Punishment and Starlight

“Punishment?”

Ophelia curled up in the corner, shivering.

Aren’t I the victim? Why am I being punished?

Marta was clearly taken aback as well.

Emily’s face had been dark, but now it gradually softened, and a smile crept onto her lips.

“That’s right, Ophe does deserve punishment!”

“What kind of punishment should we give her?” Emily placed a finger beneath her lips, her eyes turning lively, even somewhat playful.

In the sunlight, her teeth gleamed brightly. Vina stood in the shadows, her eyes shimmering with a faint green glow, looking both helpless and amused. Marta seemed at a loss, creating a picturesque scene of three heroines.

Ophelia suddenly felt it didn’t matter anymore.

The happy times wouldn’t last long. Afterward came the evil gods, the war, and after the war, Vina’s coming-of-age ceremony. And she herself still carried a fragment of the Desire Bubble.

She had to find a way to nurture the Empress and increase the God of Stars and Wisdom’s favor, while also borrowing the god’s authority to find a way back. After that, there might never be such moments again.

Once she returned, she would become her old self.

No social life, no friends, no family—just a system by her side. Strange, wasn’t it? The queen’s palace was so vast, yet she never felt it was big. But long ago, in a home of only a hundred square meters, she had thought it was impossibly large.

Well, maybe this was actually pretty good…?

“Your Majesty.” Emily’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked up and saw Emily approaching, crawling over slowly like a little cat, her eyes seeming concerned.

Then she pounced, landing in Ophelia’s arms.

“I’ll punish you by making you hold me all day!”

Ophelia was startled, then hugged Emily. The sunlight was just warm enough, making Emily’s body cozy.

“Then I’ll punish Your Majesty by making your other hand hold me.”

Vina’s voice was calm, but Ophelia could tell she was happy too. She leaned in, and Ophelia wrapped her other arm around her.

“Ah, I want to as well…” Marta edged closer.

“What do you think you’re doing? You’re one of the criminals too! Stand aside!” Emily gestured angrily.

Marta looked crestfallen, standing nearby like a big dog that had done something wrong, which made Ophelia couldn’t help but laugh.

She looked out the window. In her arms were two young girls. The spring breeze blew, the temperature was perfect, and time flowed gently.

There’s a saying: the daily lives we experience might be a series of continuous miracles.

Starting tomorrow, would there still be days like today?

Perhaps it was the calm before the storm, or the gathering before the war. Ophelia spent the day holding Vina and Emily, reading books—or rather, they read together.

“I want to read this one, ‘The Count’s Revenge,'” Vina said.

“Her Majesty has already read it, right?” Emily shook her head.

“I’ve read it too, but I want to read it again. The count is betrayed by his fiancée and her lover, then obtains treasure and returns for revenge. Such a story never gets old.”

“It is satisfying to read,” Emily agreed. “But don’t you think it lacks depth? After reading, I feel like I haven’t gained much.”

“I still prefer this one, ‘The Moon and Six Gold Coins.’ The protagonist is an incorrigible philistine, and I especially love the last line: ‘Here, the moonlight is vast and bright, but he stoops to pick up the six gold coins.'”

“Wrong, completely wrong! I’m here to relax, not to think. I cherish the time spent in Your Majesty’s arms, and I don’t want to waste my brain on other things!” Vina retorted.

“What are you talking about? We should think together with Your Majesty! Thinking together and gaining together—that gives value and meaning to the time we spend with Her Majesty!” Emily puffed out her cheeks.

“Your Majesty, which one do you think is better?” Vina turned to ask.

“Yes, Ophe, which one do you think?” Emily also turned.

At times like this, either read both or read neither! Ophelia’s experience from watching countless anime warned her.

She casually pulled out another book.

“Let’s read this one.”

The air froze.

For some reason, both Vina and Emily’s eyes lost their sparkle, their gazes turning icy.

Well, Vina’s eyes had no sparkle to begin with.

Ophelia quickly glanced at the book’s cover.

‘Left and Right Arms Full, I’m Dearly Disciplined by the Queen.’

Wait.

I just grabbed it at random. Would you believe me?

“Your Majesty, we finally get along peacefully, and you think we’re not enough?” Emily turned back, her eyes cold.

“Your Majesty, you’re always like this. Maybe it’s unconscious, but why can’t you be just mine?” Vina’s eyes were also cold.

It’s just a book! What does it prove?

Then the two of them pounced on her, playfully tussling in a girl-fight. Ophelia noticed a nearby book titled ‘Raising Four Cats at Home Means I Can Never Work in Peace.’

Yeah, I should have read that one!

……

Moonlight like water.

Ophelia walked along the path.

The standard night scene in this other world was stars and moon shining together. Logically, they shouldn’t be visible at the same time, but there they were—a bright moon beside an endless river of stars. The starry river was like ink, painting a moving picture across the sky.

Her mind was cluttered; she couldn’t sleep, so she had come out for a walk. Looking up, she saw the boundless, beautiful starry sky.

Beneath the stars, a figure with golden hair stood, wearing only a white short skirt. She had her back to Ophelia, gazing at the brilliant expanse.

“Hizeta, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Ophelia called softly.

“And I didn’t see you all day. Where did you go?”

Hizeta turned around.

Ophelia was momentarily stunned.

The evening breeze stirred the white skirt, revealing snowy thighs. She turned back under the starry sky, her long hair flowing, her eyes carrying a hint of sorrow and darkness.

Ophelia was taken aback.

She stepped forward, taking off her own coat. Even though that left her in only a white dress, she draped it over Hizeta’s shoulders.

“The wind picks up at night. Keep warm, don’t catch a cold.”

The sadness and darkness in Hizeta’s eyes dissolved slightly.

“And you?”

Ophelia smiled.

I understand. I know all about teenage troubles—especially as someone as socially anxious as me.

So many thoughts and pains inside: maybe a crush on someone, or confusion about the future. You want to confide in someone, but there’s no one to tell.

In a city of concrete and steel, everyone wanders in their own loneliness. Occasionally, you look up and glimpse the forty-fourth sun between the towering buildings.

Perhaps the evening wind was urgent. Ophelia and Hizeta had grown close, so she patted Hizeta’s shoulder.

“I just came out for a walk. I’ll head back soon, but you seem to be thinking about something. Don’t catch a chill.”

“By the way, Hizeta, I won’t force you to tell me, but if you want to talk, I’m willing to listen. I’ll always be here.”

With that, Ophelia prepared to leave.

But Hizeta slowly leaned in.

She rested her head on Ophelia’s shoulder.

Ophelia said nothing, just stood there, letting her lean on her embrace.

“Tomorrow is the military council meeting,” Hizeta said.

“Yes, tomorrow we start striving for the kingdom,” Ophelia replied.

She didn’t know that tomorrow she would be impeached, and that the traitor was the very person leaning on her now.

Hizeta sighed.

She had come back once today, but saw the other three girls playing around the queen. She felt inexplicably upset, so she turned and left, not even wanting to eat.

I only have Her Majesty, but Her Majesty has many others.

Is it wrong to love someone?

Is it wrong to crave her tenderness and not want others to have her?

Then surely my actions are not wrong either?

Leaning against Ophelia, she looked into the distance and saw a moth. Even though approaching the flame would turn it to ashes, it kept flapping its wings.

She closed her eyes.

Thus life, bitter as a song, but with a glimmer of light and warmth, I become that moth.