Hearing my name and the voice who said it, I immediately tensed up.

It can't be…

Slowly, I stood up and walked closer to the door.

"… Who are you?

"

"Ara ara~ playing dumb now, are we? How irresponsible of you, to leave an imprint on my body then suddenly disappear off to another realm. I'm dead set on having you take responsibility for me for the rest of my life, y'know~

"

Hearing this, I immediately opened the door and pulled the girl inside before slamming the door shut again and pinning her against the wall.

"… Don't say it like that. I don't want any rumors spreading about me — I had enough of that back in high school.

"

"Fufu~ it's true though, isn't it?

" The beautiful girl mere inches away from my face raised an eyebrow and laughed softly.

"You left an imprint on my body… then ended up here, in the Death Realm.. Somewhat irresponsible, don't you think~?

"

"I broke the curse on you before I fell down that cliff. You wouldn't have been affected.

"

"Maybe, but… do you know how many injuries you've had since initially placing that curse on me? How many wounds I suffered because of you?

"

"Uh… a-ahem,

" I cleared my throat and looked away in embarrassment.

"Anyway… this is the fourth time we're meeting in unexpected locations. What are you doing here, Ling Xin?

"

The girl — Ling Xin — smiled and cupped my chin with her hand.

"What do you think, Xuan Kai? To bring you back, of course. Fufu~ don't think that just because you escaped to a different realm, I'll let you go. I'm going to get my revenge for placing that curse on me — and you will pay by taking care of me for life~

"

"But you were able to enter this Realm… which means… just as expected, you're…

"

"… Axilia's twin sister? Mhm.

"

"Axilia…? Is that her real name? Is it not Aucerina?

" I raised an eyebrow.

"Aucerina… so that's the name the royals gave to her? How disgusting,

" Ling Xin spat, brushing past me and sitting down on the chair.

"Axilia was her birth name, just like how mine was Lixi. After escaping from this place, though… I changed my name to better suit the Living Realm.

"

"I have so many questions… but I suppose it's better if we wait for Axilia. She's showering right now,

" I said, taking a seat across from Ling Xin.

"But let me warn you beforehand… her personality right now is kind of screwed in the head. If you've ever seen anime or read manga… she would be what you call a classic 'yandere'.

"

"…

" Ling Xin looked away uncomfortably and clenched her fists tightly, knuckles shining white as the blood drained from them.

"If only I was the one chosen to be princess instead… she wouldn't have had to suffer like this.

"

"Oi, are you stupid, or what?

" I snorted.

"If it had been you instead of her, she would be the one sitting in front of me right now, saying she would rather it have been her. Do you see the problem here?

"

"I know… what's done is done. There is no point crying about the past — but do you have any idea what happened to make her like this, and how we can help her?

"

Looking at Ling Xin's worried face, I couldn't help but smile despite the situation.

"… What?

" She frowned in confusion at my reaction, but I just chuckled and waved her bewilderment off.

"Nah, don't worry about it. It's just… despite being so seductive and uh, horny all the time, you can be surprisingly serious and caring. I guess Axilia shares all of those same traits with y-

"

"Did you just call me… horny?

" Ling Xin slowly rose from her seat, and in an instant, she had phased through the table to arrive on my lap, looking into my eyes intently and licking her lips.

"Be careful what you say, Xuan Kai… I might act on it~

"

I gulped. Yeah… she and her sister are both equally scary when it comes down to it. Yikes.

"I-In any case.

" I cleared my throat, pushing her away.

"I learned about her past through an old butler working at this castle… only to find out that he is, in fact, Axilia's grandfather — and yours too.

"

"Ah… my grandfather. He's still alive… that's good to know,

" Ling Xin said, sitting back down in her own seat.

"But putting him aside for now… tell me what happened to Axilia in all the time I was gone. Every… last… detail.

"

And so, just as requested, I began retelling the story the butler had once told me the night before.

*****

By the time I finished summarizing the story, Axilia finished showering and came downstairs happily, ready to teach me how to cook.

"I'm finished, darling-

"

But then, she stopped, her gaze landing on Ling Xin. In that moment, Axilia's entire body froze, mouth still open mid-sentence.

"Axilia. Do you… still remember me?

" Ling Xin asked hesitantly, which was the first time I've seen her so shy and socially awkward like this. Normally, she wouldn't even be embarrassed by hugging me in public, but despite her seductive, shameless nature, she was actually quite awkward when it came to her long-lost sister.

"…

" In response, Axilia remained quiet and frozen still, not budging an inch as her head tried to contemplate what was going on.

You know… somehow, this scene reminds me of a certain event that occurred a long time back, when I was still in Shenzhen Magic High School. Something similar to this happened with An Xue and An Yan, didn't it? Two sisters, reuniting after a long time apart… except this time, they are split into whole different realms.

Slowly, Ling Xin stood up, and began heading up the stairs. I waited quietly, ready to interfere if anything dangerous happened. Ling Xin wasn't stupid either; she understood the warnings I gave her. She would be on her guard, in case Axilia tried anything.

"Axilia… it's me. Ah… but you probably don't even know who I am… we were separated from birth, after all. My name is Ling X-

" She began, but then corrected herself.

"-Lixi. My name is Lixi. I… am your twin sister.

"

"Sis… ter…

" Axilia slowly murmured, as a single tear streaked out of her eye. I blinked in surprise, having not expected this at all.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have left you behind in this realm… I should have found some way to take you along with me… but I… I just couldn't…!

" Ling Xin sobbed, pulling Axilia into a hug. At first, I tensed up, thinking Axilia would respond with hostility, but relaxed a bit after seeing her not summoning any sort of weapon.

"Listen closely, Axilia… I heard about your past,

" Ling Xin said, stepping on thin ice. I tensed up again.

"Being neglected by your family… it must hurt. But what if I told you… the king, the queen, the prince — they aren't your real family at all?

"

At this, Axilia slowly turned her head. I got incredibly nervous, ready to step in at any minute, but then relaxed again after she merely spoke and didn't suddenly whip out a weapon out of nowhere like last night.

"Family…?

"

"Xuan Kai and I will be your new family. We will show you the true meaning of love, of friendship. So… there's no need to be afraid anymore, okay?

"

… Afraid?

Is that what Axilia was feeling all this time?

I see… I see…

I failed. I thought I understood her emotions after hearing about her past, but I guess I was wrong. Ling Xin, on the other hand, had figured it out in an instant. It's because they were twin sisters, I suppose.

Axilia wasn't feeling lonely. She wasn't sad. She was afraid — afraid of being abandoned, again and again. That's why she's so attached to me… because I was the first person who was important to her, and actually cared for her.

And deep down, Axilia recognized Ling Xin as well, despite never meeting her before. Siblings… twins… they just had a natural instinct of where the other one was. That's why Axilia opened up so easily to Ling Xin. That's why Ling Xin was able to save her from the darkness so easily, whereas I could not.

"Li…xi…

" Axilia murmured, slowly raising her arms up and hugging Ling Xin back.

"Axilia…

" The two embraced tightly, both shedding tears. It was quite sudden, but not unwelcome at all. Once again, I was hit by a pang of nostalgia — when An Xue and An Yan had embraced like this in the school infirmary, I held a similar wholesome feeling in my heart.

I guess… seeing other people meet their families again… somewhat helped fill the empty hole in me.

"You may be my sister, but…

" Axilia suddenly said, pushing Ling Xin away. I tensed up once again, fearful of what might happen next. Did Ling Xin's words not reach her after all?!

Ling Xin was also shocked, and stared at Axilia in both fear and anticipation.

Axilia took a deep breath, then leaped off the stairs to come up to me and wrapped her arms around my neck tightly to pull me into a tight hug. Facing her twin sister, she spoke in the most pouty tone imaginable.

"You cannot have darling, no matter what~!

"