Chapter 21: A Sister’s Embrace and Lingering Suspicions

The sudden thought that surfaced in Xiluo’er’s mind made her body stiffen.

Behind her, Eve acted as if she hadn’t noticed anything, instead pulling Xiluo’er even closer. A multitude of thoughts instantly flashed through Xiluo’er’s mind.

The way Eve had deliberately waited outside her room before dinner two days ago, her sudden unusual behavior just now, and those arms now naturally wrapped around her waist…

Now, Xiluo’er was even more convinced that Eve suspected her. This was Eve’s way of testing her and warning her not to make any rash moves.

‘You seem quite concerned about Sister Rona,’ Eve’s earlier words, along with the four deliberately emphasized characters of ‘Sister Eve,’ were likely a warning to Xiluo’er. Was she implying that as long as she was around, Xiluo’er shouldn’t harbor any ill intentions toward her friends?

It seemed highly probable.

This was peculiar. Given the significant power gap between Xiluo’er and Eve, there was no reason for Eve to resort to such an indirect method of warning her!

Xiluo’er racked her brain, yet she couldn’t fathom Eve’s motives for acting this way.

And besides… was her disguise really that poor?

Xiluo’er felt a wave of despair.

She truly believed she had disguised herself well, so why were they all starting to suspect her?

“Did I scare you just now, Xiluo’er?”

The now gentle voice drifted from behind her, but Xiluo’er felt no relief.

“N-no, Sister Eve.”

“Speaking of which, my injuries have healed long ago, so why do you still keep me here, Sister Eve?”

Xiluo’er asked this question with a mournful little face.

While she knew that, with her life now in the hands of the Cult of Chaos, it was impossible for her to leave Eve’s side, at this very moment, she still desperately wanted to ask.

“What’s wrong, Xiluo’er? Do you not like staying with me?”

As if afraid the person in her arms would flee, Eve gently wrapped her arms around Xiluo’er and rested her chin lightly on Xiluo’er’s head.

“Of course not…”

Xiluo’er certainly didn’t dare to say ‘yes’.

“It’s just, well… I feel like I’ve caused Sister Eve a lot of trouble.”

‘What a good child!’

‘So cute, and so considerate of others. If only she could be a little more obedient…’

“It’s alright. Xiluo’er is so well-behaved; you haven’t caused your sister any trouble at all.”

“Hmm… perhaps it’s because Xiluo’er reminds me of my younger sister.”

“I used to have a sister named Irene, but during the civil war that broke out in this country more than a decade ago, we got separated.”

“Although I was later taken in by the Adventurer’s Guild, I haven’t found any trace of Irene since then.”

“Xiluo’er is just as adorable as Irene.”

Ah, this.

Xiluo’er knew about this. Irene and Eve had been adopted by different people, so it was natural that Eve hadn’t found her sister’s whereabouts.

In any case, according to the plot’s progression, Eve would reunite with her sister later, so Xiluo’er didn’t feel sad for Eve because of this.

On the contrary, a peculiar sense of guilt arose within her.

Because in the story, Eve and Irene, due to their differing identities and factions, eventually became enemies, turning their blades against each other. It was truly lamentable for once-close sisters to reach such a point.

However, Xiluo’er remembered very clearly that these two sisters’ animosity, aside from their differing identities, also owed a great deal to her own efforts as an infiltrator, sowing discord between them.

It could be said that without her, if the two sisters had simply sat down and talked, they wouldn’t have resorted to drawing swords against each other at all.

Noticing Xiluo’er’s troubled expression, Eve patted Xiluo’er’s head by way of comfort.

“It’s alright. So many years have passed; Irene might have been adopted by a good family.”

“You don’t need to be sad for your sister.”

‘Ah, no, you’re overthinking it. I’m not sad at all.’

‘And… if you knew what kind of organization Irene was taken in by, you probably wouldn’t be saying ‘good family’ right now.’

“Alright, hurry and take your bath.”

Eve stood up, picking up the towel draped beside the bathtub.

“If Xiluo’er truly wants to comfort her sister, you can come sleep with me tonight.”

“Xiluo’er is so cute; perhaps my mood will improve if I cuddle with you.”

A slow smile curved Eve’s lips.

This was truly a case of ‘the dagger revealed at the end of the scroll.’

Eve didn’t notice that after she spoke, Xiluo’er’s body briefly stiffened for a moment.

‘This is bad. It seems Eve really does suspect me.’

‘If it were just asking me to sleep with her, it might not mean much. But what day is today?’

‘Today is the day she was scheduled to meet her contact, once a week!’

‘Making such a request specifically on a day like today makes it hard not to believe Eve has discovered something.’

“Okay…”

Xiluo’er didn’t dare to refuse Eve, so she reluctantly looked up and agreed.

Eve raised an eyebrow.

She had expected the little one’s shyness would make her dither for ages before agreeing, so why was she so quick today?

‘Could it be that her strategy actually worked?’

****

As night fell, and everyone returned home to their mothers for a good night’s sleep.

Xiluo’er lay on her side in Eve’s bed, not daring to move.

Come to think of it, this was her first time entering Eve’s room.

The room’s decorations weren’t particularly special; Eve wasn’t the type to care about such things.

“Alright, let’s sleep, Xiluo’er.”

Eve wrapped one arm around Xiluo’er, pulling her body gently closer.

“Goodnight, Sister Eve.”

Though she said goodnight, in the pitch-black room, Xiluo’er’s eyes were wide open, staring intently at the room’s furnishings.

‘Why am I so unlucky!’

‘There’s no other way. Now I can only wait for Eve to fall asleep, then find a way to sneak out.’

‘Normally, the safest option in this situation would be not to meet the contact today, but Xiluo’er didn’t dare!’

‘She hadn’t gotten her antidote from the contact yet! Without the weekly short-term antidote, she might just kick the bucket tomorrow!’

‘It’s also that guy named Shadow’s fault; he only told her to meet him in the courtyard once a week in the middle of the night, without giving her any contact information or anything…’

Helpless, Xiluo’er could only pretend to sleep while waiting for Eve to fall into a deep slumber.

After a soft sigh in her heart, Xiluo’er closed her eyes and began to deliberately slow her breathing, creating the impression that she was already asleep.

Now, all that was left was patient waiting. Just waiting…

However, what Xiluo’er hadn’t expected was that, not long after, Eve, who had an arm draped over her, suddenly made a new movement.

She hugged her even tighter!