"Emma, which two books do you want?" Gaba asked, turning her head to catch her sister's profile, illuminated by a radiant smile that warmed her heart.
"I'll take *Fairy Tales, Volume One* and *What Is Etiquette*," Emma said quickly, her voice bright with certainty. Her brown eyes sparkled as she pointed to the books.
"Alright, I'll get them," Gaba said with a nod, her bear ears flicking as she adjusted her hold on Emma, one hand gently supporting her sister's hips, the other reaching for the books. The warmth of Emma's body against her back sent a shiver of protectiveness through her, a silent vow to shield her sister's dreams. She handed the books to Emma, their covers smooth and inviting, and felt a pang of pride at the delight in her sister's eyes.
"Yay! I have books to read!" Emma chirped, clutching the books to her chest, her ears twitching with glee. Their parents, minor nobles in the Valtoria Kingdom, had always provided books despite their modest means. Their mother had filled their home with stories, her love for knowledge shaping Emma's own passions. But years of fleeing had stripped them of those treasures, leaving Emma starved for the written word. Now, holding these books, she felt a rush of warmth, her body humming with the promise of rediscovery.
"Let's handle the borrowing process," Gaba said, her voice soft but steady as she carried Emma toward the counter, her steps deliberate. The library was nearly empty now with the two or three staff members lingering nearby. Reading was a rare pastime for common folk, who found shadow plays far more engaging than the quiet labor of books. Emma, however, felt alive in this stillness.
"Hello, are you borrowing or buying?" The counter clerk asked, her voice polite but warm, her eyes flicking between the sisters with a gentle curiosity.
"We're borrowing," Gaba said quickly, passing Emma's books to the clerk.
"Please show your identification cards," The clerk said, pulling out a ledger and jotting down the books' serial numbers and titles. Gaba reached into her pocket, producing her own card, then gently slid her hand along Emma's hip, retrieving her sister's card from a small pouch.
"Here," Gaba said, handing the cards.
"You'll need a twenty-copper-coin deposit," The clerk explained, her voice clear as she outlined the borrowing terms. "Books must be returned within ten days, or the deposit is forfeited, and the books are considered purchased. Future borrowings will require a fivefold deposit, and any damage to the books will be deducted from the deposit." Her words were practiced, but there was a kindness in her tone that eased Gaba's nerves.
"Understood," Gaba said, fishing out twenty copper coins from her pocket, grateful for the recent payday that allowed her such a luxury. The coins clinked softly, a small sacrifice for Emma's happiness. The clerk handed her a receipt and the books.
"Keep this receipt," The clerk said. "You'll need it to return the books and reclaim your deposit."
"Thank you," Gaba said, passing the receipt and books to Emma, who clutched them tightly, her ears twitching with excitement. Gaba's brown eyes flickered with hesitation, a question burning in her chest. She glanced at the clerk, her heart racing as she gathered her courage. "Um… excuse me," She said, her voice trembling slightly, "Does the library need any more workers?"
The clerk blinked, her gaze shifting between Gaba and Emma, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "I'm not sure," She said, shaking her head. "But I doubt it. The library doesn't get many visitors, so the current staff is probably enough." Her tone was gentle, but the words landed like a weight in Gaba's chest.
"Oh," Gaba murmured, her voice tinged with disappointment. She nodded to the clerk, her bear ears drooping slightly as she turned to leave, Emma's weight a familiar comfort on her back. The rejection stung, but she masked it with a tight smile, her heart aching for her sister.
"It's okay, Sister," Emma said softly, her lips brushing Gaba's ear as she spoke, her voice trembling with forced cheer. Her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she hugged Gaba's neck tighter, her body pressing close. "I have books now. Staying home is fine."
"I'll ask at the mail courier service tomorrow," Gaba said, her voice rising with determination, her bear ears perking up. "They need people who can write, and your handwriting is beautiful, Emma. They'd be lucky to have you."
"Sister, no," Emma protested, shaking her head, her ears drooping as she gazed at the deepening twilight sky. "I can't walk. I'd just be a burden to others." Her voice was soft, heavy with the weight of truth. Staying home meant no trouble for anyone, no worry for Gaba.
Gaba faltered, her steps slowing, her heart caught in a tangle of love and frustration. Emma was right—relying on others could breed resentment over time. Reality was a knot in her chest, a problem without an easy solution. Emma's dependence was woven into their lives—Gaba carried her everywhere, bathed her, cared for her every need. Her thoughts spiraled, a sudden, wild image flashing through her mind: Emma's future, her marriage, her life. Could she marry her off with a husband who'd accept them both? The thought sent a flush of heat to her cheeks.
"Sister? What's wrong?" Emma asked, tilting her head, her ears twitching as she studied Gaba's shifting expressions—flushing cheeks, furrowed brows, a kaleidoscope of emotions in mere moments.
"Huh?" Gaba blinked, her face burning as she met Emma's gaze, then quickly looked away, her steps quickening. "Nothing, it's nothing," She stammered, her voice flustered, her bear ears flattening as she tried to banish the absurd thoughts.
"Really?" Emma narrowed her eyes, her brown gaze glinting with mischief. A sudden suspicion sparked within her, her heart racing with curiosity. "Sister, do you have someone you like?" She asked, her voice teasing but eager. "Who is it?"
*Cough, cough.* Gaba choked, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at Emma, her cheeks blazing. "What? How did you jump to that?" She sputtered, her heart pounding with embarrassment. The idea was ludicrous—her thoughts had been on Emma's future, not her own.
"Who is it, Sister?" Emma pressed, her ears perking with excitement. "Someone caught your eye?" Gaba's flustered reaction only fueled her suspicion, her mind conjuring images of her sister meeting a charming man at the weaving workshop, surrounded by the hum of looms and the camaraderie of workers.
"No, no way," Gaba said, shaking her head vigorously, her bear ears twitching. "As if anyone could out-weave me and win my heart." Her tone was defiant, but her cheeks stayed flushed, betraying her unease. The idea of romance felt distant, unattainable, her life consumed by work and Emma's care.
"Really?" Emma asked, her eyes narrowing further, her voice laced with playful doubt as she studied Gaba's face for cracks in her denial.
"Really," Gaba insisted, nodding firmly, her heart steadying as she regained control.
"Then what kind of person do you like?" Emma asked, shifting tactics, her voice soft but curious. "What kind of man would make your heart race?"
"Someone like the city lord," Gaba blurted without thinking, her voice steady with conviction. In her mind, Lucas was a beacon of strength and vision, an idol whose brilliance was unmatched. The admission sent a flush of warmth through her, a quiet thrill at the thought of such a man, even if he was a distant dream.
"What? The city lord?" Emma's eyes widened, her brown gaze sparkling with surprise before she burst into laughter. "Sister, you might end up alone forever, then! There's probably only one man like him in the whole world."
"Then you're in trouble, too," Gaba shot back, her lips curling into a playful smirk as she met Emma's confused gaze. "If I marry, I'll make sure my husband takes you, too. So if I'm doomed to be alone, we'll be old maids together." Her tone was teasing, but the words carried a deeper promise, a vow to never leave Emma behind.
"What?" Emma squeaked, her cheeks flushing as she swatted Gaba's shoulder playfully, her ears twitching. "Sister, I'm too young for that!" Her voice was a soft protest, her body tingling with embarrassment and amusement.
"You're fifteen," Gaba said matter-of-factly, her smile widening. "Not too young to think about marriage." Her words were teasing, but there was a warmth beneath them, a quiet hope for Emma's future, even as her own heart wrestled with the weight of their reality.
"No way!" Emma huffed, her face red as she pointed toward the news agency, desperate to change the subject. "Sister, let's check out that place!"
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