The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was…
Amy, my sister…
She had buried her face in my chest and fallen asleep.
I thought she might still be awake since she was fidgeting and calling my name, but after checking for a moment, it seemed she was truly asleep.
‘…Well, it’s my fault, so I can’t really say anything.’
After all, I was the one who had hugged Alyssa before falling asleep.
And I held her so tightly that she couldn’t escape.
…Sigh.
What’s the point of regretting it now?
It was just an emotional dream that moved me.
Nothing more than that, so…Â Â
“Alyssa. Wake up already.”
Though Ameri didn’t come to wake us, the bright scenery outside the window told me it was morning.
Starting today, we’ll be attending the general classes together, right?
Since it’s the first class, it wouldn’t hurt to go early.
Shake, shake.
Mmm…
I grabbed Alyssa’s shoulders and shook her, but she only buried her face deeper, showing no intention of waking up.
“W-Wait… Let go of this! What kind of strength is this…?”
While shaking her, I noticed something—Alyssa’s arm was wrapped around my waist, making the situation feel incredibly awkward.
If someone saw us, they might think we were lovers in the middle of something…
It’s creepy.
Even if I don’t love Alyssa, we’re sisters by blood.
And we’re both at an age where getting married wouldn’t be strange.
A simple hug is one thing, but burying her face in my chest… and her hand on my… my butt… that’s crossing a line, isn’t it?
“Are you really asleep… Ah! S-Stop that…”
The more I tried to push her away, the tighter she held me.
She wrapped her arm around my waist to keep me from escaping, and her hand on my butt squeezed even harder…
And then, her knee… slipped between my legs…
“Please stop…”
At first, I was just annoyed, but the warmth of her breath against my chest and the sensation in my lower body were making me dizzy.
Why do I have to endure this from Alyssa?
Even if it’s something she’s doing in her sleep, this is the kind of thing that only happens between lovers…
I’ve never even done anything like this before, and my first time is with Alyssa…
Thud.
“Ah…!”
When Alyssa’s knee pressed against me, a small moan escaped my lips against my will.
I quickly covered my mouth, but there was no taking back the sound that had already slipped out.
“…Sister?”
Did she wake up because of my moan?
At the worst possible timing, Alyssa lifted her head and looked at me with half-opened eyes. Â
After seeing my flushed face,
She glanced down at our entangled bodies.
“…Was it not a dream?”
Slap!
“Um, Amy. I’m really curious, so can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“…This is scary. I’ll hold back and ask anyway. Why are your sister’s cheeks like that?”
“It’s self-inflicted.”
Alyssa, sitting next to me and eating bread, had swollen cheeks in the shape of handprints.
It’ll probably take at least a day for the swelling to go down.
I slapped her with all my strength, after all.
“Miss Amy, here’s the corn soup you like!”
“Thank you, Ameri.”
I usually skip breakfast, but today, watching everyone else eat made me hungry.
So I ordered corn soup.
And Ameri made it herself.
Since Marybell allowed Ameri to use the kitchen, I should thank her later.
“I’m curious about what happened, but you’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“If you’re prepared to have your cheeks end up the same way, I can tell you.”
“Never mind, never mind. It’s the first day of the new semester, and I can’t go out looking like that.”
“Wise decision. Don’t you think so too, Alyssa?”
“…Mmm.”
Alyssa, who had been absentmindedly eating her bread, glanced at me and then lowered her head again.
Aside from her flushed cheeks, her ears were also red, so it was clear she was embarrassed.
…I’m the one who should be embarrassed.
I’m the one who was touched and toyed with, not the perpetrator.
Why is the perpetrator acting embarrassed?
“Whatever it is, I’m glad you two made up. Did Amy compromise a bit? Alyssa didn’t seem like she was going to back down.”
“You could say that. The details are a secret between me and Alyssa.”
“Ugh… That’s so unfair… So unfair. In the end, sisters are the best, huh…? All my siblings are just terrible people…”
Sharen, resting her cheek on the table and sighing, looked pitiful.
Even though Alyssa and I, as daughters of a viscount, had a rocky relationship, it must be even worse for royalty.
“Ah, Amy. Take this. It’s something I received from the headmaster, and I think it’ll be helpful to you.”
Sharen took out a small ring from her pocket and handed it to me.
A ring with a black gemstone, something that looked expensive…
Thud!
“I don’t need it.”
“Huh? Alyssa, what are you doing?”
“Sister doesn’t need something like that.”
Before I could even take the ring, Alyssa slapped Sharen’s hand, and the ring fell to the ground.
Sharen, who had been calm, was clearly angry at Alyssa’s sudden action, her expression hardening.
“Alyssa! How could you be so rude…”
“Sister, please be quiet for a moment.”
Step, step.
“Sharen. I trust you to some extent. As a comrade with the same goals as me.”
“…Right. Even so, this is unpleasant.”
Alyssa walked over to where the ring had fallen, picked it up, and approached Sharen, holding it out.
Sharen, who had been glaring at Alyssa and the ring, slowly darkened her expression, eventually unable to hide her shock.
…What?
What’s going on?
“The headmaster isn’t someone to be trusted.”
“I knew that too. But I didn’t think it would go this far.”
…What are these two talking about? Without me, the person involved.
“Alyssa. You’re not even paying attention to me anymore, are you? If you two want to talk, I’ll leave.”
Startled.
“N-No, sister… That’s not it!”
Alyssa hurriedly ran over to me, knelt down, and looked up at me.
I didn’t want her to grovel like this, but seeing her looking up at me was satisfying, so I’ll let it slide.
“Sister. This ring constantly replenishes the wearer’s stamina and magic.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? I’m weak, after all.”
“But in exchange, it reports everything the wearer does to the original owner. The headmaster probably wanted to use Sharen to give it to you to keep an eye on you.”
Gulp.
…There’s something like that?
Why would they give it to me?
“…Why?”
If it’s for surveillance, it would be much more efficient to give it to Sharen, Marybell, or Alyssa…
I’m just an ordinary noble girl with no special qualities…
“I don’t know yet either. Why did they want to give it to you instead of me.”
She doesn’t seem to be hiding anything.
Alyssa must really not know.
I thought she knew everything, but it seems there are things she doesn’t know after all.
Alyssa.
“Alright. I’ll trust you.”
But.
“Thank you, sister…”
“Then, give me the ring.”
I was furious.
If Alyssa hadn’t noticed, I would have quietly worn this ring and followed the headmaster’s plan.
“…Huh?”
“You said the headmaster gave it to me, right? Then it would be rude not to accept it.”
“Amy, are you serious? It’s not my place to say this since I was the one trying to give it to you, but it’s probably best to discard that ring. I’ll talk to the headmaster…”
“It’s fine. I like this ring.”
Somehow, I was certain.
This ring was meant for me. It’s mine.
“…Do you really have to take it?”
“Yes. Come on, hurry up.”
“Why, why…”
“Alyssa, don’t worry. I’m in my right mind.”
Alyssa’s blue eyes were shaking like a lake disturbed by a thrown stone.
I gently placed my hand on the lake to calm the ripples.
Swoosh, slide.
“Sister has just stopped being a coward, that’s all.”
Alyssa, who had been savoring my touch for a moment, handed me the ring.
I accepted it carefully and slipped it onto my left ring finger.
Whoosh!!
The black gemstone, which had been flickering, began to burn slowly, changing colors.
From a dull, dirty black to a brilliant gray that could be seen even in the dark.
It wasn’t intentional, but somehow it felt like things were going according to my thoughts.
Just like when I threatened Marybell, it felt like something else was controlling my body for a moment.
Well, I’ll figure out the details later.
What’s important now is that the ring is mine.
“How is it? Does it suit me?”
“…Wow. Amy, what on earth happened while I wasn’t looking? You just broke a high-level spell like it was nothing…”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’ve just stopped being a coward, that’s all.”
They said it would restore stamina and magic, but I don’t feel anything yet.
Well, I’m sure it’ll have some effect if I keep wearing it.
“I want to show off the ring to the headmaster when I see him again. I want to see the look on his face when he realizes his scheme failed.”
“Sister…”
“What do you think, Alyssa? Have you seen a new side of me?”
“No, my opinion of you can’t go any higher. But… um, are you going to keep wearing that ring?”
“Yes. It’s already mine.”
“…Okay.”
She lowered her head, but her ears were still bright red, showing she was embarrassed.
What does she have to be embarrassed about…
The ring’s position?
It’s not like I’m wearing it on my right ring finger like lovers do.
She’s still such a mysterious girl.
“There’s been quite a commotion during breakfast. Let’s head to the classroom. We can’t be late for the first class.”
“Right. Amy, I’m a year above you, so if anything happens, come find me. I’ll help you if you need anything.”
“That’s reassuring…”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll always be by my sister’s side… Ouch!”
Squish.
“I’ve noticed this since earlier, but don’t interrupt me, Alyssa.”
“You two are so close, it’s enviable.”
While pulling on Alyssa’s soft cheek, we made our way to the dormitory entrance.
We ran into Ameri on the way and got some medicine, but I didn’t let go of Alyssa’s cheek the whole time. Â
“…Sister. Let go now.”
“Alright. We’re almost in the classroom, so I’ll let it slide this time.”
“Thank you, sister. And there’s something important I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Be careful of people who flatter you. I know you won’t fall for it, but just in case.”
“That’s a useless worry. There’s no one who would flatter me.”
“…You underestimate yourself too much, sister.”
Alyssa. You’re the one overestimating me.
Breaking the ring’s magic earlier wasn’t intentional—my body just moved on its own.
Sister is just a half-wit without beautiful black hair or black eyes.
…Still, I’ll take your advice to heart.
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