Chapter 227. Magic Show?
"Hello there, little ones~"
A gentle voice rose above the children's crying. Elysia stood with her hands behind her back, a soft smile on her lips, bending slightly before the children.
The voice seemed to carry magic. The children's sobs quieted at once, sniffling as they lifted their heads to look at her.
"I'm the big sister in charge of taking everyone to get your vaccines."
No sooner had she finished than the crying, which had just calmed, swelled again. Seeing this, Elysia hurried to continue, "But I've got good news to tell you here."
"Good news… is it that we don't have to get shots?"
The little girl at the front sniffled, pitifully clinging to a daydream.
Elysia first nodded, and before the children could cheer, she shook her head. Then, lifting a finger with a mysterious look, she said, "Kids, do you know how many shots this vaccine takes?"
At that, all the children shook their heads.
A faint smile tugged at Elysia's lips. In the same mysterious tone, she said, "Let big sis tell you—this vaccine needs three shots. That means the doctor will use that pointy thing to poke everyone's arms three times."
"T-Three times?! Isn't it o—mmph…"
Rozaliya's puzzled words were cut off as Xander Masato clapped a hand over her mouth. She looked up and met Xander's gaze.
"Don't talk. Just watch Elysia do her thing."
"Mmph…"
Rozaliya nodded again and again.
This time, before the kids could ramp up into scared wails, Elysia went on as if she could foresee it all: "But I know you're all good children."
She bent down and gently patted the little girl's head in front of her. "Girls are very strong, right?"
Then she looked up. "And the boys—everyone's a little man, not afraid of shots, right?"
Suddenly praised to the skies, the children's cries stuck in their throats. For a moment they didn't know whether they should bawl or not.
"So!"
Elysia straightened, hands on her hips, and raised her voice. The dazed kids all focused on her at once.
"To reward the good children who bravely go to the hospital for their vaccines, the hospital has launched a special reward."
Meeting their eyes, Elysia smiled. "As long as a good child doesn't cry before going in, the hospital will reduce that good child's number of shots by one. If you don't cry, you only need two shots!"
Light burst into the children's eyes. One after another, they wiped their faces, forcibly stifling their sniffles. After a while, a little boy even pointed at a girl beside him who was still sniffling and tattled, "Big sis, she's still crying. She's a bad kid!"
Elysia pretended not to hear. Clapping her hands together, she said in a delighted voice, "No one's crying now? Looks like everyone's a good child. The doctor will definitely reduce one shot for all of you!"
Just then, Elysia took out her phone and made a show of dialing a call.
"Mm-hmm, I got it. Mm, they're all good kids. What's that—you can add more rewards?"
Hearing her voice—deliberately not lowered—the children's curiosity flared again.
Pleased with this, Elysia quickly tucked her phone back into her pocket and looked at the children like she was sharing a secret. "I just heard from the doctor—if a good child not only doesn't cry during the shot but can even smile, the doctor will reduce one more shot. By then, as long as you're a smiling good child, you'll only need one shot~"
At that, Elysia raised a hand and said happily to the kids, "So, let's all smile and let the doctor know we're all good children, okay?"
Easily, laughter rippled through the group. But the little boy tattled again: "Big sis, she's still crying!"
It was the same little girl as before. Maybe she was a little crybaby by nature—the kind who, once she started, had a hard time stopping. Being called out again, she was utterly aggrieved, and not knowing how to defend herself, she forced a smile.
"I-I'm not crying. Sob sob… sob… ha.. ha… hahaha….."
Tears on her face, crying on the outside but laughing in her voice—it looked ridiculously funny. Xander covered Rozaliya's mouth again so she wouldn't laugh out loud.
"Alright. Your laughter has surely reached the doctor's ears. Now, line up and go in for your vaccines in order."
"You're all good children who can smile. The doctor will definitely only give everyone one shot! But if you don't listen now and the doctor wants to take it back, big sis won't be able to help then~"
At that, the kids panicked and scurried to the hospital entrance, standing properly in a long line.
Soon, once the line was in order, all the children looked to Elysia with smiles on their faces.
"Mm, you're all doing great. The doctor is very pleased. Let's keep the line and head in now. The doctor is waiting in the room. Remember to be quiet and not disturb others~"
With that reassurance, the children happily filed into the hospital. Even the line stayed neat and tidy; anyone who misbehaved was immediately disciplined by their peers.
And so, that day, the doctors witnessed the strangest scene of their careers.
The children who would normally cry and make a fuss were lined up properly for their vaccines. Even when the needle pricked them, they wore smiles—enough to make the doctors wonder if they'd all been bewitched.
"Hehe, what a bunch of obedient good kids~"
With the matter settled in a few easy steps, Elysia returned to Xander Masato's side, hands linked behind her back, beaming.
Seeing her come over, Rozaliya and Liliya showed a hint of fear and hurriedly hid behind Xander.
This woman was terrifying!
"You've tricked the kids so badly they don't know which way is up."
Smiling as he teased her, Elysia pouted in mock dissatisfaction. "I'm not the kind of bad woman who tricks children. Please categorize what just happened as a white lie. Everything was for their health~"
As the former big sister at the orphanage, she had tons of experience helping the head care for the kids.
"Thanks for your help."
"Tsk. Owe you one."
Aponia and Kalpas came over to thank her too. Although the method seemed a bit odd, even Kalpas had to agree it worked. It was the first time he'd seen vaccinations go this efficiently for kids.
"It's fine. They'll be out soon. Aponia, you should keep an eye on them."
"Mm."
With a gentle nod and a glance at Xander, she headed toward the entrance. The first vaccinated child had already come out, proudly showing the line how there was only one puncture mark on his arm.
The kids in line looked on enviously, and their smiles grew even brighter.
"Need a hand?"
With Aponia busy, Xander and Kalpas chatted.
"No need. Go on your date with your lover. You're not needed here."
"My, calling her his lover—you sure know how to talk, Kalpas~"
Too lazy to mind the woman getting all coy and dramatic, Kalpas seemed to feel his earlier words were a bit blunt and added, "It's basically done. Once the vaccinations are over, we're leaving tomorrow."
"I see." Xander nodded.
"Make sure you come by the orphanage tonight. Your dinner's set aside."
"Dinner by Kalpas, huh? I'll be looking forward to it."
"Hmph. See that you do. If that's all, get lost and stop getting in the way."
Technically he was shooing them off, but Xander knew Kalpas simply didn't want to waste their date time. He laughed and replied, "Alright. Call me if anything comes up. I've memorized the orphanage address, and I'll head over on time tonight."
"Then we'll—"
Rozaliya and Liliya had been sneaking along behind Xander, but after just a few steps they felt their collars pinched and hoisted. "What are you two running for? Go help!"
Kalpas's stern voice made the sisters shrink their necks. They wriggled free of his grip and dashed toward Aponia.
As for Pardofelis?
She'd long since had the sense to go help—unlike the Arlene sisters.
"Looks like we're in for a good meal today~"
Leaving the hospital, Elysia spoke in high spirits.
"Sure do… Oh, right—Elysia, wait a sec. I forgot to say something."
If it was tonight…
Thinking of something, he excused himself and jogged back. Under Kalpas's gaze, he pulled the sisters into a corner of the courtyard.
"How about helping me with something tonight?"
"No problem! What is it? Tell us, big bro!"
Thumping her chest twice, Rozaliya promised proudly.
"Mm. It's simple for you two. You just need to…"
"Mm-mm-mm! Leave it to us!"
"Great. Pull it off, and I'll give each of you a big red packet for New Year!"
"Hooray! Big bro forever!!"
Plotting done, Xander gave the sisters a look, then quickly left the hospital to rejoin Elysia. The sisters went to Aponia to say something, then hurriedly ran out.
Kalpas merely glanced their way, clicked his tongue, and said nothing.
There wasn't much afternoon left. After a short stroll—barely enough time to buy Elysia a wide-brimmed hat—Xander led her toward the orphanage.
The orphanage was in the old district. After a few winding alleys, they soon saw the timeworn building.
They greeted Pardofelis at the door. She stretched lazily and led them to the dining hall.
"The kids have already eaten. Kalpas left dinner for you two in the pot. Go on in—I'll dish it up."
Having brought them to the dining hall, Pardofelis called this out and ran off to the kitchen.
Bright lights revealed the old house: stone floors worn uneven by the years, plaster peeling inch by inch from the walls, hairline cracks in the corners. Even so, the place was neat—a clear sign of daily, careful cleaning.
Xander went in first and took a seat at random. At the table across the aisle sat Rozaliya and Liliya, still nibbling snacks.
As if they hadn't noticed the two of them arrive, Rozaliya was chattering excitedly to Liliya—who was wearing a hat.
"Huh? What are Rozaliya and the others doing?"
"No idea. Looks like they're prepping an act for the orphanage's New Year's Eve party?"
With a slightly uncertain comment, Elysia's eyes immediately filled with curiosity.
"New Year's Eve party?"
"Yeah. An old orphanage tradition—just for fun. Every year, Rozaliya and Liliya put on a performance."
"Is that so? You never told me that before~"
While they chatted, Elysia shifted her gaze to Rozaliya. Xander watched too, a little nervous inside.
Rozaliya had changed into a black tailcoat. Very dapper, she bowed to Liliya, then reached up and took the hat from Liliya's head.
She turned the hat upward. Her other hand hovered above it, moving lightly as if placing something in. Then she smiled, slipped her hand inside, and began to feel around slowly.
"Is she going to do a magic trick?"
Murmuring under his breath, he watched Rozaliya find something and slowly draw her hand out. A small white flower lay in her palm. She smiled and tucked it behind Liliya's ear.
"Wow!!!"
Elysia clapped her hands, delighted. It was a simple trick, but she watched with keen interest all the same.
"Rozaliya is amazing~"
When Rozaliya returned the hat to Liliya, Elysia finally looked back at Xander.
"This one's easy. I can do it too~"
"Really?"
"Why would I lie?"
He kept a relaxed smile on the surface, but his heart was pounding out of his chest.
"Ahem, ahem. Miss Elysia, would you cooperate with my performance?"
He coughed twice on purpose, speaking with a playful expression.
"Mm-hmm. Of course~"
Thinking of the white wide-brimmed hat they'd bought that afternoon, Elysia smiled at once.
Chin in hand, she watched Xander with bright curiosity. Under that steady gaze, Xander felt a bit self-conscious. He hurried to copy Rozaliya's motions, taking the hat from Elysia's head.
"There's nothing inside right now, correct~"
He carefully showed her the inside and outside. Once she confirmed it, he drew the hat back.
His other hand felt at his waist. Then, fingers lightly pinching the air above the hat—
"Don't blink."
He whispered and slid his hand into the hat.
"Now then… it's time to witness a miracle~"
As his words fell, Elysia's eyes went wide, searching for any flaw. But the sight before her soon made her snort with laughter.
Xander's hand didn't produce anything. The hand coming out of the hat curled into half a heart.
"What kind of magic is that~"
Even as she said so, Elysia happily brought up her hand, shaping the other half. Together with his, they formed a complete heart.
"Is it?"
With a soft laugh, Xander nudged his middle and ring fingers apart. A silver ring set with a pink gem glinted between his thumb and middle finger.
And in Elysia's adorably dazed look, he gently slid it onto the middle finger she had extended.
"Do you like it? This magic trick?"
At his question, Elysia still couldn't quite believe it. She lifted her right hand to stare at the sparkling gemstone ring. She nodded dumbly, again and again. Then a smile bloomed; she pressed that hand lightly to her heart, eyes as soft as water.
"Honestly… too sly~"
Before long, Pardofelis came in carrying dinner. Seeing the scene, she plunked the dishes onto an empty table, then returned to the doorway to stand guard. Inside, with no chance to escape, the twins looked utterly stunned, their cheeks flushed pink.
T-That… was a kiss, right? How bold!!
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