"Miss Reina, are you and Alia related? You just...look a little alike and Alia did tell that she had a sister with your na. But she also told that you were dead. May I ask how you survived?"
Albus’s voice was filled with genuine curiosity. Reina would not have minded answering his questions under normal circumstances, but her instincts told her this man was dangerous.
His curiosity was not an act, but it was not sothing she should not welco it either.
Still, he had arrived here with Reina’s sister and that made her curious about him. That was the only reason she answered his question. Moreover, his question made Reina uneasy.
"Alia told you that I was dead?"
Her voice was clear but the tension behind it made Albus flinch. He imdiately corrected his words, not wanting to co across as a liar.
"Well, she did not say you were dead, but her actions proved it. She stopped talking whenever you were brought up and she had nightmares about you. So I concluded that you died and it left her traumatized."
Reina felt even more guilty about not staying with Alia when she needed her. Her emotions threatened to consu her completely and her heart felt heavy.
She felt like she should not have left Alia alone, no matter what Rin told her-
’But did he lie to you? Your sister made it till here safe and sound. What if you had ignored his words and you had died? What if Alia had died instead?’
Those thoughts snapped Reina back to her senses and she rubbed her eyes in frustration. She could not let this situation consu her mind or the doubt would crush her under its weight.
"Miss-?"
"Thank you for being there for Alia all this ti. As her older sister, I will repay you for saving and protecting her all this ti."
Reina would repay her sister’s savior however she could.
"Oh! There is no need to be all formal with . You are the elder sister of my companion, so you are like an elder sister to as well. Let’s get along well from now on."
Albus extended his hand toward Reina and she shook his hand. She did not put much strength into the handshake. She quickly let go and noticed Alia heading toward them with a confused look on her face.
Reina wanted to talk to her, but her words froze in her throat. Luckily, Alia acted like nothing had happened and she stood beside Reina with a smile.
"Sister, I am elated to see you alive. I-it was so hard to survive until now. I am sure it was the sa for you as well."
Alia was trying her hardest to stay strong and Reina felt even worse after seeing her reaction.
She wanted to talk to her sister, but not in front of a stranger. So she bottled her feelings and instead, chose to pull Alia into a half-embrace.
"It was hard to survive until now, but I am glad I managed to pull through. After all, I got to see you again and that’s more than enough for ."
Reina suddenly felt emotional and she took a deep breath to calm herself down. It did not even matter to her that an outsider like Albus was seeing her mont with her sister. For now, all Reina wanted to focus on was her sister.
Then she would head back to Rin and start working with a clear mind once more.
__________
[User, congratulations on eting the original protagonist of the apocalypse. How was the eting? Were you star-struck and unable to say anything? Did you want to lay your life down for the MC? Are we about to change genres?]
Rin rubbed his forehead as he tried to remain calm. The system was far too excited about the MC’s presence but Rin could not bring himself to feel the sa way.
After all, Albus’s presence was not a good thing for Rin’s future.
[User, aren’t you stressing out too much? This is unlike you. Does the thought of a little competition trouble you so much? How will you ever make it in a competitive society like this?]
The system suddenly sounded disappointed and Rin imdiately denied the accusation.
"I am not afraid of Albus. His presence just unnerves a little. Should I ask Shelly to keep an eye on him?"
Rin’s plan was to win Shelly’s favor and gain her protection. He was sure that he had successfully completed that part of his plan. But he had no intention of stopping Shelly from doing whatever she wanted.
In fact, he wanted Shelly to beco part of the original squad led by the MC and clear out the obstacles in his way. It would save him the headache of planning things and give him more free ti.
[User, you are just being lazy at this point. I am so disappointed in you. Tsk, I thought I raised you better than to be a slacker. Should I design a challenge for you to stimulate your brain?]
Rin read these words and he could feel the disappointnt coming from the system because of his decision.
But honestly, did the system have any ground to criticize Rin? He might have future-knowledge, but he was not a genius like the original MC. Planning for the future was ntally draining for Rin and left him not wanting to engage in physical activities much either.
[That’s what we call laziness, user. Why don’t you take a walk outside to clear your head? That might make you feel a little better.]
That was a good idea from the system and Rin imdiately pushed himself to stand and leave his office.
His feet unconsciously led him to the training grounds where Shelly and Teressa were training the guards. But he wasn’t the only one who ca here.
Reina, Alia and Albus were watching from a distance as well. But Albus decided to head over as soon as he noticed Shelly. His expression looked relieved at seeing Shelly once more.
"Shelly, you are here-"
Watching Albus call out to Shelly with that soft and sweet voice felt unsettling. Rin felt like he was intruding on a mont he wasn’t ant to see. So he imdiately turned around to head back.
But he had not gone far when he felt soone reach for his shoulder and he instinctively turned around, only to see Shelly.
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