Ch.88Siblings Naturally Grow Up Trying to Kill Each Other

Ophelia guided me to a secluded alley outside the main building.

Several used mana herbs lay crumpled on the dirt ground, with a few wedged into cracks in the wall.

These places really do look the same everywhere.

Even in training grounds within the game world.

I smiled bitterly at the familiar sight as I brought the cigarette I was holding to my lips.

Ophelia also took out a long mana herb and put it in her mouth, then lightly flicked her finger.

With a whoosh, two flames bloomed.

“Oh, that’s quite convenient.”

“Convenient indeed.”

Ophelia smiled lightly as she inhaled the smoke.

“So, what did you want to talk about? That matter from before?”

She had asked me to eliminate her sister, Claire van Sigmillus.

Saying she would handle the detailed planning and aftermath herself.

“You remember? Yes. I called you because of that issue. Though it’s not yet time to execute…”

“Because the situation has changed between the me then and the me now?”

I cut off her words.

It seemed I hit the mark, as Ophelia let out a quiet groan.

Back then, I had no particular connections with the established nobility and hadn’t accomplished anything special, so I was just an ambiguously strong warrior with only notoriety to my name.

Even then, I already had the Margrave of Landenburg as my patron… but a patron is just a patron.

Especially since I even appeared to be struggling financially, she might have thought it was merely a formal patronage.

My status as a Ka’har princess also gained significant meaning only after my position rose considerably. Until that point, I was still just a “barbarian princess” of sorts.

While I received courtesy, I couldn’t exercise power within the Empire… In a way, I was like fancy wrapping paper.

From the perspective of an Imperial Count family, especially one as powerful as House Sigmillus, there was no particular reason to worry about me.

On top of that, Ophelia herself was probably getting desperate.

That’s why she chose me out of the blue.

But now that person has become a Master-level warrior who even the Imperial Family pays attention to…

And I’ve also been recognized as an Imperial noble after the Emperor personally granted me a title.

As a result, I’ve become difficult to use as a mere assassin.

Now that I have a political foothold within the Empire, depending on my stance, I could even become her enemy.

Claire van Sigmillus is one of Ernst’s faction nobles.

One with a direct relationship to Isabella, at that.

“…So you’re going to change your mind after all?”

“Well, I’m not sure yet. At least now I can hear the detailed reasons, can’t I?”

I said casually while exhaling smoke.

Ophelia sighed.

Our two breaths mingled and dispersed together.

“Haah… At least you’re still considering keeping your promise. Fine. Since I’ve already revealed my objective, there’s no point in hiding the reasons. I’ll tell you everything.”

She continued speaking about House Sigmillus and her sister.

—-

“Our family, House Sigmillus, has traditionally produced outstanding mages. My grandfather, my father, and… my sister were all like that.”

Sister. Ophelia muttered quietly to herself.

The emotion in that monologue carried a more complex resonance than simple hatred.

“My sister, Claire van Sigmillus, was renowned as a prodigy from childhood… everyone praised her as a talent destined to become a great mage in the future. She probably thought of herself that way too. But then, I was born.”

Ophelia pointed at herself with her fingertip. As if introducing herself anew.

Her exaggerated attitude contained a hint of self-mockery.

“Incomprehensible talent unmatched since our founding patriarch. A genius among geniuses who manifested basic magic at just five years old. Not someone who could become a great mage, but someone for whom it would be strange not to become one. Naturally, all the family’s expectations focused solely on me. Watching this… what do you think my sister thought?”

She probably wanted to kill you.

If she had been the type of woman to genuinely rejoice in her sister’s talent, Ophelia wouldn’t be grinding her teeth wanting to kill her.

“At the very least, that’s when my sister began obsessing over power. And when she started trying to kill me.”

Ophelia bit down on her mana herb.

Perhaps recalling the dangers she’d faced, or lamenting her blood relative’s transformation.

“Poison that gradually weakens the body until it takes your life, attacks and kidnapping attempts whenever I went out, even strange rumors about my personality… Learning that my sister was behind all these things was when I was about twelve years old. In front of me, she always disgustingly pretended to be a good sister.”

“How did you manage to survive?”

These weren’t threats a child in their early teens should be able to handle.

I suppose genius is genius.

“When I was young, I was lucky, and after I realized what was happening, I lived while hiding my abilities. Capable enough, but not at a level that would threaten her. It wasn’t that difficult. It’s not uncommon for a childhood prodigy to become ordinary as they grow older, right?”

That’s true.

If she had acted completely incompetent, it would have raised suspicion… but it seems she walked that fine line quite well.

“After that, the family’s interest in me gradually decreased… and meanwhile, my sister had somehow become a prominent figure in the Third Prince’s faction.”

Ophelia shrugged her shoulders.

I know well what she did.

She attached herself to Isabella, became her confidant, and handled all sorts of shady business for her.

“A prominent figure in Ernst’s faction—wouldn’t it be difficult to deal with her without facing consequences?”

“No, this is actually the last opportunity. If the Third Prince becomes the heir to the throne, my sister will become completely untouchable. With the current balance of power, taking down my sister alone would give the First Prince an advantage. If the First Prince wins as a result, there won’t be any problem with the aftermath, right? Those who might raise questions would all be worrying about the gallows themselves.”

“And if the Third Prince wins despite that?”

Of course, I don’t intend to let that happen, but there’s no need to mention that.

“After my sister dies, I’ll be the only heir to House Sigmillus. From then on, I won’t need to hide my power to be cautious… so I’ll once again be a genius mage. After dealing with my sister, I plan to maintain a neutral stance for now. Even the Imperial Family can’t dispose of someone like that based on mere suspicion.”

She’s saying she’ll play innocent.

To avoid being purged as an opponent’s supporter regardless of which prince wins.

“And if they still try to frame me… I can join the Magic Tower. It’s not ideal, but it would work.”

Indeed. With talent like hers, if she enters the Magic Tower, they would protect her.

“The Empire is always thirsty for powerful individuals, so once I reach the level of a high mage, there won’t be any problems. They won’t make the meaningless choice of losing such a capable person by digging up the assassination of a noble lady in a family power struggle.”

It’s not framing if you’re actually the culprit.

Apart from that, the rest of her answer made sense.

Unless she were a completely unusable villain, murder over family matters is common among nobles.

If she shows loyalty to the Empire afterward, they wouldn’t go out of their way to kill her—is that it?

Yes, that’s a fairly reasonable judgment.

Except that Isabella’s personality isn’t as rational as Ophelia thinks.

“That’s my story. So, what do you think?”

“Hmm…”

I deliberately let my words trail off. It’s too early to agree.

For Ophelia, this is simply revenge against her sister, but for me, the act would be a political assassination, not just revenge.

By now, the cigarette had almost burned down completely.

“For now, you don’t have a specific plan or execution date set yet, right? I’ll decide whether to accept after hearing that plan.”

I shrugged my shoulders demonstratively.

“You might try to use me and then discard me, you know? Having me assassinate Claire, then quietly leaking that fact to the Third Prince’s faction later to save your own skin, something like that.”

“Quite direct… Well, it’s a reasonable suspicion. At least it’s not an outright refusal, so that’s fortunate. Fine. I’ll come back when the plan is set.”

Ophelia’s reaction was more straightforward than I expected.

She must have already anticipated I would respond this way.

“Very well. I won’t tell anyone else about this conversation, so you can rest easy on that point.”

“That’s not particularly reassuring, and you know it.”

“What else can I do? You probably don’t have other options either… you’ll just have to trust me.”

Either way, I have nothing to lose until the deed is done.

So bring me a plan I can feel confident and satisfied with, Ophelia.

If I’m convinced there won’t be problems, I’ll do it.

“Haah… I chose the wrong person for this job… I should have been more careful.”

“You’ll find few people more reliable than me when you give me a job.”

“Haaaaaaah…”

Ophelia left the alley, shaking her head and sighing.

I also stamped out my cigarette and returned to my quarters.