Chapter 17
The silver-haired dumpling settled down, slowly poking her head out from under the covers.
Watching Sheffy, who was clearly pretending to have been hurt by the knock, Xiarette propped herself up on the bed, patted her head, and asked:
"Alright, alright... I should’ve known this is just how you are. Mm... so about what we just talked about, is it really okay?"
"Ow\... it’s fine, my head doesn’t hurt."
"I meant your sister!"
Why are you cursing me?!
To make the conversation more efficient, Xiarette decided to express her thoughts a bit more clearly this time.
"Sheffy, I can understand that you decided to leave the Demon Domain without telling the Demon King and Queen. It couldn’t be helped, after all, you came here as a prisoner... there would be a lot of complications. But you didn’t even tell your sister? Normally, if it’s between sisters, and she doesn’t know the real situation, she’d probably be very worried, right...?"
Even as she asked, Xiarette knew it probably wouldn’t make much difference.
Since Sheffy had decided to leave, she likely hadn’t told anyone. She just quietly left home on her own.
But Xiarette felt that if it was like that... then Sheffy was just too pitiful.
Even if she couldn’t explain it to her parents, if she trusted her sister and had a good relationship with her, she could’ve told her the truth and asked her to keep it a secret. Wouldn’t that count as a kind of emotional release?
Carrying all the pressure alone was exhausting. But if trusted family could help share some of the burden, surely it would be a lot easier!
But Xiarette didn’t expect—
After a brief moment of absentmindedness, Sheffy gave a gentle refusal.
"Ah... it’s fine, really."
She said it was fine.
But on Sheffy Harl’s face—usually mischievous—there suddenly appeared a trace of helpless, bitter laughter.
"It’s no big deal if I don’t tell that kid... she kind of hates me anyway. Maybe it’s because I always steal the spotlight, taking away the glory that should belong to her as the Second Demon Princess? Anyway, whenever we’re face to face, she acts like she can’t be bothered with me."
As she spoke, Sheffy let out a rare, heavy sigh.
"Ahh, she used to stick to me a lot when we were little... I don’t know what happened, but she suddenly started disliking me. Since she hates me, there’s nothing I can do, right\~ So I won’t tell her. I’m guessing, even if I did, she wouldn’t help me keep the secret. Who knows, maybe she’d even be happy I left the Demon Domain? After all... this annoying obstacle finally got out of her way."
"Sheffy..."
"It’s fine, really, don’t worry. Just saying, I’m not feeling down—just complaining a little!"
Sheffy Harl sat up as well, leaning against the wall. She tilted her head toward Xiarette and let out a cheeky grin.
Her silver hair spilled to the side like a waterfall.
She smiled, fearless and unbothered.
But... even so, Xiarette could still see the helplessness hidden deep within.
Sheffy, the genius Demon Clan Princess, admired and praised by all—but in truth, much of that admiration was nothing more than dependence.
The Demon King and Queen cared for her because she was the daughter the Demon Clan took pride in—but that pride was built on the premise that she was born a blessed prodigy, a pride that came with the crushing weight of responsibility.
Even her own sister... couldn’t open her heart to her.
It was unimaginable how much burden such a small body had to bear to make it through twenty years of passing springs and fading autumns.
Thankfully... all those burdens should now be lifted.
Let that be some comfort.
At least, that was what Xiarette wanted to say.
“People always say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone... maybe now that your sister has ‘lost’ you, she’ll regret being so cold before.”
“No way, no way! You have no idea—back in the Demon Clan’s great hall, that kid practically came at me with blades drawn! Super fierce!”
“What on earth happened between you two for it to come to this...?”
“I can’t really say... maybe... it started when I liked to call her ‘Shorty’ when we were little?”
“......”
So that... that’s really the refreshingly odd origin of a sisterly fallout?
17. Night Talk
Well... since this was an internal family issue for Sheffy, Xiarette decided not to press further.
She still knew too little about Sheffy’s past life in this timeline, so for now, she didn’t have the ability—or the right—to offer advice.
Still, Xiarette hoped that if the chance ever came, Sheffy could reconcile with her family, rather than forcing a smile while quietly leaving her homeland, seeking peace in such a solitary way.
It was possible.
The evidence was—when Sheffy talked about these things, she didn’t show any hatred toward her family.
Under the starry night pressing down on Jade Lake, morning breeze stirring through whispering trees—
Had they chatted just a little longer, dawn might’ve already broken outside the window.
But the two girls on this small bed only became more animated as the conversation went on, as if it were not the dead of night, but midday tea time.
A tea party without tea or pastries.
\~
The two sat side by side, leaning against the headboard, with only the faint fragrance lingering close from each other—yet that alone was enough to bring comfort.
Xiarette played with a lock of golden hair lying on the pillow with her fingers, gazing out at the endless lake beyond the windows, where the stars were mirrored in its still waters, and mumbled to herself.
“Sheffy... you really need to be careful not to cause too big a commotion in the future. That’s what I’m worried about...”
“You’re still afraid I’ll blow up your house, huh?”
“No, I’m worried that if my house gets blown up, someone from the Kingdom might notice and then come looking to cause you trouble.”
“Then what’s there to fear!” Sheffy Harl once again rolled up her sleeves, showing off her skinny, muscle-less arms! “Whoever comes, I’ll beat them up! I protect my daily life!”
“But if you’re beating up everyone who comes, wouldn’t that just turn into a battlefield again?”
“Ah... yeah, that’s true.”
And you say I’m the blockhead, Sheffy... Sometimes you’re pretty slow yourself.
That was exactly what Xiarette meant to express.
Before she realized it, her shoulder had moved closer to Sheffy’s.
Until it lightly touched hers.
"Actually, I don’t feel very confident..." Xiarette suddenly lowered her voice and said quietly.
"Huh?"
"At the royal meeting today, I had this vague feeling... that the Kingdom and the Theocracy won’t just stand by when it comes to you. They’ll make a move for sure. But what exactly they’ll do... whether it’ll ruin the kind of life you want—we still don’t know."
"Heehee\~ Didn’t you just say you were fearless? What’s with the sudden slump?"
"Mm... must be because I met you. You’ve led me astray."
"Blame me?!"
"Blame you."
Of course it’s your fault, Sheffy.
Before I knew you existed in this world... I only knew that I was the Hero, with duties to protect the Kingdom.
I got tired, I got annoyed too.
But once I’d finished being tired and annoyed, I didn’t know what else I could do that truly mattered.
Born into the family known as the Sword of the Nation, all those seemingly unreasonable expectations could only be explained away as “perfectly natural.” Whether it was being sent to the front lines to deter the enemy or preparing stiff, dull speeches to inspire the people.
There was even a time when I truly believed that fighting for the Kingdom was enough—that life should be lived that way.
Until I met you again on the battlefield.
That smile in the midst of scorched earth... that hand reaching out to me—so dazzling.
In that moment, the entire world of "Hero Xiarette" shifted from dull greys and blood-reds into vivid, brilliant color.
Xiarette gradually remembered that the meaning of living wasn’t just about fighting and killing... but something even more important—
—called peace and quiet days.
On the surface, it looked like Xiarette was the one protecting Sheffy’s dream life.
But in truth... it was Sheffy who had reached out to her from the flames of purgatory, pulling her into a vast, boundless sky and sea.
Even so... Sheffy, you still dare say you didn’t “lead me astray”?
Without realizing it, Xiarette closed her eyes and leaned her head against Sheffy Harl’s shoulder.
Golden hair and silver hair intertwined, shining together to form the world’s most exquisite hues.
“Sheffy... I don’t think it’s that I have no confidence, I’m just worried...”
“W-Worried about what?”
Xiarette...! You’re heavy!
Not just her head—even the “slime” was weighing down on Sheffy’s arm!!
The earnest Sheffy Harl didn’t dare say a word, didn’t dare ask, didn’t dare move.
But... what mattered more—
She was listening seriously to Xiarette’s heartfelt words.
This girl had been keeping up a calm front ever since leaving the battlefield. Only now, in such a quiet moment, did she finally speak from the heart.
So go on, say what you want—I’m listening.
Xiarette’s eyes sharpened.
Then she suddenly said something that left Sheffy momentarily stunned.
“If... I’m just saying *if*, if things really spiral out of control... if we can’t live peacefully in the Kingdom, then... Sheffy, let’s leave together. Not in the Human Realm, not in the Demon Domain. Let’s find a place where we can live properly.”
“......”
“Sheffy...?”
Sheffy Harl’s petite body trembled slightly.
“I...”
“You...?”
“I... I... I really can’t with you, you blockhead!!
Ahhh! Are you actually a complete idiot?!”
“Ah...! Ow!”
Sheffy suddenly sprang up, barefoot on the bed, forming her hand into a chop and lightly thwacking Xiarette’s head—as if returning the knock from earlier.
But she used just a little more force than Xiarette had! That made it fair!
If one didn’t look closely, it’d be hard to notice her cheeks were a little redder than before.
Whether it was from fluster, anger—or something else entirely.
But the way she stomped her foot in frustration? That was definitely real.
“You blockhead Hero... seriously, have some sense, will you! Just think for a second—your whole life is in the Kingdom of Aurus. If you run off with me, you’ll be branded a disgrace for the rest of your life. Didn’t you say your family gets along well? And now just to slack off with me, you’re thinking of running away from home? That’s just dumb! Go bang your head on tofu and smarten up!”
Xiarette rubbed her head where she’d been whacked.
Her mouth puffed up in a sulky pout.
But the words she murmured in return left Sheffy speechless.
“You say that about me... but you’re no different, are you? You were the one who gave up everything and left the Demon Domain. Doesn’t seem like you’ve got the right to lecture me...?”
“I was...! I was... Ahhh! What am I even saying! Talking about this in the middle of the night is a total disrespect to the God of Sleep! Sleep! Sleep now!”
“There’s no such thing as a God of Sleep...”