Cinderella's Brother

That sounds very plausible, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it meant. Elysia saw my confused expression and smiled again. Hwiyu, just a slight smile can be so alluring. With a sister like this, I didn’t think there’s any man in the world she wouldn’t be able to seduce. I thought I could charm even my brother like that wooden stone.

 

“You may still find it difficult to understand.”

 

“Yes? Ah…”

 

“But the earlier you realize it, the better. It’s a sad story, but if you’re born as a woman in this world dominated by men, you have to wear a mask to survive. And many masks.”

 

Elysia’s soft voice contained a sadness that was difficult to express in words. What could be so sad about such a beautiful sister? As she stared blankly, Elysia took my hand and led me to her altar. To be exact, to the golden altar at the feet of the statue of Jeolla’s goddess Pros.

 

“People talk a lot about this temple, but in reality, what they think of as a prostitute and a saint is just a piece of paper apart. They won’t understand how deep the resentment is in the hearts of the women who have no choice but to come here.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s the kind of resentment that men will never understand. Because we are not the same species as them to begin with.”

 

Those were difficult words. So, as someone who has lived as a man for 17 years, I can say that it is difficult to understand. However, the sight of Elysia speaking quietly while looking up at the statue of her goddess looked strangely unique, so she just quietly listened.

 

“It’s really, really difficult. Isn’t it? You can’t be too smart, you can’t be too stupid, you can’t be too lively, you can’t be ugly or fat, you can’t talk too much, you can’t be sulky, you can’t laugh or cry. No matter how absurd it may be, you should not disobey the words of the men in your family…”

 

…Now wait a minute. What is there? What on earth is so difficult?! I’m already worried about how to live with this weak body that bleeds a lot once a month, so why are there so many things I shouldn’t do?! As someone who had lived as a son of the empire for 17 years, I had no experience dating or interacting with women, so the story of women’s suffering that this beautiful priest was talking about was so unfamiliar to me that it seemed so strange to me. Of course, there were times when I wondered why all emperors were male, or why ladies could not hold public office, but at the time, I felt like my head was going to explode with just my own problems, so I never thought deeply about such things. What on earth is that? What if this doesn’t work, that doesn’t work, and nothing works?! What kind of music are you telling me to dance to?

 

“They will never understand how it feels to be blocked by a door that will never open no matter how hard you try.”

 

No… I know. Sobbing. I know that feeling. I suffered from that feeling all the time until I ran away from home to join the regular army. No matter how hard I try, I know the frustration and sadness I feel when facing a cold wall that never shows any signs of falling down. For no reason, her eyes became sore and she sniffled. Elysia, who had been quietly staring at me for a moment, smiled again and touched the bridge of my nose with her long finger.

 

“Still, the princess is blessed.”

 

“Yes..? What?”

 

“You are so pretty.”

 

No, priest, of course this sugar doll-like body must be very cute to my eyes, but it would be a blessing. 

 

Khemhem.

 

“Listen carefully, princess. I don’t know what trouble you went through to come here, but the best advice I can give you is…”

 

Her warm hands gently cupped my face and turned me towards it. So I looked at my face reflected in the sparkling altar of pure gold. The face of a girl with red hair and red eyes that still feels unfamiliar.

 

“…It means making the most of your natural strengths. It’s a beauty that will shine even brighter as it grows. Beauty is a woman’s most powerful weapon. Even if it’s with family.”

 

This made a little sense to me. But… how are you supposed to use it? I feel like all the acting I’ve been able to do so far isn’t enough. Sobbing. Now that things have come to this, I have to ask a knowledgeable priest for some advice.

 

“How… do I do this? I mean, we have a kid as pretty as me, right? But in the eyes of my family, I think she’s prettier than me.”

 

Elysia, who was gently touching my face, suddenly burst into laughter. Khem, even when I say it, it sounds a bit childish. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be laughing so hard! Hmm, dirty world.

 

“I think I know who you’re talking about. The new illegitimate son who joined the Tidis family is a very famous story these days.”

 

“Ah, haha…”

 

“You must be in a lot of pain. “Is it possible that His Excellency the Duke is very partial?”

 

Are you saying that? Huh. My calf is still sore, it’s killing me. No, as time goes by, it seems like it hurts more than before. It feels like I’m getting more and more swollen as the temperature rises. As I was pouting in silence, Elysia laughed again, stretched out her finger, and this time started touching the corner of my mouth.

 

“The best advice I can give you is… Princess, just smile.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

What do you mean, just laugh it off? Seeing, this too will pass someday. What do you mean? That means…

 

“Just smile. That is the most important motto in our temple. No matter what sadness and agony lurks in your heart, or how unfair or unfair you have been treated, never reveal your true feelings and smile as brightly and lovingly as you can. Always dress up nicely and smile dazzlingly. If you do that, everything will soon be handed over to the princess, and in the end, she will try to take out everything, including your liver and gallbladder.”

 

It sounds cool, but it feels like something has become more difficult. Don’t show your true feelings and just always look pretty and smile? It’s not a doll, it’s a person? You think that will work?

 

“Why.. then?”

 

“Because a sweet smile and lovely charm are the most powerful magic a girl can wield.”

 

Does that seem likely? Even I have an illusion that the most powerful being in the world is a cute girl. Above all, all the clumsy and hateful (ahem!) acting I’ve shown so far has worked on you to some extent, right? If what this beautiful priest says is really true, there might be a way to make up for the foolish mistake I made today… I slowly raised my head. A pair of beautiful purple eyes twinkling in this direction looked like the light of dawn.

 

“So, Princess, strengthen her heart and smile brightly. This is a world where people are exploited and exploited anyway. You have a weapon that no one else can use, so use it well and take advantage of your soul. To achieve your goal… What does the princess want most?”

 

This is also a question I never thought of. What do I want most, what is my goal? In the past, I might have answered that it was the love and acceptance of my family. But I don’t know now. What was certain was that I no longer wanted Levina or my father. When I think about it, I never expected much from her father since I returned to her past in this girl’s body. Even when I decided to create my own side, I only thought about my brother and did not place any hope on my father. My father was a person who never once looked back at me in all my life, so I guess that’s probably why I didn’t even have any expectations from him. Should I say I’m exhausted? What happened today isn’t that surprising. When I was young, I definitely loved my father. It’s kind of sad. Mother, who must have loved our father infinitely, please forgive this pervert. However, it is the father who abandoned Soja a long time ago. So, I’m going to throw away the small items cleanly in my heart. Don’t stop me. Sniff.

 

It was strange. As I scraped away all the regrets that were left to the dust and threw them away, I felt relieved rather than sad. At the same time, it became clear what I really wanted. It may be nothing more than a delusion that can never come true, but since the bizarre event of changing from a man to a woman and returning to the past has actually happened, what is absolutely impossible?

 

“Princess?”

 

Thank you, beautiful priest. May the blessings of Goddess Pros be with you. I will live well as my sister told me. If my brother is really going to get to the point where he’s going to take out everything, including my liver and gallbladder, I’ll have to risk everything on that too. Since my brother is the heir to our family anyway, if I do well, wouldn’t he be able to decide to take over the title earlier for me? Hehehe. A gentle smile appeared on Elysia’s lips as she looked closely at me as I was setting a new goal in my mind. She had a strangely happy smile.

 

“Princess, since you’ve come all the way here, let’s have some fun…”

 

“Priest!”

 

“Holy shit, what else?!”

 

Hehehe, poor knight. Then why are you interrupting this good atmosphere? That cloth stuck in your nose is really unsightly. That’s why you have to be careful with your colleagues on a regular basis. Um haha!

 

“That is, the guest who made the reservation…”

 

“It’s been a long time, beautiful priest!”

 

“Oh my, I was wondering if you really came. But didn’t you say you were coming with a friend?”

 

“That stupid guy never came over. I had no choice but to come here alone and lonely today. Haha!”

 

Pika walks into the chapel laughing like she’s crazy. My mouth literally gaped at the sight of a tall blond boy wearing a flashy white uniform. You damn bastard, why are you here?! …It would be strange if you, the guy who calls you red whenever you open your eyes, doesn’t come and go here, but is that friend you’re talking about really your brother?! Hey you bastard, what are you trying to teach someone else’s innocent older brother! While I was struggling in a crucible of shock and anger, Ian, who had been laughing and flirting with Elysia, seemed to have sensed something then and turned his head to look at me standing in front of the altar. And in the next moment, I was truly impressed and astonished by what happened in the blink of an eye.

 

“Ray?! What on earth are you doing here?! Seo, are you really here to see your brother? Is that something like that? Finally you made me… no no, not this, why are you here?! Eugene, did that ignorant bastard sell you out here? Is that so?! Just take this bastard of mine..! Don’t worry, my brother will save you!”

 

Hehehe, I’m dizzy, you idiot! And why is my brother selling me out here! If you kill that person with your own hands, you will kill him. He is not a person to be left in the hands of others. Oh! The person who stopped Ian, who was shouting at me and shaking me by the shoulder in a very intense stream of consciousness, was none other than our beautiful priest.

 

“Calm down, Ian. The princess came here to find the truth about her life.”

 

At this strange sentence, Ian stopped shaking me, turned his head and glared at Elysia for a long time, and the most he could say was this.

 

“Priest?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Oh, well, I mean, how on earth is this happening?”

 

“The princess herself came to see this lowly person. It looks like something bad has happened to you, but does Ian have any idea?”

 

“Yes? Ah, well…”

 

Anyway, he seems like a bland guy. Feeling Ian looking at me while scratching her head and Elysia looking back and forth between Ian and me, I lowered my head and pouted. He looked like he was crying. This is it.

 

“Dear Ray, what is going on? Tell me clearly, my brother will solve it!”

 

Oh God. Can’t we just kill this bastard and go to hell?

 

“Well… there’s a doll that Brother Ian sent me.”

 

“What? Oh yes, that’s right! Haha! That gift I sent with all my love! But why is that?”

 

“Well, I was so happy to receive it. I’m so happy…”

 

As I glanced at him, Ian’s eyes were shining with a dangerous look on his face, as if he was literally claiming that he wanted to hug me and bite me right now. Oh my!

 

“By the way, I think my sister liked that doll.”

 

“Mmm haha.. eh?”

 

“Because I am the older sister, I couldn’t refuse her so… So in the end, I had no choice but to give it to her younger brother…”

 

In that way, in a sad and stuttering manner, I told him about what happened today. I left out the part about being beaten up because it was embarrassing. No, but why are they both suddenly making such stern expressions? Even though you are a priest, Ian, the way you look with a straight face doesn’t suit me, does it? While I was looking around curiously, I thought Ian and Elysia exchanged strange glances for a moment, but then slowly looked at me again. Ian was the first to speak.

 

“Ray.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Now that this has come to an end, let’s go home. No, adopt us at your house!”

 

..Oh God. At this point, I’m really curious about what’s going on in this guy’s head. If her friend’s sister ran away from home due to bad circumstances, wouldn’t the typical response be to somehow persuade her to return home?

 

“I think that would be good too.”

 

“Right, priest?! Hahaha! Ray, hurry up and say ‘yes’! If you come to our house, our whole family will welcome you with open arms!”

 

Beautiful priest, what are you going to do if you even help your sister! What kind of crazy person in the world would persuade her friend’s younger sister to adopt her into their home!

 

“Well, you can’t do that.”

 

“Why? Eugene I’m much more handsome, kind, and considerate than that dirty-tempered bastard, right? My father is also nicer than your father. My little brother likes you too. We also have dogs at home. There are a lot of snacks.”

 

While Ian was talking nonsense like that, Elysia was laughing, covering her mouth with her hand, wondering what was so funny. And for some reason, I suddenly felt a severe headache.

 

“Hey, Brother Ian.”

 

“Yep. okay.”

 

“By any chance, brother… did you know that I have been sick for the past year?”

 

Ian’s mouths, which had been babbling excitedly, were tightly pressed together. The dangerously flashing green eyes blink in embarrassment.

 

“Oh, that’s right.. that,”

 

“Until there.”

 

That wasn’t what I said. At the eerie voice that echoed through the quiet chapel, the heads of all three people, including me, Ian, and Elysia, slowly turned at the same time. And, and…

 

“Hey, you helpless bastard, why did you have to show up and make a fuss at a moment like this?!”

 

Contrary to Ian, who was complaining as if he was truly deplorable, my mouth fell open once again. How on earth did that scary human know about this place?! Did you all make a rendezvous to meet here today?

 

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