I Swear I Won’t Bother You Again!

The moment Violette opened the door, she felt like she entered another world.

Violette’s room had a dark, or rather, a cool shade of color. For better or worse, it lacked a sense of life. She had been using that room for more than fifteen years since she was born. And yet, the color didn’t reflect Violette’s taste at all even if it was her bedroom. Still, Violette wasn’t particularly dissatisfied since she had everything she needed to live here, and that was the only place she could relax in this mansion.

Maryjun’s room was so different from Violette’s room that she couldn’t even imagine that they were living in the same mansion.

Bright shades of color and lovely interiors. Clearly, the room was furnished that way to follow Maryjun’s liking, unlike Violette’s room that was appropriately arranged without much thought.

Stuffed toys and photo frames. Maryjun had far more things than Violette, but it didn’t feel cluttered at all.

One’s bedroom often reflected the person. You could see the taste and livelihood of the owner. If the dark, lifeless room was Violette, then the soft atmosphere in this room was Maryjun’s nature.

Maryjun kept a lot of things and took care of them carefully. It was a place most people associated with love.

“Please have a seat! I’ll prepare the tea right away. Are you… Oh, we just ate, so of course you aren’t hungry!

“Yes… Thank you.”

Maryjun moved here and there; her footsteps went pitter-patter. Looking at how she wondered knocked things even if she was in her room, Maryjun must be nervous.

Speaking of which, Violette remembered that Maryjun had eyes full of determination when she called her out. That means she wasn’t acting like the usual. Be it because she was pressured or had a driving force, Violette found it unexpected that Maryjun could be nervous. Somehow, she thought that the younger girl was the type of person who would make all kinds of hardship into a source of encouragement.

I guess… it’s normal that she’s nervous.

Along these lines, Violette recalled what happened before, making her a bit nervous.

She didn’t regret what she said that day. Be it the way she said it or the contents. Maryjun’s previous behavior was like throwing a bomb to a land mine. It wasn’t brave, but thoughtless.

“Sister, do you want to add some milk to your tea?”

“Can you add it, please?”

“Yes!”

Maryjun poured the tea into the cup. Violette didn’t even know when she prepared the tea set. The way her hands moved showed that she was experienced in this. Violette also learned the technique when she had tea time alone with Marin, but most noble ladies weren’t used to do things on their own.

With how her family loved and spoiled Maryjun, Violette thought that she would be clueless about these kinds of things as well. It turns out she was wrong.

“Here you go.”

Maryjun handed one of the two cups. Together with the rising steam, a sweet scent tickled her nostrils.

“Thank you. Then I’ll take a sip.”

From Violette’s knowledge and experience, she knew that no matter how good the quality of the tea was, making a mistake while brewing it would ruin everything. What Maryjun served to her was the milk tea she wanted. When she drank it, the tea was as sweet as her expectation. It also tasted better than she thought. Stimulated by the sense of taste and smell, only one impression came out of her mouth.

“...It’s delicious.”

Maryjun, who stiffened as she waited for Violette’s reaction, relaxed her shoulders once she heard those words. Relieved, she also took a sip of her tea and smiled gently. “Really? I’m glad…”

“You seemed quite used to it. Do you always make your tea on your own?”

“No, not really… But I want to invite you one day, so I practised.”

“Eh…”

Maryjun smiled bashfully, a bit embarrassed. She hid her mouth using her cup she held with both of her hands, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Her innocence was like a child’s, thoroughly white and pure. She was honest, kind, and gentle. Violette already knew from a long time ago that Maryjun was a good person, why was it so startling now?

It made her felt choked.

“Sister… I really did think about what you said to me before.”

Maryjun clenched her hands on her knees.

At that, Violette realized that Maryjun sincerely listened to her words. Even if she spit them at her without any explanation and immediately ran away.

“It’s just as you said. As the daughter of this family… I lack too many things. One’s ideas and aims will change according to the situation. But I didn’t understand that at all.”

Maryjun straightened her posture and stared straight at Violette. Violette didn’t like her eyes. She had hurt her feelings many times ever since they first met and when she started everything over. But even if Maryjun’s eyes were wet with tears, she never hated her older sister.

“I still don’t think that I was wrong back then. Even now, I still think that it’s strange to think of people in terms of their status. But… I also realized that’s not necessarily correct either.”

Maryjun's nature that accepted reality, gave it a consideration, and occasionally stayed unwavering made her keep moving forward, and that was scary for Violette. The more she knew about Maryjun, the more her fear grew.

“Also… I understood that I can’t just continue to think that the nobles are always right. Though, I still don’t know what’s right and wrong…”

Maryjun was a girl who acted like a commoner until just sometime ago. She was peculiar since she was born, but she wasn't raised as a noble. If a child could immediately adapt when they were forced to bear the special status as a noble, then something must be wrong with them. Especially more since she was at an age when she couldn't make her own decisions.

Still, Maryjun wouldn't be forgiven for making a mistake in this place. She couldn't stay naive forever.

Originally, her father, who was the cause of everything, had the responsibility to teach her little by little.

The reason he didn't do that was probably because he was too indulgent to his beloved daughter. And because Maryjun had received that love without any question, she remained pure white.

And that was definitely a good choice. At least, Maryjun was raised to be a good person.

She loved and received love. Like a gentle and soft, peaceful and beautiful lady.

(Just why she's──)

Why was she so pure? Why was she so holy?

To the point that she forgave her older sister who continued to oppress her. To the point that she gave mercy to her, who was once a criminal. Violette didn't want to recognize her and turned her eyes away from Maryjun. She knew she was venting her anger on her.

But she couldn't turn her eyes away from the reality that stabbed her heart.

Violette believed that Maryjun could be a good person because she received happiness as she grew up, loved by her parents. No, she wanted to believe so. Otherwise, she couldn't accept her position, suffering, and crooked nature.

She wanted to think that she would be happy if she had Maryjun's position. She deserved that happiness, so she wanted to snatch it from Maryjun.

And if she was Maryjun, she wouldn't be this twisted.

But then, she realized that only a few people who could forgive the ones who hurt them like Maryjun. Even if they were raised with love by their parents. A person who was bright, gentle, and pure was extremely rare.

If Maryjun was in Violette's position, Violette didn't know if she could remain to be as innocent as she was now.

But if she was in Maryjun's position, she wouldn't be able to be like her.

“...ter… Sister, are you okay?”

“...Ah. I’m sorry, it’s nothing.”

Unable to stand looking at Maryjun's worried gaze, Violette reflexively looked down at the cup on her hands.

She didn't drink the remaining half of the tea, only swaying the cup.

“I’m sorry for inviting you over while you were tired. Let’s stop here today! Could I invite you over again?”

“Yes… Some other time.”

Happy with Violette's nod, Maryjun became frolic. How cute. Maybe not just her appearance, but her aura was also lovely.

A cute little sister. It made Violette want to protect her and not hurt her.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Yes!”

Violette turned her back to Maryjun who sent her off, never turning back even once. She controlled her pace since she just wanted to run as far as she could, the sound of her beating heart echoing in her ears unpleasant.

Gentle and beautiful Maryjun. If she wasn't Violette's sister, Violette would extol her existence. She could even worship the sacredness of her heart.

But Maryjun was her sister. A girl born from the same father who received his love.

Violette just couldn't love her. No matter what.

The moment she loved that girl, it would turn into hate.

I’m sorry, Maryjun.

For now, Violette swallowed all of her hatred. She just couldn't love her. She couldn't divide Maryjun from her resentment towards her parents.

She knew that it's not Maryjun's fault, but she couldn't throw these feelings away.

After all, Violette couldn't be like her.

She couldn't love or forgive, and she couldn't even let go off her resentment.

In the end, an indecisive woman like her should devote her life to repent and do services to God. She hadn't paid for her erased past sins.

Violette just had to wait for the day she would leave everything. That way, she hoped to finally forget her sister.

Violette wished for Maryjun's happiness.

Only that wish was not a lie.