Chapter 141

"I’m telling you, Livra... sometimes you seem so composed, and other times you act like a complete fool... You’re really a strange one. Don’t tell me your intelligence isn’t constant and fluctuates with the rising and setting of the sun and moon?"

"I-I’m not! It’s just that... sometimes my head is clearer than usual..."

Ah, got it.

What you’re saying is—most of the time, your head isn’t clear.

"Well, whatever. Anyway, you’ve probably figured it out by now. As you can see, ‘Syla’ is actually ‘Sylatrella’, the true form of the kingdom’s holy sword. As for the details about her, I’ll tell you if I feel like it. It’s not really anything interesting anyway."

"This...! The kingdom’s treasured holy sword Sylatrella actually has a humanoid form...? Something like this... I’ve never even heard of it."

"Of course you haven’t. Even your father might not know. This happened how many years ago?"

"Could it be... s-several decades?"

"Over a thousand years."

"!"

Livra blinked her big eyes, utterly stunned by that number.

She sure seemed to be learning a lot of new things today!

Seeing her sitting on the ground, immersed in the power of knowledge and forgetting to stand up, Sheffy let out a faint sigh.

This princess really didn’t care about appearances... Her shoes got dirty when she rushed over, and now her dress was covered in dirt too.

Was there truly any other princess in this world sloppier than her?

Probably not, right?

Sheffy quietly patted the dust off her own sleeve.

With those thoughts, Sheffy reached out her hand, intending to pull her up from the ground.

However...

"Eh...? What the... huh?!"

Before Livra could take Sheffy’s hand, a force appeared out of nowhere.

It was as if the air itself had offered support, lifting Livra from the ground by the back and helping her to her feet.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sheffy glanced toward Belith, who stood diagonally behind her.

—She had just withdrawn her magic.

Gazing at the night sky like nothing had happened, as if she wasn’t the one who had just done that.

Well, of course. Who did she think she was, touching the Royal Sister’s hand like it was nothing? Dream on!

Belith was a flawless little sister who protected Sheffy on all fronts without a single gap.

Xiarette felt that Sheffy had more or less said everything that needed saying.

Besides, judging by Sheffy’s attitude, she seemed to place a lot of trust in Princess Livra.

Still, Xiarette had to add one final reminder for Livra.

"Princess Livra, please do not speak of anything we’ve discussed just now. Whether it concerns Sheffy or Sylatrella, these matters must be kept secret."

"I’ll definitely keep it secret! I... I swear! If I ever let any of this slip, I’ll fall into a water slime and drown! And... and... and I’ll fall off the city wall and break my leg on the way out!"

"Uh... Your Highness, there’s no need to swear such dreadful oaths. I’m just giving a friendly reminder. Considering the consequences involved... You’re clever, I’m sure you understand."

"Yes, yes! I just realized it—these are secrets that must be guarded with the utmost care!"

Only now did Livra fully realize—she had been entrusted with a significant level of trust, and the realization left her both honored and flustered.

She looked gratefully at Miss Shaya, giving her a firm, reassuring gaze that promised not a single word would be spoken.

Princess Sheffy had said that she longed for an ordinary and peaceful life.

Surely, the origin of the name “Miss Shaya” must have stemmed from that wish.

If Miss Shaya was willing to consider her a friend... then of course she was also willing to protect that wish.

And Miss Syla too.

If the existence of the holy sword’s true form were to become known... it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar, leading to unpredictable consequences. There might even be sinister individuals who would try to exploit her power.

Even the relationship between Lord Hero and Miss Shaya... While she didn’t know why two people from opposing sides were so close, Livra understood this wasn’t something for her to interfere in.

The two of them each had their own positions.

And the fact that they could now stand together meant that, fundamentally, their positions weren’t in true conflict.

Livra’s gaze grew more resolute, her hand clenched into a fist before her chest, and her entire demeanor shifted completely.

"I understand now... Please don’t worry. I’ll never—eek!"

Miss Shaya...! Princess Belith is your sister, right?! Can’t you rein her in?!

Belith, hiding quietly in the background, had silently taken out a small dagger. She held it near her mouth, and ran her tongue slowly along the gleaming cold blade.

The message was crystal clear.

—Whether you promise or not... it doesn’t matter.

Because if you speak... you’ll be chopped to death, got it?

Aaaaah! Another threat!

There wasn’t much more left to say to Livra.

Sheffy gave a small nod as a sign of farewell, lightly tapped the ground with her foot, and turned to leave.

"Alright, it’s getting late. Head back the same way you came..." Sheffy narrowed her eyes and sensed the area for a moment, quickly reaching a conclusion. "Hmm... Southwest direction, along the path near the forest—the knight order is out looking for you. You... let me guess, snuck out on your own again, didn’t you? Did you even consider how chaotic tonight has been? You suddenly disappearing probably made them think something terrible happened to you."

"S-sorry... hehe... I just didn’t want to fall behind and miss you guys."

"Well, you’ve caught up now, and we’ve said everything that needed saying. Off you go."

"Mhm... okay..."

Livra gave a small wave with her hand.

She watched their backs as the three gradually walked away.

The cool wind stirred the leaves; falling blossoms rustled gently beneath the starlight.

Livra stood among the branches and starbursts, her gaze distant.

In her hand, she gripped a black feather tightly, while distant words echoed in her ears.

【You have to become strong yourself—strong enough to protect those who matter to you.】

【So troublesome... always crying. Hey, hey, stop crying already. If you’ve got time to cry, you should use it to figure out how to smile instead!】

【Ahem, I’m just a nosy passerby who happens to stand up for justice. I call it... punishing evil and promoting good!】

Those words had etched themselves into young Livra’s heart on that day.

Standing before her, that bloodstained figure who still managed to smile so gently—Livra could no longer remember who she was or what she looked like.

But she remembered that day’s sky...

Black feathers had drifted down from above.

She looked down at the black feather in her hand.

At some point, the protective magic that had already been used up had once again begun to glow faintly.

It was as if, the next time danger came, that silhouette would still stand before her.

Just as always.

She clenched the feather tightly.

This girl—who always grew timid at critical moments, who always swallowed back the words she wanted to say...

This time, she actually raised her voice and shouted at the figure walking away once more.

"Miss Shaya...!"

"Huh? Livra, is something wrong?"

"Yes! You said... after the tournament, you had something you wanted to say to me alone. That promise... does it still count?!"

"You you you...!"

Sheffy had thought she could finally escape cleanly!

Livra, do you even realize that what you just said has doubled the pressure of the surrounding air?!

Back then, Sheffy had said that because she intended to confess that she and Shaya were the same person.

Now that Livra had already guessed the truth, there was really no need to...

Hm?

"I suppose... it still counts." From afar, Sheffy placed a hand to her forehead and gave a weak wave, replying briefly, "Tomorrow afternoon. The villa by the lake in the outskirts. The fishing lake. If you want to come, then come. If not, that’s fine too."

"...!"

Could a jet-black feather, in a person’s eyes, appear as pure white?

Livra stood frozen for a long, long time.

Until the silhouette had completely vanished, she finally remembered—she had something she needed to say, properly!

"I’ll be there...! Miss Shaya, thank you!!"

...................................

On the way to the villa in the outskirts, Sheffy was under immense pressure.

"Unbelievable... unbelievable, Royal Sister! A promise? Don’t tell me that girl earlier too...?"

"Belith, calm down. She’s not. I was talking to her about a very ordinary promise. Mm-hmm, completely ordinary."

"Haa... I’m sorry, Royal Sister... too many things happened today. I was being rash. So... Royal Sister, did you say earlier you needed to hurry home?"

"Yeah, there’s a fire lizard at home. I’m not sure if it’s escaped—I have to check. If it’s gone, that’s fine, just as long as it doesn’t burn the house down."

"There’s another one at home?!"

53. A Hidden Gratitude

"What...?! You’re actually going back today? That’s great...! Uh... no, I mean, it’s such a pity you won’t be staying here for the night."

"Royal Sister... you really were trying to kick me out just now, weren’t you..."

"Not at all. If you think I had that thought, then it just means you underestimate me—it definitely wasn’t what I actually thought."

By the lake near the villa in the outskirts, Belith gazed into the distance with a touch of regret, her eyes resting on the reflection of two moons of different colors.

Of course, she wished she could stay by her Royal Sister’s side, to reclaim the days when opening her eyes meant seeing her smile.

But this wasn’t the place.

This was the Hero’s residence.

Not the Demon King’s Castle filled with memories of her and her Royal Sister.

Well... while it was often said that "home is wherever Royal Sister is", the truth was—everyone had pride buried deep in their hearts.

Especially when it came to a “rival in love” like the Hero, Belith could never compromise on this.

—Just as she couldn’t compromise with the wrongs she had committed in the past.

Because of me, Royal Sister feels like she can’t stay home. She’s under too much pressure.

Now, I will completely make things right—turn our home warm again, and bring back the Demon Clan Princess who belongs in the Demon King’s Castle.

"Let’s leave it at that for today."

Belith turned her back.

She half-turned her head, and in her dark purple eyes flashed a bolt of lightning—her sharp, commanding presence pierced straight into Xiarette’s gaze.

"What happened at the arena tonight has had a massive impact. Not just in the Kingdom of Aurus—the Demon Domain is going to be swept into the same public frenzy. In the coming days, I’ll need to return to the Demon King’s Army and stabilize the situation, to help my Royal Sister implement her vision of peace. And you... Hero, I don’t need to remind you of what you should be doing, do I?"

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