IBYSRHML | Chapter 19

#.19

Even after quitting her position in the Coast Guard, my eldest sister was incredibly busy.

The media was filled with special reports about her upcoming marriage to the Emperor, and interview requests flooded in several times a day.

On top of that, aides and attendants brought by Marius visited her daily to discuss a myriad of topics—imperial protocols, traditions, the culture of the Empire, wedding preparations, and so on.

And it wasn’t just her—my second sister was busy as well.

“Wahhh, when will Andrea-oppa reply? I can’t wait any longer.”

In just a week, the ship to the Empire would depart.

That ship would carry Alice-unnie, Regina-unnie, and me away from Trovancha.

This meant that my youngest unnie would be left in Trovancha alone.

What if I miss her terribly? She would surely feel lonely without me too.

“Hing.”

And what if I miss my friends?

Antonio and I had met every two weeks since childhood. Does this mean our friendship is over now?

“Little one, let’s do your hair.”

My second unnie, who had come looking for me, saw me lying on the bed and pulled me up by both arms.

Dressed more elegantly than usual, my unnie looked so stunning that even I, her sibling, was taken aback.

“It’s the day of the formal meeting, so sit properly to avoid wrinkling your clothes.”

“Second unnie, is unnie really getting married?”

“Little one, do you dislike unnie getting married?”

“Even after she’s married, we’ll all live together, right?”

“Hmm.”

My second unnie smiled awkwardly, then turned me around and began fixing my hair.

Her fingers brushing against my hair felt so gentle, warm, and ticklish.

I wanted to feel this touch forever… But once we move to the Empire, things won’t stay the same. I didn’t like that.

“Liliana likes things just the way they are…”

“You want things to stay the same, huh? That must be really sad.”

“Uh-huh. I want to keep living happily with unnies, Cookie, and Jelly. That’s why I’m sad every day.”

“Where did you even learn a word like ‘happily’?”

“I can read well now! Just yesterday, I read ‘Tosuni, the Cow’ all by myself before going to bed.”

“Wow. You’re reading books on your own now? Our little one is all grown up.”

My second unnie chuckled softly at my response and showed me a mirror.

In the reflection, I saw myself with my curly hair tied into two neat braids and wearing a trendy dress popular in Trovancha.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, I do.”

“When we go, remember to behave politely in front of the gentlemen. Got it?”

“Ha-ha-ha. Do you think I’m a kid? I’m all grown up now!”

I shrugged my shoulders, boasting about being grown up, but I wasn’t confident I could avoid glaring at Marius and Leopold when I met them.

How dare they take my angelic sisters and separate us!

While waiting for my older sisters, I ran to the courtyard to check the mailbox.

Maybe there was a letter from Andrea-oppa?

To my delight, there was indeed a letter.

I quickly grabbed it and rushed to the living room to read it. And then…

“Hicc. Hic-hicc. Wahhhhh!”

I burst into tears.

_______________

I heard about the marriage. It’s sudden, but it’s your life, not mine to interfere with.

I’m too busy here to come see you off. Take care, and I’ll visit the Empire sometime. Let’s meet then.

_______________

The reply was utterly cold, devoid of any warmth, and didn’t even include a word addressed to me.

I had hoped he’d say something like he’d take care of Liliana himself. Not even an empty promise, just cold indifference toward my sisters.

I was utterly abandoned by oppa, and there was no one left to stop my sisters.

The overwhelming sorrow left me unable to endure, and I cried the entire way to the formal meeting.

***

“Little one, were you crying?”

“I wasn’t crying! Do you think I’m a kid?”

“Little one, you are a kid.”

“No, I’m not! I’ve outgrown crying.”

I sniffled as I answered, and Marius laughed.

Beside him, Leopold couldn’t take his eyes off my second unnie.

Regina-unnie really is pretty. Hehe.

“Is the emigration preparation going well?”

“My friends agreed to take care of the house. Since oppa might return someday, I can’t sell it.”

“And the luggage?”

“I’m only packing clothes and a few important items.”

“Even with just the essentials, the belongings of Alice and your sisters will amount to quite a lot. Don’t worry; I’ll send someone to assist. Pack generously—it’ll be better for Alice once you’re in the Empire.”

As I munched on a prawn Leopold handed me, I asked,

“Won’t Little unnie come with us?”

“If Emilia wants to, she’ll come along.”

“If she comes, can we stay together for a long time?”

“If that’s what Emilia wants.”

Little unnie had opposed our unnies’ sudden marriage and hadn’t come to the formal meeting.

She hadn’t been home in a while, so we didn’t even know how she was doing.

It was clear she wouldn’t come with us.

“I don’t want to go either…”

“Little one, you feel like you’re losing your sisters to us, don’t you?”

“No! It’s not that. Liliana just loves home! I don’t want to leave my friends either. You don’t understand my feelings at all! Hmph!”

I turned my head sharply and gulped down grape juice.

“You can make new friends in the Empire. And there’s a boy your age at my house too.”

“But he’s not Francesca or Antonio. Sniff. I want to meet Antonio and go to the playground.”

“Were you crying because you missed Antonio? Should we visit him later?”

Unnie chuckled softly and playfully poked my cheeks, trying to lift my spirits.

I pouted.

I felt so lonely, being the only one upset by Andrea-oppa’s cold reply.

“I don’t want to part with Antonio. We’re mega-best friends. I’ll miss Francesca, Vicky, and Martina every day too. Can’t you just not get married, unnie?”

My eldest sister’s face hardened at my question.

Even my second unnie swallowed nervously, clearly sensing the tension.

I was slightly intimidated and fidgeted with my fork.

If I were a grown adult, I might have protested with my whole body like my youngest unnie, but since I was a child, I couldn’t.

Moreover, I was afraid that if I acted recklessly with my eldest unnie, she might say she didn’t like me anymore.

As I sat there, crestfallen with my head hung low, Marius, who was seated across from me, gently comforted me.

“Parting from your friends must feel sad. But you know, once you’re in the Empire, there’ll be plenty of fun things to do. When the festival starts, you can see fireworks, watch the knights’ swordsmanship competitions, and even participate in hands-on activities.”

“…Hmm.”

“Life in the Empire will be very, very enjoyable. Can Liliana wait just a little longer for that day to come?”

When I raised my head, my eyes met Marius’s.

Unlike usual, his expression was serious, but it didn’t feel heavy.

Instead, it was warm and gentle, as if he was concerned about me, and he smiled softly.

Though he teased me every time we met, I knew he was a good person.

Even so, since it wasn’t an easy decision, I hesitated to answer, and Marius spoke again.

“Is it because Liliana doesn’t like me? Is it because I tease you every day?”

“…That’s not it, but I do like Leo Uncle better than you.”

“Well, that hurts. But Uncle did buy you lots of sweet cakes last time, didn’t he?”

“That’s true, but hmm…”

“If you come to the Empire, Uncle will let you eat delicious food every day, wear lots of pretty clothes, and have mountains of toys.”

“Hmmm…”

I rolled my eyes, seriously contemplating.

I couldn’t just sell out my sisters for such bribes.

As I continued pondering, I noticed all the gazes focused on me—my eldest and second unnies, seated on either side of me, as well as Leopold, all waiting for my answer.

Marius, seeing my lips quiver as I hesitated, added another condition.

“On your birthday, we’ll have fireworks, and you can even experience illusion magic. And Leo Uncle will give you piggyback rides every day and play hide-and-seek with you.”

Leopold seemed a little flustered by Marius’s promises, but Marius didn’t care.

“You have no idea how much fun piggyback rides are, right? Leo Uncle is tall, so it’ll be really exciting!”

“O-okay! But only for a little while, okay? Just a hundred nights, alright?”

“Not a hundred nights, but how about two hundred nights instead?”

“T-two hundred nights is a lot… Fine, two hundred nights! But only two hundred nights, and then I’ll come back home!”

“Alright, alright. Then it’s a promise—you’ll stay at Uncle’s house, okay?”

“Okay! Got it!”

And so, my trip to the Empire was decided.

Emilia looked around her laboratory.

She had joined as the youngest researcher at seventeen and had practically lived there for the past four years.

“Emilia, the fact that even you are following them to the Empire is a huge loss for Trovancha.”

Her colleague couldn’t hide his disappointment as he glanced at the packed box Emilia held.

“You could’ve just taken an extended leave. Why go as far as submitting a resignation letter? How long are you planning to stay there?”

“I couldn’t imagine letting my sisters and my younger sibling go to the Empire alone without me to look after them.”

Although the specific reasons weren’t clear, one thing was certain: her eldest sister, Alice, was getting married for political reasons.

And Regina, wanting to support Alice, was determined to accompany her to the Empire.

‘You fool, do you think I don’t understand your intentions?’

While her eldest sister was capable of managing on her own, the situation was complicated by their youngest sibling, Liliana.

Regina seemed convinced that she was resourceful, but from Emilia’s perspective, she was only so clever.

In a rigidly hierarchical Empire, where nobility held sway, Regina had neither noble status, notable skills, nor academic credentials. Following Alice blindly seemed reckless.

‘Especially when the man she’s dating is the commander of the Imperial Knights.’

And then there was the man she was seeing.

He was of a vastly different social standing and culture. Regina didn’t seem to grasp just how difficult it would be to pursue such a relationship in the Empire.

“Still, it’s fortunate you’ve landed a good position there, isn’t it?”

“That much is true. If you pick up any interesting techniques over there, don’t forget to bring them back.”

“Of course. Don’t worry—I’ll make sure to squeeze everything out of the Empire. Just leave it to me.”

With the encouragement and farewell of her colleagues, Emilia clocked out for the last time.

Tomorrow morning, her sisters and sibling would board a ship leaving Trovancia.

Emilia had decided to cross over to the Empire with them to support them in her own way.

‘François Cassel… I don’t know what you’re trying to gain from me, but I’ll be the one using you first.’

Since both sides were equally cunning, Emilia resolved to make full use of the situation to protect her sisters and Lilliana.

With anticipation for the days ahead in the Empire, Emilia smiled slyly.