NOVEL NEXT 56. Sister?
Julia went back to bed and flopped face down on it. Rolling around for a few seconds, she then grabbed the blanket and put it over herself.
"Looks like whoever holds us here has arrived."
Julia said it lazily and turned around.
"I am not going to wait for them. They should wait for me."
I am a princess, for heaven’s sake! She grumped and covered herself in more blankets. Lily didn’t really understand what her master meant, but regardless, she climbed onto the bed and forced herself under the blanket. Dutifully taking her place by Julia’s side.
"What now, master?"
Lily asked with a bright smile. All the while her tail waved from side to side, or more precisely along Julia’s leg. Lily did this from time to time when her master was distressed. So far, it has proven to be extremely effective.
"We will just lay here and pretend to sleep."
Julia sounded more relaxed as she spoke. Lily mentally congratulated herself for a job well done and let her tail be hugged by her master.
"That way we will at the very least learn the temper of our captor."
Lily nodded, but she thought it would be more effective to just rip their captors to bits. But who is she to argue? If her master prefers this, then she will just follow her lead.
Meanwhile, Julia covered Kana with a blanket behind her, but still within easy reach. She intended to fight her way out if necessary. But first, she wanted to know who she was dealing with. Just wait until I get back. Your head will be on a pike. Julia smiled; she could already see how Loriam would judge whoever was behind this.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed from behind the door. Julia tensed up a bit and pretended to be asleep. Lily likewise picked up the footsteps, and once she saw Julia close her eyes, she did so as well.
After a minute, The doors had crept open, and Julia calmed her breathing. Lily followed and likewise slowed her breathing.
"… Is she still sleeping?"
"She was awake a minute ago."
Two female voices talk in a whisper. The first one sounds young, while the second seems to belong to the maid that was in the room a few minutes ago. Along with these two, Lily can sense the third person. Most likely a guard.
"Are you really that tired?"
The young, female voice said as her steps approached the bed.
"Leave."
"As you wish, your highness."
The maid vacated the room, and only the young-sounding one remained. Julia felt someone sitting on the bed right next to her. then said someone had gently patted her head and brushed her hair aside.
"You are just as beautiful as you were back then."
The voice said, sweetly. And then Julia felt soft lips that definitely belonged to a young girl being pressed against her cheek. Julia fought hard against the urge to punch this stranger who had the audacity to kiss her. As her patience was almost gone, she heard something she had not expected.
"Oh, Kana is here too? And that other girl... really, what do you like about them so much?"
Julia was sure that the girl was now frowning. Meanwhile, Lily let out a soft growl as she felt her ears being poked by the girl. Despite how much she disliked anyone other than her master touching her ears, she did her best to endure it and pretend to sleep.
"Really, I don’t get it."
The girl murmurs to herself and proceeds to move Kana away. Julia panics as she feels Kana being taken from her reach. And for a moment, she intends to just unshed Kana and force this girl to release her.
But Julia decided to go for an attack. She felt Kana being carefully placed in front of her, between Lily and herself. Then the girl carefully lifted the blanket from Julia’s body and lay right next to her. wrapping her arms around Julia.
"Hmm. Sis… I missed you."
The girl buried her head in Julia’s back. While squeezing Julia tightly in a hug. Who do you think you are?! What are you even talking about?! Julia screamed internally. She didn’t want to continue pretending to be asleep. She just wanted to give this rude person a piece of her mind.
"Ah, you’re awake? Good morning〜"
As Julia sat up and reached for Kana, a sweet, gentle voice reached her ears. As she abruptly turned around, she was met with the face of a silver-haired vampire girl, with bright ruby-like eyes. The girl’s expression seemed to be filled with love, but why she was looking with that loving expression at Julia, she could only guess.
But what surprised Julia the most was just how much the girl looked like a member of the Leranpe clan. But as far as Julia knew, the only direct members of the Leranpe clan were herself and her mother. The only other vampiric relative she knew of was her great-aunt Irea, and she barely looked like she was related to Julia.
This girl looked like a direct member of the family. With her scarlet eyes and pure silver hair, she could press her claim to the throne. As she has the traits of pure blood, nobles would have no problem supporting her.
But why was she calling Julia a sister? Very briefly, Julia thought that Loriam had another daughter, and this was her. but she discarded the idea, Loriam wouldn’t stop at anything to get her child back, and by herself, she would never abandon her own daughter. Or at least Julia hoped so.
Master, do you have another sister?"
Lily asked carefully, as she also gave up pretending to sleep. While she asked, she had also moved closer to Julia, protectively.
"No, I don’t."
Julia whispered, hoping that the girl wouldn’t hear. Not realizing that she was way too close for that.
"Don’t say that, sis. After all that we did together…"
The girl sounded extremely hurt by Julia’s denial. She pouted and looked Julia in the eyes.
"That is a cruel prank, sister."
Julia wondered whether she was stupid or if the girl in front of her had something wrong with her head. Regardless, Julia gripped Kana’s handle tighter.
"I am not your sister."
Julia said while glaring at the girl’s face. Her voice contained a slight hint of anger. Contrary to Julia’s tone, a faint smile appeared on the girl’s face. As she places her hand on Julia’s cheek.
"Heh, you’re a bad liar, sis."
"I said, I am not your sister."
Julia repeated herself angrily. The girl, though, only laughed.
"Haha, sister, it's really not nice to lie to your little sister like that."
The girl snuggled up to Julia with a smile. Julia glanced at Lily, who looked at the girl while bearing her sharp teeth at her while growling. Julia then unsheathed Kana and swung it at the girl.
"I said that I am not your sister!"
Julia yelled as Kana’s blade got close to the girl. But as the blade got close, the girl jumped off the way, letting Kana’s tip pass a few centimeters from her face. Despite the attempt to kill her, she smiled and almost seemed relieved.
"Oh, so you wanted to check my skills? I guess you would have to confuse me first, but having Kana to hold back... You don’t have to be so worried about me. I am not a little girl anymore."
The girl didn’t look at all worried or cautious. She looked more like she was playing with a friend. Not having her prisoner try to escape. But as the girl said, Julia looked at Kana and saw Kana’s blade as being completely blunt. Definitely, it would hurt to get hit, but it wouldn’t be deadly.
"But if you want to measure my skills after all these years, we shouldn’t be in this room."
Julia got angry as the girl showed her a nonchalant smile. Julia didn’t care about the room, though, so she cast one of her fire spells at the girl.
"Fire lance."
Julia murmured a chant, and a slim spear of fire flew toward the girl. She smiled in expectation, and instead of evading, which would be pointless since she is so close to Julia, she quickly cast a barrier of ice. Julia’s fire spear disappeared upon contact with the barrier. Shortly after, the barrier was dispelled, and the girl looked at Julia, sulking.
"Sister, are you holding back?"
