When Sisters Trade Places

The fire had spread throughout the entire mansion.

If we stayed inside any longer, we risked being buried alive in the collapse.

Elza and Alexia pushed away falling pillars while Azu cut through obstacles.

We went around to the entrance to pursue Princess Yupe and finally made it outside.

Since Finn and Princess Tianis had been below the window, they might have been put in danger.

We circled around the mansion toward where Princess Yupe had jumped out.

There we found Finn's group surrounded by the royal guards, and Princess Yupe struggling as she clutched her neck.

A few people lay on the ground, apparently taken down by Finn.

It seemed to have had some effect, but to think she wouldn't die even with her head severed. What incredible vitality.

Reconnecting her head and body seemed difficult, as she was writhing on the ground.

When I tried to approach to help Princess Tianis, she signaled me to stop with a gesture.

It seemed she had something in mind.

I asked Azu and the others to be ready to help immediately if needed.

Princess Yupe placed one hand on the ground and stood up.

It appeared the joints Alexia had shattered were already healing.

She slowly approached Princess Tianis.

"Ugh, it hurts… Why do I have to suffer like this? Tianis, make them stop. They're your subordinates, aren't they?"

"Oh, Yupe-neesan. I believe you were the one who attacked first. Have you already forgotten?"

"That's because you blamed me! cough My neck won't reconnect. What is this wound… it keeps hurting."

"Well? Now you understand how capable my subordinates are? It seems no one followed a sister who left everything to others."

"That's not true… That's just not true."

"And it looks like you're controlling the Royal Shadows by robbing them of their sanity. There doesn't seem to be anyone to take care of you either…"

Princess Yupe slumped down again.

The damage seemed to be greater than expected.

"Fine, fine, I understand, Tianis. You win. I'll acknowledge you as the legitimate heir to the royal house. So please forgive me. I don't want to die. I've finally got my face and body back—this can't be happening."

As Princess Yupe weakened, the shift in their positions became clearly visible.

Princess Tianis tucked her hair behind her ear and sat down, holding her dress's skirt.

As if to meet Princess Yupe's gaze.

"Oh, I'm so happy. For Yupe-neesan to say such things to me."

"W-We're the only two family members left now, aren't we? It's wrong for us to be killing each other. That's just how it is."

"True. Anatia-neesan and the others share our bloodline, but in terms of family, it's just the two of us now. I was genuinely worried when I heard you were hovering between life and death, you know?"

"Thank you, kind Tianis. I suppose I was being a bit childish too. I'll reflect on it. So…"

"Before that, could you send the Royal Shadows away? They keep targeting me and it's frightening. I can't have a proper conversation with you in this state."

"Of course. I'll have them withdraw immediately."

Perhaps judging that Princess Tianis had opened her heart, Princess Yupe nodded and immediately ordered the Royal Shadows to stand down.

Once they retreated to a distance, Finn also put away her weapon and watched developments unfold.

"Thank you, Neesan. Now we can talk in peace."

"We're sisters. If we talk properly, we can understand each other. Right?"

Both of them were smiling as they said this, but it was clear they were each trying to deceive the other.

Princess Tianis's smile was frozen, lacking the usual innocence mixed in, while Princess Yupe still had an air of servility about her.

"Wouldn't it be better not to drag this out? The wound on her neck is healing slowly, and if Princess Tianis is taken hostage…"

"That's true… but she seems to have a plan. Let's watch a little longer."

"Understood. But if something happens, I'm acting."

"Yeah, I'm counting on you then."

While agreeing with Azu's opinion, I decided to observe a bit more.

When it came to negotiations, Princess Tianis was surprisingly shrewd for her age.

We might be able to obtain useful information.

"I know it's not really your fault, Neesan. But as things stand, I have no choice but to suspect you. I don't want to suspect you though."

"Tianis… Ah, you're right. You have your position to consider, so of course you would. You need a compromise."

"As expected of Neesan. I want to protect my only sister. So tell me. Who is 'that person'?"

What Tianis showed was a chillingly beautiful smile.

It held a terrifying quality, as if rudely peering into someone's innermost thoughts.

Princess Yupe seemed slightly intimidated.

"If I tell you… does that mean you'll help me?"

"I promise. On my family name."

After hesitating for a while, she decided that telling would save her.

"It's Secretary Crispus. I did as he told me. He's been secretly helping me all along since I was injured. Even that medicine came from him…"

"The Secretary of Military Affairs…?"

Princess Tianis couldn't hide her surprise, and her complexion paled slightly.

Naturally.

No one had imagined that the Secretary of Military Affairs, the head of the kingdom's military, had been manipulating the First Princess from behind the scenes.

Though they had been in opposition, to think he would go that far.

"It's not my fault. So…"

"I am disappointed in you, Princess Yupe. In the end, just a self-preserving disgrace to the royal house. The power of the Sun God-sama is wasted on such a person. I'm confiscating it."

When had he appeared?

A man stood there.

The moment I heard the word "confiscating."

Princess Yupe's demeanor transformed.

She foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Then something like black soot was expelled from her body and transferred to the man.

Her neck appeared to have reconnected, and she was still breathing, if barely.

"Being of royal blood, she qualified as a vessel, but as expected, a vessel alone is meaningless. It made for a good experiment, though."

The black soot gathered and solidified into a stone.

The man tucked it away inside his clothes.

Princess Tianis stood and turned to face him.

"Secretary Crispus. Why are you here?"