Chapter 53

That evening, I went up to the fifth floor, where Alex’s bedroom was, for the first time.

When I entered his study, Alex, who was sitting by the window, saw me and his eyes widened.

“Astell?”

“It’s about what you said, about me meeting the First Prince.”

He blinked his large eyes as I brought it up so abruptly.

“Changed your mind?”

“Not exactly. I have something to ask.”

“What?”

“You said back then that the reason you were trying to arrange a meeting with the First Prince was for my sake, right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“How is that for my sake?”

“Are you asking because you really don’t know? Imagine if things went well with His Highness the First Prince and you became the empress. Do you think people would ignore and insult you like they do now? They wouldn’t even be able to touch you.”

“Isn’t that a little strange? You said you hated me. Or was that a lie?”

“Ugh, how many times do I have to say it! I’m the only one who gets to curse you out! I don’t like seeing you get pushed around by some other bastard, alright?”

Alex’s gruff reply suddenly brought an old memory to mind.

“Saan, please just beat up my damn brother for me! I’ll give you all my allowance.”

“Don’t you know an athlete gets suspended immediately if they use violence against a civilian? What’s wrong? Did you fight with your brother again?”

“That ignorant bastard borrowed my iPad and won’t give it back! It’s so fucking annoying! Ugh, I seriously want to kill him!”

My friend, who had been cursing her brother like that back in high school, said this to me a few days later.

“Saan, you don’t have to beat up my brother.”

“Excuse me, that’s a crime. But what happened? Did you two make up?”

“I got shaken down by some local punks yesterday. I was so pissed off I went home crying…”

“And?”

“My damn brother grabbed a baseball bat and ran out. He even got my money back.”

“Whoa, really? Didn’t you guys fight all the time?”

“He said that even if we fight until we bleed, he can’t stand to see me get beat up by someone else.”

As I stared at him, Alex pouted.

“What are you staring at? If we’re done talking, get out.”

“Alex.”

“Ugh, why do you keep calling my name! It’s annoying.”

“You weren’t good at studying, were you.”

“…Watch what you say. I wasn’t bad at it, I just didn’t do it.”

“So because you didn’t study, you don’t even know that being the empress isn’t as safe a position as you think?”

Alex raised a thick eyebrow.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If her father or brother assassinates a member of the royal family, even the empress gets purged along with them.”

“…!”

Alex’s eyes grew so wide they looked like they would tear.

“Y-You heard that from Father?”

“Yeah. I can see why you would’ve hated me to death.”

“…It’s not that bad now… When I was little… I couldn’t control my emotions.”

I could finally see the true feelings of the moron who had taken out his jealousy and inferiority complex on his younger sister.

The occasional words of concern he’d thrown my way weren’t a pretense for the Constellations; they were genuine.

But I hadn’t believed him. I doubted and misunderstood him.

It was because I’d only seen fragments of memories in Astell’s mind and had been convinced he was a son of a bitch.

Without ever experiencing it for myself.

Alex was just an ordinary, foolish older brother. He was just terrible at expressing himself.

The kind who fights with his sister at home like he wants to kill her, but grabs a baseball bat and runs out if she comes home beaten up.

The kind who hates her to death but can’t bear to see her die, so he racks his not-so-bright brain trying to figure out how to save her.

The kind who throws a fit telling her to die, but if she actually gets hurt, will stand in line all through the night to buy her a potion.

The kind of immature older brother I had once so desperately wanted.

“Did you ever think about just telling me the truth?”

“What’s the point of talking to a kid who’s not in her right mind?”

“So you said all those cruel things to a kid who wasn’t in her right mind?”

Alex clenched his fists.

“Father and I are destined to die, but he’s going to save you no matter what! I heard that when I was only six years old! Do you have any idea how I felt then?”

“Is that why you cursed me, telling me to die?”

“Yes! Because I hated you so damn much for being the one Father chose!”

“You idiot! The Duke didn’t choose me, he chose you!”

“…What?”

“Do you know how excruciating the pain of being left all alone is? The Duke didn’t want to put you through that pain!”

“…H-How would you know that! Did you ask Father or something?”

“Do I really need to ask to know that? This is why people call you Alex the Idiot!”

“What’s an Alex the Idiot!”

“You!”

Alex and I, bickering like children, glared at each other, panting.

Then, absurdly, we both burst out laughing at the same time.

It wasn’t a sneer. It was a laugh born from genuine amusement.

I chuckled for a while before letting out a long sigh.

“Stop trying to play matchmaker and just join the guild. That’s what would actually be for my sake. If we’re going to get revenge, it’s better to make a name for myself as a Hunter than as an empress.”

Alex’s smile slowly faded.

“…Have you decided?”

“Of course. I’m the type who has to pay back everything I receive threefold. What about you?”

“Same here! Do you know how frustrated I’ve been, not being able to tell anyone! Don’t even think about leaving me out!”

“If you promise not to act rashly on your own, like when you attacked the queen.”

Alex’s face soured as I brought up what happened at the memorial service.

“That again? Dammit! I’m telling you, I was just trying to help because you looked like you were struggling! I didn’t even know the queen’s eyeball was the core! What do I have to do to make you believe me?”

“I believe you.”

Alex’s eyes shot open, as if he hadn’t expected that at all.

“W-What did you say?”

“I said I believe you. And thanks for the potion.”

“Oh… R-Really?”

“That’s why I’m telling you this. Don’t just spend your points recklessly. Save them up. I’ll tell you what items you need later.”

“Got it.”

We looked at each other awkwardly.

We hadn’t spoken for long, but we could both feel it.

The knot of resentment that had been sitting in each of our hearts was slowly unraveling.

And then, unbelievably, the thought that I might actually be able to like Alex crossed my mind.

For about three seconds.

“What are you doing? If we’re done talking, go.”

“Right.”

Yeah, that’s probably not going to happen.

***

The next day, I headed to a boutique with Duke Ruthius.

The reality of it was so unbelievable that I was still in a daze by the time I stepped out of the carriage.

*Should I run—no, should I go back now?*

Even if I had joined hands with Duke Ruthius, this was just too much.

*Going shopping with my dad!*

It was something I’d never imagined, not in my past life as an orphan, and not even after being reincarnated here.

*What if I run into someone I know?*

I was so desperate to run away I thought I’d go crazy.

*How did things end up like this…?*

Originally, the plan was to get a dress fitted for the party and recruit the designer.

It was to provide uniforms for the guild members.

Cool uniforms that wouldn’t easily wear out from monster fluids, were easy to wash, and would instantly instill a sense of belonging.

In my past life, there was a guild that had been the first to provide its Hunters with uniforms.

*The guild master was the heir to some conglomerate, wasn’t he?*

True to his silver-spoon background, he commissioned a head designer from a luxury brand to create the uniforms.

The event became a huge topic of conversation among Hunters.

And for good reason.

Even I, who had never seen a luxury item in my life, was left gaping at how classy the uniforms looked.

After that, other guilds competitively began to create their own uniforms.

All of them were made by renowned luxury brands.

It became so popular that eventually, people even started ranking the coolest uniforms.

So I wanted to try doing the same this time around.

According to my original plan, I wouldn’t have dared try due to a lack of funds, but now I didn’t have to worry about money.

*My backer is a tycoon who gives me 180 million as an allowance. Is there any reason not to?*

I made my plan and told Duke Ruthius about it.

I figured I should at least inform my sponsor.

So it was just a simple notification.

“Have you decided on a boutique?”

“I decided on Louis Boutique since it’s said to be the most famous. But I don’t know if the designer will agree. It’s not like she’s short on money. I was planning to go and try to persuade her today.”

“I will accompany you.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said, I will go with you.”

“…Pardoooon?”

“Are you already losing your hearing at your age? They say spinach is good for one’s hearing. Make sure you eat some.”

My thoughts reached that point, and I shuddered.

I’d eaten so much of it at the orphanage in my previous life that just hearing the word ‘spinach’ gave me goosebumps.

*Have you ever eaten kimbap with nothing but spinach and no pickled radish? Spinach is the food I hate most in the world!*

At first, I refused, asking if he was going senile, but Duke Ruthius was adamant.

He insisted he had to go with me, as if he’d hidden some treasure in the boutique.

*Besides, he said this was the most efficient way to spread rumors, so I couldn’t just refuse outright.*

Our plan was to spread the rumor that we were establishing a guild as widely as possible.

To provoke the emperor and to keep Hunters from looking at other guilds.

In the end, I had no choice but to permit Duke Ruthius to accompany me.

*The embarrassment is only temporary. I just have to endure it for a little while.*