CHAPTER 128: TWO OUT OF TEN

Mika still had his arms wrapped around Yelena when he thought to himself that everything was going perfectly, smoother than even he had expected.

But then, out of nowhere, Yelena pulled back from his embrace, her lips curving into a smile.

"It’s my turn now." She said suddenly.

Mika blinked in surprise. "Your turn?"

"Yes..." She nodded, lifting her chin with a teasing little pride. "You already tied that lace around Charlotte’s waist. Now it’s my turn. My waist feels empty, Mika, and it’s about time you put this on me."

She held out the glittering artifact belly chain, the one she had fought so hard to obtain, her eyes glimmering with anticipation.

Mika chuckled softly, shaking his head as though amused by her eagerness. "So impatient...But yes, you’re right. It is about time."

He took the artifact into his hands, stretching it apart slightly to measure its length. The cold weight of metal and jewels glinted against his palms.

He then leaned toward her, his fingers brushing the smooth skin of her waist as he circled it around her. The touch of cold metal made her shiver, her lips parting at the contrast of chill against warmth.

And with a firm click, he fastened it into place and stepped back to let the chain rest snugly against her belly.

Yelena immediately looked down, her face brightening. She gave a small spin, letting the jewels catch the light, then leaned forward toward him, her expression brimming with excitement.

"How does it look, Mika? Tell me, does it suit me? Is it pretty?"

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she bent close. Mika only smirked before sliding his hands around her waist, pulling her against him, his gaze locking on hers.

"It’s beautiful." He said smoothly, his voice deep. "Utterly beautiful on you, Yelena...There isn’t a woman alive it would suit better."

Her cheeks glowed at his words, pride and happiness washing over her. But then his lips curled into that mischievous smirk again.

"In fact, it looks so good on you that it makes your belly look even cuter than it already is—so cute that I want to do this."

Without warning, he pressed his face into her soft belly, nuzzling and rubbing against her skin.

"Ahhh!~ Noo!~" Yelena gasped, letting out a giggle as her hands went to his head. "S-Stop it, Mika! That tickles! That tickles so much!"

But Mika ignored her protests, rubbing his cheek and mouth along her belly, kissing and nuzzling until her laughter filled the room.

She tried to push at his shoulders but ended up holding him instead, overcome with happiness at his playfulness.

But just then when they were having fun, footsteps echoed in the hall.

Both of them froze.

Yelena quickly stepped back, guilt flashing across her face, while Mika straightened as if nothing had happened.

They hadn’t been doing anything wrong, at most, just playing around. But for Yelena, it suddenly felt different.

Before, moments like this with Mika had been harmless, friendly affection.

Now, though, after everything that had happened between them, she couldn’t shake the strange awareness that it had crossed into something more. Something she didn’t know how to name.

The door opened, and Charlotte came bouncing in, clutching a handful of plump blue berries.

"Mika! I got them! I got them!"

Mika turned to her with a smile. "Good. Then fill my mouth up." He opened wide, exaggerating the gesture like he was some kind of fuel tank waiting to be filled.

Charlotte giggled at the sight, rushing over before dumping all the berries from her palm straight into his mouth. He bit down, chewed, and swallowed them all at once, making her laugh even harder.

"Well? What about now, Mika?" She clapped her hands together and leaned in eagerly. "Do you feel like you can finally get some sleep?"

"Most definitely." He licked his lips, nodding. "Thanks to you, and these berries, I’ll have a good night’s rest."

Then his tone shifted, firmer, as he stretched.

"Speaking of which, I think it’s time everyone went to bed. It’s already late, and tomorrow we’ve got classes. It’s not a holiday, so no staying up."

Hearing this, Charlotte’s smile faltered, hesitation flickering across her face. She wanted to say something, wanted to invite him.

The thought made her chest tighten, because she’d tried so many times before and he had always rejected her.

But her bold nature won out, and she tugged on his shirt.

"Hmm?" He glanced down at her.

Charlotte took a breath, then blurted out.

"It’s just an idea, Mika but...since you’re finally back, would you...would you sleep with me and Mama? Like we used to? It’s been so long, and it would be nice, just like the old days."

She looked up at him with a blissful smile, though her eyes brimmed with sadness, almost as if she were bracing herself for rejection.

But to her shock, Mika only stared at her for a moment before smiling.

"What a nice idea..Let’s do that."

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

"W-Wait...what? You’re actually going to do it?"

"I am." Mika said simply, tilting his head. "Why does that surprise you? Don’t you want me to?"

"No, no, no, not at all!" Charlotte shook her head frantically, clutching his hand. "Of course I do! More than anything, I want you to sleep with us. I don’t want anything else."

Her voice dropped shyly.

"It’s just that...whenever I asked before, you always rejected me. Even today, when you kissed me out of nowhere, I didn’t expect it. You’ve always been so cold, so distant...But now, you suddenly agree to everything. You’re so affectionate. It’s...different."

"...What’s wrong? Why are you acting so differently, Mika?"

Mika chuckled, raising a hand to pat her head, making her cheeks burn.

"Don’t overthink it. I’m just happy to finally be back, with all of you. With my family." He let out a soft sigh. "I also realized I’ve been brooding for too long. Always distant. Always cold. And I want to change for the better." He leaned close, his gaze steady. "Unless...you’d rather I stayed the same way?"

Charlotte immediately shook her head, hugging him tightly with a bright smile.

"No, Mika, this is the best. This is the best! The cold and distant Mika was hot, yes, like some untouchable prince...But this Mika? The one who accepts us, who loves us openly?"

"...He’s the best. I want this Mika the most."

She bounced on her feet, her excitement bubbling over.

"Now, let’s go to bed! Let’s go to bed! We’re finally going to sleep together!"

Mika couldn’t help but laugh softly at her enthusiasm, smiling as he let her tug him toward the bedroom.

But just as she was pulling him along she suddenly noticed her mother still rooted in place, her gaze distant, her body frozen as if locked in some private storm of thoughts.

"Mama? What are you doing over there?" Charlotte called, blinking in confusion.

"W-What?" Yelena jolted like she’d been caught in a dream, her eyes snapping back to focus. "What’s happening? Where are we going?"

"Mamaaa, why are you daydreaming right now?" Charlotte groaned, throwing her arms up. "Did you totally forget already? Mika agreed to sleep with us tonight!"

The words hit Yelena like a splash of cold water.

Her lips parted. "He...he agreed? When did that happen? When did you say this?"

Charlotte stomped her foot with a pout. "Just now! You really are sleepy if you’ve already forgotten something that happened a moment ago."

Inside, Yelena admitted to herself that Charlotte wasn’t wrong. She had been lost in thought, her mind circling around everything, how strange this was becoming, how Mika’s presence was changing her, how tangled her own feelings were becoming.

She wondered how her relationship with Mika would shift, how she was supposed to carry herself after everything they had done tonight.

But then she looked at her daughter’s eager face and at Mika’s steady smile, and she realized this wasn’t the time to get lost in those worries.

Tonight wasn’t for doubts...It was for being together.

So she shook herself out of her daze, smoothed her hair, and stepped forward with a teasing smile.

"Well, if Mika is going out of his way to sleep with us, already a miracle in my eyes, he might as well do us another favor." She leaned against him playfully. "He should carry us to bed. Like we’re newlyweds. That would be nice."

Charlotte’s eyes lit up, her cheeks glowing.

"Yes, yes, Mika! Do it! Carry us to bed!" She spread her arms dramatically, bouncing on her toes. "Carry meee!"

Mika groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"You two...really? I’m already giving you so much by agreeing to sleep with you. Now you’re treating me like some pack mule."

Charlotte puffed her cheeks, jabbing a finger at him.

"Come on, Mika! Weren’t you the one who said you weren’t going to be cold anymore? That you were going to be open and caring? Was that a lie?"

His lips tugged into a reluctant smile. "Tch...fine, fine." His eyes warmed as he shook his head. "If that’s what you both want..."

Before either woman could react, Mika crouched low, his arms suddenly shooting out. With a grunt of strength, he swept both of them up by the thighs, hoisting them until each of them was perched on one of his broad shoulders.

"Kyaaah! So high! This is amazing! I could get used to this!" Charlotte squealed.

Yelena, holding onto his head for balance, let out a low chuckle.

"Mm...this feels like a throne. Yes, a throne that suits me well." She looked down at Mika with a smirk. "Careful, darling, I might start paying you handsomely just to carry me around like this."

He snorted, adjusting his grip as he carried them down the hall. Both women patted and stroked his head as he walked, their laughter and playful chatter filling the corridor until they reached Yelena’s bedroom.

At the edge of the massive bed, Yelena began to wiggle, intending to step down gracefully. But Mika’s mischievous grin gave her no warning before he suddenly tossed both women forward.

"Wahhh!" They cried out in unison as they landed in a heap on the bed.

"Mika!" Yelena sat up with a glare, brushing her hair out of her face. "Really, must you always be so rough? Be more gentle next time!"

Charlotte, on the other hand, was already rolling on the mattress with laughter. "It’s fine, Mama, it’s fine! This is way more fun!"

Meanwhile, mika stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes lingering. His hand went to his chin, stroking slowly as he looked at them both sprawled across the silken sheets, lingerie clinging to their bodies.

His goal was to get all ten daughters and mothers under the sheets with him.

And seeing that he already got 2 out of 10 of them, he couldn’t help but smile to himself, thinking that it won’t be long before he had them all....and also he had to get a bigger bed to accommodate all of them.