Illya didn't dodge this time.
She just sat there, head down, her long, silvery-white hair falling down and obscuring her face.
"Big brother."
"Um."
Why do you always rub my head?
Because your hair is very soft.
"That's all?"
That's all.
Illya was silent for a moment.
"... fraud."
Higashino Makoto remained silent.
He withdrew his hand and picked up the book again.
But the smile on his lips never disappeared.
Leinas will come in the evening.
She always arrived after dark, wearing a dark cloak with the hood pulled low, obscuring her delicate face.
She would enter through the side door, avoiding everyone's gaze, and then silently walk up the stairs and push open the door to Higashino Makoto's room.
"You've arrived?"
"Um."
"Sit."
She would sit in the armchair by the window, remove her hood, and let her long, golden hair fall over her shoulders, gleaming softly in the candlelight.
His deep blue eyes looked at Higashino Makoto, his face reflected in his pupils.
How was your day?
"Fortunately, His Majesty has not issued any new instructions."
"That's good."
The two will chat for a while.
About the Baharuth Empire, about the Four Imperial Knights, about those tedious courtly trifles.
Then, Higashino Makoto stood up, walked up to her, and extended his hand.
"Come over."
Leinas would take his hand, stand up, and follow him to the bedside.
The candle went out.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a silvery-white glow.
Illya stood in the corridor, her back against the wall, arms crossed, her long silver hair gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
Her lips were pursed, and her crimson eyes stared at the closed door, the faint candlelight shining through the crack in the door reflected in her pupils.
"The cat that steals fish."
She said in a low voice.
Then he turned around and went back to his room.
The door closed behind her.
That night, Illya couldn't sleep.
She lay on the bed, her long, silvery-white hair scattered on the pillow, her crimson eyes staring at the ceiling.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on her face and turning her eyelashes silver.
She remembered the smile on her older brother's face when he ruffled her hair.
She remembered the deep voice in her older brother's voice when he told Leinas to "come here."
She remembered the closed door when her older brother and Leinas were in the room.
"That's unfair."
She said in a low voice.
"I was here first."
No one answered. Only the wind outside the window rustled the curtains softly.
She sat up, stepped barefoot onto the carpet, walked to the window, and gazed at the crescent moon outside.
The moonlight shone on her, turning her white nightgown silvery-white.
"Big brother."
She murmured the name, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"You wait."
Late on the third night, Illya pushed open the door to Higashino Makoto's room.
She wore a thin white nightgown, her long silver hair cascading over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes gleamed with a certain light in the candlelight.
She was barefoot, her toes curling slightly on the carpet.
Higashino Makoto was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Hearing the door open, he opened his eyes and looked at the figure standing in the doorway.
"Illya?"
"Um."
She went into the room and closed the door.
"What's wrong?"
I can't sleep.
"Why?"
Illya walked to the bedside, stopped, and looked down at him.
"Because my older brother is sleeping with someone else."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"... Illya."
"Um."
"I'm jealous."
"Right."
Illya's voice was calm.
"Big brother, I'm not a little kid anymore."
She untied the belt of her robe, and her body grew larger as the magic surged.
He has transformed into a very mature-looking person.
In the original work Illya, or the Winter Saint,
The robe slipped off her shoulders and fell onto the carpet with a soft rustling sound.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on her and outlining her body in a silvery-white silhouette.
Higashino Makoto looked at her, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Illya."
"Um."
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time.
So long that Illya's toes curled even tighter on the carpet, so long that her fingers trembled slightly at her sides, so long that she thought he would refuse.
Then he reached out and took her hand.
"Come over."
Illya's lips curled up slightly.
She climbed into bed and lay down beside him, her long, silvery-white hair cascading onto the pillow, her crimson eyes fixed on him.
"Big brother."
"Um."
"I like you."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"I know."
"And you?"
Higashino Makoto stared at her for a long time.
Then he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Illya leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and closed her eyes.
"Big brother."
"Um."
"I like you."
I like you too.
The moonlight shone on the two of them, casting their shadows onto the wall, where they overlapped.
Illya slept very well that night.
This is the last day of the Baharuth Empire tour.
Arche stood at the entrance to the Singing Apple Garden, holding a heavy money bag in his hand.
Six hundred gold coins.
She collected the money in twenty days.
The 100 coins were earned by completing tasks, the 150 coins were borrowed from Hekkeran and Imina, and the 50 coins were given to me by Roberdyck.
The remaining three hundred coins were given by the emperor.
Why did the emperor give me money?
She asked at the time.
"His Majesty said this is an investment."
The servant who delivered the message remained expressionless.
He said, "Arche and Mr. Higashino Makoto have a good relationship, so investing in you won't be a loss."
Arche remained silent for a long time before accepting the money.
She didn't know what the emperor was planning, but she knew she needed the money.
At that moment, she stood at the hotel entrance, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
Higashino Makoto sat at a table in the corner of the hall, holding a cup of black tea.
Illya sat opposite him, her long, silvery-white hair gleaming golden in the sunlight, her crimson eyes fixed on Arche.
"You've arrived?"
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup.
"They've arrived."
Arche walked up to him and placed the money bag on the table.
"Six hundred gold coins. Count them."
Higashino Makoto didn't count. He picked up the money bag, weighed it in his hand, and then put it aside.
"No need to count."
Aren't you afraid I'll give you less?
You won't.
Arche looked at him, a complex light flickering in his emerald green eyes.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. It's a deal."
I know, but thank you anyway.
Higashino Makoto didn't say anything. He stood up and walked towards the stairs.
"Come with me."
Arche followed him up the stairs, through the corridor, and stopped in front of a door.
Higashino Makoto pushed open the door.
Inside the room, Ureirika and Kuuderika were sitting on the windowsill, each holding a book.
The sunlight shone on them, turning their blonde hair golden.
Hearing the door open, they looked up, saw Higashino Makoto, and smiled.
Then they saw Arche.
The smile froze.
"Elder sister..."