Chapter 43 - Confession

WARNING!!!

THIS HAS DRAMA AND CRINGE.

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Heading toward their destination, Caelum followed them to see Mary at the food court within the local mall. She immediately notices them arrive, waves her hands and runs up to them giving each of her friends a tight hug. Caelum smiles then notices her mischievous glances giving her a wave. 

"How have you girls been!? I'm sorry I couldn't get the chance to meet you."

"It's fine as long as you don't forget about us."

"We can just play Eternum later together."

"Right, you've mentioned that Caelum here had bought you an Eternum gear. We can play on my favorite server which is about mythology that has gods and stuff."

"That sounds like a plan! We still have a few days until the start of the school year."

"I almost forgot…Did you enjoy my kiss, Caelum~?"

Mary wrapped her arms around his arms pressing her breast while alluringly staring at him while Liliena annoyed seeing her friend hugging intimately with her brother and envious that she couldn't do the same, on the other hand, Annie sadden that she couldn't be bolder like her friend and still afraid that it could ruin their friendship if she took the chances. 

Caelum knows this and only needed the perfect moment when the parameter told him that their view in harem was ripe. He always monitors how they feel via the parameter. The girls waited anxiously for his words.

"...I did but you sure are bold?"

"Hehehe I don't really mind sharing with you. My dad has three wives anyway so it's not strange to me."

Mary was open minded in sharing with someone and she knew what kind of man he was. Caelum isn't one who would act that could harm and ruin his relationship. 

"Mary, you know we're not as open minded as you!"

"Sorry sorry but Caelum did you know that Annie has a crush on you?"

"Maaaarry!!"

Annie blush wanting to run away from the place since she's too embarrassed to confess in front of her friends especially Liliena who was extremely envious of her friends yet couldn't hate them since they were her friends for a long time. 

"I know, I'm not that dense."

"Wait, you know that Annie likes you!?"

"It's best if we take a seat."

Everyone sat down while anxiously looking at Caelum who knew this was the perfect opportunity to tell them how he feels even before meeting sapphire. Liliena felt her heart ache seeing Caelum about to confess and wanted to run from there and cry but didn't want to ruin her relationship with her friend.

"I'll be in the bathroom…"

"...L-Liliena."

Annie shakily called out to her friends who tried to hide her frustration while Caelum felt the emotion flooding into his psyche. He was connected to those who have deep affection for him because of the Harem Parameter. It made sure to see if he was lacking in giving them affection. 

Liliena ignored her friend and quickly went into the bathroom leaving Annie feeling guilty while Mary regretted for getting out of hand. She just has different common sense than them when it comes to relationships. 

"*Sigh*....don't worry, Annie. She won't be mad at you for long. I promise I'll talk to her later."

Caelum showed a smile reassuring her that it won't ruin their friendship because of her feelings for him. Annie remained anxious and was able to nod and listen to what he was about to say.

"Y-You how I feel about you?"

"I did for a long time now."

"..."

"At first I was too occupied with things that I appear dense but in truth I knew it. Both of you but couldn't accept your feeling just yet."

"...Why?"

"Because I wanted things to settle down since I don't want to drag you into our problem. That's when I made a decision to wait until my problem ended and finally answer their feelings...but then, I fell in a dilemma….regarding which of you I should choose…"

Caelum knows that it was no or never and would just talk with Liliena later since no one else besides their parents knew that he wasn't related to them. He could see the two intently listening to his words while their heart was pounding from his confession.

"This sounds selfish of me….I'm sorry I couldn't choose and you two can reject my decision but...I want you two to be my lover."

He cringe a bit since in the black clover universe didn't have to be confess when Noelle and Mimosa already was affection when they were young while Mereoleona was straight forward and don't like romance stuff. Lily and Charlotte are the closest people who like to be romantic while Vanessa already past the romance stuff and took Caelum when she had the chance. 

On the other hand, Secre had grown fond of caelum and had a bit of confession when she was revealed to be human but didn't use any cringy words like right now. As for Vanica, she's under Lily since her mind is too frightened after what she experienced. 

The two seem quiet from his words with Annie having an inner turmoil since it was bizarre that she would be sharing her man with another woman if she were to accept it but knowing that by rejecting him then she would lose her chances. She gave it some thought and sharing doesn't sound bad knowing that it would be her good friend that she could trust would be ideal. 

"You already know my answer and I don't really mind if you have more after us."

"How can you be so relaxed about this Mary!? I-I wish I was like you…"

"What is your answer, Annie?"

"....I like you and I don't want to ruin my relationship with Liliena and Mary."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes! Of course!! I know you won't hurt us and after what you've done previously it's safe to say that you'll go beyond for us."

Annie felt reluctant but pushed herself into accepting their weird relationship now and suddenly was embraced by Mary who became all giggity. 

"Don't worry, Annie! We will do our best for our man!! If I'm perfectly honest, He deserve more women!"

"Mary! Wouldn't that be bad for us?"

"Nope! Trust my intuition!! It's my speciality which is why my parents always ask for my help. "

"...I need to be careful around now, Mary."

"Hehehe I won't share any secrets if you don't want me to. Like I said, my intuition works like a charm!"

"I guess now that we're…a couple. How about we have a date this weekend?"

"That sounds great! But who should go first?"

"I don't mind being last?"

"No, Annie! I should go last since I don't really mind."

"I have a better idea. I'll flip a coin and decide who will be first."

"Oh, that sounds like a great idea!"

Caelum took a coin and flipped it where the heads for Annie and tails for Mary. The coin landed on tails making the winner cheer while Annie was a bit disappointed but received a head pat from Caelum making her calm down and Mary to giggled.

"We'll play some Eternum for our date if you want?"

"Yes! I can show you around my favorite server and have our date there!!"

"As for me, I don't mind walking on the beach or having a picnic in the local park."

"Duly noted. Anyway, I think it's about time I talk to Liliena."

Both of them nodded worried for their friend wishing for their boyfriend and before he went to receive a kiss from Mary while Annie who hesitated for a moment took her turn. The people around him seem to blush and curse how lucky he was. Caelum smiled then went into the female bathroom knowing that only Liliena was inside and found her stall before getting inside. 

He saw her crying not even noticing him arriving and quickly kneel where she finally looked at him with tears streaming down her face then recieve an embrace from her brother.

"Why! why!! Why are you my brother?!" 

He knew what must be done and he will surely regret it, but it was his only choice as he gave a passionate kiss to Liliena, whose eyes bulged and tried to push her brother away, but her brother held her tighter as she weakly accepted the kiss.

After a few minutes their lips departed forming a trail as they looked at each other without uttering a single word. Liliena couldn't believe that she just kissed her brother in an intimate way. 

"I'm sorry that you had to wait this long…"

"...."

"....To tell you the truth, I'm not your brother."

Caelum is having a hard time trying to confess the truth to his sister cursing the degenerate who gave him the quest while Cereza giggling seeing him getting more women.

"What do you mean!? Did you take my brother's place!? Who are you!?"

"Uhm…wait what?"

"You said your my brother then where did you take him!!"

"...what? No, I'm still your brother! I'm Caelum Mercer but what I mean is I'm not related to you!"

She has misunderstood that the person replaced her brother since everything changed far too quickly that it made her suspicious if he was really her brother at times. Liliena pauses upon his word, staring at him for confirmation and receives a nod. it made her eyes sparkle with happiness. Even if her brother was related to her, she has always loved him as a man.

"We haven't told you because it might be bad for the two of us but things seem too complicated."

"D-Does it mean that I can also be in a relationship with you!?"

"If that's what you want, sure but…I've also accepted Annie and Mary."

".....I-I don't mind since I trust them and this is the first time I've seen you act selfish."

Liliena worries wash away after learning that she would be able to be with her brother who knew how she feels about him. She never mind sharing since her brother has never been selfish before after sacrificing everything for her and those he cared for. 

"But…we shouldn't be open about our relationship. I'm not ready for mom and the others to know."

"It's fine, perhaps mom knows but decided not to say anything. She did raise both of us and it would be strange not to notice."

"I guess you're right…I hope everyone in our family falls for you…"

"Wait what!?"

"If that happened then we won't have to hide and there's a gut feeling that it would turn out that way."

"Maybe you're right but only time will tell. Anyway, are you alright now? Annie and Mary are still waiting for us."

"Hold for a moment."

Liliena pushed her lips towards him, which made him accept her passionate kiss before showing a bright smile and headed outside where the girls anxiously to see her respond but were surprised when they received a hug from her. 

"Thank you…"

"Uhm…F-For what, Liliena?"

"For making my brother confess the truth, Annie."

"Let me guess she's not really your sister?"

"That intuition of yours is really scary…."

"What!? If that's the case then…"

"Yes, I want to be with my brother and no one else….do you girls find it weird?? Even if he is not related he is still my brother."

"...a bit but I won't judge you because Love is love and don't see the problem with it."

"Y-Yeah, I just don't want to ruin our friendship because of how complicated things are. You girls are the only friends I have."

"Then from now on we should do our best for Caelum."

"Then I will do my best for you three."

Caelum hugged the three while they blissfully enjoyed embracing their man ignoring the people's curses. After a while, the group agreed on having a date on the wall and shopping for clothes for their now lover.