Since Xinuo and my sister were waiting on breakfast, I didn’t dare linger in the bath. Steam slid off my skin like morning mist; I dressed and headed for the kitchen.

Bathing really is the best cure for fatigue. I’d been dead tired, but the moment the water cooled, my body and mind felt like a breeze after rain.

I always toss herbs into the tub—things that melt weariness like frost in sunlight. It’s probably those little green miracles doing the work.

Head down in my thoughts, I bumped into someone. A heartbeat later my head was scooped up, buried in something soft as clouds and scented like fresh blossoms.

“Ahya~ Little Emperor, did you just bathe? You smell so nice.” Her voice was warm, the kind that smooths frayed edges like spring sunlight.

I tried to look up, but arms reeled me in tighter. In the Mizumi Clan, only Serenemoon has a voice that gentle.

“Serenemoon, I’m not a kid anymore. Can you stop hugging me every time you see me?” My protest floated up like a sigh in morning air.

I wriggled free. Standing before me was a beauty who carried a soft glow, like moonlight on still water.

Her long pink curls shimmered like glazed petals. Pale-gold eyes bent into half-moons, and her smile was as mild as a spring breeze.

She wore light-pink pajamas, clearly fresh from sleep, barefoot with little white toes peeking like shells by the shore.

“What? Little Emperor’s so cute. Of course I can’t help hugging you.” Her words drifted with honeyed calm.

As expected, she was my second sister—Yugong Jingyue. She’s cuddled me since we were small; growing up never changed that tide.

And here she was again, rubbing her cheek against mine like a cat seeking sun.

“Serenemoon, stop messing around. I still need to make breakfast.” Duty knocked like a wooden ladle on a pot.

“Really? Mm. I hate letting my stomach go hungry, even if it means letting go of a freshly bathed Little Emperor~” Her reluctance fluttered, then loosened.

After a beat of struggle, she released me, sighing like wind through silk. Saved, at last.

“I’m off to the kitchen. See you in a bit, Serenemoon!” I fled, worried she’d pounce again, feet tapping down the hall like deer hooves.

…

“Little Emperor’s too adorable. And his room’s close by… let’s peek~” Serenemoon hummed like a sparrow as she glided toward my door.

Yumigawa Sumeragi’s room.

“I’m Little Emperor’s sister, Serenemoon. And you are?” Her tone was gentle, scented like tea on a quiet morning.

Besides the just-awake Yumigawa Nozomi, an unfamiliar peerless beauty sat there, radiance like starshine on water.

“Eh, Serenemoon, why are you here? Oh, right, you don’t know Xinuo yet, do you? She’s…” Nozomi’s words flew swift as swallows.

“…and that’s that. Brother will be staying in the Mizumi Clan at most two more months.” Her certainty landed like a pebble in a pond.

“I see. Little Emperor’s dream is finally within reach?” Serenemoon’s eyes warmed, like lantern light under a eave.

As his sister, loneliness would come like dusk, yet she still supported the brother she loved to chase dawn.

“Then, Xinuo Miss, please take care of Little Emperor.” Her request bowed like bamboo in a breeze.

“Of course. After all, Servant counts as my disciple.” Xinuo’s reply was effortless, like a blade resting in its sheath.

She let her gaze drift over Serenemoon, thoughtful as moonlight. “Do you train diligently?”

“Nope.” Serenemoon’s honesty slid out like cool water. “Training’s too dull. I can’t bring myself to grind at it.”

“Exactly!” Nozomi chimed in, lively as sparrows. “Getting Serenemoon the lazybones to train is harder than the heavens.

“She even has Brother or the maids clean her room. Don’t get me started on her clothes.”

“Is that so? Then how do you have Divine Realm-level strength?” Xinuo’s question fell clean as steel on stone.

“Well… when I was little, I trained hard for a few months to kill time.” Serenemoon lounged on the bed like a cat on a sunlit sill.

“Back then, Qianji kept bringing me elixirs that raise strength. That’s probably why~” Her tone drifted, unconcerned as clouds.

Power never lured her like fire; she felt it was a jewel with no need for a crown.

“Your talent’s quite good. Elixirs alone don’t reach the Divine Realm.” Xinuo’s eyes glinted, seeing bone and blood like a physician.

She could tell Serenemoon’s gifts were rare, her constitution a quiet marvel. If she trained, her sky would widen.

“Yeah. Serenemoon the lazybones just wastes her talent.” Nozomi poked her cheek, finger pressing like a rice grain in dough.

“Littlesky, saying that to your sister? So hurt~” Serenemoon’s words pouted, but her face stayed clear as lake water.

“Well, everyone has their own path.” She smiled, laziness like soft moss. “I just want this laid-back life. No need to chase more.”

“Agreed.” Xinuo nodded, calm as a bell. “Contentment brings peace. If you’re satisfied now, you needn’t pursue anything else.

“Besides, you already hold Divine Realm-level strength.”

Supreme power is a lifetime’s pursuit to many, yet to Serenemoon it was a feather drifting past.

Time thinned in easy chatter, and Serenemoon and Xinuo grew familiar, like tea steeping toward sweetness.

Half an hour later, the door creaked like an old tree, and Yumigawa Sumeragi stepped in with a basket.

…

“Yo~ Little Emperor, you finally finished breakfast.” Serenemoon’s voice chimed, playful as bells.

Good thing I’d packed her share while plating; foresight blooms like plum blossoms in frost.

“Serenemoon, did you wash up?” I asked, setting the basket down like a tray of offerings.

“Not yet~” Her laziness draped like a shawl.

“Then go! Seriously, what were you doing this whole half hour?” My exasperation puffed like steam.

“So troublesome~ Why not help me, Little Emperor?” Her plea dangled like a cat’s paw.

“Serenemoon, you…” Words failed me, scattered like leaves. Four years older, yet clingier than my kid sister.

“Brother!” Littlesky barreled in like a calf, hugging me so hard I almost toppled with the basket. My heart thumped like a drum.

“What’s wrong, Littlesky?” I steadied us, breath smoothing like water.

“Half an hour without seeing you. I missed you too much!” Her boldness shone, pure as sunlight.

I was helpless and worried; if I leave the Mizumi Clan, how will Littlesky and Serenemoon live? The thought pressed like winter clouds.

“So fragrant.” Xinuo leaned for the basket, fingers light as bamboo shoots. I stopped her with a raised hand.

“Xinuo, let me handle this. Please sit with Littlesky at the table… Hey! Serenemoon, didn’t I tell you to wash up?

“Why are you lying on the bed?” My patience snapped like a twig.

“So troublesome…” Before she finished, I used my final kill move. “If you don’t go wash up, you’re not eating.”

“I’m going right now!” Her figure vanished, quick as a startled deer. With Serenemoon, firmness is the rope that leads the ox.

Minutes later, breakfast lay neatly arrayed, steam curling like calligraphy. We sat, performed a simple pre-meal rite, and began.

“Waking up and eating Little Emperor’s breakfast—life is bliss~” Serenemoon’s joy spilled like sweet wine.

“Serenemoon, you’re easily satisfied. Though… I feel the same.” Littlesky smiled, eyes bright as dew. “Brother’s cooking is too good.”

“Mm. Servant’s craft is first-rate.” Xinuo’s praise rang like steel tuned to pitch.

Being praised for my cooking felt like sunlight on my back. Strength flowed, and my state rose to its peak.

Once we finish, I’ll train. I need to master basic swordsmanship quickly. The thought sharpened, and my chopsticks moved faster.

Around eight in the morning, I cleaned the dishes, then grabbed the Shattered Light Sword, eager as a horse at the gate.

“Servant, wait.” Xinuo’s voice halted me, cool as shade. A bad premonition pricked like a thorn.

“Xinuo, what is it?” My pulse flicked, a fish under water.

“Hm. As a Servant, you’re missing something.” Her gaze measured me, slow as moonlight.

She walked to the wardrobe, opened it with a soft sigh of hinges, and began searching like a fox in a burrow.

“Got it.” She drew out a sky-blue maid outfit, stitching fine as frost. My mind froze. Why is there a maid outfit in my wardrobe?

It hit me. A few days ago, Leihua asked me for a new maid outfit. I was bored, so I agreed and made one.

Yesterday I planned to deliver it, but she’d vanished like mist. I stashed it back in my wardrobe to give her later.

“Didn’t expect a maid outfit in your wardrobe, Servant.” Xinuo’s tone rippled, amused as a stream.

“That’s…” I looked to Littlesky and Serenemoon, eyes pleading like a stranded boat. They only watched, interested as theatergoers.

“Servant, no need to explain. Go put it on.” Xinuo’s voice left no path, like a cliff edge.

“Why?” My heart sank, stone into water.

“Because I think a maid outfit suits you. Stop wasting breath. Wear it.” Her insistence pressed like a seal.

“If I don’t, then what?” My last struggle fluttered, a trapped moth.

“Don’t wear it? Simple. Forget becoming a Sword Wielder.” Xinuo cut off my retreat, blade-clean.

“Brother, for your dream, a bit of cross-dressing is nothing! Please buck up!” Littlesky’s cheer was bright as flags.

“Exactly~ And Little Emperor, you’re so cute you won’t look bad at all. Say yes!” Serenemoon’s excitement fizzed like soda.

They’d ignored my plea earlier; now they were thrilled. Do you really want your brother to wear girls’ clothes that badly?

“Servant, your answer?” Xinuo stepped closer, pressure heavy as a mountain.

“…I’ll wear it.” My voice was a leaf on wind.

“Too quiet.” Her gaze sharpened like a needle.

“I’ll wear it! Fine, I’ll wear it!” The shout burst out, resignation like rain.

There was no other path; Xinuo’s stance was clear as steel. Better accept. It’s just clothes; no one loses flesh.

“Good. Go change.” Xinuo nodded, satisfied like a judge’s stamp.

“Yes…” I took the maid outfit, eyes stinging, and trudged toward the changing room beside the wardrobe like a prisoner to the gate.

…