The scent of lavender and sterilized mana lingered in the room like a perfumed haze. Morning light slanted through enchanted crystal windows, casting warm gold across the polished marble floor and silk curtains. Somewhere outside, birds chirped with unnatural harmony—probably trained by some overzealous noblewoman to serenade her "future husband" back to health.
Rei sat propped up in a sea of goose-feather pillows, draped in fine velvet sheets, and looking every bit like a tragically pampered porcelain prince. His brain, however, was on full red-alert mode.
[System Alert: Host's survival probability has dropped to 27%.]
[Main Quest Active: "Accept One Hug — or face emotional trauma (and maybe stabbing)."]
[New Side Quest: "Survive Big Sister Lilia's Affection Assault." Difficulty: Nightmare.]
Rei gritted his teeth as a soft knock sounded at the door. Not that anyone waited for permission.
The door swung open with the grace of a swooning stage curtain, and in stepped a vision wrapped in white lace and suppressed insanity.
Lilia Alister. Age: 23. Officially listed as "Duchess-to-be of House Alister." Unofficially? Rei's doting big sister who hadn't taken off her mourning veil in fifteen years—and looked like she might burn the world for a smile from him.
Her long silver hair cascaded behind her like a waterfall of moonlight. She wore a tight corseted dress under her caretaker's apron, and in her hands was a tray. On it: a steaming porcelain bowl of soup, a hand-sewn cloth napkin, and a single red rose with her name carved into its stem.
"Silly Rei," she cooed. "You didn't wait for Onee-san to wake you up properly."
Her voice was soft. So soft it made every hair on Rei's neck stand up.
Rei instinctively reached for the system menu to throw a "Skip Cutscene" command, but the interface froze.
[System: Skipping cutscenes of yanderes will result in limb loss.]
He froze as Lilia sauntered to his bedside, each step deliberate, measured, like a predator in a ballroom dress. She set the tray on the side table with reverence, then sat beside him on the edge of the bed.
Very close. Too close.
She reached forward—and cupped his cheek with a hand as soft as silk and twice as deadly.
"Oh my little Rei…" she whispered, brushing a lock of white-gold hair from his forehead. "So small. So fragile. So mine."
He blinked. "U-uh… Lilia… long time no—"
"I fed you through a tube for seven years," she said with perfect tranquility. "I sang lullabies every night and wiped away your drool. I bathed you, clothed you, and cursed the gods that dared steal your voice."
Rei's lips parted to answer, but she raised a finger to them.
"Shhh," she murmured. "Let Onee-san do everything. You don't need to speak. Not yet."
He froze as she picked up the bowl of soup—some glowing golden elixir that shimmered with healing enchantments—and dipped a silver spoon into it.
"You must be starving," she said sweetly. "Here. Say 'Ahh.'"
"Um—"
She thrust the spoon gently but firmly at his lips. Rei leaned back on instinct.
"You don't trust Onee-san's cooking?" she asked softly.
Rei's survival instincts screamed.
"No, no!" he said quickly. "It's not that! It's just that… I-I can feed myself—"
"You'll spill it," Lilia said, voice still gentle. "You always had shaky hands when you were nervous."
"That was when I was five—!"
"Exactly," she said, beaming. "You're still my precious little baby brother."
He could practically hear the heartbeat of the soup vibrating in his ears.
Then came the next blow.
"I've already registered myself as your legal guardian," she said casually. "And your engagement with House Veloria has been… delayed. Indefinitely."
Rei blinked. "Engagement—what? Wait, who said I was—?!"
"I did," she said with a pleasant smile. "It's been fifteen years. I had plenty of time to cancel suitors."
She brought the spoon to his lips again.
This time, Rei obediently opened his mouth.
The soup was… amazing. Too amazing. It melted on his tongue like buttered divinity with hints of spice, warmth, and a touch of something suspiciously addictive.
"You like it?" she whispered, eyes gleaming. "It's the same flavor I fed you when you were five. The one you said made your heart feel warm. I recreated it from memory. I even had chefs tortured until they got it right."
Rei choked.
"Don't worry," she cooed, patting his back. "Only the bad ones."
He tried to set the bowl down. She wouldn't let him.
"I even wrote wedding vows," she whispered, drawing a folded paper from her apron pocket. "Want to hear them?"
Rei looked around the room. No nurses. No guards. No witnesses.
He was trapped.
Lilia unfolded the parchment with reverence and cleared her throat.
"Vow One: I will never let Rei eat food touched by another woman."
"Vow Two: I will end all who try to take Rei's heart."
"Vow Three: I will create a kingdom where Rei can nap forever—"
"STOP," Rei said, raising a hand. "Lilia, you're my sister!"
Her eyes twitched. Just slightly.
"I see," she said softly. "You still cling to social constructs."
She leaned closer. Her breath was warm. Fragrant. Definitely infused with aphrodisiacs.
"But blood ties can be erased," she whispered. "We're only half-related by father. And he's dead. Just like your memories of those irrelevant girls."
Rei's eyes widened.
"Oh yes," she said, smiling wider. "I visited your harem list. Such cute childhood friends you had. I sent them all letters—very polite ones. Only one replied. She sent a dragon."
She leaned forward and nuzzled his cheek.
"But I have your signature," she breathed. "You said I was your 'number one' when you were four. Remember? I still have the napkin."
Rei glanced toward the window. The enchanted glass shimmered with containment runes. No escape.
Then—
[System Notification: Incoming Character — Seraphina of House Solaria.]
[Estimated Time of Arrival: 60 seconds.]
Lilia's expression darkened.
"…She dares," she whispered. "To show her face before my Rei is even ready to receive guests?"
She stood with eerie calm.
"Excuse me, my little sun," she said, tucking the spoon into his pocket. "I must prune the weeds outside your garden."
Rei opened his mouth to protest, but she was already gone.
The door closed with a soft click.
[System Warning: Two or more Yanderes are about to meet.]
[Recommendation: Pretend to faint.]
Rei exhaled shakily.
"…I miss the cockroach," he muttered.
To be continued...