"No Marriage, Please! vs. Marry Me or Die: The Ultimate Love Showdown" - Episode 24

“O-Okaasama…!”

“Oh my, what’s got you so flustered?”

“I-I… oh…”

“Oh?”

“Onii-sama invited me out…!”

“My, my. That’s wonderful news.”

Mother smiled warmly when she heard, but I was too overwhelmed to return it.

“Clothes…! W-What should I do? I don’t have anything cute to wear…! Would I make it in time if I went shopping now?”

“Don’t worry. I thought something like this might happen, so I’ve already prepared something for you.”

“Eh…?”

Then, she showed me the outfit she’d prepared. I tried it on and stood in front of the mirror. Behind me, Mother beamed proudly.

“See? You look absolutely adorable.”

“Y-You really think so…?”

“Of course. I’m sure Lord Yuri will love it too.”

“I hope so… that would be nice.”

Just the thought that Onii-sama might like it made me happy. I was so excited about going out with him. But… yes. It was just as siblings. I reminded myself of that and firmly shut the lid on the feelings stirring in my heart.

Even though we’re half-siblings, it’s not right for us to be together. If people with close bl00d ties bear children, it can cause abnormalities in their inherited magical and skill-based traits. It’s forbidden—ethically and legally. I’m normal, I told myself. Just a normal girl.

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On the day of our outing, I arrived two full hours early. I was so nervous I couldn’t sit still, wandering around the meeting spot and overthinking everything.

Mother said I looked cute, but what would Onii-sama think? Would he be disappointed? Would he like it?

As I got lost in those thoughts, he arrived. I tried to act casual and greeted him.

“You look beautiful today. That outfit suits you really well.”

“U-Uh…!?”

His words completely caught me off guard, and I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing at all. Actually, this outfit wasn’t chosen by me—it was Mother who picked it out.”

“Mother did… Ah, I see.”

After that, we went shopping together. The taiyaki he bought me was so delicious, and at the park, we shared our true feelings with each other. I was genuinely happy. I never thought I’d see him again, but talking honestly like this made me feel we’d become closer. That alone was enough to bring me joy. But again… only as siblings.

Still, my chest throbbed painfully. No. These feelings—I know they’re wrong. I must bury them deep inside me. Take them to the grave, even.
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Later, we stopped by a clothing store. Onii-sama said he wanted to pick out some clothes for me.

“Whoa! That looks amazing on you!”

“D-Do you really think so?”

“Yeah. Let’s buy this one too.”

“Isn’t this getting a bit excessive?”

“I can’t help it. Everything looks good on you, Eve.”

“…”

Why is it that when I’m with him, the whole world seems to sparkle? Inside me, emotions collided—one side overwhelmed by happiness, the other reminding me this feeling is forbidden.

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“Shall we head back?”

“Yes. Thank you for today. I’m sure Mother will be very happy.”

“That makes me happy too. I owe her for letting me stay at the manor.”

“Right.”

“Then, until next time.”

“Goodbye, Onii-sama.”

I gave him a small wave and began the walk home. Today was truly, truly wonderful.

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It was dusk, and the world was slowly being enveloped in night. As the fading light bathed my path, a voice called out to me.

“Hello… or maybe I should say good evening?”

The person standing there was—Ria.

She narrowed her eyes with a soft smile, like a thread drawn tight. Her short silver hair danced in the chilly evening breeze, its glow blending with the colors of the sunset. The light wasn’t gold or silver, but something otherworldly and cold.

There was something unsettlingly captivating about her. I couldn’t look away.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Yes. That’s fine.”

“Come with me, then.”

“Alright.”

Nervous sweat dampened my palms. Her gaze was terrifying—as if she could see right through me.

She led me to the bench where Onii-sama and I had sat earlier that day. A coincidence…? That’s what I wanted to believe—until she spoke.

“You two were here together earlier, weren’t you?”

“H-How do you know that…?”

A chill ran down my spine. Had she been watching us all day? My heart pounded painfully in my chest.

“Because I was watching. You looked like you were having fun.”

“…W-What do you want? Do you find me bothersome?”

“No, not at all. I’m rooting for you, Eve-chan.”

“Rooting… for me?”

The words didn’t make sense. What did she mean?

“You and Yuri… you’re siblings, but something’s different, isn’t it?”

“You were listening…?”

“No. I just thought the way you two act doesn’t feel like typical siblings.”

“…Onii-sama and I are half-siblings. He’s from the main family… I’m just the child of a concubine.”

“Ah, I see. That explains it.”

“Huh—?”

Ria clapped her hands, as if everything finally made sense to her.

It felt like I was being led into a trap, but I couldn’t walk away. I had to know why she was here.

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“That’s why… you can’t be honest with your feelings, right?”

A bone-deep chill froze me in place. It was like something cold and dark had clawed its way up from inside me and held me there.

Had she figured it out…? The feelings buried deep within me? No… no, no, no. That’s impossible. Absolutely impossible…! I denied it in my mind, over and over.

But I couldn’t stop my hands from trembling.

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“It’s okay, you know.”

Ria gently reached out and touched my shaking hand.

Her eyes were as black as a bottomless pit, filled with a cold light that seemed to seize the heart of anyone who looked into them. It felt like the abyss itself was gazing into me.

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“Siblings or not—it doesn’t matter. Even if you’re only half-related, you can’t lie to your heart. I just… I want you to live honestly, Eve-chan. That’s all I wanted to say.”

She stood then, her gaze drifting to some faraway place. No… it wasn’t just far. It was somewhere not of this world.

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“You and I—we’re the same. I know you’ll walk the same path as me. Thanks for your time today. Let’s talk again, okay? Bye-bye.”

“….”

She waved lightly and walked away.

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I stood there, stunned, unable to say a word. She knew how I felt—but she didn’t scold me. In fact, she seemed to encourage it. I couldn’t understand her motives.

“I-I should go home…”

I got up and began walking, but my steps were unsteady. Even though I’d walked this path countless times, it now felt like I was wandering through another world.

The feelings I’d buried deep inside—the ones I intended to take to the grave—were beginning to stir again.

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To live honestly.

If only I could. If only I could live that way too. Her sweet temptation was slowly corroding my heart.

If I could just follow my emotions, maybe—

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“I’ll be fine… I’ll be fine, I’m sure…”

I said it out loud without reason, because if I didn’t, my feelings might burst forth uncontrollably.

The world blurred, sounds grew distant. With each step, my body swayed, unsure of its path. Ria’s words echoed endlessly in my mind, and only my shallow breathing remained to anchor me.

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“…Onii-sama…”

I whispered his name weakly. He’s the reason I’m suffering like this. But at the same time, saying his name warmed my heart, made me feel whole again.

Crack.

Something inside me… broke.