Chapter 150: The Sisters’ Sanctuary
Jade’s gaze lingered for a moment, his emerald eyes carrying both regret and pity. Then, with a controlled breath, he lowered his head. His hand pressed gently against his chest as he bowed, his voice calm but tinged with restraint.
"See you again... High Princess. And you too... Cat girl."
His words hung in the air, steady yet distant, as if placing a final seal on the tension. Without waiting for a reply, he straightened, turned on his heel, and began to walk away. His footsteps were measured and soft, echoing faintly in the vast, elegant hall until he disappeared beyond the archway.
For a long moment, silence clung to the table. Dila finally lifted the piece of bread from her plate. The loaf had been squeezed and half-crumbled by her own restless grip earlier, its edges ruined and flattened. She stared at it for a heartbeat, her lips pressed in a thin line, before finally taking a bite.
The taste was plain. Dry. It filled her mouth, but it did nothing to ease the bitterness twisting in her chest. Still, she chewed slowly, forcing herself to swallow, as if clinging to the motion just to keep herself grounded.
Across from her, Fran sat in silence too. Her plate was still piled with food, yet her appetite had vanished. She toyed with a spoon, stirring at nothing, her cat ears drooping low as her tail curled tightly on her lap. She lifted a small piece to her mouth but barely nibbled it, her eyes glossy and downcast.
Even in the grand hall, where golden chandeliers shimmered above and polished floors reflected the glow, the table where they sat felt dim. The laughter and chatter of other nobles had long since faded, leaving only the soft clink of utensils and the hollow sound of two sisters trying to eat in silence.
Dila’s gaze lowered to her plate, her expression clouded. Fran’s small sigh trembled in the air. And though they sat together, both of them carried the same heaviness... sad and wordless.
The silence between them lingered heavy, but then Dila slowly pushed her chair back. Her plate in hand, she rose and walked toward Fran. Her steps were gentle, almost hesitant, yet there was a newfound resolve in her eyes.
Fran, still slouched with her spoon, blinked in surprise as Dila quietly settled beside her. Without a word, Dila reached out, picking up a fork and spearing a small piece of the food that Fran had gathered on her plate earlier. She leaned closer, her voice low but steady.
"Sorry... for the drama I made," she said softly. But her face—so faintly strained, her blue eyes tired yet sincere—made it clear it hadn’t been a drama at all.
Fran raised her head slowly, her ears twitching as her gaze shifted left. There was Dila, smiling faintly, holding the fork aloft with a piece of food, as if offering peace. "You want some?" Dila asked, her tone lightening, though her smile carried a fragile warmth.
Fran blinked once, then her lips curved into a small smile. "Yes," she whispered.
Dila leaned forward gently and guided the food toward her sister’s mouth. Fran accepted it, chewing carefully. The taste, simple as it was, carried something more—it carried the comfort of her sister’s hand, her care.
Swallowing, Fran looked up with her eyes softening. "Sister... I can’t finish all this food," she admitted, her voice wobbling between playful and shy. She lowered her fork and then hugged Dila, burying her face against her side. "Please help me eat it."
The tightness in Dila’s chest eased. She exhaled a quiet laugh, a real one this time, and hugged Fran back with one arm. "Alright," she said. She smiled a little brighter, picking up the fork again. But instead of feeding Fran this time, she took the bite herself—the same fork she had used for Fran.
She chewed slowly, savoring it, then nodded. "This is good, Fran," she murmured, her voice softer than before.
Fran lifted her head, her ears perking up as her face brightened. "Really?" she asked, her eyes brimming with relief.
"Yes," Dila replied, smiling.
And for the first time that afternoon, they both smiled together... a fragile but genuine warmth blooming between them despite the shadows that still lingered.
The plates before them were finally empty, crumbs and scraps the only proof of the quiet storm that had passed earlier. The air around their little table had softened, the weight of tension lifted little by little with every shared bite.
Fran leaned back in her chair, her small hands pressing against her stomach. Her cat ears twitched as her lips stretched into a wide grin. "I’m sooo full... I might burst any moment now... ohhhhhhh," she groaned dramatically, her head tilting back as if she were about to faint.
Her tail swished lazily behind her, betraying her playful exaggeration.
Dila, who had been quietly sipping the last of her water, let out a soft chuckle. She rested her elbows on the table and tilted her head, watching Fran’s act with amused eyes. "Me too, Fran," she admitted, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "I’m full."
She pressed her own hand lightly over her stomach, not as dramatic as Fran, but still matching her little sister’s tone.
Fran peeked one eye open, caught the smile on Dila’s face, and immediately brightened. Her laughter bubbled out like a melody, carefree and sweet. "Hehe, see, even you can’t resist admitting it, sister!"
Dila shook her head slowly, her silver-white hair shifting around her shoulders, and laughed a little under her breath. The sound was soft, almost rare, but it was real... and Fran’s heart lifted hearing it.
For a moment, it was as if nothing else mattered. Just two sisters, their plates empty, their bellies full, and their smiles... finally light again.
After a minute of resting in their seats, the two sisters finally pushed themselves up and left the canteen. Their footsteps echoed faintly in the vast marble hallway, the golden glow of the chandeliers above flickering against polished floors. But unlike earlier, the once-bustling corridors were now strangely empty. Most of the nobles had long vanished into their dorms, and the silence gave the whole academy an almost eerie, castle-like stillness.
Dila sighed heavily, her staff tucked once again at her back as she trudged forward beside Fran. Her blue eyes narrowed at the endless rows of identical pillars and grand paintings that stretched on and on. "Here we go again," she muttered under her breath, her tone flat and lifeless. "Lost in this maze-like hallway... can’t even find our way back to our dorm." She deadpanned further, her hand dragging down her cheek in exasperation.
Fran, however, didn’t look the slightest bit worried. She bounced lightly along, still clutching her belly as if it were the most important thing in the world. Her ears perked up as she let out a playful giggle. "Hehe... it’s fine, sister. At least we’re lost together!"
Then, out of nowhere— "Buuurrrp!"
The sound echoed through the grand hallway like a trumpet blast in an empty cathedral.
Dila froze in place, her head whipping toward Fran with the sharpest glare.
Fran blinked at her innocently, cheeks puffed slightly pink. "Ehehehe... excuse me?" she said, covering her mouth with both hands, though her eyes glittered with mischief.
Dila pinched the bridge of her nose, her entire face deadpanning. "Unbelievable... my little sister, the noble assassin, terrifying in battle, feared by enemies..." She paused, looking Fran straight in the eyes. "...defeated by her own stomach."
Fran giggled so hard her tail swished back and forth like a flag in the wind. "What? Sister, don’t look at me like that! I told you I was too full!"
The two of them burst into laughter, their voices filling the empty hall, their footsteps carrying them deeper into the maze-like academy as the light of day slowly gave way to the coming night.
Their laughter from Fran’s burp still echoed faintly in the silent hallway when suddenly the sound of quickened footsteps broke through. Tap, tap, tap... It grew louder, followed by the sound of heavy breathing.
"Haaa... haaaa... there you are!"
Dila and Fran both turned their heads, blinking in surprise. Down the hallway came the familiar figure of the young squire boy, cheeks flushed red from running, strands of his messy hair sticking to his forehead.
Dila tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes. "There you are..." she muttered, her voice flat as always.
The squire leaned on his knees, gasping a breath before bursting into laughter. "Ahh hahaha! Hahah! I’ve been searching for you all through Twilight Academy... I thought you two were lost again... lost in the very heart of the academy!" He threw his arms up dramatically, still chuckling.
Dila deadpanned, shifting her right hand to her hip. "Now what?"
He straightened himself, puffing his chest proudly. "Oh! My assignment is to deliver you to your room... including you, Lady Fran Eldoria!" He pointed his finger upward as though he’d just declared some great knightly duty.
Fran’s eyes sparkled like stars, her ears perking up high. "Wait! Is it... is it a joint room with sister?!"
The squire lifted his chin and proudly declared, "Yes! A joint room indeed!"
"Yuppieeee!" Fran squealed, bouncing up and down like an excited cat. "I can cuddle my sister! I can cuddle my sister while we sleep!" She spun around in tiny hops, her skirt swishing as her tail wagged in pure delight.
To Dila’s shock, the squire actually joined in—hopping along with Fran in the middle of the hallway. "Yes! Yes! Sister cuddles forever!" he echoed, waving his arms dramatically as if this were a victory march.
Dila stared at them both, frozen for a moment, before bursting into laughter. Her usually cold, composed face softened, and a genuine smile curled on her lips. She covered her mouth slightly with her hand but couldn’t hold back the chuckle. "What’s gotten into you, squire?"
The sight of her laughing made Fran giggle even harder, while the squire puffed out his chest again, declaring, "It’s the sacred knight’s duty... to ensure cuddles are protected!"
The hallway filled with their laughter, so loud it drowned out the eerie silence of the near-empty academy.
Finally, after what felt like endless wandering, the squire stepped ahead with purpose, guiding Dila and Fran through the academy’s maze of hallways. Each corridor seemed to twist into another, lined with towering windows that reflected the faint orange glow of the setting sun. The light was dimming now, shadows stretching long across the polished floors.
Dila let out a long sigh, her voice dry as she muttered, "It’s going to be a long walk..." She hugged her arms close, her silver hair swaying behind her with each step.
The squire glanced back with a grin and suddenly raised his right hand dramatically, as though proclaiming to the heavens. "Indeed! And may we hope we are not caught by the curfew before you arrive at your room!" His words carried a mixture of mock seriousness and teasing, his laughter echoing faintly down the empty hall.
Fran blinked, her ears twitching curiously as she tilted her head. "Curfew? I’ve heard that word... but I don’t know what it means..." Her voice was innocent, almost childlike, her eyes wide as she clutched at Dila’s sleeve.
The squire slowed his steps, folding his arms behind his back in mock lecture style. "Curfew is when patrolling soldiers check if students are in their proper rooms at the correct hours. If you are found wandering after, well..." He leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically, "...there will be trouble."
Fran’s mouth formed a small "O" of understanding. "Ohhh..." she murmured, her tail flicking nervously before a tiny giggle slipped out. "So it’s like hide-and-seek, but with soldiers!"
Dila only shook her head, her lips pressing flat, though the faintest twitch of amusement pulled at the corner of her mouth.
The echo of their footsteps mixed with the squire’s light-hearted tone, carrying them further into the labyrinth of the academy as the weight of night slowly began to settle.
As the footsteps of the squire echoed down the empty hall as he finally stopped before a polished wooden door framed with silver etchings. He turned to them, puffing his chest out with pride, and declared with a grin, "Mission complete! Wheeew.... I’m gonna go now!"
Before Dila could even open her mouth to say something, the boy had already bolted off, waving one arm high above his head. "Have fun in your room!" his voice trailed as his boots clattered against the stone.
Dila stared at his vanishing figure, her shoulders dropping as she shook her head. "Unbelievable.... typical of him."
Fran let out a small chuckle, her cat tail flicking with amusement. "At least on the bright side, we finally managed to arrive at our dorm doorstep, hehehe."
Dila sighed softly, but her lips curved into a small smile. "Yeah.... that’s more important."
She placed her palm against the double door, small and elegant in design. With a gentle push, the doors creaked open. Both girls froze the moment their eyes met the sight inside.
The room wasn’t a simple dorm. It was stunning.
Polished marble flooring gleamed beneath their feet, reflecting the warm golden glow of crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The walls were trimmed with silver patterns that curled like vines, and tall arched windows allowed the fading evening light to spill in, painting everything in soft hues of orange and gold.
Two grand canopy beds stood on each side of the room, their frames carved from whitewood and draped with soft, flowing curtains. Each bed was layered with plush pillows and silken blankets in shades of deep navy and silver, perfectly matching the academy’s colors.
A round crystal table stood at the center, surrounded by velvet chairs, and on it rested a vase filled with fresh lilies, their sweet fragrance filling the air. Against the far wall, shelves lined with neatly stacked books, scrolls, and ink jars gleamed as though untouched, waiting to be used.
Fran’s eyes sparkled brighter than ever as she clutched Dila’s arm, her mouth dropping wide. "My goddddd...." she gasped.
Dila mirrored the words without thinking, her own voice breathless. "My goddddd...."
They stood there together, frozen in awe, their minds still catching up with the fact that this luxurious chamber was theirs.... a room far beyond what either of them had imagined for academy dorms.
As the door fully swung open, both of them stepped inside, their sandals tapping lightly against the marble floor. Their heads turned left and right, drinking in every polished surface, every sparkle of light from the chandeliers.
"Wow.... wow.... wow...." Dila murmured under her breath, her blue eyes wide with disbelief.
Fran darted a few steps forward, her tail swishing back and forth like it had a mind of its own. She spun around with her arms stretched out, nearly bouncing on her heels, her face glowing with pure excitement. "This is exciting!" she squealed, her voice echoing through the high-ceilinged room.
She twirled in place, her navy hair swirling around her shoulders as she giggled. Her gaze bounced from the beds to the windows to the shelves, as though she couldn’t decide which thing amazed her most.
Dila followed more calmly, but she couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging her lips as she whispered, "It really is...." Her heart felt strangely light, a warmth seeping into her chest as she allowed herself, even for a moment, to share in Fran’s overflowing joy.