The Paranoid Elf Queen Turned Me Into Her Sister

Volume 4 – Chapter 3: Good News, the Book Wasn’t Lost. Bad News…

“Princess Teresa, you…” Staring at Teresa, who now carried the air of a graceful lady of the house, Astrid’s expression turned a little complicated.

She hadn’t expected things between them to progress so fast, but now that the die was cast, what could she even say?

At that moment, a sense of sudden clarity washed over Astrid—she finally understood those tragic characters in little romance booklets, whose lovers were snatched away by a sudden blonde homewrecker. She hadn’t imagined that one day this bitter, sour feeling would happen to her too.

So her feelings toward Dylin… were they truly romantic?

Although she’d suspected it for a while, it was only now that Astrid truly admitted it.

But those tragic figures in the booklets had at least formal romantic or even marital ties with their partners. And she and Dylin—what were they?

Just two people with undefined feelings, with no official relationship. If those “main couples” in the booklets had already built their castle of love, then she and Dylin hadn’t even laid the foundation.

What right did she have to complain?

“Princess Teresa… is this your choice?” Though her heart was going through all sorts of emotional gymnastics, Astrid kept a composed face. No one could see what she was really feeling.

“My choice?” Teresa blinked in confusion, not quite understanding what new stunt Astrid was pulling just after returning.

She glanced at Yimi, who seemed like she wanted to say something but didn’t. Understanding something vaguely, Teresa nodded slightly.

“Mm, you could say that.”

“...I see.” Astrid gave a slight nod, dragged her suitcase, and brushed past Teresa.

“Then I wish you and Dylin happiness, Your Highness.”

Thunk.

Before Astrid could make a cool exit with her “blessing” and quietly leave the scene, Teresa gently pressed a hand on her shoulder from behind.

“Your Highness?”

“Astrid, forgive my rudeness, but I absolutely hate people who speak in half-sentences—or talk in riddles.”

“So unless you explain yourself clearly, you’re not leaving.”

“Hey, Teresa, I think this Moon Elf lady here got the wrong idea.” Yimi said expressionlessly.

Teresa??

Hearing Yimi call her that, Astrid froze. Then she noticed Teresa didn’t react at all.

This… this wasn’t right.

If they were mother and daughter, how could the daughter call her mother by name? That was disrespectful—whether for humans or Elves.

And Teresa’s attitude was totally wrong too. These two didn’t seem like mother and daughter at all.

Then… could it be possible that—they really weren’t?

This thought left Astrid in stunned silence. She looked at Yimi, and a sense of contradiction began to rise in her. Then, realization dawned.

That’s right! The break was only two months. Even if they did the deed the moment they left, there was no way a child could be born, let alone grow up this much! That was utterly impossible.

Feeling the increasingly odd looks from both of them, Astrid finally realized she’d made a huge mistake.

With both of them staring at her so strangely, Astrid kept her face expressionless, but a faint blush had already crept up her cheeks.

Right… how could she have jumped to such a ridiculous conclusion?

It was only a two-month break. How could she possibly think they’d already had a child?! If she’d used her brain even a little, she would’ve known it was impossible.

Now that she thought about it, Princess Teresa and Dylin weren’t the kind of people to be that reckless. Besides, Elves had always been conservative—it was unthinkable for them to do such things before marriage.

Realizing it was all her delusion, Astrid lowered her head. Outwardly calm, inwardly she was cringing hard enough to claw through the floor with her toes.

So hard she could dig out a whole two-bedroom apartment.

What should she do? What should she do?? That little act just now must’ve made her seem like a total weirdo, right??

“Sorry, it’s close to the start of term, and I’m still adjusting,” Astrid lied against her will.

“Oh, is that so?” Teresa still found it strange, but since the other party didn’t want to explain, she didn’t press further.

She tilted her head, still unable to figure out what Astrid’s line—“I wish you happiness, you and Dylin”—meant. Was that some kind of reunion greeting?

A Moon Elf custom, maybe?

At the side, Yimi’s pretty little face didn’t show much emotion, but her eyes lingered on Astrid with a look of subtle amusement—like she had seen through everything.

Thus, the awkward moment passed. Teresa began introducing Yimi to Astrid.

“This is Yimi Galnorin. As you can see, she’s a Gold Elf, in the same tribe as me.”

“She may need to stay with us for a while.”

Having recovered from the chaos, Astrid now understood what Teresa meant. Once she realized it had all been a misunderstanding, she was genuinely surprised that another Gold Elf still existed on the Kaleburn Continent.

She knew Teresa wanted to keep Yimi close mostly for protection. After all, there were many who coveted Gold Elves. Setting aside corrupt Elves, even humans couldn’t be underestimated.

“I understand. Pleased to meet you, Miss Galnorin. My name is Astrid Oleniman, from Sage City, eldest daughter of the current Moon Elf King.” Astrid introduced herself with strict decorum.

“Just call me Yimi, Miss Astrid.” Yimi shook her head, hiding the amusement in her eyes.

When Teresa introduced her roommates, she had mentioned that aside from herself, another Elf resided in the Clarity of Sun and Moon dormitory—the princess of the Elf Forest, the Moon Elf King’s eldest daughter, Astrid Oleniman.

Teresa’s evaluation of her was: "Still uncertain in her values due to her youth, but without question, a kind and pure Elf princess—pure as the moon above."

Yimi’s first impression of Astrid wasn’t bad either. But now, after this “let’s all just pretend it didn’t happen” misunderstanding, her perception had shifted ever so slightly.

This silver-haired Elf… maybe she wasn’t quite as pure as she looked.

Astrid glanced at Teresa’s undisguised Elven ears and hesitated.

“Astrid, from now on, I’m not going to hide who I am.” Teresa, noticing Astrid’s doubt, spoke frankly.

“I am who I am. A Gold Elf is a Gold Elf.”

It was time to be honest.

“As for Yimi—she’ll decide that for herself.” Teresa turned to glance at Yimi.

Astrid nodded. Though it still sounded a bit improper, it was Teresa’s decision, and she respected it.

Catching a glimpse of Teresa’s stunningly beautiful face, Astrid quickly averted her gaze.

Just seeing that familiar, hauntingly beautiful face up close brought back memories of the strange dreams she’d had all break.

“I’ve already tidied your room for you, Astrid. Here’s your key.” Teresa handed it over.

“Thank you for going to the trouble, Teresa.”

“No trouble at all—just did it on the way.” Teresa smiled.

Thankfully, it was all just a false alarm.

Astrid sighed with relief.

“Oh, right. Astrid, do you have a habit of getting so absorbed in a book that you put on your bathrobe, then just sit in the bathroom without actually bathing?”

“.........”

Astrid froze in her tracks.

“Thought so. Next time, just take your bath first, then read—problem solved.”

“…Was it really that obvious?”

“Nope.” Teresa waved a finger.

“When I was cleaning your room, I found a book you’d left behind in the bathroom. Must’ve been left when you were packing.”

“............”

Astrid’s ears buzzed. Her expression, which had been calm, instantly crumbled into utter despair.

Calm and despair might look similar on the surface—but inside, they couldn’t be more different. Only Astrid herself knew how violently her emotions had just derailed.

The Elf life… such highs and lows………

At this moment, Astrid just wanted to sit quietly in the courtyard with a cup of tea and ponder which planet she should reincarnate to.

She’d heard that every star in the sky represented a world—and now she really wanted to drag her suitcase (and the whole dorm) off to another world to live.

She knew it.

She knew one of the rare booklets she’d bought on the Coleman black market had gone missing!

That book had been something she spent a long time handpicking—a real treasure. After returning to the Forest of Sages, she had searched every corner of her suitcase for it and couldn’t find it. She had been low-spirited for days because of it.

At the time, when kneeling in front of the Mother of the Forest statue in her sacred white priestess gown, her hands had been discreetly brushing the ground the whole time.

Of course, no one else knew about this. She would never tell anyone she was emotionally distraught over losing such an indecent booklet.

If anyone ever found out that the once-in-a-millennium Saintess of the Elf Forest—the Moon Elf King’s daughter and Sage Forest princess—was heartsick over some morally questionable booklet, it wouldn’t just be the Moon Elf King’s face lost—the dignity of the entire forest would be gone.

Astrid often felt deep guilt and shame over her own absurd thoughts and behaviors, which made her spend even more time in prayer, constantly confessing her sins in silence.

Over time, her sacred prayer ritual had gradually turned into a personal confession monologue and emotional dumping session addressed to the Mother of the Forest.

Day 1: O gentle Elf Mother, Lady of the Forest, your child Astrid Oleniman comes to confess. I am ashamed and resentful of my indecent thoughts and actions. As a Saintess, I should lead by example, uphold virtue and dignity. How could I allow myself to fall so low? As a princess of the Elves… I apologize.

Day 3: O merciful Elf Mother, your child Astrid Oleniman has lost a book—one that, from a personal standpoint, I dearly cherished. I regret I could not come to pray these past days... I now confess to you: I should not have let desire win, should not have bought such a filthy, absurd book. Worse still, I grieve over its loss. This must be your punishment… From now on, I swear to change. Please witness my growth.

One week later: O merciful Elf Mother, your child Astrid Oleniman is back… um, could you maybe help retrieve that stolen book? Don’t misunderstand—I only want to burn it before you, honestly! To properly say goodbye, that’s all.

Two weeks later: Uwu… Merciful Elf Mother, Astrid is a bad girl. Can the punishment stop now? I miss that book……

The clergy of the Elf Forest were all deeply moved to see how passionate their princess was about prayer. But what they didn’t know was that her prayers had nothing to do with hymns or blessings.

To Astrid, the Mother of the Forest was her only confidante. As the divine creator of the forest and the Elves, she could tolerate all of Astrid’s burdens—listening, endlessly, to secrets she couldn’t dare tell anyone else.

Not to mention whether the Elf Mother could hear any of this… even if she could—what would she think? Would she start whispering “Elves are doomed”?

Well, great. The missing booklet she’d been yearning for had finally been found.

And she couldn’t be less happy.

“Astrid?” Seeing her in a daze, Teresa called out.

“…Ah, thank you, Princess Teresa.” Astrid forced a stiff smile, still clinging to a sliver of hope.

Maybe… maybe it wasn’t that book. Maybe what Teresa found was just a perfectly ordinary one?

Right? …Right??

With that fleeting hope, Astrid looked up at Teresa—who was now smiling at her, radiant as sunshine.

That smile overlapped with the image from her dreams—the one where Teresa, smiling just like that, stepped on her and lashed her with a whip.

The more she looked, the more Astrid was convinced: Teresa knew. She knew everything, and that smile… was death.

Ah? You act all cold and noble like some unattainable flower… and yet you hide this kind of book? How amusing.

You thought I’d say that? Tsk. Astrid, you’re a filthy little pervert. Gross.

The image of Teresa's mocking smirk flashed in her mind.

Astrid froze on the spot—utterly still.

But…

For some reason, that image of Teresa, as awful as it was, made her heart pound uncontrollably with a strange sort of… excitement…

Astrid began to wonder—was she losing her mind?