The Kind Older Sister Is No More

“Is there any letter from her today?”

Riel pointed to the letter her maid was holding.

“Ye-yes, we have finished sorting. I left your letter in your room.” the maid timidly replied.

Seeing the beautifully sealed peach letter in her hand with a noble insignia, Riel further prompted.

“What is that?”

“Oh...This letter is for lady Irene. But I cannot deliver it, so I will collect it...”

“Give it to me.” Riel demanded.

“Pardon?”

The maid’s eyes widened at Riel’s sudden request.

“The letter to my sister. Give it to me.”

Riel repeated.

“Oh, I…”

However, the maid, who had given Irene’s letter to Riel before, was greatly troubled. She was at her wits’ end. To be honest, she did not want to hand it over to her at all. What if that girl got herself involved in some pointless affairs, and implicated her as well?

“I am sorry, miss. This is a letter for Miss Irene, so I cannot give it to you...”

‘Pang.’

The maid could not finish her words. Just moments ago, the Riel who had been smiling like an angel while asking her a favour, turned cold in the blink of an eye. Her gaze was so frosty the maid felt chills.The maid touched her cheek with disbelief. All the maids around her also stiffened in surprise.

“I have witnessed you spouting nonsense about me -- whether I am good enough or not...Well, I am sorry, but there is absolutely nothing that I cannot do in this family. I have every right to see that letter you are holding. Because I am the real daughter of this house.”

“Ah, ah…”

The maid was speechless. Riel, who was looking at her coldly, soon changed her expression.

“I’m sorry if it hurts. But I am having a hard time as well since I do not have my sister beside me, you can at least understand that, right?"

She smiled sweetly and comforted her maid as if she was truly sorry.

“Yes...”

“Then, will you give me that letter?”

When Riel reached out her hand again, the maid quietly handed over Irene’s letter to her. Riel smiled happily and took the letter to her room.

As soon as the door of her room was shut, Riel’s face hardened. She spilt the basket containing Irene’s letters on her desk. Last time, the news that Irene had attended Duchess Jasmine’s ball had significantly increased the number of invitations to her. Because once she appeared, it became a hot topic of discussion.

“...”

Riel, who was looking at Irene’s piled up invitations with indifferent eyes, checked the contents of the letters one by one. Most of them asked her to attend morning and afternoon teas, brunches, or a ball.

She gathered them just in case they contained news about Irene, but there was no harvest at all. Riel, nervously opening the peach letter, paused.

The Duchess of Jasmine…

It was about an exhibition at the Jasmine Duchy. Riel, who was contemplating, quickly smiled.

♔♔♔

They were to depart in the afternoon. But as soon as breakfast was served, Irene had to prepare for the exhibition. It was because there were many things to take care of as it was a formal high-class place where numerous nobles gathered.

After taking a clean bath, Irene dried her hair and body, changed into the dress Noel had given her, and earnestly put on makeup.

“I am going to straighten your hair now.”

The maid said, beginning to straighten Irene’s curls with a straightening iron.

“Please close your eyes. I will start with the make-over.”

As Irene could not take her eyes off her hair, which was gradually smoothed, another maid came up to her with cosmetics. At that, Irene closed her eyes with a nervous expression. She had never worn makeup before.

Irene could feel the tickling sensation from the tip of the brush and the unique smell of rose, lavender and mint in the lip tints and blush. Just like that, the maids began to decorate Irene with delicate touches.

As soon as her eyelashes were curled, all the make-up was finished. When her maid whispered, she could open her eyes, Irene slowly lifted her eyelids.

“It is not a ball, so we emphasised elegance and nobility rather than glamour.” Said the maid.

Just like the maid said, they had gone with a natural makeover for her; it really seemed that she was wearing nothing, but her pretty features were accentuated. Her lips were crimson, and her cheeks were stained pale pink. Irene felt pretty.

“…Thank you all. It must have been hard.”

Her maids flushed hearing Irene’s gratitude.nPerhaps it was the effect of makeup, she looked more lovely and beautiful than ever.

No answer came back from the maids even after a while. It was the duty of the maids to decorate the nobility. They had just done their duty; what they were obligated to do, they did not expect to hear a thank you.

“Do you like it?”

Asked a maid who belatedly came to her senses.

“Yes, I love it.” Irene smiled at her.

“What a relief. The time has come. The carriage must be waiting outside.”

The maids helped Irene stand up so that her dress would not be ruined. They did not have to go this far, but they genuinely liked the way she expressed her gratitude toward them purely, which was why they wanted to help her more.

Before leaving her room, Irene looked down at the spot on her finger where her ring was. Its transparent diamond sparkled in the sunlight, and within her a kaleidoscope of colours reflected within the stone.

Irene held her hand up appreciating its beauty, before following her maids out.

As the maid said, the carriage had already stopped in front of the detached house. Noel was standing in front of it. He was wearing a navy-blue attire, which suited him well.

He will look good in anything because he is handsome.