Chapter 14: Sisterly Bonds

“Everyone out! Until that damned woman returns, I don’t want a single document brought to my desk!”

In front of a pair of dark crimson doors, Lorin and Claire stood frozen, silently listening to the furious voice echoing from within.

Neither dared to make a move toward the door.

“But…”

“No buts!”

With a loud bang, the door was thrown open.

A young bloodkin woman dressed in a maid’s uniform and wearing black-rimmed glasses came rushing out.

Her gaze swept past the two standing outside—only to freeze in shock.

She was about to speak when—

“Shh!”

Claire quickly stepped forward and clamped a hand over the maid’s mouth, motioning for her to leave.

The maid nodded frantically and hurried away.

Claire and Lorin pressed themselves to either side of the door and quietly pulled it shut again.

“Well, you were right,” Claire said calmly.

“Showing up this late really is a bit inconsiderate.”

Her feet had already begun inching in the opposite direction.

“I thought so too…”

Lorin mumbled, not even bothering to mock Claire anymore.

Right now, she was practically keeping pace with her.

She didn’t even want to imagine what had turned the once-gentle and elegant Phyllis into that.

But hey, not her problem.

All she did was take Phyllis on a little sightseeing trip across the Northern Continent.

She hadn’t done anything too sinful, right?

Whatever caused this change—Lorin refused to take the blame.

Claire cautiously pushed open a different door, only to freeze the moment she saw what was outside.

Lorin, close behind, was walking a little too fast and smacked right into Claire’s back with a soft thud.

“Ow!” she yelped, rubbing her nose.

But then she, too, sensed something was off.

The air felt like it had solidified—heavy and tense.

Heart pounding, Lorin leaned out from behind Claire to peek through the doorway.

A silver-haired girl stood there gracefully, her figure tall and slender.

Her silky hair shimmered like woven starlight, cascading over her shoulders and down her back.

She wore a crimson gown, bright as a living flame.

The fabric clung lightly to her figure, the neckline elegantly crafted to show off her long, swan-like neck and a faint glimpse of her

collarbone—beautiful, but with a subtle edge.

The skirt billowed in layers like rose petals caught in a breeze, dancing with each step.

Beneath her high-bridged nose, a small pair of red lips curled into a charming smile.

Warm at first glance… but laced with menace.

And that smile was directed right at the two clearly up-to-no-good intruders—a silent standoff was already underway.

“Going somewhere, ladies?” she asked sweetly.

“Why not come in for a chat?”

The pressure hit them the instant she spoke.

“Phyllis…”

Claire whispered, trying to awaken whatever sisterly affection still remained between them.

“I’m here, Sister,” Phyllis replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Claire hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Then… how about we just head back?”

She moved slightly to the side—only for Phyllis to mirror her exactly, still blocking the way.

Oh no.

Claire’s heart dropped.

Meanwhile, Lorin was finding the whole thing hilarious.

This was her first time seeing Claire like this.

“Dearest Sister~”

Phyllis cooed, “Life has been so hard lately.

Do you know how many documents I have to deal with each day?

Over five hundred!

Not even the beasts in the fields work that much! Hmm?

Sister?

Why so quiet?!”

BOOM!

In the blink of an eye, Claire’s form burst into a flurry of bats and vanished into the sky.

She hadn’t meant to flee… It was just… bad timing!

Mabel Lynn’s retirement had nothing to do with her!

“Oh no, you don’t!”

Phyllis’s smile dropped.

With a cold snort, she transformed into bats as well and followed after Claire—clearly, the long-separated sisters had a lot of “bonding” to do.

“Uhh… can I sneak off now?”

Lorin took a tentative step back.

No one stopped her.

“Hehe! I’m free!”

She grinned, skipping away from the castle.

But before she could celebrate too hard, a hand suddenly reached out and stopped her.

Startled, she looked up—and saw the same bespectacled maid from earlier.

“What? If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” Lorin said, attempting to walk around her.

“Princess, your room is ready. I’ve taken the liberty of preparing it for you,” the maid said, stepping in front of her again.

“I’m not your princess…”

Lorin tried to explain, but the maid’s odd, unreadable gaze made her pause.

She saw disbelief—maybe even confusion.

“Come now, Princess. Let’s not play games,” the maid insisted, blocking her again.

Lorin paused.

“…Alright. From now on, I’m the princess,” she said without hesitation.

The thought of Phyllis’s grudge aura was still fresh in her mind, and just recalling it made her shiver.

The maid seemed to hesitate.

Lorin’s heart lifted.

She’s considering it! I might get out of this after all—

“Forgive me, Princess!”

The maid’s apology came too late.

With alarming strength, she scooped Lorin up and carried her back into the castle.

“Ahhh! Put me down! I’m not your princess!”

“…!”

“I command you as your princess—let me go!”

“I beg your pardon, Princess. These are the prince’s—ahem, I mean, Lady Claire’s—orders.”

“You said it yourself! She’s a prince! Not a queen! I’m not your princess!”

“Her Majesty left special instructions…”

Lorin: “…”

The little silver-haired girl stopped struggling.

She began reflecting deeply on what unspeakable sins she must have committed over her past few lifetimes… to end up entangled with Claire like this.

***

“Why aren’t you fighting back, Sister?!”

Deep within a quiet and remote forest, normally ruled by powerful magical beasts, the wildlife was now fleeing in a frenzy—running for their lives like frightened birds.

The air rang with snapping branches, rustling leaves, and beastly roars.

At the heart of this chaos were two sisters—visibly delicate, but terrifying in power.

They stood in a clearing, “bonding” in their own violent way.

A massive scythe of blood crashed down.

The surge of magical energy warped the very space around it.

Claire barely dodged, beads of sweat trickling down her brow.

She’s gotten stronger… Claire realized. Almost as strong as me.

“Sister! Fight back!”

Phyllis screamed, her voice growing wilder by the second.

The pressure of her bloodlust pressed in tighter.

More attacks followed, faster and more relentless—but Claire dodged every one.

“Why won’t you fight back?!”

“Why won’t you fight back?!”

“Why… won’t you… fight back?!”

Claire continued evading gracefully.

Eventually, Phyllis froze.

She stood trembling, a single tear rolling from the corner of her eye.

In the moonlight, it shimmered a faint, sorrowful blue.

The scythe vanished.

Slowly, Phyllis raised her trembling fists… and rushed at Claire.

Thud!

The punch landed squarely on Claire’s chest.

And Claire, without resisting, pulled her into a hug.

She could feel it—Phyllis’s trembling body in her arms.

“Why… did you leave without saying goodbye…”