Chapter: 42. Relief
Eh…?
The defensive magic… was broken?
In that instant thought, Princess Xue Fei realized that the defensive magic was not broken by Princess Belis.
—Rather, it was Xue Fei herself who had actively, or perhaps unconsciously, released the magical barrier.
With no magical obstruction, Xue Fei momentarily felt the warm and soft body flooding into her embrace.
Then… her vision suddenly spun around.
Finally, when her attention refocused—she was lying on the ground, facing up.
When Belis launched her final attack, she had no magic left; she could only rely on the weight of her body to throw herself onto Xue Fei.
Xue Fei made no movement, allowing her to topple onto the ground.
Perhaps Belis hadn’t anticipated that the Queen Sister wouldn’t move.
Maybe even more so, Xue Fei hadn’t expected Belis to come straight at her.
And the result of these two “unexpected” encounters…
Was Belis, with her silver hair like a flowing meteor, falling into the embrace of someone she cherished, disregarding the painful landing as her vision spun and tipped.
After all, nothing could be more painful than never being able to laugh together again…
“Queen Sister… Queen Sister! Just once… can you listen to me?!”
“Ah… I’m not blocking your mouth, huh… by the way, my head really hurts.”
Xue Fei lay on her back on the ground, gazing at Zero’s pure white dome.
Belis lay on top of her petite body, letting her tears fall onto the side of Xue Fei’s face, scattered like early autumn rain.
Thinking back, how long had it been since she truly looked at the autumn rain in the Demon Territory?
By the way… it turns out Belis can cry too…?
Upon reflection, it makes sense.
She used to cry easily as a child, but after growing up, she suddenly became unable to cry.
But had she really never shed tears in places where Xue Fei couldn’t see?
Xue Fei clearly possessed the visual magic that allows her to perceive everything—yet she never dared to use it to observe her family’s emotions.
Because she was afraid…
Afraid that if she did look, she would discover that Belis genuinely hated her as a sister, afraid that her distancing was resolute and without hesitation.
If that were the case… wouldn’t Xue Fei lose her family again?
But it was evident, perhaps Xue Fei’s judgment was mistaken.
Xue Fei blankly raised her left hand, hovering beside Belis’s silver hair.
Belis sobbed on top of her; her head bobbed, and that scene felt strangely familiar.
She had grown up.
But she had also never truly grown up.
This time, Xue Fei’s palm continued forward.
Her fingers seemed to traverse through the years, piercing through the shackles of time.
Zero’s space no longer seemed empty, but rather a field of flowers and grass.
Blooms had opened and faded several times, and now, she willingly brought her palm to gently stroke Belis’s small head.
At this touch, the sobs ceased.
Belis stared blankly, struggling to hold up her already exhausted body.
In her tear-filled big eyes, there was disbelief mixed with a beautiful glow of blooming lotuses.
“Queen Sister…? Your hand… I…”
“Weren’t you going to talk?” Xue Fei didn’t stop her movements, instead becoming even more gentle.
Whether it was in action or tone, it was the same.
“If you want to talk, then talk. While I’m in the mood to listen, hurry up, or I might regret it again.”
“I just want to ask…! Do you really completely hate me, Belis…? Is there no room for reconciliation?!”
“……”
You silly child.
When I said ‘hurry up, I might regret it,’ it was just an exaggerated expression…
Yet Belis truly rushed to ask this without giving herself a moment to breathe, her tears flowing again, making one’s heart ache.
Xue Fei didn’t respond with words.
Because sometimes… when you see her tears, you just feel speechless.
Another choked sound arose.
Tears fell once more.
Only this time, it wasn’t Belis who cried.
But Xue Fei, who suddenly retracted her hands—covering her quickly reddening eyes.
Tears slid down her fingertips and cheeks, causing Belis to feel heartbroken.
And the words Xue Fei choked out thundered through Belis’s mind.
“What… what are you saying… saying there’s no room for reconciliation… I’m afraid… afraid you hate me… I’ve had enough… I used to think we could always be good together… after finally having such a considerate sister… who knew you would suddenly ignore me… you want me to reconcile with you, and then? What if… what if you get sick again… make me feel bad again?! I won’t fall for your trick… so… it’s better if you stay away from me!”
“!”
Belis hurriedly grabbed Xue Fei’s hand—just like she truly feared the Queen Sister would do as she said and disappear right before her eyes.
Belis quietly yet firmly assured her.
If this guarantee could ease the Queen Sister’s heart, she would rather say it forever.
“I won’t… how could I ever hate you, Queen Sister… I’ve never thought that!”
“Then why have you ignored me for so long?!”
“Isn’t it because you’re just too perfect, and I’ve been left far behind…! I don’t want to be a burden to you!”
“Is that your reason for treating me coldly?! Don’t you know that to someone who values family above all else, your actions are utterly unforgivable! You deserve the death penalty!”
“If dying once could prove I never hated you! Then I would rather die now, but if I die, I won’t be able to see you again! So it’s not worth it!”
“You…!”
One moment they were discussing reason, the next it turned into a sisterly quarrel.
It seemed not very harmonious.
But the reason family is family is that they can always stay with you to shout, cry, and laugh.
Tired from arguing.
Belis had long since run out of strength.
She lay on Xue Fei’s flat chest, listening intently to the heartbeat she almost missed.
Seeing her exhausted appearance, Xue Fei felt her own energy fade as well.
“Ah…! I’m not arguing with you anymore! Even though you’re annoying, but…”
Xue Fei wrapped her hands around the top of Belis’s head, giving her some warmth.
“But kids all go through a rebellious phase, right… Can I consider this your rebellious period?”
“That’s not rebellion…”
“Tsk.”
You don’t want to take the offer, and you’re even arguing back; I see you’re still in your rebellious phase!
But Belis slowly lifted her head.
Because there wasn’t much mountain-like obstruction on Xue Fei’s chest, she could clearly see the hopeful smile on Belis’s face.
“I’m not rebellious… I just had a nightmare… Queen Sister, actually for this match, I really prepared for a long, long time. Do you think… I’ve improved a bit compared to before? Even just a little bit…?”
“Hah? Improved?”
Xue Fei’s retort made Belis’s heart skip a beat; she feared the Queen Sister would say that Belis remained useless over the years.
But Xue Fei’s retort did not mean that.
Instead, it was a completely opposite question.
“Improved…? What kind of question is that, do you need to ask? Haven’t you always been improving? I don’t know what made you think of that forbidden spell… That kind of improvement is inadvisable, but now you understand, right? But just to give an example, like just now, your attack was quite sharp, much stronger than the last time we met; you couldn’t have done this before, I guess… you’ve been practicing for a long time, haven’t you?”
Xue Fei swept aside the silver hair that had stuck to Belis’s cheek from sweat and tears.
The gentle voice echoed for a long time.
“Well… it’s quite touching… the previously willful Belis, has actually grown up…”
“Wuw…!”
“Eh? Why are you crying again? This time I didn’t bully you! You… uh?!”
Oh no.
Xue Fei wasn’t on guard!
Belis suddenly pushed herself up, leaning forward to kiss Xue Fei on the lips.
She just couldn’t hold it back…
Why shouldn’t she kiss such a Queen Sister?!
Xue Fei’s first reaction was to push her away like before.
But… she didn’t do that.
It wasn’t just that Belis owed Xue Fei.
In the journey of Belis’s growth, Xue Fei owed her a lot too.
And more importantly… Xue Fei didn’t know why, but she currently had no desire to avoid it.
Is it because she confirmed that Belis didn’t hate her, and she didn’t hate Belis, hence feeling relaxed?
That was just one of the reasons.
The key was that Belis’s clumsy kiss used all her strength, making Xue Fei a bit breathless!
“Cough… cough cough!! What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!”
“Hehe… this time, you didn’t push me away, Queen Sister…”
“Do you believe I’ll kick you away right now…!”
“I believe, but… even if Belis dies now, it feels worth it, I feel very happy right now.”
“Can you please not say such ominous things… I really can’t believe how you’ve changed…”
Belis didn’t want to wipe away the precious sparkle at the corner of her lips.
Her smile was like returning to the childhood grassland.
Bright as the moment of wishing on a four-leaf clover under the stars, making Xue Fei momentarily stunned.
Queen Sister, did you know, Belis has been trying very hard at home?
Countless swings of the sword were all to get a little closer to you.
But now Belis has discovered.
Wanting to catch up to you was just an excuse Belis made for herself.
She now understands.
It turned out… that her hard work was just to hear a compliment from the Queen Sister herself…
Some things you think are so complex; the answer is actually so simple.
The problems and worries that plagued her for many years, in just a few sentences, had already vanished like smoke, leaving only tranquility.
—Belis, you’ve worked hard enough.
—Even if you relax a bit, it’s okay if you can’t catch up to me.
—Because I will look back at you.
—I won’t let you fall too far behind, and I won’t let you lose your way.
—Following behind me is the way home.
