This is the second part of a two-part daily post. *Hime Karappo* is a three-part series, so please be careful not to miss the middle part.
I was being haunted.
The rough arms of a foreign man. But the one being restrained was not me, but my younger sister, Marie.
Marie, crying and screaming. Her red hair being cut with scissors. She somehow managed to escape, dragging her injured foot, wandering alone like a ghost. She arrived not at the kind old man's workshop, but at a white castle. There, that man was there again, capturing Marie— and then—
"Stop it—!"
I jumped up with a scream.
I quickly wiped away the tears that were falling and, as usual, muttered the 'spell.'
"It's not Marie. The new wife of the Count of Granado is not Marie Chedelan..."
Marie is a common name.
Count Cyrus Granado was originally a great noble, far above a mere baron like the Chedelans. He could choose any bride for a political marriage, and he proposed to me because he liked my appearance.
—So it couldn't be Marie. Marie Chedelan is completely different from me. My sister is probably still living in the Chedelan territory as she always has. With my 'death,' the household expenses have been reduced, and she might be eating better. My mother, hungry for affection, might be combing Marie's hair.
"It must be so..."
I told myself this and covered my head with the sheet.
Should I just reveal it? If I ask Norman, I could find out the full names of the count and the bride. If they are different, I would be freed from this pain. But if it is Marie... if my sister is taking my place...
"No... That's my 'duty'..."
If I knew, I would have to leave this place as soon as possible to save Marie. But if I pretend not to know, I can stay here a little longer.
"I'll confirm it tomorrow. I'm sorry, Marie. Your big sister will come to save you."
And then, another night of being haunted came.
I felt like I was about to break.
—It became impossible to keep running away after just two weeks.
The prince returned with the ring he had taken to Granado Castle for sizing. He said it was perfect.
That's when I saw the gemstones that had been temporarily set. While serving coffee, I couldn't help but murmur,
"Wow, such beautiful gemstones..."
"Red diamond. There are probably no two in the world with the same size and clarity."
The prince said proudly,
"More rare and valuable than even the rare yellow diamond... Cyrus insisted on giving this. The bride's hair is the same vivid red color."
I packed my small bag with one item after another, each a memory. The well-sharpened scissors and small hammer were given to me by Norman. The seven-colored silk thread was bought with the money I earned. The wooden button shaped like a swallow was carved by me.
"Oh, right, I can't forget this."
I took out a small knife from the workbench. It was a carving knife given to me by Norman. I felt it would be a waste to put it in the bag, so I put it in the pocket of my overalls.
—Three months. I thought I had gained so much from my small body, but when I put it in the bag, it was just a bunch of small things. I stuffed the pink dress into the empty spaces. It was a cheap one I bought from a second-hand shop, but it was a proper dress for a girl...
I also prepared a grand makeup box. The beautiful woman's costume... I sewed it in the carriage and tailored it in this workshop. I folded it carefully and put it in.
Holding the small bag and the large box, I called out to Norman.
"Norman, I'm going out."
Norman turned around in surprise and looked at me with his blind eyes.
"What's this, Arthur, talking so strangely. Are you going shopping or for a meal?"
"...No... I'm going a little far."
"Is that so? Be careful."
"Yes, Norman... Please take care of yourself and live a long life..."
Before I could start sobbing, I ran out of the room. I opened the workshop door and stepped out onto the street of craftsmen— and immediately bumped into a small woman.
Despite our similar builds, I was the one who flew back, while the woman didn't budge. She was probably a maid, dressed in a black maid's uniform with a ponytail, expressionless... The woman, who looked like the Grim Reaper, offered her hand to me, who had fallen on my bottom.
"Pardon me. Are you Mr. Arthur, the apprentice of Smith Norman? Count Cyrus Granado and his fiancée, Marie Chedelan, have summoned you."
—I already knew.
Actually, I knew from the very beginning. Even though I had escaped from that low-class man, and without contacting my family or my new home, I had pretended to be dead.
I couldn't keep running away from the sweet dream forever. There was also the possibility that Marie might be taking my place.
I had realized it, but I kept running away.
For three months, I didn't think about what Marie had been through or what she had felt, because I was afraid it would drive me mad.
No matter what I did, I couldn't make up for it. Of course, the costume was no different. This was not a wedding gift for the count and his bride.
This was a code to let them know I was alive.
Even if no one else understood, Marie would understand just by seeing it. She would be overjoyed and report her sister's survival to her fiancé, and suggest switching places.
If that happened... then, it would be over.
I had made up my mind, but I couldn't let go of the tiny hope.
Maybe Marie was living a luxurious life in a beautiful castle and was happy. Maybe she would ignore the costume and continue to be the count's wife.
...If that were the case... Anastasia could remain dead.
"We have arrived, please."
Led by the maid, Norman got off the carriage first. I claimed that my clothes were dirty and I wanted to change. I entrusted the 'wedding gift' to Norman and asked him to give it to Marie.
Alone in the carriage, I took out the pink dress.
...If Marie and the count came to greet me, I would change into this. If they didn't... if the carriage door opened with Norman's scolding, "You're late!"...
"...That's impossible..."
—Ah. I had made up my mind, but I couldn't escape the dream.
I was stubborn. There was no way a simple, studious Marie, who had no interest in love or fashion, could enjoy the life of a countess.
I knew it... I knew it!
"Be brave...! Be brave...!"
—In the end... I couldn't put on the dress.
The moment I heard footsteps approaching the carriage, I threw the dress and ran away.
I thought about running back to the craftsmen's street, but I stopped, knowing it was wrong. I hid near the castle, staring at the gate, counting to ten before going back inside, counting ten breaths before heading to the gate... and it finally became midnight.
"I'm such a weak person."
At that moment,
A large carriage came out of the gate... and a big man started chasing it at full speed. Wow, he's fast... but the carriage didn't slow down at all. The carriage and the man circled around, and the man kept shouting, "Stop, Mio!" but the driver ignored him. The man eventually jumped onto the roof, but the carriage accelerated and threw him off.
On the speeding carriage, the man shouted, "It's impossible! I'm going to die!" and then the carriage returned to the castle.
Watching the whole scene, I whispered, wide-eyed,
"What was that?"
While watching the surreal comedy, my tears had dried up, and my body had stopped shaking.
I slapped my face.
"Alright! Be brave!"
Then, I returned to the castle.
Sneaking into the castle at night and hiding was easy. Although it was my first time there, I somehow felt that the countess would be in a comfortable bedroom, so I staked out the entrance of the mansion.
If someone passed by, I would ask for Marie's room. But strangely, there was no one around. It was odd, even though it was midnight, there were too few servants. It was as quiet as a funeral.
Then, I remembered the bad reputation of Cyrus Granado that I had heard beforehand.
A proud lord who showed no mercy to his servants. If Marie was being used for the count's pleasure, she might be under house arrest. If I revealed myself, we might both be imprisoned. I had to talk to Marie alone, without the count noticing.
At that moment, someone came. In the darkest hour before dawn— I couldn't see their face or hair color, but I could tell it was a woman from the sound of her heels and the spread of her skirt.
I couldn't let her go inside! I rushed out, brandishing the carving knife I had in my pocket.
"Don't move! Where is Marie Chedelan's room?"
—This was... everything from the time I left the Chedelan house until I met Marie again.
The three months I spent at Norman's house were like a dream, but they were also a nightmare.
I was almost driven mad by guilt, but I couldn't muster the courage.
I'm sorry, Marie. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry for being a weak big sister.
I won't run away anymore. I will fulfill my duty. It's okay, I've always lived like this. It's okay, so please tell me honestly.
—Marie, have you really not suffered? Have you not been hurt or scared? Is the count kind? Have you not had to endure anything? Have you not been made to cry?
Tell me, Marie. Are you really living happily now?
—Anastasia, my big sister, clung to my chest and cried, saying this.
The sun had risen completely, and the room was brightly lit. But we were still lying on the bed, just the two of us, listening to Anastasia's monologue.
Her small shoulders shaking, Anastasia spoke with a brave voice. To me, it sounded like a scream.
It's okay, Marie, leave it to your big sister— Help me, Marie, I'm scared.
I continued to stroke my sister's back without a word.
There was a knock on the door.
The visitors were Count Cyrus Granado, the head servant Mio, the butler Wolfgang, and the Duke's wife, Liu Liu.
"Have you finished talking?"
To Count Cyrus's question, I first expressed my gratitude.
"Yes. Thank you for allowing me to hear my sister's story alone first."