Chapter 26 - Saintess Seeds

"..."

 "..."

 "..."

 The atmosphere felt silent.

 In front of the five-year-old girl, the Queen, and her guards were sat on the ground kneeling to apologize for their mistakes.

 I stood in front of them while holding a sword ready to strike their heads.

 What about the First Prince?

 Uhm.. the Queen has thrown him away.

 "Now.. explain why you have such a stupid idea, Queen?" I said with a gentle smile to the Queen.

 "Hiiieee!!" hearing my question, the Queen's body trembled and looked scared.

 "Haaaah!" I took a deep breath, put my sword in its sheath, and sat on a chair to enjoy a cup of warm tea.

 After my mind felt calm, I opened a small conversation topic about a problem that I had been holding on to for a long time.

 "You know, I'm fed up with all of your behavior," I said in a calm tone.

 "Being born with dark skin is not easy, you know, I have experienced hundreds of little pranks from the royal family and other nobles. Especially by the First Prince and I am very happy when there is a small opportunity to hit him."

 "Speaking of little pranks, the First Prince always does them! Just because he is the Crown Prince who will inherit his status as the leader of the kingdom. Pfftt! Don't make me laugh!" I accidentally hit the table.

 My emotions are volatile at the moment.

 "Do you think after the last incident the First Prince can be forgiven by making me a member of the royal family through marriage?"

 "Honestly, your thinking is very narrow! Among all the nobles, the royal family is at the top of my hate list!"

 "And.. Father.. Em! It's a bit disgusting to call Father to someone who will sell me to the royal family. For now, I will call you Marquess Rommel without reducing my respect."

 "If the royal family is the peak of my hatred then Marquess Rommel is in second place."

 Hearing my words, Marquess Rommel and the Queen were very surprised.

 "After I found a small happiness, you tried to take it away from me?"

 "Why do you always want to take away my small happiness?"

 "..."

 "..."

 "..."

 A question without an answer.

 Is my question really that hard to answer?

 Is taking away my happiness their little hobby?

 I don't know anymore!

 Is it this hard to find small happiness with dark skin?

 I already know the reason why my skin is dark, it's just that...

 There's always someone who prevents me from being happy.

 Will my life always be like this?

 "Will my life get better after I die?" This little question accidentally came out of my mouth.

 "Lily-sama!"

 "Onee-sama!"

 "Lily-nee!"

 Mio, Alice, and Alyssa immediately ran to hug my body.

 "W-What did Lily-sama just say? That's not true!" said Mio to calm me down.

 "Onee-sama! Please don't think like that! Isn't Onee-sama happy to be part of Alice's family?" Alice asked, looking at me with a sad face.

 "That's right! Lily-nee, don't think like that! Alyssa is very happy to be part of Lily-nee's big family!" Alyssa said.

 Hearing the answers from Mio, Alice, and Alyssa. My heart felt calm and warm.

 Is this what it feels like to have a small happiness from someone who cares about me?

 For some reason, I want to feel this small happiness for a little longer.

 "Thank you all," I smiled to answer their questions.

 I got off my chair then pulled Mio's arm and touched her lips.

 "Miooo~ thank you.."

 I wanted to kiss Mio's lips but Alice and Alyssa separated us.

 "Onee-sama!"

 "Lily-nee!"

 Alice and Alyssa immediately pulled into my arms.

 "Mooo! Why is only Mio being noticed?" Alice expressed her annoyance and puffed out her cheeks.

 What is that?

 Why Alice suddenly became cute like this?

 "A-Alyssa also wants Lily-nee's attention!" Following Alice's movement, Alyssa also protested and puffed out her cheeks.

 "Eeeh.." I couldn't do much and stroked their heads.

 Sometimes, my two stepsisters can be adorable.

 "Onee-sama.. please come a little closer," Alice held my cheek and pulled it until our lips touched.

 Ctaaaak!!

 I could see my stepmother's teacup falling onto the table and breaking.

 Not only that, Marquess Rommel and the Queen were also surprised by Alice's actions.

 "Alice!! Don't take Lily-nee for too long, Mooooo!!" Alyssa suddenly pulled my arm and separated my kiss from Alice.

 "Alyssa also wants to do it with Lily-nee.." Alyssa said in a soft tone.

 Ctaaak!!

 When our lips met, I heard something fall and break again.

 At a glance, I could see some Butlers and Maids who were carrying desserts were shocked by the situation that had occurred.

 In front of me, the Queen was sitting on her knees on the ground, and the sight of my two stepsisters who were wanting to be pampered.

 Em, is this sight too much for them?

 "Onee-sama.. Ehehe~"

 "Lily-nee.. Ehehe~"

 Alice and Alyssa smiled happily after taking turns getting kisses from me.

 "We love Onee-chan very much. So, please don't say things like that again."

 "Um! Lily-nee is now someone we care about. Alyssa will be upset if Lily-nee talks like that again!"

 Alice and Alyssa expressed their feelings to me. Our bond was only a family bond that happened suddenly.

 However, after hearing their feelings.

 Kuh!

 I don't know anymore!

 The strange feeling that attacked my chest felt very painful when my mind left them both.

 This feeling is the same as my worry if Mio leaves me.

 What's with this feeling?

 "Lily-sama, what Alice-sama and Alyssa-sama said is true. We will feel lost if Lily-sama leaves us. Moreover... Lily-sama must take responsibility as my owner," said Mio.

 "Eeeh!!"

 "Eeeh!!"

 Hearing Mio's words, Alice and Alyssa stared at Mio's blushing face.

 "W-What does that mean!"

 "Right! What does that mean!"

 Alice and Alyssa suddenly stared at Mio like their arch-rivals.

 "U-Um.. that... Kyuuuu~" Mio replied to my two stepsisters' questions in a shy tone.

 "Onee-sama! What happened? Why did Onee-sama's maid become like this?"

 "Neeee... Lily-nee! What do you mean by taking responsibility as her owner?"

 Alice and Alyssa stared at me like wolves staring at prey in front of their eyes.

 "Hmm.. I only became Mio's owner after competing to take her from Mio's mother," I answered briefly.

 "Ah! The match at the Adventurer's Guild! I see.."

 "Oh! It was such a fascinating match.."

 Alice and Alyssa looked at me with sparkling eyes.

 "Lily-sama.. please take responsibility for me. Um... I think I've fallen in love with Lily-sama. So, please accept this one love feeling of mine," Mio slowly approached me.

 The moment our eyes met, I could see a beautiful smile on Mio's face.

 Mio still approached me and gave me a small bow by kneeling in front of me.

 "I, Sakura Mio. Hereby declare my loyalty and obedience to my beloved Master, Lily Schwartz De Rommel."

 As if waiting for me to answer her oath, I rushed over to Mio.

 "You don't have to do this, Mio. Since the beginning, wasn't Mio the one who was always by my side? If it's like this, I just need to answer your feelings, right?"

 I pulled Mio's face which was looking down at the ground. When our faces met, a tight feeling in my chest returned. My heart was beating so fast and my feeling to answer Mio's statement made me feel embarrassed.

 I kissed Mio's lips.

 Um, I've done it with Mio many times.

 But, I never get tired of doing it.

 When we kissed, I felt a pain in my chest that melted into my whole body.

 This feeling flowed throughout my body.

 This feeling led me to an answer about my little happiness.

 Someone who always looks after me, someone who cares about me, and someone I want to protect.

 Maybe.. is this what is called greed?

 If this greed makes me happy.

 I want to protect this greed.

 Um.. speaking of love.

 I also love Mio and my two stepsisters.

 It feels like...

 I'm so happy to meet them.

 [ The conditions have been met! ]

 [ The evolution into a Saintess from the Goddess of Yuri has begun! ]

 [ Execution of the Saintess Seeds program! ]

 After hearing the voice of the Goddess who suddenly appeared. I could feel my whole body filled with a golden aura and my abundant magical energy.

 [ The Saintess Goddess of Yuri has been born! ]

 [ It took a long time for Lily-chan to understand the feeling of love. ]

 Love?

 Is this the feeling of love?

 If this feeling of pain in my chest is love.

 I am very happy to have this feeling.