“Mia, why haven’t you answered me this whole time? Were you secretly reading some weird novel again?”

Freya slowly approached Mia’s bedside, gazing at the quilt-covered lump that was her sister.

“Ah… I… I just got a little drowsy. All fuzzy-headed. Almost fell asleep.”

Mia rubbed her eyes, pretending to be sleepy. To prove she was ready for bed, she’d already lain flat in the center of the mattress—pressing Karl, hidden beneath the covers, tightly against her side.

“Mia… can I sit beside you?”

Mia’s heart hammered. “Ah… c-can you not? Sister, you just finished sword practice. You’re all sweaty… smelly.”

*How dare she call my wife’s sweat smelly?! It’s fragrant!!!* Karl fumed silently under the quilt.

Seeing Mia’s exaggerated disgust, Freya sighed. “Fine, I won’t sit. I just came to check on you. I worried Mom’s words at dinner were too harsh.”

*(That “dinner” had been Mia’s personal scolding session—even Freya thought it was excessive.)*

Mia smiled gently. “Sister, you overthink. Mom’s always like that. I’m used to it. In one ear, out the other—I don’t take it to heart.”

Freya let out a soft sigh. “If Mom heard that, you’d get another lecture.”

“As long as *you* don’t tell~” *(And the brother-in-law under the covers definitely won’t~)*

Mia playfully stuck out her tongue.

Freya chuckled, then frowned in confusion. “Mia… you usually sleep naked. Why are you still in your outer clothes tonight?? Suddenly not worried about dirt???”

“Ah! I… I…" Mia froze. No matter how well she hid it, the evidence was right there.

“You didn’t open the door earlier—were you changing, scared I’d see you??” Freya offered kindly.

“Ah… y-yes. Exactly.” Mia scrambled to agree.

“Silly. I’m your sister! Nothing to be shy about. Take them off—I’ll fold and put them in the laundry basket.”

“Ah… n-now?! That’s… awkward… Nana can handle it later.” Mia fidgeted her legs, cheeks burning.

*Holy crap!* Karl’s pulse spiked. *Pressed against my sister-in-law… if she starts undressing…*

“Nana broke a plate washing dishes and’s getting scolded. She won’t be free. Let me help.” Freya reached for Mia’s shirt.

“N-no! I’ll do it!” Mia yanked up her blouse hem, peeled off the white shirt—revealing a soft light-blue bra. Her face was redder than a ripe apple.

“And the pants.”

“O-oh…” Under the covers, Mia fumbled quickly, slipping off her soft trousers.

Karl endured every accidental brush of her thigh—throbbing uncontrollably. *If Freya lifts this quilt now, I’m doomed.*

“H-here… the pants…” Mia handed them over carefully.

Freya folded them neatly, placed them in the basket—then paused. “You’re sleeping in your bra? Take it off. I’ll give it to Ling to wash. And… did you change your underwear??”

“Ah! I… I did!” *(She hadn’t. But stripping fully under the quilt? In front of her brother-in-law?!)*

“Then hand me the bra.”

“O-oh…” Hesitantly, Mia reached behind her back, unclasped the hook with two fingers.

Karl paled. *Am I even allowed to see this?!* Yet his nose and cheek still grazed her warm skin.

*God… I’m guilty. Unforgivably guilty.*

As he silently prayed, his hardened state pressed unmistakably against her thigh.

All he could picture: Freya standing bedside, cleaver in hand.

Freya took the bra, walked slowly to the door, and turned. “I’ll turn off the light. Good night.”

She switched off the room’s main magic lamp, leaving only the gentle glow of scented candles.

The *click* of the door sent Karl bursting out from under the quilt, gasping.

*I nearly suffocated in her sweet scent!*

He drew breath to escape—

Mia’s hand shot out, pinning his wrist. “Sister might still be nearby! What if she sees you?”

Karl ducked back under, heart racing. *She’s right… what if Freya doubles back?!*

In the candlelit dimness, he met Mia’s azure eyes, face flushed. “I… I kept my eyes closed. Saw nothing.”

*(A lie. He’d seen every pale, pink, tender, glistening detail.)*

*(But he could never admit that.)*

Mia lowered her crimson face, voice a whisper. “B-brother-in-law… even if you saw… I don’t mind at all.”

?????

*Girl, YOU don’t mind—I do!! I might not hold back!!*

Just then—Mia’s thigh slowly brushed his, rubbing gently.

!!!!!

A giant **DANGER** flashed in Karl’s mind.

*If I lose control now…*

He vaulted out of bed. “NO! Mia, stop! I am NOT dying young!”

He yanked the door open, peeked outside, confirmed the coast was clear—and fled like a shadow.

This time, Mia didn’t stop him. She buried her burning face in the quilt and murmured:

“Brother-in-law… you have to take responsibility…”