Rian Sleeps in My Room Tonight

As soon as I dismounted, I practically fled to my room, away from the two of them. Beatrice's icy gaze pierced my back like needles, while my sister's pitiful look from the side stabbed even deeper. I told Luna I wanted to rest quietly until dinner, then threw myself onto the bed.

"Haa... I'm so tired I could die."

I stared at the ceiling and let out a deep sigh. The rhythmic, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scorching heartbeat of Beatrice's that I'd felt on horseback still lingered on my chest. That intense possessiveness seeping through the Ice Duchess's uniform. And my sister Eleanor, gripping the reins so hard they nearly crumbled as she watched it all. Right now, I was smack in the middle of a battlefield between the world's most dangerous and beautiful women.

Yeah, let's just rest easy for now.

I was about to close my eyes against the crashing wave of fatigue when—

Knock knock. A very cautious knock, yet laced with an unrefusable firmness.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing Eleanor in comfortable knight's attire, her helmet and cloak discarded. The moment she saw me sitting on the bed, she strode over and hugged me tightly.

"Sis?"

"Oh my god, Rian. You've been through so much. Your face looks so pale. Those gruff northerners aren't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even feeding you properly, are they?"

She gripped my shoulders, inspecting my face like a treasure appraiser. Embarrassed, I guided her to a chair.

"No, sis. I'm eating well and doing fine. The food here surprisingly suits my taste. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Anyway, how's the capital? Mom and Dad healthy?"

"Don't even ask. Dad's still buried in state affairs, and the second I got back from my dispatch, I nagged him and Mom every day to bring you back to the capital."

Eleanor took my hands and smiled bitterly.

"The palace feels too quiet without you. When I returned from dispatch, you'd always be the first to run out and greet me. It was so empty without that."

"Ahaha... I missed you too, sis. I haven't just been playing around since I got here."

I changed the subject, bragging about my recent achievements—from the success of Winter Rose Pepper to the 'miracle' I'd performed at Viscount Hestor's estate. Eleanor stroked my head with genuine admiration, but her eyes soon grew serious again.

"But Rian. You really plan to stay here? There's only a year and a half left until the wedding. Once you come of age, you'll officially marry that Winterfell Duchess."

She held both my hands and said,

"The Winterfell Duchess is capable and beautiful. She's probably the empire's top bride candidate. But I felt it earlier on the way here. Her eyes are too dangerous. It gave me chills."

She spoke with steely resolve.

"Of course, I can't just drag you away by force. The Winter Guard's aura isn't to be trifled with. If the Imperial Second Guard clashed with them, we'd lose for sure. And obviously, that can't happen. But if you want to come back, sis will figure something out and bring our baby brother home."

......?! The real reason I die? I can finally find out?

My heart sank with a thud. This was the most crucial info I'd sought from the start—I had to succeed no matter what. Forcing a bright smile, I gripped Eleanor's hands back.

"Sis, it's really fine. Be ti's a bit blunt and possessive, but she's genuine with me. Trust my judgment? You'll change your mind after seeing her at dinner tonight."

Eleanor sighed and nodded. After she left, I stood before the mirror, straightening my formal attire. Soon, the Winterfell Duchess—who aimed to claim me—and the imperial invader(?) with her severe bro-con tendencies would meet again. I'll definitely clear this quest too.

Clink, clink.

The only sound filling the cold dining hall was silverware tapping plates. Beatrice sat at the head, Eleanor to her left. Me? Right where I always sat—Beatrice's right.

Eleanor broke the prolonged silence first.

"Rian, eat more of this meat. It's your favorite cut from the capital."

She smiled warmly, placing a huge tenderloin steak on my plate. A sister's loving gesture. But Beatrice's eyebrow twitched faintly as she watched.

"Your Highness, Winterfell meat is different in quality from the capital's. Rian, try this well-marbled piece from my plate too. You've been drained from your business plans lately."

Beatrice promptly sliced the best cut from her plate onto mine. In an instant, my plate became a mountain of meat.

"Uh... thanks, both of you. But I don't think I can finish all this..."

"Eat it all. You won't have the energy for an all-nighter of questions otherwise."

Beatrice murmured lowly, staring at me. An all-nighter of questions? What terrifying nonsense was that? Eleanor let out a hollow laugh and set down her wine glass.

"The Duchess cares for our Rian with such 'devotion.' But he's been especially close to me since he was little. He'd toddle over calling 'Sis' and hug me—he was so cute. He even cried if I tried to put him down."

As sis reminisced fondly, Beatrice's red eyes gleamed coldly.

"The past is the past. Nowadays, Rian greets me every morning at breakfast: 'You're beautiful today too, Be ti.' You wouldn't know how sweet his voice is, Your Highness."

......Well, not wrong.

"Oh? Rian says that? And he's not just silver-tongued—he's handy too. He'd brush my hair sometimes. Felt so good with his skilled hands."

At Eleanor's counterattack, Beatrice smirked thinly.

"Ah, so that's why. Rian comes to my room every morning to wake me. Then he brushes my hair himself. I thought his technique was so polished, but turns out he practiced on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you in the capital."

"......?!?"

I nearly spat out my soup. I go to her room every morning? Brush her hair?

Me!?

I opened my mouth to protest the injustice, but Beatrice's cold gaze sealed my lips—I instinctively chewed and swallowed my bread instead.

This woman spits lies so smoothly.

"Rian... is that true? You really go in and out of the Duchess's room every morning?"

Sis chugged her water in shock, then glared at me. A glance sideways showed Beatrice radiating 'answer properly.'

"Haha... yeah, sis. The air's nice for a morning walk... and to check if Be ti's awake..."

Beatrice's lips curved in satisfaction. Sensing victory, she drove the wedge home at Eleanor.

"Your Highness, regrettably, our estate's guest rooms are under renovation. Only Rian's room is left. Please use it tonight."

"Oh? Then I can sleep with Rian after so long?"

As Eleanor smiled and asked, Beatrice dropped her elegant bomb as if it were obvious.

"Of course. Rian will be sleeping in my room with me tonight."

Clang!

Eleanor's fork hit the floor. Mine nearly did too.

"An unmarried man and woman sharing a room? Consider imperial nobility's dignity!"

"What does it matter? We'll marry in a year and a half anyway. Isn't it more proper to get used to my future spouse in advance?"

Beatrice's logic left sis red-faced and speechless. And I couldn't even taste my food anymore. What kind of guy was my body's original owner to create such an extreme bro-con sister and accept marriage to a woman with this level of possessiveness?

......Can I just sleep in the stables alone?

I shed bloody tears inwardly, desperately wishing to escape between these two.