It's Mine...! I Absolutely Won't Give Him Up...!
"What can I say. If things go normally, that's probably it. But with some kind of trigger, it might hatch right away."
"Who said that?"
"She said she's the Saintess from the temple? A priest brought her after seeing my eyes."
"If it's her, I trust it."
"You like her?"
"Jealous?"
"Yeah."
Who the hell is this woman that Kane trusts so much?
It was half-joking, but I did feel a twinge of real jealousy.
I regretted saying it now, but it was too late to take back.
Instead, I got curious about their relationship.
Kane even called her 'that woman,' so they must know each other pretty well.
"What's your relationship with her?"
"We met as prince and Saintess. Strictly business. Nothing personal, so relax."
"You think I'd believe that just because you say you only met her for work after hanging out all friendly with another girl, boyfriend?"
"She's obsessed with God, so I'd appreciate it if you believed me. The idea of me being that kind of close to a woman like her is kinda grossing me out."
She didn't seem like that type?
She just looked like a devout, kind person. Did I misjudge her?
The Saintess I'd just seen embodied benevolence and gentleness.
But since Kane said it, I'd believe him.
We'd only just met briefly, so maybe that's why.
"I hope my talent shows up soon."
"Why?"
"Just... I used to see friends that don't show up anymore, so it's kinda boring."
Back when my eyes were fine, the world looked different.
Not ghosts, but something similar—pure, baby-like things.
They looked exactly like fantasy spirits.
No, they were spirits.
Of course, I don't know if spirits actually exist in this world.
Maybe my traumatized kid self was hallucinating from going crazy.
"Kane. Do spirits exist in this world?"
"They do. Spirit summoners exist, after all. I can't see them unless they're contracted to a summoner, but apparently some people can."
"Then that must be me. I could see them."
"Summoner talent?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Back then, it just felt like my eyes were sharp. I could see everything."
Summoner talent is likely, but better to keep all possibilities open.
That way, it's more fun and thrilling.
Imagine thinking I'm a summoner only to have grand archmage potential. How exciting.
Summoner isn't bad, either.
"Got it. Oh, did the Saintess say anything else? The one I know isn't the type to only talk business."
"Nope. She just checked my eyes and left."
"She only did that to me...?"
"Keep saying that, and I'll get jealous."
"I'm telling you, no..."
Of course, it was a lie.
The Saintess lived up to her title—despite that violent figure and outfit, her eyes were sharp as hell.
She spotted my body's near-impossible natural healing and potion resistance in one glance.
I had to talk her out of telling Kane, which took forever.
I didn't want him knowing unless I said it first.
And yeah, I was jealous.
She acted like she knew Kane inside out, so it stung a bit.
I was picking a fight out of jealousy.
We had to head home soon anyway.
"I've decided on magic circles for my major. They recommended it because of my mana reserves."
"Too bad. If it was aura, we could've majored together."
"Miss me while we're apart, even if it's just a little. And be happy when we meet again."
"You got it. I'll miss you like crazy in the meantime."
Satisfied with his answer, I plastered myself right back against Kane's side.
Is this what it feels like for a kid clinging to mom or dad?
Or a girlfriend to her boyfriend?
Never experienced either, so who knows.
Anyway, it's warm, secure, and puts me in a great mood.
If only Kane could carry me off somewhere secluded and devour me all night.
"Kane. I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"Something that could be the biggest trigger for my talent."
"What?"
"Wouldn't it be getting deliciously fucked by you? Losing my virginity as a woman seems like the ultimate shock."
"Ugh. Let's go home."
"Hng."
I don't wanna go home.
Even if I beg to stay, he knows I'll go eventually, so he doesn't hold me back anymore.
He'd hold me if I asked, but I'd still go.
Might as well savor the slow walk to the main gate.
As we headed to the academy's main gate where we'd part, a familiar crested carriage loomed like a brick wall.
A gateway to hell for me.
"Head to the palace. You're my fiancée; you can."
"No. Not yet. If it's really bad, I'll tell you."
"Alright. If you say so, I'll pretend to buy it. Have fun today?"
"Yeah. A lot. Enough to look forward to what's next."
"Me too. See you tomorrow."
"Okay."
Kane and I exchanged brief farewells for the short day and headed to our carriages.
He to the imperial carriage bound for the palace.
Me to the hellgate.
The smile on my face vanished in an instant.
With every step toward the carriage, my warm heart froze solid.
And the moment I opened the door—
"Finally here? How dare you keep your big sis waiting. Get in."
"Kyaaak...!"
The reaper inside grabbed my collar and slammed me to the carriage floor.
Ruthless force, like she'd been itching for this.
She must've held back before because of Kane's watchful eyes.
Seeing her personal punching bag switch rooms and live well must've pissed her off.
But that punching bag's me?
Life really...
"Sorry... for being late..."
But all I could say here was an apology for tardiness.
If I admitted fault without apologizing, who knows how much worse it'd get.
It wouldn't improve things, but it wouldn't spiral to rock bottom.
The problem was big sis looked really pissed right now.
"Lea. Lea. Did you do something wrong?"
"Yes.... I did wrong..."
"What did our cute little sis do wrong?"
Her beaming smile sent chills down my spine.
She was seriously asking.
Forcing me to confess to some fabricated sin when I did nothing wrong.
Handing her an excuse to crush me guilt-free.
What could I do against someone so devoid of conscience and humanity?
Bolt to Kane's still-unmoving carriage?
As if.
After all the effort to keep him in the dark.
Besides, I couldn't beat her physically.
She'd trained in magic and combat like a proper noble heir, with real results.
Basic physical disparity.
Me? Constant potion resets stunted my growth—I'm basically a kid physically.
No chance for muscles to develop amid the breaking and healing.
So my only choice: submit.
"It's wrong to keep you waiting, Big Sis. I'm really sorry."
"I see. So you think being late was wrong?"
Then what was it...?
You beat the crap out of me for being late.
Ruined my uniform and all.
Indignation bubbled up past the thin walls my recent peace had built, but I swallowed it.
Expressing it now would be weird.
She usually just needed an excuse to beat me, but this time she wanted something else.
Something different.
What could it be?
Only one thing came to mind: Kane, the one thing she couldn't handle.
She'd probably gotten royally rejected by him today and pinned it on me.
Because I'm his fiancée.
"Sure, that's wrong too. But didn't you do something really wrong to your big sis?"
"That’s..."
The model answer: I'm so sorry for daring to steal Big Sis's Kane.
I'd have to promise to act nice around him—not specific, but say I'll speak well of her, give them alone time, whatever.
But...
I hate that...!
He's mine...!
"You know. What you dared to steal from this big sis."
"That’s...!"
"Yeah. That?"
I had to say it.
My body remembered her abuse and wanted to spit it out.
But my heart rebelled.
My first ally, my first possession in this life.
I absolutely wouldn't let go.
"He's mine..."
"What?"
"Kane's mine...! My fiancé...! I absolutely won't yield—kyaaak?!"
"You little—"
Big Sis finally laid hands on me.
I knew it would come to this.
But I absolutely wouldn't hand him over.
Not Kane. Never.
"You just had to climb up, huh? Think being his fiancée makes you something? That spot was mine from the start!!"
"Then you should've gotten him instead of me!! Kane's mine...! I absolutely won't give him up...!"
As I shouted, two emotions hit me.
Cathartic relief—and whether I'd survive tomorrow.
Odds weren't great.
I'd finally rebelled. She might actually kill me.
Sorry, Kane.
I'll try to stay alive.