Interlude: Brother's Dirty Little Secret

[Reine POV]

Following Roxy's departure from our home, life settled into its familiar routine. Yet, a subtle current of change lingered, something is not right.

One day, while entering the house, I heard my brother's hurried footsteps upstairs. Intrigued, I followed discreetly, wondering what had caught his attention.

In our bedroom, I cautiously peeked through the slightly open door, trying to grasp the situation that had him so agitated.

What I saw took me by surprise. Rudeus knelt on the floor, seemingly praying on something.

Before him lay a piece of clothing – unmistakably a woman's panty. What's more, it appeared to belong to Roxy herself.

How the heck did he get his hands on those? Or better yet, when did he obtained it?

Argh, that perverted bastard! I demand answer from him right now!

*SLAM*

"Alright, what's going on here, brother?!" I blurted out, a mix of frustration and embarrassment in my voice.

Caught off guard, he hastily concealed the item behind his back and put on an innocent façade. "Oh, hello there, Reine. What brings you here?"

"Don't play dumb! I saw everything!" I retorted, pointing at him.

He nonchalantly looked away, feigning ignorance. "Saw what, exactly? I have no clue what you're talking about."

"The panty– hand it over," I demanded, reaching out to take it.

Rudeus frowned, his eyes darting around as he seemed to be considering an escape plan. Unbeknownst to him, I anticipated his move and was determined not to let him escape.

As he tried to dodge me, I quickly blocked his path. But he used his wind magic to push me aside.

Refusing to let him slip away, I grabbed his foot, causing him to stumble and fall with a thud. I promptly sat on his back, determined to retrieve the piece of clothing.

"Give it up, brother! You're not getting away!" I declared triumphantly, attempting to wrest the undergarment from his grasp.

He let out an exasperated sigh and struggled to keep it hidden. "You're relentless, Reine. I won't let you steal my precious treasure!"

"Treasure? That's a woman's undergarment, you pervert!" I exclaimed, feeling my cheeks burn.

Our ridiculous tussle continued, our struggle creating a scene that was beyond absurd. It was a situation I never could have anticipated.

Amidst our squabble, a voice suddenly cut through the chaos. "What the heck is happening here?"

Startled, I looked up to find Lilia, our maid, giving us a skeptical look. She approached us, snatched the undergarment, and examined it closely.

She then turned her gaze back to us, her expression a mix of confusion and judgment.

Once she seemed to understand the situation, she spoke again. "I'll take this item. But rest assured, I won't report this to your parents, Rudeus."

With that, Lilia left our room, leaving us both stunned and unsure of how to react.