I Raised My Younger Sister Beautifully

Chapter 6

Jumping on the bed, Fletta concluded that the princess wasn’t that scary.

At least she doesn’t bother her like the other princess.

She was a fool for thinking that she was a pretty but scary princess.

“The princess seems like a good person. Her hands were very warm.”

Of course, she had never seen her smile, but her gaze on her wasn’t cold either.

The princess was extremely pretty as if she were not of this world.

The shiny blonde hair and eyes that are greener than the trees in the forest. The more she looked at it, the more she seemed to fall in love with it.

She couldn’t even explain how fine and tall her nose was. The luscious eyelashes that appeared every time her big eyes blinked made her want to touch it with her fingers despite the possibility of being scolded.

Fletta, imagining the princess’s pretty face, opened her mouth.

“I want to be friends with the princess.”

She swallowed the words that came out of her mouth unconsciously. 

It was because Milla’s words came to mind.

She would always speak harshly with an angry face.

– ‘We live in the same Imperial Palace, but the princesses and you are not equal. You’re just a little bug. You’re a useless trash that can be thrown away.’

When Mrs. Milla’s vicious face came to mind, Fletta’s face became dark.

“S, Someone like me shouldn’t be friends with the princess.”

Fletta stopped jumping on the bed with drooping shoulders. It made her so sad to think that this bright and wonderful room might disappear like a bubble.

* * * 

Lying still on the bed, Cezanne was lost in thought. 

She saved the child.

It was inevitable. She couldn’t bear to watch it without doing anything.

Had it been left alone, Fletta would have died sooner or later.

No matter how much dark power she had, she couldn’t turn a blind eye to a child dying from abuse.

However, the red eyes of the basilisk, which became clearer whenever she closed her eyes, bothered Cezanne.

It seemed as if a snake’s tail was lurking somewhere in this splendid Imperial Palace, hitting its scales. 

Why was Fletta born with the power of the basilisk… how does she get rid of it? 

She thought she should at least look into related books tomorrow. 

Cezanne, unable to sleep that night, went to the library with only her maid, Hana, keeping it a secret from Mel.

“Basilisk, there’s no book that contains such content, princess.”

As the librarian said, she could not find any record about the basilisk or any ancient book.

‘That’s strange. I remember seeing that book somewhere…’

When the Imperial Palace collapsed and everyone solidified into stone, Cezanne vividly remembered the contents of the ancient book. 

– When the basilisk, the king of darkness and snakes, awakens, the world will finally come to an end. All fools in the world will turn into stone statues before the eyes of the basilisk.

“So, you don’t have any related books or records?”

“Yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help.”

“Then, what about the power of darkness?”

“…that too, princess.”

“I see. Okay.”

The librarian bowed his head. Cezanne walked out of the library, brooding over a strange notion.

‘Then, where did I read that?’

Returning to her newly decorated room in the Imperial Palace, she couldn’t remember no matter how much she thought about it.

“Basilisk.” 

Cezanne was immersed in the thought of the terrifying power that Fletta had summoned. What was that power?

* * * 

Whoosh.

The wind blew over the desolate ruins. The old and weathered Imperial Palace was full of old stone statues that were gradually crumbling into powder, without any living people in sight.

Only the shadow of death and the summoner of darkness, Basilisk, who flicked its tongue out, remained alive.

As soon as she saw its red eyes, she got goosebumps all over her body.

“Huff, Huff…!”

Cezanne jumped out of bed, breathing heavily. It was a dream. Was this what Erantos looked like on the day before the return, or even longer than that? A ruined empire with no living creatures.

However, why did she dream about it when she already came back to the past? Maybe the foreseen past wasn’t actually fiction. That thought gradually increased her anxiety.

She managed to save Fletta, but there was still no guarantee that she wouldn’t summon Basilisk.

Unfortunately, that was the case. Cezanne chewed her nails again after a long time. 

Cezanne pulled the rope and called Mel. Soon after, Mel came in and changed Cezanne’s sweaty clothes. Cezanne’s expression seemed unusual, so Mel became cautious and worried, but Cezanne only glossed over it.

“I just had a nightmare.”

“I think you’ve been paying too much attention to Miss Fletta recently. How about putting off swordsmanship class today and resting for a bit?”

“Shall we do that?”

As Mel said, she was thinking too much about the basilisk that she ended up dreaming about it.

It won’t be a big deal. It’s okay to rest a little. 

Mel pulled back the curtain, and the clear sunlight shone through the open window.

“The weather is nice. I’ll inform the Duke of Veniou in advance, so it would be better for the princess to sleep a little longer. I’ll take care of Miss Fletta’s meal when she wakes up in a little while, so please stay still and rest in your room.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Mel put out the light and went out again. She felt sleepy again because she had changed into soft pajamas, but she couldn’t sleep.

In addition, her teacher, Duke Veniou, was a man famous for being extremely strict. Though, she liked that more.

If she missed the swordsmanship class, another training would be added, so Cezanne forced herself up.

When Cezanne came out of the room, Mel asked in surprise.

“Princess, why did you come out instead of resting?”

“No, I’d rather go to class. It’s just a nightmare. Get ready.”

“Yes, if you insist. I haven’t sent a maid yet.”

Wearing armor and tying her hair together, Cezanne moved with a rather heavy heart.

When she arrived at the swordsmanship class, no one had arrived yet.

Cezanne pulled out the sword hanging by her waist.

Shing.

It was a short sword with a slender blade, so it was quickly pulled out.

As the silver short sword was swung in the air, the clear sunlight, reflected in the silver blades, bounced around.

“Hiya!” 

Letting out a shout, she quickly swung her short sword towards the practice scarecrow.

Whish!

The scarecrow’s body, filled with rice straw, quickly split into three equal parts.

Her condition was not better than usual, but it was not enough to hinder her. Rather, there was nothing better than swinging a sword and sweating to put off miscellaneous thoughts for a while.

She was anxious because of the nightmare, but also worried if Fletta would adapt well in an unfamiliar place.

‘Is she up by now?’ 

* * * 

Tweet, tweet, tweet!

When the chirping bird flew by the window, Fletta woke up, rubbing her eyes.

It was the first time she slept so long until late noon.

Fletta also had nightmares all night. It was only until dawn that she finally fell asleep, since she had been worried about being scolded by Mrs. Milla

“I’m hungry…”

Fletta opened the door with a whimper, pulling out her head and looking around. She saw an elegant hallway with a red velvet carpet.

Feeling like someone was passing by in the distance, Fletta gently shut the door again.

She had overslept, so she was restless because she felt like she had made a big mistake.

Knock knock. When she heard a knock on the door right in front of her, Fletta hiccuped in surprise.

“Hiccup!”

“Miss Fletta, are you awake?”

“Oh, yes. I’m awake…”

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Yes.”

When Fletta turned the door knob that came to her chest and opened it with difficulty, Mel spoke kindly.

“Thank you. Are you hungry? Shall we prepare a meal?”

Fletta nodded furiously at the soft voice.

“Yes!” 

Soon after, delicious lamb stew, soft and savory bread, yellow cheese and warm milk was brought in.

Fletta, who fixed her gaze on the food, swallowed her saliva, and glanced at Mel as if asking for permission.

“Eat as much as you want.”

When permission was given, Fletta began to eat food with her hands in a hurry.

While chewing and swallowing the bread, Fletta thought it was amazing that such a soft and tender bread existed.

Delicious.

“It’s so delicious.”

Fletta muttered with an ecstatic expression without realizing it.

“Cough, cough.”

Mel handed her a glass of water when she saw Fletta choking up while eating in a hurry.

“Take your time and chew well.”

At Mel’s words, Fletta blinked her eyes, then stopped eating and looked at her.

“…..?”

“You should hold this.” 

Mel put the fork in Fletta’s tiny hand, which had been messed up with food. Then, she showed the amount of food she should chew and swallow.

“Here, like this.”

“Yes.”

After Mel’s demonstration, Fletta dipped her fork into the food and put it in her mouth very carefully.

“Yes, just like that.”

When Mel said so, Fletta chewed the food with relief. Fletta looked at Mel and waited for her answer, as if she were asking permission.

“Good job, Miss Fleta.”

At that moment, a sigh of relief came out of Fletta’s lips, and she ate the next food with a fork and put it in her mouth.

She looked ecstatic, admiring the taste. Then, she carefully chewed the food again.

This was the second time Fletta had a proper meal. She enjoyed the previous meal, but she was only able to taste it properly at this meal.

The brown crust of the bread was crispy, and the inside was soft. It wasn’t just bread. Both the lamb, which tasted savory as you chew, and the freshly squeezed milk were tasty.

Fletta was so happy that she felt like melting.

“Madame, it’s about time for the princess to finish her class.”

Asha, another maid from the 2nd Princess Palace, came to the dining room and told Mel.

“Miss Fletta, I’ll be back with the 2nd princess. Just continue eating. If you have any inconvenience, please call a maid outside.”

“Yes!” 

Fletta replied to the news of the princess coming and focused on the meal again.

Soon after, when Cezanne arrived at the Imperial Palace, all the maids went out and greeted her. Fletta followed along, bowing her head like a maid.

“We greet the 2nd princess.” 

Fletta moved her lips together with the sound of simultaneous greetings.

Fletta opened her mouth when she saw Cezanne in simple leather armor for a swordsmanship class. Even the silver short sword and scabbard attached to her waist looked amazing.

“Wow.”

“Hi. You’re up already?”

“Yes…”

It was surprising to see Fletta answering shyly.

Fletta was so short that her head barely reached Cezanne’s waist. Cezanne tried to stroke her head without realizing it as she watched the small Fletta, but stopped midway.

Fletta looked up at Cezanne’s every touch, gaze, and movement, as if she were looking up at her.

This child summoned the terrible monster, Basilisk.

Where did such frightening power come from in such a small and fragile child?

Cezanne was weighed down by the thought.

‘Now, what should I do with her?’

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