Chapter 14

“Were your eyes always that color, Sister…?”

“Oh? What color are they?”

“They seem to be glowing gold somehow…”

Was it a remnant of my days as Alexandra, or had they merely looked that way to Helena because of the lighting? Either way, Ophelia’s eyes were a clear, unclouded hazel.

“What is it? You look so frightened. How adorable.”

“I-I’m not frightened! As if I’d ever be scared of someone like you!”

“But I’m always bullying you, aren’t I? It’s only natural to feel afraid when you’re standing in front of someone who treats you that way.”

With elegant grace, I reached out to her and gently took her hand. Ophelia’s wrist had always been slender and delicate. Combined with the contrasting color of her dress, it made me look all the more fragile and fleeting.

“Fear is the source of vitality, so there’s no need to feel ashamed of it, Helena.”

“You…!”

Her face flushed bright red with anger and humiliation as she abruptly raised her hand. Then, carried away by her own momentum, she slapped Ophelia hard across the cheek.

To minimize the damage, I deliberately threw myself to the floor at the very moment she struck me. I’d experienced more than enough squabbles between women back when I was Alexandra.

I knew exactly how to make myself look like the victim.

“I’m sorry, Helena. I never meant to hurt you. I’m such a terrible older sister, making my adorable little sister raise her hand against me.”

I tilted my head so that my hair would fall across my face, deliberately shifting my center of gravity to one side. Then I used my tongue to push the blood toward the corner of my mouth until it began to seep out. The inside of the mouth was easy to cut, but fortunately, it healed just as quickly.

“N-No, that’s not true! I didn’t do anything wrong! Besides, it’s your fault for coming to the dining room, Sister! Stop doing things you normally wouldn’t do and confusing me!”

Helena shrieked insults at me before rushing over to our mother, Sarah. In this household, Helena was the only one who ever came first. Our parents paid no attention to Ophelia, and even the servants looked down on her. Yet all of it was nothing more than senseless bullying, without any real reason behind it.

This relationship had only been possible because Ophelia was foolishly kind. When you looked beneath the surface, Helena herself had very little value.

From now on, I intended to teach everyone the true worth of Ophelia Desmond. Naturally, I would do it in a way that she wouldn’t dislike.