Ethan gently patted Liana's head. "Liana… he's not scary anymore. And I have a duel. Gotta go."
Liana slowly peeled herself off him, peeking up at Aiden with huge eyes.
Then she let go completely and exhaled like she'd been holding her breath for an hour.
Ethan stood.
Liana grinned mischievously up at him.
"If your girlfriend finds out I hugged you so naughtily… she'll definitely kill ."
Ethan froze.
Mouth fell open.
Veins popped on his forehead.
Next second he lunged, grabbed her head in a classic noogie-lock, and squeezed.
"GYAAA—ST-STOP! IT HURTS! BROTHER! DEAR BROTHER! I'M SORRY I EAVESDROPPED!"
"You eavesdropped?!" Ethan hissed, knuckles grinding.
Around them the entire family went pin-drop silent.
…Brother?
Different surnas?
How—?
"My dear brother!" Liana wailed theatrically. "You know I love you more than myself! I just wanted to share in your happiness! Forgive this lowly sister—my skull is going to crack!"
*CRACK!*
A loud, cartoonish breaking sound echoed.
Ethan released her.
Liana flopped sideways onto the bench like a dead fish, tongue lolling, soul visibly escaping her mouth in white puffs.
"Stupid kid," Ethan muttered, dusting his hands.
The entire harem of beauties erupted.
Venya fell off her seat laughing.
Zerra clutched her stomach.
Valeforia wheezed so hard she nearly choked.
Even Lysandra cracked, hiding her smile behind her hand.
Ela was crying with laughter. "So that's why you knew his girlfriend! You're siblings?!"
Ethan tch-ed, crossing his arms. "She's my little sister. Unfortunately."
Liana sat up, hair a bird's nest, grinning despite the red mark on her forehead.
"Love you too, Onii-chan~"
Ethan pointed at her without looking back as he walked toward the exit.
"Stay out of my love life or next ti I pop both eardrums."
"Ehhhhh so an!"
---
Ethan paused at the threshold.
He glanced back.
Liana was still sprawled dramatically on the bench where he'd left her: hair a glorious ss, one hand pressed to her forehead like a Victorian maiden on her deathbed, the other fanning herself theatrically.
He sighed.
Then—without a word—he turned fully around, walked back to her, and dropped to one knee so he was eye-level with her seated form.
The entire family went suspiciously quiet again.
Ethan reached out slowly, cupping Liana's cheek with one warm palm.
His voice softened—genuine this ti, none of the usual gruff edge.
"Sorry. I was a bit too harsh."
Liana's eyes instantly went huge and comically shiny with exaggerated tears. She leaned dramatically into his touch like a cat demanding more scratches, both her small hands coming up to cover his, pressing it harder against her cheek.
"I love you so muuuuch," she sniffled, bottom lip wobbling for full theatrical effect, "but you're always so an to …"
Ethan's mouth twitched despite himself.
"Cause you cause nothing but trouble."
"See…?" She pouted, voice pitching up into full baby-sister mode. "You're being an right now."
He exhaled through his nose, fighting a smile.
"Did that actually hurt?" he asked, tilting his head toward the spot he'd noogied earlier.
Liana looked up at him with those big, glistening eyes—cute, innocent, weaponized.
"Yesss," she whined, drawing the word out forever. "Very much. My poor skull is still ringing. I might have brain damage. Permanent. Tragic."
Ethan let out a low, fond chuckle.
"Okay, okay, drama queen."
He lifted his other hand and started petting her hair—slow, gentle strokes from crown to ends, the way he used to when she was little and throwing tantrums.
Liana imdiately lted.
"Hmmph…" She closed her eyes and leaned into it like it was the best thing in the world. "Feels good… keep going…"
The rest of the wives watched in various states of amusent and awe.
Nayla—still half-dazed from earlier—murmured dreamily, "He's actually sweet when he wants to be…"
Valeforia smirked. "I didn't expect this."
"Shhh," Venya hissed, grinning. "Don't ruin the mont."
Liana suddenly opened her eyes, threw both arms around Ethan's neck, and yanked him into a tight hug, cheek squished against his.
"Don't get hurt out there," she mumbled into his shoulder, all the cody draining into quiet sincerity. "And when you're done… co straight back to and Alia, okay? We'll wait."
Ethan's arms ca up automatically, returning the hug—careful, protective.
He nodded against her hair.
"Promise."
Liana pulled back just enough to look at him, then leaned in and planted a loud, exaggerated mwah kiss right on his cheek.
"Good luck, Onii-chan." Her voice was soft now, eyes shining for real. "Love you, brother."
Ethan's expression softened completely.
He brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Love you too, idiot."
Then—before she could latch on again—he stood, gave her one last fond ruffle of the hair (ssing it up worse than before), and turned toward the exit.
He didn't look back.
But the tiniest, tiniest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he jumped down to the arena floor.
Behind him, the wives dissolved into another round of cooing and teasing.
Thristle clasped her hands under her chin. "Awww, they're so cute!"
Zerra nodded solemnly. "Sibling love. Violent, but love."
Aiden watched the whole cody show with one eyebrow raised, Luna still snuggled contentedly against his chest.
He glanced sideways at Nayla—who was still breathing like she'd run a sprint—and smirked.
"So… who's next on the desk list?"
Five hands shot up instantly.
Thristle practically vibrated. "!"
Aiden chuckled low.
"After the duels. Patience, my greedy little wives."
Below, the announcer's voice bood again.
"Ethan Leilive and Flora Dawnveil—please proceed to the arena!"
Ethan paused at the entrance, glanced back at the chaos of laughing wives, and his ridiculous sister still making puppy eyes at him.
He sighed.
"Family, huh?"
Then he jumped down to the field—ready to fight.
Behind him, Liana cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled at the top of her lungs:
"Kick her ass, Onii-chan! Your cute little sis believes in you!"
Ethan's shoulders hunched in visible embarrassnt.
The crowd cooed.
Aiden leaned back, arms around his won, and muttered to no one in particular:
"Never a dull mont."
Nayla—still recovering—managed a weak, dreamy laugh.
"Never."
---
END OF CHAPTER : 280 : THE LITTLE SISTER DEBACLE!
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