Free Web NovelEleanor was now lost in thought.
There was a very serious problem here.
It concerned morality.
It concerned responsibility.
It concerned her bottom line as an older sister.
Should she continue to enjoy this clingy version of Little Pa, or should she remind her?
The Silver-haired Maiden in her arms was still nuzzling against her.
Like a cat that had found a heater.
From time to time, she would look up and glance at her with those pink heart-shaped eyes.
Then she would bury her face back in.
Nuzzle.
Nuzzle again.
Eleanor felt like her heart was about to melt.
This was too much of a foul play.
This method of attack was simply too much of a foul play.
Normally, if Eleanor teased Pavela even slightly, her face would turn red to the tips of her ears; she would grumble, but her body would be as stiff as a board.
But now?
The roles were completely reversed.
Taking the initiative to act spoiled.
Taking the initiative to nuzzle.
Taking the initiative to ask for a kiss.
She could even use the Return Power to read her emotions and then accurately strike every one of her soft spots.
It was simply...
It was simply cheating.
But.
Eleanor's rationality was still struggling.
This wasn't right.
This was the influence of the erosion.
Pavela's current state was like being drunk.
Once she sobered up, she would definitely—
An image flashed through Eleanor's mind.
Pavela crouching in a corner, covering her head with a blanket, curled into a ball.
Her ears so red they looked like they might bleed.
A muffled voice coming from under the blanket.
"Don't mention it."
"Please, don't mention it."
"I didn't mean it at the time."
"It's all the fault of that damned the return."
And then, the more she thought about it, the more ashamed she would get, and she'd start rolling around under the blanket.
Letting out some unintelligible screams.
...
But that image.
Just thinking about it was adorable.
The corners of Eleanor's mouth curled up uncontrollably.
If she let Pavela continue now...
The "after-sales reaction" she'd get to see later would surely be even more spectacular.
It was truly a guaranteed profitable deal.
Very cost-effective.
Very—
No.
What was she thinking?
She was Pavela's older sister.
Her guardian.
The person who should be protecting her.
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It was immoral.
Highly immoral.
Though...
Though this advantage was indeed very tempting.
Eleanor struggled through an internal conflict.
An angel and a demon were fighting in her mind.
The angel said: Quickly remind her; that is the responsible thing to do.
The demon said: Wait a little longer; she's happy right now anyway, and so are you.
The angel said: But she'll be so embarrassed when she wakes up.
The demon said: Isn't her embarrassed side even cuter?
The angel said:...
The demon added: Do you think if you remind her now, she won't be embarrassed when she wakes up?
The angel fell silent.
The angel seemed to think that made some sense.
"Sister Eleanor."
Pavela's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
Pavela looked up, those pink eyes staring at her.
"You're hesitating."
"You're wondering whether you should remind me."
"You think I'm not normal right now."
"You think you should make me snap out of it."
"But you're also reluctant to let go."
Eleanor's expression froze.
This ability was truly annoying.
"And—"
The corners of Pavela's mouth curled up.
"You're still imagining how embarrassed I'll be once I'm sober."
"You think that scene will be very cute."
"You're even starting to look forward to it."
"..."
Eleanor felt her face burning.
She had been seen through.
Completely and utterly seen through.
"Sister is so mean,"
Pavela said.
But there was no blame in her tone.
Instead, there was a hint of a smile.
"Trying to make fun of me while I'm drunk."
Pavela nuzzled her again.
"But it's okay."
"I don't mind."
"Anyway, when I'm sober later, I'll just pretend I don't remember anything."
"And then—"
Her voice lowered.
"And then, when Sister is drunk, I'll pay you back twofold."
Eleanor's breath hitched for a moment.
When she was drunk?
What was this little one planning?
"So—"
Pavela buried her face back into her chest.
"Let me cling to you for a while longer."
"I've already lost face anyway."
"A little more won't hurt."
Eleanor fell silent.
She looked down at the silver head.
Hesitation.
Conflict.
The angel and the demon were still fighting.
But the battle had become one-sided.
The demon was gaining the upper hand.
Complete upper hand.
Maybe...
Wait a little longer?
Just a little while?
Pavela herself said she didn't mind anyway—
No.
Eleanor took a deep breath.
She was an adult.
She had to have a bottom line.
She couldn't—
"Sister."
Pavela's voice rang out again.
"The military affairs aren't finished yet, right?"
"...What?"
"You were just thinking that the military affairs haven't been fully handled yet."
Pavela looked up and blinked.
"You can use that as an excuse."
"..."
Eleanor was stunned.
This little girl.
She had even read the excuse Eleanor hadn't even voiced yet.
"Are you helping me find a way out?"
"Mm-hmm."
Pavela nodded.
Confident and composed.
"Even though I don't really want Sister to leave right now..."
"I also know that Sister has her principles."
"If Sister feels that she should be working right now—"
"Then I'll let go of you first."
Her grip loosened.
But she didn't let go completely.
"But—"
Her eyes were sparkling.
"When Sister is finished, you have to come find me."
"And that kiss."
"Sister can't go back on her word."
Eleanor looked at her.
Looked at those pink eyes.
Looked at that small, beating heart.
Suddenly, she found it a bit funny.
This little one.
Even though she was influenced by the erosion.
Even though her sense of shame was suppressed.
She was still thinking of her.
Still giving her a way out.
She even knew she had "principles."
Truly...
"Little Pa."
Eleanor's voice softened.
She raised her hand.
And gently tapped that silver head.
*Thump.*
It wasn't hard.
But it was enough to get her attention.
Pavela rubbed her head and looked up.
"Sister?"
"No more peeking at my emotions."
Eleanor's tone was helpless.
"It's very impolite."
"And—"
She paused.
"And if I let you keep reading me, I'll have no privacy left at all."
Pavela blinked.
"But—"
"No buts."
Eleanor reached out and pinched her cheek.
Gently pulling it outward.
"You know your current state isn't normal, right?"
"Mm... I know..."
Her cheek was pinched out of shape, making her speech a bit slurred.
"The erosion of the Path of the Lover magnifies dependency and lowers shame."
Eleanor let go.
"The things you're doing now, the things you're saying—"
"Once you return to normal, you'll want to die of embarrassment."
Pavela rubbed her reddened cheek.
She didn't deny it.
"I know,"
she said.
"But Sister—"
"Have you ever considered a possibility?"
Her gaze suddenly became serious.
That pink heart was still beating.
But the rhythm of the beat had changed.
It became steadier.
It became deeper.
"Maybe—"
"Maybe these are things I wanted to say all along."
"These are things I wanted to do all along."
"The erosion just..."
"Gave me the courage to say them out loud."
Eleanor's breath hitched for a moment.
Pavela's gaze didn't waver.
She looked straight at her.
"So—"
"Even if I wake up later and want to bury myself..."
"Even if I pretend nothing happened..."
"Sister must remember."
"Every word I said tonight—"
"Was true."
The corridor was very quiet.
Only the hissing of the distant steam pipes could be heard.
Eleanor looked into those eyes.
Pink.
With little hearts.
But the emotion inside—
The emotion inside was real.
It wasn't an illusion created by erosion.
It wasn't a side effect of the Return Power.
It was real.
"...Alright."
Eleanor's voice was very soft.
"I'll remember."
Pavela's mouth curled up.
That pink heart beat even more cheerfully.
"Then—"
"There's still military affairs."
Eleanor interrupted her.
Her expression returned to calm.
But a hint of a smile remained on her lips.
"The military affairs aren't finished yet."
"I have to go check the situation in the Containment Area."
"You—"
"I'll wait for Sister."
Pavela nodded obediently.
"I'll wait right here."
"Wait for Sister to finish."
She finally released her arms from around Eleanor's waist.
But before letting go, she gave one last nuzzle.
"Hurry back, Sister."
"Mm-hmm."
Eleanor turned.
Took a few steps.
Then stopped.
"Little Pa."
"Yes?"
"About that kiss—"
She didn't look back.
"Once you're back to normal, if you still want it..."
"Come find me again."
With that, she strode away.
Behind her, Pavela stood where she was.
Those pink eyes were astonishingly bright.
That little heart.
It beat as if it were about to fly out.
"Okay,"
she said softly.
A smile was in her voice.
"It's a deal."
