"Mnn~ why did you stop…ha!" Rena's voice trailed off as she followed my gaze, realizing what had caused me to pause. She flinched, her body stiffening as she quickly pulled away, grabbing her discarded clothes to cover herself in a panic.
"I-It's not what you think!" she stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to explain, though it was clear from the looks on Ayaka and Akane's faces that they were struggling to process what they had just walked in on.
"O...Onii-chan?" Ayaka's voice trembled as she stared at me, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. Her wide eyes searched mine, desperately seeking an explanation.
How could I possibly explain this? I had wanted to test if Rena's feelings for me were genuine, but somewhere along the way, my own desires had taken over. The fact that Rena hadn't resisted, that she had been as caught up in the moment as I was, only made the situation more complicated.
Rena, her face pale yet flushed, hurriedly stood up, clutching her clothes to cover herself. "This is...not..."
Akane, who had been silent up until now, broke the tension with a cold, accusing stare. "Is that what you were doing when you were kidnapped, Rena-san? While everyone was worried about you, you were doing... that?"
"No! It's not like that!" Rena's voice was frantic, her embarrassment clear as she shook her head, trying to deny Akane's harsh words.
"T-Then what is it?" Ayaka asked, still visibly shaken. Her face was flushed, not just from embarrassment but from the confusion swirling in her mind. "A-Are you two...um, like that?" Her voice wavered as she struggled to put her thoughts into words.
"Not really," I replied, trying to sound calm, though I knew the situation was anything but.
"Then why were you kissing each other?" Ayaka's confusion deepened, mirrored by Akane's troubled expression. Neither of them could make sense of what they had just witnessed.
"I... I don't know…" Rena answered honestly, her voice small, as if she was just as lost as they were.
"We were just caught up in the moment. There's nothing more to it. Let's leave it at that," I said, hoping to defuse the situation before it escalated further.
Ayaka pouted slightly, clearly not satisfied with the explanation but unwilling to push further. Akane, too, seemed upset, her usually composed demeanor showing cracks as she looked between me and Rena. But eventually, they both turned and left, the heavy silence between them speaking volumes.
I watched them go. When I turned back to Rena, she quickly averted her gaze, her face still a deep shade of red.
°°°°°
"This is the contract assuring the peace between our two Kingdoms," Kaguya declared. She held out a meticulously crafted parchment, its edges adorned with intricate golden patterns that symbolized the significance of the document.
I reached out and took the contract from her hands. Without hesitation, I passed it to Semiramis, knowing that her keen intellect and sharp eye for detail would ensure everything was as it should be. Semiramis was a master of diplomacy and negotiations; if there was even the slightest flaw or hidden clause in the agreement, she would uncover it.
As I waited for her assessment, my gaze flickered over to Kaguya. Despite the calm exterior she maintained, there was an underlying tension in the air. After all, she was well aware that her fate—and the fate of her Goddess—was precariously balanced in my hands. She wouldn't dare betray me; not with such high stakes.
After what seemed like an eternity, Semiramis looked up from the document and nodded to me, her expression impassive. "Everything is in order, Lord Commander," she confirmed.
"Good," I replied, my tone colder than the northern winds. My gaze sharpened as I turned back to Kaguya and her entourage, my eyes boring into them with a threatening intensity that made several of Ryuuki's companions involuntarily flinch. "I suggest you remember this well—I won't be so merciful if you return here uninvited. You won't leave alive like you have today."
Except Ayaka and Akane of course. I should also add Yanagi Rena in the list since my former step sister seemed to hold care toward her.
Ryuuki and Yusuke, standing a little behind Kaguya, bristled at my words. Their faces were tight with barely concealed anger, but they knew they were powerless to retaliate. The authority I wielded, coupled with the hostage and the contract we had just agreed upon, left them with no choice but to accept their defeat in silence.
As if on cue, the gathered crowd began to disperse, the tension that had gripped the air slowly dissipating as people returned to their respective duties. I was prepared to turn and leave, eager to put this ordeal behind me, when a familiar voice called out, halting me in my tracks.
"Onii-chan," Ayaka's voice was soft yet urgent. I turned to face her, my brow furrowing slightly.
"I told you we see each other later," I sighed.
"I…I know that!" Ayaka stammered, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink. She seemed flustered, and for a moment, her eyes darted to the ground before meeting mine again with renewed determination. "But there's something important I need to tell you…"
"Something important?" I repeated, my curiosity piqued despite myself.
"Yes…" Ayaka hesitated, her gaze flickering over to Akane, who was watching us with a concerned expression. Ayaka took a deep breath before continuing, her voice barely above a whisper. "Phoebe is in this world…"
At her words, a heavy silence fell over us. The name Phoebe struck a chord deep within me, dredging up a flood of memories—some sweet, filled with laughter and warmth, but others bitter, laced with regret and sorrow. I had never expected to hear her name again, let alone under these circumstances.
Ayaka and Akane exchanged a worried glance, aware of the history that lay between Phoebe and me. They had known her long before I did, as their families were close friends. My father had even met and married Ayaka's mother because of his connection to Phoebe's father. The bonds between us all ran deep, entangled in a complicated web of past relationships and shared experiences.
"Onii-chan?" Ayaka's voice was tinged with concern as she called out to me, noticing my momentary silence.
Akane's expression mirrored Ayaka's, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding.
"Is that true?" I asked, my voice low, as if speaking the words aloud would make them more real. The coincidences were piling up in a way that felt almost surreal. First, my former stepsisters, and now Phoebe?
"Yes, Onii-sama," Akane confirmed, nodding solemnly. "She was summoned along with her Class in the Babylonia Empire… We've only seen her twice since then, but… it's complicated…"
Her words trailed off, leaving much unsaid. It was clear that there was more to the story, but the details would have to wait for another time.
"Babylonia Empire…" I repeated, the name echoing ominously in my mind. Khione had warned me about them, calling it the strongest Empire and advising me to avoid provoking them at all costs.
"I see." I replied curtly.
"Onii-chan…"
"Stop worrying and take care of yourselves. " I said to them before leaving.
I hadn't really time to think about Phoebe.
The hardest has yet to come.