Building a Harem in a Noble House-Chapter 74: It’s Hard to Date a Ghost

Isobel met my gaze, her eyes stormy. She took a long, final sip of her wine before slamming the cup on the table. "And did she tell you that part, or are you making it up?"

I looked away from her, focusing on the waves. "I’m just doing my best to talk you down from the ledge here, Isobel. I don’t wanna lose my lover a few days after we just got together."

"Aww... I would’ve visited you from the afterlife, though."

"I prefer you in the current life, Isobel. It’s hard to date a ghost."

She exhaled, long and slow, setting her glass down with a delicate clink that echoed over the waves. The platter was empty now, crumbs scattered, the breeze tugging at the napkin. "Alright, fine. Apology begrudgingly accepted. I just... next time you find yourself alone with my mother, I need you to run in the opposite direction and call for me, okay?"

She’d softened, finally allowing herself to laugh at the situation a bit. I imagined she wouldn’t be laughing so much if she’d known just how close her mother had been to making me slip up! Thankfully, we’d never have to learn the answer to that question.

There was a different thing about that little meeting Isobel was curious about, though.

"Do you remember that question Mother asked about whether we would still be a thing under different circumstances...?"

"Of course, I do. Why?"

"I’d like to know your real answer. Not the sanitized one you gave her earlier."

I winced, which Isobel caught. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"If I noticed it, then she certainly did, too. I imagine the answer is a bit nuanced considering the whole ’Demon Queen’ thing."

"Fine. If you want my honest answer, Isobel, then... I don’t know if we’d be a thing if circumstances were different. In every other timeline, we were enemies. There wouldn’t be a reason for us to get as close as we are now. And, if somehow you avoided that fate, who’s to say I wouldn’t be the closed-off version of myself from before we met? The one who would have been too walled off and afraid to let you in?" I turned to face her, eyes focused on hers. "I can’t think about other possibilities because the reality is that the two of us are right here, in this timeline together, right now. I want this to be my final timeline, and I want you to be with me throughout it, Isobel." I lifted her hand, kissing the back of it before smiling softly at her. "I love you, Isobel. Truly."

Her breath hitched, a soft sound lost to the wind. "I love you too, Lloyd," she murmured, voice barely above the waves. Then, quieter, "Ever the smooth talker..."

We sat like that for a while, quietly holding each other’s hands and watching the sea. Our silent moment ended when the sounds of footsteps approached from behind us. I twisted in my chair, surprised to find it was Laurence Greaves approaching us.

"Oh... uh, hey guys," he muttered from a ways away. "Enjoying the beach...?

Isobel shrugged, releasing my hand and folding hers on her stomach. "It’s quite nice. What about you, Lloyd? Enjoying yourself?"

"Sure," I answered. "It’s peaceful. Lucky you guys."

"Yeah. That’s...that’s good." Laurence paused, looking between Isobel and me before suddenly chinning at me. "Lloyd... look, I need to get this out. When we first crossed paths, I was a complete asshole to you. Sorry about that, man. Hope you don’t hold it against me."

I nodded at him. "Don’t worry about it, Laurence. I’ve already forgotten about it." I nudged over at Isobel. "I remember you making things rough for Isobel, though. Maybe she’s the one you should be apologizing to?"

"Y-yeah... I know," Laurence walked in front of Isobel’s Beach chair, sitting at the very edge. "I won’t try to drown you in a bunch of sorries, so I’ll just explain myself. I was... terrified. Grandfather was gone, the House was gone... it felt like everything was slipping away. I didn’t know how to cope, so I lashed out at you. But... I... I was also jealous of your bond with Grandfather. He’d always light up around you. Talk about things with you that he never shares with me. All of that fear and jealousy and inadequacy..." He stood up, cheeks red and eyes glued to the floor. "You didn’t deserve the treatment I gave you, little sister. I’m sorry, Isobel. You’re... you’re my best friend."

He’d been dancing around it, the direct "I love you" that Isobel had likely been expecting. It was unspoken, but it was woven into every stammered syllable. Isobel obviously noticed it, because her eyes were watering as she stood to face her older brother. She rose swiftly, closing the gap and enveloping him in a tight hug, arms wrapping fiercely around his frame.

"I love you, Laurence," Isobel said, voice cracking with emotion, tears escaping down her cheeks.

He stiffened for a split second, then hugged back, strong and unyielding, anchoring her in place as if she was going to fly away. I watched from the chair, the scene touching something in me. I would’ve had to be heartless not to feel anything after seeing all this. It was cute! Fight me!

Isobel was a sobbing mess now, and while Laurence was doing his next to keep it together, he wasn’t exactly emotionless either. His back was trembling, his face was red with emotion, and he caressed his sister’s back in a clear act of empathy and comfort. They lingered there for a long while, the embrace stretching long as the sea breeze swirled around them like a gentle witness. Minutes passed, unspoken words hanging heavy, until at last, they parted. Laurence turned abruptly toward the water, swiping at his face to conceal the dampness in his eyes, clearing his throat gruffly.

"Right... uh, we better head back," he said, voice steadying as he composed himself. He cleared his throat again. "Dinner’s almost finished. You two should go fetch your friend Lyra. Where’s she been, anyway?"