Chapter 48 — A Pregnant Big Sis.

"You must not reveal this anymore," Mira urged, her face etched with genuine concern. "We are lucky that you won’t have to wait long—the awakening ceremony is within this week. Please, brother, keep it a secret until then."

Kael felt the weight of her fear. If word got out that he had bypassed the natural order of power, he would be hunted. He patted her head gently and pressed a reassuring kiss to her cheek.

"I understand the situation clearly now, Mira. Thank you for the warning, and I’m sorry for troubling you with my recklessness."

"Hmm," she replied, her tension easing just a fraction as they continued their walk toward their older sister’s home.

Ruby lived on the far side of Korua, a thirty-minute trek that required them to cross the heart of the town.

As they moved, Kael observed the shifting landscape. The outer districts were modest, similar to his own home, but as they reached the marketplace, the architecture transformed.

Massive, multi-storied manors loomed over the stalls—symbols of the concentrated wealth of the local elite.

Income disparity is a reality no matter what world you inhabit, Kael mused with a silent sigh.

But it wasn’t the opulence that caught his attention; it was the people. Nudity wasn’t entirely foreign to the common folk here, but the wealthy usually prided themselves on elaborate, status-signaling attire.

Seeing so many people running about in their birthday suits was jarringly out of place.

As he observed them, two details burned into his mind. First, these individuals were all engaged in menial, repetitive labor—scrubbing stone, hauling crates, and bowing low to the residents of the manors.

Second, each of them bore a distinct, branded star on their left buttock.

Kael’s pulse quickened. The symbol felt heavy with meaning, yet his own memories remained stubbornly sealed, offering no explanation for the mark or the status of these people.

He glanced at Mira, desperate for context, but he caught himself before speaking. To ask about something so visible and commonplace would be a glaring red flag, exposing his amnesia—or worse, his lack of "common" knowledge.

He clamped his mouth shut, deciding to observe silently and piece the puzzle together on his own.

He didn’t want to risk his cover when the very next step of their journey was walking into his sister Ruby’s house.

They reached Ruby’s house and knocked on the door. It was a modest home, much like their own. Kael waited outside with Mira, but for a long moment, no one answered.

Mira tilted her head, pressing her ear to the door.

"She’s probably just relaxing or busy with chores," Mira murmured. She gave the door a firm push, and it swung open easily.

"Come on, let’s just go in."

Kael followed her inside, his senses alert to the quiet hum of the house. As they stepped into the main living area, he heard the soft rustle of movement from the next room.

Mira walked ahead, peering around the corner, and her face lit up. She didn’t hesitate, running straight into the room.

Curious, Kael followed her and paused in the doorway.

Ruby was lounging on the bed, looking like a younger version of Amber, with her long, vibrant red hair fanned out across the pillows.

She was not wearing anything, highlighting her perky breasts and lithe figure. She looked completely at ease, as if she had been enjoying a quiet moment of rest before their unexpected arrival.

She was relaxing on the bed, her oversized, pregnant belly making movement difficult, but she looked delighted to see them.

"Kael, you’re here!" Ruby exclaimed, her face lighting up. She reached out toward him, struggling to lift her heavy frame.

"Come close, Kael, let me hold you."

Seeing her difficulty, Kael moved quickly to her side, gently placing his hands on her back to support her weight as he helped her sit upright.

Once she was settled, she reached out and began to rub his cheeks with her hands, her expression turning tender. She leaned in, raining soft, affectionate kisses all over his face.

"I was so scared for you, Kael, when word reached us about your condition," she said, her eyes beginning to well up with tears.

"Please forgive your sister. I wanted to visit you, but no one would allow me to leave the house because of the pregnancy."

Kael felt a pang of sympathy and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

"You don’t need to worry anymore, Sis. I am perfectly fine now, just like I was before. And don’t blame yourself; I don’t mind at all. Your condition is delicate, so you shouldn’t be moving around too much anyway. Please, just rest easy."

With that, he pulled her into a hug. It felt a little awkward given that she was resting on the bed in only her naked, but he set his awkwardness aside, focusing instead on the relief radiating from his sister.

Mira was already deeply engrossed in conversation with Ruby, catching her up on the happenings at home.

Interrupting their talk, Ruby started to shift. "You wait here, brother. I’ll bring you some milk for refreshment."

Kael immediately held up a hand, denying her the effort. "No, Ruby, please stay put. You need the rest."

Seeing their interaction, Mira stood up and headed toward the kitchen. "I’ll get it," she offered. Kael watched her go, a flicker of surprise crossing his mind. When did she become so polite?

Within a few minutes, Mira returned carrying two earthen glasses of Ratga milk. "Here, brother."

Kael took the glass and downed it in one go. "Thanks, Mira." Mira smiled back, then sat down beside him and sipped from her own glass.

Kael frowned slightly; the milk tasted distinctly different from what he was used to. It must be because what I’ve been drinking until now was Lyla’s milk, while this seems to come from the farmed Ratgas, he reasoned.

But then he paused, remembering he had already tasted the milk from the farmed Ratgas at his aunt’s place before.

He decided to put his mental theories to rest and asked her directly, "How did you prepare this milk? It felt... ahem, different than usual."

A large, knowing smile bloomed on Mira’s face. She replied cheerfully, "Yes, Brother! I prepared it just like you did with our fruits. I thought it would be good to let you have the taste of my juice too, since I already had yours."

Kael felt a wave of nausea hit him as the gravity of Mira’s words set in. He wanted to give himself a tight slap for even asking. He realized he needed to nip this behavior in the bud immediately.

"Mira," he said, keeping his voice low and steady. "You don’t need to do this. I prefer to taste your juices right from the source. Adding it to the milk just dissolves the rich, pure taste."

Mira blushed deeply, her eyes dropping as she toyed with the hem of her skirt.

Kael reached over and gave her a soft, chaste peck on the top of her head to soften the rejection, hoping she understood the boundary he was trying to set.

*****

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