Anis flipped open the cover, and an ancient script met her eyes.
The ancient script looked familiar, but she could not remember where she had seen it for a moment.
Continuing to flip through the pages, she judged from the illustrations that it was an ancient book about brewing.
“Can I borrow this book to take back and read?”
“No problem. After all, it matches your specialty.”
Sherry gave Cybelle a look. The latter understood immediately, bowing slightly to her before standing up.
“It is already very late. I truly must leave this time; Princess Rubia still needs my care.”
Cybelle stood and bowed to Anis. “Thank you again for your willingness to assist. I wish you a wonderful night.”
“You are welcome. It was only my duty. I also hope Princess Rubia’s condition improves soon.”
Anis stood up at the same time. “It is late, so I should head back soon as well. I have things to do tonight.”
She intended to follow Cybelle out, but not only did the other woman not hold the door for her, she even whispered a soft apology. “I am sorry, Princess Anis. These are Lady Sherry’s orders. I have no choice.”
*Click.*
The door was locked once more.
“Wait, what do you mean?”
Anis tried to turn the door handle, but it would not budge.
At the same time, the voice behind her made her spine turn cold.
“Hmm? When did I say you could leave?”
Sherry placed her index finger against her lips, her mouth curving into a playful arc. She looked at Anis with an indecipherable, teasing expression.
“I meant it literally. Did I not say today that Anis would be staying the night with me?”
Sherry opened the wardrobe and took out a new, soft pillow, gently placing it on the bed beside her own.
A thick quilt, longer than the entire bed, was spread over it. Sherry reclined on the bed, propping her head up with her left arm at an acute angle while her right hand gently patted the empty space beside her. “Come, beautiful lady. It is late; it is time to rest.”
Anis shielded her chest with her arms, stepping back a few paces in a sliding motion.
A very bad premonition washed over her entire body. At that moment, infinite scenes automatically surfaced in Anis’s mind.
‘This was my favorite kind of thing in my previous life.’
But she did not want this kind of thing to happen to her!
“You are nervous,” Sherry said softly, as if stating a fact she had long since seen through.
“I am not! I just want more tea!”
Anis instinctively looked away, though the tips of her ears uncontrollably flushed a faint red.
She sat back down at the small table that had not yet been cleared, picked up the teapot that had grown somewhat cold, and poured herself another cup.
The full moon outside the window was as exquisite as a framed painting, illuminating the room in a soft, quiet glow.
That silence left one with nowhere to escape, making even the sound of breathing obvious.
A set of footsteps approached. A snowy-white figure landed beside her, looking like an elf amidst the ice and snow.
Sherry said nothing. She simply sat down, picked up the nearly cold teapot, and poured herself a cup as well.
Her movements while sipping the tea were elegant and skilled, but this only made Anis feel more chilled.
The distance between them was compressed bit by bit, until Anis was close enough to smell the faint fragrance on Sherry’s body.
Sherry remained silent the entire time. Given her personality, she was either brewing something big or something even bigger.
Anis looked up, meeting Sherry’s gaze directly.
Those eyes appeared exceptionally gentle under the moonlight, lacking the cold sharpness they held during battle during the day.
“What… are you doing?” Anis asked tentatively. She did not want to sink into this strange silence anymore; it was truly terrifying.
Sherry gave a light laugh. “I can, you know.”
“Stop joking. I am asking what you are thinking about.”
Anis’s body wiggled one inch away from her, but Sherry moved to meet her, closing the distance between them once more.
Sherry picked up a cookie and held it out toward Anis’s palm. “Feed me.”
After saying that, she closed her eyes. Her lips were slightly parted, looking delicate and soft.
‘Is she preparing to launch an attack? What exactly does she want?!’
‘Is it really going to be…?’
Anis quietly moved back another few inches. Since Sherry’s eyes were closed, she would not see.
As for the cookie in her hand, she naturally would not feed her. It was impossible.
Engaging in a feeding play with this person would only make her feel sick.
“Hmm…?”
Sherry, her face stiffening slightly, was forced to open one eye. When she saw Anis had moved several inches further away and the cookie remained untouched, she instantly turned into a little pufferfish.
“You are so boring. *Nom.*”
Disappointed, Sherry leaned forward and bit the cookie directly from Anis’s palm. The moment that warm sensation touched her palm, Anis felt a jolt of electricity surge through her body.
After finishing the cookie, Sherry lowered her gaze. “Anis, can you give me a chance?”
“What?” Anis did not understand.
“I know you have always wanted to break free from the family’s shackles. Before Father left, he specifically instructed me to keep a close eye on you and not give you a single chance to grasp freedom.”
“So…?”
“But I know that you are a caged bird that cannot be kept. Instead of using force to make you serve the family forever, it is better to try a different way.”
She stepped forward again, her eyes full of sincerity. “Can we make up? Then, you can be my sister, and we will manage this family together from now on.”
Anis’s brow furrowed. ‘What kind of game is this? Playing hard to get?’
However, the sincerity in Sherry’s eyes did not look like a lie.
‘What on earth does she want?!’
‘It can’t be that she actually wants to make up!’
Sherry raised her hand but did not touch Anis. She stopped near the tips of Anis’s hair, as if confirming something, or perhaps giving her space to choose.
After a long while, she spoke again. “The fact that you did not reject me means we really can make up, right?”
Those words were more direct than any physical touch.
Anis was stunned. She suddenly realized that from the moment they had come down the mountain, she had indeed not deliberately retreated anymore.
Whether walking side by side or facing Sherry now, although she remained on guard, she had not intentionally built that invisible wall again.
However, she still had one major question in her heart.
“You say that, but when the true Head of the Family returns, will you be able to fulfill these words?”
“…”
Sherry pursed her lips, not answering immediately.
After a moment of contemplation, she slowly spoke, “At the very least, during this period where I have absolute authority, I can give you a promise.”
“What is it?”
“You can go to any place within the territory at any time. It will not be a problem even if you stay out all night.”
“You aren’t afraid I’ll run away?”
“You know better than I do whether you can actually escape or not.”
“…”
It was Anis’s turn to be silent.
This condition was simply too tempting.
“I will add one more thing. From now on, the family will unconditionally provide any materials you need for brewing potions. Furthermore, we will provide a place with a better environment and newer equipment to serve as your brewing workshop.”
“If you agree, then let me come over.”
Sherry turned into a little cat, getting down on all fours as if poised to spring.
“…”
Anis looked at her, then glanced out the window. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke. “If it is just a hug.”
“Mm.”
The petite Sherry leaned into Anis’s broad chest. After that, no more words were spoken.
As time passed, Anis’s defensiveness toward her gradually relaxed. Even when sleepiness finally took hold, neither of them had moved a single step…