Aiden couldn't help but smile as he recalled the sudden gathering that the Masked Mistress achieved in such a short call.

Arriving at the Mansion grounds, Aiden was escorted into the building, to a large sort of gathering room. Mahogany wooden furniture, beige luxurious carpet draped across the floor were the dominant colors, motifs across the room.

A huge, pecan brown, mahogany desk was placed at the center, with enough chairs so that even a moderately sized squad could sit comfortably. At the helm, a large chair looked towards the door, to its right a huge window looked towards the northern cityscape, matching gazes with an equally as appalling tower in the distance.

Like the other rooms in the mansion, this one also had several paintings of seemingly random portraits and landscapes hanging on the cream-white, painted wall.

By the time Aiden arrived, the rest of the team was already there, gathered and waiting for him. Thankfully, their worries were more or less settled, they were less on edge and more on ease as Galina informed them that his Young Master was safe and sound, and was heading towards their way.

However, he also explained that he has several grave news to share, amongst them one concerning his Master, Number 3, The mistress' sister, and Sara's aunt.

With that, as the servant escorted the young man to the room, he was met with the returning blonde rocket of his sister flying onto him and throwing him down on the ground.

Still, his biggest surprise was when a large, sturdy hand picked him back up from the ground only to throw his face into a barely covered bosom. A strong, powerful hug tugged his helpless body deeper and deeper into the suddenly emerged cleavage, turning Aiden's already weary mind even mushier.

Unable to restrain herself any more as her eyes finally gazed upon her chosen mate, the finally awoke and healed-up Naybeah wanted to run away with her beloved. Unfortunately for her, her plan's never could come to fruition if the other fierce blonde tiger had anything to say about it..

—-

Sitting atop his bed, Aiden chuckled remembering the jealous interaction between the two opposing forces. On one side, her sister wasn't letting some 'big brute' to steal away her brother dearest and would do anything in her power to keep him 'safe' from the 'ogre', as she called her.

On the other side, Naybeah, whose fire only burned with more and more passion ever since she got back and woke up. Even during her short time with fuzzy memories, she had one thing clear. The burning desire in her heart to meet with the boy, whose image could just not fade from her heart and mind...

She may not have remembered his name for a while, but she still knew: That boy was her mate, her beloved, her chosen future husband.

Sparks were flying everywhere as the two fierce tigresses clashed against each other, with Aiden caught helplessly between their line of fire..

——

"Brother, stop wasting time!" Lily's disgruntled voice brought Aiden back from his reverie and forced him to look at her. "Go on, get up already and go clean up yourself!"

"Sure.. Go and wait for me downstairs. I'll go in a few minutes." Knowing that resistance was indeed futile, Aiden yawned once more instead as he slowly got up and trudged towards the hallway while nudging his tormentor towards the exit as well.

Eventually, what felt like hours to Lily, but in reality was at most was like a quarter of one, Aiden joined her downstairs. His attire, once again, fresh and new, provided by the Mistress herself.

Unlike before this one did resemble the elegant, noble, royal feel, rather than the dirty, crude linen rags he wore most of the time.

He donned a creamy, white shirt which, -although it was made out of linen, like his old rags- were of much higher quality than before. Its edges were embroidered with blackwork, it gave the impression of a young passionate noble, rather than your average villager from some backwater farmland.

Above it, he had a caramel brown jerkin, currently hanging leisurely unbuttoned. The material, seemingly some sort of leather, was quite sturdy, serving almost similar to a studded leather chest without the added restriction of movement.

Going down, below the waist, instead of his usual pants, now his new attire consisted of black breeches, made of the same leather-like material as his jerkin. Like that, this was also a sturdier material, providing a nominal amount of defense against at least a few slashes and strikes.

At his feet, Aiden's new set was completed with simple-looking similarly black leather boots.

Like usual, keeping his hair flowing free and unrestrained, Aiden radiated a much nobler -royal even-, aura, that demanded respect from everyone that looked at him. There was no trace of the dirty, filthy peasant, from a first glance he was at the same level as those high-class young masters that everybody feared and respected.

As she looked at her brother, Lily was frozen at his new outlook. Though Drake's clothes, he got yesterday also looked quite fine, his current display was unlike anything that Lily had seen before.

She was stunned, mesmerized by the handsome young master his brother had suddenly turned into. Feeling the pulsating heat emerging at her cheeks, however, a moment later, she hurriedly averted her gaze, finding more comfort on the ground than towards Aiden's direction.

Although he noticed, he decided not to tease his sister about the moment of shyness, and instead coughed as he stepped closer.

"What do you think? Does this look acceptable?" He asked, raising his arms in the air and slowly turning around. "If I am gonna be honest, I do feel kind of awkward. These clothes are way too fancy to my taste. Though I gotta admit, they do feel just as sturdy as the leather chests!" He remarked as he moved around.

"Also, I do feel.. I don't know.. less restricted, I guess? So yeah.. there's that." He added, finishing his spin, and looking at Lily with his usual, gentle, warm smile waiting for her input on the matter.

"Y-yeah.. It looks okay.." She muttered, not daring to look at him at all. Instead, she sprung up from her seat in the next instant and while turning towards the entrance, she marched away with Sam and Biggy in tow.

"Anyway!" She exclaimed as she hurriedly puckered away. "Let's go! We should be going!"

"Why so fast? Shouldn't we, at the very least, say hello to the Mistress? After all, we are her guests, it would be rude to leave without saying anything.." He asked, causing Lily to halt in her march, and grumble with annoyance for a bit before sighing.

"Y-yeah.. I guess. She is Master's sister, so.."

However, before she could turn around and walk back, the Mistress's voice came from behind them.

"No need for that, you two." She giggled, as she emerged from the study on the ground floor and walked towards the entrance hall. "You guys just go, and follow after the rest and keep yourself entertained. Don't worry, I will do my best in the meantime to gather as much intelligence as I can on what the officials have managed to find during the night."

---

AN: Hey there Readers!

Just a friendly reminder, that from wherever you are reading , you can reach out to me using any of the below methods!

For you, sailors of the seventh sea (non-WN readers), be a bro/gal and throw me a cup of joe, show your appreciation!

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/shaele