Forced Marriage: Thirteenth Wife
36. Start Hating
"It's weird."
Sierra stepped into the topmost room of the Star Castle, a special castle that since two hundred years ago became the residence of Narendra women in general.
It was the castle where Narendra's children were born, then grew up before they were transferred to the Rose Castle when they were seventeen.
In the room that Sierra entered, there were hundreds of photos and paintings of Narendra's daughters. Everything was stored in this place and was considered a precious object.
But, Sierra's focus was on the altar there. His feet stepped up the small stairs one by one, until Sierra stopped near a sturdy clear glass coffin.
"Sister."
In the chest was a cold chill that froze the roses with the corpse of a beautiful silver-haired woman.
"Sister Eirene." Sierra touched the surface of the crate and pouted. "Why did Brother Elios say that the girl was Big Brother, but the real brother was here?"
Of course Sierra can understand if there's a reason why. Whatever the reason, it cannot.
How could his brother compare to that person?
"Sister." Sierra shook the small sturdy crate as if trying to wake Eirene up. "Sister, there's a bad girl trying to take the position of Big Brother. He claimed to be my brother and slept in the bed of Brother Elios. People like him don't deserve to be forgiven."
Sierra doesn't like it.
He most dislikes if someone tries to disturb what he thinks should not be disturbed.
When Eirene died, Sierra did not feel sad even until this second. He was not sad at all, because Eirene said that she died of her will, she died because she wanted to continue being Narendra and she died for Narendra's honor.
Sierra doesn't understand Elios' grief. But, as sad as it is, Elios must not reject reality and replace Eirene just like that.
"Sister." The fourteen-year-old boy laughed vilely at Eirene's corpse. "Please look at me from here. I'll make people not know they're sorry."
No one can disturb Sierra's beloved brother.
*
"Young Master is asleep."
Roxanne had little expression when Graean told her at the door, when Roxanne wanted to visit.
"Is this about Young Master calling me Eri?"
"Take care of your mouth, Roxanne. She's Young Miss Narendra. Call him fast."
"Sorry." Roxanne's pretending she doesn't know who Eri is. "But who does Young Master mean?"
Graean's gaze said that he suspected Roxanne was just lying. But, he had no evidence to confirm that. The one who told Roxanne about Eirene was Arkas. Unless Arkas tells him, he'll never know.
And I think Arkas is on my side, at least now.
"It's not the time to talk about that." Graean replied after being silent for quite a while. "Go, Roxanne. I'm tired."
".... Fine."
The door was tightly shut leaving Roxanne alone in the hallway. It was so funny because before Elios treated Roxanne like glass, then now he was left like trash.
Maybe if Roxanne hadn't gone, she could have Elios take the medicine again and she would have continued to think of Roxanne as Eirene.
I hate this. Roxanne stared coldly at the void of the corridor. I started to hate their games for me.
How long did he really have to go through this stupid thing?
*
Graean just sat looking at the calmness on Elios' face. Elios' fever had fallen and had never risen since morning, but Elios continued to lie down as if his own body had not recovered at all.
"Young Master." Graean spoke to the silence of Elios' room, looking at his peaceful face. "Can't you pretend you don't remember Miss Eirene?"
Graean was the first wife of Elios. In other words, he had been with Elios since the age of Elios seventeen—himusi mandatory marriage for Narendra's men.
Of course, Graean married Elios and knew very well how special Irene was. While still alive, Graean played more of Eirene's lady-in-waiting than Elios' wife.
"You're glad I decided this, right?" That was what Eirene had secretly said to Graean a few hours before her death. "You won't tell Eli, because you always wished I didn't exist. But it doesn't matter. So Graean, take good care of my Eli."
Elios did not release Eirene.
*