Chapter 118: Naughty Sisters Observing Watermelons
By then, though, my time ran out.
The consolidation of my prolific Curses amplified in density as it gushed through my Cursed Vessels. Now, my Cursed Vessels are my storage—with Curses now spreading to each tip of my body through more efficient, and Curse-exclusive pathways, each burst of power from me is many magnitudes stronger.
The Blessings and Curses surrounding us began to fade; Esme's Ascension occurred out of sight, and even if I could turn my head and watch it, I wouldn't have had the capability to do so. All my attention had been focused on my Descent.
Our breaths slowly soothed in alignment as we recovered.
Esme's now much softer, smoother, and tender hands slipped through the cracks of mine and gripped my hand firmly, "...Phew, feeling better?"
"Yeah, much better." I replied while twisting my head to the left to look at my dear-
...Huh?
I paused.
...I twisted my head?
With anticipation rising through me, I gulped, and...
It worked.
...I lifted my free, right hand into the air before me.
It wasn't just my head and arms; I could twitch my toes again, bend my knees, curl my elbows—I was back.
Swish!
Right then, another hand entered my eyes and grasped my right hand. It was larger than mine, perhaps even slightly softer than mine.
It was Esme's.
With both of my hands in her grasp, she pulled my left hand over towards her and swivelled me around with one swift movement.
Time almost seemed to slow in my eyes...
"Sister~"
...but it couldn't stop the vibrant beauty of my twin sister glistening before me. Golden, shimmering eyes pushed themselves into my vision; her breath seeped onto my face as our faces sat less than a centimetre off from each other.
"I knew it, you're just as pretty as me!"
Esme's eyes curled as she sweetly smiled.
"Of course I am. I'm you." Sighing with exasperation, my lips unknowingly rose with a giggle etching itself to my voice.
Relief crashed down onto my body; relief that Esme isn't disgusted with me, relief that I no longer have to hide anything from my dear, adorable sister.
"Uh-uh." Esme hazily whispered into my mouth. Her snow-white eyelashes fluttered as her glistening mouth pouted with disagreement, "You're not me."
Squeezing the fingers that lay beside our waists, "You are you. You are my sister. You are Alora."
"You know what I meant."
"Nu-uh. You have to say it clearly, Alora. Never say that you are me. That makes me sad."
Pushing my eyes aside, I cut eye contact with her for a moment.
Not because I didn't know what to say.
And not because I was flustered over her insistence.
But...
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
My heart was about to explode with excitement.
The sister I loved was less than a centimetre away. She was praising my looks, she was saying my name, and her breath was seeping into my nose and mouth.
How could I not react like this?
It feels like my world is being overrun with sweets, desserts, and the happiest memories of my life, most of which consist of my sister and Hilda.
"But we're one?" I got that out as quickly as I could before Esme could suspect anything.
"Even if we're one, we are not each other. You are not me. And I am not you. But, all the well, we are one. We will always be one, because-"
Esme paused.
That pause drew my eyes towards her...
Oh.
I noticed it instantly.
Her face was flushed red.
Steam was gushing from her head, literally, not even figuratively.
"...Because what?" I asked, but, inwardly, I already knew, vaguely, what she was instinctively talking about.
Of course, I knew.
I, of everyone, would know.
Because that's love.
Esme should also be noticing it by now; she's no longer a child.
"-because we'll always be together."
"Of course we are." That I would make sure would be the case. No matter the cost.
Butwhatifimustsacrificemyself-
No.
That can't happen.
If I die, this Perfect Cursed Doll would break. And if the Perfect Cursed Doll breaks, the Curseless One would also break.
My death would inevitably lead to Esme's demise.
"Come up." Bringing her knees up, Esme stood and pulled me up alongside her. Our face-to-face interaction ceased to be as she stood taller than me, 'thanks' to my stunted growth, and that thanks can be extended to my Curses.
She's 25cm taller at 159. I'm still only 134...
Seemingly reading my mind, "You'll grow taller." Esme reassured me, then pushed her elbows together, "And fuller."
"...I appreciate the sentiment." I stared at her modest yet full body and dully compared it to my doll-like, boring body. On the bright side, my body is still soft and not bony. I'm small, not fragile.
At least, not anymore.
This is the perk of reaching the Third Step.
Everyone's beauty had already taken a spike a year or two ago. And by everyone, I meant the cohort after they reached the Third Step; it was even more obvious on Hilda's ballooning body.
I can confidently be called a pretty girl now.
At least, on the surface. My innards, my real self, is still hidden beneath the visage of skin. If it's peeled off...
199,012,631I'drathernotseethatdisgustingthing199,012,941
"...Ugh." That groan came out of nowhere from me as I abruptly remembered something.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
There is something.
I've been thinking about how I'm pretty now.
I've been comparing my body to Esme's and Hilda's.
I've been...
Is it the hormones?
Is it puberty?
My thoughts have never been as focused on the topic as they are now. In fact, it used to be the other way around. The mere thought of my breasts growing and becoming more girly used to irk me.
Not that I was profusely against it, but I wasn't interested in growing either.
Now, though?
"..."
I want Esme and Hilda to think I'm pretty.
I want them to like me more.
And, for that, I want to grow.
Orisitthehormones?
Didn'tiusedtohatethefactthatI'magirl?
Didn'tiwanttoreturntobeingaboysothaticoulddevourEsme?
Whatchanged?
"Alora?"
"Uh-! Yes?"
Tilting her head, Esme glanced at me worriedly, "Are you sure you're feeling fine?"
I nodded dazedly with those manic thoughts cackling with maddening glee lingering in the background, "As fine as can be."
"I'm glad~ This also means no more mask, right?" Swaying side to side, Esme pulled me into a pseudo-dance as we spun in circles.
"Mhm. No more."
Esme's waist-length snow-white hair splayed behind her as she grinned with wild joy, "I'm double glad! You shouldn't hide that face anymore! The others also need to finally learn that we're twins!"
I smirked as I pushed my left foot between Esme's and suddenly took control of our 'dancing' rhythm, "Let's not lie, sister. They all know by now. They're very smart."
"Hm~ Not sure about that one, Alora. Hildy can be dumb at times. He could have told Elden and Jill of his Curses, but he didn't. And all of that was for his dumb pride. So, no, my cute Alora, not all of them are very smart." Returning my smirk with a pearly smile, Esme's left hand let go of my right hand and swept itself to my waist.
Hildy, huh?
"Let's dance, shall we?"
"...Hold up."
"Nope!"
My left hand was thrown upwards horizontally as we entered a dancing posture. Esme took complete control and moulded me into her rhythm. Perhaps it was a hint of vengeance for doing so moments ago, but, to be honest...
She just wants to dance.
...We just want to dance.
But I won't forgive that Hildy comment~
-----
"...Does that mean no more cuddles...?" A downcast voice laced with depression croaked into my ears.
Rubbing my eyebrows, I sighed with a helpless smile, "We can still cuddle, you big dummy."
"Yay~!" The depression on her face melted like white lies in the snow; I bet she faked it just so that I could tell her we can cuddle.
While Hilda jumped up and down, I stared at her jiggling breasts with appreciative eyes. The temptation to reach out and cup them, or technically, melt my tiny hands into those watermelons, almost won over my rational thinking brain, but I held back while Esme stood beside me.
Poke.
Speaking of Esme, she poked my side with a pouty face, "Do you think all of her brains went there instead?" Whispering into my ear, she glanced over at Hilda's massive boobs as well.
So, while Hilda celebrated all on her lonesome, the twin sisters, us, sat there observing her breasts like it was a pair of some foreign, alien creatures.
Nonetheless, after giving the idiot a minute, I jolted her back to reality and told her to inform the others that it was time.
And, also, "Go back home now."
Hilda, with all of her antics aside, held her hands behind her back and nodded with a dim smile, "Alright, I'll be back soon."
This was something we'd already planned for, but now that it was time...
I wonder if she can handle the separation. She's already told me that she can, but reality is different from one's imagination at times.
"Bye-bye, for now!" Waving at us, Hilda left us with the scent of fruits and flowers wafting in her trail.
I turned to my sister after Hilda took her exit, "Now then, shall we?"
"Indeed, we shall."
Then, hand in hand, together, we walked into the depths of the mansion.
Towards the madness's office.