NOVEL NEXT 72.
"Eldest sister."
A silver-haired girl peered from behind a fruit stand. Her eyes focused on the two girls in a cafe on the opposite side of the street.
"Master looks like she is having fun."
"She sure does."
Two other girls peeked from behind Nika. Unlike her, Lily and Kana hope that their master’s date ends well. While Nika doesn’t see any reason why it should, after all, that Nemi chick doesn’t deserve her sister. Hell would freeze before she would deserve to be by her side.
But she is capable of making my sister smile like this. Nika gritted her teeth and clenched her hand so tightly that she drew blood. The only time Nika saw her sister smile like this was when she watched Nika practice magic. The only other person she ever smiled at like this was Nika’s niece. She must really love her. Nika looked as if the two were feeding each other cakes. An immense feeling of jealousy took hold of her.
"Maybe I should try this with Master too?"
"I already did... a long time ago."
Lily and Kana, meanwhile, talked among themselves. Lily was enthusiastically listening to Kana talk about all that she had done with her master in the past.
"Wow, maybe I should try it too after all."
"Just how much more pampering do you want from her?"
Nika growled at them with a cold glare that could have frozen hell itself. That is not fair… That’s just not fair. Nika wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. While she may not have been the first person to stand by her side… nor the second, She was still by her sister’s side when she needed her the most.
When she wanted to vent her troubles or when she was sick. Or when she just felt a little down, she was there for her. And her sister was there for her just as much, or maybe even more. That’s what sisters are for, or so she heard from her sister all the time. That the bond between sisters can’t ever be broken.
But now here she was, watching her sister giggle while spending time with another girl.
Nika was happy for her sister. And she wished that she would be happy with the person she loves. But saying it and feeling it honestly are two completely different things. The truth is, she feels left out. She feels betrayed by her beloved sister. And yet she feels like she should let them be alone and go do something else.
Nika had never felt this conflicted before. Not even taking her own mother’s life made her feel this way. Or was it just that the first was for her sister’s sake, while the current situation is more about her own selfishness? I am a horrible sister, aren’t I?
She sighed. She always knew this moment would come. That her sister would get the girlfriend she always dreamed of. As she looked at the ongoing date, she recalled the illustrations her sister had drawn in her diary. Or the short stories she made for herself. Her sister’s sweet smile when a noble lady gave her an honest-sounding compliment Only to ridicule her behind her back...
Forgive me, sister, but I cannot accept her, not yet. Nika decided what she wanted to do. To make sure that her sister will be happy, she has to investigate this girl. Just like she did in the past. So, it should be a piece of cake.
"Ah, the master is on the move."
Lily’s voice brought Nika back to the land of the living. She franticly looked at the cafe where her sister was supposed to be but found their spot empty. The two girls were at that moment leaving the café, arms interlocked.
"Let’s go back."
Nika glanced at her sister for a moment. Then she sneaked back from where she had come. Of course, she also stopped by a street vendor to buy a bribe in the form of food for the two that were with her. Once she returned to the city’s palace, Nika started to investigate the girl her sister was currently on a date with.
…
What should I do now? At this point, manga would just cut to the protagonist denying her feelings or fantasizing about the love interest…. Julia panicked internally. Leaving the café with Nemi snuggled against her arm, Julia didn’t know what to do next. After breakfast at the café, what else could she do on a date in this medieval shithole? She couldn’t really think of anything, so she just aimlessly walked through the city with her.
Ahh, fuck my life. Julia looked around, trying to find something they could do now. But she couldn’t find anything she thought would be good for a date. Thanks to the silence between them, Julia’s mind began to wander.
Technically speaking, she is in a relationship right now. But her feelings were all over the place. While her memories from her current life told her that she loved that elf princess. Her memories and feelings from her past overwhelmed them. Making her more attracted to the petit vampire she was with right now.
Even though she knew for a fact that Olia and her mother were both kind people, Julia Just couldn’t even imagine herself with an elf. Any moment she spent with Olia prior to remembering her past lives now felt like a fever dream.
It annoyed her to a degree. Olia was an attractive woman who was smart and kind enough to be willing to be with a human and to just accept that her lover turned into a vampire girl. Who else could claim to have someone like that as their partner? And yet Julia couldn’t say with certainty that she loved her anymore.
I am a jerk, aren’t I? Julia made this self-assessment while stealing a glance at Nemi. She felt guilty about this, and she doubted Olia would even forgive her for this.
Is there something that matters, Julia?"
By the looks of it, Julia had been looking at Nemi so long that she noticed it. the look of worry on her face. But what should she even say to her? that she was thinking of another woman? That she began regretting taking her on the date? Or should she just smile and say something sweet-sounding?
"It’s nothing, just looking at something nice."
In the end, Julia decided on the last option accommodated with a smile. In response, Nemi blushed but didn’t seem convinced.
"I can tell that something is bothering you, so what is it?"
Julia wondered if she was really so easily readable or if Nemi was just that observant. If she had to bet, it would definitely be the first option.
"It’s nothing, really."
"No, it’s not. Something is bothering you, so what is it?"
Julia attempted to hide it, but Nemi had none of it and questioned her with pleading eyes. Julia finds it hard to resist her and not tell her outright. But held her ground and decided to remain silent.
"It’s that witch, isn’t it? the one from your birthday."
Nemi looked downward. Apparently, the woman’s intuition is stronger than Julia expected.
"Yes…"
Julia admitted that she had the feeling that it would make Nemi angrier if she denied it.
"It’s just that... I am supposed to have a fiancée, right? And I don’t know how I actually feel."
"I see…"
Nemi looked sadly downward. Julia awkwardly rubbed her arm before scratching her head. She felt bad about it. She cheated on her fiancée and has now made her best and only friend sad.
"Is it true then? That you have some past-life memories?"
"Yes… which is why I don’t know how to feel."
Nemi was silent for a few seconds. She looked like she was thinking about what Julia said. After this painful silence, Nemi leaned against Julia.
"Why would you not know how you feel, though."
How should Julia answer that? Say that she spent her previous life hating elves because they took everything from her? Should she say that even though she knew fully well that it was not fair to her fiancée?
"It’s just confusing for me, you know? It’s just confusing... I remember hating elves, but I also remember loving her; it’s just strange…"
Julia looked into the distance. I wish I didn’t get those memories back... Julia fidgets with the hair ornament that Nemi picked for her earlier. Ever since she got her memories back, it was like two completely different people clashed in her head. And by the sheer virtue of years, she lived her formal self-won. And along with it, her previous preferences did too.
She had a hard time deciding what she even wanted. Her first life’s desire for a cute vampire girlfriend sends her straight into a kingdom of vampires as a vampire. And until now, she had never had such an opportunity to have one.
Thanks to this, she took the opportunity without much thought. And invited Nemi on a date. It only hit her later that she had already been with someone.
"It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to force yourself; I am more than willing to wait until you sort out your feelings."
Nemi smiled at Julia as she planted a kiss on Julia’s cheek. Julia was surprised. Surprised that Nemi would actually not get angry when she told her. Before Julia said anything, Nemi turned on her heels and gave her a bright smile.
"So shall we continue this walk then?"
Nemi extended her hand to Julia, who happily took it. The two enjoyed the rest of the day, while Julia decided to push the thoughts making her feel terrible into the back of her head temporarily.
