Chapter 79

My sister and I stepped out side-by-side into the night garden.

“It’s dark, so watch your step, May.”

It seemed she had completely forgotten in that moment that my true form was a cat.

Holding my hand tightly, my sister turned to look at me again and again, offering warnings.

‘Gosh, Sis is such a worrywart.’

Even as I thought that to myself…

For some reason, it made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.

My sister, who always, without fail, worries about me.

Whether in the past or now, the way she treats me hasn’t changed one bit.

‘Sis.’

When I squeezed her hand back tightly, her red eyes curved into a lovely smile.

The Milky Way meandered overhead.

In this fairytale-like scenery, we walked side-by-side.

How long had we been walking like that?

A bench situated near a rosebush caught our eye.

“Come here.”

My sister helped me sit down on the bench.

And so, sitting side-by-side on the bench, we looked up at the stars floating in the sky.

Above the jet-black night sky, stars the size of fists twinkled brightly.

The starlight was so bright it felt like I could reach out and catch it.

A gentle night breeze tickled my cheeks.

Shifting my gaze slightly, I saw her face deep in thought.

I stared up at my sister and asked, “Are you worried about the Duke’s wedding this time?”

“Mmm, I suppose so?”

My sister furrowed her brows and looked back at me.

“It’s not as if he asked me because he wanted something ordinary.”

She then rested her chin on her hand and let out a soft sigh.

“He asked me to create a special memory for the guests, but it’s a bit vague.”

In that instant, my ears perked up.

‘Huh?’

A special memory.

Hearing those words, something suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘I mean, back then…’

Back when my sister and I lived alone in the forest.

Sabina used to periodically cast barriers to keep magic beasts from invading our home.

Every time she did, the air would shimmer, and the light from her magic power would shine brilliantly.

Just like flowers blooming in the sky.

‘Wait, fireworks?’

If only we could recreate that scene…!

I hurriedly tugged at my sister’s sleeve.

“Sis, Sis!”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

In front of my sister, who had a puzzled look on her face, I excitedly flailed my arms.

“You know, when you and I lived in the forest! When you cast those barriers?”

“We did. What about it?”

“The sparkling lights from that barrier! Do you remember?”

“Of course I remember.”

My sister nodded, looking bewildered.

I continued in an excited voice.

“It was super pretty! That’s why every time you cast a barrier, I’d come outside with you to watch, right?”

“Ah, I remember. We did, didn’t we?”

My sister’s expression softened a bit.

That time when it felt like it was just the two of us, me and my sister, in the whole world.

What if we gifted the most beautiful piece of those days to the couple starting a new life together?

“So, about the Duke’s wedding this time.”

I looked up at my sister with sparkling eyes.

“How about showing that light to the guests, too?”

For a moment, my sister’s eyes widened slightly.

I beamed bright and cheerful.

“You said you wanted to make a special memory for them. Everyone will definitely love it!”

“…That’s actually very true.”

My sister nodded unconsciously.

“Fire also carries the meaning of purifying evil things and making them clean. It works as a blessing for the wedding, too.”

“Then that’s even better!”

I chimed in lively to support her words.

“Since both of them are making a fresh start. Don’t you think?”

Then I playfully asked her, “So? Do you think you can sleep well now?”

For a second, the corners of Sabina’s lips twitched, and then—

She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a big hug.

Mussing and ruffling my hair was a bonus.

“Honestly, whose familiar is this sly little cat?!”

“Sis’s familiar… Ah, Sis! My hair!”

“My May, you’re so adoringly clever!”

Just like that, we fooled around, hugging each other and messing about.

Only after laughing and chatting out loud for a long while did we lean against each other again.

‘Hehe.’

I laughed quietly to myself.

‘I was helpful to Sis.’

The touch of my sister patting my shoulder as if it were the most natural thing felt wonderful.

Meanwhile.

Sabina murmured softly to herself.

“…Marriage.”

Huh?

I tilted my head in confusion.

Gently putting strength into the arm hugging me, my sister quietly muttered, “It’s kind of strange. Becoming family with someone.”

“Sis?”

“How can you… trust someone else like that and keep them by your side?”

My sister quietly cast her eyes downward.

“I only have my May.”

It was a very complex voice.

A voice genuinely bewildered, yet harboring a shred of expectation.

Because I could feel that heart wanting to be with someone…

“So, Sis, do you still not trust anyone else?”

At my cautious question, my sister only parted her lips for a moment without a word.

“Who knows.”

There was no certainty in her answer.

However.

“Honestly… I thought I had no one until now. But lately, I’m not so sure.”

An answer distinctly different from before came back.

Just seeing that she didn’t draw a firm line, but stepped back to answer showed it.

“Still.”

At the same time, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“…Having one or two people might not be so bad.”

At those words, I leaned my head completely against my sister’s shoulder.

I knew.

‘Sis is thinking of Big Brother Adrian right now.’

Honestly, having just my sister was enough for me.

However…

‘Sis won’t be okay.’

What I learned from the experiences of my past life was that I alone couldn’t keep my sister completely safe.

That’s why I wanted to give her someone else she could rely on.

If Big Brother Adrian could become that ‘someone’…

‘Then that would be really great.’

Cradled in Sabina’s arms, I sank deep into thought.

Still, seeing how my sister, who used to detest humans, was saying something like this…

‘It seems like her repulsion isn’t as severe as before.’

Especially when talking about partners the other day, too.

When Big Brother Adrian answered that he hadn’t found a partner yet.

My sister looked subtly regretful, didn’t she?

‘In that case.’

In an instant, my eyes gleamed sharply.

‘First, shall I try lending a hand so the two of them can become partners?’

Alright!

I clenched my fists tightly.

Here comes Maybel the Problem Solver!

***

A few days later.

Sabina narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Adrian.

Currently, Adrian was playing with Maybel.

“Kyaaa!”

Maybel, lifted high up into the air in Adrian’s hands, burst into bright laughter.

A game of swinging Maybel up and down.

It was Maybel’s absolute favorite—the so-called ‘Flap-Flap Game.’

‘Honestly, May’s tastes really haven’t changed a bit.’

Even though she’d grown quite a bit by now.

Sabina sank into a subtle wave of sentimentality.

“Up we go.”

Just then, Adrian, who had been actively playing with Maybel, gently set the child down on the floor.

Maybel immediately pestered him.

“Do it again! Again!”

“Again? May, Brother is tired~”

Adrian feigned exhaustion loudly enough to be heard.

Meanwhile, Sabina, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t hide her conflicted expression.

‘How come… I feel like I’m running into Adrian a bit too often lately…?’

Of course, there was a reason.

Even today, Adrian visited to check if Sabina’s research for the wedding was going well.

In truth, however, he could have just sent someone to ask about such things.

‘Why does he keep visiting in person?’

Above all.

“That aside, about our wedding reception. Who did you decide on as your partner to attend with?”

Those words left behind by Marquis Winder’s daughter kept echoing in her ears.

‘Before, I didn’t care at all, so why does it keep…’

Sabina’s brows furrowed tightly.

At the same time, Adrian turned back to look at her with an embarrassed expression.

“Um, Sabina?”