The next morning, the warmth of home settled in, but with it came new adjustments.

Sylpiette and Ivansia were staying with us, which meant our little house—though cozy—felt even smaller now.

And of course, the awkward moments had already begun.

---

Nether's POV

I stretched as I walked out of my room, still groggy from last night’s teasing. The scent of breakfast filled the air, and for a brief moment, I thought it was just going to be another normal morning.

That was until I turned the corner and saw—

Sylpiette.

She was standing near the kitchen, wearing a simple white tunic and a long skirt, her white hair still slightly messy from sleep.

…And she was wearing my cloak over her shoulders.

I blinked. "Uh... good morning?"

Sylpiette turned to me, rubbing her eyes. "Morning, Nether."

Silence.

Neither of us spoke.

She looked at me. I looked at her.

Then, I cleared my throat. "Uh… why are you wearing my cloak?"

Sylpiette blinked, then looked down at herself.

"Oh… I just saw it hanging there and put it on."

She said it so casually that I almost didn’t register it.

But then my brain caught up.

Sylpiette… wearing my cloak… first thing in the morning… looking like that—

I turned away, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Uh… you, uh, you look good in it."

Sylpiette tilted her head slightly, a small smirk forming.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Why did I say that?!

I quickly tried to recover. "I-I mean, you look fine! It’s just—uh, never mind!"

Sylpiette just laughed softly and walked past me, patting my shoulder.

"You’re cute when you’re flustered."

I groaned. "This is why I can’t win."

---

Ivan's POV

Meanwhile, in another part of the house…

I had just finished washing up when I heard a knock on my door.

"Ivan?"

Ivansia’s voice.

I opened the door, and she stood there, dressed in a simple yet elegant dress that still made her look like royalty. Her silver hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her red eyes met mine with an unreadable expression.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"Morning," I replied, feeling oddly stiff.

Another silence.

Then, at the same time—

"Did you sleep well?"

We both spoke at once, then paused.

Ivansia smiled softly. "You go first."

"I—uh, yeah, I slept well."

"That’s good."

More silence.

Why was this awkward? We already confessed. We already kissed.

And yet, standing here alone in this hallway with her first thing in the morning…

I was suddenly hyper-aware of everything.

Ivansia tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and asked, "So… what are the plans for today?"

I forced myself to focus. "We’ll probably help around the house, then maybe explore the village a bit."

She nodded. "That sounds nice."

Then, before I could say anything else, she suddenly leaned in and kissed my cheek.

I froze.

"Good morning, my dear."

And then she walked away.

I stood there, completely stunned.

"...Yeah. I’m doomed."

---

Nether & Elise’s POV

After breakfast, Elise was clinging to my leg again.

"Big brother, big brother!" she chirped.

"What is it, Elise?" I asked, ruffling her hair.

She pouted. "You don’t spend enough time with me! You’re always busy with Sylphy!"

Sylpiette, who was standing beside me, smirked.

"Sylphy?" she repeated.

I froze.

Elise giggled. "Yeah! Big brother kept calling you that in his sleep!"

Sylpiette raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Dreaming about me, were you?"

I covered Elise’s mouth. "ELISE, NO MORE TALKING."

She just giggled harder.

Sylpiette crossed her arms, looking very entertained. "I like it. You can call me Sylphy, if you want."

I sighed. "Fine… Sylphy."

Her green eyes softened at that, and for a moment, her teasing expression was replaced with something more genuine.

"Mhm. I like it."

Meanwhile, Elise climbed onto my back, giggling.

"I like it too! Sylphy is my new big sister!"

Sylpiette chuckled and ruffled Elise’s hair. "I guess that makes you my new little sister."

Elise beamed.

And I?

I just sighed. "Yeah, yeah… just don’t team up against me."

Elise and Sylphy looked at each other.

Then they both grinned.

I had a bad feeling about this.

---

A Day in the Village

The morning had been filled with teasing and chaos, but after breakfast, we decided to take a stroll through the village.

It had been a while since we’d been home, and the familiar streets, the friendly vendors, and the scent of fresh bread from the bakery made everything feel nostalgic.

Elise, of course, was excited beyond belief. She held onto my hand tightly while occasionally running ahead to point at something interesting.

---

Sylpiette & Nether

Sylpiette walked beside me, her white hair shining under the sunlight, her green eyes scanning the village with mild curiosity.

"Your hometown is smaller than I expected," she remarked.

"Well, not every place can be as grand as the elven cities," I shot back with a smirk.

She chuckled. "True. But there’s something… warm about it."

Before I could reply, a group of children ran past us, one of them almost bumping into Sylpiette.

"Ah—sorry, miss!" the boy said, bowing quickly before running off again.

Sylpiette blinked, watching them disappear into the streets.

"They’re lively," she murmured.

"Yeah," I said, watching Elise chase after them. "This village might not be big, but it’s home."

She looked at me for a moment, then gave a small, genuine smile.

"I can see why you love it."

---

Ivansia & Ivan

Meanwhile, Ivan and Ivansia walked a little behind us.

Ivansia’s silver hair swayed gently with each step, and her red eyes gleamed with quiet amusement as she observed the people around her.

"Your village is more peaceful than I imagined," she said, glancing at Ivan.

He nodded. "It’s simple, but it has everything we need."

Ivansia stopped for a moment, looking at a nearby flower vendor.

"Wait here," she said before stepping forward.

Ivan raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

A moment later, she returned, holding a small red flower.

She reached up and placed it behind Ivan’s ear.

He blinked. "…What?"

She smiled. "It suits you."

Ivan cleared his throat, adjusting the flower slightly. "I—I don’t think this is my style."

Ivansia just grinned. "Too bad. It stays."

Arther and Rean, who had been watching from the side, immediately burst into laughter.

Arther: "Oh, he’s blushing!"

Rean: "I never thought I’d see Ivan get flustered."

Ivan sighed, shaking his head. "I hate all of you."

Ivansia simply took his arm, linking hers with his. "But you love me."

He exhaled. "Unfortunately, yes."

Rean smirked. "That’s a dangerous thing to admit, brother."

---

Elise’s Big Moment

While the others teased Ivan, Elise suddenly ran back to me, breathless.

"Big brother! Big brother!"

"What is it?" I asked, kneeling down.

She held out her tiny hands, revealing a small, wooden carving of a fox.

"I won it!" she said proudly.

I ruffled her hair. "You did? How?"

"The old man at the stall said if I hit the target three times, I could pick a prize!"

I glanced at the stall in the distance. It was a simple dart-throwing game.

Sylpiette tilted her head. "You hit all three?"

Elise beamed. "Mhm! On my first try!"

Ivan raised an eyebrow. "That’s actually impressive."

Elise held the fox up to me. "Here! I won this for you!"

I blinked. "For me?"

She nodded. "Because you’re my favorite big brother!"

The others immediately erupted in fake outrage.

Arther: "Oi! What about me?!"

Rean: "Yeah, Elise! I thought we had a bond!"

Elise giggled, sticking her tongue out. "Nether is still the best!"

I chuckled, patting her head. "Thanks, Elise. I’ll keep it safe."

Sylpiette smirked. "Your favorite brother, huh? I wonder if that will change in the future."

I narrowed my eyes. "Don’t corrupt her."

Elise, meanwhile, just hugged my leg again.

"I’ll always love all of you!"

And just like that, any arguments died instantly.

Because none of us could resist Elise’s pure-hearted affection.

---

A Quiet Evening & New Trouble Brewing

After spending the day wandering the village, the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. We returned home, where Mother had prepared another delicious dinner. The atmosphere was warm and lively—our home had never felt so full.

Elise sat between me and Sylpiette, swinging her tiny legs happily while munching on some roasted potatoes. Occasionally, she would glance up at Sylpiette with curious eyes.

"Sylphy, are you really an elf?" she suddenly asked.

I choked on my drink.

Sylpiette raised an eyebrow but didn’t look surprised. "I am, Elise. Why do you ask?"

Elise tilted her head. "Because your ears are so pointy! And your hair is so pretty!"

Rean, Ivan, and Arther all froze.

Then, Ivan slowly turned toward me. "Wait… Sylphy?"

Rean smirked. "Since when did you start calling her that?"

Arther grinned. "And why does Elise already know it?"

I groaned. "It’s not a big deal, alright?"

Sylpiette, to my surprise, didn’t seem embarrassed. Instead, she gave a small, amused smile.

"Nether has been calling me that for a while now. Elise picked it up too."

Mother clasped her hands together. "Oh my! I never thought I’d live to see Nether give someone a pet name!"

Ivansia, who had been calmly eating, finally smirked. "That’s cute."

Ivan leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "So, you’ve been using a pet name for her in secret, huh?"

Rean nodded, grinning. "Looks like our cold and serious Nether has a soft spot after all."

Arther nudged me. "Should we start calling you Sylphy’s Nether now?"

I buried my face in my hands.

Sylpiette just chuckled. "You’re all too noisy."

Elise giggled, happily munching on her food. "I like Sylphy! It suits her!"

Sylpiette patted her head gently. "Thank you, Elise."

Meanwhile, I sat there, completely defeated.

This family was a nightmare.

---

A Peaceful Night Under the Stars

After dinner, the cool night air wrapped around us like a soft blanket. The village was quiet, with only the distant sounds of crickets and the occasional flicker of lanterns lighting the paths.

Sylpiette and I sat outside on the wooden bench, Elise curled up in my lap, her tiny hands clutching my sleeve. Her golden hair shimmered under the moonlight, her peaceful breathing making me smile.

"She really sticks to you," Sylpiette murmured beside me.

I glanced at her, watching how the moonlight made her white hair glow and her green eyes seem even deeper.

"She always has," I replied. "Ever since she was little, she’d follow me everywhere."

Sylpiette chuckled softly. "That explains why she didn’t hesitate to claim me as her ‘big sister’ the moment we arrived."

I smirked. "You’re stuck with her now. She won’t let you go."

She tilted her head slightly, a rare softness in her gaze. "I don’t mind."

A comfortable silence settled between us. Elise shifted in my lap, mumbling something in her sleep before burying her face against my arm.

Sylpiette watched with an amused smile. "You’re really gentle with her."

I rolled my eyes. "What, did you expect me to throw her?"

She laughed, her voice light and melodic. "No, but it’s rare to see you this relaxed. It’s nice."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I’m not nice?"

She smirked. "I’m saying you act tough, but you’re soft when it comes to the people you care about."

I scoffed. "Says the one who acts cold but melts every time Elise calls her ‘big sister.’"

Sylpiette huffed but didn’t deny it.

A sudden tug on my sleeve made me look down. Elise, still half-asleep, peeked up at me.

"Nether… sing," she mumbled.

I blinked. "Huh?"

She yawned. "Sing like you used to…"

Sylpiette’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "You sing?"

I sighed. "Not in front of an audience."

Elise pouted sleepily. "Please…"

I hesitated, but when I saw her tiny hands gripping my sleeve, I gave in.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I began to hum a quiet melody—one our mother used to sing to us when we were younger. It was slow, soothing, the kind of tune that could lull even the most restless child to sleep.

Elise snuggled closer, her breathing evening out.

I glanced at Sylpiette, expecting her to tease me.

Instead, she was watching me quietly, her green eyes unreadable.

"What?" I asked.

She shook her head, smiling softly. "Nothing. Just… keep singing."

For once, there were no teasing words, no smirks—just a peaceful night, a sleeping little sister, and a moment of quiet understanding between us.

And for once…

That was enough.

---

To Be Continued...