Volume 2, Chapter 27-2 – Good Sister— You Screwed Me Over

“In short, no matter what, we have to lure that fellow out.”

Remedios didn’t dwell on the issue and directly laid out her plan.

“Since her targets are opponents, then what we need is bait.”

“Someone important enough, and who openly stands against you.”

“Bait?”

Stella looked around. Who else was there in this godforsaken place besides the two of them?

“I definitely won’t work.” Remedios shrugged. “The whole school knows we’re good sisters. If we suddenly had a falling-out, the act would be far too clumsy. No one would believe it.”

“Then who should we find?” Stella asked.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already arranged everything.” Remedios suddenly turned her gaze toward the cellar’s iron door. “Mm… and she just happens to be here.”

From the darkness came the crisp sound of leather boots striking stone.

Tap, tap, tap.

The iron door was pushed open.

A dazzling flash of red burst into the gloomy cellar.

The newcomer had fiery red hair and an arrogant expression.

Cheryl Valentine raised an eyebrow. Her gaze lingered on Stella for an instant before shifting to Remedios.

“Book Demon, why did you call me all the way out here so mysteriously?”

Stella froze.

She looked at Remedios, then at Cheryl.

‘The so-called bait is…’

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‘Cheryl?’

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you,” Remedios said immediately.

“You have something you want to ask of me?” Cheryl arched an eyebrow, her eyes filled with incredulity. “Book Demon, have you read so many books that you’ve broken your brain? What relationship do you and I have? Why should I help you?”

She rudely cut her off. Her deep crimson skirts swirled as she turned and strode silently toward the exit like a lioness.

“What if it’s for your Elder Sister… Stella?” Remedios said directly.

That light, casual sentence instantly wrapped itself around Cheryl’s ankle.

The red-haired lioness was stunned.

“We’re investigating the ghost.” Remedios said unhurriedly as she opened the notebook in her hands. “The one hiding in the shadows, purging dissenters and causing trouble for Stella’s Lionheart Society. If we don’t drag her out, your Elder Sister… might end up in trouble.”

Cheryl slowly looked back.

A subtle, conflicted expression began to appear on her face.

Before that blood-red bell rang, before the moment came when they would have no choice but to draw swords against one another…

If she didn’t protect that idiot Elder Sister while she still could, then once the day came when their blades met, perhaps she would never have another chance.

She could just consider it… one last insignificant act of mercy toward the two of them before they headed to the execution ground.

Cheryl pursed her lips, then revealed a trace of smugness she couldn’t quite conceal.

“Since it’s… Stella’s problem…” She tucked the red hair beside her ear back and turned her face away. “Then there’s nothing I can do about it. Tell me. What do you want me to do? If you want someone cut down, I’ll call the Blackthorn Guard over right now.”

“No, there’s no need to be that violent. What we need is an act.”

Remedios closed her notebook and beckoned Cheryl closer.

“Why are you being so secretive about this?”

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Cheryl frowned suspiciously, but still leaned closer.

Remedios rose onto her tiptoes and brought her lips close to Cheryl’s ear.

Warm breath accompanied scorching words as they slowly slipped into Cheryl’s ear.

At first, Cheryl’s expression still maintained the reserved coldness of a noblewoman.

However, not long after listening to Remedios’s whispers, Cheryl’s fair and exquisite face began visibly heating up.

First, the roots of her ears flushed scarlet. Then, like dye dripping into clear water, that redness rapidly spread across her cheeks, down her neck, until her entire body looked like a boiled shrimp.

“You…”

Cheryl instinctively took a step back, her face bright red, then spun around with a swish.

“Are you serious?!”

“Of course. What you’re doing is unquestionably a necessary sacrifice,” Remedios said without changing expression. “If we don’t use heavy bait, how are we supposed to catch a big fish? The ghost’s worship of Stella has clearly reached a pathological degree. Only the purest blasphemy will make her lose her reason.”

“But… but…”

Cheryl became completely tongue-tied, frantically waving both hands while muttering to herself as though she were replaying the idea over and over in her mind.

“Something like this… to Elder Sister… I…”

“I need to prepare myself mentally.”

Stella, who was standing off to the side, blinked.

She looked at Cheryl’s flushed face, then at Remedios’ perfectly calm expression. Her curiosity began growing like wild grass.

Just what kind of script could make her bargain-bin younger sister, the Tyrannical Queen, show such a… such a strangely maidenly expression?

“Um, could you tell me too?” Stella raised her hand. “I’d also like to know what the plan actually is.”

“I was planning to make use of the antagonistic relationship between you sisters,” Remedios said after thinking for a moment. “After all, the two of you really did cause quite a stir before, didn’t you?”

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“As for the details, to make the effect as realistic as possible, it’s best if you remain completely unaware.”

Stella thought about it.

That did make sense.

Starting with the string of provocations at the entrance ceremony, followed by the physical correction at the training grounds.

In everyone else’s eyes, the grudge between her and Cheryl had probably long since become an unbreakable knot.

The eldest daughter and the illegitimate daughter of the Valentine family, irreconcilably opposed as they fought over the position of Family Head. It was perfectly logical for Remedios to make use of their relationship.

However, Stella still didn’t understand why Cheryl had turned bright red after hearing the plan.

But once she remembered that her bargain-bin younger sister was a weirdo too, she stopped thinking about it entirely.

“If that’s the case…”

Stella nodded lightly, accepting the explanation.

“Then go to the Lionheart Society’s clubroom now and wait there without worrying.”

Seeing this, Remedios said no more and instead continued helping the still-flushed Cheryl prepare herself mentally.

The patient, persuasive way she guided her was completely indistinguishable from someone tempting another person into depravity.

“…Mm.”

Stella tilted her head in confusion, her gaze moving back and forth between the two of them.

Did she really not need to know the specific details?

“Oh, right.” Remedios continued, “Stella, my script might be a little… intense. I hope you can prepare yourself mentally.”

“Hm? How intense?”

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“It might… cost you a little of your reputation, but I don’t think it’ll be much of a problem. And the effect will definitely be immediate.”

“Cost me my reputation? How exactly?”

Stella froze for a moment.

‘Reputation?’

‘I still have some left?’

Then sacrificing a little more didn’t matter.

What was so frightening about the methods of one little succubus?

At worst, Cheryl would probably spread rumors about her terrible personality, claim she bullied her younger sister, or accuse her of pocketing club funds.

That level of slander was practically an itch to Stella.

Could it possibly be worse than her current terrible reputation?

Remedios did not directly answer Stella’s question.

A mischievous smile appeared on her face, but almost without notice, that expression softened into a gentle smile.

“I think you’ll find out later.”

Translator Note

Tsk. tsk. Stella never learn the concept of jinx