Prologue: On a heroine’s frenzy.

''C-Calm down, Lyra! We can talk this out, yeah...?!''

''You're not being a good girl, big sis... no, Cecilia.''

clack—!

As I backed away from my little sister, whose black eyes resembled the void itself, the shackles that bound my ankles sounded a loud clacking noise, and the collar wrapped around my neck ground against my skin—irritatingly. The sheer resilience these things showed made me believe that I wouldn't be able to escape.

But it was strange.

Why would I want to escape from my lovely little sister?

No, it seemed that only I considered her as my sister all along. Reflected in those dull eyes was an amalgamation of otherworldly—no, forbidden desires, ones that an ordinary little sister should never harbor toward her big sister.

I get it. The blood flowing in our veins was not the same. Maybe I just got ahead of myself when I realized my goal of being her big sister.

But... no matter how I spin it, this... this whole thing sounded wrong.

''Cecilia.''

At some point, I found myself cornered, desperately backing away yet being stopped by the wall behind me. Lyra's long black hair gently brushed past my bare legs as if playfully tickling, yet her face was devoid of anything even remotely close to 'playful.'

A psychopath.

It was strange. She wasn't supposed to be like this. The heroine sweetheart I knew was shy and cute.

''D-Don't get closer. Why wouldn't you listen to your sister?!''

As I flailed my arms, Lyra grabbed both of my wrists and sat firmly on my lap.

''I never considered you my sister.''

''Ouch...!''

It hurt.

Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes when I thought about how gentle and cute Lyra used to be. She used to follow me like a puppy wherever I went, always giving me a big hug after her school ended...

Suddenly, I felt my rebelling hands powerless. I felt betrayed.

A bit resentfully, I glared at Lyra.

''What do you even want, ungrateful brat...?!''

Releasing my arms, she then curtly cupped my chin, her fingers digging into my cheeks. Lyra's unfairly long and elegant eyebrows narrowed, giving her the impression of being angry.

Why were you the one angry?! It should have been me!

Suddenly chaining me up like this...

''I thought we went through this already?'' Lyra said coldly. ''You, Cecilia. You will be my wife.''

''I-I told you it's not possible!'' I shouted. ''We're sisters!''

''We are not. I don't care what you think, but we were never sisters.''

More than anything, my heart ached. To think, even after all these years, she wouldn't consider me her family...

''Ugh...!''

Lyra gripped my chin even harder and closed our distance.

''You knew it too, didn't you?'' She said as her frown got deeper. ''About my feelings.''

''...''

I tried to turn away, yet her hand clutching my face never seemed to move. Reluctantly, I could only close my teary eyes, hoping not to face that dreadful yet somehow pitiful gaze further. Despite this, Lyra's presence still enveloped my whole being, and I found myself unable to think of anything other than her.

''Or, as expected... are you truly in love with those pests?'' I hear her chilling voice descend. ''Should I... kill them all?''

I snapped my eyes open.

''N-No! They're not like that!'' I pleaded. ''Please, don't do anything to them...!''

Lyra clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed.

''You are such a terrible woman, Cecilia. You made me like this and still refused to take responsibility... well, I know you better than anybody, so it's fine.''

Seeing her cruel smile, I couldn't help but shiver in fear. Beyond that, however, this cursed body of mine was somehow... excited. Aroused.

''You have no choice... but to become mine and mine only.''

''N-No...''

It shouldn't be like this.

''Cecilia.''

The moment her lips overlapped mine, I could tell that the perfect scenario I had been painstakingly working toward had crumbled. More than anything, I felt resentful toward Lyra, who betrayed my trust...

But deep down, I knew that despite whatever she was planning to do with me, I would still love her to death.

—To my dear sister, Lyra, may flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May the pain that you had ease with time, and may happiness find you as you find it. May your loved ones stay healthy so that you won't shed a tear, and may love bloom within you as it did for me. I love you, Lyra. May you forget about this useless sister...

...so that even if I'm gone, you alone would remain happy.

Sincerely,

Cecilia de Orleans