Orb's Reply

Lacus Clyne was slightly taken aback by Jiliang's sudden words, tinged with a hint of coquettish grievance and loneliness.

The gentle smile at the corners of her lips, which had been there because of Xia Ya's adorable sleeping face, froze at that moment.

A trace of confusion appeared on her face. She blinked softly and looked at Jiliang's profile with slight puzzlement.

Jiliang's face was turned toward Xia Ya's other side. Her expression seemed faintly dissatisfied, yet was layered with an indescribably complex emotion.

Lacus did not understand why Jiliang had spoken such ambiguous words, words that so clearly carried emotional turmoil, at this particular moment.

She tilted her head, waiting for Jiliang to explain further, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Yet when Lacus heard Jiliang's next words and understood the true reason for her dissatisfaction, a similarly subtle and unconcealable emotion appeared in her usually calm eyes.

That emotion was so perfectly in sync with Jiliang's, so deeply shared.

That resonance in their hearts drew their relationship even closer in that moment.

Jiliang's voice carried a more obvious note of coquettish complaint, as though she were grumbling to Xia Ya rather than Lacus. It was an indescribably complicated voice, blending affection, regret, and a touch of childish sulking. "...Even though you're sandwiched between Lacus and me like this, wrapped up in our bodies, Xia Ya, you still fell asleep so quickly."

Her tone seemed to accuse Xia Ya of "letting them down," yet also seemed to mock their own "lack of allure."

"...Yes." Hearing Jiliang's aggrieved complaint, Lacus responded softly, but with deep sympathy. A faint bitterness also surfaced in her eyes.

Jiliang was right. Lacus understood as well.

What Jiliang truly meant was that even while surrounded so intimately by two women who adored him, Xia