Ch.151Claire van Sigmillus

====[Claire van Sigmillus]====

The third morning.

Finally, three carriages departed from the Sigmillus mansion.

Though they set off a bit late, the procession was thoroughly prepared.

Heading toward the trap her sister had prepared, Claire closed her eyes and recalled the past.

Her childhood, when she had been the sole focus of her family’s expectations, destined to become a High Mage.

She herself had never doubted this promising future.

In those days, the world was filled with bright light.

‘And then… Ophelia was born.’

A cute little sister who looked just like her.

Since their frail mother sadly passed away just two years after giving birth to Ophelia, Claire was the one who took care of the child.

Until then, there had been no problems between the sisters.

She even found it endearing when the little one would toddle around calling “Sister, Sister.”

The problem arose when Ophelia turned five.

“Sister! Sister! Look at this, isn’t it sparkly?”

“…Yes. It’s pretty, Ophelia. How impressive.”

On the day when Ophelia, who had never received any formal magical education, manifested magic at the mere age of five after learning just by watching others.

Looking at her little sister proudly showing off a basic illumination spell, Claire forced a smile.

Outwardly, she praised her sister, but inwardly, her mind was in turmoil.

She was old enough to understand what the scene her sister had playfully demonstrated meant.

That day.

Claire learned the emotion of jealousy for the first time in her life.

—-

“Mmph… Hmmph…”

A strained moan, as if breathing was difficult.

A thin, muffled voice, as if blocked by something, echoed inside the carriage.

‘Ah, I must have applied too much pressure without realizing it.’

Claire’s consciousness returned to reality from her reminiscence.

Her skirt was unnaturally bulging and twitching slightly.

When she spread her legs a bit to the side, the suffocating movements subsided.

Eventually, a wet, slurping sound like a cat lapping at a bowl of milk faintly seeped through her increasingly damp skirt.

“Ahh… yes, that’s good. Keep going just like that…!”

Claire looked down at her skirt with heated eyes and let out an excited sigh.

‘I was right to bring them along…’

Leaning back against the sofa, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the tingling pleasure.

As if dreaming, she continued to recall the past.

—-

The day her sister Ophelia revealed her genius.

All the family’s expectations shifted to Ophelia.

It became common to hear that she was a genius incomparable to her sister.

What thoughts would Claire have had, suddenly ignored by everyone?

The family elders, retainers, even her father—all discarded the expectations and attention they had once given Claire like worn-out shoes.

Unfortunately, during this period, Claire’s own talent seemed to have hit a wall, stagnating.

Her mother, who might have been her support, had long since passed away.

Heir to House Sigmillus, future High Mage, young genius.

All the titles that had once adorned her were vainly stripped away.

And by her young sister whom she had cared for, no less.

Now, no one showed any interest in Claire.

Except for her detestable little sister, who smiled serenely while taking everything from her.

Jealousy turned to anger, and before long, anger finally reached hatred.

The conversation she overheard in the family head’s office finally lit the fuse.

A discussion about transferring the heir position to Ophelia and marrying Claire off to someone beneficial to the family, as keeping her would only sow seeds of conflict.

The potential marriage partners discussed were powerful nobles, but all were middle-aged men at least twenty years her senior.

This was the true nature of the men who were her father and uncle.

That day, Claire made a resolution.

That someday she would kill them all.

Her sister, her father, all the old men of the family.

It was hatred bordering on youthful impetuosity.

At this time, Claire herself was not even thirteen years old.

However, her status as a count’s daughter and her magical power were sufficient to transform a child’s murderous intent into a feasible threat.

For several years, she attempted to kill Ophelia… but failed.

Her sister’s accursed genius was enough to magically overcome all the plots Claire devised.

At some point, she stopped trying, perhaps because her sister had noticed her murderous intent and began showing submission.

After growing into a woman, she built all kinds of connections to prevent being sold off in a political marriage.

To thwart her father’s will, she needed backing greater than the count’s authority.

Whether it was divine fortune or misfortune that Empress Isabella approached her.

To please the Empress, she had to defile her body and indulge in her disgusting perversions…

But in the end, Claire got everything she wanted. Power, authority, position.

And when Ophelia began hiding her genius, the family turned their attention back to Claire.

Without ever reflecting on how they had abandoned a twelve-year-old child in indifference, fixated solely on talent.

It was truly revolting.

Claire offered them to Isabella as sacrifices without any hesitation.

The family head and elders all became Claire’s puppets.

With the drug provided by Empress Isabella, their brains were completely destroyed.

If one were to crack open their skulls, they would likely find giant worms instead of brains.

Monsters that devoured brains and took over their functions.

It was shocking that the Empress could control monsters… but Claire didn’t care.

In fact, it was beneficial.

Thanks to the knowledge the Empress shared, Claire’s own magic had grown several times stronger.

She was now just one step away from becoming a High Mage.

—-

‘When I capture Ophelia this time… I should send her to the Empress.’

It would be quite enjoyable to watch the sister who ruined her life be ruined in the same way.

She no longer intended to kill her.

She would just pull out all her fangs and claws so she could never bare them again.

After crushing her mind, perhaps she would put a leash on her and keep her like a dog.

Though she had no intention of embracing a sister who looked identical to herself, it would be amusing to see her reduced to livestock.

Claire never dreamed she might lose.

The cards she had prepared went far beyond mere spies.

Claire gazed intently at the carriage beside her own.

All three carriages had stopped for dinner.

They had skipped lunch, but it was good to eat dinner before the upcoming battle.

It was Jayden’s suggestion, the carriage driver, but Claire agreed.

Even for a mage, it was difficult to concentrate when hunger grew too strong, so it was right to fill their stomachs somewhat at this point.

Though it was a light meal, not enough to make them too full.

During the meal, Claire never took her eyes off the carriage beside her, even as she dipped soft bread into venison stew.

Four hours after their brief dinner, they continued on.

Late at night, past midnight. A crescent moon had risen in the sky.

Before Claire, who had stepped out of the carriage, stood an old—or rather, seemingly old—ruin.

Claire arranged her subordinates behind her and amplified her voice by manipulating mana.

“Ophelia-? I know you’re in there. Come out now. Your sister has come all this way to see you, aren’t you going to greet me?”

She had no intention of entering the fake dungeon.

It had been some time since her last report, so there was no telling what new traps might have been laid inside.

If Ophelia wouldn’t come out, she planned to collapse the entire building.

“So you came knowing what awaited you. You’re still stupid, Sister.”

With a voice as hatefully similar to Claire’s own, Ophelia walked out from the ruins.

Behind her followed several knights and mages in a line.

Similar attire, identical appearance. Even the subordinates lined up behind.

It was like looking in a mirror.

Except for the slight differences in hairstyle and height.

“Well… who’s the stupid one? Coming out with only that many to fight me?”

Claire gradually drew up her mana.

The reeds around her were uprooted and swirled in the flow of magical energy.

Her dress fluttered, and the ends of her tied-up hair shook violently.

An enormous power surged upward.

Though she lacked talent compared to Ophelia, she too had once been considered certain to rise to the rank of High Mage.

She had once hit a wall, frustrated by her sister’s genius… but thanks to Empress Isabella, she had overcome that wall.

Despite Claire’s display of power, Ophelia merely laughed as if it were ridiculous.

“Was the mana you gained by defiling your body so sweet to you, Sister? You seem so proud of it. How pitiful…”

Mocking her sister, Ophelia released all the mana she had been suppressing.

The reeds in the field burst as if crushed.

Her long, luxuriant red hair rose like flames, and her mana was so dense it rippled the air, revealing its form.

Her eyes shone with rainbow light.

Ophelia van Sigmillus.

A genius who had been predicted since childhood to reach the level of Grand Mage.

Though she had not yet become a High Mage, having not overcome her psychological barrier… her mana quantity actually exceeded the average of High Mages.

“…You’ve learned to run your mouth quite well, Ophelia.”

Claire’s brow furrowed slightly at the sneering remark that reminded her of disgusting, filthy memories she still occasionally recalled.

The unpleasant feeling was like when a cat that had been fawning on you suddenly bit your hand.

She had broken all four legs of that cat and thrown it to the hunting dogs as food.

“Yes, you might be right. It is… sweet mana. Don’t worry. I’ll soon let you experience it too.”

Claire stretched her arm forward.

Sparks ignited in the air as the gathered mana transformed into black lightning.

Her subordinates each drew their weapons and prepared their magic.

“After you’ve had about thirty husbands, perhaps you’ll learn proper manners toward your betters?”

“Looking at your state, Sister, that seems unlikely for me?”

Ophelia flicked her fingertips.

The storm of mana coalesced, revealing twenty spears in the air.

With a keening sound, wind spears wrapped in air blades rotated sharply.

Each one seemed sharp enough to penetrate steel, filled with killing intent.

Ophelia’s magic didn’t end there.

When she raised her other arm, mana coiled around it, manifesting new magic.

– Crack-zzzzt!

Blue-white lightning coiled around her arm, flickering like snakes.

As if mocking Claire, she created exactly the same number of lightning bolts as Claire’s black lightning.

The power seemed nearly identical as well.

Ophelia’s subordinates also drew their weapons and prepared for battle.

Anyone could see that Ophelia had the advantage.

While their subordinates were of similar skill levels, Ophelia’s innate mana was twice that of Claire’s.

“Well, we won’t know until you experience it, will we?”

Claire smiled.

Her smile became the signal.

The black lightning Claire fired collided with Ophelia’s blue lightning, shattering into pieces.

With a sound like breaking glass, the neutralized magic scattered on the ground, setting the reed field ablaze.

As Claire began casting a new spell, her subordinates behind her unleashed attacks toward Ophelia.

Dozens of magical streams decorated the air, and arrows and javelins were fiercely shot.

Several knights who had drawn their swords charged at Ophelia.

“Since we need to experience it to know, that must be why you look like that, Sister!”

Ophelia retorted, aiming her wind spears at Claire’s subordinates.

As if trying to manifest yet another spell, she drew up more mana.

Ophelia’s subordinates also burned with fighting spirit and rushed toward the enemy.

Not toward the enemies,

But toward the enemy.

Numerous spells were fired all at once.

Targeting Ophelia’s back, which was defenseless as she concentrated on aiming her wind spears and drawing up mana.

A spray of blood drenched the reed field.