The Heart’s Verdict
The day the exam rankings are released and I claim the top spot is also my older sister's birthday.
During the birthday party, everyone asks what she wishes for. She turns her head and looks straight at my fiance, her red lips curving into a smile.
"I want first place. Can you give it to me, Professor Howard?"
The man lowers his eyes, saying nothing.
The next day, my name disappears from the top of the rankings. After that, I fail to place five times in a row.
When I confront my fiance, he simply hands me a slice of sponge cake and says, "Your sister has it hard. If she can't place first at Imperial Academy five consecutive times, she'll be forced into an arranged marriage with that cri