As she watched Mary rummaging through the closet, Josephine let out a bright laugh.

“This takes me back. Remember when you used to sneak into my closet and wear my clothes without asking?”

“Yeah, and then you got mad and literally lifted me up and slammed my head into the ceiling.”

“Wh-When was that? I don’t even remember!”

“Of course you don’t. The one who does the hitting never remembers. Only the one who gets hit does.”

Josephine let out a groan of guilt.

“Anyway, thanks to all the beatings I got from you back then, I started getting interested in clothes and even got a bit greedy about them. Should I be calling you my fashion mentor?”

“I said I was sorry, didn’t I?”

“But at some point, you started dressing like you didn’t care anymore.”

“It just gets in the way when I’m training. And I can’t be bothered to waste time picking outfits.”

“Ugh, you’re just like Dad.”

“A man worthy of respect.”

“You’re like some old man.”

“……”

Eventually, Mary brought out a few outfit options, and Josephine jumped up from where she was sitting in surprise.

“Oh my, isn’t this a bit too bold?”

“Tsk! Weren’t you just begging me to lend you something like this?”

“Well, yes, but… do you usually wear stuff like this? Mary, I’m always worried about you.”

“Could you not nag me when you’re the one borrowing my clothes? Otherwise, just go ahead and wear one of those rag-like things you usually put on.”

“R-Rag-like things?!”

Josephine’s jaw dropped in shock.

“If you don’t like it, then just wear what I give you, okay?”

“Fine…”

“Ugh, and this is coming from someone who always buys the cheapest underwear because ‘no one’s going to see it anyway’.”

“Don’t say stuff like that; it’s embarrassing.”

At first, Mary had started picking out clothes reluctantly, but before long, she began to enjoy it.

Josephine, true to her warrior nature, had a well-toned body, and her stylish figure made it fun to try different outfits on her.

At least, it was fun until Josephine opened her mouth.

“But Mary, this underwear is a little big on me… Have you gained weight recently?”

“What did you just say?”

“Our sizes used to be pretty similar, right? That’s why I keep telling you we should work out together on your days off. But all you do is sleep and stay holed up in your room.”

Mary gave her a sweet smile.

“Wanna just go without clothes today, sister?”

As always, they were a loving pair of sisters.

***

In the afternoon, on the way to her fiancé’s house.

Josephine’s heart was a little fluttery with excitement.

Winter’s home was located within the academy, and the spring gardens were in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance.

In the end, Mary had picked out Josephine’s entire outfit. It was an outfit perfect for the season, with a light-colored dress, a wide-brimmed hat, and platform sandals that showed her ankles.

Josephine loved it.

It was the weekend, so the campus was full of students enjoying the spring weather, but as Josephine walked by, the students stepped aside to make way for her.

Then, they glanced her way and whispered among themselves.

Do I look weird or something?

Feeling self-conscious, Josephine quickened her pace.

And that’s how she arrived at Winter’s house.

The Academy’s top-grade residence was a mansion far too large for a man living alone.

Well, he is wealthy enough to be a top patron of a famous theater. I guess it makes sense for him to live in a big house.

As she wondered whether living alone in such a spacious place might be lonely, Josephine recalled the person who lived with Winter.

I heard it was a young girl…

Of course, she’d only heard it through rumors, so she wasn’t certain.

Josephine suddenly realized she didn’t know all that much about Winter.

It had been a year and a half since their engagement, but this was her first time being invited to his home.

Of course, even if he had invited her before, Josephine probably would’ve turned him down. But now, things were different.

I want to know more about him.

After a short breath to steady herself, Josephine rang the doorbell.

Ding.

The door opened almost instantly.

It opened so quickly that Josephine was caught off guard.

Was someone waiting right by the door?

A girl, about a head shorter than Josephine, came out to greet her.

“Welcome!”

With tanned skin, slightly curly short hair, and a pure, sweet expression without a trace of deceit, she looked almost like a fairy.

Now that I think about it… I heard Winter has a younger sister. Could this girl be her?