"Are you in love with your slave?"
Sylus intended to avoid her as much as possible.
Even if she asked for something as outrageous as the size of his penis, he was still going to avoid her.
"Move away from my face."
"Should I take that as a yes?"
Erica began tracing her finger on his chest.
"What exactly do you want, Erica? Are you missing your big brother, and you’re trying to use me as a replacement or something?"
Erica didn’t react when Sylus clutched her hand, ceasing her from playing with his chest.
"You’ve been rather mean to me as of late. When all I’m trying to do is have fun with my little brother," she glowered.
Of course, Sylus couldn’t care less.
"You should have thought of that before you tried to set my Mystero up."
Erica frowned even more.
"So, I was right—you do love that girl."
Her one-way reasoning dumbfounded Sylus.
"Just because I care for someone doesn’t mean I love them."
"Yes, it does. I asked Mother about it, and she said so."
’I mean, she’s not wrong. Though I doubt Erica knows the difference between the types of love.’
Sylus sighed and looked to the side. "Why do you even care to begin with? It’s not like it’s any of your concern."
While he wasn’t looking directly at her, he could still sense the sudden change in atmosphere.
The tension had risen.
Before he could fully turn his head, Erica spoke again—
"I won’t tolerate you giving any woman that kind of treatment. Especially someone like her."
Now locking gazes with her, he could see the intensity burning in her eyes, her face holding so much seriousness as she spoke.
"This is why I wanted her gone in the first place. I know it; Mother was right—girls are only going to be a distraction for you. If only you weren’t so stubborn, she would have been gone already."
Sylus was silent, trying to understand where she was heading.
"Leave her, Sylus. I can speak to Father for you. Get yourself a male Mystero; they have more potential and are better servants. There’s no reason to stay with a girl, okay?"
This time, she had her hands on his hair, her eyes now glowing with something Sylus couldn’t fully understand.
"...What are you talking about? Why would I let go of my Mystero for a male? Brother is already far ahead of me; I can’t be wasting time—"
"Then you can have mine. He is already strong; I can transfer ownership, and you can give him a new, lesser star."
"Aren’t you acting too desperate here? I know you won’t be participating in the Adon Vale, but still?"
"Sylus, I don’t care about the excuses you’re about to make...." Erica uttered, her voice laced with venom. "I am the only one allowed to take your affection. Why don’t you get that? I am your sister; haven’t I always supported you? You don’t need any other girl; they are only distractions—even Mother agrees."
Sylus’s eyes widened as he slowly realized what was happening.
This wasn’t confusion, or manipulation. It was something darker. Twisted. And it had once grown under his nose.
"I care about you, don’t I? Doesn’t that mean I love you? Why should I love you, and you go around loving someone else? It doesn’t sound right. She needed to go anyway; it’s a good thing. Ever since she came, you’ve barely paid me any mind. Now, you’ll give me all your attention, right?"
’How could I have been so foolish?’
Acting quickly, Sylus grabbed her by the arm and pinned her to the bed.
A smile made its way onto Erica’s face.
"We only need each other; we are Astrodials. No one else comes close. She is irrelevant to us. Open your eyes..."
’This better not be what I’m thinking!’
It was all making sense; this was why she tried to take Zani out of the picture.
Without wasting any time, Sylus leaped to the ground with his small legs and sprinted out of the room.
Erica, on the other hand, remained on the bed, a smile on her face as she kept her eyes locked on his fleeing body.
Her cheeks, bright red.
As he ran out the door, Sylus tried to pick up the pace, but his childlike legs could only carry him so far.
The hall was long, so he knew it was going to take him a long time before getting to the first turning.
As long as he could make his way to the bathroom and make sure Zani was alright, he was fine with collapsing from exhaustion.
He should have noticed it. How could something so obvious have slipped through his mind?
Ever since he was a kid, he and Erica had always been playing together, as requested by his mother.
But every chance she got, she would always bully him. If he were to get a new toy, she would break it, only offering them to play with a single one.
It got so bad that he assumed she hated him due to them having different mothers.
Sylus always made sure he never ended up on her bad side, and truly, it seemed to work for him since then.
Erica, who was always so clingy, became so busy with her studies that she barely had any time for him.
So how... How did she go back to being this?
Sylus got to the first turning, where he could already see the entrance to the bathroom up ahead.
He could also see a maid walking out of the bathroom, which means there was a change of water recently.
But that only happens when no one is occupying the bathroom.
His heart skipped a beat, panic already showing on his face.
Running past the maid, who looked at him with shock, he got to the entrance of the bathroom.
One hand resting on the wall.
He called out passionately.
Alas, his eyes widened in shock at the sight before him.