Chapter 242: Falling All Over Again
-----Kaede's POV
I'm still speechless at the sight of Yui right now. I didn't expect her to come visit me, let alone the queen and her daughters. But for Yui to come dressed up like that, it's making it difficult for me to contain myself. Thankfully I'm wearing a clean black dress, but if I knew Yui would be coming looking like that, I would've put way more effort into how I look. I have no idea if even my hair is looking okay.
When I ran up to grab Fleur and Faye, I quickly looked into the mirror to make sure my hair is at least acceptable before coming back down. There's no time to brush it since the queen is probably waiting, so I just quickly combed it with my fingers, straightening some ends out and hoping for the best.
But when I came back down, I was hit with the sight of Yui once more, freezing me in my tracks along with my heart. I know Yui quite well, and I know she doesn't wear these kind of clothes, actually I don't remember one time that she did, so seeing her like this, it's... It's like I'm falling in love all over again.
Cecelia: "You two look fine being here, so why not?"
I have barely paid any attention to what's happening, but now apparently the queen and her daughters are staying here?
EldestDaughter: "...So, you're Kaede?"
Kaede: "Yes."
EldestDaughter: "Can I ask why you're so red? Is it that difficult to contain your blood thirst?"
What? Is that how it's coming across? I can't really say that it's because of Yui since I have no idea how that will go, so I do my best to calm myself down. However, seeing Yui in my peripheral vision does make it quite a challenge.
Kaede: "I'm just a little surprised that the queen has come is all."
Cecelia: "That's true, I'm sorry to come here out of the blue. Undine, I've approached Kaede before and she didn't react one bit."
EldestDaughter: "Hmmm."
Neri: "I've even cut myself in front of her and nothing happened."
I can't believe the queen and Neri are actually vouching for me. Maybe if I wasn't flustered I could've come up with a better lie. I'm grateful for the assistance! Actually speaking of cuts, I do smell fresh blood filling up the room. My eyes end up drifting over to Natalie who seems to be the source of the smell, and looking at her bandaged hand, my thoughts were right.
Kaede: "Natalie. Could you give me your hand?"
Natalie: "Huh? Oh, right."
She walks up to me as I slowly undo the bandage. The smell of fresh blood filled the room even more as I started to worry about Fleur losing herself again. Fearing the worst, I quickly heal Natalie's hand with my light magic, taking care to make sure it's obvious I'm using light magic for the queen's daughters.
YoungestDaughter: "Woah! Is that, light magic?"
EldestDaughter: "Monster's shouldn't be able to wield such magic..."
Cecelia: "Hehe. This is another reason to trust Kaede, okay? And see? Kaede even healed her hand without batting an eye."
Phew~ I'm glad Fleur seems to be doing okay, seems like the blood I gave her before helped out.
YoungestDaughter: "Sister?"
EldestDaughter: "...My name's Undine. This here is my sister, Ona... N-nice, to meet you."
Out of the blue, Undine raised her hand towards me, offering a handshake. She still seems nervous, averting her gaze whenever we lock eyes, so I try my best to put on a soft smile as I slowly raise my hand towards hers. But the moment I do, I see her hand shaking ever so slightly, causing me to hesitate on grabbing hold of her hand. Just then, Undine closed the final gap, grabbing hold of my hand instead, quite tightly if I might add.
Kaede: "Nice to meet you."
Undine: "L-likewise."
She quickly let go of my hand, but I continue to smile, trying to ease some of the tension they may be feeling.
Ona: "And I'm Ona! Nice to meet you, Kaede."
Unlike her sister, Ona fearlessly grabbed hold of my still raised hand from earlier, confidently shaking my hand. Maybe she's trying to act all stoic for her sister? Quite commendable if I'm honest.
Fleur: "My name's Fleur. It's a pleasure to meet you again, your majesty."
Faye: "I'm Faye. You have lovely daughters, your majesty."
Cecelia: "Thank you. I'm sorry to hear about what happened. My condolences."
Faye: "It's okay. I'm still me, and that's what matters."
The daughters didn't end up approaching neither Fleur nor Faye which I felt was surprising at first, but maybe it's because there's so much uncertainty that maybe I'm the safest option?
Cecelia: "Splendid! With introductions out of the way, where shall we sit?"
Neri: "At the table, your grace. I'll prepare something."
Technically, introductions aren't over since Sicily, Lillian and Mell are still upstairs. And right as I was thinking that as we all walk over to the dining room, the three of them come walking down with Mell leading in front of them. Both the daughters hid behind their mother upon seeing Sicily and Lillian.
Lillian: "Sorry to startle you! I didn't know we would be having visitors. My name's Lillian."
Sicily: "Sicily."
The two of them bow their head apologetically towards the queen and her daughters before raising their heads moments later.
Ona: "Wow. They don't look as scary as I thought."
Ona was the first one to reveal herself from behind her mom, seeming to be okay with Lillian and Sicily's presence.
Undine: "...So many of them."
But the same can't be said for Undine. It's only dawned on me now that this house is essentially filled with monsters, so I genuinely feel sorry for Undine right now.
Yui: "Hey-"
Out of nowhere, Yui comes up to my side, wrapping her arms around my right arm. I was trying to distract myself from Yui, but with her like this, it's making my head start to boil all over again.
Yui: "If we're like this, maybe they'll see you guys in a better light?"
She says that, but with her face being beet red as it is, makes it seem like there's more to it than just that. Not that I have a problem with it... Or maybe it is a problem. Yui! Why are you teasing me like this!
I struggle to look her way as I have no idea where to look. This is like a completely different Yui, and my body just can't take it any longer. Even just a second of looking might send me over the edge. Even now, I just want to take her for myself and leave everyone here behind...
Yui: "See? They're looking at us."
Her whispering into my ear like this is just too unfair... You're doing this on purpose, aren't you, Yui? But she's right, both of the daughters are looking our way, and Undine in particular seems to have softened up her expression a considerable amount.
...
We eventually make it to the dining room as Yui and I end up sitting side by side with each other, but because of the seating arrangements, Yui ended up sitting beside Undine, with Ona and the queen next to her. I wouldn't necessarily be conscious of it in most cases, but with our legs touching like this, it's getting me all worked up all over again. Mell sat on my other side with Sicily, Lillian, Fleur and Faye taking the seats opposite of us. Natalie and Neri end up together in the kitchen, preparing us something.
Ona: "You two are very close."
Leaning over to get a look at us, Ona asks us a question that makes my heart skip a beat, making me even more conscious of Yui's presence.
Yui: "Mm! We've been friends for a very long time."
Ona: "How did you two meet? Considering, you know, how different you two are."
Yui: "Oh, we uhm..."
She kind of dug her own grave there. She can't just take back what she said, so I'm curious to know what she'll say. Actually, thinking of being asked this question, I don't even think I have a lie to tell that would be believable.
Yui: "We actually met... In a past life."
What the fuck! Yui! Are you being serious right now? You're meant to say a lie, not just blurt out the truth!
Undine: "What?"
Yui: "This was actually what I was going to talk about with you."
Undine: "Wait, so you're saying you've lived a life before this?"
Yui: "Correct."
I can't even find myself to speak up at this sudden turn of events. What's said is said, there's no going back now.
Yui: "Kaede and I lived a life in a world where there was no such thing as magic, or monsters. Those were all considered the work of fiction. So coming to this world was, quite a shock. For the both of us."
Ona: "Then how did you manage to travel to this world?"
Yui: "That's-"
I've finally calmed myself down enough to chip in to help Yui. Looks like it was right at the perfect moment as Yui seems to be struggling at how to proceed.
Kaede: "We were murdered."
A little lie, but I'm not going to say that I killed myself in front of the queen. And looking at their faces, they all look at us in disbelief, namely Undine.
Undine: "Is that true?"
Yui: "Yes. I thought it was all over. I still remember the feeling of drifting through the endless void, only to then find myself reborn in this new world."
Cecelia: "So is that why you can use magic other than your powers, Kaede?"
Kaede: "I believe so. Growing up in this world, I thought I would live a normal life, but after learning about who I was, I realized that it's impossible. So it's not a lie when I say I want to live a normal life, I hate living like this sometimes."
Why the fuck did I add "sometimes" there... I should've just kept that out but I accidentally let it slip. But as if to reassure me, Yui grabs hold of my hand on my thigh, smiling gently at me as our eyes meet again. God, Yui... You're making it so difficult for me right now.
Undine: "I... I understand now."
Yui: "I know it's a lot to take in, but it's the honest truth."
Cecelia: "I believe you, Ellen. I don't see any reason for you to lie like this in the first place."
Yui: "Thank you."
If Yui didn't turn back to face the queen, I don't think I could've held myself back. Can all of this just be over already?
Ona: "I wonder if the same will happen to us when we die?"
Yui: "Haha, maybe."
I end up inching myself closer to Yui, pressing a bit more of my body against her. I struggle to avert my eyes now as I begin to look over all of her body. I can't-
Undine: "So then I'm guessing you two were friends in that past life?"
Yui: "Yes, we-"
I end up cutting her off as my heart felt like it was going to burst if this continued any longer. Immediately I could tell that she must've moisturized her lips before coming here, making her lips all the more soft as they press against my own. Plus, if we're going through our past life, then why should we have to hide this? Everyone else know besides the queen and her daughters, so screw it! Parting my lips away from Yui's, her face was bright red, as if she had just swallowed flames. I promise in my head that we'll continue this later, but at least with this, my heart has settled own... At least a little.
Kaede: "We're lovers!"
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