Once the greetings were done, they immediately began the discussion.

It was about Ria’s future. She was still young. Even if she were to live in hiding, she would need a guardian.

“Now then, Ria, I called Ian today because there’s something I want to propose to you.”

When Livian brought up the subject, Ria nodded.

“Would you consider becoming Ian’s adopted daughter and living together with Lil?”

Ria lowered her gaze and shook her head.

“For me to become an adopted daughter of royalty, there needs to be a legitimate reason. I don’t have such a justification.”

She’s a clever girl, Ian thought. Ria had a very broad perspective.

“You possess the ‘Eye of Truth’ and are the twin sister of the ‘interpreter.’ There’s nothing strange about taking in both of you together.”

“But I can’t reveal that I possess the ‘Eye of Truth,’ can I?”

Ria countered every point with calm logic. But she was likely hesitating to go near Lil.

“Then there’s no need to reveal it. Just say that the interpreter’s sister has useful skills, and that’s why she’s also being protected. Mireille is already publicly declared dead in the neighboring kingdom. Thinking ahead to the future, it’s safer if you’re adopted into royalty.”

Hearing this, Ria fell silent. Ian spoke to her gently.

“Lil says she wants to meet her sister, if she can. Marron… the divine beast that lived at your family’s home, said you were kind. And Lil knows now that you didn’t know about her existence.”

Ria still seemed conflicted.

“Lil looks up to her sister. Michiru-chan, her guardian spirit, once said she had a kind older sister. That’s probably why. I want you to start over with Lil—as sisters.”

After hearing that, Ria shed tears and spoke.

“Even so, I’m still afraid. If I get involved, my sister might remember painful memories. Now that she’s finally happy, I don’t want to take anything more from her.”

She paused, then continued.

“‘Michiru’ and ‘Kaname’ were twins. But only ‘Michiru’ was sickly from birth. She spent most of her life in a hospital room. When ‘Kaname’ was born, she took so much away from ‘Michiru’—a healthy body, dreams… Every time she saw the healthy ‘Kaname,’ ‘Michiru’—what must she have been thinking? ‘Kaname’ was always afraid to know.”

As she spoke, tears streamed endlessly from Ria’s eyes.

“I, too, have taken so much from Lil. I’m scared to face her. I’m terrified of knowing Lil’s true feelings through this ‘Eye of Truth.'”

Ria had lived her current life burdened by deep guilt carried over from her previous one. Her second life felt like a repeat of the first. If Lil was happy now, she wanted her to forget all the painful memories. She strongly believed that Lil would be happier without her. But to have that belief confirmed—was too frightening.

Neither Ian nor Livian could find the right words to say. Still, they felt it wasn’t coincidence that both girls had guardian spirits of sisters or rare skills—it must be divine will.

Seeing Ria cry, Livian made up his mind and handed her something.

“This is a skill-sealing bracelet. When worn, it completely disables all skills. If you’re afraid, wear this and try meeting Lil just once. You don’t have to think about the adoption for now.”

Ria fell silent again. Without someone to give her a push, she likely wouldn’t be able to move forward. Her overly serious nature made her guilt run deep.

“I’ll explain your situation to Lil myself. You don’t have to overthink it. Just meet her once. I’m sure she’ll be happy to know that her ‘cookie lady’ is you. She always looked forward to your letters.”

Finally, Ria nodded and said:

“I’ll meet her. I want to see my sister—Lil.”

At that time, Lil was writing a letter to Ria. She was preparing to hand it to the magic-tool bird that delivered cookies and letters daily.

Ria-oneesan wrote in such beautiful handwriting and was such a kind older sister. Lil had always wanted to meet her. Even without knowing Ria was her real sister, Lil had always wished she could be.

After all, she was a lot like Michiru-chan’s older sister. Her cookie-making skills, her love of physical activity—everything resembled the older sister Michiru-chan loved so much.

Lil wrote in her letter, asking Ria-oneesan to come visit their base.

She placed the finished letter in the basket and handed it to the magic-tool bird.

Lil still didn’t know that her wish was about to come true—in an unexpected way.