Case 119: ”I’m no longer your sister.”

''...''

A few days had passed since I was confined to my own room.

True to Lyra's words, the emperor promptly announced my little sister's title as the new heroine the following morning. A grand ceremony was held, during which Lyra was absent from the mansion.

I tried everything I could to escape, but I only found my helplessness.

The chains that bound me felt indestructible. With them came a seal that prevented me from using my power, so I couldn't even budge the bunky bed. Ironically, they were just long enough so that I could move freely around the small room and access the bathroom, but nowhere near the entrance.

I wish I had chosen a bigger room, so that I could at least get more freedom of movement.

''...''

The outside world was probably chaotic.

I lay on my bed, blankly staring at the ceiling—the monotone, slightly grayish ceiling. The more I stared, the more I felt like my mind was spinning. Did it have a hypnotic effect?

Of course, I still had my phone, so I wasn't going insane from boredom or anything. I wasn't in the mood.

Lyra let me call and text as I wanted. Maybe she was confident that I didn't have anyone to call for help... and she was right. Except my lovers, who were proud accomplices in this confinement job, I couldn't call anyone.

For a while, I pondered if I wanted to contact Quasar and reveal my identity.

'...Forget it.'

I shouldn't bring her into this mess. She wasn't Lyra's opponent, anyway. I let out a sigh, lamenting my karma.

''Lunchtime, m'lady.''

''...''

Just then, the culprit barged into my room, holding a silver tray in her hands. This had been a part of the routine for the last few days. Little sister helping big sister with her meals was fine, just... not in this context.

I also noticed that ever since I came back, Lyra became more smiley. She smiled all the time, but not the kind of happy, cheerful ones one might expect. 'Eerie' or 'sinister' might be the two words I would use to describe her smile.

Either way, I groggily got up and sat at the edge of the bed.

The chains now felt painfully comfortable, and their clinking sounds no longer concerned me, much to my dismay. Lyra nonchalantly sat beside me, placing the tray of food on the nightstand.

In fact, our thighs were touching.

''Ugh...''

Before I could move away, she snatched my waist, her arm circling like a snake. Even in my display of annoyance, she showed no sign of stopping.

I felt like arguing. Words rose to my throat, yet never got spoken.

After all... I already did it yesterday, and it didn't work at all.

''Good girl.'' She said, moving her other hand to my head.

Instinctively, I shielded my horns, fearing another 'violation,' but with my meager strength... it wasn't even a fight. My brows furrowed as she touched my horns. The horns themselves weren't sensitive. Instead, it was the weight of them shifting that nudged my skull in a weird way.

''You...''

This every time. Every time I had a meal, she would do this!

After having her fill, Lyra then began to feed me, one tender bite at a time, as if taking care of a baby. Of course, I insisted that I could eat on my own many times, but she didn't listen.

Humiliating aside, I was powerless.

She treated me gently as though I were her princess. She brought me meals, brought me clothes, talked with me, stayed with me, all with an utterly tentative spirit.

Deep down, I knew that I would soon lean on her on my own. I would become dependent on this 'kindness.' Even the sensation of her shirt brushing on my skin or her warmth that transferred through... I was getting used to it.

Because... my body was becoming more frail.

It was a miracle that I was able to hold on for so long without flatly dying, but even the elixirs that kept my life going were losing their effects.

I felt my limbs trembling during everyday movements, I felt headaches haunting me for hours on end, and I felt a sense of cascading weakness drowning my consciousness.

Just like how it was a few years ago.

''Alright. Time to take your medicine.''

''...''

After the meal, Lyra took out several vials of elixirs. She would feed me these twice a day.

I stared at them, grimacing.

''It doesn't work anymore.'' I blankly said. ''These things.''

''Sure. But... it's not a request.''

Saying so, Lyra pried open my mouth with her hand and fed them to me. More than the messy liquid invading my throat, the sheer forcefulness in her actions made me anxious. Was she the little sister I knew? Was she... deceiving me all this time?

''Hah... hah...''

After coughing a few times, I couldn't help but grab her wrist, ''You...''

''...''

''...What is it that you want? Doing such acts to me.''

''I'm just taking care of you.'' She replied. ''I said it before, didn't I? I need you not to make a stupid move again. This is for your own good... and mine, too.''

''Then why the excessive intimacy?! We're sisters!''

The heroine chuckled, her eyes screaming mockery, ''Is that so? What if I tell you... that I'm no longer your sister?''

''...What?''

I was rendered speechless. Even as she closed in on me, pushing me down on the bed, I couldn't muster a thought.

Once again, I was pinned.

''What I mean is... I no longer consider myself your little sister.'' She uttered, her smile almost radiant. ''Not because I hate you, obviously. I love you, in fact, as a woman.''

''Ah...''

Deep in my consciousness, I already knew the answer to her feelings. I knew it all, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it. I didn't want to break the fragile harmony between us as sisters.

Now, hearing the words coming out of her mouth so clearly and determinedly... I felt like something had broken inside me.

''I don't care that you only see me as your sister.'' She stated, her fingers caressing my cheek as my breath shortened. ''I will change your mind soon enough, so don't worry.''

''...''

''So... I'll be in your care from now on, Miss Cecilia.''

After giving a kiss on the forehead, the heroine left. I kept lying on the bed, unsure of what to make of just about everything. Everything that just happened... it seemed like a dream.

''Hahah...''

I let out a hollow laugh, covering my eyes with a trembling wrist.

At this point, the only hope left for me to cling to as her sister was our official status. Since our parents were married, we were legally step-sisters. Even then... I couldn't think of a scenario where Lyra would be bound by such meaningless papers.

''...''

And more than that... I was afraid of myself following her will voluntarily.

That night, my heart was in turmoil.