Volume 1, Chapter 42 – Fleeting Warmth

Night finally fell, and the faint howls of beasts echoed through the deep forest.

Using magic to ignite the gathered dry branches, Yisi first set up an iron pot and began preparing a simple dinner. The utensils and ingredients all came from Camilla—for emergencies like wilderness survival, Camilla’s storage magic always held such supplies.

In less than fifteen minutes, the aroma of rice wafted from the pot. With limited ingredients and no sugar, Yisi could only cook a plain porridge, seasoned with wild greens and salt—though when it came to porridge, Yisi was an absolute sweet fan.

Handing the bowl of porridge to Camilla, Yisi felt a little embarrassed.

“Sorry, this is all I can manage for now.”

“Please don’t say that, Onee-sama. This should have been my duty.”

Compared to Yisi, Camilla seemed even more flustered, almost rising from the log she sat on.

“Camilla, you can barely stand as it is. Don’t push yourself.” At this point, Yisi suddenly realized something and grew even more self-conscious. “Um… do you need me to feed you?”

“N-no, that won’t be necessary.”

So she does have a sense of shame.

Yisi couldn’t help but marvel. Initially, she had expected Camilla to say something like, “If that is Onee-sama’s command.”

To be honest, Yisi had never fed anyone before, let alone a beautiful girl like Camilla. The idea of “feeding play” was something she had only seen between couples or parents and children.

Carefully handing the bowl to Camilla—who was wrapped in an extra coat due to the chilly night—Yisi noted that Camilla now looked every bit the fragile maiden.

“It might be a little hot. Be careful.”

“Mm—ah.” Before she could finish speaking, the bowl slipped from Camilla’s hands. Though it didn’t break, the porridge spilled onto the ground. Camilla glanced at Yisi’s face, then lowered her head. “I-I’m sorry, Onee-sama…”

“That’s why I asked.” Sighing at Camilla’s trembling hands, Yisi picked up the bowl and scooped another serving into a spare one. Sitting beside Camilla on the log, she said, “Let me do it.”

Just pretend you’re taking care of a relative’s kid…

Repeating this mantra in her head, Yisi suppressed her embarrassment. She scooped a spoonful of steaming porridge, blew on it gently, and once it had cooled enough, held it out to Camilla, whose crimson eyes reflected the firelight as she seemed to stare blankly ahead.

“Alright, eat up.”

“Understood.”

Relieved that things had gone smoother than expected, Yisi thought to herself: Emotionless girls are the best.

Of course, these were just her inner thoughts. Outwardly, she maintained the dignity befitting an elder sister.

“How is it? Does it taste okay?”

“Mm.”

“Good, then.”

A brief silence settled between them.

Well, maybe I’ll take back that praise for emotionless girls.

As she continued blowing on the hot porridge, Yisi searched for a topic.

“Though it might not be the best time to bring this up… Camilla, you mentioned before that you were abandoned by your parents, right?”

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“Yes. I was around seven years old.”

Camilla’s voice remained flat, devoid of inflection.

After hesitating for a moment, Yisi pressed further.

“Why did they abandon you?”

“I don’t know… I only remember hearing the clashing of weapons outside the house. The next thing I knew, I was on the streets.”

“Robbers?”

“I don’t know.”

Camilla shook her head. Yisi couldn’t decipher any emotion in Camilla’s eyes—it was as if she were merely an outsider to her own past.

“But if that’s the case, doesn’t it mean you might not have been abandoned? Have you ever thought about looking for them? Maybe you could find them someday?”

Camilla’s breath hitched for the briefest moment.

“Why would I go back? You never gave such an order.”

“Ah, I’m not talking about orders. I’m asking what you want. Though even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t send you back. I’ll say it even in front of you—those parents were utterly unfit. They’ll definitely go to hell when they die.”

“I… don’t really understand.”

“You don’t have to. Just forget I said anything.”

Taking back the now-empty bowl, Yisi glanced up at where the moon should have been. The Pescia territory was perpetually shrouded in thick clouds, obscuring both the sun and the moon.

Let’s call it a day here.

Adding more branches to the fire, Yisi yawned and pulled a blanket from her storage—originally meant for her afternoon naps, kept there for convenience. She hadn’t expected it to come in handy like this.

Of course, she had no intention of sleeping directly on the ground. The autumn night was bitterly cold, and lying down would guarantee a cold by morning. Surveying their surroundings, she chose a spot behind Camilla.

“[Earth Surge.]”

With a clap of her hands, two earthen walls rose from the ground, forming a 90-degree corner.

I’ll just lean against this and sleep.

Though “sleep” was a generous term—if she dozed off completely, they’d be at risk of wild animal attacks. Yisi smiled wryly at the thought.

After tidying up the utensils, Yisi sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Camilla against the makeshift wall. The distant growls of beasts and the crackling of the fire were the only sounds in the otherwise silent night. The occasional gust of wind made them huddle closer, as if they were the only two people left in the world.

“Achoo.”

Yisi sneezed softly.

“Are you cold?”

“Mmm… a little.”

Though they shared a blanket, some parts remained uncovered.

Camilla shifted closer, their shared warmth making Yisi stiffen slightly.

“Y-you’re too close…”

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“Should I stop?”

“…No, it’s fine.”

Despite having fought earlier, Camilla still carried a faint fragrance. Her golden hair occasionally brushed against Yisi’s face, and with their bodies pressed together, Yisi couldn’t help but glance up at Camilla, who was slightly taller. The white bat hairpin still adorned her head.

“Camilla, you really seem to like that hairpin.”

“You’ve never explained—what does ‘like’ mean?”

“Uh.” Yisi faltered. She wasn’t sure how to answer. “Well… I guess it means ‘I can’t do without this. If I lost it, I wouldn’t be able to go on’?”

“Then I probably don’t ‘like’ this hairpin—”

“Eh…”

Though she hadn’t expected Camilla to like the hairpin she’d picked, hearing it outright still stung.

“—but I think I ‘like’ you, Onee-sama.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, Yisi froze. Realizing what Camilla meant, her face flushed.

She knew Camilla was substituting “orders” into the definition—like how she couldn’t live without commands. But Yisi still felt a deep, instinctive shyness.

Any normal guy would be flustered if a beautiful girl confessed to them like this.

“Ca-Camilla, you’re misunderstanding me.”

“Am I? But I truly can’t do without you, Onee-sama. If I lost you, I wouldn’t be able to go on. Doesn’t that count as ‘like’?”

“That’s a total misunderstanding. Ugh.”

Camilla’s words were starting to sound more and more like a confession, so Yisi loudly cut her off. If this continued, she might genuinely fall for Camilla—wanting to protect her, to help her become truly human.

“If that’s what ‘like’ means, then didn’t you ‘like’ Father in the past?”

“But…” Camilla furrowed her delicate brows, as if genuinely pondering. “It’s a little different with you, Onee-sama.”

“How so?”

“If I had to choose… I think I’d ‘like’ you more.”

“Ah…”

Is she saying she prefers my orders over Count Pescia’s?

Before Yisi could recover from her shock, Camilla continued unprompted.

“It’s more like… I really can’t do without you. I can’t leave you. If you stopped giving me orders—”

“Then what?”

The question slipped out before Yisi could stop herself. But when she looked at Camilla, she realized the girl wasn’t listening—she’d lost herself in thought.

“Then what? …Would I die? No, even without orders… I could still do things on my own. Get closer, more…”

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Though Yisi didn’t fully grasp Camilla’s meaning, it seemed she was saying she could act independently even without commands. Considering how Camilla had been too afraid to take a single step after being abandoned, this willingness to pursue goals on her own was significant progress.

Yisi exhaled softly, feeling an odd sense of accomplishment—like she’d painstakingly built a sandcastle and finally saw it stand.

On a whim, she asked,

“What if I ordered you to live freely?”

“Live… freely?”

“Yeah. Forever. My last command to you.”

“‘Does living freely mean doing things based on my own interests and preferences?”

“Exactly.”

She remembers what I taught her.

“But I don’t have any interests.”

“Once you find something you like, you’ll naturally act on it. Like how I like blood, so I’m always thinking of ways to collect it.”

This time, Camilla didn’t reply with “I don’t understand.” Instead, she bit her lip and frowned deeply.

“…I’d probably keep following your orders, Onee-sama.”

“Is that an interest?”

“I’m your servant. My purpose is to obey you. And… I ‘like’ you.”

“Ahh…”

Unsure how to respond, Yisi leaned her head against the wall behind them.

So cute.

Even knowing Camilla’s answer was unhealthy, Yisi couldn’t help the thought—she’s just too adorable.

She wanted to hug Camilla and explain what “like” truly meant.

Ugh, I thought I might just be into her looks, but now I’m totally smitten. Damn it.

Covering her face with the blanket, Yisi let out a muffled groan.

Confused, Camilla tilted her head.

“Onee-sama? Are you unwell?”

“Yeah. Because of a certain idiot who’s smart yet clueless, I’ve fallen ill.”

“I don’t have medicine for that…”

“There—there is one cure.”

“What is it?”

Blushing, Yisi averted her gaze. The request was embarrassing, even humiliating—but right now, she genuinely wanted it.

“Can I borrow your shoulder?”

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“I don’t mind, but… how?”

“…Like this.”

Deliberately leaning toward Camilla, Yisi rested her head on Camilla’s shoulder.

Too bony. And narrow.

She quickly lifted her head again.

Camilla blinked in confusion.

“Was that enough?”

“That’s plenty. You’re too thin.”

Pouting, Yisi regretted her impulsive request—she must have been possessed.

“Then… May I borrow your shoulder, Onee-sama?”

Is this something Camilla wants to do on her own?

Yisi wanted to ask, but voicing it might make Camilla realize she was acting beyond orders.

Clearing her throat, Yisi nodded.

“Sure.”

“Pardon me.”

Camilla gently rested her head on Yisi’s shoulder.

Warmth. And a faint tickling sensation.

The contact made Yisi’s already flushed face burn hotter.

She didn’t dare look at Camilla. If she were a man, anyone watching would assume they were a couple.

But here, it was just the two of them.

Letting Camilla lean against her, Yisi gazed up at the moonless sky. The fire continued to crackle.

Speaking of which, she’s been like this for a while.

Her shoulder growing sore, Yisi glanced down.

Camilla had closed her eyes, her steady breaths brushing against Yisi’s neck, mingling with the tickle of her golden hair.

A peaceful sleeping face.

The firelight painted her features, dyeing her blonde locks a dazzling orange-red.

“……”

Unable to bring herself to wake Camilla, Yisi remained silent for a long moment before exhaling deeply, as if expelling all her thoughts.

“Goodnight.”