I wanted to lay in her embrace forever, to bask in the warmth I thought I'd never feel again. But my mind was a whirlwind of questions, demanding answers.
With a heavy heart, I pulled away slightly, tilting my head up to meet her gaze. She continued to stroke my hair, her expression soft as she nodded, encouraging me to speak.
"How did you get here?" My voice was steady, but my mind was anything but. "Last time we met, you were heading out to watch a movie."
I paused, a smug look creeping onto my face. "So tell me, how the hell did you end up here?"
She smacked me.
"Ouch!!" I winced, rubbing the sore spot.
Then, she coiled her arms around my neck again, letting out a long, heavy sigh. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Actually… I don't exactly know how."
I looked up, watching her scratch the side of her head as she let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "One moment, I was getting up for a bathroom break during the interval. The next thing I knew, I was… here."
I blinked. "Just like that?"
She nodded, barely holding back a grin.
That still didn't explain why she was here, in this household of all places. The Lancasters weren't the type to adopt outsiders—even if she was a once-in-a-millennium genius.
I folded my arms, sitting cross-legged on the ground as I scrutinized her. "Alright, then tell me this—how did you end up in this family?"
A small, controlled chuckle escaped her lips. 'Oh, she's hiding something. Nahhh, she needs to spill the beans.'
"Oh, come on, sis." I clasped my hands together, shaking them dramatically. "Tell me the juicy lore. You know I live for that kind of stuff."
She waved her hands, trying to shush me, but I could see it—her lips twitching, her eyes glistening with suppressed laughter. "Okay, okay," she relented, struggling to contain herself. "So, I already told you I got transported randomly, right?"
I nodded, urging her to continue.
"Well…" she bit her lip, clearly holding back another laugh. "I landed in Lucian's chamber… while he was changing."
I immediately knew where this was going. 'Oh. My. God. Classic Mia.'
She took a deep breath and pressed on. "And right at that moment, Isolde walked in."
I sucked in a sharp breath. 'Holy hell.'
"So picture this," she continued, eyes twinkling with mirth. "Lucian, half-dressed. A young, attractive girl suddenly appearing in his private chambers. And then—bam! His wife walks in. What do you think she assumed?"
She finally lost it, bursting into uncontrollable laughter. She tried muffling it with her hands, but her whole body shook. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes.
'Okay, that is hilarious… but I can't let her know that.'
I put on my best poker face, furrowed my brows, and sighed. "How is that funny?" My voice was laced with disapproval. "You basically got a guy falsely accused of cheating. I will never understand you girls."
Her laughter cut off instantly. She clicked her tongue, scoffing in irritation. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
I smirked inwardly. 'But it was seriously funny, something seriously clip able.'
She huffed and continued. "So, to protect both him and myself, I had to think fast. Naturally, I used my big brain and told them that I was his long-lost, adopted daughter."
I stared at her, deadpan. "And… she bought that?"
She bobbed her head enthusiastically. "Yup. Most definitely."
I sighed, shaking my head. Only Mia could bullshit her way into one of the most powerful noble families in the kingdom.
Then, out of nowhere, her voice turned flat and cold. "By the way."
I tensed. Something about her tone sent a chill down my spine. "…Yeah?"
She stood up from the bed, looming over me like a tiny gremlin of doom. "You said you weren't a virgin?"
'Oh.'
Shit.
I gulped. I hadn't even realized I'd said that out loud. 'C'mon, I've kept this secret for years. Years.'
Her eyes darkened. She cracked her knuckles, taking a slow, menacing step forward.
I flailed my hands wildly. "Wait!! Wait!! Let me explain!"
She kept advancing—painfully slow, but terrifyingly determined. I was the younger brother, as such, I felt like prey.
She grabbed my collar and yanked me toward her. "Care to explain, Not-a-Virgin brother?" Her voice was dripping with unholy wrath. "I live for that kind of story, you know that, right."
I laughed nervously. 'I'm doomed.'
With no other choice, I put my hands up in surrender. I had to face my executioner.
I coughed awkwardly, my eyes darting everywhere except her. "Well… uh… it happened back in college. I had multiple girlfriends."
Her grip tightened on my collar. I winced.
"Why don't I know that?" she demanded. I could practically see the fumes rising from her head.
I forced a wry smile. "Well, you used to spend more time with me when I was a loner, right? So, um… I may have kept it from you just so I could spend more time with you."
Her eyes faltered. A small, reluctant smile twitched at her lips. After a moment, she sighed and let go of my collar, crossing her arms. "Don't do that again," she muttered, pouting. "Tell me everything, okay? No secrets."
I smiled, nodding. "Got it."
Then, her expression changed again—half curious, half judgmental. "Were you still in contact with any of them? Or was it just a one-time thing?"
I scratched my chin, pretending to think. "Well, actually, yeah. I was. With one of them, we used to hang out on weekdays since my weekends were busy with you."
She digested the information slowly, nodding. Then, she narrowed her eyes. "Did you guys fuck?"
I shrugged. "Yeah."
She turned away dramatically, sniffling. "My cute little brother… tainted."
Then, just as quickly, she jolted back, eyes blazing. "Who's that vixen?!"
I clamped my fingers over her lips. Enough was enough. I had a much more important question to ask.
Right now, the biggest mystery wasn't my past relationships.
It was hers.