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Is Michelie my weakness?

The obvious answer is no. The person I love most is my weakness? What a joke. Thats why Im denying it outright. But I still have not the slightest intention to let Michelie and Endo see each other.

Michelie is my prized treasure, and the greatest treasure in the world. Its no exaggeration to say that shes my primary motivation to live, or that shes the reason I can stay strong. Shes not someone whom the likes of the crown prince can lay their eyes on.

Also, its kind of pathetic, but Im still afraid of fate. Charles and Leon no longer pose a problem, but a part of me is still afraid of hopping onto the rails of destiny by any chance. I suppose its a price I have to pay for knowing a part of the future.

And theres the biggest and simplest reason of all. Its extremely simple, yet it has the biggest factor for concern.

I dont want an idiot like the crown prince to get together with Michelie.

But the unexpected encounter happened. I originally planned to send a message to Michelie after escorting Endo to my room, but were in the same manor. There are a number of ways things could go wrong.

Im a genius. Its exactly times like these when I have to settle the matter calmly. Yes. For example, I could solve everything by digging a hole in the courtyard and burying Endo in it. Yeah. Ill do that. Its my house. Even if there are witnesses, I could get rid of them easily. I can commit the perfect crime and get away with it.

Completely committed to my genius solution with my mind as serene as a polished mirror and still water, I bring up my fist, ready to knock out the prince.

Hm?

He opens his stupid mouth.

I tilt my head and forget about hitting his incomprehensible, stupid face.

What happened? I know hes an idiot, but his reaction upon seeing my sister is very strange.

H-hey, Christina Noir.

Hes calling my name with a shaken voice while staring at Michelie. Hes planted right in the middle of the hallway, so she cant just walk past him.

What, you idiot prince. That stupid face suits you a lot, by the way. You should just use it by default-

Theres an angel here.

-eh?

He said something decent for the first time since I met him.

I blink in surprise to his unimaginable iteration of the universal truth.

Your Highness Endo. It cant be you actually have good eyes?

What are you talking about? I have the most refined sense of aesthetics. More importantly, can you see that halo s.h.i.+ning from behind her?

Of course I can.

Why is he asking such an obvious question? Ive constantly been bathing in Michelies light since I met her when I was three. Of course I can feel her radiance.

Its an overwhelming radiance that spreads in all directions and travels miles away. Theres no way I could miss it. Why do you think I love her so much?

Huh, I see. I thought your eyes were merely black holes, but it seems thats not really the case. Hmph. Its too bright even for a ruler such as I.

If he didnt insert his overly egotistical lines, I would have taken him for an imposter. Thats how shocking it is when hes making such commonplace remarks.

But you referred to her as big sister, didnt you? So youre her younger sister? I heard there was someone like you in the Noir family but you dont resemble her at all.

Shut up, youre annoying.

Its obvious since were not related by blood. Why is he saying something like that so recklessly?

Then again, hes the only one to have seen Michelies halo. Charles often clashes with her, and Leon tends to avoid talking about her for some reason. Even Surfania said something ridiculous like I can definitely see an indescribable chaos. What does she take Michelie for?

While Im busy thinking about what a certain shut-in so carelessly said, I feel my skirt getting pulled.

Hey, big sister. Who is that?

Hm? Ah

Endo is beginning to whisper. Hes probably prepared to die standing. I nod gravely to Michelie as she timidly approaches me.

Now that its come to this, its no longer possible to conceal his existence from her. I decide to bury the idiot prince next time.

Also, it was Charles who was supposed to be here today, but its an obvious idiot whos here instead. I cant help it if she has doubts. Even I wasnt fully convinced when I him.

Hes our guest. Hes the older brother of Charles.

Guest? Charles older brother?

Y-yeah. Im Charles brother, Endo Edward. Im in line for the throne! S-so, yo- I mean w-who are you? Tell me your- kh! No could you tell me your name?

Its the first time Im seeing him walk with full self-awareness. Its kind of creepy. Hes moving awkwardly like a robot. Normally he acts all high and mighty, but now it looks like he doesnt even know how to approach her. Im having trouble keeping myself from laughing.

Look at him now.

Hes showing his pitiful side for once. Its my only chance. Ill plant a negative image of him now.

Dont pay attention to his creepy behavior. This guys an idiot. Too bad hes going to succeed the throne the future for this country is so dark. But its okay. Ill protect the peace and security of the Noir family with my life.

Hey, Christina Noir.

And you shouldnt get too close to him, lest his idiocy infect you too.

Hey. What the h.e.l.l are you saying?

What am I saying? Only the objective truth. Also, I am under no obligation whatsoever to be on his side. I thought it was enough to make Michelie dislike him, but her response is beyond my expectations.

Hmm

Michelie, whose first reaction to Charles was one of enmity, has been observing our exchange, taking a peek at Prince Endos face, then s.h.i.+fting her gaze to me. She must have sensed something from our emotions.

Yup.

Muttering slightly, she looks at Endo and squanders her angelic smile on him.

Im Michelie. Pleased to meet you, Prince Endo!

Y-yeah! Likewise!

Hold on, Michelie. You dont have to be pleased to meet him, you know?!

Its a much more proper encounter compared to Charles. I cant accept it.

But I cant find a good reason to tear them apart right now. Michelie is smiling happily, and while Endos face is red with panic, he seems to have fallen for her smile.

Never mind. I should tear them apart.

I prepare to use some hard-handed tactics even if it means gouging out his eyes, but I stop myself.

Ive seen this before, somewhere.

Also, Charles is using a horrible excuse to come to our house. It would make me really happy if you could do something about that as his brother, Your Highness!

I see. I cant ignore Christina Noirs negative influence on Charles, and its unbecoming of royalty to pay unnecessary visits. Very well. Its my duty as his brother to keep an eye out for him-

I frown at the increasingly strange feeling from the trivial conversation.

The topic itself is simply gossip. Ignoring it is not a problem. But I get a sense of deja vu just from seeing them talking.

I wonder why, but this event is clearly different from my knowledge of my past life. In Labyrinth Destiny, the first time they meet is in the Royal Academy. There is no situation in which they meet at this age.

So I shouldnt be feeling this same sense of deja vu as it was with Leon

Oh, I see.

I remember now.

Yeah, I see now. Its not my past life, but its overlapping with something I saw long ago.

A scene of Michelie talking with a smile, and a boy with a red face, drawing her attention. I remember seeing that.

Yeah, thats what it was.

I felt the same thing when I first saw Leon.

Leon seems to be avoiding Michelie for some reason now, but I was upset when he was all shy in front of her when we first met. I felt like crus.h.i.+ng the insect trying to crawl his way towards Michelie. I see, this was similar to how I feel towards Endo right now.

As I come to terms with the situation and the strange feeling begins to dissipate, I suddenly come up with an impossible theory.

Impossible.

Big sister?

N-no, its nothing.

I try to cover it up, and give Michelie a smile. Obviously, shes sensitive enough to notice. She gives me another questioning look, but I cant tell her about it.

I was about to tell you how impossibly stupid Prince Endo really is. Combined with the stories Viscount Igusa told me, this could become a comedic masterpiece.

Do you have a grudge against me?!

A lot of grudges, actually. Especially our unforgettable first meeting?

Gh.

First meeting? What was that like?

Ah. Of all people, this guy came to me and

Anything but that! Thats the biggest blot of my life!

I stick my tongue out at him, dodging Michelies sharp senses while desperately looking for evidence to disprove my theory.

This cant be. Michelies angelic cuteness and beauty drew Leon to her, and her deadly attractiveness is drawing Prince Endo to her right now. That much is obvious. My sister is the cutest in the world.

Michelie is the charismatic and adorable heroine of this world.

Shes definitely the heroine of this world not because of her cuteness and charisma.

Its because shes the most charismatic girl in the world, that shes drawn in both Leon and Prince Endo on their first meeting. Its definitely not because of fate.

Come on, Michelie. Lets go to our room.

Yup! Are you coming too, Prince Endo?

While urging Michelie forward, I keep looking for solid proof to deny my own theory.

Its okay. Theres no way Michelies charisma is tied to the magnetism of fate. Otherwise, it makes no sense why I love her with every fiber of my being. Even if my response towards Michelie isnt normal simply because Im a bug born as a genius in this world, I have another solid reason to deny the existence of fate.

Because Charles was never attracted to Michelie.

My fianc has been paying attention to me without the influence of fate. Its precisely because of his pa.s.sion toward me that I can bring myself to believe that fate does not exist. Michelie and I will grow without having to die young, get along with each other, and support each other through our lives.

Alright. Since youre our guest, well bring you to hey, idiot prince. Step away from Michelie. Were you just about to touch her hair? If you dare lay a finger on her, Ill slaughter you and bury you in the courtyard, you pervert.

Prince Endo?

Huh?! T-t-thats not how it is okay?! Why would I do that?! D-dont call me a pervert! Its just your imagination, Christina Noir!

Huh. Yeah. Its just my imagination.

Yeah.

Its just my imagination.

Hm? Youre surprisingly honest. Stop it, its creepy.

Okay. Ill take you to the courtyard later. After I bury you Ill make a gravestone that says Here lies a perverted prince.

Youre really scary.

Prince Edward, big sister is always honest. Shes always dazzling, too. Thats why shes cool, and I love her!

I love you too. Youre always so radiant and honest and adorable!

Holding my beloved sisters hand and thinking about my fianc with hope, I catch a flash of fates silhouette, even though its supposed to be far away.

(Fate) I dont see a way in for my debut so Ill try calling. *beep boop bup*

THE NUMBER YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH IS NOT AV-

(Fate)

Authors note: This marks the end of the Age 11 arc.

I havent been updating new chapters regularly? Im really sorry.

Leaving that aside, heres another intermission before we enter the Age 13 arc. Im planning to make that short, so there may be more intermission chapters.

I feel sorry for Fate who was about to get a significant role.