Chapter 210

She had straightened her pajamas, and as she hurried past the two of them, her footsteps were so rushed—

—it was practically a full-blown escape.

Sheffy was nearly suffocated by Xiarette’s forceful hug, and only when the sound of the door being slammed shut rang out did Xiarette finally release her.

Nearly smothered into unconsciousness by the overwhelming softness, Sheffy once again tasted the beauty of fresh air. She turned her head and spotted a delightful surprise!

Hey…! Guess what?

The Fire Lizard had retreated—and gave her bed back.

Her two large purple eyes sparkled with bright, adoring light. Sheffy looked directly at Xiarette, grinning ear to ear.

“Whoa! The Fire Lizard ran off! Gave the bed back. Xiarette, you really had a way with it—completely bloodless victory! Xia… Xiarette…?”

Huh?

Why… why is she still hugging me?

Xiarette lowered her head in silence, and Sheffy seemed to feel a twisted and dangerous aura radiating from her.

A long moment passed.

Xiarette lifted her head, her smile half-amused, half-menacing.

“Sheffy? I think… Big Sister needs to have a little talk with you~”

“Eh… what’s this all about…?”

“Anyway, sit down here first!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

—

40. Gaze (4K)

When she said sit, she sat. That part wasn’t a problem…

But why did “sit” mean kneeling?!

Like a child who had done something wrong, Sheffy kneeled on the cold floor, scattered with splintered wood from the broken bed boards, sneaking glances from the corner of her eye at Xiarette, who sat in a chair with legs crossed in anger, to see if the storm had passed.

In truth, the kneeling posture wasn’t something Xiarette had ordered.

It was purely the pressure of her presence that made Sheffy feel like she should kneel…

Judging by the way Xiarette’s shoe tip was swinging much more rapidly than usual—

Clearly, she wasn’t over it!

“Sheffy.”

“Present!”

“Have you figured out what you did wrong?”

“……”

Not a clue.

If I knew, wouldn’t I have already admitted it?! Why else would I still be kneeling here thinking about it?!

Still, when the horse is dying, you treat it anyway; when the pot is cracked, you might as well let it break.

Sheffy placed both hands properly on her thighs, forced a bitter smile as sweat trickled from her temple, and looked up.

“I think…”

“You think…”

“I think I’ll go out for a quick run!”

“Get back here!!”

“Ugh…!”

Trying to escape?

Just as she stood up, Xiarette’s slender fingers pressed down on her shoulder, forcing her back to the ground. Sheffy’s pained expression clearly showed she truly had no idea what she’d done wrong.

The ignorant are blameless! You can’t just kill a mouse for stealing rice if it didn’t know it wasn’t supposed to steal rice, right?

…Okay fine, maybe they do kill it outright—and not even because it stole the rice.

Snow Mouse… ahem, Sheffy shrank her neck and tilted her head upward, glancing sheepishly into Xiarette’s still-fuming eyes, looking completely lost.

That glance, instead, made Xiarette freeze for a second.

“Don’t look at me like that… Sheffy, I’m telling you… Sometimes, you really need to think for yourself…”

“Staaare~~~”

“Think for yourself…”

“Staaaaare~~~~~”

“Think…”

Xiarette swallowed hard.

There were some eye attacks from that silver-haired dumpling that no defensive magic could block.

After locking eyes for a full three seconds, Xiarette finally broke.

“Alright, alright, fine…! Sheffy, you don’t have to think for yourself, I’ll explain everything, okay?!”

“Yay! Thank you, Xiarette~ Mhm mhm, good sister~ If you didn’t explain, how could I ever know what you’re mad ab—ow ow ow!!”

“And you’ve still got the nerve to say that?!”

No violence, please!

Xiarette grabbed Sheffy’s face with both hands and gave it a fierce rub, making sure those big watery eyes couldn’t continue to “charm nations and bring ruin.”

At the same time… it also kept Sheffy from noticing the faint blush creeping across her face.

With a deep breath to steady her mind—and maybe because she felt a little sorry for Sheffy having knelt there for so long (about a minute)—Xiarette reached under her arms and lifted her up onto the bed boards, letting her sit properly.

The two of them, one big, one small—both adorably sized—stared at each other for a long moment.

Xiarette’s stubborn insistence was finally shattered by Sheffy’s confusion and innocence.

The golden-haired girl pursed her lips, then gently averted her gaze, turning her head ever so slightly to the side.

Her voice was soft like water, delicate like cotton.

“You’re still asking why…? Sheffy, think about it. What good thing did you do just now…?”

“Reclaimed the bed boards! A major victory!”

“I meant the part during the bed reclamation—weren’t you a bit too close with Timani?! Big sister got really jealous, you little dummy!”

“!”

Her head—was knocked sharply.

But it was a knock well deserved.

In that instant, Sheffy saw the light.

Xiarette had spoken fast, but every word was crystal clear, and Sheffy heard it all without missing a beat.

Just a moment ago, her sleeping spot had been taken over by Timani. Drowsy and eager for a nap, she’d gotten a bit too worked up about getting the bed back. In that emotional state, she’d completely overlooked proper manners—and the necessary boundaries when interacting with others.

Looking back now…

Hadn’t she just been rolling all over Timani, rubbing against her, even biting her face?

And all that happened right in front of Xiarette.

—Rub!!

It was as if a stream of hot steam burst from the top of Sheffy’s head, launching the entire silver-haired little girl into a spiraling, blushing posture of bowed repentance.

“I think I… I might have gone a little too far… I mean… I got a little too caught up… I… probably shouldn’t have…”

“It’s not… Sheffy, it’s not that serious… you don’t have to…”

“Right! We must not be ashamed of mistakes already made. We should look forward. Thank you, Xiarette, I’ve now pulled myself together.”

“I haven’t even comforted you yet! You pulled yourself together way too fast! Seriously… just sit and reflect for a while, will you?!”

Thud!

Her forehead took another flick, and Sheffy quickly brought both hands up to guard her head.

Her little black-socked feet swayed slightly over her knees as she mumbled under her breath—some kind of words of repentance.

Needless to say—

She was indeed reflecting.

Xiarette knew Sheffy’s personality well.

Wasn’t it the same in their previous life? She’d beaten up the neighbor’s little dog, laughed it off like it was nothing—but then secretly bought dog food to go apologize. Sheffy was the kind of child whose mouth might be irresponsible, but whose actions always showed a strong sense of responsibility.

Seeing her like this, Xiarette could only give a wry smile. The resentment in her heart had already dissipated.

Just look at you, worrying like that… You little dummy. How could Big Sister ever really be mad at you?

As she had said before—

She was just jealous, that’s all. And a jealous woman… is a scary thing, you know? That’s something you need to always be prepared for.

With a wry sigh, Xiarette sat down beside Sheffy. Instinctively, Sheffy leaned away like a child who had done something wrong. But Xiarette followed, scooting closer in the same direction until Sheffy’s shoulder was pressed up against the wall—no room left to retreat.

She wouldn’t blame her.

But in return—

Sheffy had to listen to a few honest words from her sister, right?

“Sheffy, if I’m not mistaken… lately, haven’t you been carrying something heavy on your mind?”

“Glug glug glug…”

“What are you muttering now…?”

“I’m muttering that… it’s like casting a hook and catching a magnificent, dreamlike, once-in-a-lifetime rainbow-colored giant fish. I haven’t even finished hugging it with joy… when suddenly, another unbelievably dreamy giant fish jumps out of the lake and crashes into me. The two fish tangle in pain and confusion, and I can’t bear to release either. Whether steamed or braised… I’m overcome with guilt.”

“These two giant fish you’re talking about—are one of them named Xiarette, and the other named Belith?”

“I didn’t say that… I said giant fish…”

So it really was that…

Feeling Sheffy’s shoulder tremble slightly as she used “giant fish” as a shield for what her heart couldn’t express—

Xiarette, instead, felt more at peace.

Because—

—Sheffy truly cared deeply about her.

How could she be so sure?

“Sheffy~ don’t tell me that ever since that night you didn’t come home after being with Belith… you’ve been deliberately avoiding Big Sister and didn’t dare bring it up?”

“N-no way! I’m open and honest, I do things boldly—nothing to hide…! Ahem… Xiarette? How about we talk about something else first?”

“There it is. Just as I thought.”

“I just wasn’t ready yet! I need more time to organize my words!”

“No need for that~”

“Eh?”

Xiarette suddenly pulled Sheffy into an embrace, letting her lean against her shoulder.

There would always be firm and gentle arms to embrace her—no matter the storm, joy, or sorrow in her heart.

At the same time, Xiarette closed her eyes to feel Sheffy’s warmth, accepting the breeze drifting in from miles beyond the city. Carrying with it the bittersweet of the journey, it brought the floral scent of Sheffy’s hair into her nose, filled with memories of utter beauty.

“If what troubles you is not knowing how to explain it to me…

Then there’s no need. It’s unnecessary.”

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