Before meeting Aileen, Violet ran through many different scenarios in her mind of what the girl might do.

Whether she would lash out, screaming and causing a scene, or cry and play the victim, Violet had prepared herself accordingly.

But it was all for nothing.

In other words, she had never considered a situation like this.

“…Why are you here?”

Staring blankly into space with lifeless eyes, Aileen spoke without even looking at Violet.

When Violet had requested to meet, Aileen didn’t even express any intention to refuse. More accurately, it would be fair to say she was in no position to refuse, given her current circumstances.

“How unexpected. I didn’t think you’d be the one to ask that question.”

“……”

Eyes completely devoid of light, gazing into an unknown distance. Her skin had become dry, and shadows lay beneath her eyes from lack of sleep.

Violet understood well enough. She knew exactly when a person started to look like that.

“If you have nothing to say, then leave.”

Aileen spoke in a voice that seemed to convey death, as though she didn’t even have the strength left to argue.

Watching her, one corner of Violet’s lips tugged up.

“It’s not that I have nothing to say. I was merely curious to see what you had become.”

“Well, now your curiosity must be satisfied.”

It was a clear signal for Violet to leave. Her smirk deepened.

“Hah, you were always the one who came to me first, and now you tell me to leave when I finally grace you with my presence.”

“……”

Aileen turned her head away, as if she couldn’t bear to even look at her anymore. Predicting the unseen expression on her face, Violet chuckled once more.

She felt no sympathy. Although she could understand Aileen better than anyone at this moment, that was all there was to it.

With a soft, gentle expression, Violet approached Aileen.

And she whispered.

“I was worried when I heard you’d collapsed. I’m relieved to see you’re quite all right.”

At Violet’s words, Aileen suddenly turned back to her, shouting in outrage.

“Are you mocking me right now?! Ha! Who’s worrying about whom? Don’t make me laugh. You? Worried about me?”

It seemed she had finally gathered the energy to shout. Violet responded with an even more exaggerated expression of concern.

“What do you mean? It’s only natural to worry about family… Even if you don’t seem too happy to see me.”

The words Violet spoke now were the same ones Aileen had once said to her: that she was oh so very worried about her dear older sister, that it was natural to worry about family.

Of course, Aileen probably wouldn’t remember.

“…You always have to be the superior one, don’t you.”

Aileen gritted her teeth, glaring at Violet with a venomous look.

The situation was a complete reversal. Aileen, who had collapsed from poison, and Violet, who had come to visit her out of concern. Even now, as the elder sister was offering concern, Aileen spat back with venom lacing her words.

“If it weren’t for you, if only you hadn’t existed, I would have…”

Before Aileen could finish her words, Violet answered softly.

“If that were the case, then you would have been even more of a nobody.”

“How can you be so sure? You were born with everything, how could you possibly understand how I feel?!”

“Then, do you understand how I feel now?”

“……”

For a moment, Aileen was lost for words. She grabbed whatever was closest and threw it. It was a soft pillow, so it didn’t hurt much, but it was still irritating.

“Get out! Get out of my sight!”

Even her outburst felt familiar. Violet, wondering whether it was time to end this childish act, simply smiled again.

“It’s sad. To think you’d say such cruel things to a sister who loves you so.”

With a face that appeared as gentle as her words, Violet watched as Aileen turned her back and lay down, covering her ears.

Unfazed, Violet continued speaking.

“Fine, I’ll answer the question you asked earlier. I came here to see you like this. To see the great Aileen, once renowned for her angelic kindness, now called a villainess, trembling and lashing out beneath her sister’s shadow…”

Whether Aileen was listening or not, Violet kept speaking until she suddenly stopped.

“—Truly.”

Though she had been covering her ears with her hands, Aileen slowly lowered them.

“I feel truly satisfied.”

“…Ha.”

Violet felt no sympathy for Aileen. Even in the face of the girl’s pitiful state, Violet did not soften. In fact, she felt nothing but amusement.

Taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune might seem vile to some, but Violet didn’t care.

After all, the suffering she had endured up until now had been far too severe to let a moment like this soften her resolve.

Not a single shred of sympathy touched her heart.