The Spirit Said, 'You're Unworthy as My Master, Cancel the Contract!' So I’ll Give It to My Sister Who Wants It - Episode 2.30

“Hmm? Who knows? I made sure to adjust his fall so he’d land on the hedge. But that man just now—he was trying to use *this* on you.”

Skia said this as he picked up a small object from the ground where the nobleman’s son had stood. Holding it delicately between his fingers, he raised it for Mistia to see.

“A sachet…?”

As the name suggests, a sachet is a small cloth bag filled with fragrant herbs or dried flowers.

It was a common item for noble ladies to carry, but it was unusual for a nobleman’s son to have one. As Mistia widened her eyes in surprise, Skia clenched the sachet tightly in his hand.

With a sudden *whoosh*, flames erupted from his palm, and in an instant, the sachet turned to ashes, scattering away.

Skia watched the disappearing ashes with cold eyes.

“It was infused with dark charm magic. Nothing too powerful, but it would have temporarily enchanted anyone who inhaled the scent. What a sneaky trick… You don’t need to concern yourself with a man who tried to take you by force while you were defenseless.”

“…! So that’s what it was. Thank you for saving me from danger. Skia, you’re always so reliable.”

“It’s fine. But I have to say, I don’t approve of you wandering around alone. Just like earlier, trouble will keep following you. If we were in the Redfield territory, I wouldn’t mind, but here, I’d prefer if you let me know first.”

His firm warning made Mistia lower her shoulders. Skia’s words were completely reasonable—he wasn’t wrong. *However…*

The image of his smile at the ball flashed through Mistia’s mind.

After seeing a face like that, how could she possibly call out to him?

As Mistia lowered her gaze with a conflicted expression, Skia seemed to sense something and stepped closer to her.

Speaking in a gentle tone, as if addressing a child, he softly said,

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you look like that. Of course, there are times when you want to be alone. I was being inconsiderate, saying something so strict. I’ll leave for a bit, so you can relax here.”

His voice grew weaker as he spoke, and Mistia suddenly looked up.

In her eyes, she saw Skia smiling sadly. A painful tightness gripped her chest, and she hurriedly opened her mouth.

“No, Skia, please stay here! I’m the one who overreacted. I just… when it comes to you, I can’t seem to control my emotions—”

She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had just blurted out something she shouldn’t have.

Skia tilted his head.

“About me?”

“Um, well…”

As Mistia anxiously shifted her gaze around, Skia watched her patiently. Finally, she gave in and decided to confess her feelings.

“A-at the ball… I saw you smiling at a noble lady. You only smiled, and yet, it hurt so much. I thought… so he smiles like that for others too.”

*I said it.*

Mistia clenched her fists near her chest.

A brief silence followed before Skia spoke.

“I see. I’m really sorry for making you feel that way. But if I may explain… I smiled back then because I was being complimented about you. That lady said, ‘Miss Mistia is truly a wonderful woman.’ Hearing that made me happy, and I couldn’t help but smile.”

“…!”

Mistia’s face turned bright red.

She felt ashamed of herself. She had misinterpreted his smile, never imagining it was because of her.

“I… I feel so embarrassed. I’m truly sorry—to that lady, and to you as well, Skia.”

“There’s no need to apologize. If anything, I’m the one who made you sad. But I’m glad you told me your feelings. You tend to suppress them. Do you feel a little better now?”

“Y-yes. I’ll try not to get jealous so easily from now on. I won’t trouble you with such things anymore. So please… don’t be disappointed in me.”

Seeing Mistia’s determined expression, Skia’s eyes softened.

“…Heh.”

He chuckled.

But it wasn’t a soothing, warm smile—it carried a dark, mysterious aura.

Mistia blinked, wondering what was wrong.

“Ah, sorry. It’s just… you’re completely mistaken.”

“M-mistaken?”

“Don’t you see? Far from being disappointed, I’m actually happy that you were jealous. You already know, don’t you, Mistia? I’m not a pure and noble spirit. I am a wretched being who drinks in your dark emotions and finds joy in them. Your jealousy, your passion—if they belong to you, I find them dear. Because I love you.”

His whisper tickled her ear.

Mistia’s mind went blank.

Before she could react, Skia gently took her hand and pressed it to his cheek.

His deep, dark green eyes captivated her, making it impossible to look away—like a mythical serpent turning its prey to stone.

Overwhelmed by his intense gaze, Mistia’s body slowly filled with warmth.

She barely managed to speak.

“If you keep being so kind to me… I might end up depending on you for everything.”

“That would be wonderful. I already depend on you. I can’t live without you, Mistia.”

“Skia…”

Mistia couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw her arms around him.

She rarely initiated physical contact, so Skia widened his eyes slightly, his cheeks tinged with faint red. Then, as if unable to resist, he embraced her tightly.

Wrapped in his arms, Mistia thought to herself,

(*Maybe I was trying too hard to act strong in front of Skia. When he told me to just be myself… I felt so relieved.*)

If it was Skia, she was sure he would accept her completely, without any lies or pretense.

The thought filled her heart with warmth, and she couldn’t suppress the words spilling from her lips.

“I love you more than anything in the world.”

“! Mistia… I love you too. More than anything.”

They held each other tightly for a while. Then, as Mistia shyly looked up at him, she hesitated before asking,

“Um… may I ask something? Do spirits fall in love regardless of gender?”

Skia froze for a second at the unexpected question.

“Gender doesn’t matter when it comes to love.”

“I-I see…”

“Why do you ask? …Wait. You don’t think I have feelings for Solm, do you?”

Mistia’s face turned red in an instant.

“N-no, no, no! I was just curious! Please forget I said anything!”

“Haha, no need to be so flustered. But don’t worry—I only have eyes for you.”

“Just forget—”

While their lively conversation continued in the courtyard, someone hidden behind a rose hedge held their breath.

(*I completely missed my chance to reveal myself…*)

It was the earth spirit, Solm.

He had followed Mistia from a different route, arriving just in time to see her being harassed by the nobleman’s son. He had intended to intervene, but—Skia got there first.

And at that moment, Solm realized he felt… frustrated.

Before he could find an answer, Mistia and Skia grew even closer. Now, all he could do was watch in silence.

(*I knew they cared for each other… So why does this hurt so much?*)

Just then, a loud voice pierced the courtyard air.

“Lady Mistia! Lady Mistia Redfield! Are you here?! This is an emergency! If you can hear me, please return to the grand hall immediately—His Majesty requests your presence!”

“!”

A stranger’s urgent voice rang out.

Mistia, Skia, and the hidden Solm all stiffened. Mistia turned to Skia in alarm.