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The light that adorned the land has vanished, and high above in the sky.

A grand moon and a river of small stars. Only the Milky Way dyes the world in white light on this late night.

“Hmm.”

Siabel, dressed in pajamas of pale pink that shimmered on a white base.

She sat alone on her bed, not sleeping as late as usual, passing the time listlessly.

Sitting cross-legged, she occasionally scrunched her brows as she gazed out the slightly opened window.

Siabel’s eyes were bathed in moonlight.

“In three days… No, now it’s just one more night until it’s two days.”

The time left until Shione and Ray set off to the Great Forest.

Unless something goes awry with the plans she heard from their mother, Ainel Shianella. The two would soon escape the Count’s House.

“They sure have gotten busy since the personnel change. It’s hard to even get a glimpse of their faces.”

Didn’t they just return from the Feiosha Marquis Family?

Originally, it should have been her, not Shione, going to the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony for various reasons.

And now, they were heading to the Great Forest, which lies on the border between the Kingdom and the Empire.

“Tsk. Just adding to the worries.”

It’s no wonder to be worried.

Unlike back then, when she seemed round enough to roll down an uphill path like a ball, she actually had a fairly good relationship with her now slender younger sister.

As an older sister, it was only natural to worry.

For a moment, her previously stiff expression softened into a slight smile.

“The path we’ve tread should be quite ordinary.”

Before her sister returned from the Marquis Family, isn’t she supposed to hear news about a broken engagement first?

And after attending the coming-of-age ceremony, she’d come back brandishing a sword, said to be the token of a loyal Knight of the Royal Family.

At this rate, she might cause quite a stir even in the elves’ sanctuary, the Great Forest.

Moreover—

“They said Shione and Ray would be the only ones to twist the elves’ fate.”

There was a sudden oracle from the World Tree.

No matter how careful Shione tries to be, if the oracle doesn’t lie…

In the end, one of our family members would surely take the forefront in the events that unfold in the Great Forest.

“sigh…”

Siabel, who had just been smiling, once again froze her expression.

The Great Forest was said to be engulfed by demons and flames.

Why is it that the still immature second daughter has to bear the burden of twisting their fate?

Moreover, the suggestion that she would twist the elves’ fate in the place that’s about to become a battlefield means Shione must save them with achievements worthy of being called a war hero.

It’s incredibly dangerous. Even if it’s not physically, the mental side is worrisome.

“If only I could go and help, I would.”

But, she was the next head of the Count’s House.

The reality was that she couldn’t easily follow her.

“…Even if I can’t go with her, I should at least accompany her in spirit.”

Siabel tossed herself across the bed.

With her eyes closed for a moment, she sank into the soft comfort of the bed, gradually drifting her deep thoughts away.

Turning her head, she caught sight of items in a corner of the room.

“I did sneakily steal it from the Count’s storage…”

The woman in the pink-hued pajamas smiled innocently.

“As long as I’m not discovered before Shione leaves, it should be fine.”

Contrary to her cool demeanor, she preferred soft, warm-colored pajamas.

Regrettably, the feelings of the storeroom manager mourning the lost items were placed aside.

*

“Shione, wouldn’t it be better to move about a bit instead of lying on the bed all day?”

“…No. After two days, we’ll be riding in a carriage, constantly camping and preparing lunch, so I need to rest now.”

Cooking, packing, checking. It’s clear that every miscellaneous task would be solved by me and Friel’s underlings.

While she’d just wander around, eat, and comfortably watch me from behind.

How aggravating. Should I pull her cheeks for being so bothersome?

I thought she might continue to listen to my nagging.

But perhaps sensing my thoughts, Shione quickly buried her face halfway into the blanket.

With only her eyes peeking out, she looked up at me with bright eyes and said.

“Ray, you should rest well too.”

“Then may I take a short rest in my room?”

“That…”

Shione looked away for no real reason and scanned various places in our empty room, starting to gauge my reaction.

“…My bed is large, so there’s some space next to me.”

“Seriously…”

“The bed is fluffy, so it’s comfortable, and it helps relieve fatigue…!”

While Shione’s words flowed endlessly, a knock echoed.

A visitor had come to the room.

“Ugh…”

With Shione’s flushed ears sinking into the blanket, I turned to check who the visitor was.

Creeeak…

Beyond the door stood Bronte, Siabel’s dedicated servant.

Just like last time, when Siabel had come at the moment that would embarrass Shione.

It seemed Bronte had also mastered the art of timing perfectly.

After exchanging simple pleasantries with him, I could hear the reason for his visit.

“Lady Siabel wishes to speak with Princess Shione and Lord Ray. Is now a good time?”

On the day that a fiery orb rose into the sky, Siabel had asked to talk.

It had been during Friel’s rambling in front of her about the route to the Great Forest, and since both I and Shione had been busy preparing for our journey, we hadn’t talked with Siabel about it.

If possible, perhaps today she intends to discuss it with us.

Nodding at Bronte’s words.

“If possible, it would be better to go now…”

Bronte cast a side glance at me, his mouth curling in confusion in a peculiar way.

With bushy eyebrows and a full beard, he wore an expression laden with doubts.

He gazed at Shione, who was still tucked away in the blanket, severing her connection to the world.

Bronte tilted his head and continued speaking.

“Unless Princess Shione is taking a nap, I could delay the timing and inform Lady Siabel─”

After all, she was merely hiding out of embarrassment right now.

Just as I was about to open my mouth, signaling that it was unnecessary for him to do that.

“Hmm.”

Swish!

Shione cleared her throat and pulled off the blanket.

At the same moment, she gracefully stepped out of bed and said.

“It’s fine. I’ll go see my sister right now.”

“Oh, uh…”

Bronte and I silently observed Shione in that moment.

Among us, the first to speak up after seeing Shione like this was none other than Bronte.

“Uh… Princess Shione…?”

“Hmm? What’s the matter?”

“Would it be better for you to change your clothes before visiting Lady Siabel…?”

“Clothes?”

I also conveniently turned my gaze at Shione and joined the conversation.

“Princess Shione, you’re currently in your nightgown.”

“…?”

“You said you wouldn’t be going anywhere before dinner, so you’re still in your pajamas.”

“Ah…”

Shione looked at us with trembling eyes.

“W-Would you mind waiting outside for a moment…?”

“Willingly.”

“…I’ll wait outside.”

Creeeak!

As soon as Bronte and I stepped outside, Shione’s door closed behind us.

Bronte looked back and forth at the door and me with a blank expression.

I just shrugged in indifference.

Don’t worry. She’s always like this.

*

The door opened, and Shione stepped out.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, let’s go.”

Having said that, Shione smiled gently before starting to walk ahead slowly.

I checked her outfit.

She had tidied up her hair more neatly than it was before, now donned in formal attire.

Transformed into a suitable appearance that wouldn’t raise eyebrows anywhere—

“A sword…?”

Why on earth was she bringing a sword to meet her sister?

“Surely, that sword…”

The one Shione carried was the renowned sword awarded to her by the royal family as a reward for her loyalty and service to Adelheit.

It was a sword that usually hung in one corner of her room, gathering dust, which she now carried with grace.

What was her real intention for having it with her now?

“Hmm…”

With a deeper stride than usual, shoulders back, and standing tall, she was looking straight ahead without any hint of her usual brightness.

But still, from what was visible as of now.

“Why…?”

What on earth was my master planning this time?

The air surrounding her radiated the atmosphere of a second daughter, trying to thwart a coup related to the position of the next head of the house.

*

After a slight hiccup, we made our way to find Siabel.

The conversation with Siabel was nothing out of the ordinary, just a repetitive discussion about the elves and the fact that we were heading to the Great Forest.

Like being trapped in a loop, lately, Shione and I mostly unraveled discussions about this.

We skillfully responded to Siabel’s questions or opinions, and the conversation was nearing its conclusion smoothly.

Just when we thought everything was wrapping up calmly without any signs of a coup from Shione—

“Shione.”

“Sis.”

The voices converged at once.

Shione awkwardly smiled as she said.

“Oh, sis, please go ahead.”

“Is that alright? I could let Shione speak first.”

Shione merely nodded in silence.

Siabel simply followed suit.

“Then… Ray and Shione, could you come over here for a moment?”

“Over there, you mean?”

“Yep. I have some gifts to give.”

“Gifts…?”

As Siabel walked to where she had stopped, a short sword hung against the wall.

On a small table lay several rings.

The rings bore intricate geometric engravings, reminiscent of the artifacts Siabel had previously given me.

Siabel lifted the sword from the wall and handed it to Shione.

“This is…?”

“I thought a long sword might be cumbersome and uncomfortable when handling a bow. Your gear seemed a bit lacking, so I prepared this separately. Please check it out.”

Shione examined the sword.

Craftsmanship by a master smith.

The quality of the blade seemed impeccable, evidence that it could be considered a masterpiece.

“Is it really alright for me to receive this?”

“Of course. This is a gift prepared by your sister for you. There’s no one else to give it to.”

“…Thank you, sis.”

“And there are these rings as well. Use them together with Ray.”

“Are all these rings artifacts? Isn’t this a bit too much?”

“What are you talking about? With my sister and my disciple going to twist the fate of the Great Forest, I feel I should do at least this much.”

“Just your goodwill is already more than enough.”

Siabel smiled lightly.

Shione, fidgeting, became absorbed in her sister’s generosity before finally grabbing the handle of her sword.

A coup is most often born during the most tragic of times.

I held my breath, watching to see whether her hand would let go of the sword or not.

“Well, sis…”

Fortunately, Shione instead sheathed the sword and gently offered it back to Siabel.

“Please accept my sword.”

“My sword?”

Siabel’s gaze locked onto the sword.

“That sword… isn’t it the one you received from the royal family? Are you sure you want to give this to me?”

“Yes, I won’t do it any favors just letting it gather dust. I hope you would wield it.”

“Are you really alright with this? No matter how much you don’t draw it, that sword is like your symbol.”

Siabel’s gaze delved deeply into Shione’s eyes.

“The meaning behind the renowned sword bestowed by the royal family. It’s a sword awarded to the most loyal and trustworthy knight acknowledged by them… a sword that belongs in the Royal Knights Order.”

“I know.”

“You wanted to be a knight. This sword symbolizes that the royal family acknowledges your contributions in defending the princess. It means you should keep it…”

“Sister.”

“…What?”

“I would like you to accept it. A sword only gains value when someone wields it. And the one whom it best suits is you, Siabel.”

Shione cheekily shrugged her shoulders as if it was a casual thing.

“And I already have my own bow.”

Siabel watched her sister in silence before a smirk broke across her face.

“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”

Saying that, Siabel took the sword with her left hand and started ruffling Shione’s hair with her right.

A sudden storm swept through their hair, and Shione’s neatly arranged hair was wonderfully disheveled.

The two smiled at each other, and Siabel jovially said.

“How could I ever repay you for this? Would a kiss from me suffice?”

At that moment, Shione’s expression dropped, turning serious.

“No, that’s fine.”

“But still—”

“Just the rings and the sword alone are already more than enough.”

“Geez, what a shame.”

Well, a kiss between sisters.

If you think about it that way, it’d be like a brotherly kiss on Earth.

It’s understandable why Shione would look so stern about it.

After a small laugh, as the series of events came to an end, right before the moment of farewell, I was merely observing them.

“Oh, and Ray.”

Siabel called out to me just before parting.

“There’s still one thing I haven’t given you yet. Can you follow me to my private practice room for a moment?”

With the sword and rings barely enough.

How many gifts does she have in store? I wondered if there was more yet to come.

 

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