Edited from the original to fit FFN's content guidelines.

.

"So, uh, we sort of have a problem," Mebuki said. They had just finished making love, Jacob tiredly nuzzled his head against her neck. "Um. So, I was thinking about that twitter thing again, and uh. I thought it was tweeted by the author, but it might have been a retreet. It might have been a tweet from a fan."

He smiled a kiss against her neck. Mebuki frowned at the ceiling.

"So, um. Basically, remember when I said that we weren't related? What if what I said wasn't exactly canon?"

She felt him breathing heavily against her chest. "And?"

"And? Uh...I might be physically, biologically, your sister. You know...even though mentally I'm not her, this body, you know...Uh..."

He waited. Mebuki pushed forward.

"Jacob I'm pretty sure you were just fucking your sister."

Mebuki cringed, waiting for Jacob to freak out and jump out of the bed. But he didn't. He smiled tiredly and cuddled her.

"Uh, Jacob?"

"I don't care about that." He hugged her. "I love you."

"Yeah well, that's all well and good, but I can't get online, so I can't verify if the tweet came from a fan or the author."

"I don't know what 'tweets' or 'fans' or 'retweets' are, and I don't care about this so-called author."

"But there's still the fact that everyone thinks I'm your sister. I mean - Jacob! - we probably just fucked even though we're brother and sister."

"I'd say we made love, not fucked," Jacob said, smiling. Mebuki banged her head against his shoulder.

xXx

.

"Tell me you love me," Jacob said. Mebuki groaned.

"I do love you. And it's a big fucking problem."

"Why is it a problem?"

"Because I'm pretty sure I'm your actual sister."

"But you're not my sister," Jacob said. "You are Mayumi Mebuki. You are a Japanese woman who took the place of my sister."

"But this body is still your sister."

"Are we sure about that? Who's to say it's not your body, but it just looks like my sister?"

"Are you seriously trying to feel me up right now?" Mebuki said, as Jacob started mouthing the side of her neck, his hand slipping under the fabric of her nightdress, cuddling her.

"Hey, focus," Mebuki said, smacking him. Jacob chuckled, hugging her. "Hey! I get you're happy right now, but this is a really big fucking problem."

"Why is it a problem? It's not as if you want to tell Gautier or Father."

"Ugh."

"Who is more handsome?" Jacob asked. He smiled winsomely at her. "Me or those men at your so-called 'sales department'?"

"You are. Now shut the fuck up and let me panic for a moment."

xXx

.

There was something supremely comforting lying in the arms of a person who loved him. Jacob nestled against Mayumi, closing his eyes and smiling. This closeness and safety he felt was like nothing he'd ever experienced. Even his own mother told him she'd regretted having him. "It was a mistake!" she cried, sobbing, as little Jacob looked on, his heart hurting, because no one truly ever wanted him.

But that wasn't true now, and Jacob smiled, plucking a strand of hair from Mayumi's face. For all she was panicking and hyperventilating, she still somehow cared about him. "I just don't want you to get hurt," she'd said, and Jacob could see the worry in her eyes, not so much for herself and their situation, but what would happen to Jacob because of it. His heart swelled. A pressured warmth filled in the backs of his eyes, and quietly, unexpectedly, he'd started to cry.

"No, no, no, don't cry!" Mayumi said, and she kissed him and hugged him. "I love you and I'm not your sister."

"That isn't why I'm crying." He pulled back slightly, studying her. "You care about me," he said. He traced his thumb along the corner of her eye, smiling at her. "I never thought much about family. You may love them, and even share the same bloodline. But they turn out to be nothing in the end. That's what I thought about family. But somehow you still accept me," he said, and fresh tears filled his eyes again. He buried his face into her neck so she couldn't see his weakness. He sniffed. "Forgive me," he said. His voice was weak. "It's all a bit overwhelming."

"No, it's okay," Mayumi said. She stroked his hair, kissing him. "I love you, it's okay."

She rubbed the wetness on his cheeks with her thumbs, comforting him. "Heh. You look even cute when you cry."

Jacob let out a soft laugh. Mayumi smiled at him.

"You okay?" she asked softly. Jacob took a shuddery breath, then nodded.

He fell asleep to the feel of her kissing him, pressing soft kisses along the sides of his eyes as she held him.

xXx

.

"-and so it is the Northern territories will be increasing their shipments of grain. What the hell are you doing?" Gautier said to Jacob, who was sniffing his sister's hair in the middle of their territory meeting. Jacob's mouth stretched into a wolfish grin.

"Nothing, Brother. Please, continue."

Audrey smacked him on the arm. Jacob chuckled.

Gautier raised his eyebrows at them, then glanced at their father, who was leaning back in his seat, his eyes half-lidded and only partially listening to them.

xXx

.

"Audrey, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Audrey slowed down her pace as Gautier caught up toward her, following her down the hall.

"What is going on between you and Jacob?" he asked. Audrey's eyes widened slightly before rearranging her face into a neutral expression.

"What do you mean, what is going on?"

"I mean, why was our half-brother sniffing your hair like some sort of demon?"

"He was?" Audrey said. "I hadn't noticed."

"You two have been spending a lot of time together," Gautier said.

"He gets into mischief. I am simply keeping an eye on him."

He stalked up towards Jacob, who was meeting again with some of the lesser nobles. "What are you doing with my sister?" Gautier said. Jacob gave him an innocent look.

"Nothing, dear brother. And need I remind you, she is also my sister."

Gautier's eyes narrowed. Even a fool could see Jacob was slowly amassing influence and power; Jacob never bothered hiding his ambitions. It would only be a matter of time before he'd try to overthrow him.

But his sister was not so guileless that she'd fall for Jacob's machinations.

"Whatever he promised you, Sister, I can match it tenfold," Gautier said. He was standing in Audrey's garden, watching as Audrey dutifully weeded. She glared up at him from beneath the rose bushes.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about whatever it is Jacob did to seduce my little sister."

Audrey coughed. She coughed so hard she started to choke. Gautier jumped back, startled.

'S-seduced?" Audrey said. She glared, blushing. "What the hell kind of word do you mean by 'seduced'?"

"I think he meant it in the political sense," Jacob said, sauntering behind them. Gautier glared and straightened.

"Jacob," Gautier said. Jacob smirked.

"Elder Brother."

"Why are you in Audrey's garden?" Gautier said. Jacob spread his hands.

"My darling sister invited me to help her."

"Ugh." Audrey tugged out another weed. "If you two are going to get into a pissing contest, just leave me be and let me do my weeding."

Gautier glared. Jacob had a smug, superior look, as if he was standing on something secret that was highly advantageous to him.

"Sister. I wanted to ask when you plan to go to the Church," Gautier said. "You used to go there so frequently, but ever since you discovered that artifact, you've been avoiding it. Why?" he said. Audrey straightened.

"I told you, Brother. I do not wish to be executed a heretic."

"They say the Countess Arno has awakened as a Saintess," Gautier said. Audrey tugged another weed.

"Good for her. That does not concern me."

"Brother. What about you?" Gautier said. Jacob shrugged.

"I could care less about Countess Arno," Jacob said.

Now this was interesting. The last Gautier had heard, Jacob had become obsessed with her ever since the jousting tournament. He was about to say something when Audrey tapped Jacob on the arm.

"I need to prune these bushes, will you help me?"

"I'd be delighted," Jacob said, and Gautier itched uncomfortably.

xXx

.

"There is something going on between them," his advisor said.

Gautier watched. They sat together in the library, Jacob going over the lines of a book while Audrey read with him. It almost looked as if Jacob were tutoring her, but the thought of it was preposterous - Audrey was much smarter than him.

A soft laugh. Gautier looked up and saw Audrey's eyes creased like crescents as she laughed with Jacob, sharing a joke and bumping into his shoulder. As for Jacob, he watched her with a small smile on his face, a slight dusting of pink on his cheeks, as if he couldn't believe his good luck to be sitting next to her, looking as if he were doting on her as one of her beloved older brothers.

What is it that he offered her? Gautier wondered.

xXx

.

"I think it's marvelous," his wife said. Gautier looked up.

His wife was sitting with their son in the garden. "Prince Jacob always seemed so lonely. I'm glad Princess Audrey is finally helping him."

"Helping him?" Gautier bristled. "That man is a danger to us and the kingdom."

"I've always felt bad for him," his wife said. She leaned against him. "Did you know, he only had dalliances with married women? I used to think it was because he liked to be free and unencumbered, but perhaps it was because he was afraid of rejection."

"Afraid of rejection?" Gautier said. His wife nodded.

"I imagine how vulnerable it is, offering your heart and having no one wish to take it."

"You give my little brother too much credit," Gautier sighed, as his wife went to hug him.

"Wait a minute." Gautier pulled up. "Why are you feeling sorry for my sordid little brother?"

"No particular reason," his wife said. Gautier stared.

"Did he try to seduce you too?!"

"Well of course he did flirt on occasion," his wife said. Gautier gaped at her. "Don't worry, darling. I didn't reciprocate it."

xXx

.

"From now on, I do not want any of the maids to wake me up; I shall take care of my own ablutions. Please leave a basin of water and a towel by the door and I shall call for you when I need you."

The maids fidgeted nervously as Mebuki stood in front of them, glancing at each other.

"But Ma'am...what if you have a morning appointment and you need us to wake you up?"

"Then that shall be the exception and I will send a request the night before. Otherwise I prefer not to be woken up early and to be allowed to sleep in uninterrupted."

"Yes, Highness. What about breakfast?"

Oh Jesus Christ, Mebuki thought. She smiled benignly at them.

"Leave it on a tray outside the room, then."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Phew. Mebuki let out a breath, dismissing the maids and shutting the door. On the other side of the room, Jacob beamed at her.

"There," Mebuki said. "Now you can sleep in. Ack," she said, as Jacob glomped her, hugging her hard and dragging her to the bed. "Wow, you're like a large happy dog. Jesus."

If he had a tail, it would be wagging. Jacob smiled and his eyes closed into two adorable crescents, a light blush cracking across his cheeks. "I am quite pleased," he said.

It had been a bit of a problem - the first morning Jacob slept over, the maids barged in unknowingly and Mebuki shoved Jacob off the bed. "Ma'am?" the maids had said, while Mebuki sweated and laughed, Jacob naked and curled up on the floor, covered in a pile of blankets.

"Ahh~~! It's nothing~~" Mebuki laughed, sweating. She could hear Jacob rustling around the floor, trying to scoot under the bed. "Don't make the bed today, okay?"

"What, Milady? Why?"

"Just don't~~. Take the day off! Um. I want to make a pillow fort."

"I beg your pardon, Milady?" the maid said, and Mebuki wanted to bang her head against the wall.

After that, she woke his ass up before daybreak, hissing at him. "Get out before the freaking maids get here!" she said. Jacob made puppy eyes at her.

"But why?" he said, hugging her. Mebuki grunted and shoved his face back, pressing the heel of her palm against his forehead. "It's so cold outside and I want to hug you."

"The maids are coming, dummy! I almost shit myself last time, get out of here!"

It didn't occur to her until a few weeks later that she could just order the maids to give her privacy in the mornings, and no one would question it. "Crown Prince Gautier and his wife also prefer privacy in the mornings," the maids said.

Now Jacob was flopped on top of her, spooning her aggressively and kissing her, when Mebuki looked out across the room. "Hey, you don't have any morning meetings or anything, right?"

He answered by honking her breasts, kissing her. Mebuki rolled on her back.

"Hey," she said, pushing his face back. "Morning breath."

He covered his mouth with his hand, beaming. "Forgive me." He smiled demurely and pressed a closed-mouth kiss to her shoulder, slipping a hand between her legs.

Well she could get used to this. Mebuki sighed, rocking against him.

"This is nice," Mebuki murmured. She felt him nod against her neck.

"It is."

"You're sure you don't have any meetings?"

"No."

"No you're not sure, or no you don't have meetings?"

He pressed a light kiss to her forehead. He grinned. "Morning breath."

"Hey!"

He chuckled and hugged her.

They spent the rest of the morning having sex and cuddling in bed, Jacob surprisingly affectionate. Mebuki had pinned him as the type of lover to never stay in his paramour's bed, leaving as soon as he got his pleasure. But now he smiled as he cuddled her, his leg draping over her hip and his arm hanging across her torso. He hugged her the way a child would hug a pillow, smiling against the skin of her neck and letting out a happy, contented sound as he snuggled her.

"You're so cute," Mebuki said. She craned her neck to look at him, but he had gripped her around in a vice lock as he spooned her. "I can't believe in the book you're a freaking villain."

She rolled around and he shifted, letting her cuddle against his chest. He pulled up the covers, kissing her forehead. His mouth curved like the slice of an orange.

"Hey, so," Mebuki started, "What are they like, this era's contraceptives?"

"I beg your pardon?" Jacob said. Mebuki pushed up to look at him.

"Are they like, magic pills guys take?" She'd seen it drawn in some manhwa she'd read - instead of the woman, the man would pop a pill of magical herbs that would kill his sperm, and judging from the R19 panels she'd seen in this manhwa, this world probably had something similar. Jacob smiled.

"Oh," Jacob said, smiling sweetly. "We use condoms."

"Eh?"

"Condoms," Jacob said. "They are a thin sheath from sheep guts we pull over our penis."

Mebuki stared. "You don't...have pills?"

"What are pills?" Jacob said.

"Wait, so you're not using contraceptives?"

Jacob beamed sweetly at her. "I was wondering why you hadn't asked about it. You've clearly seen me naked."

"You stupid bastard!" Mebuki shoved him off the bed.

Jacob giggled. What the fuck? Isn't he supposed to be the fucking arch villain? The scheming asshole who tries to bring down House Arno and cause a freaking war?!

"Why the fuck are you giggling?!" Mebuki raged, and she hit him. Jacob laughed.

"Ow~!"

"You fucking dumbass! What if I get pregnant?"

"Then you will be mine, and we will tell Father and Gautier our secret love, and I will take your hand in marriage."

"I'm your sister, you fucking idiot!"

"Your soul is not my sister's," Jacob said.

"Ugh."

"And besides. Isn't there a chance I'm secretly not my father's child? That my mother got pregnant with someone else and passed me off as the son of a king? Wasn't that what that 'twitter thread' had speculated?"

"Fucking Christ I hope I get my period. We're not having sex without goddamn condoms."