novelraw Chapter 211
Chapter 211
Chapter 211
"But..."
"No buts. If you overthink these pointless things and end up distancing yourself from your sister without meaning to, wouldn’t that be a loss for your sister?"
"I'm not distancing myself... I've always..."
"Mm-hmm, I know. Even though Sheffy feels conflicted and upset, she still always speaks to her sister like usual. Sheffy is really gentle... truly heartwarming."
"Hey...!"
Her face... Xiarette! Your face is way too close!
Actually, Xiarette hadn't even moved her face closer yet.
It was just that Sheffy, caught off guard by a few words from Xiarette’s occasionally clear-headed, blockheaded self, had her heart stirred far too easily. Her face flushed red, her body temperature spiked, and she mistakenly thought their cheeks were already touching.
In reality...
—Their cheeks had just touched now.
Bling~~
Cheek to cheek, their collagen-filled faces pressed together, the heat each radiated indistinguishable from the other, blurring the line between body warmth and heartbeat.
Xiarette held her in a treasured embrace, gradually tightening her arms, unwilling to part from her even the slightest bit.
"When I was first reincarnated into this world as a baby, I couldn’t remember anything. No memories, no awareness. I couldn’t recall any of my past. But Sheffy, do you know? The year I finally regained my memories, I froze up—and I was scared."
"Was it because there was too much information all at once...?" Sheffy blinked, unconsciously shrinking deeper into Xiarette’s arms. "Makes sense. In my case, I remembered everything even when I was just a baby. Back then, my mind was full of one thought: whether Xiarette’s illness had been cured. After all, my brain wasn’t that developed yet, so I was just like an idiot, thinking about that every day. Mother even thought I was some kind of mentally deficient fool during that period."
"It wasn’t because there was too much information... I wasn’t a baby anymore at that time."
She held Sheffy even tighter, and tighter still.
As if trying to merge her completely into herself, Xiarette's gaze held a depth far beyond that of any lake, full of overwhelming affection.
"Setting aside what you just said—it moved your sister deeply, you know...? But right now, I’m talking about myself."
Xiarette spoke words she had long wanted to tell Sheffy, yet had always found too difficult to say.
But now—she could say them.
"I remembered that there was someone I still couldn’t stop worrying about. If I had reincarnated... then were you here, too?"
"If you were, and happened to be born into a well-off family with no worries, that would be fine. But if luck wasn’t on your side... and things were like before, with your parents constantly away on business trips and you always alone, always by yourself—what would happen then?"
"Back then, I was there with you. I was so glad we lived so close. After school, at dinnertime, I could just open the window and call out to you."
And you were always waiting by your window for me to call you.
Snapping back with an annoyed "I know."
But still arriving faster than the wind.
As a child, watching your back while you played alone in the garden, I felt something stir in my heart, but always assumed it had nothing to do with me.
Later, when she watched you lean alone against the doorframe, gazing into the distant starlit sky—
Butterflies fluttered around you but scorned to linger, flying toward the horizon—
And you, still standing there—
It was then that I could no longer just stand silently behind you.
From the moment I spoke to you, invited you to share the seasons with me—
The butterflies were no longer fated to dance alone.
You called me “sister,” and so, we became family.
I jokingly mentioned “fate,” and suddenly, the trees bore rings of time.
All right then.
Whether in life or death, I will be with you.
As long as there’s you and me, there will be no loneliness—wherever we are, the sun will shine, and flowers will bloom.
But what if... what if I’m no longer there to be with you?
Xiarette gripped Sheffy’s small hand tightly. The vulnerability behind her strength could no longer be hidden—and she didn’t want to hide it.
"I came back to life in this world... I hoped that you were alive too, but that hope also terrified me. I feared you might be in some lonely corner. I feared you'd forgotten me. I feared you might be crying alone again. Over those years, I often wondered... would Sheffy still remember me...? No... whether you remembered me or not doesn’t matter. What I feared, what hurt me the most—was opening the window and finding no neighbor."
In the Wright Family's estate, opening the window revealed only a desolate field.
Just like an empty heart, swept by autumn winds—
Directionless, with no road home, no destination in sight.
No neighbor—meant you were no longer by my side.
Then where were you?
All alone again—was anyone there to wipe your tears?
All alone again—was anyone there to watch the butterflies with you?
Was there anyone calling you to dinner? Was there someone to keep you company?
In Xiarette's heart, the answer became clearer. She even prayed to the gods.
Ah...
So what she had been praying for all along—wasn’t a selfish wish for Sheffy to return to her side.
At the very least—
If Sheffy had been reincarnated into this world, then in this life, she hoped Sheffy would definitely have a “neighbor.”
Even if that neighbor wasn’t her—
At least, when seeing Sheffy sad, please don’t just stand silently behind her.
Instead, pat her on the shoulder, and say—
【“Why are you all alone? Ah... are you crying? Come on, tell me what’s wrong, okay?”】
By some miracle—
Xiarette’s prayer had come true.
"Ha... So Sheffy really did have a ‘new neighbor’ in this life. With your identity as a Demon Clan Princess, and your overwhelming power... it really felt like—such a close call. You were so close to ending up all alone. But thankfully... Belith stepped forward."
"Yeah... I'm grateful that Belith didn’t avoid me. Even though there was a period where her brain short-circuited and she got all muddled... she’s a good girl."
That's right.
She wasn’t afraid of you. She was willing to turn back and look at you.
Even if the road was bumpy, she chased after your shadow with all her time—never leaving you behind.
Xiarette felt—there was nothing to complain about.
Because the gods not only arranged a “neighbor” for Sheffy in this life—
They even let her and Sheffy reunite.
Two lifetimes of happiness combined—
Blossoms in full bloom, and stars sparkling in the sky.
So then, was there anything left worth resenting or complaining about?
There wasn’t.
The reason Sheffy always failed to catch a fish might not have been bad luck after all.
It was just as she had said—
—Every “big fish” reeled in over the course of one’s life was a dreamlike rarity.
“So... I believe that both myself and little sister Belith are irreplaceable parts of Sheffy’s heart. If I were the one to personally sever that other part, then that would be the true harm done to you... and your sister doesn’t want to do something like that. So, thinking of it this way, some things actually become easier to accept. Of course! I’m talking about little sister Belith! As for situations like the one earlier with Timani—Sheffy, you must be careful! You absolutely, absolutely can’t make your sister too jealous, okay? That’s really important!”
Everything she wanted to say, Xiarette shared with Sheffy.
And when she had finished—
There was no need for Sheffy to reply with anything similar.
Because Sheffy had already responded with the most romantic answer—through action rather than words.
Two small arms wrapped around Xiarette’s neck.
They sat close, lips touching.
The snow-haired girl offered a passionate kiss, thanking the one she loved most for opening that window all those years ago, and for the gaze filled with deep affection cast across the open field.
---
41. Enough talking!
Now, with no escape left, Sheffy finally achieved a peaceful, exquisite sleep.
There truly was destiny at work in all things.
You think that struggle over the bed earlier was meaningless?
Absolutely not. It was brimming with meaning!
Owning a sturdy enough bedboard—one that wouldn’t collapse no matter how much tossing and turning occurred—was the essential foundation for a joyful life.
From the moment their lips touched, to the trail of kisses left across the entire body—
The moment Sheffy took the initiative to lean her little mouth toward Xiarette, the flames of war had already been lit.
Golden hair flared as she pounced upon the silver sheen, making that afternoon vividly unforgettable.
Look at the setting sun, burning from noon until dusk—
Didn’t it resemble the blush on Sheffy’s face when her legs kicked out as she lost consciousness?
It was nearly nightfall.
Xiarette gently caressed Sheffy’s silky silver hair as she slept—just as she had moments ago caressed her silky bare skin.
Xiarette herself was equally unclothed, a sheet as light as cicada wings casually draped over her striking figure. Every inch of her flawless curves made even the chill of this first snowy day recede in awe—
As though the only warmth left in the world was that which flowed between two people who embraced with true love.
Like this, stroking and admiring Sheffy’s hair and sleeping face, Xiarette had stayed in that posture for over an hour.
She didn’t tire of it—not even a little.
If nothing in the world were to interrupt, Xiarette was confident she could gaze at her like this for all eternity without ever looking away.
“Mmm... I can’t eat anymore... eat eat eat... sweet...”
The sulky mumbling in her dreams brought a soft smile to Xiarette’s lips.
This little one must be having some wonderful dream again—probably eating something delicious. She mumbled while chewing in her sleep; when it came to food, Sheffy really didn’t fall behind for even a second.
The tenderness in her gaze deepened as Xiarette gently brushed aside Sheffy’s silver bangs, damp with fragrant sweat.
She lowered her lips once more, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
A whisper, tender and unwilling to wake her, was filled with a love as warm and gentle as time itself.
"Even if Sheffy is eating in her dreams... it’s still your sister who cooked for you, okay? When you wake up... your sister’s definitely going to ask what you were eating. You're not allowed to let anyone else cook for you... Hehe... saying it out loud feels so much better."
Back when Belith had tried to snatch the kitchen from her, Xiarette only endured it because she didn’t want to start a fight.
But just how fiercely jealousy had boiled within her, and how much she had wanted to pour it all out to Sheffy—only she herself truly knew.
Thankfully... Sheffy accepted all of her sister’s moods and willfulness.
Xiarette’s toes unintentionally brushed against Sheffy’s small feet, and Sheffy's body instantly tensed and trembled. Such a sensitive reaction was clear proof of just how hard she had worked earlier—desperate to return Xiarette's affection, to make up for what had been lost.
Though, in the end... she had been the first to collapse.
Not that it was her fault—because Xiarette really had gone all out this time.
She had bottled up so much frustration over the past few days, just like a stream blocked off by stones.
Now that the stones were removed, the waters had nothing holding them back—rushing forward with torrential force, unhindered.
And though the "stream" referred to Sheffy—
Xiarette’s hand, still stroking Sheffy’s hair, gradually slowed.
She looked toward the window, where dusk had begun to fade, giving way to nightfall.
So it was already this late...
Sigh, as much as she wanted to hold Sheffy forever, if she kept clinging to her and indulging in this moment, the important matters would be delayed.
Queen Herilet had specifically reminded her—it was fine for Xiarette to check on Sheffy, but she must try to set out by nightfall. Otherwise, if she fell behind the army's pace, all sorts of unpredictable things could happen.
At the time, Xiarette had thought the queen’s warning a little odd. After all, she was just dropping by to see whether Sheffy had finished packing her things—how could that possibly drag on until evening?
Now, cradling the delicate silver-haired bundle in her arms, Xiarette suddenly felt ashamed of her lack of foresight.
The queen really did think far ahead... while I’m the foolish one. I need to learn from her.
Uh... wait a minute?
No, that’s not right...
Xiarette suddenly fell into thought, and the more she recalled that knowing, mischievous smile on the queen’s face back then...