Chapter 64: Loveable little sister

   It’s the same hardwood floors, same king-sized bed with the backlit wall alcove for the headboard and extra storage, but something feels wrong. He doesn’t know why but the seal’s space seems to adapt to match the soul trapped within it. When he got here it had morphed from Ariellia’s bedroom to his master bedroom from his apartment back on Earth. Everything looks the same, yet there’s a feeling of strangeness he can’t shake off. It feels like he’s been robbed but he can’t pinpoint what’s been stolen. He walks up to the neatly organized dresser, thinking there should be more things here, a makeup bag or lipstick perhaps, and a small vanity. He doesn’t know why he’s so sure these feminine items should be in a single guy’s bachelor pad, but he can’t escape this feeling of wrongness.

   Each time he tries to think deeply about it he feels a massive headache coming. It makes him suspect the missing items must have come later in one of the years he gave to Ariellia. The dangers of his uninformed trade keep becoming more apparent by the day. First, he lost valuable information on the game plotline that might have given them an advantage, then he lost control of their shared body. At first, he thought it was due to the shock of losing David. An emotional outburst that forced Arie’s soul to the forefront, but now he’s not so sure. He hadn’t paid attention to it before, but parts of the glyphs and symbols that had been etched on the floor in Ariellia’s room had shifted to the door. This magic circle should be the physical manifestation of the seal. Before this the etching had been completely dull, yet now parts of it were brightly shining like a load up screen. What would happen if it completely loads up?

   Last time in Allba’s Item shop Ariellia had hinted to it, saying she wasn’t processing his memories for the content. She must have offered them up to the seal in exchange for her freedom instead. Worried, he walks over to the door, slowly tracing the symbols carved into it. One fourth of the complex symbols were already lit up. What would have happened if he had given up another year when Neilos showed up? He feels an inexplicable sudden chill creeping in, forcing him to take a seat by the window. For some reason he feels averse to sitting on the bed.

   It all feels odd to him, just sitting here in a fake recreated version of his bedroom while watching the events of the outside world playout on the mounted TV. Perhaps Ariellia felt the same, forced to watch his actions from a similar broadcasting device in her version of the space. This whole time he never bothered to think of what she might be doing while trapped in here. He never tried to think of what she might have been feeling while he was out there making executive decisions that would affect her life, based on incomplete information from a questionable game she isn’t even aware of. Knowing her temper she must have been irritated and nothing is more motivating than frustration. She must have been pissed enough to try to figure out a way to break out of it.

   Ariellia’s lack of achievement in magic shouldn’t be attributed to a lack of talent, but rather laziness. Everything was handed to her since birth. David made it so she lacked nothing, from the top tutors to the most expensive trends in fashion. Her level and comprehension of magic remained low simply because she did not see the need to work on it. Her protection was guaranteed by her family knights and maids. Mori-fae was right, given a pressing reason to advance Ariellia’s talent would naturally outshine others.  

‘I’m sorry.’ He doesn’t know if she can hear him, but he knows he owes her this much.

‘…’

‘I should have asked your thoughts on things before deciding everything by myself.’

‘So you finally realize it.’

He can just picture her pouting face from her sulky tone. Helpless against this little sister he proceeds to negotiate. ‘What do you plan to do now?’

‘I will make sure dad’s ok with Uncle Jasper first, but I’m definitely travelling with Rei to the capital! No way am I letting him travel alone with that hussy Anya.’

Eren nods, expecting as much from the love-struck girl. ‘And what of me, what will I do while you travel with Rei?’

‘…perhaps you could take this as early retirement. It was tiring watching you diligently trying to raise my level for a whole month. Take a nap and relax.’

Indeed, he’s worked hard his whole life. A moment of peace did sound tempting but he knows that’s only temporary.

‘I can rest for a month or year, but what happens after that? Will we keep switching places like this in the future?’ It’s definitely not possible with Arie’s outspoken nature. In fact, he was lucky to have won control over their body by default after the backlash from the spell. It had only taken a month for her to figure out how to break the code and regain control, that’s just how monstrous her potential is. If they don’t come to some agreement, it’s hard to say who will have a monopoly on their body in the future.

‘…I can let you back out in two weeks, but only if you promise me three things.’

‘State them.’

‘First, no more talks of divorce with Rei.’

‘That might be hard, I already gave him my word that we would divorce at the end of this month.’ Eren really isn’t looking forward to staying married to another male.

‘True, but that was when Rei wanted the divorce. He doesn’t want one now, does he?’

‘…’

‘Besides, your union was blessed by the night lady Selene herself. Do you know how rare that is?’

‘I don’t, is it that special?’

‘Of course! Everyone does the formal ceremony hoping that Selene would personally bless their union. In our records, the goddess has only blessed ten marriages out of the hundreds that happen every year. No shaman would be willing to break a union blessed by her.”

Damn, it really looks like a divorce is out of the question for now.

‘Fine, no divorce talks then. Next?’

‘Two, don’t let Rei get snatched away by other women.’ She really isn’t dumb. Since he already knows Rei will marry several wives in the game, Eren was planning to gently push him towards the other love interests to lessen his growing affection for Ariellia. If he can’t talk about divorce unless Rei wants it, all he has to do is make Rei want one again, right? Ariellia must have already factored this in before making her second demand.

‘…fine, I won’t push him towards others—but, should he naturally fall for someone else I can’t help that.’

‘…okay.’ There’s a bit of grumbling but at least she agreed to this. Eren is a strong believer of monogamy, no way would he stay involved with someone whose straddling multiple boats.

‘And the third condition?’

‘…make me loveable.’ It was so softly spoken he almost missed it.

!

   In this moment Eren’s heart aches for Arie. He knows her request stems from her feelings of inadequacy, after being ignored by Rei for so long only to win his affection when she’s possessed by someone else. It’s a hard pill for her to swallow. As someone who has shared her memories he knows there’s more to Ariellia than a vain pretty face. Yes, she has a temper but that isn’t always a bad thing. Yes, she’s spoilt but her heart is still pure in many ways. He suddenly feels like an affronted big brother, cursing the scumbag protagonist for only seeing the bad parts.

‘No need!’ He passionately refuses.

‘…’ She misunderstands him and there’s a sense of hopelessness in her silence.

‘You are loveable as you are and I’ll prove it!’