Cain’s Wedding — Prelude —

Spring has come, and our household welcomes a new family member.

With the formal marriage of Cain Elder, Lady Melujène will take up residence, becoming my sister-in-law.

The wedding ceremony has been decided to take place in the Imperial Capital.

I wished to consult Mother about wearing the pale blue dress gifted to me by Prince Arthur, returned from Stella’s household, and the jewelry I wore as a Debutante.

It is because Stella has said it would be unfair for me to have a new dress made while she is still in residence.

Though numerous gowns have been made for Stella since her return, whenever I attempt to have a new one tailored, she becomes enraged.

“You’re so unfair! I’ve been wearing nothing but rags all this time… What did you wear in the meantime? Can you answer? You’ve only ever worn fine silk gowns, so you won’t need another dress for a while, I suppose!” And she bursts into tears.

Mother hurries in at the sound of her weeping,

“You have plenty of clothes already. Be patient with this one.”

And so the thought of having another made simply fades away.

The wedding this time was special, and I had been considering a new dress—but when my elder sister called me unfair, and took away the design sketch, I gave up.

So now I have chosen the most special dress among those I have.

Mother asks, “Are you truly certain you don’t need one made? It is your elder brother’s wedding… Stella, you brought such a lovely design.”

The design shown to me was the very one I had originally sketched out and submitted.

Ah… I was struck—Mother did not recognize it as my own creation.

Still, I must not let such feelings show, and so I clench my teeth as I form my words.

“I would like to wear the gown granted to me by Your Highness this time. I received it only last year, and since I was unable to attend the ball that evening due to my elder sister’s matter, I have not yet worn it officially. Moreover, the accessories—those I used at my debutante event—were approved by Mother herself as suitable for use at both wedding and coronation ceremonies, so I would be honored to use them.”

I spoke with what I could manage as a smile.

Mother furrows her brow, her expression troubled.

“I understand about the gown… but the accessories—”

She hesitates, as if uncertain how to voice her concern.

I could sense it, just from the gesture.

"Is it Stella-sama?"

Mother nods, her expression uneasy.

"Earlier, that girl came and asked to use this... and just now, as Spica said, I thought it would suit the formal attire, so I allowed it... There are other accessories available—please use those. You may even purchase new ones if you wish."

I can only nod.

Does she know... that nearly all the jewelry in my possession is meant for everyday wear, and that the formal pieces are currently worn by my elder sister...

Moreover, as the eldest son and heir, Cain Elder’s marriage would require him to wear the family’s heirloom. And at a wedding, it is customary to wear items passed down through generations or those with personal significance.

To buy new ones might only provoke my sister’s resentment.

After some deliberation, I wrote a letter to my grandmother, concealing the true circumstances, and asked if I might borrow the items.

Several days later, a reply arrived from my grandmother, accompanied by a set of pearl jewelry—necklace, earrings, and hair ornaments—all with beads of uniform size.

Though these should properly be kept within the manor, a certain unease in my chest compelled me to store the accessories and dress in the dormitory until the day of the event.

I had also considered that, within the dormitory, I could rely on junior students or Shasha to assist with dressing.

Indeed, my grandmother’s letter detailed the provenance of the items I had borrowed this time.

This is said to be a historically significant item passed down from my grandfather’s aunt, received by my grandmother after her marriage. It is noted in the letter that it is a magical artifact, a precious object whose wear provides the effect of easing heat. And, should something arise, it was written that one should rely on this as I have done this time…

I found myself clutching the letter tightly. It felt like I had touched the warmth of family after a long while.

Perhaps, given the recent fatigue from answering questions about my Elder Brother’s miracle maiden opera, I had grown sentimental—overcome by emotion, perhaps, in a moment of quiet reflection.

On stage, the heroine is chosen by the crown prince—so questions arose as to whether that ending was true, and whether the life of commoners was truly as harsh as portrayed. Correcting the confusion between fiction and fact proved difficult. I could only speak vaguely, having spent little time with my elder sister, and knowing only what I had observed during land inspections; I could not speak of the details of daily life.

Yet still, I have heard that my elder sister’s presence is widely recognized, her support extending not only among the nobility but also among the common folk.

And this wedding of my elder brother shall be her debutante presentation—the first public appearance of her new station.

Though the nobility’s gaze is naturally drawn to her, she may well be considered the other main character, no exaggeration.

Thus, I was truly astonished by the attire she wore on that day.

Stella-sama greeted me as I arrived home, having prepared myself for the wedding day.

The attire she wore was nothing short of astonishing—a combination of pure white, the color of a bride, paired with accessories I had used for my debutante event, rearranged with exquisite care.

“Sister… why are you wearing a white dress?”

“Isn’t it lovely? I heard debutantes wear white, and your design sketches had no color, so I chose white.”

The dress she wore featured larger ribbons than the one I had designed—grand, one might say, or, less kindly, ostentatious. It did not suit her slender frame, still thin and underdeveloped for her age, nor did it complement her stature. The mermaid silhouette was ill-fitting, ill-suited.

My accessories, once familiar, were now scattered with an array of vivid gems—so transformed that their original form was barely recognizable, reduced to a new and foreign object.

The result was so striking, so utterly beyond any expectation, that I could not help but feel a dull ache behind my eyes. How had no one stopped this? I could not comprehend it.

"Madam, today’s star is undeniably Lady Melujune, your elder sister. White is the color of brides—would you not change into another dress now, before it is too late?"

As I spoke, Stella’s cheeks swelled instantly.

"Why must you be so cruel?!"

Her voice rose nearly to a shout, and in an instant, Fret Elder and Alex Elder burst into the room.

"What happened?!"

"What is it?"

Tears streamed down her face as she hiccuped, weeping like a child.

“Spica is terrible… She urged me to wear this dress, and now she’s criticizing it! I didn’t know white was the bride’s color… I heard all the debutantes wear white, so I chose white—now I’m told that’s improper…” Stella buried her face into Fret Elder’s arms, swallowing her sobs.

Hearing her words, the Elder Brothers’ fury flared like wildfire.

“Spica! Is this true? Did you truly recommend this ill-fitting dress? Did you truly suggest white?”

It seemed even to them, as well as to me, that the dress did not suit her sister at all.

“No, that’s not true… I did say, now that it’s still possible, you should change into something else…”

“Lies! You designed this dress, didn’t you, Spica? You suggested it to me, knowing full well it doesn’t suit me!” My elder sister glares at me with sharp eyes.

“Spica, is this true?” asked Alex Elder, his confusion unhidden. I answered.

“I did create the original design… But why did you do such a thing! Stella has lived among commoners for so long—didn’t you know she’s still learning the manners and aesthetics of noble life?” Fret Elder cut in, his voice rising in reprimand. I could not finish my words.

She would not listen further. I stood uncertain, unsure what to do, when Alex Elder placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled gently.

“Everyone harbors envy or jealousy at times, but this goes too far. Let me apologize with you—won’t you be a lady who can sincerely apologize, just as you’ve always been? You said so yourself, didn’t you?” he said.

What I had aspired to was not a lady who apologized for faults she did not possess, but one who could admit her own shortcomings honestly. Yet the situation left no choice—I must apologize. After a brief struggle, I spoke the words of apology to my elder sister.

“I miscommunicated, and caused you to misunderstand. I am truly sorry.”

Fret Elder seemed dissatisfied with my apology.

My sister smiled triumphantly, nestled within her brother’s arms…

“Spica, go now and choose a dress for the wedding with Stella. I’ll fetch Mother.”

With that, Alex Elder left the room.

I asked Alyssa, who had been nearby, to guide me to the wardrobe as my Elder Brother had instructed, and Fret Elder insisted on accompanying me as well.

“If she’s going to be spiteful and hurt Stella again, there’ll be no end to it. I’ll be the one keeping watch.”

Ah, Fret Elder does not trust me, and the thought tightened in my chest. Yet time was limited, so I said nothing in reply and proceeded to select the garments with him.

In the end, I chose three gowns.

One, a pale pink A-line dress; another, a young green princess-line dress; and the third, a violet A-line dress. For the afternoon gathering, I offered the robe I had worn at my own debutante ceremony.

When Mother arrived at my Elder Brother’s summons, and the two Elder Brothers had seen them, the dress that matched the hue of my elder sister’s eyes was the one that pleased them most.

While my elder sister was changing, Mother also reprimanded me.

"Why wait until the day of the event to point this out? You could have confirmed it beforehand!"

"I am deeply sorry. But had not Mother herself conducted the final verification?"

"I was occupied as mistress of the household, and Stella herself said she would ask Spica if anything were unclear. You truly did not listen to your elder sister, who has been overlooked all along?"

Mother seemed genuinely astonished.

I have since moved my residence to the academy, dedicating myself entirely to my studies. I return to the manor only a few times a month, and Mother appears to have forgotten this.

At last, just in time, my elder sister was prepared.

The dress, now a better fit in both size and design, looked hundreds of times more suitable than her earlier appearance, as if merely draped in fabric.

The older sister’s expression as she gazed into the mirror seemed listless, a small unease that tugged at the edge of thought, but the hour to depart was fast approaching.

Without a moment to spare, we all leapt aboard the carriage bound for the church.