"Mia"
That was all I could utter at that moment. The chance that it was my Mia was beyond abysmal.
My sister had vanished into thin air, she didn't die—just disappeared. Thinking about that fact gave me hope, even though I knew deep inside that it was just my delusion.
Still, I clung to that hope.
Hearing my voice, her body flinched slightly, and her expression changed—as if… scared.
My heart tightened, seeing her scared of me.
"Cassius, did you decide to join your sister's wedding ceremony?"
A sharp voice called me, pulling me from my trance. I turned towards the man who spoke.
Lucian Lancaster, father of Cassius Lancaster. A tall man with broad shoulders and silvery-white long hair, his eyes were a deep shade of embers. His voice carried the authority and pride of a noble etched deep inside his very being. His presence alone demanded attention.
I dropped my head for a moment, my mind racing. My sister was getting married? If she was, and she looked unhappy, then that was all that mattered. I didn't even spare a glance at the supposed groom. My focus was solely on her.
I locked eyes with Lucian and spoke in a flat voice. "Let me take her for a moment. I have something to talk about."
Lucian simply observed me, his eyes piercing through me as if he were looking into my soul. He didn't move, not even a blink. Just kept staring.
A delicate hand caressed his shoulder—Isolde Lancaster. An innocent-looking woman with violet long hair and sharp eyes. Her entire demeanor was that of a delicate, refined noblewoman. But I knew how deadly she truly was; her political intellect was unparalleled in the entire kingdom—perhaps even the world.
She gently caressed Lucian's shoulder, turned her sharp gaze on me, then back to Lucian before speaking in a soft, knowing tone. "Let him do what he wants."
Still smiling, she turned her attention to the girl with a wry, knowing smile. "Go, Mia, your brother is asking for you."
Her name was Mia too? That was surprising.
The girl slowly got up from her chair and steadily walked beside me. I looked down at her; her hands were still clasped together, shaking slightly. She was trembling, but much less than before. I gently clutched her hand and took steps towards the inner castle.
We walked for a while, my hand still holding hers. After we were quite a distance away from the main hall, I picked a random room and gestured for her to go inside. She hesitated for a second before nodding, her head still hung low.
With steady steps, she moved inside, and I followed. Once we were inside, I closed the door with a soft click.
Turning back, I gazed at the girl. My heart was thumping furiously inside my chest, but I held back my excitement, my nerves.
"Please sit on the bed. I have some questions for you."
My tone was soft, slightly shaky, but warm. I gulped, pacing back and forth in the room.
After a few minutes of pacing, I dropped to my knees in front of her. I stretched out my hands and held hers together. They were soft, trembling slightly under my touch.
She was surprised—her mouth slightly agape, probably because of how much my hands were shivering and trembling.
I took a deep breath, gulped, and finally decided to ask the question that had been clinging to me like a ghost. It was now or never.
"Mia… m-m-Mia, it's me—Arawn. Do you remember me?"
I didn't have the courage to look up at her. I didn't want to see a tilted head, confusion painted on her face, asking me what kind of nonsense I was spouting.
I didn't have the courage to confirm it. I just… couldn't.
My mind was in complete turmoil, running through every possible scenario in which she would be shocked and confused—or worse, disgusted.
Yet, a single act was all it took to wake me from my turmoil.
The girl… hugged me.
Her arms coiled around my neck as if I would disappear any moment. A few drops of warm tears landed on my shoulder.
And then—
Just cries. Loud, unrestrained, obnoxious cries. But they felt good. They ignited the hope that the girl in front of me was, in fact, my sister.
I turned my head up to look into her eyes. And yes, she was crying—bawling her eyes out.
"Arawn… i-it's really… really you?" she hiccuped, her voice breaking between sobs. Her eyes, a deep shade of crimson at the moment, glistened with unshed tears.
She continued, still stammering between sobs. "My stupid… obnoxious… introverted… shy… loser… good-for-nothing… virgin… little brother."
"…"
'Bitch.'
Yup. I was now too damn sure—it was my gremlin of a big sister.
I flashed a wry, knowing, but also mischievous smile.
My hands held her head gently, locking her gaze onto mine.
Then I grinned and introduced myself in a mocking tone. "Yeah, I'm your handsome, not-a-virgin brother. My stupid, gremlin, little, moronic, ever-so-kind, helping, best big sister."
She chuckled at my remarks, her sobs mixing with laughter. A soft, genuine smile adorned her beautiful face. This was the smile I had waited months to see again.
At any cost.
She grabbed my head and pulled me closer into her embrace, holding me as if afraid I would slip away. She stroked my hair gently, her touch familiar, comforting.
"How did you get here?" she murmured, her voice softer now, still shaky with emotion. "And why are you here like… this?"
She twirled her fingers through my hair, feeling the different texture and color.
I snuggled closer to her and answered in a flat tone. "I died and got transmigrated here. Good thing, right?"
Silence stretched between us for a moment.
Then she smacked me on the back of the head.
"You dumbass."
"Ow! What the hell, Mia?!"
She pulled back, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You really are an idiot. But…" Her voice softened again, her fingers tightening slightly on my hand. "I'm glad you're here."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Yeah. Me too."
For the first time in a long time, I felt at home.
With Mia.