Chapter 110: Music Box

Amid the crowd, Via spotted a pair of suspicious-looking figures.

It was a man and a woman, blending into the throng but glancing around furtively, acting all shifty.

She found it odd and wanted to edge closer for a better sense of them, but in the blink of an eye, the pair vanished at the end of the street, swept away with the masses to somewhere else.

“Via, what were you looking at just now?”

Stella followed Via’s gaze but saw nothing.

“You went quiet all of a sudden—did you spot something weird?”

“…It might just be my imagination. Don’t worry about it.”

Via lifted the cat off her head and tucked it into Stella’s arms.

“Keep an eye on Little Ha. Take it with you and make sure it doesn’t go running off everywhere.”

“Got it.”

Stella nodded.

“Well then, Via—good luck with tomorrow’s Saint Prayer ceremony.”

“Thanks. I’ll take the well-wishes.”

The next day.

Kado City was hosting the Saint Prayer Day ceremony today, and thanks to Sophie’s presence, it had drawn in believers from all over the region.

Even plenty of ordinary folk had traveled from afar just for a glimpse of the daughters who had inherited Sylvia’s bloodline.

As a result, the city was buzzing with energy today, packed with crowds.

The Holy Land had long since set up the necessary platform in the heart of the city for the ritual.

“Today is…”

Via stood before the calendar, eyeing the date marked there.

She had already changed into the standard attire for saintess candidates.

Even without any holy power, the pure white saintess robes draped over her did lend her an air of gentle sanctity.

“Via, are you ready? It’s almost time for us to go on.”

Sophie’s voice rang out from behind her.

“Sister?!”

Via whipped around. Upon seeing the red-haired girl who looked so much like her, she quickly clasped her hands behind her back, as if hiding something.

“What’s with you, acting all flustered?”

Sophie asked, puzzled.

“Uh, well… today…”

Via bowed her head.

She thought of what was coming next and felt a wave of embarrassment.

But since everything was already prepared, there was no backing out now.

“Sister, close your eyes.”

“Hm? Right now?”

“Yes! Don’t ask—just hurry, it’s important!”

“Alright.”

Sophie complied with her sister’s request and shut her eyes.

“Now, sister—hold out your hand.”

Via continued.

“Like this?”

“Yes, raise it up, palm facing up.”

“What exactly are you up to, Via?”

“Don’t move! Okay, you can open your eyes now.”

“Hm?”

Sophie felt Via place something in her hand.

She slowly opened her eyes, and what met her gaze was a delicate little music box.

From within came the sound of a girl’s humming, light and melodic like tinkling silver bells. Accompanying the tune, two tiny figures danced inside the box.

One red-haired, one pink—a perfect miniature of Via and Sophie.

“This is…”

“It’s your birthday gift, sister.”

Via’s cheeks flushed faintly.

The proud Demon King would never stoop to flattering humans. To the Demon King, humans are nothing but insignificant insects.

But today was an exception.

Because today was the day she and Sophie had been born.

“Sister, you haven’t forgotten, right?”

“How could I ever forget…”

Sophie was deeply touched, her eyes growing misty.

The birthday the Holy Land announced to the world for the sisters wasn’t today—it was the first day of the new year.

Legend held that the first day of the new year was when the gods had created the world, so to emphasize the divine sanctity of the saintesses’ children to the outside, the Holy Land had set their birthday on that day.

But only the two of them knew the truth: their real birthday was today.

It was a secret shared just between sisters.

“I thought about so many birthday gifts, but in the end, I figured this would be the best one.”

Via had actually been preparing a gift for Sophie for quite some time.

She’d even considered something extravagant, like jewelry.

But after mulling it over, Sophie didn’t seem all that interested in such things.

After much deliberation, she’d settled on making a music box by hand.

Even the humming melody inside was recorded from her own voice.

Sure, giving gifts like this was a bit embarrassing, but if it made Sophie happy, that was enough.

“Sister, do you like it?”

“I love it,”

Sophie replied earnestly. “Whenever I open the music box, I can hear Via’s voice.”

“My singing… isn’t that great. Just make do with it!”

Seeing Sophie’s joyful expression made Via’s own lips curve upward involuntarily.

Good. At least it wasn’t a waste.

Since Saint Prayer Day lasted a full twenty-four hours, from dawn today until tomorrow, they wouldn’t have time to celebrate their birthday properly.

But before the ceremony kicked off, Via had seized the moment to deliver the gift today.

“Via, you really put your heart into this.”

Sophie stared at the music box, utterly entranced.

“Heart into it…”

Hearing her gift praised like that filled Via with even more delight.

But the proud Demon King giving a gift to a human isn’t about currying favor.

It’s just to play the role of the good little sister!

That’s what she told herself. She wasn’t harboring any extra feelings—she’d simply done the right thing at the right time.

“Via, today is my birthday, but it’s yours too, since we’re twins.”

Sophie tucked the music box away and looked at her one and only sister.

“Actually, I have a gift for you as well. I’ve been preparing it for a long time, planning to give it to you today.”

“A gift from sister?”

Hearing that she had a present too stirred a small spark of anticipation in Via’s heart.

She didn’t think a human could offer her anything truly valuable, but she still cared quite a bit.

“Miss Sophie, Miss Via—the local nobles are all seated, and the believers and citizens have filled the square. We’re just waiting on you two.”

A priest entered the waiting room to report, urging the sisters to head to the square promptly for the Saint Prayer Day ceremony.

Via glanced up at the clock—it was indeed nearly time.

“No time left…”

“Via, about the gift—”

“We’ll do it after the ceremony, sister. It’s not going anywhere with you holding onto it,”

Via replied. “For now, let’s focus on the ritual. All those people are waiting for us.”

“Alright.”

Sophie nodded. “Via, once the Saint Prayer Day ceremony wraps up successfully, I’ll make sure to get your birthday gift to you.”