“So Bai Ye has a younger sister.”

“That’s right. Her name’s Ariel. She was the only one whose attitude toward me didn’t change after she learned I had black magic. Maybe she’s the only one in that family who still sees me as family.”

If Bai Ye had to choose the two people she cared about most, An Jieli would be first, and her younger sister, Ariel, would absolutely be second.

“Did you leave the Royal Capital this time for your sister, too?”

“That’s right. She’s starting at Holy Radiance Academy next month, and I plan to enroll there as well.”

“That’s wonderful! Your sister must be so happy that she’ll get to be with you again, big sis!”

“……”

Bai Ye fell silent. Would Ariel really be happy to see her again? After all, she looked different now, no longer used the name she had before, and even her gender had…

It was better to forget about reuniting. As long as she could protect Ariel from afar, that was enough.

“Bai Ye, what’s wrong?”

Seeing Bai Ye fall silent, Yilisi looked a little puzzled.

“Did I say something wrong?”

Yilisi’s words brought Bai Ye back to herself.

“No, it’s nothing. You’re right, Yilisi. I just hope Ariel will be happy.”

“Don’t worry, Bai Ye. Your sister will definitely be happy.”

Bai Ye watched Yilisi do her best to encourage her and smiled. She really was a kind girl.

She patted Yilisi on the head and said,

“All right, Yilisi. Time for bed. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Yilisi obediently nodded. When she was with Bai Ye, she had to be a good, well-behaved girl.

……

The night had grown very late, and even Bai Ye couldn’t fight off her drowsiness.

If she wanted to, she could go for several days without sleeping. But there was no need for that now, so Bai Ye followed her body’s instincts and lay down to sleep quietly in the carriage.

Yilisi was lying beside her under the same blanket. But she was still awake, her thoughts elsewhere.

“Holy Radiance Academy… It must be hard to get into that school.”

Holy Radiance Academy was the finest school in the empire. It only admitted students who could control magic.

In the past, the academy only accepted nobles. But after Her Majesty the Queen’s reforms, it gradually opened its doors to commoners as well.

Even so, ordinary people like Yilisi, who couldn’t control magic, still had no way to study at Holy Radiance Academy.

Of course, with strength like Bai Ye’s, getting into Holy Radiance Academy wouldn’t be difficult. The academy existed to find talented people for the empire, after all, so it was only natural that it would welcome powerful students.

“I really don’t want to be separated from Bai Ye…”

Yilisi looked at Bai Ye’s profile beside her. She knew that before long, she and Bai Ye would have to part ways.

Bai Ye’s gentleness, her smile, the little ways she cared for Yilisi—Yilisi would lose all of it.

In the end, Yilisi was just an ordinary girl. She couldn’t control magic, and she had no prestigious background. Someone like her had no way of keeping up with Bai Ye.

“This is the only chance I have to get close to her…”

Yilisi carefully sat up and gazed at Bai Ye’s sleeping face.

Bai Ye really was beautiful. But unlike her gentle personality, her face always seemed a little cold when she wasn’t smiling. Just like now.

Of course, Bai Ye had no expression at all while she slept. But Yilisi knew that beneath that cool, composed face was a kind and considerate heart.

“Bai Ye, I really do love you.”

Yilisi gazed at Bai Ye’s sleeping face, entranced. If she had the power to stop time, she wouldn’t hesitate to freeze it right here.

At least in this moment, Bai Ye belonged to Yilisi.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Yilisi carefully controlled her breathing and moved slowly, making sure not to wake Bai Ye as she did what she was about to do.

She braced her hands on either side of Bai Ye’s head and studied her face, as if she wanted to etch it into her memory.

After a while, Yilisi slowly lowered her head and gently pressed her soft lips to Bai Ye’s cheek.

She’d actually kissed Bai Ye!

The kiss was light, but it carried all of Yilisi’s feelings. After a long while, she finally lifted her head.

Even though Bai Ye was completely defenseless, Yilisi only kissed her cheek. Bai Ye’s pink lips were right before her, but Yilisi just couldn’t bring herself to touch them.

“I really am a coward.”

Yilisi’s face was bright red. She’d wanted to keep going after that kiss.

But she couldn’t. She had to get some proper rest now. She didn’t want Bai Ye to hate her, so she had to be a good girl.

Yilisi lay back down in Bai Ye’s arms. They nestled close together, and Bai Ye’s warmth slowly seeped into Yilisi.

It was a strange, wonderful feeling, like a light illuminating a room. Yilisi felt completely content.

“Bai Ye, you really are so warm…”