Not long after Kiana left, Sirin pushed the door open and walked in.
The pink-haired girl was sitting there, nibbling fruit with one hand and chatting on her phone with the other, smiling so sweetly it was almost blinding.
"You actually finished all of it."
"I thought you were just bragging. Nothing that comes out of your mouth sounds real."
Faced with such blatant slander, Elysia did not even turn around. With fruit still in her mouth, she replied vaguely, "Well, when someone entrusts me with something, of course I take it seriously."
She waved her still-aching wrist.
"My hand is still sore, you know. Aren't you going to feel even a little sorry for me?"
"Sorry for you? Not a chance!"
"But my head doesn't hurt~"
Sirin's face darkened.
"I said I'm not sorry!"
Elysia immediately put down her phone, clutched her chest dramatically, and furrowed her brows.
"Ow… my poor heart…"
She looked up at Sirin, eyes glinting with playful grievance.
"Do you hate me that much?"
"Yes. I hate you. Especially that slick-tongued look you have right now."
"What about yesterday? Did you hate me yesterday too?"
"I hated you even more yesterday!"
"So that means you like me a little more today?"
Elysia suddenly broke into a grin, dragging out the last syllable.
"Then I feel much better already, Sirin~"
"You're completely hopeless."
Sirin had no counter for that kind of logic. Words failed her, and raising her hand would be rude. In the end, she simply huffed and turned away.
"Just stay here and behave. Don't wander around."
With that, she left, closing the door behind her.
"Alright, alright~"
"Humph! You'd better."
Once the teasing faded from her expression, Elysia picked up her phone and continued chatting with Bronya and the others. The topic revolved mostly around the new children at the orphanage.
As the eldest, Bronya had taken it upon herself to care for them. Seele helped quietly by her side.
"Seele's grown up too. You're becoming quite the big sister."
On the screen, Seele's cheeks flushed faintly.
"Mm…"
She hesitated before asking softly, "Elysia… when will you come back?"
"That's hard to say~"
Elysia dragged out the words deliberately.
"Maybe a year. Maybe ten. Or maybe… never."
"W-what?!"
Seele froze, her face going pale.
Liliya nudged her and whispered, "She's joking. Don't take it seriously."
"If she really dared forget where she came from, Mama Cocolia would personally drag her back."
"..."
"Seele~ Why are you ignoring me?"
Elysia teased.
"Hmph! You're a big bully! Always teasing me!"
Seele puffed her cheeks.
Elysia laughed.
"Then I apologize. Does that still make me a bully?"
"Yes!" Seele nodded emphatically.
"No one is worse than you! What if I took you seriously?"
"If you did…"
Elysia drew it out again, eyes dancing with mischief.
"Then I'd come home immediately. Losing a little sister would be far too big a loss."
"Really?" Seele's eyes lit up.
"Just kidding."
Bronya: "..."
Liliya: "???"
Seele: "...!"
Seele's expression froze into wide, stunned eyes, which only made Elysia laugh harder.
—
From the main hall came a gentle female voice, accompanied by Sirin and Kiana's replies.
"Kiana, Sirin, I heard you brought a friend home? Where is she? Take me to see."
"…You already know?"
"Hmph. You tried to hide it from me. I was surprised you brought someone home besides Bella. Where is she?"
"How does Mom always know everything…"
"If there's a guest in my house, of course I'd know."
The voices grew closer.
Elysia quickly ended the call.
"Bronya, Seele, Liliya, I've got something to do here. Talk later. Bye~"
She waved at the screen, tucked her phone away, and pulled out a small mirror. She adjusted her bangs carefully, smoothing stray strands with her fingertips, a sweet smile curving on her lips.
"Three… two…"
On the final silent count, the door opened.
Three figures with white hair stood in the doorway.
The eldest woman was breathtakingly beautiful. Her white hair flowed over her shoulders like a waterfall, her sapphire-blue eyes deep and gentle like the sea.
Elysia's eyes widened slightly.
On the surface she looked composed.
Inside, fireworks.
Wow. What a stunning big sister!
Pull yourself together, Elysia. You cannot embarrass yourself in front of someone this beautiful.
"Oh?"
Seeing how quiet and obedient Elysia appeared, Cecilia blinked with clear approval.
"Hello. I'm their mother, Cecilia. They haven't caused you trouble, have they?"
"Not at all! Good evening, Sister Cecilia!"
Her voice was bright and affectionate.
"Good evening."
Cecilia tucked a strand of white hair behind her ear gracefully.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone as beautiful as you, Sister Cecilia!"
"Oh? Then your husband must be quite handsome to win someone like you."
"He?" Cecilia smiled faintly. "Scruffy beard and all. Not exactly handsome."
"Then he must be charming in other ways."
Elysia continued smoothly.
"You're not only beautiful and elegant, you're incredibly refined. And most importantly, you have daughters as lovely as Kiana and Sirin. I'm honestly envious."
"…Here we go again."
Sirin pressed a hand to her forehead.
"She really doesn't stop."
"Really? I don't have a single wrinkle?"
"Of course not! Your skin is as soft as a baby's. Especially those eyes, like priceless ocean gems…"
She truly could talk.
Beside her, Kiana secretly gave Elysia a thumbs-up.
To make Mom this happy with just a few sentences… only Elysia could manage that. Where did she even learn to talk like this?
Cecilia laughed and stepped closer.
"Kiana mentioned last night that you're very good with words. Now I see she was right."
"Hehe… I'm just telling the truth."
For once, Elysia looked genuinely shy rather than sly.
Cecilia's gaze fell on the mountain of completed papers.
"These… I suppose you helped them, didn't you?"
"N-no way!"
Kiana panicked immediately.
She grabbed Cecilia's arm and shook it.
"Mom! Sirin and I worked so hard on these. Our hands almost fell off!"
Sirin said nothing.
Cecilia pinched Kiana's cheek gently.
"I know exactly what you two are capable of. If even ten percent of this is your work, I'll be impressed."
Then she turned to Elysia with apologetic eyes.
"Thank you for helping them. That must have been exhausting. It's late. Why don't you stay for dinner? Let me at least fulfill my duty as host."
"My pleasure!"
Elysia's eyes sparkled. She was starving after all that writing.
She stood up and dusted off her skirt.
"And I'm sure dinner at Sister Cecilia's house will be absolutely divine."
"You sweet child."
Cecilia laughed warmly.
"Come. I have many things I'd like to talk to you about."
Kiana immediately hooked her arm around Elysia's. Sirin followed behind, thinking to herself:
That pink-haired girl is far too smooth. Just what kind of training does Anti-Entropy give their people to produce someone this good at flattery?
…
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