13 Chapter 12: True Terror

"OHOHOHO! OHOHOHO!" Charlotte laughed evilly. She placed her hand over her mouth, similar as to how a typical villainess would. Her face contorted as she relished in her actions.

"C—Charlotte? What are you—" River stammered. He was leisurely walking to his class when suddenly, he had stumbled upon a shocking scene before him. His beloved younger sister, Charlotte, had pushed someone into the fountain. Judging from their clothing, it seems to be a female student from the academy. As she fell, her head smacked against the stone and in the process, caused her forehead to bleed upon impact. The colour of the fountain water tinged red with her blood.

"How dare you talk to His Highness when his fiancée is right here?" she pointed manicured nail to the student. The girl started shivering and was unable to meet her gaze.

'What is going on? My sister wouldn't do something like this!' River stared in disbelief. And also, why was Charlotte's beautiful straight hair permed into a drill? She looked absolutely ridiculous!

"Lady Charlotte! Your jealousy has gone too far! How could you physically harm another student? She almost died!" Ezekiel boomed. River hadn't even noticed that His Highness had been standing there all along.

'Wait a second! Why on earth would Charlotte get jealous over that dumb idiot?' River wanted to intervene. Surely there's been some kind of mistake. Yes! Maybe if he saw her inner thoughts, everything would be cleared up!

But when River turned to look at his sister, his expression immediately fell. Because in front of her, the familiar dialogue box was missing. What happened to it? Did it disappear? Is that why her personality changed?

"Lady Charlotte. I've lost all respect for you now. Your personality is as ugly as your drill locks. Honestly, even I wouldn't see you as someone attractive," another voice spoke up. It was Caspian, who had suddenly appeared from the crowds. He looked at Charlotte with displeasure etched on his face.

'Wait a second! I agree that my sister's drill locks are unbecoming of her looks but, she is far from ugly. Just yesterday, you were pestering her to go on a date!' River internally yelled. He was angry that this baboon would dare say his cute sister is ugly.

"I'm disappointed to have you as my sister!"

'Wait! Who said that? W- Was that me? What am I saying?'

Unfortunately for him, it was indeed River himself who spoke.

But, his body was doing it completely against his will. Internally, he thought differently but, his mouth moved by its own accord.

River tried to hold himself back however, his feet brought him forward. As he walked towards his sister, he could see from the corner of his eyes that Ezekiel was helping the girl up to his feet and on to drier ground. River swiftly turned his body around, facing his sister who had narrowed her eyes at him. She was looking at him angrily, raising her hands above her head and then...

'Wait Charlotte—'

SLAP!

The resounding sound of skin hitting another echoed through the hallways. Everyone else gasped in surprise, including River.

Charlotte, who had always been calm and collected, and the prime model of a perfect lady, had slapped him right in the face. River couldn't be anymore shaken as the pain throbbed his right cheek.

"I HATE YOU BROTHER!"

Did his lovely sister just hit him and shouted that she hates him?

"You are expelled from the household, you utter disgrace. The Bellarose will never acknowledge a violent person such as yourself as part of the family," he said slowly, pushing his glasses up. It was surprising that his glasses didn't fly from his face.

On the outside, his expression was nonchalant. But inside, River was crying— well, a river.

He didn't want to say those words! He didn't want his sister to be expelled from the family. What would she do on her own without his protection? But, he couldn't stop opening his mouth to say those words! Only the cruel ones flowed out like an automatic response.

"Don't— Don't expel Lady Charlotte...." another familiar voice shook. River recognised that soft voice anywhere.

It was Kit!

River felt a wash of relief over his body. A few weeks ago, Kit was the one who stood up for his sister against everyone else. With his kind heart, surely Kit will do the same now!

As River turned around to face Kit, suddenly his vision crumbled.

'WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!' River wanted to scream.

Kit, his sister's only savior, was dressed up.... as the female student who fell into a fountain. Because he had fallen on to his hands and knees, River didn't notice the 'girl' that much, but now that he stood up, you can clearly see his tall height and bulging muscles through the thin layer of clothing he was wearing. The buttons look like it was about to pop at any second!

And why in God's name is he wearing a skirt? Oh my god! The horror of looking at a man's hairy legs while he was using a miniskirt is too much to bear for his eyes!

How on earth did he mistaken him as a 'her'?!

"Now, now. No need to defend her. You have such a kind heart, Lady Albertine," Ezekiel hugged the man larger than him.

'Excuseeeee me? Lady? LADY Albertine?!'

"Indeed. You don't have to be afraid of her because we're here to protect you," Caspian nodded in agreement. His hand was trying to reach for Kit's hair to pat it, but he was far too tall for him.

'I'm pretty sure he can protect himself if he swings his hands just a little bit!' River sobbed.

"My lady, rest assure that we will handle this matter"

'Wait! Where is my body going?'

River moved towards the direction of Kit. His hand took his hairy hands into his own.

"Oh my goodness!" Kit gasped with tears brimming in his eyes.

'OH HELL NO!'

As River's face moved closer towards Kit's hand, River tried desperately to control his body. There's absolutely no way in hell he was gonna kiss a man's hand! No! No! No! No!

But try as he might, it was to no avail—his lips was closing in on Kit's hands.

"NOOOOOOOO!"

River's body jerked forward, his eyes flew open. Panting really hard, he blinked as he tried to process his situation. He was.... dreaming? It was all just a nightmare?

"Keep it down! I've trying to sleep here!" Ezekiel shouted from across the room. Before he went back to sleep, Ezekiel grumbled that he should have taken the single room option when they signed up for the dorm rooms. River kept silent, still unable to forget the terrible dream he had. Instead of going back to sleep, he silently got ready for classes.

That day, River couldn't meet Kit's eyes during lunchtime. Because every time he did, he couldn't stop imagining him in a female uniform.

"I really should stop eating Taco Tuesdays from the cafeteria"