Chapter 71: Being a Guest

The sound of a key turning reached the two sisters’ ears from outside.

Fala and Karin obediently sat on the sofa, picking up two tangerines and fiddling with them in their hands.

“Mom’s home.”

“I’m not deaf.”

Sephine pushed the door open, and Ai’er placed the groceries she’d bought on the table.

Only then did she notice the two little ones sitting on the sofa.

“Another unfamiliar big sister… How does Mom keep bringing home pretty big sisters we don’t know?”

If she didn’t count their mommy, this would be the third pretty big sister coming to see Mom.

That made sense—Mom was so beautiful that when she walked down the street, probably a bunch of people wanted to take her home.

But this new big sister seemed kind of silly, a bit like her idiot little sister…

Fala glanced at Karin, who was sitting on the sofa spacing out, and felt that this big sister in front of her was a lot like Karin.

“Wow! Who are these two little cuties?”

Ai’er rushed over to the sofa and pinched Fala’s cheek.

It was springy and smooth—absolutely top-tier.

She looked exactly like Big Sister Sephine…

“Huh… No way.”

“Could it be…”

“Sorry I didn’t tell you about the kids being born.”

“That fast? Wow.”

No wonder she looked so much like Sephine.

Looking closer, she also resembled her sister.

Even if their growth speed was a bit strange, that was another matter.

Ai’er tried poking Fala’s cheek again.

Fala just stared blankly at her without much reaction.

She felt this big sister was a lot like her own mommy.

Could it be…

“Fala, Karin, this is your… aunt? I think?”

“Don’t worry too much about the title. Just call me Big Sister Lifaliya.”

Cooking was left entirely to Sephine, while Ai’er dove right in beside the two little ones.

She played games with them, like rock-paper-scissors.

Anything too complicated, she couldn’t figure out herself.

“Here are some snacks. Eat up for now.”

Sephine brought out a plate of cookies.

The cookies were still steaming, fresh out of the oven.

Even though Ai’er had to go home later, she still had this much time.

She’d already decided to go with Ai’er to her house later.

If Misilanka had any issues, Sephine could explain it to her face-to-face.

“Does your mom come back like this every day?”

Ai’er leaned close to Fala and Karin and whispered.

Fala thought Ai’er talked a bit too much.

She kept chattering nonstop, and Fala didn’t really like it.

Although Karin seemed to get along with her pretty well.

“Mom’s busy every day, but a few days ago there was always an auntie who came to play with us. And Mommy.”

“Who’s Mommy?”

“A big sister with horns. And wings!”

Ai’er understood immediately.

So it was that sister of hers.

But hadn’t she fallen out with Sephine?

How could she come here?

Vi hadn’t been home in a long time, and Ai’er hadn’t gone looking for her either.

That kick she’d taken last time hadn’t healed yet.

When she went back to complain to her dad, not only did he not comfort her, he scolded her.

So Ai’er didn’t talk much about her sister anymore.

“I see… Has she ever hit you?”

At this, both Karin and Fala were confused.

In their eyes, Vi had always been a gentle mommy—to Mom and to them.

Even though they hadn’t seen her many times.

“Does Big Sister Lifaliya get hit by Mommy often?”

“Not often, exactly. It’s just that she hits hard.”

The bruises from last time hadn’t faded yet, and the ones from the time before had only just healed.

A few more hits and her whole body would probably be covered in bruises.

“Eat some cookies. Big Sister Sephine makes really good ones.”

The aroma of cookies filled Ai’er’s nose.

It had been a long time since she’d eaten cookies Sephine made.

“Right? I think they’re delicious too!”

Karin grabbed one and stuffed it into her mouth.

Crispy and sweet—very tasty.

The cookies she bought outside were never as good as Sephine’s.

Fala had one or two and then stopped.

Compared to the glutton Karin, Fala had a much smaller appetite.

She was still waiting for dinner.

Even though eating didn’t really fill her up.

But she had to endure for now.

Mom was going to work in the afternoon, and if she absorbed magic power from her now, who knew what would happen.

Too bad Mommy hadn’t come today, otherwise she could have had a full meal.

That made Fala even more curious about what Mommy did for work.

“Time to eat.”

Sephine brought the dishes to the table.

The two little ones sat down on their stools, obediently waiting to start eating.

Only Ai’er seemed a bit nervous.

She wasn’t like this before.

“What’s wrong? Does the food not suit your taste?”

“No, I was just thinking about whether Dad might be awake.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll go over after we eat. I’ve already packed her portion.”

When the food came out of the pot, Sephine had set aside a portion and put it in Ai’er’s little basket.

“Big Sister Sephine is so nice.”

“Am I? I only did a few small things.”

A drunkard dad, a missing mom, and a violent older sister.

Sephine could hardly imagine how Ai’er had gotten through her childhood.

No wonder Ai’er’s personality was so abstract now, always saying weird things.

But Ai’er seemed a lot more normal now.

At least much more normal than before.

It might sound dark, but that kick from the Demon King seemed to have hit the right spot.

“Has she been back?”

“Sister? No.”

“I see.”

“Dad seems to hate Sister even more lately. It’s good she doesn’t come back. If she did, they’d definitely fight again.”

“Have you tried persuading your father? To get him to drink less or something?”

“Actually, he still has his sober moments. Lately, there are fewer and fewer, though. Before, he was mostly sober, but ever since Sister became the Demon King or whatever, Dad went crazy. He drinks every day, from morning till night.”

“He seems to have strong opinions. Maybe it’s my fault…”

“How could it be? Dad really likes you. He says you look just like Mom. But I’ve never met Mom. Sister has.”

This was the first time Ai’er had brought up her family’s private matters with her, especially about her mother.

It seemed that Mother’s departure had been a deep wound for their whole family.

“What kind of person was your mother? Has your father ever said?”

“Yeah. Dad used to talk about it all the time. He said she could cook, she loved planting flowers, and she liked pretty dresses.”

“Most importantly, Dad said she was the prettiest girl in the whole world. Too bad she can’t see it now. Otherwise, I think Big Sister Sephine could totally compete with Mom.”