IDLYA 9

‘This dress is heavy.’

Niveia found herself thinking the same thing she had thought just 50 days ago as she sat inside the carriage.

The red carriage bearing the Solen family crest rolled forward smoothly without a single jolt.

In other words, it was worth the high price.

She had only ridden in such a comfortable carriage once before.

That was when she attended the conference held in the Duchy of Silas as a representative of the Thierry Empire.

Back then, too, she had worn a heavy dress and ridden in a large carriage filled with cushions.

Maybe that was why she suddenly thought of Joachim XII.

‘You were right.’

Love is exhausting.

Back then, Niveia—who lived driven by love—couldn’t understand those words, but now she felt them deeply.

She had grown utterly weary of love.

As she gazed lazily out the window, her brows were just about to furrow—

“Um, sister.”

“Hm?”

At the timid call, Niveia turned her gaze toward the opposite seat.

A young girl with the same blonde hair as her blinked up at her.

Niveia’s half-sister, Rubiel Solen.

“Why are we suddenly going to the imperial palace?”

Rubiel looked at her with a mix of anticipation and unease.

The situation was still unfamiliar to her.

Just an hour ago, while Rubiel was playing with a golden ball, an unexpected visitor had arrived.

It was Niveia—her unheard-of half-sister who had appeared like a comet just the day before.

On the day Niveia arrived, Rubiel had spent a full three hours listening to the servants gossip about her.

“Why is she so proud of a broken engagement?”

“Why do you think Duke Eustache postponed the marriage for ten years? Obviously because he didn’t want to marry someone like her.”

“Now she finally returns to the Solen household after ten years—what is she planning? She never once visited her family all that time. Shameless, honestly.”

Their opinions were all the same.

A lowborn woman who was shameless, self-centered, selfish, and ill-mannered.

No wonder both her father and her fiancé hated her.

So Rubiel had been curious.

Is Sister Niveia really that bad? She didn’t seem like it to me…

When she asked her nanny, the woman reacted as if she had heard something outrageous.

“My goodness! Don’t say such things. You just don’t know how dreadful that woman is.”

“She clung to Duke Eustache like a leech even though he hated her, and when she was cast aside, she shamelessly came back to Solen. Now she’s probably trying to act like the heir. Isn’t it obvious from how she’s been spending money recklessly since arriving?”

“Really…?”

“Of course! When have I ever been wrong? She must be just like the marchioness—vain and selfish. You mustn’t associate with someone like that. And don’t call her your sister.”

“I’m afraid I really am her sister, though.”

A calm voice cut between them.

At once, the nanny—who had been firing off words like bullets—clamped her mouth shut.

Niveia stood at the doorway, slowly approaching Rubiel and the nanny.

If elegance could be embodied, would it look like that?

Rubiel, entranced, stared at her without even noticing the nanny’s expression growing sharper.

Her straight posture, her soft, soundless steps—

Even her chillingly expressionless face carried dignity.

It was hard to believe she was someone mocked all her life as lowborn, abandoned by both father and fiancé.

But it made sense.

Niveia had spent her life constantly disciplining herself so as not to disgrace the names of Valer and Solen.

Unaware of such things, Rubiel simply thought she looked like a noble imperial princess from a story.

By the time Rubiel came to her senses, Niveia was already standing right before her.

“There are a lot of people here.”

Her quiet voice fell as she lowered her gaze to meet Rubiel’s eyes.

Only then did Rubiel snap back to reality.

In a slightly softer voice than before, Niveia continued,

“I’d like to speak with you alone. Could you have everyone leave?”

It wasn’t a suggestion. It wasn’t a request.

Though gentle, it was clearly an order.

Yet it sounded so natural that Rubiel answered without thinking.

“Ah… yes. I’ll have them leave right away. Just a moment—”

“What are you saying, miss?!”

The nanny suddenly shouted, interrupting her.

Her expression, already sharp, now turned fierce.

Shielding Rubiel behind her skirts, she stood like a guard.

“I don’t know what you intend to do, but our young lady is the heir of the Solen family! She’s not someone you can order around!”

“Nanny, it’s okay. We’re just going to talk—”

“It is not okay! Lady Niveia, whatever business you have, our young lady has nothing to discuss with you! Please leave at once!”

“So in the Solen household, nannies address their masters as ‘you’?”

This time, Niveia spoke.

The softness she had shown Rubiel vanished as if it had never existed. Her voice was cold, her faint smile colder still.

“I thought things were lax here, but this is excessive. Not only do you raise your voice at your master—you call them ‘you’?”

“Wh-what else should I call you?! To me, the only young lady is Lady Rubiel!”

“Ah, Rubiel. That’s your name. It’s pretty.”

Niveia smiled gently at Rubiel.

But when she turned back to the nanny, that warmth disappeared without a trace.

“But just because Rubiel is your master, does that mean I am not a Solen?”

“…!”

“I’m asking because I truly don’t understand. Aren’t you an employee of the Solen family? And am I not Niveia Solen?”

“Y-you had no contact for ten years, and now you suddenly—!”

“That’s true. So what? You’ve ignored my question twice now. If you are a servant of Solen, isn’t it your duty to answer when a member of the family asks you something?”

Pressed by her words, the nanny bit her lip before speaking again—this time far more subdued.

“But how do I know what you might do if you’re alone with Lady Rubiel—”

“Are you not going to answer?”

“……”

“Let me warn you—I dislike having to ask multiple times.”

Her calm tone carried unmistakable threat.

“A nanny who ignores her master’s questions and dares to raise her voice… That’s hardly good for a child’s upbringing. Is there any reason to keep you in that position?”

“I—I’ve been with the young lady since she came to this house! You can’t just dismiss me—!”

“That is for me, a Solen, to decide. Not you—a mere servant who does nothing but chatter.”

At the pressure in her final words, the nanny finally fell silent, though resentment remained on her face.

Of course, Niveia paid it no mind.

“If you understand, then be quiet and leave—with the other maids.”

This time, everyone obeyed.

Click.

When the door closed, Niveia finally let out a small breath.

“Now we can talk alone. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I-it’s okay.”

At Rubiel’s reply, Niveia slowly blinked.

“Your nanny cares deeply for you. You have a good person by your side. Still, seeing her treat you as too young is a problem. If she continues not to listen, tell Father. He will…”

She paused briefly.

“…listen to anything you say.”

She finished with a faint smile.

For some reason, Rubiel thought that smile looked a little sad.

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it, as Niveia continued without pause.

“I’m sorry for bringing this up so suddenly, but there’s something I’d like your help with, Rubiel.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“It’s nothing dangerous.”

Smiling lightly, Niveia pulled something out from her dress.

A gold-embossed card—something Rubiel had seen once before.

Her eyes sparkled.

“A palace pass?”

“Come out and have some fun with me.”

Drawn in by that slightly playful smile, Rubiel took Niveia’s hand and climbed into the carriage.

And now—

Rubiel hesitantly spoke.

“You said there was something I could help with.”

“I did.”

Niveia replied, slowly blinking.

Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

“I haven’t attended an imperial palace party in a while. If I suddenly show up, many people will find it strange. So I wanted you to come with me. It’s not unusual for sisters to attend together, is it?”

“Ah, I see!”

Rubiel smiled brightly, as if all her doubts had vanished.

“But I’m worried since we didn’t tell Father. This is my first time leaving without saying anything.”

“You’re with your sister, so it’s fine. Father won’t worry.”

“Oh, really?”

Watching Rubiel giggle, Niveia simply turned her head instead of answering.