Chapter 4 - 4: Is This What You Call Brother Complex?
After the carriage exited the gates of their ducal estate, Serena started observing Leonard who had his eyes closed. Earlier, she noticed that he was slightly muscular and tall, with her only reaching his chin. He was wearing a gray frock coat, slim fit, seamed at the waist falling to his mid-thigh. His vest was of lighter shade of gray made of silk, he was also wearing a fancy royal blue ascot with silver paisley pattern. His trousers matched the color of his coat. He truly looked like a rich heir in a Victorian regency drama.
Serena continued observing the hot specimen in front of her. If only he is not her adoptive brother with a golden thigh she can always hug, no doubt that he will be on top of the list of her prospective boyfriends. Come to think of it, they are not really related by blood, unless you count the teeny weeny part of them being distant relatives. Also, they were never close as siblings, add to it the fact that she is a transmigrator who do not have any sisterly love for him. Also, incest so long as there's no real blood relation is one of her fantasies after reading the novel 'beware of the brothers'. However, if she decided to pursue that path, it will be game over for her. It's either marriage automatically, or... she doesn't even want to think of other results. She also think that she can always leave this route for last. It is said in the novel that Leonard will take responsibility for her no matter what.
'But that does not mean that this grandma can't fantasize. HAHA! Look at those thin red lips, I can only imagine how it will feel like when..... is it hot in here or what?' Serena blushed as she started fanning herself with her hand fan.
"Are you alright?" Leonard asked Serena as he leaned forward and looked at her worriedly.
Serena turned pink when she saw his tired looking eyes filled with worry 'OMG, dear god, you can now take this granny's soul...'
"j-just a little nervous for school..." Serena answered with a stutter. "How long will it take for us to get there?" she continued.
"It usually takes 4 hours to get to school from our home. I assume that we will arrive there at noon, just in time for lunch."
'ugh... that voice.... Is it husky because he's tired and was trying to get some sleep earlier?' Serena can't stop herself from closing her eyes and biting her lips, she felt a sudden flush making her face pink, and since she is wearing an off shoulder dress, the whole of her décolletage (from her chin down to the top part of her breast) which is visible also turned pink.
This, of course did not escape Leonard's eyes. He was dumb founded to see this side of his sister. Now he understands why his adoptive father said that Serena's dress was inappropriate. Being surrounded by beautiful people all the time, Leonard thought himself immune and indifferent to beauties. It is only today that he has proven himself wrong.
Growing up with Serena, he knows exactly how beautiful this sister of his is. Their age being only one year apart, one would think that they are close. During their childhood, that he himself can't remember much of anymore, he might have acted as her real brother. However, he has been sent to Alighieri at the tender age of 7, then by the age of 12, he learned that he is but an adoptive son. Thus, with this knowledge and the fact that they are of opposite genders, he took it upon himself to keep a certain distance. This led to whatever sibling closeness they have vanish, leaving an awkward atmosphere between them.
Serena never acted this way in front of him before, or perhaps he just can't remember much because this is one of the rare times that they spent alone together. He wondered why she is looking the way she does right now.
"Do you wish to... relieve yourself? We can stop by an inn if we get to pass by one."
'relieve myself? What?' Serena opened he eyes to see Leonard blushing with his face turned to the side looking outside the window. 'did he just look at this granny and assumed that I need to pee, or worse, that I am constipated!?'
Serena inhaled deeply to calm herself before replying.
"No need.... I'm just, well, giddy because of excitement..." Serena straightened herself as she continued in her thought 'excitement to jump you! Hahahaha!!!!'
Leonard looked back at her, nodded his head, then closed his eyes.
The carriage turned silent after than short conversation. Serena wanted to ask about school, but decided not to, because she's not confident that she will not do something she might later regret.
Serena closed her eyes as she started thinking about what she can recall about the novel.
Some things in this world makes no sense, such as, having the convenience of the modern world when it comes to sanitation, but having to ride a horse drawn carriage for transportation. Well, what can one expect from a novel written by a teenage girl? If she haven't read the novel, she will never be able to tell the heads and tails of this world.
Cellphone and internet is not available here, in her previous life, she can not imagine living without them anymore. However, life have not always been like that. She once lived without the convenience of high- tech gadgets. So she will just take this as living her childhood days.
When it comes to skills and talents, she and the Serena of this world are quite alike. Living her life the way she did previously, she was not able to cultivate any special skills nor did she hide any special knowledge to build a conglomerate or whatever transmigrated girls usually do.
Serena decided that she will just enjoy this transmigration experience of hers to fulfill her fantasies. However, she still needs to act with caution. She might live here for a long time and she doesn't really wish to sully her reputation, well, at least not too much. Her fantasy is quite simple really, having the perfect ideal life previously, her only dying regret is only having tasted one single meat all her life! Perhaps the virtue of conservativeness has been ingrained to her too much that even after her late husband's death, bless his soul wherever he might be, she remained true to him. Well, unless you consider the fact that she was already too old for the sins of the flesh by that time, but that's besides the point.
Serena peeked at the handsome male in front of her and shook her head. 'oh my... what a shame! Too bad that you can only be a spare wheel...well, who knows? Perhaps I should start leaving my marks as soon as now!'
"Brother Leonard..." she called sweetly waiting for him to respond.
Leonard was half asleep when she called him. It was kind of strange for him because Serena doesn't really use that kind of tone with him. Usually, she's a bit formal. Not like the way she is calling him now. He's not sure but, it sounds like the way she calls her parents when she wants to be pampered, but with a hint of... flirting? Similar to the girls in school. Maybe he heard wrong, so he chose to ignore her.
When Leonard did not respond the second time she called him, Serena leaned forward and touched his forearm.
Leonard opened his eyes. Surprised and confused he asked "Do you need something?"
'I need you... now! Haha! Is this what you call, brother complex?'
"Brother... will you please sit beside me? Without mother I have no one to lean on, I don't wish to subject my head to the walls of our moving carriage..." 'really Serena? Hahaha! My gawd, you should hear yourself!'
Leonard's eyebrows met, as if thinking about what she said. Her request makes sense, but is that appropriate? Him, an adult male and her, an adult female sitting side by side, huddled together in their carriage?
"Please brother? I can move and sit beside you but I don't like to sit facing the rear, it will make me more dizzy..." Serena pleaded using her sweet voice as she tried to pull Leonard towards her.
Not trusting his own voice, Leonard nodded his head and moved to sit beside her.
Serena quickly hugged Leonard's right arm, feeling his biceps. "This is better brother, let me lean on your shoulder to sleep!"
Leonard further crunched his eyebrows. This is certainly... not appropriate. However, if they were real siblings then this would be... normal? Perhaps, that's what is running in Serena's head right now, and he is the only one having such thoughts.
Serena did not wait for his reply, she simply straightened while leaving her left arm looped to his right as she leaned her head on his shoulder. 'how wonderful this is, he even smells like sandalwood. Ha! The freshness of youth!' just like that, she fell asleep until their carraige slowed down upon entering the capital.
Leonard on the other hand, was not able to get a wink of sleep. He can only stare forward without looking at Serena, ignoring the smell of roses and the feel of her left breast brushing against his right arm.
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TBC....