Chapter 2 　

Unless she requested it, nobody ever visited Isabella in her attic.

Who could it be?

“It’s me, Ijar. May I come in?”

Ijar, her clever younger brother and the future Count of House Helsington.

Isabella managed to creak out a faint, “Come in...”

The door opened with a creak. Ijar grimaced at the smoky air, but he quickly smiled and turned toward her. She tried to lift herself off the bed with her arms.

“You don’t have to get up, Isabella!” Ijar exclaimed, raising his hand.

Listening to her brother’s consideration, she lay back down. Ijar was the only person she could trust in House Helsington. He was different from the rest of the family. He was the same on the inside as he was on the outside—he was always nice to her.

“Isabella, about what happened earlier...” he started.

The memory of their meal began to make her feel nauseous. She reached for the basin that sat on the end table. She held on to the basin as she began to dry heave, her stomach empty from not eating.

Ijar simply stared at her. He didn’t rub her back or even help steady the basin as she retched.

“S-s-sorry. What brings you here?”

“Oh. Iona was being a little nasty earlier, wasn’t she? I’m here to apologize on her behalf. She’s still young, you know. She thinks she’s been getting fat these days, so I think she was just jealous of how slim you are.”

Isabella wasn’t slim, she was skinny because she was malnourished. But she didn’t bother to correct him. She was thankful that he’d come all the way up to her attic to apologize for something that wasn’t his fault.

“It’s all right. Is that why you came here?” She quickly hid the basin on the other side of her bed, still embarrassed about throwing up in front of him. Her face was dripping with sweat. She wiped the sweat with the back of her hand and pulled away the strands of hair that clung to her face.

“Well, there’s that and...”

As he spoke, she began to feel sick again. Not wanting Ijar to see her like this, she hoped he would be done soon.

“I’m going to join the Imperial Knights soon.”

“Oh my goodness! Congratulations!” Isabella cried without hesitation.

The Imperial Knights of the Cyrus Empire. It was every swordsman’s dream to be accepted into the Imperial Knights. To become one, one must have exceptional swordsmanship in addition to good grades at the Academy.

Not only that, they had to be good-looking and from a noble family. A few of the knights were from humble backgrounds, but they were known to be genius swordsmen. There was a reason the Imperial Knights were so popular.

They had the right to judge criminals and were granted the title of baron upon acceptance. Even though Ijar was the son of a count, he wouldn’t have a title of his own until the current count passed. But that would change upon joining the order. He would be known as a respectable baron. Obtaining a title that wasn’t passed down by one’s family was an impressive feat. It was worthy of applause.

So, that’s what’s had the house in a tizzy these days. Isabella smiled as she recalled the last few days.

“That’s wonderful, Ijar. Truly wonderful news,” she said, giving him her wholehearted congratulations.

“Here’s the thing, Isabella. There will be an induction ceremony for the Imperial Knights. All family members must attend.”

“Oh...” She bit her lower lip with an apologetic look.

“Mother and Father want to leave you behind, but I don’t agree with that.”

Oh, Ijar. My kind and fair brother.

“I’m not ashamed of you. Let’s go together.”

She could feel his kind heart, but she hesitated. The capital in the South was quite a ways away. Would she be able to survive the journey to the capital? That wasn’t the only problem. She would have to spend every moment of the trip with her family. Just the thought of it made her chest tight and her head throb.

“Please think about it. I want my whole family to be there.”

If anybody else had asked, she would have refused, but this was a request from the only person she considered her real family. She nodded with difficulty. “I’ll think about it.”

Ijar gave her a faint smile.

***

A guest arrived at House Helsington. Hearing the commotion at the entrance as she was heading to the dining room for dinner, Isabella immediately turned around to go back to the attic.

“Hello. I am Whitney, the butler of House Noverdic.”

House Noverdic? That name stopped Isabella in her tracks. She didn’t care about other noble families, but she’d heard of House Noverdic.

The lord of the North! The North used to be a barren wasteland. It has been that way ever since the birth of the empire. This large expanse of land was inhabited by monsters and fugitives. Since the founding of the empire, many brave knights tried and failed to conquer it.

Then, thirty years ago, one family routed the monsters and conquered the northern lands—that family was House Noverdic. The Noverdic family single-handedly fought the demonic beasts and chased them back into the woods. The emperor granted the family the title of duke and the lands of the North.

House Noverdic continued to fight off demonic beasts, defending the desolate North to this day. The unconventional decision to establish House Noverdic as a dukedom had caused a stir in the empire. It was an old story, but it was so common that even Isabella knew about it. House Noverdic’s conquest of the North was an incredible feat.

But what are they doing here? Isabella studied the guest.

“What are you doing here?” Countess Helsington asked, having noticed Isabella on her way down the stairs. She faked a smile to hide her distaste. “We have a guest! Don’t just mill about. Go back to your room!”

Isabella dropped her head and slowly made her way back up the stairs. She had to take a break every other step, and she couldn’t help but glance back toward the entrance.

What are they doing here?

***

Count Helsington met with Whitney, the butler of House Noverdic, in the living room.

“What brings you all the way down from the North?”

“I have a letter for you, my lord. It will be winter in the North soon, so everyone is busy driving off the demonic beasts. The duke apologizes for not being able to come visit himself,” Whitney said, getting straight to the point.

The count carefully accepted the letter, which was still warm from being in the butler’s breast pocket. He narrowed his eyes.

House Noverdic and House Helsington had never once crossed paths. They would have had to socialize in the capital in order to make a connection, but the Noverdic family had never once stepped foot in the capital in over thirty years. Moreover, the two families lived in different areas—the Helsingtons in the affluent central territory and the Noverdics in the desolate North—so they never would have met even in passing.

“Please open it.”

At the butler’s urging, Count Helsington took out a letter opener and carefully opened the envelope. Two pieces of paper sat inside. Although the letter seemed to insinuate good news by starting with “Dear Honorable Lord Helsington,” his face hardened as he read the contents.

***

Isabella lifted her heavy eyelids. Her throat was dry, but she had no water in her room. She tugged the bell rope a couple of times, but Joanne never came.

Maybe she already retired to her room. Isabella sighed and swung her legs over the bed. Her body swayed as she tried to stand. After a couple of attempts, she managed to rise to her feet.

Maybe I’ll skip the water. She shook her head. If she went to bed parched, she would only suffer in the morning. She may have been frequently sick, but that didn’t mean she was used to it. She wanted to avoid making it worse if possible.

She gritted her teeth and opened her door. As she walked, she heard muffled voices coming from down the corridor. The bright and clear voice must have been Iona’s. Her voice was one that you couldn’t help but pick up. She also heard Ijar’s voice sprinkled here and there.

They must be talking to each other. Isabella tried to ignore their conversation until she heard...

“Ijar, I heard you want to take that cursed doll with us.”

Cursed doll. Isabella’s ears perked up at the mention of her.

“Yes. I’m going to bring Isabella with us. Is there a problem, Iona?”

“I hate it! Just thinking about going to the capital with that curse is terrible! I thought only family were invited. Isabella isn’t family!”

“I know. Isabella isn’t family.”

The words that fell from Ijar’s mouth were shocking. Isabella’s whole body stiffened. She couldn’t move an inch.

“Then why do you want to bring her with us?” Iona asked in a teary voice.

“Why? It’s so that we can shine even brighter. It would be a beautiful story if we’re known as the siblings who care for their cursed sister. There’s also one more thing. Imagine what would happen if we left her behind and she died. The criticism would never end.”

Isabella couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The only person who treated her like a member of the family, the only person who would actually smile at her, would never say something like that. Ijar was kind and fair...

“It’s not because you like that girl?” Iona’s bubbly voice held a hint of anger.

Isabella’s eyes widened.

Tell her the truth, Ijar. She clasped her hands together.

“Me? Impossible, Iona. Isabella is just a cursed doll. She’s an accessory that will make us shine. A rather cheap accessory if you ask me, but people love heart-wrenching stories like this.”

Isabella stumbled. She grabbed onto the window frame, trying not to fall, and she covered her mouth to hold back her sobs. She hunched over, her tears falling freely but silently to the ground. She thought she had no more tears left to cry, but they kept coming.

Today, she’d reached her lowest point.

***

Isabella remained bedridden until the following day. Joanne had delivered soup and a stale piece of bread, food that she wouldn’t dare to consume herself, but Isabella didn’t even touch it. It seemed she had liked and trusted Ijar more than she thought. The wounds of betrayal were not easily healed.

“I heard you weren’t eating.”

At noon, Ijar had come to her room holding a tray of food. Chills ran down her spine when she saw the smile on his face. She had no idea how to behave around him anymore.

“You need to start eating now if you want to go to the capital,” he said as he set the tray down on the end table.

Why do you want to take me? What is your true reason for taking me? That’s what she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t form the words. Yesterday’s sharp words were more than enough. She didn’t want to be hurt anymore.

“Let’s go see a famous doctor in the capital. We can get the best medicine from them.”

So you can look like a kind and caring brother? So you can maintain the image of the eldest son who takes care of the discarded sister? It’s just for your own benefit!

Anger surged within her.