"Please don't let my brother go! I really want to meet my mate this season!"
I smiled awkwardly, confused at everything that was going on. I looked at Dan and then the emperor, only to see them nod encouragingly.
"Uh..." I laughed awkwardly, shifting my eyes back to the woman. She was clasping my hand between us. Her eyes glimmered with hope as if I was the only one who could resolve her problem.
The problem was, I didn't know her problem, and I was just confused!
What did she mean by not letting her brother go? And her wanting to meet her mate? Agreeing with her while knowing nothing might disappoint her.
"Oh, wow." She suddenly raised her brows as she gazed at my hand. "Your hand is so soft!"
Before I could react, she pulled my hand as she leaned forward to sniff on me. My eyes dilated as I froze, watching her draw her head back, only to see her grin brightly.
"Can I lick you?" she asked with that same smile. "Nevermind. Your hand is so soft. Can you pet me?"
"..." I gave up.
Things in Ronmin Empire were just getting more unpredictable by the second. Now that I thought about it, Hugo looked like he was normal. From the brief time I spent with these people, I could tell why Hugo was like that. He strangely matched everyone's mood.
"Oh, right! Why don't we all head in? The young lady might be cold in this climate!" Daniel clapped to catch everyone's attention. He winked at me and smiled before setting his eyes to the emperor.
"Father, let me assist you inside."
"Sister, let's go in?" the lady holding my hand smiled brightly. "My name is Teresa, but you can call me Reese or Tere or Resa, whatever you like."
Teresa held my hand, guiding me inside. I glanced at everyone and they were also entering the main palace. This was Hugo's family, and a subtle smile resurfaced on my face as I gazed at Teresa again.
"My name is Rinnie," I said with the same smile. "I'm happy to meet you, Reese."
Her lips stretched wider as she giggled, hooking her arm around mine. "I'm so happy Hugo is finally getting married."
"Why is that?" I asked in a low tone, a little more comfortable as Teresa gave off this welcoming vibe.
"Because he will stop getting bitter about the most important thing in my life?" She tilted her head, eyebrow raised. "Do you know I was delayed about joining the mating balls and all because of him? He kept sabotaging the mating season just because he disliked it. I should've gotten married to my beloved mate if not because of him."
Teresa pouted bitterly, letting out a sharp breath. "But now that you are here, I can finally join the ball and find the one~!"
"Yes! It's the first time he let a woman aside from his sisters get near him." Teresa leaned closer to gossip. "Did you know? Before, Brother Hugo is the most sought werewolf and everyone is hoping to be his mate. But when everyone figured he was a lunatic, they stayed away from him like a plague!"
Why did she look so happy about this? I wondered while staring at her in silence.
"But even so, that hateful brother of mine kept sabotaging every ball and the entire mating season. A lot of us couldn't even find our mate and others are too afraid to attend because of him."
"Just how does Hugo sabotage the mating season?" I blurted out, pressing my lips into a thin line after realizing my question. Teresa seemed she would happily feed my curiosity, though.
"The last time, a fire broke out. There was a time they all had stomach pain because he put something on the food, and all those things, you know? He's a devil and everyone hates him for that. I hate him..." she then raised her head and smiled. "... but I don't hate you~! Another sister in this family isn't bad~! The only bad thing is that you're marrying brother Hugo." She sighed as she glanced at her siblings.
Teresa then leaned to my side and whispered in my ear.
"Sister, why don't you marry my other brothers instead? Dan is a better option than Brother Hugo." She cast me an encouraging look, nodding ever so slowly.
Didn't she say she was happy because Hugo was marrying? Who would marry Hugo if I married her other brothers instead? Not that I was considering, but it was an absurd suggestion.
"Teresa, dearest, stop feeding our sister an absurd idea."
Suddenly, Alice's soothing voice caressed our ears. I turned my gaze to her, and she was already walking beside me while Teresa was on the other side.
"Hello, my new little sister." She smiled at me. Alice looked even more stunning when she smile as her red lips matched the color of her dark red hair. Her golden eyes glimmered as she gazed at me.
"I agree with Reese. You should marry another brother of ours instead of brother Hugo." My eyes veered at the front, seeing Sally, the little girl, walk backward while facing us. "In that case, the detestable mating season will cease to exist."
"Oh, dear Sally, just admit that you also hate the mating season and secretly support Hugo." Alice teased with a soft chuckle, making Sally click her tongue and pout.
"Who will like a little girl as their mate who doesn't grow?" Cora also joined us as she walked beside Alice. Unlike her intimidating demeanor before her brothers, she smiled warmly at me.
"Don't listen to these children, sister. They were all just bitter because they hadn't met their mates," she added in a playful tone, causing Teresa and Sally's mood to go down.
"It's so nice to have another sister," Alice spoke after a few seconds of silence, hooking her arm around mine. "Why don't we all sleep together tonight? How does that sound?" she suggested with a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't. My husband will be sad if I don't join him tonight..." Cora immediately created distance from Alice, but the latter caught her hand and grinned.
"Let your husband miss you." Alice then dragged Cora back with us.
"No... I will miss my cute husband...!" But to no avail.. Cora could only complain as Alice, the eldest daughter of the emperor, dragged us all to have a slumber party as a welcome for me.