Chapter 148 EPISODE 148 ENTRANCE TO THE ROYAL CAPITAL (2)

You ran away again, again, and again!

Owww! U-unnie, its not like that!

Cordelia cried as Adelia mercilessly pulled her cheeks, but it was hopeless.

What do you mean by its not! I told you to contact me regularly, but you only did it once! And then you contact me when youve arrived at the royal capital, huh?

Ahhh! It hurts! It really hurts!

Good! It should hurt! Be hurt more! Be hurt more!

Tears welled up in Cordelias eyes as Adelia twisted her cheeks even more, and Jude thought.

Indeed, theyre sisters.

Given that they were doing the same thing.

Helf! Heilp!

What do you mean by help? Are you saying that you did not do anything wrong?

I wash wrong! I was wrooong!

Adelia glared at her and kept pulling her cheeks, and Cordelia continued to cry while Jude thought again.

Im envious.

Cordelias cheeks were really soft. He wanted to pull it too.

That mysterious and pleasant feeling when he pulled her cheeks.

I feel like Im being healed.

You always run away from home!

Sob, sob. I was wrong.

I want to pull it too.

Judes thoughts went out of his mouth without him realizing it, and he was embarrassed at that moment, but fortunately, no one seemed to have heard him.

Cordelia would have been able to tell what he was thinking by just looking at his eyes, but she was busy crying now.

In any case, Jude snapped out of his thoughts after being embarrassed and he slightly coughed.

In order to get Adelias attention.

Why do I feel like Im jumping into the fire?

Ahem, ahem. Ehem, ehem, ehem.

Please look over here. Please release Cordelia.

When he coughed harder, Adelia who was still pulling Cordelias cheeks looked at Jude, and Jude said in the calmest tone possible.

Thatsister-in-law.

He chose his words well.

Its effect was magical.

Adelias eyes that were filled with a strong will to smack Jude after she was done with Cordelia, were then filled with shame, shyness and a little affection.

Its working! Help me!

Jude noticed Cordelias desperate eyes, so he continued his words in a hurry.

There are a lot of people watching. Lets go somewhere else

<Reflection>.

At the moment Adelia spoke, her powerful magic changed the surrounding area.

Light refraction magic.

As its name implied, it was a powerful spell that refracted the light from the surrounding areas in order to create an invisible area.

This should work, right?

She was caught off guard by the word sister-in-law, but that wasnt enough for her to change her mind.

They were at the south gate of the royal capital, so she used a spell that was said to be non-lethal, though using such a powerful magic wasnt normal.

Uhyou can continue.

Hey!

What do you mean by continue? Arent you going to help me?!

If you look at it, youre an accomplice too!

Jude opened his mouth again after her single cry, and Adelia waited for Judes words with a face willing to hear what he was going to say.

First of all, we did not run away. There was a reason why we couldnt contact you.

What? Is it the Guardians of the Holy Cross again?

Yes.

Really?

Its true.

What happened?

That is

Jude narrowed his distance from Adelia a bit before he delivered a made-up story.

Because shell restrict our activities if we talk about getting attacked by the Devils Hand.

The probability that they would be confined to one place in order to be protected was high, just like what Count Hrsvelgr did.

Thus, Jude made up a story that they had spent more time than they had expected in exploring an ancient temple with the Guardians of the Holy Cross.

What ancient temple?

The temple of Aerith, the goddess of life. Isnt that right, Cordelia?

Yesh, yesh, hish right.

Her pronunciation was a bit weird because her cheeks were still being pulled, but Cordelia enthusiastically replied. Adelia narrowed her eyes but she soon released Cordelia.

Hwuah!

Having regained her freedom after some difficulty, Cordelia covered her sore cheeks as she ran and hid behind Jude.

What? Are you hiding?

I-I object to violence. I object to violence.

When Cordelia timidly spoke, Adelia snorted and took a step forward. Cordelia then flinched and quickly hid her head behind Judes back.

So cute.

Jude really wanted to watch the cute sisters quarrel more, but now was not the time.

Si-sister-in-law.

I warned you in advance, so youre at fault too, okay?

No, I mean, we didnt run away from home

But you should have contacted us. Do you know how worried our fathers were? Lord Gal was also very worried. Of course, I did too.

Jude and Cordelia were clearly strong.

Adelia had witnessed firsthand their activities in the wild lands so she knew it better than anyone.

But that didnt mean she wasnt worried.

There were many people in this world who were stronger than Jude and Cordelia.

No, thats not the problem.

Their strength wasnt important.

Even if they were the strongest in the world, she couldnt help but worry if she suddenly lost contact with them.

Maybe something happened. Maybe they got hurt somewhere.

Why did we lose contact with them?

Because were family.

Adelia was Cordelias real sister. Jude was her brother-in-law.

Im sorry.

Being more honest and sincere was better than excusing themselves.

Jude bowed his head and asked for forgiveness, and Cordelia bowed her head too.

We were wrong.

Im sorry for not contacting you.

Adelia sighed at the sight of Jude and Cordelia bowing their heads together, and asked again after having calmed down a bit.

Were you two injured?

No.

Were both healthy and not hurt. Unnie, what about you?

What? Me? Im always healthy.

Adelia replied with a shrug, and she had a small smile on her face.

Because one way or another, she was glad to see the two again.

But dont you have a carriage or horse? Dont tell me you walked to the royal capital?

Eh? Uh That is

Cordelias words slightly slurred at Adelias question, and she became hesitant and worried if she should talk about it or not. She eventually opened her mouth.

I rode on Jude.

What?

Nothat isJude carried me on his back and then he ran?

The more she explained it, the weirder she felt, but it was the truth after all.

I dont want to lie anymore.

But sincerity didnt always work.

Adelia frowned and seemingly didnt understand it so she said as she gestured with her chin.

Try it out.

Huh?

Show me how you got here.

But her mood was unusual.

Cordelia thought that her sister was trying to not be violent, so she couldnt help but obey her.

Umm, like this?

She then jumped on the back of Jude who reflexively adjusted Cordelias position.

Their actions were so natural that anyone could tell they had done it countless times.

Adelia blankly stared at the two before she burst in an angry voice.

Hey! Cordelia! Hey!

You really came here on piggyback? You stuck close to him? Arent you ashamed?!

Eek!

Adelia approached her with a face looking like a goblin, and the terrified Cordelia covered her cheeks first with her hands, but it was futile. There were a lot of places that the other could pull besides her cheeks.

Hey you! You!

Ah! It hurts! It hurts!

Adelia pulled her ear and didnt care if Cordelia cried or not from the pain as she continued to shout.

You cheeky girl! You know what you did? Youre an unmarried girl!

Hey, hes my fianc! Were engaged!

Youre engaged but not married, right? This unnie told you not to cross the line, right?

Owww! It hurts! It hurts!

It will hurt from being pulled!

She was right. It was the first time Cordelias ear was pulled, so it definitely would hurt.

Jude! Help me!

Jude, come here too! Come here and give me your ears! Youre Lord Gals younger brother, so youre also my younger brother now!

As Adelia stretched out her hand, Jude reflexively retreated and was troubled.

How do we overcome this crisis?

Should I say that we havent crossed the line yet?

He clearly didnt know the extent of the line Adelia was talking about, but he really didnt do anything except for getting a lap pillow, hugging her at times, and giving her a piggyback ride.

D-did we cross it?

Up to what extent is the line Adelia is talking about?

Jude broke out in cold sweat as Adelia signaled to him with her finger to come quickly, while Cordelia struggled and cried.

Unnie too! Unnie did it too with brother-in-law Gal! Mmmph!

Y-youre going too far with your words!

Mmmph! Mmph! Mmph!

Adelia quickly covered Cordelias mouth while her other hand continued pulling the ear, but Cordelia kept shouting.

Mmmmph! Mmph!

W-were also engaged just like you, but Lord Gal and I are adults, okay? You two are still children!

Mmmmph!

Thats not fair!

Unnie, are you saying that its okay if you do it but its not if others do it!

Jude thought that this was enough at that point, so he tried to intervene again.

Si-sister-in-law.

Huh? What is it!

Youve refracted the light butwe can still be heard, right?

Adelia was startled by Judes comment, and she looked around and bit her lips.

Because while she couldnt see anything in particular, she could hear the sound of people murmuring.

Uuuuh.

Adelias face and even her neck turned red, and she quickly spoke in a hushed voice.

B-be quiet. You understand?

Mmmph.

Cordelia nodded in affirmation, so Adelia slowly withdrew her hands.

Haa, thats good. Lets first move and finish our talk later. Because of you, I had to take a half-day today.

Half-day?

Half-day off. I took a half day off.

Cordelias eyes widened in surprise at Adelias explanation.

If you want to rest, then you should take the day off. But what do you mean by half a day off?

Unnie, is the Royal Guard Magic Corps a black company?

What is this kid saying? Stop being weird and quickly fix your appearance. Your hair is a mess.

Having said that, Adelia straightened her clothes and appearance first.

Come to think of it, thats the uniform of the Royal Guard Magic Corps.

Adelia whom Jude had seen wearing a dress or equestrian uniform was now wearing the blue uniform of the Royal Guard Magic Corps.

Her upper and lower clothes were reminiscent of the blue beret and military uniform on Earth.

It had a fantasy feel but was still rea