The intense, silent war of internal competition in class was in full swing, but the Zoldyck family wasn't entirely demonic. Saturdays and Sundays were still designated rest periods for the younger children.
As mentioned last time, to put an end to the endless cycle of internal competition, I decided to find an opportunity to talk with Illumi alone, planning to do so on the weekend.
Oh, after making the plan, I realized how difficult it was to find a chance for a private meeting!
Kikyo was in charge of "household affairs." She was either watching me or Illumi, and the chances of both of us leaving Kikyo's sight simultaneously were negligible.
"..." Did I have to wait for Kikyo to fall asleep and make a move late at night, a nocturnal visit to Illumi?
The Zoldyck family was vast. Illumi didn't live next door to me. From my bedroom door to his, it was about a five-minute walk, not an outrageously long distance. Well, if I had the ability to evade the surveillance and butlers along the way, I could attempt a night visit... alright, I knew I didn't.
Ugh, I was the young lady of this house, after all. Strolling down the hallway in the dead of night shouldn't get me mistaken for a suspicious person. At worst, I could say I was...
Looking for the restroom? No, I had one in my room.
Lost? No, Kikyo would just doubt my intelligence again. No, she would immediately know I was lying and surely pry for details. If she found out the truth, I'd be in serious trouble.
Could I not just be unable to sleep and take a walk in my own house?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As an older sister, could I not just check on my brother on the way?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was perfectly reasonable, right!
So be it! Once the butler issue was resolved, there was still the matter of surveillance. Kikyo would definitely find out my route the next day through the butler or surveillance, and know that Illumi was my destination. I had to come up with a reasonable excuse to explain my unusual behavior.
"..." I was so engrossed in thinking about this problem that my attention shifted, and I didn't even feel much pain when I was whipped.
Sorry, with my mortal intelligence, I wracked my brain and barely managed to come up with a relatively plausible excuse: I discovered my favorite eraser was missing, couldn't sleep, and thought Illumi, who attended class with me, might have "accidentally taken" it, so I went to ask for it.
This was the first time I had stepped out of my room at eleven at night. The stone hallway, which seemed ordinary during the day, had a different charm at night. The pipes winding along the ceiling, like intertwined black pythons, served an unknown purpose. The dim wall lamps, though warm in color, brought no warmth.
This place felt too much like a haunted house, and it seemed like a cold wind was blowing on my neck.
I shivered, retreated, and clutched my favorite rabbit plush toy to my chest before daring to step out.
To fit my fabricated excuse, I was still wearing my pajamas and fluffy slippers, and my hair was uncombed. My appearance didn't matter; it wasn't like I was going on a date. This was my cover; I was going to end the internal competition.
I didn't encounter any butlers on the way, which gave me a premonition that things would go smoothly. As I raised my hand to knock on Illumi's door, I suddenly remembered that even Kikyo was asleep by eleven at night, and Illumi was just a little kid. There was no reason for him not to be sleeping!
Should I wake Illumi by knocking? I didn't dare make too much noise, lest I alert Kikyo.
I was already at the door, and I'd forgotten such an important step. I was an idiot!
Come back another time? No, I had come this far with such smoothness. I had to at least try something before going back!
Knocking three times with no hope, I pressed my ear against the door, trying to hear any movement inside. Before I could hear clearly, the door opened.
"?" Illumi tilted his head, clearly surprised that it was me outside.
"?" I hugged the rabbit plush toy tighter, equally surprised that he wasn't asleep yet and was still wearing the clothes from earlier.
I put my index finger to my lips, making a "shushing" gesture. Regardless of whether Illumi agreed to let me in, I pushed him and entered the room. I had come this far, so why wouldn't I go in!
Closing the door casually, I remembered I hadn't been to Illumi's room in a long time. Before, I was forced to sign in daily, and at that time, Illumi couldn't even walk. Now, Illumi was over four years old, and almost all the furnishings in the room had been changed. It had transformed from a nursery into a standard boy's room. Contrary to my ingrained impression of rowdy little boys from my "real world," everything in the room was neatly arranged, with nothing thrown around. It was so clean and tidy, like a show home.
The style of this room truly echoed Illumi's quiet and well-behaved demeanor during the day. He was truly an exemplary student among exemplary students, getting perfect scores in everything! (This was sarcasm)
"What do you need, Sister?" Illumi stood to the side with his hands down, his tone calm, as if resigned to his fate. He made no attempt to stop my gaze from wandering around.
To be honest, I wasn't very interested in Illumi's room. I was looking around as a conditioned response to gain a sense of security by understanding the layout of an unfamiliar environment. After getting the layout, I was about to retract my gaze when I unexpectedly discovered the textbook open on Illumi's desk, already halfway through.
... Damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On this precious weekend, he was actually previewing his homework, and doing so late into the night! This must be the legendary "study-holic," the mastermind of internal competition, the king of hustle!
This hustle king didn't know how many lashes I had endured over countless nights because of his perfect scores. He had caused me so much suffering!
He only cared about his own enjoyment of the glory and praise that came with perfect scores, never considering others' feelings. What a little brat!
"..." Knowing the truth that my academics were being surpassed, I felt completely miserable.
Illumi noticed where my gaze was fixed and explained, "I'm previewing next week's lessons. If you have nothing else, Sister, can you let me continue studying?"
Studying? What nonsense! You're already studying enough! Have you considered how I, who is a year older than you but taking the same classes, feel?! You definitely haven't! You selfish child! You'll never make friends in the future!!!!!!!!! Oh, sorry, I forgot, his character setting in the original work was that he disdained making friends and followed an unconventional punk path. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"You're an idiot!" I finally couldn't help but "speak," but since I was mute, I used lip-reading.
"?" Illumi showed no anger, only a slight widening of his eyes in confusion, looking rather dull-witted.
I suspected he had forgotten the lip-reading lessons he learned years ago. Fortunately, I usually carried a small notepad for communicating with teachers who didn't understand lip-reading or sign language by writing.
Reaching into my pocket, I then remembered I was wearing pajamas and didn't have a pen or notepad.
"..." I gestured a few times to Illumi with my hands and then went to grab the paper and pen on his desk.
"Huh?" Illumi followed belatedly, "You don't need to write, I can 'hear' what you're saying, Sister."
So, he was just stunned by my sudden (silent) scolding?
"You're just an idiot!" But I still had to repeat this with lip-reading and point directly at his nose, "You studying so hard will only make the courses harder, and you'll be more tired in the future! Are you trying to take university entrance exams next year by studying so fast?!"
"University entrance exams?" Illumi actually thought about it seriously, "Well, if it's necessary, I will."
What? What kind of exclusive, confident statement is that from a top student? What makes you so arrogant????
"Because you study too hard, every time there's a scoring, for every point I'm lower than you, I have to receive more punishment!" I shouted, no, I'm mute, more accurately, I silently but intensely accused Illumi of his crimes.
"I apologize, Sister," Illumi met my eyes, his tone indifferent, his apology sounding insincere. "But I can't help it. I am the eldest son, and it is my duty to work hard."
"..." Then you are too obedient to your elders! You are truly the most obedient and sensible child any parent dreams of!
Yes, the internal competition cannot be blamed on the child. He is just a sensible child who wants recognition and strives diligently; he has done nothing wrong.
"..." I couldn't find any more words to persuade Illumi, yet I was unwilling to choose between enduring internal competition and being whipped. I didn't want to give up, hugging the rabbit plush toy tightly, my emotions very conflicted.
If the rabbit plush toy in my arms were alive, it would probably have suffocated by now from my grip?
"However, what Sister says also makes sense. The current courses have indeed become much more difficult. I didn't have to read books this late before," Illumi suddenly said. "If I, who always got perfect scores, were to drop below perfect, I would probably have to accept punishment too, right? For fairness, would you like to make a deal with me, Sister?"