Chapter 118: Sister

“Between us… we’re sisters, right? If…

From the looks of it.

“You’re awake?!” As soon as she heard the movement, Movira immediately came to the bedside, and only then did she ponder those words.

Those words made Movira’s heart sink; she didn’t want to admit it, not at all.

Dekalorin’s words from last night still echoed in her ears—

“The feelings between sisters might let you stay in a nice guest room… but as for the ‘lover’s’ master bedroom, you’ll always be shut out.”

She certainly wasn’t content to just be “sisters,” living in the “guest room.”

But when she saw Seraphina’s pale and weak face once more, and thought of her body that had just recovered from the fever, Movira suppressed all her emotions.

Now wasn’t the time to stimulate her.

“……. Mm.” In the end, Movira squeezed out a response from her throat, temporarily acknowledging this relationship.

After getting the affirmative answer, Seraphina seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but then shifted to another side of hesitation.

She licked her dry, cracked lips, hesitated for a long time, but still stammered it out, “Then… could I call you… Sister?”

…Why? Movira hadn’t expected Seraphina to bring this up.

And Seraphina misunderstood Movira’s meaning, thinking the other was surprised because of her previous confusion about gender, and quickly explained,

“I… I don’t want to think about those things now, gender… whatever.

Just like before, let me go numb.

Anyway… it’s impossible to reverse, isn’t it?”

…According to my… now this appearance.

This tone carried a deep compromise to fate.

Movira looked at the confusion and pain gradually being masked in her eyes; her heart felt like it was being clutched by something.

She didn’t know what to say, feeling that her words seemed pale and powerless in the face of this, and could only nod, “… Good.”

With permission granted, Seraphina seemed to find an emotional outlet, though still with hesitation and uncertainty.

Gently… she called out.

“… Sister.”

The voice was like a feather, very light, while also tickling Movira’s heart.

This relationship she didn’t want to admit, at this moment, sounded… not bad at all.

“Thank you, Sister…

…for taking care of me.” Seraphina added, as if this “Sister” and thanks could stamp all the behaviors from dawn as reasonable.

Movira responded very dully, “… Mm.”

At the same time, she clearly realized that Seraphina’s current demand for her own numbness was no different from using magic to relieve pain—the same as covering the wound with a layer of ice, treating the symptoms but not the root.

And the longer the suppression, when the thin ice cracked and the same problems approached again, the erupting pain would only be more intense.

Looking at Seraphina’s side profile, which gained some peace from that simple address, Movira silently made a decision in her heart.

Once her body was completely better, she must find an opportunity to make her face these problems directly, untie this knot; otherwise… they would never step into that sacred hall.

Movira also couldn’t tolerate Seraphina living in self-numbing lies.

However, Movira’s daze born from worry, in Seraphina’s eyes, turned into clumsiness.

This clumsiness displayed because of her “Sister” and the following thanks was extremely mismatched with her demonic identity.

This cautious, at-a-loss appearance formed a huge contrast with the strong image in her memory.

The more she thought about this contrast, the more obvious it became, actually washing away some of the haze in Seraphina’s heart.

Looking at the other’s even somewhat dazed appearance, she couldn’t help but let out a “pfft” and laugh.

The Movira after experiencing that incident—the stimulation to her had been too great, forcing her to shed the strong mask.

And in some sense, beneath the mask was… an almost clumsy sincerity.

Like a clear stream flowing through the heart, bringing a different kind of… warmth between sisters.

“You… what are you laughing at?” This sudden laughter completely baffled Movira, thinking that something must be wrong with her, causing Seraphina’s mockery.

Seraphina just shook her head, not answering the question, and instead shifted toward the inside of the bed.

Then she patted the empty spot beside her, her voice hiding laughter and the soft, sticky quality of illness, “Don’t stay over there; sit here.”

Movira was even more puzzled, completely unable to understand what Seraphina wanted to do.

She looked at the empty spot, then at the other’s eyes filled with amusement, her feet as if nailed to the ground.

“Ah, come on over!” Seeing that the other still wouldn’t move, she urged again, her tone carrying a hint of almost coquettish meaning that even she hadn’t noticed.

Her heart stirred.

In the end, Movira complied, but very cautiously—she sat only on the edge of the bed, her body straight, maintaining a safe distance from Seraphina.

Seraphina, seeing this as-if-facing-a-great-enemy appearance, sighed and reproachfully said, “Stupid Sister! I meant for you to sit up here, next to me, not sitting so far away; otherwise, why would I make such a big space?”

This “Stupid Sister” laced with intimate blame made Movira’s heart skip a beat.

Like being pulled by a string, she no longer hesitated, though her movements were still a bit stiff as she shifted her body and sat in the position Seraphina had specified—that is, right beside her.

Even so, Movira still hadn’t completely relaxed.

“Good.” Seraphina was somewhat satisfied, then softly requested, “… Sister, help me sit up; talking while lying down is a bit tiring.”

Movira, like a robot, extended her hands, supporting Seraphina’s back and shoulders, helping her slowly sit up, and placed a pillow behind her, preparing for her to lean on.

After doing all this, she wanted to withdraw her hands.

However, just as her hands were about to pull away, Seraphina’s body followed the retracting force of her arms, naturally tilting over and directly leaning into Movira’s embrace.

Movira’s breathing instantly stopped; this sudden initiative left her completely stunned.

She could clearly feel the slenderness of the girl in her arms, the slightly warm temperature transmitted through the pajamas, and the scent unique to Seraphina.

“Don’t move…” Seraphina pressed her back against Movira’s front, her head leaning on her shoulder, finding a comfortable position, “Sister, just let me lean like this for a while… chat with me, about anything; it counts as… helping me distract myself.”

Her voice still carried the weakness of illness, “Those problems… I don’t want to think about them anymore; I’m really so tired…

“Really tired; Sister’s embrace is so warm…”