Emergency Family Meeting

After Rudeus's confession to Sylphiette, a noticeable change began to sweep over their relationship. The two of them grew increasingly close, displaying a level of intimacy that hadn't been present before.

Despite finding my brother's constant questions and requests for advice somewhat bothersome, I understood that he valued my input and wanted to ensure he handled the situation well. Therefore, I did my best to support him by encouraging his confidence and authenticity in their relationship.

Sylphiette, on the other hand, found her way to me seeking advice as well. Her inquiries were often accompanied by shyness and embarrassment, making it clear that she was navigating into unfamiliar territory.

I responded to her inquiries by urging her to summon her courage and take bold steps, even suggesting that she try wearing more feminine attire like dresses. While it embarrassed her initially, she eventually embraced the idea and made the effort to follow my advice.

As the days went on, the two of them embarked on what seemed like a sweet, almost childishly innocent romance. I observed their interactions from a distance, a mixture of amusement and warm-heartedness filling me as I watched their bond strengthen.

Yet, beneath my feelings of happiness for them, there lingered a wistful longing. I couldn't help but yearn for a love of my own, hoping one day, I too would experience the joy and companionship that my brother currently found.

Ah, the simplicity and complexity of love, a sentiment that had taken hold of our lives in its own unique ways. As I continued to be a silent observer of my brother's blooming relationship, I held onto the hope that someday, I would find the right person just for me.

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One day, an event of great significance unfolded—a day we had been waiting for, a day that marked the beginning of a new chapter in our family.

It was the day when my mother's long-awaited pregnancy became a reality.

After an entire year of witnessing my parents' dedicated efforts and nightly rituals, the joyous news finally arrived. Mother had conceived a baby, a new life growing within her belly.

"Congratulations, Mom!" I exclaimed with genuine excitement, unable to contain my happiness at the prospect of a new sibling joining our family.

Rudeus joined in, echoing my sentiment. "Yeah, Mom, congratulations!"

A beaming smile adorned our mother's face as she accepted our well-wishes. "Thank you so much, Rudy, Reine. I promise to do my best to bring another wonderful member into our family."

Father's voice filled the room, joining in the celebration. "We did it, Zenith! This is a wonderful moment!"

He embraced mother affectionately, a gesture of shared happiness and pride in their accomplishment. "Thank you, my dear. Our children will soon have a little brother or sister to welcome."

Laughter and merriment filled the air as we all gathered around the dinner table, celebrating the prospect of expanding our family.

*cough* *cough*

However, the atmosphere shifted abruptly as a series of coughs drew our attention to Lilia, our maid. She seemed unwell, rushing to the sink and vomiting. Concern etched our faces, wondering if the food was the cause of her sickness.

"I'm so sorry, madam," Lilia apologized, her voice tinged with distress. "I believe I might be pregnant."

A stunned silence enveloped the room. Pregnant? How? Whose child could it be? The unspoken questions hung heavily in the air, until a realization dawned upon all of us.

All eyes turned towards the only one person who definitely be responsible for this unexpected development—our father.

With a heavy sigh, he finally confessed, "I'm sorry... I believe the child might be mine."

The revelation hit us like a shockwave. Father, the one who had instilled values of responsibility and commitment in us, had found himself in this complicated situation.

Amid the tense silence, our mother, who had been observing quietly, suddenly rose from her seat. Determination gleamed in her eyes as she walked purposefully around the dining table and stood before our father.

A heavy silence hung over the room as we watched, our breaths held in anticipation. In a swift, unanticipated motion, her hand rose and....

*SLAP*

.... A resounding slap hit him across his cheek.

The room seemed to freeze in time for a moment, the echoes of the slap reverberating in the air. It was a powerful, unspoken expression of her emotions—betrayal, hurt, and disappointment.

Father's face bore the mark of her wrath, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of remorse and understanding.

As the silence lingered, a myriad of emotions swirled around us—shock, disappointment, and a sense of disturbance. The unexpected turn of events had left us all stunned, and we were left to grapple with the complexities of human relationships and the choices we make.

---------------------------------------------------

The room seemed to grow colder, mirroring the wintry blizzard outside. An atmosphere of tension hung heavy, overshadowing the familiar comfort of our home.

Our mother sat at the dining table, her face etched with distress, while Lilia occupied the opposite side, her shame was evident.

Rudeus and I exchanged glances, watching as the two women engaged in a conversation that held the weight of the situation. Meanwhile, our father sat alone at a separate table, his posture one of shame and remorse.

Mother's voice broke the silence, her words laden with a mix of concern and inquiry. "Lilia, what are your plans moving forward?"

"After the delivery of your baby, madam, I intend to leave the household." Lilia responded, her voice carrying a somber tone.

A ripple of emotion passed through the room, each of us processing the implications of her decision. Mother's gaze remained steady, her next question probing deeper. "And what about your child?"

"I plan to raise the child in my hometown, madam. It's where I have some family left," Lilia's eyes shifted, her focus now on her unborn baby.

Mother's concern was evident as she continued, "A journey south lasting a month can be arduous, even with a horse carriage. Have you considered the toll it might take on you and the baby?"

Lilia's expression mirrored the weight of the situation, her voice tinged with sadness. "I understand the challenges, madam. But I feel I have no other choice."

While their conversation unfolded, an unexpected intrusion shattered the delicate balance. Our father, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the moment, dared to interject, his voice tentative. "Darling, I think perhaps we should..."

"Stay silent!" Mother's voice thundered, cutting him off.

Father recoiled, retreating to his own table, a picture of contrition. The room seemed to hold its breath as the tense exchange played out before us.

As I reflected on the unfolding conversation, I couldn't help but empathize with the difficult journey Lilia was contemplating, a journey that would involve caring for a newborn under challenging circumstances.

I looked at my brother, Rudeus, who was deep in thought. He must be pondering the intricate web of emotions and decisions that had led to this moment. So, I decided to seek his perspective on the matter.

"Brother," I whispered, leaning closer to him, "what do you make of all this?"

He met my gaze, his expression a blend of concern and contemplation. "It's a complex situation, Reine. I empathize with Lilia's predicament, but I also understand the turmoil Mother is experiencing."

"It's truly a tough choice for both of them," I acknowledged, feeling the weight of the situation. "What can we do, brother? Should we let Lilia go?"

Rudeus shook his head slightly, dismissing the notion of letting Lilia leave. "No, that won't be the best solution for her or our sibling."

Curious, I leaned in closer, seeking his guidance. "Then what do you propose, brother?"

A determined glint sparkled in his eyes as he whispered his plan to me. "We need to convince Mother to allow Lilia to stay."

I blinked in surprise, taken aback by his proposal. "Eh? But how? Will Mother even consider our persuasion?"

"Trust me, Reine. Just follow my lead," Rudeus reassured as he prompted me to follow him.

With newfound determination, we moved forward in order to intervene, prepared to offer our insights and support in the hopes of finding a resolution that would benefit both Lilia and our family.

------------------------------------------------

Rudeus and I approached the dining table, ready to intervene the conversation and sway our mother's decision.

"Mom, why does everyone seem so gloomy all of a sudden?" Rudeus began, his tone feigning innocence as part of our strategy.

I followed suit, matching his childish approach. "Yeah, Mom. What's with the long faces? Did something happen?"

"Your father is involved in something very troubling, both of you. He's responsible for Lilia's pregnancy," Mother responded, her expression remained stern.

Rudeus and I exchanged knowing glances, confirming our plan. We focused on convincing mother, hoping to influence her perspective.

"Is that so? But I think Lilia couldn't refuse father?" Rudeus suggested with a touch of innocence, taking us all by surprise, including me.

In response, Mother's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, Rudy. What are you implying?"

Rudeus continued with his narrative, sharing a detailed account of how he had awakened during the night and had inadvertently witnessed father engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with Lilia. He even described how father gave suggestive actions and intimate interactions towards Lilia, which left us all taken aback.

As he continues telling his tale, I began to suspect that Rudeus was fabricating narratives of the story, attempting to shift the blame onto father as part of our plan.

Father, who had emerged from another room, seemed utterly bewildered. He attempted to speak up, "Rudy, what are you..."

"Be quiet!" Mother shouted, her stern voice cut him off once again.

Father was silenced, his voice subdued by mother's tone. The room was filled with tension as Rudeus continued his narrative, weaving a story to redirect blame and influence the situation.

Mother turned to me, seeking confirmation of the story. "Reine, is your brother telling the truth?"

"Y-yes, Mom. It's true. Brother told me about it when he returned from the restroom," I lied, playing my part in Rudeus's ruse.

Although lying felt morally ambiguous, I couldn't let Lilia suffer the consequences of the unfortunate event. So, I did everything in my power to support my brother and mend our family, even though the situation was chaotic.

Lilia, initially skeptical, had become an indispensable part of our lives. Her kindness and assistance, whether in preparing tea or tidying up after us, made her invaluable to our household.

As mother looked unsure because of Rudeus's story, I leaned toward him and whispered, "Is this really working, brother?"

"Yes, just a little more," he whispered back, urging me to continue our persuasion.

Turning our attention back to mother, Rudeus continued, "Mom, think about it. Reine and I will have two new siblings. That sounds pretty great, doesn't it?"

"Yes, Mom! Brother and I will be the older siblings for the two new babies!" I chimed in excitedly.

Mother seemed to contemplate our words, her expression wavering between hesitance and consideration. "I suppose you have a point."

"It wouldn't be fair if Lilia had to leave because of something father did," Rudeus hinted, shifting the focus away from Lilia.

Mother winced a little, still sorting out her feelings. "I guess... you're right."

Just a little more, we needed to give it our all.

"I've had so much fun with brother and Sylphiette. Imagine how happy it would be if the new babies had friends to play with, Mom," I added, trying to sway her a bit more.

"I-I suppose... you have a point," mother winced even more, her internal struggle evident.

We could feel we were getting through to her, just a bit more.

"Both babies will be part of our family, mom," Rudeus emphasized further.

Mother's face tightened as she hesitated, almost ready to make a decision.

Both Rudeus and I exchanged a determined look before putting all our effort into our final plea to convince mother.

""Mom, please, we really don't want Lilia to go! Please don't let her leave!"" we exclaimed in unison, pouring our heartfelt plea into our words.

Mother winced one last time before finally letting out a deep sigh of exhaustion, conceding to our persistence.

"Alright, you two. I get it now. You win," she said wearily, her resolve wavering. She then turned to Lilia, her voice firm but compassionate. "And you, Lilia, you're part of this family now. I won't allow you to leave on your own."

Hearing those words, Lilia was visibly moved, tears of relief and gratitude welling up in her eyes. It was clear she truly appreciated mother's decision.

As for father, well, I guess he'll have to face mother's judgment and have a serious talk later. Frankly, I don't even feel sorry for him given what he did – he kind of deserves it.

With that, mother left the room, exhaustion clearly etched on her face.

As the weight of the situation lifted, it was clear that our efforts had led to a solution that benefited both Lilia and our family.

"Brother, we did it," I said, a sense of triumph in my voice.

He nodded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Yes, we did. Together."

In that moment, our bond as siblings felt stronger than ever, and the unity of our family had been preserved through our combined efforts.

---------------------------------------------

As the crisis subsided, a wave of relief washed over me. The tense atmosphere had finally lifted, thanks to Rudeus's clever plan. It was comforting to know that we had averted a potential disaster that could have torn our family apart.

Shifting our focus from the intense events, Rudeus and I walked down the hallway, arriving at our mother's bedroom. We understood the importance of discussing the situation further and providing clarification.

Outside her bedroom door, we exchanged a glance before gently knocking.

*knock* *knock*

"Who's there?" came our mother's voice from inside.

"It's us, Mom. Can we come in?" I responded.

"Of course, come on in, you two," our mother's voice welcomed us, granting us permission to enter.

Entering her room, we found her sitting on the bed, looking weary but open to listening. The earlier conversation had clearly taken its toll, yet she was receptive to our perspective.

Drawing closer, she motioned for us to take a seat beside her on the bed. We complied, settling on either side of her.

"So, what did you want to discuss?" our mother inquired, giving us her full attention.

Taking a deep breath, we began to explain the truth. Rudeus took the lead, confessing that the story he had told about father's actions with Lilia was a fabrication intended to defuse the situation.

Mother's surprise was evident, but she seemed to grasp our intent behind the deception – ensuring Lilia could remain in our home despite the unfortunate incident.

"I see, so that's the situation," mother responded calmly, comprehending the circumstances.

She then enveloped us in a gentle embrace, bringing us closer. Her weary smile transformed into a genuine one as she continued to speak.

"I'm impressed by how maturely you both handled this. As you're soon to become older siblings with the arrival of the new babies, I have high hopes for both of you. And in the future, I hope you'll each create your own families."

Her words offered us reassurance, and I began to respond. "Absolutely, mom. We will-"

Before I could finish, her hold on our shoulders tightened ever so slightly. Looking at her face, I noticed a twinkle in her eye, though it was accompanied by a hint of frustration.

"Now, I want to make something clear. I expect you two to learn from your father's mistakes and avoid repeating them. Reine, remember to hold your future husband accountable if he ever falters. And Rudeus, ensure you don't follow in your father's footsteps, understood?" mother asserted firmly, setting her expectations high.

Both Rudeus and I nodded vigorously, fully grasping the gravity of her warning. Her tone left no room for ambiguity, and we made a solemn promise to heed her guidance.

Seeing our slightly panicked reaction, mother let out a lighthearted giggle. She swiftly changed the subject to lighten the mood. "Rudy, I've heard you've become quite close with Sylphiette. Is that true?"

"Y-yes, mom. It's true," Rudeus admitted.

"I see. Then promise me that you'll treat her feelings with care and remain devoted to her, alright?" mother asserted once more, placing significant trust in him.

Finally, she turned her attention to me and playfully remarked, "And what about you, Reine? When can we expect a boyfriend?"

Hearing her words, I felt a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. I caught my brother's teasing smile directed at me, which only added to my exasperation.

Ugh, what a showoff.