“What are you trying to do, huh?”

“What do you mean? I’m just giving advice. It’s up to you and father to choose, but I’m warning you to be careful. I’m advising that one choice can bring dishonor to your name.”

“Are you planning to cause trouble there?”

Sesenia picked up a piece of meat with her fork again. Shrugging her shoulders with an expression that showed she had no such intention, Sesenia popped the meat into her mouth.

“No?”

“Then why are you talking about it? It’s annoying.”

I don’t plan to cause trouble.

But I didn’t say I wouldn’t make the first move, I didn’t say I wouldn’t do anything. Sesenia looked at her elder sister with a smirk.

“You’re really not planning to do anything, right?”

“Don’t worry.”

Because there’s nothing to do first. If someone asks me, I’ll tell them honestly though.

“But why do you keep smiling?”

“If I want to smile with my own face, do you have a problem with that too? Elder sister, you’re really~ strange. Why are you making such a fuss over every little thing I do? Is this your true self? It’s so different from how you talk to father.”

Elzere’s face hardened every time Sesenia smiled.

“You know, I like it when elder sister is like an angel. So smile. If you don’t do anything, I won’t do anything either.”

“……”

“Father. What do you think? Doesn’t elder sister seem really strange today, no, lately?”

“Now that I hear Sesenia’s words, you’re right. Elzere. Why are you acting like this lately? You weren’t like this before.”

“It’s, it’s just… I’ve become sensitive because I’m so full of thoughts about wanting to run the family well as the successor according to father’s wishes. I’ve become sensitive. I’m sorry, Sesenia.”

“It’s okay, el-der sis-ter.”

The way she chewed the meat like a rabbit was so annoying that Elzere was about to say something more, but knowing it wouldn’t help her at all, she just smiled awkwardly.

“So father, will you grant my request?”

“Of course. How could I refuse my daughter’s request?”

Only then did Elzere show a quite satisfied expression. This is how it should be. Father should do as I wish. That emotion seemed to be clearly visible.

‘Well, this isn’t the first or second time. Still, it’s a scene I can’t get used to.’

It had been a fact since childhood that father favored Elzere. There were many excuses for it.

Because she was the daughter who looked exactly like the mother he loved so much. Because Elzere’s health had been poor since she was young. There were many excuses, but it was still a strange sight.

Contrary to the widespread opinion that he was thorough and ruthless in handling state affairs, his current appearance showed no signs of being thorough or ruthless. He just looked indecisive, accepting all the whims of his young daughter.

To the point of being incomprehensible, unable to move an inch against Elzere. Seeing this, Sesenia shook her head.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s talk about the founding anniversary banquet.”

“Is there anything special about it?”

In the past, Elzere had made a splendid debut through that founding anniversary banquet. Elzere, who found Hepria cotton and made huge profits. All eyes were focused on her, saying she had both a pretty face and intelligence.

And this time would be no different. The reason Elzere was trying to take credit for Hepria cotton even at the cost of hearing unpleasant words was to make a splendid debut through the founding anniversary banquet.

Also, through that event, the crown prince was trying to expedite the engagement with Elzere.

“I’m asking if you’ll attend or not, Sesenia.”

“Sesenia is busy, why would she attend?”

In the past time, Sesenia did not attend that banquet. It wasn’t mandatory, and since Elzere, who would succeed the marquis and marquise, was already going, she didn’t particularly think about going.

There was also a reason she didn’t go because she had no interest in social circles.

“I’m going?”

Of course, not now.

In an incredibly light voice, Sesenia tilted her head.

“Why are you coming there?”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t go?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it, but. You didn’t like those things.”

“I’m trying to like it. I’m an adult now too. Father, can’t I go?”

“You can. Of course you can.”

“Father. You didn’t usually take Sesenia to such places. The child doesn’t even know proper etiquette yet, what banquet? If she brings shame to the family…”

As if she didn’t want Sesenia to be taken to that place no matter what, Elzere started throwing out whatever words she could.

“I see. So I lack etiquette compared to elder sister. That’s a really interesting thing to say.”

“…A-Anyway. You didn’t even go originally!”

“That’s why I’m saying I want to go now. Because I’ve become an adult now. Why, is there any reason I shouldn’t go? If elder sister says I can’t go, I won’t. I’m a good little sister who listens well to elder sister, aren’t I?”

The marquis’s gaze, as well as Sesenia’s, turned to Elzere.

“… Just. I was wondering if you really have to go this time. I haven’t properly adapted to social circles yet either. Um… so I’m worried, I’m worried about you. As your elder sister, I’m worried.”

“Okay. Don’t worry. Then father. It seems it’s been decided that I’m going.”

“This is a good opportunity. It’s been a while since the three of us went out together. It’s good. Then we should talk about whose escort you’ll go with.”

The topic shifted quite smoothly as if this had been the reason for gathering today from the beginning. Sesenia, who had finished her meal by now, broke apart the tart that came as dessert with a small spoon and put it in her mouth.

“We should also talk about the engagement while we’re at it.”

“Engagement? What engagement?”

This seemed to be something even Elzere didn’t know about, as a deep vertical wrinkle formed between her brows.

“Hasn’t this father been pushing for an engagement with the imperial family for a long time? It’s about that.”

“The imperial family… you mean an engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Yes. So this father wants you, Elzere, the eldest daughter, to be engaged to the imperial family. Becoming the crown princess ultimately means becoming the empress, doesn’t it? It’s quite a good position for you who has always been ambitious about rising high, isn’t it?”

Elzere’s cheekbones trembled slightly.

‘I wonder what choice she’ll make.’

Sesenia rested her chin on her hand and stared at her elder sister.

“O-Of course!”

“Yes. I thought so.”

“But father. I don’t like the current crown prince.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I want to become empress. But I’m saying I don’t like the current crown prince.”

‘If anything has changed from the past, it’s that she said she wants to become empress.’

Elzere desperately wanted to create a situation exactly the same as the past. It was obvious to the point of being visible. That’s why she got angry when Sesenia said she had taken the sacred object to the temple, and why she tried to stop Sesenia from going to the founding anniversary banquet in any way possible.

And now, like in the past, Elzere was thinking of making Sesenia the crown princess, and then empress, instead of herself.

“I don’t understand why you don’t like him. This father was planning to push for an engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince on this occasion, and ask His Highness to be your escort for the founding anniversary banquet. You’ll be able to receive the most splendid attention, Elzere.”

The marquis’s feelings were understandable too.

She was a daughter who wanted to sit in the highest place in the empire more than anyone. For such a daughter to suddenly say she doesn’t like the current crown prince.

“I might not mind other princes, but I don’t like the crown prince.”

“What are you saying? His Highness the Crown Prince will definitely succeed to the throne next. Not only has he inherited the strongest power among the imperial family, but his mother, Her Majesty the Empress’s family is also excellent. Unlike other princes whose mothers were maids or whose families are lowly. What’s the problem?”

That was the problem.

That perfection. It made the crown prince a scoundrel. No matter what he does, Crown Prince Helbert will become emperor. Whatever trouble he causes, the empress covers it up, and the strong bloodline he possesses protects him.

He maintained his position firmly like that until the day Sesenia died.

“I don’t like him. He’s a scoundrel.”

“Elzere! H-How can you call His Highness the Crown Prince a scoundrel…!”

“He’s such a scoundrel that even Her Majesty the Empress finds it burdensome, finds it difficult to clean up after him.”

‘That’s right.’

Sesenia cut a small piece of the tart topped with lots of strawberries.

“That’s all because of misunderstandings.”

“What misunderstandings? He can’t control himself around women regardless of their marital status, and throws tantrums when things don’t go his way, isn’t that what a scoundrel is?”

“Well… When you’re in a high position, you tend to get caught up in all sorts of rumors. That’s all. When I actually met His Highness Crown Prince Helbert, he was a very good person.”

“No. There’s no such trash anywhere.”

Sesenia, who had been nodding her head in agreement with Elzere’s words, barely managed to hold back her laughter that almost burst out. Trash, she says. But even she thought he was really trash. Trash that would be hard to pick up from anywhere.

‘It’s so funny that she’s the one who carefully picked up that trash, yet she’s saying this with veins popping in her neck.’

Elzere had made a fuss about disliking the crown prince in the past too, but this time it was a bit more severe.

“Trash, you say. Elzere, even if you speak… And you haven’t even met him. So listen to this father’s words. Nothing has ever gone wrong by listening to this father’s words, has it?”

“That’s…!!”

The marquis who knows nothing. And the trash crown prince that marquis is packaging. Unable to tell the truth to someone who knows nothing, she bit her lip hard.

“A-Anyway, I won’t do it. I’m saying I won’t. If it’s such a good position, then Sesenia can get engaged instead of me!”

That’s when it happened.

Sesenia clearly drew the line.

“Such a precious position should naturally go to elder sister. How could a younger sister covet such a position~? Elder sister. You don’t have to give up on something like this.”