Ji Lian recalled the moment, her own feelings swirling.
How intense it was…
After the kiss, Sherya still seemed reluctant, gazing at her with a dazed expression.
Does she… like me that much?
Influenced by a wave of emotion, Ji Lian smiled faintly at Sherya.
Unexpectedly, Sherya seemed even more lost in thought.
Though Ji Lian wasn’t vain, she was quite aware of her own attractiveness, which inherited the respective merits of her mother, the former Saintess of the Western God’s Temple, and her father, the head of the Ji family.
Thus, her mood became even more radiant.
However, she realized she couldn’t continue to entangle herself further, lest her sister find out…
But! Ji Lian would do her best to seek out opportunities to be alone with Sherya again!
She realized.
Even though, in a sense, she had “betrayed” Sherya.
But there’s an old saying in the East, “It’s never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are lost.”
Ji Lian was willing to do everything she could to make amends!
And to heal the pain Sherya had suffered from her sister…
Ji Lian secretly made up her mind.
She reached out her hand toward the ceiling, as if to grasp everything precious that had once been within her reach but had been personally lost by her… as if to forcefully reclaim it all.
It was at this moment that a sharp knock sounded at the door.
—”Knock, knock!”
Ji Lian rose from her bed, her golden locks swaying with the movement.
The young girl furrowed her brow, speaking with authority befitting the second young lady of the Ji family.
“What is it?”
Outside the door, the head maid’s falsely respectful tone came through.
“It’s for Lady Ji Lian.”
“It’s a direct order from the young lady. She requests… your presence for a chat.”
Ji Lian’s emerald pupils instantly shrank to a pinpoint of dark green.
Her heart raced, pounding violently, even her chest ached.
Like a thief caught in the act, fearful of facing the owner of what was stolen.
But what had she stolen herself…
What should have been…
She took a deep breath.
Ji Lian tried her best to keep her voice steady, to prevent it from trembling, lest she show weakness in front of the head maid.
“…Alright, wait for me while I tidy up a bit.”
“After that, I will naturally go see my sister.”
“Yes, Lady Ji Lian.”
With a smug smile playing on her lips, the head maid departed, her steps echoing elegantly with each tap of her slender high heels, causing Ji Lian’s brow to twitch.
She had a very bad feeling about this.
But time wouldn’t pause, what was meant to happen… would happen.
Ji Lian closed her sour eyes.
Opening them again, she regained her composure.
Then she adjusted her attire and left her room.
Taking advantage of the early night, she hurried towards the royal court where her sister resided.
At that moment, Ji Yu Su was finalizing the selection of the last candidates to board the steam train back to the Imperial Capital.
Before her, on a sheet of pure white paper, was a long list of names already filled in.
But one line had only the character “Ji,” a surname without a given name.
The girl’s pen hovered over this line, unable to make a mark.
The combination of pen and paper was something that only appeared in this era of the Eastern Empire’s conquest of the Western God’s Temple.
Ji Yu Su’s face was inscrutable.
She awaited someone’s arrival before making a final decision.
Soon, a series of hurried footsteps echoed at the palace gate.
Ji Lian, panting heavily, clearly rushed upon hearing her sister’s summons.
Ji Yu Su raised her gaze slowly, and in it reflected the image of the golden-haired girl in a white dress standing at the foot of the stairs.
She was her half-sister, born of a different mother, who had always idolized her older sister since childhood.
Unfortunately, Ji Yu Su’s feelings toward her were lukewarm at best.
It was only at the moment when Ji Lian presented Sherya to her as a gift that she genuinely felt grateful from the bottom of her heart, and the distance between them seemed to diminish.
Originally, everything should have ended happily here, with everyone satisfied and content.
But…
Ji Lian, my sister.
Why do you… continue to be so persistent?
In Ji Yu Su’s cold gaze, there arose an endless mist of disappointment.
Ji Lian kept her head low, shoulders hunched, unable to face her sister’s expression.
She felt guilty.
And this only served to confirm the words the head maid had reported to her.
Confirmed the fact that she and Sherya had a secret rendezvous at the stables.
But whether it was prearranged between them or just a chance encounter, no one could say for certain.
“Sister, did you call for me… is there something you need?”
“Are you getting used to staying at Fericis recently?”
Ji Lian was somewhat puzzled by her sister’s sudden question.
It was almost as if she was casually inquiring about her well-being, chatting as if they were discussing family matters.
Could such a thing… be real?
Before she could ponder deeply, Ji Lian’s body had already reacted on her behalf.
Because she was worried her sister might become impatient.
“Indeed, Sister, I’m getting used to it.”
Ji Yu Su’s gaze softened slightly, and the candles on the desk flickered without any breeze.
“It’s good that you’re getting used to it.”
“Ever since you volunteered to accompany me on the expedition in front of Father, I’ve been worried that you might not be able to handle the hardships of military life.”
“If you can handle it, why wouldn’t I be able to…”
Ji Lian’s nervous heart couldn’t help but relax a bit, and she smiled.
“Or should I say, compared to you, what I’ve done is really limited.”
“Sometimes I wonder, if only I could share some of your burdens—”
“If only?”
Ji Yu Su coldly interjected, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping over Ji Lian’s body, causing her eyelashes to tremble and her body to stiffen slightly.
The girl vaguely sensed that something wasn’t quite right…
But for now, besides continuing with Ji Yu Su’s words, Ji Lian seemed to have no other recourse.
“Yes, it would be good if I could share some of your burdens.”
Her voice grew lower and lower, as if she were afraid of being heard by Ji Yu Su.
But some words, whether heard or not, were never important.
What truly mattered was how those in power thought and decided.
“So you will share my burdens.”
“Just as I leave, among the Ji family members who will stay behind to guard Fericis…”
“Besides you, I trust no one else.”
How nice it sounded.
Once it spread outside, it would undoubtedly become another tale of sisterly friendship and respect.
But when these words reached Ji Lian’s ears…
It was as if her world had been struck by lightning, leaving her mind blank!
By the time she finally came to her senses, the girl’s body had gone limp.
Immediately, she knelt before her elevated sister, Ji Yu Su, trembling all over.
“P-please… Sister, please!”
“Don’t leave me behind…”
“Please…”
“I don’t want to stay here… sob…”
“I’m sorry… Sister, I’m sorry!”
As Ji Lian begged, her words were now tinged with tears.
But little did she know, the more she pleaded, the colder Ji Yu Su’s heart grew.
Why the sudden change of heart?
My sister.
Are you always so changeable?
What happened to sharing my burdens?
What happened to the gift you gave me?
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