"Living here?" Calantha said, "All the beds are taken."
"So? I can sleep with daddy."
Calantha brows furrowed, "That's not how it works. Besides your, da- Hajime is sharing a bed with Aveline."
"What?" Sakura's eyes darted to Hajime.
"No, I- " Hajime protested, before seeing the fire in her eyes. "I-I'm just sleeping next to her."
"On her bed though."
"Yes."
Sakura's eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched.
"Then daddy can sleep on the couch. I'll sleep with Aveline."
"Why-"
"This is for the best." Sakura interrupted. "I'll need to stay close to Aveline."
Hajime eyes narrowed.
"What for?"
"Personal reasons." Sakura retorted.
Hajime opened his mouth to ask another question but Aveline spoke first.
"Hajime sleeps with me." she said without looking away from her book.
Sakura glared daggers at the violet-haired bookworm.
"Why not let Sakura stay in the maid's room?" Veloria said, oblivious to the tension, "You didn't bring a maid right Hajime?"
"No, I didn't bring a maid."
"That settles it."
Sakura's shoulder slumped before she threw herself on the couch, burying her head in the softness, suddenly she lifted her head and met Hajime's eyes, "Daddy can just visit me at night then." she said, a smirk on her face.
Both Calantha and Veloria raised their eyebrows, and even Aveline's eyes darted to Hajime for a split second.
"I guess that's fine?" Veloria tilted her head to the left, "They're father and daughter? It's confusing."
Calantha shrugged her shoulders, her nose buried back into her notebook.
"Right, right...Anyways let's play a game to get to know each other." Veloria said.
The other two princesses ignored her, causing her to bite her lip, before quickly putting on a smile and facing Hajime.
"What about you?"
Hajime's heart ached a little, seeing her being ignored. He had a long day with Aveline already and he wanted to rest, not to mention Sakura is now living with them. But he remembered his main goal was to get stronger. It's only a game, he thought.
The group heard jingles, the door was opened, a lithe figure stepped inside, her violet eyes switched from one person to the next until they landed on Sakura. The figure glared at the short Oleander.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped.
"Me? What are you!" Sakura said, "I live here."
"That's not funny." she scoffed, "I hate liars."
"I didn't lie."
The figure looked at her sister, Veloria.
"Velor what's this, invasive weed, doing here." she asked.
"That's rude sis, Sakura is Hajime's adopted daughter."
Brielle let out a heavy sigh, she put the keys back into her pocket, closed the door behind her, and took a box from her bag.
The box was decorated with little hearts and brown flowers. She glanced at her sister. Her sister had her arms crossed as she squinted at Brielle.
"Fine, I'll get over it." she rolled her eyes, "I brought you guys chocolate."
Her eyes flashed across the room, landing on Calantha, she walked towards her and extended the box, Calantha happily took the skull-shaped chocolate. Brielle approached Aveline, who was reading, and offered her one. Aveline eyed the chocolate, her lips parted slightly before her expression turned unreadable and she shook her head.
"Okay." Brielle said with an awkward smile on her face.
"Velor, want some?" she asked her sister.
"Of course." Veloria stood up and took a mint-colored chocolate from the box, "I love sweets."
Brielle's face brightened, she happily skipped over to Hajime, and offered him one.
"Surely you won't reject a woman's gift, will you?" Brielle said smugly, as she put one hand on her hip.
"No, no of course not." Hajime responded, before taking one of the chocolates and giving it a taste.
"Delicious." he commented.
A smile formed on her lips. "I'm glad."
"Hey no fair, I want one too." Sakura demanded, a visible flush on her cheeks, as she glared at Brielle.
"Here you go." Brielle said as she threw Sakura a fungus-shaped chocolate.
"Ew."
"That's the last one." Brielle hastily covered the box back up, preventing Sakura from peeking inside.
Hajime chuckled lightly. This group will certainly be interesting, he thought.
"Anyways, Hajime, Sakura and I were just about to play a game," Veloria said as she looked at Hajime before turning to her sister, "You'll join us right sis?"
"Of course I'll play," Brielle nodded, "How about the others?"
"Cal, Avi, will you two stop reading and join us?" Veloria asked.
"Not interested." Calantha answered.
Aveline chose to ignore them.
"Hmph." Veloria grumbled. She huffed loudly, before sticking out her tongue at the two, and puffing her cheeks.
"I'm not playing either." Sakura commented.
"Why not?" Veloria asked.
"I need to get my room ready, Daddy will help me so he can't play either." she said.
"Fine, whatever," Veloria threw up her hands in a gesture of surrender, "But you're missing out."
"I'll take my leave," Calantha stood up, closed her notebook, and started to walk up the wooden stairs, "Have a good night everyone."
"Good night." the group said in unison, except for Aveline, who remained quiet.
The moment that Hajime saw Sakura at the gate, he felt something was missing, but he couldn't put his finger on it until now.
"Sakura." he said, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Hm?" Sakura tilted her head, "I don't think so."
"Really, nothing." Hajime continued.
"Nope, nothing's coming to mind." Sakura paused, her eyes widened, as a gasp escaped her mouth, she turned towards the door and dashed away.
"What was that about?" Brielle said.
Hajime scratched his back.
"Well she forgot her favorite book." He lied.
Brielle's eyes narrowed, she looked silently at Hajime.
"She ran away to get her book?" Brielle said, "That seems unlikely."
Hajime smiled.
"Why not?"
Brielle bit her lip, her brows furrowed.
"Hajime don't mind her, sis can be a little paranoid at times" Veloria spoke.
"Paranoid." Brielle muttered, "I'm just being careful."
Veloria bit her lips.
"Anyways I think we're going to hit the hay too." she said.
"Okay good night" Hajime said.
"Night" They replied, Veloria picked up the box and followed her sister upstairs.
Hajime heaved a sigh. He looked at the woman, who was focused on her book. She remained silent.
"So what are you reading?" he said.
The sounds of doors closing upstairs were heard, yet the woman was quiet. Hajime rubbed the back of his neck, he looked at the clock that hung near the stairs, the seconds went by, and still no response from the princess. He felt himself get thirsty yet he decided to sit next to the princess.
In silence, they sat. Hajime was contemplating his life's choice, staring at the paintings with restless legs. If he had looked at Aveline, he'd notice the small shine in her eyes.