Sisters and Strangers
Tip. Tap. Tip. Tap...
There was the clear ring of heels off marble floor. All eyes turned to the grand entrance.
The figure stepped out of the hallway—elegant, assured, and completely entrancing.
Long dark hair fell like silk along her back, moving with every step. Her dress hugged her curves sufficiently to demand notice without speech. In the warm light of the chandeliers, her dark-black eyes glimmered, reflecting light like dark onyx.
She stepped with quiet dignity, each movement measured, her very presence casting a peaceful quiet over the room. Her eyes scanned the faces around her—searching, hesitant—until they finally settled at the dining table.
Then she caught Leon’s eyes.
Her poise snapped. A harsh gasp caught in her throat, and a soft flush rose to her cheeks, shattering her confident mask.
Mia Starlight stood frozen for a heartbeat longer, as if the world had narrowed to just this moment—just him. Then, barely, her lips parted, a whisper on the edge of becoming a smile.
"Mia!" Rias called out cheerfully from her seat, her tone light and welcoming, unaware of the tension rippling beneath the surface. "You’re back! Come, join us for breakfast."
Mia blinked, taken aback for a moment. "Ah... y-yes," she got out, trying to summon a polite smile as she started to walk.
She moved towards the dining room with elegant, well-practiced strides. But as she reached, her eyes fell on someone sitting just beside Cynthia.
A woman dressed in classy yet authoritative clothes—regal in every stitch. Her sharp emerald gaze. Manner that commanded respect without saying a word.
Nova. The Duchess Nova.
Mia’s breath stopped in her throat. Her feet stumbled.
Nova, across the table, had also stiffened, the surprise glancing just for a moment in her eyes before her mask slid back into place.
Their gazes clashed. And in that moment, time became slow.
Recognition hit—silent, keen, and weighed with unspoken history.
"Mia Starlight," Nova replied finally, her tone relaxed and serene, with only a touch of steel underlying. Her head cocked fractionally to one side, a brow arched. "Duke Starlight’s daughter. It’s been a while."
Mia strode in quickly, her stance erect but not stiff, and made a smooth curtsy bow. "Hello, Duchess Nova. Yes... it’s been some time."
"Rise," Nova answered, her voice smooth and chilly. "No bowing in a dining room, please."
Mia stood up, meticulously adjusting her skirts. "Thank you." She breathed slowly before continuing with a small, rehearsed smile, "You look... stunning."
At first glance, her words were warm—almost overly warm. But beneath them was a current of discomfort. When Mia looked into Nova’s eyes, she couldn’t help but suppress the questions lurking beneath her polite facade.
Why is she here? she thought quietly. Why at Leon’s table...? And most of all—why does she look so at home, like she fits in here?
Her eyes wandered across the room. The others smiled warmly, their faces unflustered by Nova’s arrival—embracing her as though she’d never been gone. That only knotted Mia’s chest further. She refocused her attention on Nova. Her smile remained, but her eyes betrayed a flash of tension—respect tinged with nerves, and a quiet undercurrent of guarded curiosity. The elegant duchess who sat so comfortably beside Leon didn’t seem like a visitor.
She seemed to fit in.
Nova, on the other hand, was outwardly calm, but a silent battle raged within. She’s well-mannered enough... and thankfully, not anything like her father.
Her bearing was relaxed, her behavior calculated—controlled, not controlling.
Odd... I would have expected more of him in her. That insufferable conceit, the smirk, the plotting charm. But no—this one is different.
Gross. Nova’s jaw did a faint clench at the recollection. That oaf pursued me through duels, balls, and battlefields, constantly attempting to charm me like I was a prize to be won. As if his rank and power made him entitled to anything—and me. Gross. The way he smirked—like the world was supposed to bow down for him? Gross.
Nonetheless, Nova recognized the girl’s effort at politeness. At least she hadn’t taken after her father’s nasty charm.
Shifted slightly in her chair, Nova crossed one leg over the other with refined precision. Her voice was light, but definitely sarcastic "So, Mia," Nova replied, her tone even—neither warm nor cold, but infused with interest. "What are you doing here?
Mia hesitated for half a second, blinking at the tone. There was no hostility in Nova’s words... but something about the way she asked—like she owned the place—caught Mia off guard. Yet, she opened her mouth to answer, but Rias spoke up first, her voice light and cheerful.
Sister Nova, Mia’s been living with us—and she’s one of our sisters too, just like you!
Nova’s eyes scanned over to her, a flash of shock passing over her face. "Sister. Mia?" she repeated, then faced Leon with one quirked brow. "You brought her into the harem as well?"
Leon seemed poised to explain, but Rias was faster—again. "She has feelings for Daddy," Rias chirped merrily, eyes sparkling with trickster mischief. "And well... I figured Daddy would never crush a maiden’s heart. So, I invited her."
Mia flushed a deep reddish hue. "R-Rias, don’t say it so..."
Nova spun back to Rias, one eye squinting. "You invited her?"
Rias simply nodded, her tone light but matter-of-fact. "She’s, my friend. And she’s been with us for a while now. But... she hasn’t kissed Daddy or anything." She tilted her head toward Nova with a small smile. "You’re the only new woman who’s done that so far."
Nova nearly choked, caught completely off guard by the blunt statement. This girl...
Mia’s eyes went wide, color flooding her cheeks. "She kissed him?" she breathed, her words barely above a whisper. Wait—she kissed him?!
Leon sighed and laughed, rubbing his temples like a man alRead the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free! "Alright, this is getting out of hand." he thought in heart
Nova pressed her lips together, then slowly breathed out. Collecting herself, and nodded slightly. "Fine. I see.
Rias clapped her hands gently, changing the atmosphere with cheerful ease. "Well then—Mia, go ahead and sit down too!" She nodded towards the vacant chair next to Kyra.
Mia held back, her gaze darting to Leon. He gave her a gentle, reassuring nod.
With a shy nod of her own, Mia glided quietly over to the chair and took her seat next to Kyra, her movements smooth and slightly nervous.
A rattling sound came down the corridor, soft, the gentle whir of wheels against smooth stone.
A cart made its way around the corner. Mira had come back, her stance unbreakable, her steps practiced.