Sisterly Bonds

What had caused Her Majesty the Empress to change her mind in just a few hours?

As the Empress’s personal maid, Feilin was no fool. After a moment’s thought and deduction, the answer became clear.

She glanced meaningfully at the tightly shut stone door of the sacred grounds, her mind swirling with thoughts, but she responded promptly.

“I will obey Your Majesty’s command.”

No matter how puzzling it was that the Empress, who so dearly loved Princess Selina, would put her daughter in danger, these were royal family matters. As a trusted confidante, Feilin knew her place and the boundaries of her role.

In short, royal issues were for the royals to resolve. Outsiders could neither influence the outcome nor alter the process.

Feilin nodded and turned to leave to handle the arrangements, but Karina’s voice stopped her.

“Wait…”

“Your Majesty, is there anything else you require?”

Feilin bowed respectfully, hands clasped at her waist, her posture impeccable and expression calm.

“Make sure Felicia doesn’t hear of this. She’s always been protective of her sister. If she learns of it on her way home, she might rush back to stop it.”

Karina’s expression carried a hint of helplessness, like a mother fretting over her daughters.

At her core, the Empress cared deeply for her two daughters. Even with the decision made, she still worried about their feelings. Such a choice likely came with unspoken burdens.

Feilin said no more, nodded, and walked away.

Watching Feilin’s retreating figure, Karina stood alone, turning to gaze at the closed stone door. Recalling the Ancestor God’s recent response, she sighed wearily and closed her eyes.

The outcome of her questioning of the Ancestor God wasn’t bad, but it was far from ideal. The god had left the choice and decision to her, but as the Empress of the elves, with the weight of the race on her shoulders, did she truly have room for personal desires?

No one could give her the answer. She had to find it herself.

But at least this decision wasn’t forced. In the Ancestor God’s eyes, whether Selina was a pawn or a descendant, to Empress Karina, she was her daughter. The Sacred Bath carried risks, but as a former Descender, Selina had a high chance of succeeding.

Moreover, Karina’s love for Selina wasn’t blind indulgence. Even without the Ancestor God’s transaction, Selina’s growth required trials. In this world, only those with true power could avoid being toyed with by fate.

She only hoped this decision wouldn’t create too great a rift with Felicia, who cherished her sister deeply.

On the road to the Elven Forest, a luxurious, ornate carriage moved steadily forward. Its exterior bore the emblem of golden wood, with golden irises blooming vividly under masterful craftsmanship. Anyone who recognized this symbol would respectfully yield, for in the Seraris Continent, the golden iris represented the Garlanode family—the elven royalty.

Only a member of the elven royal family could ride in a carriage bearing the Garlanode crest. As expected, the occupant was none other than the radiant First Princess, Felicia Garlanode.

She had traveled from the distant Tianqi Academy in the continent’s heart to attend her beloved sister Selina’s fifth birthday. Perhaps due to the rushed journey, Felicia, usually poised and elegant in natural, graceful attire, still wore her Tianqi Academy uniform, unable to change.

But even this small flaw didn’t dampen her mood. Sitting gracefully in the carriage with hands on her knees, she appeared serene. Yet her maid, Velansel, seated opposite, knew her mistress’s heart was far from calm.

Felicia’s outward calm stemmed from her royal upbringing, but inwardly, she was likely the happiest she’d been in a while. Not only could she return home to ease her homesickness, but she could see her cherished Second Princess, Selina.

Others might not know, but as Felicia’s personal maid, Velansel was well aware. Her mistress was near perfection, a goddess-like figure with no flaws. But privately, this perfect maiden was an extreme sister-doter.

Selina was undeniably adorable and lovable, her purity and beauty an irresistible combination. Yet Felicia’s affection for her surpassed normal bounds, bordering on obsession. After their separation, this affection became a fixation. In the quiet of night, Felicia would sit alone, gently tracing a photo of herself and her sister.

Under moonlight, her emerald eyes revealed a tenderness and love she never showed the world.

Felicia truly loved her sister, a bond exceeding ordinary sisterhood—absolute, profound devotion.

Thinking of this, Velansel noticed a trace of fatigue in Felicia’s expression. Her mistress had worked tirelessly, pulling all-nighters to finish student council duties to make it back for Selina’s banquet. Seeing her exhaustion, Velansel’s heart ached.

“Your Highness, you don’t need to push yourself so hard. You’re already perfect, earning everyone’s recognition and praise. No one would blame you for taking a break.”

Velansel advised with concern.

Truthfully, even if Felicia didn’t study at Tianqi Academy, her prodigious talent would keep her at the top. Would anyone accuse her of slacking?

Please. A genius’s behavior wasn’t for ordinary people to judge.

In both her family and the academy, no one saw Felicia as lazy. Her efforts were evident to all.

A genius with both talent and diligence was nearly flawless.

“You don’t understand, Velansel. For the elves’ glory and my responsibilities, what I’ve achieved is enough. But that’s not what I’m protecting… To shield my sister, I need greater strength.”

“Selina is my sister, but also an elf princess. The responsibilities of our race will inevitably fall on her too. But I don’t want her to bear that weight. She’s my sister—she should live carefree, surrounded by kindness and love, growing up happily…”

“To achieve that, I must keep striving, growing stronger than I am now, gaining enough authority. Only then can I prove the elves need only me to thrive, and Selina can live her life as my carefree royal sister.”

Felicia’s gaze drifted to the changing scenery outside the carriage window, her voice tinged with sentiment, as if recalling painful memories.

She knew all too well that if her sister were pushed onto the altar of divinity, the agony of a soul flooded with divine power would be inescapable.

The Sacred Bath forced elves to confront emotions they naturally abhorred.

Greed, jealousy, disgust, rage… When these emotions flooded the mind with divine power, a normal elf’s soul would suffer irreversible damage, as Felicia had.

Her personality grew cold, ruthless, numb, stripped of humanity and emotion, left with only a god-like, icy rationality.

To outsiders, this seemed noble and untouchable, befitting elven royalty. But she would never let her sister become like that.

Her sister should live happily every day, preserving her purity and innocence.

The glory, responsibility, and pain of their race could be borne by her, the elder sister.