Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel

Vivi in the novel was a returner. Even though her body was a child, her mental age was not. So, of course, she'll understand what I'm saying right now.

Even in the original work, it said that I tried to kill myself…although there was no mention since the original Princess Titania was trapped in the north tower, but in fact, it was unlikely that the people who loved Vivi very much kept the princess, who was virtually abandoned by the royal family, alive.

I'm sure the original princess died. I spoke with a lot of heart.

"Thank you."

“…”

"But it's alright.”

I understood the despair that Titania in the original must have felt in front of Vivi.

A girl loved by everyone.

A little girl who can have everything she wants without lifting a finger.

The girl whom everyone and the scary and cold-blooded Duke of Castrine cherished and loved like a treasure.

I must have felt inferior just by looking at her. Even more so, as Rayman Castrine, who looked at me like a bug, was like a sugar candy that would melt in the rain towards Vivi.

But…

"You ought to be more concerned about the safety of Prince Raymon than me, Vivi."

"...Big brother?"

Vivi's eyes, which had been quietly accepting me patting her head, became subtle.

"Yes, Vivi. You don't have to worry so much about the Duke of Castrine, but... I have to break up my marriage now, so that he will meet someone better before it's too late."

Raymon and I are almost twenty years old. The original has already been played to some extent.

Instead of killing Vivi, I would rather save her once, so that I would not be devastated and imprisoned as my original fate. Still, it was a little too much to block the marriage of another's son, who had a bright future ahead.

“…”

I puffed up my cheeks and tried to rationalize with Vivi, who looked at me with discontented eyes.

"I'm really alright. I am the only princess of the Empire."

Indeed, if the emperor was going to sell me as a royal concubine abroad, I had devised a proper way to escape...

Rather, breaking off the marriage is a prerequisite for that.

I didn't want to bother Vivi for no reason because I was more entangled with the Duke of Castrine. So I felt sorry for her worrying, but the night escape operation is also a secret.

Actually, it's more like a "pretend to be dead" operation than a night escape.

Well. Wouldn't it be nice if I disappeared pretending to be dead?

- …I’m sorry.

Suddenly, I remembered the man who looked at me with his star-like eyes that had melted. He seemed hurt, and he seemed afraid. It may have been both.

Either way, I'd rather be a symbol of bad luck than good luck for that man.

- Why are you apologizing for this? I'm the one who put you in danger! Why are you just smiling?

My heart ached slightly when I remembered the voice that was begging me.

But, well, he's a very responsible man.

However, the engagement relationship is scheduled to end, and there is no need to be protected by Rayman anymore.

All we have left to do is to live each other's lives neatly.

You can't even bring back the dead, can you? The cold-hearted little Rayman cannot be obsessed with his late ex-fiance.

I'm sure he'll meet someone new.

"So shall we have dessert now? Huh? It's been a while since I've set up some dishes for Vivi."

"...Okay,"

I just smiled brightly in front of Vivi, who did not mind the fork I gave her even though she rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction.

***

(3rd person pov)

"Liar."

In the carriage returning to the duke's house, Vivi murmured in a very angry voice. She was holding a box of tarts that the princess had wrapped as a gift.

"You're the only princess of the empire, so what do you mean you're alright? You don't think that yourself!"

Lucy, Vivi's faithful maid, said, brushing Vivi's disorganized hair.

"Because she is worried about Miss Vivi too."

"...If she breaks up the marriage now, I really can't protect sister. Was she saying that it was okay for her to be sold overseas? Of course, I won't leave it like that, but...”

The girl, who was whispering in her worries, stopped talking.

Maybe she thought it really didn't matter.

If she had known Titania so far…

After a tragic death, Vivi, who returned to the duke’s family as an adopted daughter, vowed to change everything.

However, there she was, the imperial empress who was famous for her ignorance.

It used to be like that.

Five years ago, she ran into her and fell into the labyrinth of the Imperial Palace.

Originally, she tried to find the hidden relics of the imperial family near the maze. The relics that were no longer remembered by the Imperial family.

She would be in trouble if someone asked where the information came from, so she was going to take it secretly when no one was around. It must have been something that could have been taken, even if the person were not the blood of the imperial family.

What went wrong was that Vivi triggered a trap that made her fall into the underground maze of the Imperial Palace, which had only been heard of.

If it wasn't for Titania, who ran from somewhere and saved Vivi, she might have died as it was.

Titania laughed with a pale face, even though she was bit off by a magical beast, who guarded the maze.

The beast normally would not rush toward the blood of the imperial family if nothing happens. If she had pretended not to know Vivi, Titania would have been safe. However, Titania protected her.

She held the child's body tightly until the beast, who had been pushing his teeth roughly for a gap, purred to give up the intruder in her arms, and withdrew.

- People are coming soon, so don't cry and just relax.

Titania spoke, smiling with her faded lips.

- Go back to the people who love you.

- What about you?

and with her cold hands she soothed the child, who was frozen with instinctive fear. Tina left a will.

Yes, it was a will. Princess Titania...

It was a voice that had no idea she would survive. If she was really a child, she wouldn't have known, but Vivi had already lived a life, died, and returned.

She also watched people die. She knew when people would speak in this voice.

When you give up everything.

Titania made that voice. A very quiet and calm voice.

Why are you doing this here? Why did you say that? For me?

- It’s okay… I think it'll be alright for the Duke now.

Realizing that, Vivi became a little stunned.

This person really thought it was okay to die like this.

She spoke as if even if she died...there wouldn't be any problems.

After the trouble-ridden fiance dies, the duke will be at ease...

Something seemed to burst out of Vivi’s heart.

- That's not true.

So Vivi took the pale hands and cried out.

- It’s not okay! If you send me away like this without letting me repay my savior!

Titania's hands were small.

Compared to her brothers, compared to her father, Titania’s hands were too small.

It was a hand that could barely hold Vivi's, who was still young.

Oh, I see. Vivi at that time realized. This lady is only fifteen years old.

However, in this vast imperial palace, no one loved or cared about Princess Titania.

Vivi was the daughter of Duke Castrine. She would never forget the kindness, and she must pay her back.

So she held back her tears as they were about to burst.

Before returning home, Princess Titania, whom Vivi knew, was arrogant.

Her high pride, inferiority complex, and her obsession with Rayman which she couldn’t give up. Everyone laughed at the princess, saying, "I hope she can do half the price of her face".

Vivi also couldn't believe she was her big brother's fiancee even when she came back. To be honest, she didn't like her. Her brother didn't like her either, so she tried to find a way to break up the marriage.

But...

- Where in the world could there be such a person like you to die?

Vivi was sure the princess would be alright with Rayman.

Although he was her big brother who she liked so much, she felt resentful for a moment.

The princess was still his fiance.

No matter how forced they are to get engaged. Couldn't he have been a little more gentle?

At Vivi's words, Titania, who had stopped talking for a while, laughed busily. It was a sad smile like a withered spring flower.

- Thank you.

The faint face that seemed to disappear at any moment.

When she thought about that time, Vivi was still nervous.

Even during tea time a few moments ago, the princess comforted her with a smile, who had been begging not to break up the engagement!

"...Older brother, you idiot!"

When Vivi shouted from temper, Kilane, the escort knight sitting next to her, murmured.

“Duke Raymon’s demeanor is a bit like that.”

"I'm sure the eldest brother likes Tia.”

"You must like her.”

"Express it if you like it! He shouldn’t worry about limiting my tooth decay to three chocolates a day!"

"That's why you go to the palace and have dessert with Princess Titania, right?”

The depressed Vivi rubbed her cheeks. Before the paper box with the desserts fell, Lucy skillfully rescued it.

Vivi, who looked at the box with a tearful face, was suddenly enveloped in a strange thought.

Come think of it, when did the ‘arrogant’ Princess Titania change so much?

Vivi slowly recalled her memories.

Obviously…

Was it about five years ago?

After the ‘accident’ where Princess Titania almost died.