It felt as though she had turned into a spring herself.

Thanks to the perfectly timed intervention of the person who had pushed her upright, Crescent avoided what could have been a mortifying fall.

Though the assistance felt a bit half-hearted, she was still grateful nonetheless.

Just as she was about to turn around and express her thanks, she spoke up.

"Thank you, whoever you are—"

"Please be careful. My arm nearly broke trying to keep your head from hitting it."

The voice was polite yet detached, but it carried a strange sweetness that captivated her ears.

She had never heard a voice like that before.

The tone alone suggested a person so refined it was almost unfair.

As Crescent turned to look at the man, her heart skipped a beat.

He, too, gazed at her face, his own expression unreadable.

“…!”

Meteor felt time stop the moment his eyes fell on the young lady before him.

Her flawless, porcelain-like complexion, her large, radiant pink eyes that seemed ready to spill light, and her lashes that fanned out like a delicate veil…

Her nose was petite yet elegant, and her lips, so translucent they seemed painted by an artist, added a finishing touch to her doll-like appearance.

An actual doll?

No. A demon?

Meteor had heard tales of demonkind so beautiful they bewitched anyone who looked upon them, their charm so potent that no mortal could resist.

Such demons were said to drain the vitality of humans, feeding on their life force.

The thought crossed his mind, leaving him momentarily paralyzed. Somewhere, the image of her felt oddly familiar to him.

The young lady in front of him murmured absentmindedly.

"Meteor…?"

Crescent tilted her head back, gazing up at him despite the high heels she wore.

The man was tall—so much taller than she’d imagined—and though his face carried the faint youthfulness of someone just a year or two older, his towering frame seemed at odds with that.

His snow-white hair shimmered like the first frost of winter, and his sapphire-blue eyes sparkled like the summer sea.

His perfectly sculpted nose and a sharp yet gentle jawline made him a sight to behold—a breathtaking beauty unlike anyone Crescent had ever seen before.

The pristine white attire he wore only enhanced the radiant aura he exuded.

As Crescent scrutinized his unfamiliar yet mesmerizing features, she suddenly recognized a trace of someone familiar.

The man resembled Meteor.

Could it really be him?

He was far more striking than she had imagined, his appearance refined to an almost unimaginable degree.

"You…"

At last, Meteor managed to speak, though his voice trembled as if he had barely recovered from the shock.

The young woman seemed to know him.

Realizing something, Meteor examined her hair. Her golden locks gleamed as brilliantly as her flawless complexion.

Just like Crescent’s.

Her gem-like pink eyes, too, mirrored Crescent’s.

If she had grown just as he had, this would be what she looked like at fourteen.

And yet, why did she feel so unfamiliar, like someone entirely new?

Smiling brightly, she spoke.

"Are you really Meteor? The Marchioness said you couldn’t make it today."

“…You’re Crescent?”

Her breezy reply stood in contrast to his heavy question.

"Of course I am! Meteor, you’ve grown so much!"

Crescent reached out as if to pat his head, but Meteor flinched, stepping back instinctively.

His gaze narrowed, scrutinizing her as if trying to confirm something suspicious.

"You’re the one who’s hard to recognize. What’s with the dress and the hair?"

"What else? It’s my debutante ball today. But how did you get here?"

Meteor exhaled lightly, his tension easing ever so slightly.

"Mother insisted I attend. It seems I’m a little late, though."

His brows furrowed slightly as he spoke, even this small movement mesmerizing Crescent.

"How many years has it been? It feels surreal to see you alive and standing in front of me."

"What?"

What kind of nonsense was that?

But then, Meteor understood what Crescent meant.

To be conversing with her after six long years of separation felt like an impossible dream.

"Does this mean your special training is over? Are you back for good, or will you have to leave again?"

Her eyes shimmered like dew, her gaze full of hopeful anticipation.

Meteor found himself averting his gaze, his voice growing steadier as he answered.

"I’m back for good. The training was almost finished anyway."

"Really? That’s wonderful! Everyone will be so happy!"

Crescent beamed, her joy palpable.

The unexpected return of Meteor only doubled her elation. She hadn’t realized it before, but she had missed him, even if only a little.

Living under the same roof seemed to naturally foster some attachment, family or not.

Ah, but now we really are family. I wonder if Meteor knows?

As she pondered this, other noble youths seized the moment to approach.

"Lord Meteor! So your training is complete now? Congratulations!"

"Not quite. The special training is over, but the training itself continues."

Meteor shook his head lightly.

For six years, he had undergone grueling special training while also traveling across the empire for Magi eradication missions. These missions were as dangerous as real battles.

He had been dragged into the Demon Realm eleven times, each time narrowly escaping death. Yet here he was, alive.

Though he had grown immensely stronger, he knew the road ahead remained long.

"It’s not over until the Demon King is dead."

Unless he became strong enough to kill the Demon King, all his efforts would be meaningless. Not that it had to be him specifically—there were plenty of great Holy Knights in the empire, including his father and grandfather.

Still, his goal, like that of all Holy Knights, was to eliminate the Demon King.

As these thoughts weighed on his mind, an unexpected comment reached his ears.

"And congratulations on your beautiful new sister!"

"Everyone was so surprised. The lady sponsored by the Pluto family is now officially part of the household!"

"…What? Sister?"

What in the world were they talking about?

Meteor stared blankly, unable to make sense of their words.

A sister?

Crescent spoke up hesitantly, her tone sheepish.

"Oh, Meteor, you probably didn’t know yet. Honestly, I only found out recently myself. The ink on my adoption papers hasn’t even dried yet. The Duke officially registered me as the daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness."

“…?”

Meteor still couldn’t process what he was hearing.

Crescent had been adopted into the Pluto family?

Officially?

What exactly did that mean?

Noticing his bewildered expression, Crescent added awkwardly.

"Ahem. You might not be thrilled about it, but I’m your sister now. Should I start calling you Brother Meteor?"

“…."

Meteor couldn’t find the words to respond.

Crescent offered a shy smile, but Meteor felt an inexplicable heaviness settle over him, clouding his vision.

Gradually, her words sank in.

She was no longer Crescent Dallas.

She was Crescent Pluto.

She now bore the same family name as he did, the daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness of Pluto, officially making her his sister.

Legally, they were now siblings.

In hindsight, it shouldn’t have been surprising.

Hadn’t his mother treated Crescent like a daughter all along? Hadn’t she often told him to look after her like a younger sister?

"Then why does this feel so strange?"

A peculiar weight pressed against his chest, leaving him feeling suffocated.

It reminded him of the night he had searched desperately for Crescent after she vanished, only to find her smiling brightly the next morning.

Or the unsettling discomfort he felt when he received letters about Adrian constantly proposing to her.

Now, that same inexplicable unease was beginning to knot itself tightly within him once more.