"Fuah~" Alexis stretched his body, tears clinging to his eyelashes as he walked back with Darcel and Lucius. Even though he took a nap earlier, he still felt tired. Maybe it was from his constant use of magic and his injuries on top of that. His stomach was full from the constant piling that his family placed onto his plate, only barely stopping them after he told them that he was still exhausted.

"Still feeling sleepy?" Lucius patted his head, his tone full of affection. "Should we quickly meet your father before turning in for the night?"

Alexis hummed in agreement, letting them both guide him to his father's study. "Hopefully it won't take too long. You're still recovering from mana exhaustion and from your injuries too." Darcel opens the door, revealing Elijah who was waiting for them.

"Come in, it won't be long."

They took a seat on the couch, with Alexis sandwiched in between them. Elijah's mouth curled into an amused smile. "Alex, don't you find it a bit weird for both Darcel and Lucius to sit so close to you?" He spoke in a teasing tone.

Alexis gave it some thought but personally to him, maybe because in his original world, Shin was relatively affectionate with his friends. "Hmm, I don't think so?" He tilted his head slighting before realising that there was a missing detail he had forgotten about; heterosexual and homosexual relationships were accepted in a world where everyone is able to give birth. Alexis gently nudged them, trying to send them a message to create some distance between them.

In response to his nudging, they grabbed his hand and interlocked their fingers together, playfully squeezing his hand instead. Alexis couldn't use his hand to shield his face in shyness, he could feel his ears becoming hotter. Lucius reached over to lightly touch his ear, Darcel faintly blew into his ear, causing a small yelp of Alexis.

"Fa-Father, what did you want to talk about?" He tried to change the topic, nervously glancing at Elijah, who was watching them with a smile.

He chuckled before speaking to them, "Since there are a few days left before you return to school, tomorrow we will have another lesson about magic, especially about your condition." He glanced at Alexis before continuing, "After that, we will have a mock battle to test out your skills. Make sure you rest up for tomorrow."

Alexis nodded his head, standing up to leave, "Darcel, Lucius stay back. I would like to discuss something with you two." He looked back, wondering what the reason was for. He opened his mouth to ask but ultimately decided to hold back his words, "Then, I'll be heading to bed first." Alexis smiled to cover his hesitation before quickly disappearing.

What is this feeling? Was he reluctant to leave? But why?

Strangely his chest felt a little stuffy as he walked back alone, drowned in his thoughts.

-----

"Vio? Are you awake?" Alexis knocked on her door, he didn't want to wallow in his emotions now. "Brother?" The doorknob twisted, revealing Violetta in her nightgown. "Are you done talking with Father?" She invited him into her room, taking a seat on her bed.

"Am I disturbing you?" He reached out to pat her, "No, I was just reading before you came." She gently smiled, noticing the small creases in his eyebrows.

They didn't say anything. Rather she was waiting for him to open up first. Alexis struggled between asking Violetta about how her engagement with Ciel was going and his... complicated feelings. 'Maybe it's easier to ask about her engagement. That way it wouldn't sound weird... but what am I concerned about?'

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"How are both you and Ciel doing? Has the engagement changed anything between you two?" She blinked her eyes in surprise, laughing softly to herself, "Brother, is that all you wanted to ask?" Violetta lightly joked with him, "Is there something else you want to talk about?"

"No, no, no." He waved his hand to dismiss her question, "I want to make sure that my cute little sister is happy." He smiled to ease her curiosity, trying to diffuse her suspicions.

"Since Brother wishes to know, I shall tell you." Violetta suddenly became quiet, looking to the side instead of his eyes. "Well... Ciel has been trying a lot, recently, to ask me out, to walk around the capital. But I haven't given him an answer yet." She flusteredly tried to answer his questions, each sentence adding a light blush to her cheeks. "But I am looking forward to going out with him a little bit. I would like to take him to my favourite pastry shop and feed him..."

Alexis gave her a doting smile, "Why are you so adorable? There's nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with someone you like." He reassured her, "Don't worry, as long as Ciel doesn't hurt you or make you cry, I won't interfere with your relationship." She lifted her head in response to his words, "As much as I would love to make sure you never get hurt, I can't always be by your side so I can only hope that Ciel will protect you in my stead."

"Brother, even if you weren't here with me, I know that you would be watching over me regardless." She reached over to give him a hug before suddenly stopping, remembering his words from years ago. Violetta awkwardly stopped her movements before Alexis saved her, returning back her hug.

"Since when did my little sister grow up?" Alexis gently patted her back as she buried her face into his shoulder, "I suppose you will be relying on me less in the future."

"That is not true! You will always be my brother so I will always rely on you." Violetta quickly denied his words, thoroughly shaking her head, "Even if Ciel is with me, Brother is someone I can always count on."

"It seems like I will have a little sister to tail around me for the rest of my life." Violetta gave a bright smile, a playful air surrounded her, "Since Brother has gotten his answer, can I also ask something too?"

"Of course, it is only fair."

"Then Brother, why did you come to ask me about Ciel? Did you not hear during dinner?"

"..."

Alexis did hear during dinner but he was too preoccupied with eating food that it had completely slipped his mind. He awkwardly laughed, "I did, but I forgot. But I just wanted to make sure that you're happy with your engagement. I wouldn't want you to feel regret later on."

"But Brother, I find it a little weird for you to be coming to my room at night just to ask about this."

"..."

"You caught me." Alexis gave her a helpless smile, "It's nothing much. I was meeting with Father earlier and his words got me thinking a little bit about Darc and Lu."

"Is there something wrong with them?"

"No, nothing like that. I had only realised recently that the three of us do not have an engagement with anyone. Don't you find that a bit weird? The three of us are children of nobility and yet, not a single person has voiced about it."

"..." Her brother really was the most clueless person she has met. Violetta inwardly sighed, she couldn't tell him about anything since it wasn't her place but she did feel pity toward both Darcel and Lucius who were secretly hopelessly in love with him.

She pretended to ponder about it, "Maybe you're thinking about it too much. If you think it's a little weird, why not tell them about it? I'm sure that they will listen to you." She gave him a smile, easing his worries, "Even if they don't agree with you, they're your friends so I'm sure you will work it out together."

Alexis gave her another hug, "Thank you Vio. I can't believe I am here listening to the advice my baby sister has given to me."

"This is nothing much Brother. I'm here to listen to you too!"

Alexis waved her goodbye, returning back to his room. Seeing how Darcel and Lucius hadn't returned yet, he decided to wash up before them. He quietly hummed a little tune, reaching over to change out of his casual clothes into his sleepwear.

Alexis suddenly stopped humming. He had noticed that something was a little off. He had gotten the answer he wanted, but why did he still feel unsatisfied? His eyebrows furrowed puzzledly, what else did he want to hear? Was he expecting something else too?

He was about to give it some thought when suddenly heard the door open, whipping his head toward that direction. Both Darcel and Lucius were standing at the door, their eyes directed towards him.