Volume 2 Chapter 21 – "The Perfect Cure for Insomnia"

“I never said that!” Teresa denied at once—though she didn’t even know why she reacted so fiercely. That memory didn’t exist in her mind, yet her reaction was exactly like someone who’d just had their dark past exposed.

“Don’t make stuff up. That never happened.” No, it wasn’t even about exposing secrets. Anyone would be flustered if they were falsely accused of saying something that embarrassing.

“Mhm~ If Little Sha says it didn’t happen, then it didn’t~”

What a half-hearted answer.

“Then go out already.”

“Uu… still kicking your sister out?” Bilodis once again wore a heartbroken expression. No one could fathom why a woman who’d lived for who-knows-how-many centuries had this much drama in her.

Seeing that this shameless woman refused to leave, Teresa gave up and simply glared at the wall of clothes, pulling a silk jacket over her pajamas without even changing first.

“There. That good enough for you?” she muttered, sounding perfunctory. She didn’t even like this trench-coat style outfit.

“Nope~ Changing the soup but not the medicine doesn’t work.” Bilodis approached in long, elegant strides, her white legs gliding across the floor as she stopped in front of Teresa.

“Pajamas under a trench coat? Even the animals in the courtyard would laugh at you.”

“Come, Little Sha, let big sister pick something for you~” Bilodis beamed as she reached for a court-style red mermaid gown.

“I said I’ll do it myself.”

“This one’s an imperial banquet gown—rumor has it it was custom-designed for a marquis’s daughter. Since you’re so fond of human culture, it’d be perfect for you~”

Teresa glanced at the dress and immediately looked away, eyes full of contempt. She seemed instinctively repelled by Bilodis’s taste.

“Red and green? Tacky.”

“Well then~ If you don’t like this one, we’ll pick another. How about a soft pink feathered haori trench coat? It was once the rage in demihuman countries~” Bilodis smiled again.

“That’s something toddlers wear. Walk down the street in that, and someone might hand you a lollipop.” Teresa crossed her arms and squinted.

“You’re hundreds of years old. Why’s your taste still so childish?”

“…Aiya, what are you talking about, Little Sha? Big sister is still a youthful maiden~” At Teresa’s jab, Bilodis’s eye twitched ever so slightly before she covered her mouth and kept up her graceful smile.

“A few-hundred-year-old maiden? In human years, that’s straight-up obasan material.” Teresa kept up the verbal sparring—almost like it was a reflex. For every sentence Bilodis said, she had to fire one back. It seemed she just couldn’t help herself.

“Hehe, if we go by human standards, wouldn’t that make you an old lady too, Little Sha?”

“Who told you that? I’m not even twenty yet, okay?” Teresa huffed.

“Okay, okay~ Since you don’t like that type, how about this one? It’s called [Breeze’s Work], a traditional Elf gown. White top, light green gradient bottom, feathered hem, blue roses embroidered across the bust—it’d look lovely on you.”

“Your sense of fashion is as outdated as your expiration date,” Teresa replied flatly.

“…Ahaha, then let’s try something else! This Lolita-style dress with a matching parasol is quite cute too~”

“Only you would think that would suit me,” Teresa arched her snowy neck and raised an eyebrow.

“That thing looks over XL in size. I’m not that big. It’d be hanging off me like a curtain.”

“But your eye isn’t bad. It would suit you nicely.” She even gestured between Bilodis and the dress to emphasize the size match.

“…Ahaha.” Bilodis tilted her head with a forced smile.

“Now now, Little Sha, you shouldn’t make baseless claims. Big sister’s not fat~”

“I’m just telling the truth.” Teresa remained unmoved.

“Unless you’ve got a scale here? We could compare. See who’s lighter.”

She didn’t need to measure. It was plain as day.

Teresa herself was considered “well-endowed” even among the large sizes, but Bilodis—Elf Empress or not—was in a league of her own. Teresa couldn’t help but recall a certain gacha game from her past life that nicknamed characters by, uh… assets.

To be fair, Bilodis wasn’t fat. Her body was curvy in all the right ways—perfect, really—but just… so big. Which made her look a bit “plush.”

“If you lived in our world, you’d have trouble,” Teresa suddenly said with a sly smile.

“Hmm?”

“Because you’d have to use stairs.” Teresa laughed into her hand, clearly imagining something indecent.

“Elevators couldn’t lift you. Step on one and the poor thing wouldn’t even dare move.”

Bilodis kept smiling.

“Little Sha, it’s not nice to joke about someone’s weight.”

“But stairs wouldn’t help either. They’d label you a heavy-duty unit. If your balance slipped, or you broke a step, you’d roll all the way down and no one could stop you.” Teresa said with a grin, glancing playfully at her.

“…”

Bilodis merely watched Teresa laugh non stop at her expense, saying nothing.

Even after trying several outfits, Teresa rejected every one of Bilodis’s choices. Not only did she dislike them—she openly ridiculed Bilodis’s taste. Some she wouldn’t even comment on; she just turned her head and scoffed.

Bilodis remained elegant and quiet, smiling gently no matter what Teresa said.

Both humans and Elves put on different faces for different people. Teresa herself likely didn’t notice just how much she had "let go" around Bilodis—so much so that her words bordered on unfiltered.

In the end, Teresa didn’t pick any of Bilodis’s suggestions. She chose her own: a simple, cool Elf-style outfit. A pale, silk-edged crop top with a light-colored short skirt and white ankle socks.

Well, it was from a palace wardrobe—so of course the materials and workmanship were top-tier.

Teresa didn’t mind those elaborate ceremonial dresses. They were fine for banquets and formal occasions. But her personal preference? Something cool, clean, and simple.

“There. I’m done changing.” Teresa stepped out of the dressing hall, pinching the edge of her skirt.

“You should only come out after you’ve fully changed. That gesture is unseemly for a girl, Little Sha,” Bilodis said softly, as usual.

“I’m not a girl,” Teresa mumbled, averting her gaze.

Of course she understood etiquette. She always carried herself with grace in public. But with Bilodis...

She just wanted to argue.

It was… childish, yes. Like a kid pushing back against their parents.

Maybe she still held resentment toward Bilodis. Or maybe… because her hair ornament wasn’t with her, her transformation into Teresa was incomplete, and Dylin’s personality was bleeding through?

While she mulled it over, Bilodis, hands folded at her waist, stepped forward and took Teresa’s hand.

“? What’re you doing?” Teresa flinched, caught off guard by the warm palms sandwiching her hand.

“It’s getting late, Little Sha. You’re tired, aren’t you? Time flows differently in this dimension, but it’s still time for rest.”

“Rest? Fine. Then take me back. I can’t sleep unless it’s in my bed.”

“Can’t sleep, huh?” Bilodis’s tone grew vaguely mysterious.

“That’s fine. You’ll sleep. Big sister will make sure of it.”

“You’ll make sure I sleep? What does that mean?” Teresa asked, an uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.

Elves didn’t need much sleep. That habit came from humans. Even if she didn’t sleep tonight, it wouldn’t affect her much.

She didn’t understand what Bilodis meant.

Bilodis offered no explanation—just smiled silently and led Teresa toward the rear palace.

The rear palace, directly opposite the main throne hall, was the Elf Empress’s private resting quarters. It comprised several buildings; the tallest and grandest was the Empress’s own chamber.

Also built entirely of Goldenwood.

Goldenwood was an incredibly rare material—exclusive to Elves, never traded or exported.

“Let go already.” Teresa frowned. Though Bilodis wasn’t using force, she simply couldn’t break free of her grip.

“And how long are you going to keep me locked up? I told you—I’m not your little sister.”

“Mhm, mhm, I know. Just come with me~”

Bilodis didn’t answer directly, only nodded cheerfully and kept walking hand-in-hand with her.

They passed several side halls. The main palace stood at the center, surrounded by golden sunflowers and laurel trees. The air here was clearer than any human city.

As they climbed the stairs of the main chamber, Teresa felt a strange sense of familiarity. She scanned the surroundings silently as Bilodis led her upstairs.

“We’re here~” At the top floor, the balcony gave a sweeping view of the courtyard—every flower and tree clearly visible.

Teresa looked toward the massive velvet bed in the center of the room.

This bed could fit five people easily.

“Alright~ Time for bed~” Bilodis guided her to the edge and gently pushed her shoulders, making her sit down.

“Little Sha said she’s been having trouble sleeping, right~?” she smiled.

“Insomnia? When did I say that?”

“Didn’t you say just now that you couldn’t sleep? Alright, shoes off, and lie down~” Bilodis’s smile curved upward in a way that made Teresa uneasy.

“Big sister will help you—cure your insomnia~” Then she leaned in close, her lips brushing Teresa’s ear, playing with her hair and whispering in a sultry, almost hypnotic voice—blowing warm breath on her earlobe.

“N-no need. I suddenly feel very sleepy,” Teresa replied, backing away.

“No no~ Little Sha’s tired and sleepless. That’s no good at all. Good thing I know just the trick—very effective~” Before Teresa could escape, Bilodis had already climbed onto the bed and lightly held her in place.

“Living with humans has made your schedule a mess. Poor diet, sleepless nights, eating all sorts of garbage—tsk tsk~”

“Yeah, well, some people never gain weight no matter what they eat. Others live in a Secret Realm, drink only dew, and still get plump. What can you do?” Teresa eyed her pointedly.

“That’s true~ You never gain weight, Little Sha. So lucky~”

“You’re not seriously getting back at me, are you?? I didn’t say anything mean—just objective facts...”

“Revenge? Why would I be mad~? Big sister isn’t mad. What’s with that guilty conscience~?”

“…”

That beaming smile gave Teresa a terrible sense of impending doom.

“Come on, shoes off~” Seeing Teresa hesitate, Bilodis bent down, took her ankle, and slipped her shoes off.

“Time to start the treatment~” She kicked off her own heels and climbed fully onto the bed. When Teresa tried to scoot back, Bilodis reached out, pinching the hem of her skirt.

“No need, I suddenly feel sleepy again.” Teresa tried to remain calm.

“Already? Then let’s make sure you sleep even better, okay~?”

“No really, I’m good…”

“Come now, it’s just your big sister. Why so shy? Don’t move now~” Bilodis tied her golden hair into a high ponytail, knelt behind Teresa, and approached.

“What are you trying to do?...” Teresa tried to squirm away, but her frail strength was useless.

“There’s my good Little Sha~” With long fingers, Bilodis slid off her own semi-transparent white stockings, folded one in half, and—before Teresa could react—gently blindfolded her.

“The sheer kind wouldn’t work, but folded in half, they’re perfect. So? Can you still see~?”

“W-what are you doing?!” Unable to see, Teresa’s mind filled with alarm bells. She started struggling—but it was completely futile...

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