Chapter 26: Family Bonds

At the dinner table, Narumi took special care of Seraphina, slicing a piece of meat into small bites and offering it to her. "If you want to help with my work, Seraphina, you should eat more meat," Narumi said with a playful smile. Seraphina smiled back gratefully and thanked Narumi. "Thank you, Narumi-nii-sama."

Narumi treated Seraphina as his beloved little sister rather than just a maid. Christina, feeling a tinge of jealousy, couldn't help but question Narumi about Seraphina's presence. "Narumi, why is Seraphina here?" Christina's voice carried a hint of tsundere curiosity and jealousy.

Narumi took a deep breath, his expression becoming serious. "Christina, Seraphina is actually my younger sister from my previous life. We were separated when our small house was attacked by the Demon King. It seems that somehow she was reborn as Seraphina in this world.....oshh!!" Before Narumi could finish his sentence, Christina pinched his arm, a stern look on her face.

Christina's seriousness made it clear that she wouldn't tolerate any more lies. Narumi let out a deep sigh and decided to tell Christina the truth, excluding the incident in the bath. "At first, Seraphina's elder brother, the king of Dustmoon Kingdom, wanted her to marry me. However, I declined and made it clear that I already have a promised marriage partner."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Christina's lips, but she quickly composed herself, her expression becoming serious once more. "But it seems the king isn't willing to give up. He sent Seraphina to me again, this time as my maid little sister." Christina's displeasure was evident, for she understood the duty of a princess, but her feelings were not easily swayed.

"If I were to decline once again, I believe the king would come up with another plan. So, I thought it would be best to take care of Seraphina myself," Narumi explained gently, as he wiped a stain off Seraphina's mouth. "And you know, don't you? Seraphina is one of my favorite characters in the Loli Princess Novel. I don't want her to be unhappy or caught up in any unexpected incidents."

Christina's feelings softened, though her tsundere demeanor resurfaced. "So, you just want to play with a cute little sister? Fine, I'm not jealous or anything!" she retorted, trying to hide her true emotions, even though deep down, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy when she saw Narumi taking care of Seraphina.

Narumi reached out and gently took Christina's hand in his, understanding her true feelings more than anyone. His voice softened as he spoke from the depths of his heart. "Christina, please know that my love for you will remain unwavering, no matter what. Seraphina's presence doesn't diminish the place you hold in my heart. She will surely become an important part of my life, but it is you alone who possesses the entirety of my heart. Please understand this."

As Narumi spoke, Seraphina, her innocent eyes shining, gazed at Christina with sincerity and mustered up the courage to speak. "Please, Christina-nee-sama, let me stay here. I only want to be Narumi-nii-sama's little sister and support him with all my heart."

Christina's tsundere facade melted away, and she let out a gentle sigh, her expression softening. "Fine, Seraphina. You can stay, but don't think I'll go easy on you. I'll always be your strict elder sister too." Seraphina's face lit up with joy, and she nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Christina-nee-sama! I'm looking forward to having you as my strict elder sister!"

As the conversation continued, Narumi couldn't help but notice the warm and affectionate bond forming between Christina and Seraphina. An idea sparked in his mind, urging him not to let this opportunity slip away. With a playful smile, he turned to Christina and asked, "How about we have a sleepover tonight, Christina? Just the three of us together?"

Christina's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "What... What do you mean, Narumi?" Narumi smiled warmly, his voice brimming with sincerity. "I mean, we've already slept together before, so why not do it again tonight? It's a chance to deepen our connection as a family. Seraphina is already a part of it, and I want to express my love for you, Christina. I want you to know that my love for you remains unwavering, even with Seraphina here."

Seraphina's innocent eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly joined in. "Yes, Christina-nee-sama! It'll be so much fun! We can have pillow fights and stay up late talking about our dreams!"

Christina's initial surprise transformed into a mixture of hesitation and affection. She glanced at Seraphina and then at Narumi, her tsundere facade crumbling. "Fine, but just for tonight! Don't get any weird ideas, Narumi!" Narumi beamed with joy and nodded. "Of course, Christina. Just for tonight, and we can reassess tomorrow!"

"Muu... That... That will be fine. It should be fine." Christina's tsundere demeanor wavered as she fought to contain her true feelings. Deep down, she longed to sleep with Narumi every night too.

As the night settled in, Narumi, Christina, and Seraphina gathered in Narumi's bedroom. They laid together on the same bed, with Narumi in the center, and began talking about their dreams, hobbies, favorite foods, and cherished stories. Narumi shared tales of his adventures in another world, and how the Loli Princess Novel had helped him overcome many challenges in the past. Christina blushed with shyness as Narumi showered her with praise, covering half her face with a blanket.

Once Seraphina had fallen asleep, Narumi leaned close to Christina's ear and whispered in a charming voice, "Christina, can I show you my love now?" Christina somehow understood the intention behind his words. Suppressing her tsundere demeanor, she leaned closer to Narumi, and he gently kissed her lips.

"I love you, Christina," Narumi whispered softly, sealing their bond in the quiet of the night. Christina's heart raced with a mixture of love and hesitation. She wanted to express her feelings toward Narumi, but her stubborn tsundere demeanor hindered her words. Sensing her struggle, Narumi spoke up, his voice gentle and reassuring. "It's alright, Christina. Even if you can't say it right now, I'll always be the one to say it."

With that, Narumi leaned in, gently pressing his lips against Christina's in a tender kiss. The words "I love you" escaped his lips, repeated softly like a heartfelt melody. As their embrace tightened, Narumi held Christina close, unwilling to let go. Christina's face blushed a deep shade of crimson, her heart overflowing with emotions.

In that intimate moment, Christina found comfort and reassurance in Narumi's affectionate gesture. The depth of his love spoke volumes, surpassing the need for verbal expression. Their connection went beyond words, as their hearts intertwined in a beautiful symphony of emotions.