As the boat glided over the last stretch of the city’s outskirts, the landscape beneath them changed dramatically.
The hustle and noise lted away, replaced by thick forests that sprawled endlessly in every direction and the terrain looked untouched, serene, like sothing out of a postcard.
Below them, nestled in the middle of this vast wilderness, was a massive, gated property.
It had sprawling green lawns, immaculately trimd hedges, stone paths that andered through flowering gardens, and even a glistening pond reflecting the early evening light.
From above, it looked less like a ho and more like a secluded paradise, or the estate of soone outrageously wealthy.
As they passed overhead, Mika let out a long whistle.
"Damn...we’re way out from the city, huh?" He said, leaning forward to get a better view of the forested sprawl beneath them. "But it must be a pain in the ass to go back and forth all the ti. Just getting groceries must feel like a damn road trip."
Charlotte grunted beside him, resting her chin on her palm.
"You don’t even understand, Mika." She muttered. "It takes more than an hour to get to the city. That’s with no traffic. If I take a car, that’s it, half my day’s gone. And there’s nothing out here."
"...No cafés, no shops, no arcades, no fun. Just trees, birds, and bugs."
Mika chuckled, but before he could say anything, Charlotte turned and jabbed a thumb toward Yelena, who was seated gracefully beside them, hands folded neatly on her lap like she was on a royal procession.
"It’s all Mama’s fault." Charlotte declared. "She’s the one who decided we needed to build our house in the middle of nowhere. She said we needed peace. Peace! As if we’re eighty-year-olds trying to retire early."
Yelena turned toward them, her eyes calm and amused. A soft smile curved her lips.
"Why not?" She said, her voice airy and composed. "It’s peaceful, isn’t it? You wouldn’t find this quiet in the city no matter how much money you spent."
"And besides, if you want to hike, we’ve got the mountains. If you want to soak your legs, there’s a river. If you want to go fishing, there’s the pond. And for birdwatching, all you need to do is open your window in the morning."
"...Can’t find that in a concrete jungle."
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, but if I want to go to a restaurant? Can’t do that. If I want to go shopping? Can’t do that either. And if I want to talk to soone, literally anyone, it’s impossible. Nobody lives out here. It’s like we’re in exile or sothing. And especially..." She added, staring at Mika. "...if I want to see Mika, I can’t even do that. He lives smack in the middle of the city, like a normal person."
To that, Yelena tilted her head and looked at Mika with a quiet glimr in her gaze.
"Mika is...discreet." She said softly. "No matter what happens, he manages to fly under the radar. But you and I? We’re not just anyone. We’re public figures, Charlotte. If we lived in the city, we’d be sward."
"No matter what kind of security we set up, people would find us. They’d camp outside the gate just to get a glimpse. That’s not a ho, that’s a zoo."
Charlotte huffed. "I don’t care. If they surround the house, I’ll make them move. I’ll part the sea of people myself if I have to. And if soone dares break in, they’ll be the ones in trouble. Not us."
Yelena chuckled softly and shook her head.
"It’s not about safety. It’s about privacy. If I want to sit on my balcony and drink my coffee in the morning, I don’t want a hundred phones pointed at . I don’t want whispers, or flash photography, or people trying to guess what brand of slippers I’m wearing."
"...That’s why we live here. For silence. For peace."
Then, she added with a straight face,
"If you’re that desperate to go to the city, just go live with Mika. I don’t mind. Seriously. Pack your bags, go cling to him like you always do. I’ll even help you move."
That hit Charlotte like a gut punch. Her face crumbled, eyes glossy with the threat of tears.
"I tried." She blurted. "I asked him! Like, like ten tis! He keeps saying no every ti!" Her voice cracked into a whine. "He just won’t let !"
Yelena raised an eyebrow, utterly unbothered.
"Then that sounds like a you problem." She said, sipping her tea. "Not mine. If you want to live with him so badly, figure it out. That’s your mission."
Before anyone could blink, Charlotte scrambled over to Mika, dropped down beside him with the determination of a girl on a warpath, and latched onto his arm like her life depended on it. Her chest smushed against him shalessly as she pleaded.
"Please! Please, Mika! Just let stay with you! I’ll be quiet, I swear, I’ll bring your mail, do the dishes, clean the floors, fluff your pillows, whatever you want!"
Mika didn’t even flinch. He gave her a deadpan stare and muttered. "Not a chance in hell."
"What?!" She gasped.
"I like my peace." He said firmly. "The second you move in, it’s gone. You’ll be buzzing around like a mosquito. And worse, if your sisters find out you’re living with ? They’ll show up too. And I am not housing a swarm."
Charlotte shook his arm harder, her tone growing more desperate. "I’ll even cook! And, and give you back massages! And do laundry! I’ll even water your plants and alphabetize your books!"
He didn’t reply.
"Mika!" She cried again, both arms wrapped around his. "You can’t just abandon here in the middle of the forest!"
Still no response.
"Mikaaaa—!"
Yelena simply sat back, watching them with a serene smile as the boat began its final descent toward the mansion’s landing dock.
The mansion in front of them looked like sothing straight out of a dream, a perfect balance between nature and modern architecture.
Vines curled gently along the concrete walls, blooming flowers frad the wooden panels with bursts of color, and soft garden lighting peeked through the foliage.
It wasn’t too big, nor too small, but it exuded a luxurious warmth that hinted at careful, loving maintenance. It was clear the people living inside had shaped it not just for comfort, but for family.
As the boat ca to a gentle stop and the three of them stepped onto the path, the estate responded at once.
Lights along the walkway blinked on one after another in a cascading rhythm, while the house itself slowly ca to life, as if acknowledging their presence. Mika’s eyes flicked to the glowing fixtures and subtle chanisms activating across the ho.
"I can’t even rember the last ti I’ve been here." He murmured, stepping forward and taking in the atmosphere. "But I do rember one thing, this house is nice."
He cast a sideways glance at Yelena, a teasing smirk creeping onto his lips.
"As expected of a battle angel. You really do live in luxury. Us poor peasants could never comprehend this kind of life."
Yelena rolled her eyes, her voice dry. "Please. Don’t act so humble. You could snap your fingers and make a mansion ten tis this size, hell, build a floating fortress in the sky if you wanted. You just don’t want to."
He chuckled, brushing his hair back as he reached the main door. He was just about to turn and wait, assuming Yelena had the key, but before he could even finish the thought, the large wooden door clicked and opened on its own.
"I think your house is broken." He muttered awkwardly, pausing in the doorway. "I literally took one step, and the damn thing opened like it was welcoming ho...If a thief walked in, this place would be paradise."
But Yelena only smiled as she stepped past him, while Charlotte clung to his arm, tugging him gently inside with a playful grin.
"It didn’t open because it’s broken, silly. This place isn’t stupid, you know...It opened because it noticed it was you."
"The entire estate is built on Mana-recognition." Yelena added casually over her shoulder. "It’s far more secure than keys, faces, or eyes. No one can mimic my Mana. Or my Charlotte’s. It’s practically unbreakable."
Mika’s gaze wandered as they stepped inside. The interior of the house was just as beautiful, warm lights, sleek furniture, cozy throw blankets on the couches, and more than anything, the walls were lined with frad photos...Dozens of them.
He also imdiately noticed himself in many of them, alongside others from the past. In fact 90% if them were with him in it. So were candid, so posed, but each one felt like it was placed with care.
"Yeah...makes sense now." He blinked and said aloud. "Most blessed hos use Mana-type security systems these days."
"...But still, why was the house opening for ? I don’t live here."
Yelena turned to him, smile still soft.
"Because I added your Mana or whatever you have in inside that anomaly of a body of yours to the system long ago since you’re part of this family, whether you live here or not. You don’t need a key. You don’t even need to knock."
"...As long as you’re near, this house will always open for you."
He paused, looking at her. Sothing warm stirred in his chest, slow and quiet.
"You don’t have to be so surprised." She added gently. "I told you before, my doors will always be open for you. No matter what."
Charlotte brightened imdiately and grabbed his other hand. "That’s right! You’re finally back ho!"
"And now that you’re here..." Yelena said, looping her arm around his. "...we’re not letting you go."
The two of them dragged him further inside, all cheerful laughter and warmth, like they’d just won a prize they’d waited years for.
And Mika, his mouth curled into a dry smile as he glanced down at their hands gripping him tightly, couldn’t help but think,
Is this a ho...or a prison?
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