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TL;DR: No, this project is not dead. It’s alive. You’ll get chapters. Just be patient.

Etiquette begins with posture.

Feet aligned, spinal column firmly straightened, hands held together in front. To stand in a way that was unashamed, and yet graceful, was actually pretty difficult.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Yes, that’s right. Ojousama, pull your chin in a little….. Yes, remain still like that for five minutes」
「Ngnn…..」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Being forced into an unnatural position, even as I groaned, I obeyed Mariywa’s words. Trying to maintain a good posture while making it look natural and relaxed was like trying to look both ways at once.

The knowledge from my old life proved rather useless in my day-to-day life here.

Speaking of my previous life’s knowledge, it was quite fragmented; very little of it was clear. The knowledge that was clear was completely useless. As I am in a position to succeed as a blue blood, all of it was pretty useless.

However, inside that hodge-podge knowledge, only one was different and had a connection with my current life.

That knowledge was a story called『Labyrinth Destiny』

In my old life, we had a form of entertainment called an ‘otome game’, and uh, if I had to describe it with the knowledge from this life, I guess it’s a really story-rich paper theatre? Characters were drawn in a vivid and highly-stylised manner, and the images were replete with accompanying text and a multitude of choices.

If that was all, then as curious as it was, it would still just be memories of entertainment, but what was shocking was that the story told of my own future.

『Labyrinth Destiny』was a story, set a decade from now, that depicted Mishuly as the protagonist.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Ojousama. You’re being too conscious of your posture and standing too stiffly. Relax a little more….. And as you do so, you must not slouch your shoulders, nor lose your focus, and get rid of only your tenseness.」
「Aye aye, ma’am!」
「Though I do not understand what you have just said, I implore you to give me that ridiculous response once more. When you do, I suspect that you will understand how unique today’s whipping will be」
「Yes, Miss Toinette」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Whoosh, rang the whip in Mariywa’s hand. When I saw that, I put on my graceful ojousama mask in a panic. I’m sealing off those words from earlier.

It was when I first met Mishuly. I was struck by her cuteness beam, which, as a result, caused me to remember the knowledge from my past life, starting with the story『Labyrinth Destiny』

However, the knowledge that I recalled, because of my meeting with Mishuly, was merely knowledge in the end, and not memories.

Although the knowledge was certainly unique, to I, who was raised and grown as a genius, it was nothing that could rattle me in the slightest.

In other words, since the moment I was born until now, I have been Christina Noir.

And although this knowledge was both directly relevant and incredibly important, and because of this knowledge, I could predict a portion of the future, giving me a tremendous advantage. Unfortunately for me, those advantages do not extend to etiquette lessons.

That was why, today, I have to bear with Mariywa’s hazings. After mastering the posture, next was how to walk, how to sit; from how to greet and all the way to how to speak, and so on, as well as how they’re all tied together. But before we began training in that order, there was a question on my mind.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Hey, Mariywa」
「It’s Miss Toinette, Ojousama. Earlier, I was shocked at your admirable attitude and speech. You do know that, if you were to properly maintain that mask, I would have no reason to whip you?」
「….. Miss Toinette. There’s something I would like to know. Is that permitted?」
「Yes. What is it?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Since Mariywa wouldn’t respond when I spoke normally to her, I reluctantly made use of the ojousama speech that she had driven into me to ask my question.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Why are you piling books on top of my head?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
For some reason, for my posture training, Mariywa had started piling books on top of my head. It was just one; two to three were piled up. Not to mention, the books were just plain thick and my neck felt pressed. It was kind of hard to breath.

If they fell, they would hit my foot and it would likely be a painful ordeal, so I silently endured it, although this situation was somewhat quite baffling for me. I had thought that we were supposed to be learning etiquette here, but could it be that I was practising to become a new street performer?

As I was thinking this, she placed yet another book onto my head.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「This is historically the correct way to practice. By placing books on top of the head, it means that you will be conscious of your body; retaining composure and a sense of balance. Having those books fixed on top of your head will earn you a wonderful posture. Even walking with those books balanced on your head is possible」
「Hohou」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Mariywa’s words meant that I need to pay attention whilst moving in order to avoid the books from falling, such confidence.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「As expected, isn’t this part of a performance!」
「Absolutely not」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Again, she added another book on top of my head.

My neck hurts.

In total, ten volumes of books were on top of my head. With that, I was made to walk one lap around the room, as if I was training for a street performance. By the time I was seated for my meal, I was tormented by a dull pain.

As Mariywa had already left, mealtimes at my home’s estate were peaceful. But I had just started on table manners etiquette and there doesn’t seem to be an end to it – was what I thought, slightly depressed. Seated in the seat of honor was my Father. Seated beside me was Mishuly. At this moment, we were in the midst of eating the main dish, a sautéd fish.

But my neck was still hurting. Honestly, my neck had to bear and support the burden from the top of my head, and somewhere at the back of my neck was absolutely sore. My neck was well twisted. This was all Mariywa’s fault. Everything was Mariywa’s fault.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Onee-sama, are you okay?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
In the midst of mealtime, it seemed that I often rubbed the back of my neck. Seated in the seat beside me, Mishuly had gently extended her hand to the back of my neck.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Your neck, what’s wrong with it?」
「Ah, this is compensation for learning a street performance, it’s nothing big to make a fuss of」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
To ease Mishuly’s concerns, I endured the pain and laughed. Mishuly and I aren’t blood-related.

Our appearances were completely different after all, so I suppose you could say that it was a natural conclusion. Unlike the black hair and eyes I have, Mishuly was a blond haired, blue eyed angel. Although, just like me, both of us were from the great Noir lineage, my younger sister, Mishuly, did not inherit our blood.

Mishuly came to the Noir house about two years ago. I was around five years old; it was the period when I had exhausted all of the books in the library.

At that time, I heard an adopted child was coming to our house, and began to sulk a little.

In the situation of a noble household adopting a child, the general assumption is that of retrieving a lover’s child. Anyhow, thinking about the fact that somewhere, Father had a child with his mistress and had brought it back, was sickening. The adoption felt like an act of insult to my dead Mother and I was irritated at Father; even the adopted child’s existence felt irritating.

Should I just bully her? My head was filled with irritation as I harbored these kinds of stupid thoughts when I went to meet Mishuly for the first time.

I thought an angel had descended.

Soft, curly blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. Struck by a charming cuteness that seemed to light up the whole universe, I ended up remembering my past life’s knowledge and the like.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Onee-sama. Pain pain, fly away~!」
「Fufu. Thanks, Mishuly. All of the pain has flown away. As thanks, ah~~nn」
「Ah~~nn!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
For gently using a charm to kindly stroke the pain at the back of my neck away, I moved a slice of tonight’s main dish into Mishuly’s mouth. Gleefully, Mishuly opened her mouth wide and gulped down the sautéd fish.

Cute.

Reflexively, my cheeks softened.

In my memories of the story『Labyrinth Destiny』, Mishuly was the heroine. This world’s God apparently has good taste. After all, he knows quite well who the cutest person in the world is. The fact that he chose Mishuly means that he has quite a good eye. Next time, when we pay a visit to the church, I think I’ll praise him just a little.

My little sister was just so overwhelmingly cute that it actually made sense that the world was made for her.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Onee-sama. My turn, ah~~nn!」
「Ah~~nn」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Mishuly tried her very best and struggled to use the knife and fork to cut up a slice for me. I chewed on the food that was changed into the most delicious thing in the world like magic.

It became so damn delicious that I thought my jaws would fall apart.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Soo~~ tasty~~,Onee-sama」
「Right~~ It’s so tasty~~ Mishuly」
「He– Hey, Christina, Mishuly. Father also would–」
「Otou-sama’s seat is too far so it’s impossible!」
「Impossible~!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
There was a distance between Father’s seat at the head of the table, and where the two of us sisters were sitting. Joining with Father, we continued a harmonious conversation, although there was just one thing about my past life’s knowledge that I couldn’t stop thinking about.

In『Labyrinth Destiny』, the one useful thing to come out of my previous life’s knowledge was that Mishuly was the heroine of this world.

Well, of course, Mishuly – my most beloved younger sister and an archangel that descended from the heavens – suited the position the most.

But conversely, there was still another role that I couldn’t accept no matter what.

In the romance-heavy『Labyrinth Destiny』, the one who served as Mishuly’s foil was Christina Noir. In this world, she would shun, oppress, and obstruct the protagonist who was loved by the world, and in the end, through her misdeeds, personally caused her own ruin.

That’s right.

The villainess noble girl who did unforgivable deeds to my beloved sister, Mishuly, was none other than me.

Being in a tree is great.
＊maccas＊
That’s what I thought as I sat on a sturdy branch of the splendid tree in our garden.
＊maccas＊
My name is Christina Noir. I’m a genius.
＊maccas＊
At one I could walk, at three I could talk, and by five, I had exhausted all the books in the library.
＊maccas＊
The household I was born into is a Duke’s family which boasts a 300 year history. Our garden has been maintained by excellent gardeners for generations. Even this tree that I’m sitting on was apparently planted a hundred years ago.
＊maccas＊
Even after a hundred years, this tree shows no sign of withering. The branch that supported my weight was sturdy and I could feel the tree’s quiet but massive existence from the trunk that supported my back.
＊maccas＊
What was most wonderful of all though was…..
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Ojou-sama? Christina-ojousama?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
The rampant, lush foliage obstructed the woman’s view as she searched for me from down below.
＊maccas＊
Calling my name repeatedly was a woman in her mid-thirties. Slim and tall, possessing a slender, straight and well-proportioned back, she was of a strict disposition.
＊maccas＊
Mariywa Toinette.
＊maccas＊
She’s the governess employed by my family to oversee my education.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Christina-ojousama. Where have you run off to, Christina-ojousama? It is all right. If you come out now, I will not be angry. If you come out right now, I promise that I will not reprimand you for running away from your etiquette class. On the other hand, if you do not appear right this instant, I promise you that you will experience the depths of hell.」
「Humph」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Hearing her lie, I snorted and sneered.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「A mere employee dares to threaten me with cheap lies?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Whilst disdaining her futile search from my elevated spot, I surmised her deception.
＊maccas＊
At any rate, I’m a rarely seen genius in this world. At one I could walk, at three I could talk, and by five, I had exhausted all the books in the library. Recently at seven, my most exciting memory was when I had won an argument with my Father, causing him to seethe with teary eyes.
＊maccas＊
As I am a genius, I understood Mariywa’s real intention completely.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「….. Even if I came down and apologised, I’ll be struck with the whip」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Stealthily holding my knees, I decided to ignore the voices from the ground.
＊maccas＊
No to whips.
＊maccas＊
Ah, it hurts.
＊maccas＊
The etiquette teacher my family employed, Mariywa, always had her whip on standby. According to the person herself, she will not use it unless necessary. In reality, she would mercilessly whip me without reservation. Mariywa especially did not like my tone. On the first day, every few words spoken resulted in the whip flying about.
＊maccas＊
Even if I was the heir to the Duke’s house and were to utilise the age-old sympathetic cry ploy whenever I saw the whip, Mariywa would state, “This is education” with a freezing glance.
＊maccas＊
Absolutely frightening.
＊maccas＊
That was enough to freeze the heart of a genius such as myself. That wasn’t a look that treated another human being with dignity. It was akin to a relentless, merciless glare – that one cannot express – to a despised, poorly trained horse and cause them to shiver from the cold.
＊maccas＊
Although, to submit to such fear, as a child prodigy born into the house of Duke Noir and christened with the name of Christina Noir, it would be equivalent to weeping. Therefore, particularly today, I boycotted Mariywa’s lessons.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Christina-ojousama? This is my last warning. If you refuse to come out after hearing this….. Your lessons today will be stricter than before」
「….. Ugh」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
It….. It’s a threat after all!
＊maccas＊
In the past five minutes, I heard the whip fly once, more intensely than usual, in the remote distance. My shoulders instinctively trembled, but not attending the lessons was my victory.
＊maccas＊
Mariywa was different from the live-in servants who worked here. The time for the pickup carriage to arrive was set in stone and can’t be missed. In other words, if I hide till then, Mariywa can’t meddle with me. Consequently, I would have to wait here until it arrived.
＊maccas＊
Perfect. Not a piece lacking, it was the perfect, accomplished plan.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「…..」
「Christina-ojousama? ….. Che」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Bating one’s breath, before long, Mariywa’s resigned form disappeared from sight. Finally, I had a feeling that I heard the unworthy, ill-mannered etiquette teacher, but surely that was my imagination.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「I won…..!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Victory. Deeply satisfied, I made a guts pose.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Hahaha! Mariywa! After all, you’re just a lowly servant! To think that with your position that you could best me, Christina Noir, the eldest daughter and heir to the house of Duke Noir! Kukuku….. Fuwahahahahahahhaha!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Striking a daunting pose on top of the branch, a loud laughter rang out loud. This was an excellent height to gaze from and above all, it was a position that gave a bird’s eye view of the estate. Therefore, it felt good to roar with laughter.
＊maccas＊
Of course, I had verified that Mariywa was nowhere in plain sight. Even if she had seen me standing on top of the tree laughing, it would have been difficult to strike at me with the whip due to the obstructing branches. Must not think grandiose thoughts. That big-headed governess’ discipline and her torturous tool were plainly lacking characteristics. I thought she wouldn’t dare, yet she would still strike me with absolute conviction.
＊maccas＊
With that being the case, it’s best to stay hidden. I can’t relax my guard here for if I’m found descending, it would be akin to committing a folly. After all, I’m a genius at cleverly hiding stealthily.
＊maccas＊
Just like that, I continued playing hide-and-seek.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「—e -samaaaa」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Suddenly, somebody’s call could be heard.
＊maccas＊
It wasn’t Mariywa, but it was necessary to guard against the possibility of her advancement. If this be the call announcing meal time, then I would need to endure my hunger. This was indeed a wise decision in order to continue hiding and prevent running across anyone.
＊maccas＊
Doesn’t matter who tries to find me, even if it was Father searching for me personally, I would continue to hide here. With that resolve, I quietly peek at the ground.
＊maccas＊
Lo and behold, an angel younger than me, that was shaped like a girl, was there.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Oneee-samaaaa….. Where are youuuuuu…..」
「Touuuuu!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
The delicate voice trembled slightly. Hearing that voice, I unhesitatingly leaped off the branch.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Fueeee!?」
「Fufufu!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
For the seven year old me, jumping off from a height as such this was dangerous. However, if it was for the sake of my beloved imouto, this pain was nothing. Safely landing, I stood up boldly and laughed.
＊maccas＊
Before the very eyes of the me who had jumped down stood one beautiful girl. Compared to the boring black irises and hair I possessed, she had light, golden coloured hair that shone beneath the sunlight. Transparent blue eyes that looked like a copy of the sun suddenly widened in astonishment when I had descended.
＊maccas＊
This angel was my beloved imouto, Mishuly.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Onee-chan has answered your call, Mishuly!」
「O-Onee-sama…..?」
「What, Mishuly! You were looking for me weren’t you? Onee-chan will always be by your side—」
「Well, that’s reassuring. In the future, if Christina-ojousama runs away from her etiquette lessons again, I’ll be sure to call upon Mishuly-sama’s assistance」
「—nn?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Mixed together with the angel’s voice, I heard the voice of a hellish goblin. Turning around, there stood the tall and lean figure of the old maid, Mariywa Toinette.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「….. Why are you even here, Mariywa」
「How about using a smidge of the expressions that I’ve hammered into your brain as proof of my teachings」
「….. May I ask why you are here, Miss Toinette」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
For the sake of information, I sold my pride using formal speech that was taught by Mariywa.
＊maccas＊
The words I used were naturally the qualifying marks. That human-pretending man-eating fiend Mariywa answered me readily.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「To discover the idiotic tomboy who decided to hide in the trees, I borrowed the assistance of Mishuly-ojousama」
「Wha-!? Don’t call me an idiot!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
I protested instinctively at Mariywa’s words. Receiving my outburst, Mariywa responded ingeniously with a raised eyebrow.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「And the idiot would be?」
「It goes without saying! Isn’t that you, a person from hell, who would plan and scheme to use an honest person like Mishuly!?」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Mishuly is the purest existence in the world. It was highly unlikely that this existence would willingly agree to child abuse.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Hoho. Splendid work, Ojou-sama. As per declaration, today’s class will be stricter. Have you prepared yourself to take a good look at hell?」
「Silence, hellish goblin! For the crime of deceiving Mishuly’s actions, quickly go to hell!」
「Ah….. Erm….. Mariywa said that onee-sama was lost and you didn’t come back during meal time so she was worried…..」
「I’m sorry, Mishuly! This was all your foolish sister’s fault!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Preoccupied with running away from this hellish ogre, I had made my younger sister insecure. This was a disgrace and unbecoming of the older sister. To the world’s cutest, younger sister who was worried for me, I apologised and hugged tightly.
＊maccas＊
Mariywa’s argument had implied that I was partly responsible. The uneasy countenance was swayed with a tight embrace, gradually turning into a smile.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Eh, ehehe」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Uh huh. My younger sister’s smile was definitely becoming. Feeling the body temperature of the angel in my arms, I was convinced again.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「As expected, you’re the cutest in the world, Mishuly」
「A-again, Onee-sama….. ehehe 」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
Mishuly’s voice was no longer shrouded with worry. Instead, it was overflowing with shy happiness.
＊maccas＊
With my younger sister’s worries removed, everything was settled as it should be.
＊maccas＊
One extremely trivial problem remained.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Now then, Ojou-sama, relationships between sisters are such blessings….. It is already enough」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
According to the hellish ghoul, it appears that I’ll be on a tour to a hell known as etiquette lessons.
＊maccas＊
However, I must not show my alarm. The reason is because in my arms lie my beloved, heavenly younger sister.
＊maccas＊
Not giving away a hint of insecurity, I confronted Mariywa with a magnificent, daunting pose.
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
「Fu, fufufu, fuwaaaahahahaha! Naturally! Let’s do this, Mariywa Toinette! I will turn the tables on you, leaving you speechless!」
「Starting from those expressions. I don’t know what you’ve learned from your mistakes, however prepare yourself, I will reform that vulgar, manly way of speaking」
「O-Onee-sama!? That….. Isn’t that painful? Onee-samaaaa!」
＊maccas＊
＊maccas＊
From a wee bit distance, I heard my beloved younger sister’s encouragement. Holding my head which was hit; crouching with teary eyes, I immediately vowed to confront my hardships with courage.
＊maccas＊
My name is Christina Noir. I’m a genius.
＊maccas＊
Started walking when I was one, spoke words freely at three, read and exhausted all the books in the library at five and remembered my previous life when I met my beloved angel.
＊maccas＊
At seven years old, this is the personal, rare story of a proud Duke’s daughter.

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