Mating My Naïve Stepsister

“Well mother, what type of man do you think I’ll be blessed with?” I asked my mother as I washed my hands. “Lana, you are you and you have your preferences, any suitor you wish my dear” she said smiling at me. “My lady, let me do that, you can’t be cooking while I’m here” I heard Daphne, my personal maid say. “It’s fine really” I said brushing it off. “Let her cook, her brother’s arriving soon, I’m sure she wants him to have a taste of her meal” my mother said defending my actions with a smile. “Mother, you make it sound absurd, I just want brother to compliment me, the chef, he’s been away for long and I’ve somewhat missed him” I said still rolling the dough. “Okay, my lady” Daphne said as she watched me, I could see her little smile too. Soon we heard chattering of men in the living room “Daphne and Lana, continue, I’ll be back” I heard mother say while walking out of the kitchen. I started frying the dough without any hesitation and soon after the meal was ready, I intended to wash up first before going to see my brother as I didn’t want to be seen in such dirty clothes. I rushed out of the kitchen and headed to my room. I bumped into a figure on my way with my hair covering parts of my face, especially my eyes making it difficult to see who was in front of me “You okay?, little one” the deep voice uttered, no one ever called me that except for “Domain ” I said screaming at the top of my lungs putting my arms around him. “Brother” I said recollecting that I was in flour embedded clothes “Lana, calm down” he said looking and smiling at me. I adjusted my dress and started running to my room “Do not run so fast and ridiculously, you may fall” he said while I didn’t even look back “I’m not a child, brother” I said rushing to my room. I got into my room slamming the door and picking a dress, I quickly washed up when I heard someone call out from outside “My lady, It is I, Daphne” I heard her say, I unlocked the door, wanting her to help me with my necklace. I rushed to the table, pulling my hair to the front, handing the necklace to the one behind me, it was only after it was put on me, I realized that it wasn’t Daphne, it was brother. “Do you avoid me? Lana” he asked as I smiled at him “No brother, I’ve missed you” I said huggging him so tightly. I could feel his grip holding me so tightly. I had missed him so much, our reunion was interrupted by Daphne at the door, telling us to come down for lunch. I walked with my brother as we reminisced about when we were younger. We got to the dining table as everything was set in place for us and we began to eat as father ate first indicating it was now right to eat. After lunch, I decided to walk with Domain in the field, the grasses were soft on the soles of my feet “Do you miss this? Brother” I asked spinning “Yes, sit a little” I heard him say with a bit of laughter. The whole day felt so unreal as it was time to retire to bed after dinner, I wanted to show brother how much I have learnt and grown while he was away, I promised to show him my skills the next day. I woke up early to see the sunrise as I do everyday, I felt elated, rushing downstairs but was stopped in my tracks when I was told Domain had left to visit the king and some warriors in the kingdom as he was now a reliable alpha male, I took to my room instead and decided to paint instead. The strokes of my brush felt soft on the canvas, I smiled painting to my heart’s content and then I heard soft footsteps walking towards my door, I brought out my claws almost at his throat as he held my hand pulling me close to him, it was Domain . “Brother, I had no intention of scratching you, your footsteps sounded nothing like you” I said with my hand still held in place “Little one, you’ve gotten quite faster” he said not minding what I was about to do. “Well I’ve had to train a lot in your absence” I said as he let go of me and I retired to my canvas “What do you paint so earnestly?” I heard him ask “Well brother, us, I’m painting us” I said showing him our little smiles when we were younger as we both smiled now looking at the picture. We both looked at each other’s eyes before turning away as it would soon be time for lunch. I had no interest in cooking after brother had not complimented the food of yesterday even though I didn’t feel bad, I still wanted to hear his praise, Nevertheless we had begun to eat as I could hear father throw questions to Domain “What is your plan for marriage son?” Father said as he chewed “Father, I plan to get the right mate, I haven’t been attracted to anyone yet and it doesn’t bother me, there’s still time left” Domain answered confidently. “You know to succeed the home, you must find a compatible mate as soon as possible” I heard my father say in a soft tone “Yes, father, I am aware, I will protect this home till the end but do not rush me into getting to mate with the wrong one” Domain reprimanded as that was the end of the marriage conversation. After we had dinner I decided to walk alone in the fields, thinking about how I’ll be asked to get married soon, I’m 18 and since brother is 25 and is asked constantly about marriage, it wouldn’t be long before I’m asked as well to get married and produce children, I thought to myself. Domain came outside as well, I could hear his heartbeat “little one, what makes you worry so?” He asked “You saw father’s reaction to you today, it won’t be long till it’s my turn, I hardly understand the rules to this”, I said kicking the grass “Well, by then, you’ll find a mate” he said holding my hand and staring into my eyes “Thank you brother” I said wanting to retire to my room, till I heard him say “What if I’m your mate, would it still take long to understand?” I looked back puzzled at the question and who it was coming from, I couldn’t believe my ears, my own brother, attracted to me. My ears began to ring as I looked at him from far, was he alright? Did he hit his head or was this a prank? I couldn’t wrap my head around his question, I didn’t want it to become a conversation either way, whether a prank or not, I rushed to my room to either panic or think. I closed the door right behind me, I knew it was a prank of some sort, I headed to bed immediately as fatigue clouded my mind and my eyes and because I wanted to avoid any conversations, by tomorrow he maybe sober, that’s if he was drunk. My eyes got pierced by the morning sun because I woke up late, I rushed to have my bath as I heard Daphne at the door “My lady, are you awake?” I immediately looked out after opening the door and dragged her in. “My lady!!” She said looking puzzled at me “Where’s my brother?” I asked as immediately as I could “Lord Domain went out of the house for a ride with a friend of his” she answered looking at me suspiciously. “My lady, how did you sleep? Are you okay?” She asked “I slept well, anyways come and fix my hair, I said and sat down at the dressing table like I hadn’t done something so suspicious this morning. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Daphne asked again because she may be in utter disbelief “Daphne, may I confide in you?” I asked her “Yes, my lady, you may tell me” she answered bringing her head closer. “Lana!!!” I heard loudly as my ears were too sensitive “I think mother’s calling me” I said knowing it was her voice, I know too well than to let her find out what was happening “Just get my hair ready as well as my outfit, we’ll have this chat later” I said rushing Daphne. I walked out my door with Daphne right behind me to meet my mother’s call “You sent for me mother” I said bowing to her “Yes Lana, this is Duke Kesper from the Leon home, I’m sure you know him” she said gesturing that I do what I was taught when meeting men. “Good morning, my lady, it is my pleasure to meet you” Kesper said “Good morning, my Lord, the pleasure is all mine” I said bowing slightly as he held my right hand.