Chapter 292: Yoru (3)
Yoru faced Siriel but couldn’t say a word. Instead, she just raised her guard, the moonlight at her back.
“Got on someone’s bad side?”
Siriel gave Yoru a relaxed smile.
“Why are you so tense? I’m not here to fight.”
“…Then why are you here?”
Despite being told not to be so tense, Yoru remained on guard against Siriel.
It made sense, after all. Over the past month, she had taken far too many beatings.
Of course, the ones who directly dealt the blows were Lucia and Shiron, but Siriel didn’t just tolerate their group assault—she went as far as restraining Yoru to prevent her escape.
So, it was only natural that Yoru’s first impression of her wasn’t good. And it made even more sense that she wouldn’t lower her guard.
“What’s your reason for coming here at this hour?”The fact that Siriel never once raised a hand only made her more unpredictable.
Shiron had done her a favor, and Lucia’s violence created a certain twisted bond between them. But Siriel? She had no such ties.
…You always had to be wary of people who were kind without reason. Yoru’s heart pounded hard as Siriel slowly closed the distance.
“Don’t tell me… you’re here to kill me.”
“Why would I? There’s no benefit to it for me.”
Siriel folded her arms, scoffing. Yoru thought her laid-back attitude was suspicious.
“…No benefit? That can’t be true.”
Although Yoru was not fluent in the imperial language and hadn’t been in the mansion for long, she had ears to listen and eyes to see.
Siriel didn’t hesitate to show affection toward Shiron.
They kissed whenever they pleased, and at night, the halls echoed with the unmistakable sound of bodies meeting.
It was blatant, almost as if Siriel was deliberately flaunting her position to the other women in the mansion. Even Yoru could tell that Siriel held the highest rank among them.
That little red-haired brat, Lucia, was no different.
Like Siriel, Lucia also expressed her affections—but only when Siriel wasn’t around.
It was messy and complicated, to say the least.
One might even call it a willful affair, fully aware of the consequences.
They couldn’t resist their desires, continuing a morally questionable relationship.
‘Imperials really are depraved…’
Yoru, with her conservative views on relationships, saw their dynamic as disgraceful and shameless.
The people of Silleya adhered to monogamy. Once they chose a partner, they stayed with them until death, rarely remarrying. This was one reason the Silleyan population never flourished.
However, Yoru wasn’t against polygamy in principle.
She had traveled across the continent from a young age, encountering many cultures and seeing families in all forms. But the tension brewing in the Prient family was clear to her.
“You’re bothered by other women getting close to your partner, aren’t you?”
“Would anyone really commit murder over something like that?”
“Well, the first time is hard, but the second is much easier.”
Clink, clink.
At some point, Siriel had approached close enough to touch. Yoru swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure.
“Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t have romantic feelings for Shiron Prient.”
“Really?”
“I do like him, sure. But it’s the kind of gratitude one human feels for another, nothing more.”
Yoru firmly drew a line in the conversation.
She insisted that her feelings were solely out of gratitude for the three times Shiron had saved her life. She had no intention of getting involved in their complicated relationship.
“I’m here only to repay that debt. Why would I interfere with my benefactor’s household?”
“…Hmm…”
“So, just leave. I know this hut is worse than a pigsty, but if I see it as karma coming back to me, it’s fine.”
Yoru cautiously pushed Siriel away.
Siriel had been getting too close for comfort, their chests nearly touching. Though she was relieved the interaction hadn’t turned violent, the mental toll was exhausting.
“Are you sure there are no other feelings?”
Siriel, now a step back, wore a deflated expression.
“There aren’t.”
“…I find that hard to believe.”
“Why?!”
“Well, Shiron is handsome.”
Yoru’s face twisted in frustration, and Siriel blinked at her.
“Is it because you’re a barbarian? I guess your idea of beauty is different from ours.”
“…I do think Shiron Prient is handsome.”
“Then why?”
“He’s a scoundrel!”
Perhaps because the conversation had veered into relationships, Yoru’s face was now bright red, even in the dim room.
“How can you love someone just because they’re good-looking? What happens when someone more handsome comes along? Will you fall for them too? Betray the man you vowed to love for life? How could anyone do that?”
“…You’re more of a romantic than I expected.”
“What’s wrong with that?!”
“Nothing at all.”
Siriel shrugged with a friendly smile. Yoru’s response reassured her—the barbarian was more grounded than she had feared.
‘This might go smoothly after all.’
“Sorry for calling you a scoundrel~”
Having made her assessment, Siriel withdrew her pressure.
“Yeah, good looks aren’t Shiron’s only charm. He’s strong, skilled, and kind, too~”
“…Good enough.”
Yoru coughed awkwardly, calming herself down. The person in front of her had grown up immersed in imperial culture.
Unlike the straightforward and emotionally honest people of Silleya, the imperials were crafty and skilled in manipulation…
‘Strong.’
Yoru instantly gauged Siriel’s strength. Though they hadn’t crossed swords, she knew Siriel was at least as formidable as the red-haired brat, if not more.
She was confident she could hold her own against Lucia in a fight.
But not against Siriel.
It wasn’t that Siriel lacked strength.
Rather, Yoru had realized that winning wasn’t just about being strong.
“The truth is, I came to have an honest conversation with you.”
And Siriel possessed a cunning that Yoru lacked.
“We’re going to be living together, right? If you keep being so tense and guarded, it’ll make things uncomfortable for both of us.”
“…Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”
“Sheesh! Just call me ‘sister.’”
Siriel beamed, wrapping an arm around Yoru’s.
Despite wearing luxurious clothes smeared with mud, sweat, and grime, Siriel didn’t seem bothered at all. Instead, she interlaced her fingers with Yoru’s.
“Your hands are cold. You must be freezing.”
“What are you doing?! That’s disgusting!”
“Hey, what’s your name?”
Yoru grimaced and shook off her hand, but Siriel only clung to her more stubbornly each time.
“My name is Siriel Prient. And my brother’s name is Shiron Prient.”
“…I know.”
“Then how about you tell me your name?”
“Haven’t you seen the wanted posters? It’s Yoru, Yoru.”
“Ah, Yoru, is it? The imperial language and Silleya’s language are different, after all. Hearing it directly from a native… Yes, it’s better this way.”
Saying that, Siriel dragged Yoru along. Although she resisted, it all happened so quickly that before she knew it, her guard had dropped slightly.
“…You just called me a barbarian earlier, but you know Silleya well enough.”
“If I want to get along, it’s better not to use aggressive words, right~”
“…Thanks, I guess.”
“How old are you, Yoru?”
“…I just came of age. I’ve been alive for twenty years.”
“So, you’re actually younger than me?”
‘I thought she was three years older than me…’
Yoru was two years younger than Siriel. For a brief moment, her expression faltered, but she quickly acted as if it didn’t bother her.
After all, it was just a two-year difference.
That small gap wouldn’t interfere with Siriel’s grand plan.
In fact, it was a relief. Age often correlated with experience, and an immature mind was easier to sway. Stubbornness in the young was easy to break.
Far easier than persuading Glen, who was already in his middle years.
‘Father-in-law seems to want to make Lucia the second daughter-in-law, but that can’t happen.’
Though Siriel showed up abruptly at the kennel where Yoru was staying, it had taken her much deliberation—and an even greater resolution—to come here.
She knew that Shiron would eventually take a concubine.
While Siriel didn’t want to let another woman get close to him, she admitted that this desire was selfish.
After all, the empire didn’t strictly enforce monogamy, and romantic relationships were a natural part of human connections.
‘Mother told me, too. If I go out of my way to block other women’s advances, I’ll only come across as unlikable.’
More than anything, Siriel loved Shiron too much to hinder his future.
What if a woman she rejected in a jealous rage turned out to be essential for Shiron’s future?
That would be the moment when love could no longer be used as an excuse.
‘A child would be a problem, too. While pregnant, I wouldn’t be able to fulfill his desires.’
But Siriel absolutely couldn’t accept Lucia as the second wife. Even though Glen tried not to show it, he couldn’t fool Siriel.
The way Glen looked at Lucia sparkled more than how he looked at her, and Siriel found that deeply unsettling.
‘I feel bad for Lucia, but sorting out the hierarchy is also the first wife’s duty.’
With that, Siriel calmed her emotions and opened the door at the end of the mansion’s corridor.
“…Where are we?”
“Where else? This is your new room.”
“…”
Yoru widened her eyes as she looked around the room. She didn’t say anything, but her satisfaction was clear. Siriel’s shoulders naturally lifted with pride.
“How is it? By the way, this room has its own bathroom. If you need anything, just shake the bell, and someone will come.”
“…Why are you being so kind to me?”
At some point, Yoru began addressing Siriel more formally.
“Because we’re family.”
“…Family?”
“Yes, isn’t everyone living under the same roof family? Don’t stress too much. If you have any problems, your sister will take care of them. Feel free to speak up.”
Siriel patted Yoru’s back as she spoke.
Thud. Dust and dirt fell to the floor, but with a snap of her fingers, everything returned to its original state.
“Thanks… sister.”
“Sure thing, little sister.”
Siriel gently ruffled Yoru’s hair and left the room.
‘This isn’t so bad.’
“…Unexpected.”
As she walked down the corridor, a voice called to her from behind.
Golden eyes emerged from the shadows, revealing a red-haired figure.
“I thought you hated dark-skinned people.”
“What are you talking about? When did I ever say that?”
“Hmm…”
“Never mind. You should go to bed. Tomorrow, we’re visiting Yoru’s hometown with my brother.”
“R-right, that’s true.”
Lucia awkwardly scratched the back of her head, clearly flustered. It wasn’t because of Siriel, but because of Yoru.
Sigh…
“…”
‘So, she heard everything.’
A sigh echoed down the corridor. Complicated emotions swirled within Lucia—she felt oddly sorry toward Yoru.