The world around them faded into a gentle blur, leaving only the warmth of their bodies and the silent thunder of their hearts. Ritalia paid no mind to Raliana's exasperated words—a low, forgotten murmur in the background—as she pressed her lips against Kazien's. The kiss was soft, yet fiercely earnest, a declaration she couldn't confine to mere words.
Kazien was momentarily stunned, but as the delicate, intoxicating pressure continued, he understood. He grasped the silent plea, the desperate, beautiful desire of his little sister. He closed his eyes, his long, dark lashes resting on his cheekbones, and returned her embrace. He accepted the kiss, tenderly, savoring the innocent sweetness of the moment. It was a farewell, a promise, and a first kiss all wrapped into one, bestowed upon him, her eternal brother.
When they finally broke apart, Ritalia's breath was quick and shallow. She looked up at Kazien's face, which was a heartbreakingly handsome mosaic of surprise and gentle affection, now inches from her own. His sapphire blue eyes, usually so sharp and knowing, were soft and clouded with a deep, protective love.
"I wanted to give you my first kiss." she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of her commitment. Tears shimmered in the corners of her eyes, but her smile was wide and resolute. "Please, brother, never, ever forget me."
Kazien's heart ached with a strange mix of pride and sorrow. He gently smoothed a stray lock of her dark, silky hair behind her ear.
"Ritalia," he said, his voice a low, soothing baritone, "how could I ever forget you? You are my sister. My incredible, vibrant little sister. You know I love you very, very much."
"Really?" she persisted, her gaze fixed on his. It was a look that pleaded for more than simple sibling affection. "But if you love me, why don't you marry me instead? We aren't blood siblings, after all."
The air thickened with the unspoken hope of her question. Kazien looked down, his expression one of profound regret.
"I'm sorry, my dear sister." he said, his tone gentle but final. He took her hands in his, his thumbs caressing her knuckles. "I admit you are stunningly beautiful. You are clever, kind, and anyone would be lucky to have you. But… I'm not interested in women. I want you to live happily, fully, with Hudeon. He is the man who is perhaps destined to be with you, who can give you the life you deserve."
Ritalia's shoulders sagged, a tiny, almost imperceptible tremor of resignation passing through her. She was a realist, and she knew Kazien would never lie to her. She let out a heavy sigh, accepting the inevitable destiny that pulled her away from this magnificent, immortal man. She flung herself forward, burying her face in his neck, clutching him in a fierce, protective hug.
"If I were a man," she mumbled against his skin, "would you accept me as your wife?"
The sudden, hypothetical question made Kazien pull back just enough to look directly into her gorgeous, tear-filled face. A rueful smile touched his lips.
"Even if Alvin allowed you to become my wife," he chuckled, the tension momentarily easing, "it wouldn't be easy for you to melt my heart! There are many cute boys in this city, Ritalia, but not one of them has captivated me except for Alvin and Brother Davin!"
A gasp cut through the moment. "Are you serious?" Raliana interjected suddenly, having listened in shocked silence from where she sat just beside them.
Kazien turned his head slightly to meet her wide-eyed stare. "Why would I lie? Alvin already knows!" he said simply. He paused, a shadow passing over his sapphire blue eyes. "But I realize that I can't have Brother Davin. He is my older biological brother, and that is a line I won't cross."
He returned his gaze to Ritalia, whose head was now resting comfortably in his lap. He gently stroked her hair, a silent promise of unconditional care.
"Ritalia, you are my proud little sister! You are an irreplaceable part of my world. Whenever you want me to pamper you, to spoil you, or just to hold you, I will definitely do it for you. Always."
"Do you promise me?" Her voice was small, seeking a bond that would defy time.
"Yes, I promise you."
"Even when I'm old, when I have white hair and wrinkles, will you still want to pamper me?"
His eyes softened, holding the depth of his immortal commitment. "Even when you are old, when you are ancient, I will gladly, proudly pamper you."
A triumphant, happy smile returned to Ritalia's face, washing away the sadness. "I'll hold you to that promise, my handsome brother."
The solemn, beautiful promise and vow they had spoken was witnessed by Alvin and Raliana. The air was charged, not with romance, but with a complex, unbreakable familial love. Ritalia snuggled in, resting her head against Kazien's chest. Raliana, no longer able to resist the gravitational pull of his calm strength, shifted closer and rested her own head on his opposite shoulder.
Kazien laughed, a low, rich sound that seemed to rumble from his very core. He looked down at the three heads surrounding him.
"Looking at our position right now," he mused, a teasing glint in his eyes, "I feel like I'm creating a harem and just sitting back with my three wives. Hahaha."
What happened next, however, was not the amused recoil he might have expected. Instead, the three of them—Ritalia, Alvin, and Raliana—grew even more affectionate, pressing closer, drawing strength from his steady, immortal presence.
I didn't expect them to act like this toward me, Kazien thought, the laughter dying in his throat, replaced by a tender, melancholic warmth. I guess I just need to enjoy this moment of togetherness. My time with Ritalia and Sis Raliana won't last forever. They will both age, their vibrant years will fade, and eventually, they will leave me forever.
When he thought about their smiles—Alvin's protective grin, Raliana's quiet contentment, and Ritalia's innocent, bright joy—he felt a sharp, familiar pang in his heart. This immortality, this eternal youth and endless time, made him happy because he could protect them, but it made him profoundly, terribly sad because he knew he would outlive them.
But as long as they are still alive in this world, he swore in the sanctuary of his mind, I will always protect their smiles. I will make their lives a masterpiece of happiness.
Ritalia shifted, her voice low and filled with an emotion that transcended her youth. She looked up at him, her eyes burning with a timeless understanding.
"Brother, you are immortal. I know, and one day we will surely part. But until forever, my love for you will never fade. It will be carved into the stone of the world."
Her words struck Kazien with the force of a physical blow. They rendered him silent. His heart felt tight and aching, especially as he looked at Ritalia's wide, innocent smile, accepting a fate that was both beautiful and tragic. His lips were sealed, and his eyes began to well up, blurring the outline of her face.
Kazien tried to speak, to offer some comforting, immortal truth, but the words wouldn't come out. He was overwhelmed by the sheer, devastating cheerfulness of his little sister's acceptance.
Alvin, sensing the storm brewing beneath his companion's calm facade, reached over and took his hand, squeezing it firmly. The touch was a lifeline, a shared acknowledgment of the burden of eternity. Kazien took a deep, shuddering breath, and with Alvin's quiet strength lending him support, he was able to compose himself. The tears retreated.
"Yes, Ritalia," he said, his voice now strong and steady, filled with a deep, resonant sincerity. "My feelings for you will never change either. I always, always, and always love you!"
Kazien smiled broadly, the expression reaching his eyes, but his heart was crying a silent, internal flood. I mustn't cry! I don't want to make my sister sad! Steel yourself, Kazien! Be the rock she needs.
Beside him, Alvin also screamed in his heart, sharing the same crippling terror. He imagined all the people who had accepted him, who had become his family, would eventually age and leave him alone. Kazien, who was also immortal, was the only one who wouldn't.
Just like him, Alvin thought, tightening his grip on Kazien's hand, I also feel sad and suffocated. I'm afraid I won't be strong enough to witness their inevitable deaths in the future. But as long as they are still alive in this world, and as long as I have Kazien, I swear I will protect the happy smiles of my entire family!
The four of them remained like that for a long time, an unbreakable knot of humanity and immortality, facing the relentless march of time with a promise forged in the truest kind of love. The vow had been spoken, and for Kazien, the immortal brother, it would last for all of his unending life. He would protect their smiles until the very last breath of their mortal existence.