Chapter 54
"Understood..."
Sheffy deliberately picked only such trivial matters to talk about... probably because she did not want her to get too involved in the conflict between the sisters, wanting to shoulder the troubles alone.
Belith: You call that a trivial matter?
Even though her inherently stubborn nature resisted it.
"Sigh... Sheffy, something like this shouldn’t be the true reason why your relationship with your sister became so tense. There must be other reasons... surely there are."
But as Nona Wright looked at her own bandaged arms, what pride did she have left?
"Mm... maybe so. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you... there are some things... even I don’t understand myself."
So-called arrogance... had long since been shattered when she faced Jeffriel, crushed by that flashing bolt of lightning.
"It’s alright. When you feel like it, Sheffy, and are willing to tell me about your story, we can then analyze and discuss Miss Belith’s mindset together. Matters of the heart... cannot be rushed."
Amid the soldiers’ applause and cheers welcoming them on both sides, Xiarette subtly waved in response.
Standing close to Sheffy, one could catch the tender, milky scent wafting from her silver hair.
Miss Shaya, on the other hand, walked with both hands resting behind her head, her stride carrying an air of arrogance that somehow still felt justified, completely abandoning the elegance she displayed when entering the Grand Hall earlier.
Even though she was saying "matters of the heart cannot be rushed," the gaze Xiarette now cast toward her own Sheffy had nothing at all to do with "not rushing."
Elegance?
A return journey of a hundred meters feels like a sea; walking thousands of miles together is called love.
Was there still a need for elegance now?
Sheffy... we’ve come so far together. Soon... there may be things... that this older sister cannot afford to "not rush."
We’re now heroes who repelled the Six-Winged Demons! We should be proudly arrogant!
Be prepared, alright...?
Uncle Jeffriel, you arrived at just the right time! You helped little knight Shaya rack up an impressive achievement.
Sheffy Harl had no idea that the back of her head was being stared at intently, like a "hunter" eyeing its prey. She was still shaking her head with a sigh.
Hahaha! The name of this orphaned little knight Shaya—won’t it soon be famous across the land? From now on, everyone will surely offer me donuts to show their respect!
"Yeah... judging by what she said just now, Belith might come by again at some point."
Just as Miss Shaya was lost in her own daydreams...
"Is Sheffy looking forward to her coming?" The question carried a double meaning.
In front of them, a shadow suddenly loomed.
"Who... who would look forward to that? It’s pointless. That kind of sister—I don’t need her!"
Sheffy stopped along with Xiarette and looked ahead.
"Still pretending to be tough~"
They spotted a short-haired girl with golden hair, wrapped up like a big white bear, blocking the way.
"I’m not..."
And she wasn’t even looking them in the eye, turning her head off to the side!
"Alright, alright~ not looking forward, not at all."
Oh ho...! Aren’t you the one who called me an idiot earlier!
Sheffy was sharp-tongued, but Xiarette understood that deep down, she was actually a little happy about this.
What, still not behaving after being beaten up this badly?! If you want a fight, I’m ready!
In her past life, Sheffy had been a left-behind child, relying only on her own company to feel a sense of family.
Shaya quietly slipped her bag of donuts into her Storage Magic with priority protection, while warily eyeing the suddenly appearing Nona Wright in front of them.
But in this life... she now had a real family. How could she truly be as indifferent as she claimed?
Xiarette was about to take Sheffy to meet the king. This sudden interruption left her confused about what was going on.
If Sheffy really didn’t care—
"Nona cousin...? May I ask... what are you doing here...?"
—she wouldn’t have stayed up late catching fish to give to Belith.
"Beaten... beaten up like this."
Look at her clutching that bag of donuts to her chest. Normally, she’d have already taken them out and eaten them.
"......"
This faint protectiveness—this was proof of how much she treasured them.
No, I’m asking why you’re blocking the road, not what condition you’re in. I have eyes; I can see that for myself.
It was obvious that Sheffy had some resentment toward Belith.
Usually, when Nona Wright saw Xiarette carrying the Holy Sword, her eyes would be full of jealousy and anger.
But deep down, Sheffy did not truly wish to become too estranged from her family.
Yet at this moment... she didn’t even have the courage to meet Xiarette’s gaze.
A sister who had once clumsily tried to bring happiness to her younger sibling.
Deep breaths, repeated deep breaths.
And a younger sister who had distanced herself, unable to easily accept her sister’s goodwill.
Just before that little black-haired one, growing impatient, was about to go around them, Nona Wright finally summoned her courage and spoke an apology.
If these two were to walk the path toward reconciliation, it would likely be a long and difficult road ahead...
"I... I’m sorry! I was wrong!"
Just as Xiarette was thinking that—
"Eh?"
Sheffy Harl opened the bag and popped one of the donuts into her mouth.
"Mm, delicious. Tastes like home."
"I shouldn’t have been so arrogant... shouldn’t have said that Cousin Xiarette was unworthy of the Hero’s position, and even less should I have thought you were simply living in comfort in the Royal Capital... I completely understand now. The enemies you face regularly are on a level that someone like me right now couldn’t even begin to challenge... I was too conceited, too arrogant!"
"......"
This wasn’t merely an apology in words.
Alright, she did truly treasure it—but only for a little while.
Ignoring the pain in her arms, Nona Wright bent at the waist and gave a deep bow to Xiarette, expressing her apology as sincerely as possible!
Throughout this whole scene, Sylatrella within the Holy Sword was far from quiet.
So...
Would Xiarette forgive her?
"That old fool...! If I hadn’t been careless and failed to dodge, how could I have been trapped by that magic? If Lord Sheffy gives me one more chance, I’ll definitely break through that Restraint spell! That magic was powerful... but I’m even more powerful!"
Ha...
Yes, she was very powerful.
But sorry—it seemed that forgiveness or unforgiveness wasn’t even a concept Xiarette was considering.
Unfortunately, no one paid her any attention. This cold treatment only made the little Holy Sword even more excited.
Because Xiarette had never been influenced by her words in the first place... she could say what she pleased; Xiarette would simply continue on her way. They had always been two separate things.
But it seemed that Sylatrella had used too much magic in the previous battle and soon fell silent.
That was all well and good.
Her soul was probably asleep within the sword now.
By this point, they could already see the outline of the Grand Hall in the distance.
Hearing these words of apology, Xiarette indeed felt much lighter in spirit.
Over there, the lights shone brightly—apparently the Grand Hall’s Light Magic Crystals had resumed their supply.
And it wasn’t just Nona Wright... among the Wright Family members lining up behind her, quite a few were already bowing their heads slightly. Their meaning was very clear.
It wasn’t just the lights of the hall; the army stationed on the outskirts of the Royal Capital had also raised torches and released floating illumination Magic Stones, remaining on high alert against a second Demon Clan attack.
This was everyone’s first time facing the Six-Winged Demons. The sense of helplessness had only highlighted the Hero’s valor even more—but this time, no one felt jealous.
Originally, no one should have been using this small path leading to the Grand Hall anymore, since they still weren’t certain whether there was danger ahead.
Because everyone understood very well: without the strength to fight alongside the Head of the Wright Family, they had no right to speak ill of the Hero.
Yet... there would always be someone who walked against the light.
"Nona cousin, please lift your head."
Clad in emerald green, eyes brimming with tears, a young girl was rushing anxiously down this path toward them.
"But... I... I really was..."
"Uuuu...! Miss Shaya! Lord Xiarette!! You’re alright... you’re really alright! That’s wonderful!! Is it really you?! Uu nya...?!"
"It’s human nature to be impulsive. What matters most is the calm that follows. I believe cousin will only grow stronger from now on. Mm... I wonder if it bothers you that someone a year younger is speaking to you in such a lecturing tone. If you don’t like it... I won’t say any more."
Uu nya?!
"No, no! Absolutely not! I’m very happy right now! Thank you for saying that!"
So this was the sound a princess made when she stumbled!
Upon hearing this, Nona Wright quickly raised her head and stood upright, wanting to wave her hands—but the pain from her fractured arms swiftly taught her another harsh lesson.
Livra Aurus was wearing a long dress, running so fast... with high heels catching on her hem, wasn’t it only natural that she would fall forward headfirst!
They laughed so brightly, as if all grudges had been wiped away with a single smile.
"Princess Livra?! Are... are you alright?!"
Ah yes, now the internal conflicts within their family seemed to have been resolved.
"Ugh... I’m... I’m fine, but my spirit... my spirit has suffered a tremendous blow..."
But Miss Shaya thought to herself...
—What about my apology?
Livra was lying on the ground, supporting herself with her arms, scratching the back of her head with an awkward, sheepish smile.
I got scolded by her too!
At that moment, Sheffy Harl noticed a detail.
Livra’s eyes were red, as if she had cried a lot.
She called me an idiot before! And more than once, she called me a fool!
Perhaps... in all this time, she had cried more than just a little.
Seeing the little black-haired girl standing confidently beside Xiarette, clearly wanting to demand an explanation, Nona Wright gave an apologetic smile and also offered an apology to Shaya.
"Um... Livra, have you been crying? What happened?"
"Ah..."
"Miss Shaya too... appearances can be deceiving. You may be short, with short legs, but your courage is something I truly admire."
This silly princess—one fall and she completely forgot the important matters.
"...?"
Reminded by Miss Shaya’s words, the ever-cheerful Third Princess suddenly burst into tears once more!
Are you sure this is an apology?
"Ugh...! I thought... I thought Lord Xiarette and Miss Shaya were both dead! Wuwuwu..."