ㅤChapter 69: Aquamarine
ㅤI and my older sister were born as princesses of a certain country.
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ㅤOur homeland was reasonably peaceful, getting along well with neighboring countries. It was a peaceful world without conflict. We, the royal family, probably looked like we lived a privileged life without any inconvenience from an outsider’s perspective.
ㅤHowever, I hated my one-year-older sister with a passion.
ㅤI can no longer remember what the initial trigger was. However, by the time I became aware of things, my sister was already a thorn in my side.
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ㅤ”Hey Aquamarine! The flowers in the garden are in full bloom, so let’s make flower crowns for Otou-sama and Okaa-sama!”
ㅤ”Yes, Onee-sama”
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ㅤThe servants who saw such an exchange between sisters would be arbitrarily moved and have tears in their eyes. I found that sight disgusting, but even in my childish mind, I knew this feeling wouldn’t be understood.
ㅤMy sister always had a smile on her face and was surrounded by a warm aura. Naturally, many people gathered around her, creating a gentle atmosphere. Inevitably, she would receive all the best things. That included the affection from our parents, without exception.
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ㅤ”Oh! You made crowns for us. I’m impressed by my daughters’ dexterity.”
ㅤ”Ruby’s crown is colorful and gorgeous. The braiding is also very carefully done.”
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ㅤMy mother, who shifted her gaze from my sister’s flower crown to mine, momentarily lost her words and moved her mouth awkwardly.
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ㅤ”Aquamarine’s crown is……well done for your age. Keep up the good work.”
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ㅤMy parents once again picked up my sister’s flower crown and showered her with praise. They never touched the one I made, so I had no choice but to take it back to my room, hiding it behind my back.
ㅤI bit my lip while looking down at the flower crown that I had crushed and thrown into the trash can.
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ㅤ（Onee-sama, just by being the older sister, you get everything. You have popularity and are showered with love. If only you weren’t here, I could have enjoyed all of that!）
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ㅤThere were times when I tried to smile like my sister. I tried to imitate her honest and positive personality. However, only things tainted with grime would come into my hands. They would say things like “You’re a kind princess, just like your older sister” or “You’re sisters like flower fairies,” but no one ever truly saw me for who I was.
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ㅤAs long as this sister is here, I will never be the protagonist. Probably around the age of six, I instinctively became convinced of that.
ㅤHowever, that didn’t mean I gave up on my life. I continued to take a step back, seemingly supporting my sister, while secretly waiting for a chance to bring her down.
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ㅤWhen my sister turned ten, the greatest opportunity arrived.
ㅤRoyalty are supposed to have their 『Heavenly Star』 measured when they turn ten. Heavenly Star refers to the ability that G*d bestows upon a child according to their nature, chosen from among the countless stars shining in the heavens; it’s the inherent power one possesses. However, because these abilities are unstable in early childhood, a confirmation ceremony is performed at the age of ten.
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ㅤI had planned to frame my sister here in advance.
ㅤRegardless of what her actual Heavenly Star was, I was working to have it announced that it was a meager, shameful Heavenly Star for royalty.
ㅤI bribed the High Priest in charge of the measurement with something so disgraceful that it was hard to face G*d, but I couldn’t afford to worry about appearances. If I didn’t take a gamble here, I would have no choice but to live my life in my sister’s shadow. Compared to that injustice, it was a humiliation I could endure.
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ㅤ”The Heavenly Star of the First Princess Ruby is 『Poison User』, unprecedented in history!”
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ㅤWhen that official announcement was made, I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart. Because when I heard her true Heavenly Star from the High Priest, my vision went completely white.
ㅤMy sister was a 『Virulent Grand Saintess』. A Grand Saintess is an incredibly valuable Heavenly Star that appears only once every few hundred years.
ㅤIf that had been revealed, I would have been forced to live a life as good as dead, in my sister’s shadow.
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ㅤThe 『Poison User』 ability thoroughly stoked the fear of the peace-spoiled royalty and ministers. Even my parents, who had doted on my sister so much, hardened their attitudes as if they had turned over a new leaf. Even her handsome fiancé, who had been deemed worthy of her, cried out, “Having a Poison User as a fiancée is a stain on my life!” I was so amused that I couldn’t stop laughing.
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ㅤ（Serves you right, Onee-sama. From now on, I will reclaim my life. You’ve been too blessed until now, so don’t blame me, okay?）
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ㅤThus, my sister was confined to the tower and announced to have died in an accident by our parents, who were concerned about appearances. “Princess Ruby” disappeared from this world, and I became the only princess.
ㅤThe place where my sister used to be was extremely comfortable. Everyone cherished and served me. My parents, saying I was their only daughter, looked only at me. The thought of how my sister must have felt all this time made my stomach churn, but the thought that she would never leave the tower again made me feel relieved.
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ㅤAnd then, an even luckier event occurred.
ㅤWhen I turned ten and had the High Priest measure my Heavenly Star, it turned out to be 『Mimicry』. The High Priest was surprised, saying this was also a rare Heavenly Star — but I couldn’t help but think it was fate.
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ㅤ（Onee-sama is a 『Grand Saintess』, and I have 『Mimicry』, the ability to copy abilities. This means, that’s what it is!）
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ㅤWhen I focused my consciousness and offered a prayer toward the tower where my sister was, I felt a holy power flowing into my body. When I secretly poisoned a maid to test my power, the maid, who was on the verge of death, was revived. My body trembled with g*d-like power. The maid shed tears and thanked me.
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ㅤWithout hesitation, I had the High Priest announce, “Princess Aquamarine’s Heavenly Star is 『Saintess』! It is a rare and valuable ability said to appear only once every hundred years!”
ㅤThe reason I didn’t say Grand Saintess was as insurance, just in case. Even as a Saintess, I would be sufficiently praised and my position would be guaranteed, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
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ㅤFrom that day on, my position and influence became unshakeable. Everyone bowed their heads respectfully, and my parents came to love me even more. “When Ruby turned out to be that unknown monster called a Poison User, I was so worried, but I’m so proud that you’re a Saintess. You’re the savior of this country,” my mother said, hugging me. I hugged her back tightly.
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ㅤ（It seems like 『Mimicry』 works by being near Onee-sama, but I can also store the absorbed power in my body. After I’ve accumulated enough power over the years, let’s make that eyesore Onee-sama even more miserable.）
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ㅤThus, I continued to replenish my power from my sister while working as a Saintess. It would be foolish to continue working as a Saintess for the rest of my life, so I calculated the years until I could retire and live a comfortable life, and whenever I had free time, I accumulated power.
ㅤAfter seven years, I finally reached my perfect form.
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ㅤ（I’ve accumulated power to the limit. Now I’ve become an existence that will be worshipped as a Saintess for life……!）
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ㅤNo one could threaten my position anymore. I trembled with immense satisfaction, convinced of my victory.
ㅤWith that, I no longer needed my sister. If she were to come out of the tower for some reason, it would ruin everything, so I thought it best to send her far away.
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ㅤ（Come to think of it, Otou-sama was angry, saying, “We’ve received a disrespectful marriage proposal.” Was it from the barbaric emperor of the Demon Country Langley……?）
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ㅤThis is it, I realized.
ㅤThe Demon Country Langley is said to be the poorest and most disadvantaged country in the world. It’s supposed to be a place where the environment is rumored to be worse than the slums of this country.
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ㅤ（Let’s have Onee-sama marry into Langley in my place. I hope she gets ravaged by the barbaric emperor in that faraway, poor country!）
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ㅤAt an opportune time, I might even leak the information about her being a Poison User. I wouldn’t mind if the terrified Langley Emperor laid a hand on my sister.
ㅤI felt most 『alive』 when I was devising plans to debase my sister. I would look at the eerie tower from the window of my room and become talkative, even though she couldn’t possibly hear me.
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ㅤ”I wonder if she thinks I’m a bad sister? But it’s all, all Onee-sama’s fault. If you’re so regretful, try to turn things around with your own power. Well, I guess that’s impossible for a princess who’s been blessed with everything. Ahahahaha……!”
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ㅤMy sister might be a righteous person, but she’s incredibly foolish.
ㅤAnd because the world is unfair, luck also swings in favor of people like me.
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ㅤI will definitely be happy. That was an undeniable fact.