F-Rank Puppeteer!! But I'll be Queen, and I'm not a narcissist!!!!! Chapter 15: Apologies from an older sister

"..." After that little existential crisis, I went back to my room and just stared at the wardrobe while I pondered life. Clarissa was obviously bothered by my constant gaze at the wardrobe.

As if there was a body or sothing inside. Of course, there was nothing it was just an impulse of my own body to look at the only thing that makes feel comfort, and that’s my puppets.

I ended up spending two days locked in my room, doing absolutely nothing while I thought. Clarissa seed even more scared of for seeing that my gaze remained fixed on the cabinet almost 100% of the ti.

Finally, I found the courage to put that aside. I won’t find the answer to my crisis just by thinking, I can’t limit myself by fear again, and I have things to do.

It’s been 3 days since I’ve been in this world, so tomorrow the Demon King will probably give my gift, and I’ll be able to awaken my ability. The problem is that Augustus will think I lied since I didn’t co eat with him.

’It’s lunchti and ti to move... I’ll go eat with Augustus.’ I get up from the bed while looking at Clarissa.

"Clarissa, clean my room, I’m going out to talk to my little brother, and I’ll be back late, so lock my room when you leave." I say with a practiced smile that Evelyn has learned to make to maintain the image.

"U-Understood, Miss Evelyn..." She speaks as I nod. Fortunately, Clarissa doesn’t talk much or question, so she’s been very useful.

"You can eat the food that’s there," I tell her, knowing the food will soon spoil. It’s better for her to eat it than let it go to waste.

She thanks as I leave the room, following the corridors to the place where I know Augustus will be having lunch. I muster up the courage to move forward.

Everything I thought before still weighs on my mind. I can’t affirm that this place is a ga, I don’t want to have to think about taking lives, and I don’t want to realize if I’m losing my humanity or not.

So I’ll just ignore it for now it’s all I can and know how to do. If I don’t ignore this fear, I’ll get stuck in place, hidden in my room like I used to when I was human.

Arriving at Augustus’ lunch spot, I open the door, see him already eating, and his gaze closes in a not-so-good way.

[Augustus’ Favorability -2 (Total = 2/100)]

’Tsk... as expected.’ He must think I lied, since I implied that I would at least show up for the other dinners, but I’ve been locked in my room for two days, just because I couldn’t think straight.

"Good morning, little brother," I say quickly, going over to him and sitting in the chair next to him. I see the very well-made lunch that makes my mouth water.

"..." He ignores as he goes back to eating, while I grab a plate and start putting my lunch on it. The sll of everything is an undeniable delight.

"Evelyn, tell why did you lie?" He asks while I freeze.

...

...

...

"Evelyn, tell why did you lie?" I ask Evelyn. She made it clear that she would co to other als, and I even waited for that with so interest it would be the first ti one of the siblings wanted sothing together, but then she didn’t show up anymore.

"I spent the last two days in my room, I’m sorry about that, but I’m here now, and that’s what matters, right?" She speaks as if it’s not a problem.

"..." I look at her with distrust. How can I trust soone who has so blatantly broken a promise? Promises and agreents must never be broken she promised.

"Little brother, tell , when did I promise that I would co see you directly on the previous days?" She asks, as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking, while I think about what to say.

"...You didn’t promise..." She just implied that she would co more often, but never said or affird anything.

"Exactly, I just said I would co more often. I was really busy taking care of myself and couldn’t co, after all, we’re in a competition, right? Any other sibling could try to kill if I’m not careful," she says with a little smile as she tastes the food.

’Well... she’s weak, so it makes sense...’ It seems she didn’t break any promises or lie. She really ca back, though not for dinner, but she can co to dinner tonight.

"..." I go back to eating in silence, while I better accept this. As she said, she never made any promises, so it’s okay, I guess. I just rushed and expected too much from her.

"Little brother, I heard you like plush toys..." She speaks, trying to make conversation as she sees my cold gaze.

"...I do." I say, just that, while I drink a glass of orange and lemon juice the sour and sweet taste is pleasant.

"Great, you know I’m really good at creating that kind of toy? I can make you a beautiful and interesting doll," she says as I look at her with so attention.

"What kind of doll?" I ask with more interest in the subject, but with caution. Why is she trying to be nice to now? What trick is she trying? Is she trying to kill ?

"Any kind, if I have the materials, I can make plushies of whatever type you want," she says with a sweet smile as she drinks the juice from a glass, making a satisfied face.

"..." I think about the rumors, an unpleasant rumor about what Evelyn has already done with puppets and their use.

"Evelyn, can I ask you sothing about puppets?" I ask cautiously.

"Of course, I’m incredible at that, you won’t find anyone with more skill in creating perfect puppets than !!" She speaks, boasting when she’s so weak among the demons.

"...Two years ago, a rumor surfaced that you created puppets of all the candidates for the throne...why?" I ask as she freezes and drops the fork on the plate. I stare at her fixedly.

’Her reaction is suspicious...’

"...That rumor...was it saying I did strange things with the puppets?"

"Yes, although it didn’t say exactly what," I confirm as she seems nervous. She looks around as if she’s about to reveal an incredible secret.

"Do you want to know the truth, little brother? This is a secret that no one knows, and after I tell you, there’s no going back!!!" She speaks, while this arouses my curiosity. I nod as she gets up and cos to whisper in my ear.

"The truth is, I played with the puppets, creating the perfect family I wanted, unfortunately I don’t have anyone to play with ," she says as I’m surprised.

’She too?’ I’ve also played with dolls to build our perfect family... but my other siblings aren’t trustworthy, they lie and deceive others for anything.

And the worst of all is Esther, she has an unpleasant look, she looks at the world as if nothing has value, and soone who sees no value in anything is not trustworthy. I would never trust her.

’Evelyn...’ Incredibly, I don’t know much about Evelyn to judge her, she didn’t appear much and didn’t cause commotion, so I’ve seen her directly few tis, and that makes it difficult to judge whether she’s trustworthy.

"Do you...want to play with ?" I ask, unsure if I should ask that, but the chances of getting along with a sibling seem pleasant. I wanted to have an older sister to play with too.

And I need to confirm if this self-proclaid older sister is trustworthy or if she’s trying to deceive . If she thinks of deceiving , I’ll get rid of her.

"Of course, I can bring my toys so we can play together and have fun. Know that I’m soone who places great importance on promises! So if you want, we can make a promise to play together soday," she says as she goes back to her seat.

"...It can be..." I say, a little more confident. She doesn’t seem so bad, maybe we can get along and forget a little about the competition. Anyway, she would never be strong enough to fight for the throne, so I don’t see any problems with that.

...

...

...

I stuff food in my mouth and let out a sigh of relief. That was difficult. At least Augustus doesn’t know the truth those puppets he ntioned were made so ti after Evelyn gave up on trying to seek love and acceptance.

Evelyn made them when she was 16 and they were made simply for Evelyn to curse them. She would yell at them, insult them, and stick needles in them. Those puppets don’t even exist anymore because Evelyn burned them and watched them.

Fortunately, I knew that Augustus has played family with dolls many tis. Augustus, although he’s 18, has had the least ntal maturity, staying closer to a child even as an adult because of the type of demon he is.

[Augustus’ Favorability 4 (Total = 6/100)]

’The favorability increased... lucky .’ I did well. I’m glad I was able to lie in a way that seed honest. Since he has this more youthful ntality, if I treat things like a big secret, his curiosity will be piqued.

"Hey, little brother, can I co to dinner tonight?" I ask, piercing a piece of at with the fork and cutting it into small cubes with the knife.

"...Sure, if you co tonight, then we’ll have dessert," he says, rembering what I said about sweets on our first dinner together. We can’t really consider ourselves friends or stable siblings.

But at least we’re on a good start. He’s trying, and that’s the most important thing. If I do everything right in two weeks, maybe I can get a favorability of 10 or 14.

I shouldn’t be rushed. Trying to be rushed will only make lose favorability stupidly. Besides, I need to distribute the ti I have well to try to make friends with others.

"Then it’s a deal, little brother. We’ll have a wonderful dinner tonight, and my beautiful presence will surely make our night more lively," I say as I try the at.

"Hmm, delicious." Just eating cold food after experiencing this good food is no longer enough. I need good als like this. Besides, without a doubt, eating well will make even more beautiful than I already am.