Maxi, still deep in slumber, floated in a fog of half-lucid thought. His consciousness stirred gently, just enough to register the soft breeze of someone's sigh against his face. Then-
Lips.
Soft, warm, and real.
Maxi's mind screamed in horror.
(What the-NO! No no no! Why me?! Why is it always me?!)
His body didn't flinch, still buried in exhaustion, but mentally, he was panicking. Somewhere in his subconscious, alarms rang as his dream-self flailed helplessly.
Meanwhile, Geminid pulled away from the kiss, her cheeks flushed as she fanned herself lazily. "Mmm... that was more pleasant than I expected. He's definitely dreaming about me now~"
Kate stood off to the side, red as a tomato. She fidgeted nervously. "A-Are you sure that's how dreams work...? I mean... I-I don't think-"
Geminid waved her off with her fan. "It doesn't matter, Kate. Dreams aren't about logic-they're about feeling. Intention. Meaning."
Kate opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, Geminid gently pressed her fan to Kate's lips. "Shh. No more excuses. Just give him a little kiss on the cheek. For yourself."
Kate flailed in panic, shaking her head furiously. "N-No way! I c-couldn't! Not while he's asleep!"
Geminid sighed. "Then I'll do it again."
Kate's reaction was instant-another frantic head shake.
Geminid smirked, then her tone softened, serious and knowing. "Then I'll use my favor. You owe me, remember?"
Kate froze.
"That boy your brother tried to force you to marry off to? The one you couldn't speak against? I was the one who stepped in. I convinced your brother to turn him away. That wasn't easy, Kate. I did it because I saw you couldn't do it alone."
Kate looked away, face burning, lips trembling.
Geminid continued, "I'm not doing this to embarrass you. I know how you feel about him. So be honest-for once. Take this moment."
Kate hesitated... then gave herself a quick slap on the cheek to steel her resolve. Her voice trembled, but her expression firmed.
"F-Fine... I'll do it."
Her cheeks glowing, Kate leaned in slowly, lips trembling as she aimed for Maxi's cheek-only for Geminid to spin gracefully beside her. It was a motion of perfect poise and overwhelming elegance, like a divine ballet.
Before Kate could process what was happening, Geminid executed a light side-thrust of her hip-bump.
Kate stumbled forward-
And kissed Maxi on the lips.
Kate's eyes widened as her lips met his. For a moment, she froze. Then, slowly... she melted into the kiss, her body softening as the world faded away. Time felt suspended, lost in that fleeting contact.
She pulled back moments later, dazed and flushed beyond recognition.
Geminid grinned. "I'll count that as my favor. Thank you for completing it so beautifully, dear Kate."
Kate stood frozen, her fingertips lightly brushing her lips as her mind spiraled. Then she squeaked-a high-pitched, emotional squeal of disbelief.
Geminid giggled and whispered, "Now we both share this precious red gem. My precous gem called Maxi BloodHeart."
Maxi, still unconscious, groaned internally. (Whyyyy is this happening...?!)
But then-he felt it again. Another pair of lips.
Softer. Shyer. Lingering.
(...That's different.)
(...Wait, why can I tell the difference?!)
A pink ripple suddenly surged through the dark pool of his subconscious. It spread across the black waters of his mind like ink blooming in still water. As it grew, a figure took form-an ethereal woman, nearly shivering with joy, wrapping her arms around Maxi's dream-self.
She clung to him with giddy affection, squeezing his neck gently, her aura pulsing in time with the ripples that now danced like stars.
And Maxi... drifted deeper.
As panic gave way to warmth, his mind slowed. A single thought whispered across his heart:
"Wait... who kissed me?"
Ray was packing away the ornaments from her son's birthday when Qill walked over, arms crossed and an apologetic expression on her face.
"Sorry for stealing the spotlight, Ray," Qill said.
Ray let out a sigh. "You shouldn't be apologizing to me. You should be apologizing to Maxi. He's the one you stole the spotlight from."
Qill chuckled nervously and leaned against Ray's shoulder. "I guess so... I haven't seen that little bookworm in forever. Where is he?"
Ray shrugged. "I think he's out with the only friends who weren't awestruck by your brother and your performance."
Just then, a frantic voice rang through the room.
"Kate! Kate? Where's my Kate?!"
They both turned to see Lyric, of the Fuji branch family, rushing about in his traditional purple Kamatī. His hair tied up with a decorative four sharp petal flower-shaped pin danced in the air with his every panicked move.
Not far behind was Meridia, a graceful girl from the Lavender branch family, dressed in an elegant black gown that shimmered with hints of violet. Her purple hair fell neatly over her shoulders. She looked slightly worried.
"Oh my... it seems my Geminid has run off again," she said softly. Then, turning to her twin brother, she added, "Kellen, can you please go look for her? Chop-chop, please."
Kellen, with short purple hair covering his eyes, sighed as he sipped from a glass of juice. He wore a crisp black suit and carried himself with lazy elegance.
"Fine."
Qill looked up at Ray, eyes wide with a realization. "You don't think-?"
Ray was already smiling, radiant with pride. "Looks like my son lied about not increasing his options." She giggled. "That's my boy-proving his father wrong. I am so proud."
Qill laughed. "You're going to brag to his face, aren't you?"
Ray nodded with pride. "Absolutely."
"Well, let me help you then." Qill called out, "Colen!"
From the corner of the room, Colen looked up from his book with a cold, indifferent stare.
"Could you please be a sweet cold Bloodheart doll and help our guests find their children?" Qill asked sweetly.
Colen sighed, closed his book, and adjusted his dark tailcoat blazer.
"Gentlemen, follow me," he said in his chillingly calm tone.
As he was about to exit the room, Qill added playfully, mostly to Ray, "And do try to find Maxi as well. Start searching from inside the castle. If you can't find them, we'll be waiting outside-at Maxi's castle."
Colen gave a curt nod and led Lyric and Kellen through the estate. They searched every corridor. Eventually, stepping outside, they heard the unmistakable squeal of a young girl echoing from a small castle in the distance.
Ray and Qill held hands in gleeful anticipation.
"That's Kate's voice!" Lyric cried, tugging at his hair.
Colen's expression remained stoic. "Then that's where we should go."
Kellen yawned, stretching with elegant boredom. "Yeah, I guess so."
The group hurried toward the small castle. As they entered and walked through its marble halls, Kate and Geminid appeared from a side corridor.
Lyric vanished from sight and reappeared in front of Kate in a flash, hugging her tightly. "Where have you been?!"
Geminid, ever elegant, walked up to her brother and gave him a soft hug, turning her eyes toward the group. Kellen scratched his head and asked lazily, "Same question as black-hair. Where've you been?"
Geminid giggled behind her fan. "Oh, with Maxi."
Kate nodded shyly, confirming the story.
Ray and Qill exchanged knowing glances, barely holding back their excitement.
Lyric squinted. "It seems like he took care of you well... but why's your face so red?"
Kellen added, "Yeah... what black-hair said."
Geminid smirked behind her fan. "Oh Was it that obvious?"
Lyric's voice raised in mock panic. "What did he do to you?!"
Kellen groaned. "Same question as black-hair-and stop stealing my lines."
Lyric growled, "If he did anything to you, I swear I'll do it to him ten times worse!"
Kate shook her head furiously, burying herself in Lyric's chest. "No! No, please don't!"
Geminid gently said, "Oh, don't do such a thing to dear Maxi. He was quite the gentleman. All we did was make him read us a book."
Lyric glanced down. "Really?"
Kate peeked out from his embrace and nodded bashfully.
Kellen scoffed in his weird lazy playful teasing tone. "Gosh, you must like him. Especially if you're calling him dear."
Ray finally stepped forward, Qill beside her. Their expressions were sharp-formal.
"If you like our Maxi so much," Ray said firmly, "then how about sending a marriage request?"
The room went dead silent.
Geminid and Kate stared at Ray, wide-eyed.
Qill continued, "You see, our dear Maxi is currently accepting suitors from every family. So if you want to try-if you think you've got a little bit of guts-you better send it quickly. Or he might choose someone else."
Geminid turned to her brother, fluttering her lashes like butterfly wings. "Big Brother... please."
Kellen sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "I want him."
Kellen groaned. "Fine. But you know I only get the final say if Meridia agrees."
"I'll convince her," Geminid said, clinging to his sleeve. "I want him."
Lyric, meanwhile, crossed his arms. "Yeah, makes sense for her, but my Kate isn't interes-"
Kate suddenly tugged on his Kamatī.
"Huh?" Lyric turned to her, confused.
Ray's words echoed in Kate's mind: "Send it quickly, or else he might choose someone else." Mixed with the lingering rush of Maxi's kiss and the fear of losing him...
"I want to marry Maxi too!" she blurted out.
Lyric's jaw dropped. "What?!"
Kate pouted and punched his chest repeatedly. "Please!"
Lyric stumbled sideways, staring at her as if she'd knocked his soul loose.
"Wait, don't you like that guy I set you up with? I chose him especially for you!"
Kellen cut in, "This dumb horse. Didn't Geminid and Meridia already tell you she doesn't like him?"
Lyric growled, baring his teeth.
Kellen smirked. "Fricking beast."
"I care more about Kate's opinion than yours!"
Kate took a breath and shouted, "And my opinion is I don't like him. He's too harsh and intimidating!"
Lyric was stunned. "Seriously?! I thought opposites attract!"
Kate muttered shyly, "So can you please ask for me to marry Maxi?"
Lyric bit his lip, overwhelmed.
"I-ugh. Fine. I hope this is just a crush... I'll send our request tomorrow."
Kellen scoffed. "Black-hair, always so stupid. Well, Miss Ray, if Meridia agrees, we'll send ours too."
Ray nodded, squeezing Qill's hand tightly.
"In that case," Ray and Qill said in perfect unison, grinning, "we'll be expecting to see you around a lot more in the future."
Kellen and Lyric nodded.
As they left, Kellen muttered, "By the way... black-hair, I didn't steal your lines. You're too much of a commoner to think of anything original."
"Peasant," Kellen added, shaking his head.
Geminid giggled behind her fan.
Lyric shouted, "What did you just call me?!"
As the two boys bickered their way out, Ray and Qill finally jumped with joy.
Qill teased, "Your boy's quite the charmer."
Ray smiled proudly. "That's my son. Always a gentleman. Only my son-blessed by both Demon King and Queen-can still be that kind. That's how you know he came from me."
They laughed and teased each other as the evening faded, making their way back to the main castle.
Maxi stirred.
His eyes opened slowly, blinking against the dim light. He was no longer at the party.
He sat up in confusion.
Black stone pillars rose around him. The regal architecture was ominous, laced with silver vines and crimson banners. The floor was cold beneath his fingers.
Paintings lined the walls-each of a mysterious woman whose face was always obscured by shadows.
But none of that concerned him. He rubbed the back of his neck and muttered,
"Where... am I?"