Kyel opened the bedroom door, his face still faintly flushed.
Eva was bending near the wardrobe, rummaging through the shelves. She looked up, startled but smiling softly.
"Oh, Kyel, you're back."
He blinked at her. "What are you doing?"
"Honey, where did you put the extra blanket?"
His brows drew together. "Extra blanket… for whom?"
Eva answered without hesitation. "For me."
Kyel's expression darkened with confusion. "But we already have one on the bed."
"Just tell me where it is," she insisted.
Reluctantly, he opened the wardrobe, pulled out a folded blanket, and handed it to her. "It's here."
"Oh, thank you." Eva took it, her voice light.
He studied her face closely. "Are you feeling cold?"
"No…" she shook her head.
Kyel frowned. "Then why the extra blanket?"
Eva clutched the blanket against her chest, almost too casually. "Kyel… you should sleep here alone tonight."
She grabbed her pillow and started toward the door.
Kyel's hand shot out, catching her wrist. His voice dropped low, almost desperate. "Alone? You're not going to sleep with me tonight?"
"No…" she admitted softly.
His chest tightened. "Then where would you sleep?"
"Oh… I'll be sleeping with Lucina tonight."
The blood drained from Kyel's face. Panic flared in his eyes. "What—?!"
Eva tugged at his hand. "Now let go of me. I need to go to Lucina."
But Kyel's grip only tightened. "No… don't."
"Kyel…" she said firmly, "let me go."
His voice broke, raw and pleading. "Eva, don't go. Just sleep with me."
"We have a guest," she argued, frustrated. "It's improper to let her sleep alone. You can sleep in this room by yourself tonight."
"No," Kyel's voice shook. "Please don't leave me."
Eva sighed, exhaustion in her tone. "Kyel, we sleep together every day. You can sleep alone just tonight. What's the big deal?"
He looked at her as though the world itself was falling apart. "I can't fall asleep without you… so please, don't go."
"Kyel…" Eva's voice sharpened with impatience.
"Let go of my hand. What's wrong with you? Why are you behaving so strangely today? I'm really tired—I just want to sleep. Let go."
"No—"
"Kyel!" Her voice cut through like a blade. "I said let go."
His grip faltered. Slowly, painfully, he released her wrist.
Eva turned away, her face unreadable. "Now go and sleep."
She opened the door and walked out, her footsteps fading down the hall.
Kyel sank to the floor, his head in his hands, trembling.
"This is bad…" he whispered hoarsely.
His heart pounded violently against his ribs.
"This is really bad."
---
The door creaked open.
Lucian, half-asleep, shifted on the bed, one leg lazily sprawled.
Eva's voice whispered gently, "Lucian, are you asleep?"
Lucian's eyes snapped open. "No… Sister, why?"
Eva stepped in, carrying her pillow and an extra blanket. She placed them neatly on the bed and smiled. "I came to sleep with you."
For a moment, Lucian froze, his mind blank. "…What?"
---
On the other side of the wall
Kyel was pacing back and forth in their room, running both hands through his hair.
"This is bad. This is really bad."
He stopped, chest heaving. "What do I do?"
He tried to think, but his thoughts tangled. "Think… think—"
Suddenly his eyes hardened. "…There's only one way."
Without another word, he grabbed his pillow threw the door open and stormed out into the hall.
---
Back in Lucian's room
Eva had already laid her pillow down and slid under the blanket. Her soft smile lingered as she looked at Lucian. "Yes, let's sleep together tonight."
Lucian stiffened. "S-Sister… you should sleep in your room. I can sleep alone."
"No," Eva shook her head firmly. "How could I leave you alone?"
She settled herself comfortably, patting the space beside her. "Lucian, why are you so far away? Come closer."
Lucian's throat went dry. "I—"
Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud crash.
Eva jumped, startled, while Lucian sat up straight.
Kyel stood in the doorway, his expression tense, shoulders taut as if he had run all the way there.
Lucian's eyes flicked to him, softening, asking for help. "Kyel...."
Eva frowned. "Kyel… why are you here? I told you to sleep alone."
Kyel's gaze swept the room, lingering on Eva tucked beside "Lucina," and his jaw clenched. He stepped inside, voice low but firm.
"Princess… let's just all sleep together."
Eva blinked in disbelief. "…What?"
Eva blinked at Kyel's sudden declaration. "All three of us? Kyel, that's ridiculous—"
But before she could argue further, Lucian sat up, forcing a small laugh. "Actually… I think that's not a bad idea. Yes, Kyel should sleep here too."
Eva frowned. Lucian You… want him to sleep here?"
Lucian nodded quickly, perhaps a little too quickly. "Of course. Why not?" His hands twisted nervously in the blanket.
Kyel's lips curved into a relieved smile, though tension still lingered in his eyes. "See, Princess? Even Lucina agrees."
Eva sighed, defeated. "Fine… but then I'll sleep in the middle. That way, it's fair."
She climbed back into bed, patting the space beside her. Kyel immediately settled on her other side, but not before grabbing a couple of pillows. Carefully, he stacked them like a barrier between Eva and Lucian.
Eva raised an eyebrow. "Kyel… what are you doing?"
Before Kyel could answer, Lucian blurted out, "I—I have a habit of kicking in my sleep. It's… safer this way."
Eva blinked, surprised. "Really?"
"Yes," Lucian nodded far too fast, forcing a smile while sweat prickled at his temples. Inside, he was panicking.
Eva gave a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Alright then… "
---
It was almost midnight when Eva finally drifted into soft, steady breaths, curled in the middle of the bed.
But on either side of her, the two remained wide awake, staring into the dark with stiff bodies.
Lucian shifted restlessly on the very edge of the mattress, whispering under his breath, "Ahh… I can't sleep like this."
Kyel's eyes slid toward him, cold and sharp. "Then sleep on the floor."
Lucian shot him a glare, voice low but tight. "I would have done that—if the floor wasn't freezing."
Kyel exhaled through his nose, irritation simmering. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought you here."
Lucian turned his face away, muttering, "I'm regretting it too."
Eva stirred in her sleep, turning over with a soft murmur. Her hand slipped past the pillow barrier and landed right on Lucina's side.
Lucian went rigid, eyes widening. "Ah—! Eyan, do something! She—she touched me!" he whispered frantically.
Kyel's head snapped up, his face darkening. "What the hell are you doing? Push her away!"
"I can't!" Lucian hissed back, gripping the edge of the blanket like it would save him. "If I move, she'll wake up!"
Kyel groaned, running a hand over his face. Finally, he leaned over and slipped an arm around Eva's waist. With one firm tug, he pulled her across the pillows and into his chest, tucking her safely against him. tightening his hold on Eva, making sure she wouldn't wander again.
Eva sighed softly, settling into his warmth, her hand curling against his shirt.
Lucian exhaled shakily, muttering under his breath, "That scared me to death…"
Kyel and Lucina's eyes met over Eva's sleeping form, both trying to stay serious. For a heartbeat, silence stretched—then, almost at the same time, they burst into muffled laughter, shoulders trembling as they fought to keep it quiet.
Lucina pressed a hand to her mouth, whispering between stifled giggles, "This is such a disaster…"
"Stop," Kyel hissed, smothering his own laugh. "Eva will wake up."
Lucina tightened her lips, trying and failing to hold it in. "I swear, I'll remember this for the rest of my life."
Kyel exhaled a half-laugh, half-sigh, shaking his head. "Me too."
Finally, Lucina pushed herself up from the bed, still smiling.
Kyel narrowed his eyes. "Where are you going?"
"Now that Sister's asleep," Lucina whispered, smoothing her dress, "I should go back to the palace."
Kyel gently adjusted Eva, laying her back onto the pillow with careful hands. "Wait. I'll see you off."
Lucina nodded softly, the laughter still dancing in her eyes. "Alright…"