My Sister is the Main Character

Episode 5

He was born with an extraordinary body and exceptional senses he never wished for.

But he was cursed.

A curse of desire, one that imprisoned anything he felt even the slightest affection for, keeping it to himself, wanting it to exist only for his eyes.

Like a greedy dragon hoarding treasures in its nest.

It all began when he trapped his nanny as a child.

“Will the cage truly fill up?”

He sought immense power and, at the same time, wandered in search of a clue to calm this curse.

Someone mentioned that the answer might lie within the treasures of the constellations, so he began tracking the traces of those who possessed them.

Acrux was no exception.

Jackal now listened to the faint traces fading into oblivion, his gaze filled with curiosity as he stared at the door.

“I wonder.”

He caught the faintest tremor in the eyes of the woman who had been pretending to be calm moments ago. Something an ordinary person would never notice.

‘Why did she lie?’

The woman was an accomplished liar.

But what exactly had she lied about?

A smooth smile graced the man’s face.

This was far too entertaining.

That night.

“How did the original female lead so resolutely reject the male protagonist’s proposal?”

I was belatedly drenched in cold sweat.

“…Duke, could you please stop counting money?”

Beside me, stood Rodemin, my sharp-eyed, bespectacled aide, frowning in disapproval.

“Shut up. This is how I find peace of mind.”

At that moment, I accidentally dropped a gold coin from my hand, and it clinked onto the floor.

“My goodness! ،The Duke dropping gold coins on the floor…! I’ll summon a physician immediately. This must be madness—”

“Don’t you dare utter the word ‘madness.’”

Rodemin looked at me and, as if nothing had happened, straightened his posture calmly.

“Good to see you’re sane.”

Clearing his throat, Rodemin continued.

“So what happened for you to drop your treasured coin? Isn’t that your cherished No. 89 gold coin?”

“Something did… wait, how did you know it’s the same coin?”

“I am your right hand. There’s nothing I don’t know.”

In the brief moment of astonishment, Rodemin lowered his voice.

“So, what happened, Duke?”

Sharp fellow. Under his serious, bespectacled gaze, I confessed.

“I was proposed to by the Crown Prince.”

“What?! Did it really happen? Duke, you should consider becoming an oracle at the temple! Do we need to prepare a wedding dress?”

I had already informed Rodemin about the impending proposal, but it seems he only half-believed me.

“Say that again.”

“My apologies.”

After a meek apology, Rodemin cautiously asked,

“You didn’t actually bring up the contract marriage, did you…?”

“I did. And I was rejected.”

My aide looked more shocked than when he heard about the proposal.

“You actually mentioned that absurd contract marriage! But why would he reject you? Honestly, you’re only obsessed with money, but you’re beautiful, competent—oh, is it because of your workaholism?”

“He said he dislikes temporary love. He wants to have me entirely, forever.”

Rodemin fell silent.

It must have been such a staggering statement that even he couldn’t respond.

“But didn’t you plan to steer the conversation away from the proposal entirely?”

“I tried to, but then he said something strange, and I got distracted.”

There was no stopping it once the topic of a political marriage came up. What’s done is done.

Now the task ahead is damage control.

And I already had a plan in mind.

“The contract marriage is off the table. There’s no helping it. Starting tomorrow, we’ll search for the ‘item’ while simultaneously finding the fastest way out of here.”

“Understood. But… why exactly did he propose to you? There are countless noble families in the capital. Why specifically our reclusive duchy?”

I stared quietly at Rodemin.

He’s the only one I can trust here. It’s better to tell him everything now.

“The Crown Prince is after our family’s heirloom. And someone who can use the treasure along with it.”

Rodemin’s eyes widened, and his expression grew serious.

“Don’t tell me the force that’s been after the heirloom all this time… was the Crown Prince?”

The fact that the Crown Prince was after the constellation family’s treasure wasn’t publicly known.

But it must have been a bloodbath in the process of acquiring it—hidden so meticulously that no trace remained.

“To have been handled so cleanly despite countless deaths… that makes him all the more terrifying.”

For the first time, tension and worry flickered across Rodemin’s face.

“This is a serious issue.”

“Exactly. I can’t wield the heirloom’s power.”

From inside my coat, I pulled out a necklace.

The pendant hanging on the silver thread comes into view.

This was the unbloomed heirloom, ‘Acrux’.

‘I wonder how he’ll react if he finds out I’m only a half-owner.’

My sister wasn’t entirely wrong. When I arrived at the imperial palace, the heirloom recognized me as its temporary owner, as if it had been waiting.

Anyone unworthy who touches it would suffer burns, but I was perfectly fine.

‘That’s truly a relief, but…’

A sigh escaped me.

“…What if, contrary to my sister’s expectations, I can never wield it?”

This treasure is a ‘weapon’ that can transform into any form its user desires.

‘In truth, it’s the perfect treasure for my sister, who possesses the talent of a knight.’

It was completely! Unsuitable for me.

Why, you ask?

Because… I’m hopelessly clumsy.

Whether it’s dancing! Exercising! Or even running—I can’t do any of it.

Fighting with this thing? Absolutely impossible.

After a single attempt at swordsmanship left me with a broken arm, even my sister stopped encouraging me.

‘Damn it…’

It’s unfair.

‘We share the same Acrux bloodline, so why wasn’t I given such talent?’

It might be fine for now, but if I continue to fail in using its powers, that guy Jackal might start to grow suspicious.

So, I made up my mind.

‘Let’s create an incident that will make him believe I can use it.’

I had a plan in mind.

But for now, there was something more important to inform Rodemin about.

“This palace… I heard it’s the closest one to the Crown Prince’s quarters. What was it again? Something about observing my preferences. Up close.”

“…Pardon?”

“It means we’ll have to be careful from now on.”

Rodemin, who had remained silent with a troubled expression, nodded seriously.

“The Crown Prince rejected a master-servant relationship, but while I’m by his side, he might change his mind if I show him my abilities. Of course, we mustn’t neglect finding other ways in the meantime. Ideally, everything should proceed legally.”

Thinking about the blood-soaked future of the imperial palace due to the fight between the Crown Prince and the Emperor, I knew I didn’t want to stay long.

“How do you plan to demonstrate your abilities?”

“I heard the Crown Prince’s Tax Bureau is struggling to collect taxes due to internal power struggles in the capital and is facing a huge headache over it.”

I mentioned this to Jackal earlier today as well.

The administrative institutions under the Crown Prince are unable to function properly under the Emperor’s oppressive power.

“I plan to use this to propose another deal soon.”