"…What?"
The room had gone strangely quiet. Not the normal awkward quiet—no, this was the kind where even the air felt like it had frozen mid-breath. Everyone was staring at Yvonne as though she had just announced the sky had turned green.
Meanwhile, the culprit glanced around, confused, asking herself. Was flirting really that shocking here? Or was it simply shocking when it came from Alessandra?
Well, whatever. That wasn't her priority right now.
Her priority was the man sitting beside her.
Good heavens.
Who was he?
Tall, broad-shouldered, with black raven hair that framed his face like something sculpted by a very generous god, and eyes—deep, ocean-blue eyes—that felt far too calm and far too intense all at once. His features were sharp but gentle, strong yet refined. Even his presence alone made the room feel smaller, like everything unconsciously bent toward him.
Eric was handsome, sure. But this man?
This man was devastating.
Yvonne's heart did a very unhelpful little somersault.
Who was he to Alessandra? A lover? A betrothed? A tragic past flame?
Then a horrifying thought struck her.
If Alessandra had this, why on earth was she obsessed with Eric?
Before Yvonne's thoughts could spiral further, the gorgeous man shook his head slowly, as if trying to wake himself from a nightmare.
"No. No…" His voice was low, controlled—but strained. "You really lost your memory, Alessandra?"
Huh?
"Even… forgetting me too?" he added softly.
The way his voice dipped on that last word sent a very inconvenient ache through Yvonne's chest.
"She forgot even her own name!" Cassandra blurted out, arms crossed."Why wouldn't she forget you?."
"Shut the fuck up, Cassandra!" Yvonne cursed, then smiled sweetly, facing the gorgeous man.
"Well then," Yvonne said lightly, tilting her head, "I'll try not to forget you next time, gorgeous. Why don't we get to know each other more?"
The reaction was immediate.
Gabriella gagged.
Amanda choked on air.
Bianca covered her mouth in horror.
Lilith looked like she wanted to crawl under the floor.
"Miss," Naomi said tightly, her brows scrunched together in something dangerously close to disgust, "he is your brother."
The world stopped.
Yvonne blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
The color drained from her face.
Somewhere in the distance, she could almost hear her dignity packing its bags and leaving forever.
"…Huh?"
"Yes," Naomi continued, voice flat. "Lord Raphael. Your brother."
Yvonne stared at him.
Slowly. Painfully.
"You're… Alessandra's—no—my brother?"
Lord Raphael nodded once.
"Yes."
Yvonne felt her soul officially left her body.
No. No, no, no. The first man she ever felt genuinely attracted to. The very first man her heart somersaulted for—and he was her brother?
Not hers, technically, but still. As long as this cursed spell existed, he was her brother too.
Damn this spell.
If not for it, She wouldn't be here. But if not for it, she wouldn't have met him either.
Cruel. Absolutely cruel.
Sighing, Raphael turned to Cassandra."What does the healer say about her memory loss?"
"Well, she got memory loss of course." Cassandra answered nonchalantly. "Or what else do you expect him to say? Everyone with eyes can see that she has memory loss."
"You..." Raphael was rendered speechless.
"Are you dumb or what?!" Trancy said, her tone laced with anger. "Everyone with a brain can hear that he is asking if the memory loss is permanent or temporary!"
Everyone: "...."
"W... What? Are you calling me dumb?!" Cassandra asked in disbelief.
"Yes. And senseless!" Gabriella added, tauntingly.
"...."
Everyone snickered, trying to stop their laughter. Even Lord Thomas and the rest were speechless at their confrontation.
"You...you..." Cassandra grumbled out angrily then turned to Raphael while pointing at Trancy and Gabriella. "Do you see what kind of bad company your dearest sister is keeping? With friends like this, how could she...."
"Cut the shit out Cassandra!" Yvonne interrupt, clearly irritated. "Must you screech?!."
"You...!" Cassandra's face turned bleat red in anger.
"Enough!" Lord Thomas voice thundered out as the room immediately went silent.
"You do a full body medical examination for her yourself, Raphael. After all, you are also a healer." Lord Thomas said turning to Raphael.
"Hmm. I will." Raphael replied, his eyes fixed on Yvonne.
"Then get some rest, Alessandra. We will be leaving." Lord Thomas said, as they all went out leaving only Raphael.
"Alessandra…" Raphael called, "How are you feeling now?"
"Umm... quite good." Yvonne answered, unsure how to act in front of this brother of hers.
"Good." Raphael said nodding and the room immediately became awkward.
"Umm... Raphael?" Yvonne called hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"Can you not perform any medical examination on me?." Yvonne asked almost pleadingly.
When Lord Thomas mentioned it earlier, her heart almost stopped beating. After all, the medical examination is likely going to expose her as only her appearance was switched with Alessandra own. She was still Yvonne as she herself can see it.
Frowning, Raphael asked. "Why?"
"I... I don't need it. I am perfectly fine as you can see. And you also healed me with your Ember." Yvonne explained clumsily.
"No. You have to do it." Raphael said, firmly. "The healer that treats you at the infirmary said, your body is weak and stressed. And with the blood loss, it is fragile. That's exactly why you went into coma. Alessandra."
"But I'm fine now right." Yvonne tried persuading.
Didn't they say Alessandra brother does everything Alessandra wants? Why is he arguing with her now?
"Alessandra..."
"Please~" Yvonne plead pitifully.
Ahh! Just say yes already! Yvonne thought terribly.
"Okay. Okay." Raphael agreed sighing.
"Thank you brother." Yvonne beamed.
"I have some questions Alessandra." Raphael said his tone shiftinh. "You were found at the bottom of Listener's Cliff. Do you by any chance remember how you got there?"
The images came crashing back on Yvonne.
Smoke. Chanting. A knife. Pain. Falling.
Yvonne chest tightened as she felt the room tilting. Her breathing became labored as if stuck.
"Alessandra!" Raphael voice pulled Yvonne back. "Look at me. Breathe. In… out. In… out."
Yvonne followed his rhythm, air slowly filled her lungs.
When her vision cleared, she realized she was in Raphael embrace—one arm around her shoulders, the other steadying her.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks. Warm. Too bad he is Alessandra brother.
"Are you alright?" Raphael asked quietly.
Yvonne nodded, her body trembling slightly.
"I'm sorry," Raphael said. "I shouldn't have asked."
"It's okay," Yvonne lied softly. "I don't remember anything clearly. But every time I try… I feel like this."
Raphael nodded slowly, troubled then asked frowning as if remembering something. "Alessandra. When do start cursing?."