The Precious Sister of The Villainous Grand Duke

I understood now why he said I'd know once I saw it.

'Who wouldn't know looking at that?'

Maybe it was made with high-quality plaster, but there was only one part of the plaster that was mixed with a dark foreign object that was shining brightly.

'It doesn't even look like a sculpture but a real sword.'

The sun shining through the stained glass windows that adorned the temple wall was shimmering only to illuminate the sword.

If the relic was a sword, then it's something that shouldn't be missed out on. Because it was a holy sword that if they just wished it, even people who didn't know how to use a sword would be able to cut down hundreds with it.

I reached out my hand as if possessed by the brilliantly shining sword.

"Ahem."

"?"

"My lady, it's a holy relic, so if you touch it carelessly, a boundary magic would activate."

The priest, who had guided me earlier, at some point had followed me and politely bowed his head. I raised the corners of my lips which he could only see and smiled.

"I didn't know. I apologize."

"It's fine. Since it's a holy sword, its body is also beautiful so other ladies also coveted it."

I had already heard about the boundary magic from Damon.

'Though he did tell me not to worry as I just need to get out of the church before it manifests, but it wouldn't hurt to know in advance.'

"A boundary magic? There is something like that?"

When I purposely asked innocently, the priest laughed.

"Ah. If an unauthorized person tries to remove the sword, the guardian wakes up."

I swept down my forearm, which was brimming with goosebumps, at the priest's answer. He pointed to the gigantic statue as if showing off that he hadn't noticed anything strange.

"This is a statue with Hera's powers."

"Ahh. I see."

'It would have been big trouble if I touched it carelessly.'

I shook my head and stepped backward in hesitation. The priest who came close to me placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Now, shall we go and pray?"

"....Pardon?"

"Didn't you come here to offer a prayer? I'll show you to the prayer room."

Far from believing in Hera, I was an extreme desecrator who destroyed Asmodeus, the god of the North.

Unable to reveal that fact, I nodded my head and followed the priest.

'It's better to move at night where there are fewer distractions."

I wasn't afraid of how great of a threat it would be when the statue moves. As I continued to stay in Lagrange, even a small citizen like me seemed to be gaining courage.

'Whatever pops up won't be scarier than Derek.'

"This is the prayer room, my lady."

Guided by the priest, when I lifted my head a little which was only looking at the floor, I could see the prayer room at a glance.

"Then, may Hera's grace rest on you, my lady."

The symbol of Hera was carved in every section that was divided by the curtain. The priest who pointed at the end turned his back as soon as I found my seat.

'The gods really like uncomfortable things.'

They didn't seem to think it was acceptable to let their followers pray comfortably. I knelt down under the seemingly uncomfortable platform.

'I don't really have anything to pray for.'

I didn't think it would give me an answer if I asked permission to take the holy relic.

Unlike me, who couldn't concentrate and kept looking around, the person sitting next to me was praying quite seriously.

"Oh benevolent goddess, didn't you tell me that only I, the chosen one, can save the world?"

I leaned closer to the curtain at the sweet whispering voice. I could only see the outline of his shadow, but it was definitely Hermann's voice.

"Are you going to give me more ordeal?"

His voice became damped. His blue-tinged aura was refreshing as the summer sea but somehow it felt lonely.

"I just want to get my lost sister back."

My face hardened at Hermann's prayer.

'Now that the Duchess knows, there's no way Hermann wouldn't.'

Even in the original, he did his best to find Anissa. Since he's a righteous protagonist, thinking about his younger sister who was taken and only used by the villain must have made his heart ache, making him unable to sleep well at night.

"Please help me save my sister."

I pondered for a moment at Hermann's voice full of anguish.

'Should I at least tell him that I'm doing quite well?'

However, his next words made my lips go dry.

"It is clear that my younger sister has been possessed by the demon and brainwashed firmly."

It was a firm voice full of certainty.

"I will surely defeat that hideous horde and bring you a glorious victory."

He was completely absorbed in his own sense of justice. I didn't think he would believe me even if I told him now that I was living peacefully in Lagrange.

I let out a light sigh and left the prayer room.

────── 〔✿〕──────

I didn't think my disturbed heart could be settled just by standing still. As soon as the sun set, I left my room and looked around the temple.

Although it was originally a place where people were rare, the place with the least people was the backyard leading to the forest.

'No one's here.'

The place was so natural that I couldn't call it a garden, but I liked it that way.

I sat on the meadow lit by a gloomy moonlight and remembered Hermann's prayer.

'If I can persuade him to stop, then we probably wouldn't have a war.'

I'm tired of being swayed here and there.

'How long do we have to fight?'

I was just hoping that Dietrich and the other kids can lead a normal life.

I sighed deeply in frustration and buried my head in my lap. The stillness came to find me along with the sound of grass bugs rumbling.

'I'm sleepy.'

While leaving Lagrange and arriving in Mount Limeria, there was not one moment where I could relax.

'Once I have the holy relic, let's warp right away.'

The reason for Hermann's visit wasn't yet clear, but if he took the relic before me, everything would be in vain.

As I hid in the bushes while contemplating, the robe made of high-quality satin made me feel cozy. I closed my languid eyelids for a moment.

I didn't know how much time has passed, but I felt like I would fall asleep with the slightest mistake so I stood up and heard a presence behind me.

"Who's there?!"

They came close to me and asked. I chuckled in disbelief.

"....Oh?"

The man I encountered was Hermann's knight who was characterized by his high horse attitude.

"Ohhhh?!"

It wasn't until I saw him pointing at me in shock that I realized my hood had fallen back in the wind.

'Crap.'

There was no way he wouldn't see my face since it was a bright night. Startled, I hurriedly pulled down my hood but he dropped to his knees in front of me.

"Are you a fairy?"

"..........."

"I heard there was a fairy that serves the goddess in Mount Limeria, but I didn't expect I'd meet her."

What the hell was he saying?

'What? A fairy?'

I wondered what he was thinking as he watched me lost for words, he continued to mumble with his face flushing red.

"It's an honor to meet the fairy who only appears at night –"

I quickly reached out in front of the man and struck him on the back of his neck.

If you're not reading this at blogspot, you're probably reading from an aggregator site. Read this translation at /.

I had thought of using my ability since he was a knight, but I didn't even have to do that since he was so mesmerized by my face.

'It's a good thing he's stupid.'

I hurried to the center of the temple after hiding the passed-out man under the shadow of a tree.

'I was thinking of observing Hermann's movements for a little bit more.'

Even if he was a stupid knight, he would notice that something was strange as soon as he woke up so I had to steal it now.

I suddenly felt like I had a time limit so I felt anxious and out of breath. Fortunately, I couldn't feel any aura around the plaster.

'If I took the sword, the sculpture would move, right?'

It would be intimidating if the statue three times bigger than me would move.

I recollected my breath and put my hand on the handle of the sword.

"Stop."

Sssrk.

It was when the sword had been pulled out by my hand halfway through that Hermann emerged from the opposite column.

"Stop right there. If you know what kind of sword that is then you must know it's not something you can touch."

He threw the passed-out knight on the floor and glared at me, coming closer slowly. His dark pink hair shining under the lamp was beautiful.

"Take your hands off the sword."

Hermann warned gravely. I snorted and shook my head.

"Don't speak informally."

When did he see me?

When we met in the capital, we definitely treated each other politely, so I raised my eyebrows at him dropping the formalities.

".....Don't you already know that I'm your brother?"

At my sharp words, Hermann justified himself with a sullen face.

"I thought it would be all right since I'm your brother."

I listened to his words in one ear and let them out the other as I flexed my grip on the sword.

'It's not coming out in one pull.'

The holy sword was much heavier than I thought and so it didn't move according to my will. Hermann frowned at the sharp blade that was revealed little by little.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm the same so step back."

But despite my warning, Hermann didn't step back. As he gestured with his chin, the knights hiding behind the pillars revealed themselves one by one.

'Relax. If I can use the warp properly–'

"Stop thinking about stealing the holy sword. When the boundary magic activates, a huge shield is formed on the temple itself.'

Crap.

I didn't hear that information though?