Evan leaned against the kitchen isnd, rubbing the back of his neck. The morning had been overwhelming, his thoughts a jumble of past life memories and the foreign reality of this reversed world. His stomach grumbled, but what he really craved was coffee. He scanned the kitchen, rge enough to rival a professional restaurant, before noticing one of the staff bustling nearby.

  “Excuse me,” he called out, unsure if he should be addressing him directly. His memories named the man as Mr. Rupert—a cheerful, slightly portly figure who seemed to manage the household.

  Rupert turned with a polite smile, holding a tray of folded linen. “Yes, young master? Is there something you need?”

  “Uh, coffee. I skipped it earlier, and I could really use some,” Evan said.

  “Of course, right away.” Rupert set the tray down and busied himself at the coffee station, moving with practiced efficiency.

  Moments ter, he returned with a steaming mug on a delicate saucer. “Here you are. Would you like anything to eat as well? Breakfast is still avaible in the dining hall.”

  Evan shook his head. “No, this is fine. Thanks.”

  Rupert gave a slight bow before moving off to handle other household tasks. Alone with his coffee, Evan wandered into the nearby lounge, settling onto one of the oversized chairs. His gaze drifted to the television, which was tuned to a morning talk show.

  Onscreen, two women sat in pastel armchairs, animatedly discussing retionships.

  “You know,” one of them was saying, her tone passionate, “men need to feel like they can cry without being judged. It’s all about creating that safe emotional space for them.”

  Her co-host nodded fervently. “Absolutely! I mean, we’ve seen the studies—nurturing their emotional well-being leads to stronger, happier retionships. And don’t forget to compliment them when they do housework. It’s a confidence booster!”

  Evan nearly choked on his toast. The casual inversion of roles in this world was something he’d noticed in bits and pieces, but watching it so pinly articuted on TV still threw him off. He stifled a ugh, though he wasn’t entirely sure if it was out of amusement or disbelief.

  After breakfast, Evan wandered through the mansion, each turn revealing something new and grandiose. The sheer size and elegance of the pce still hadn’t fully registered. As he explored one of the quieter halls, he spotted a staff member attempting to push a heavy cabinet. Her movements were deliberate but slow, and Evan instinctively stepped in.

  “Here, let me help,” he said, walking over and gripping one side of the cabinet before she could respond.

  The staff member froze, looking at him with wide eyes. “Oh, young master, really, there’s no need—”

  “It’s fine,” Evan said quickly, forcing a polite smile. He braced himself and gave the cabinet a shove.

  Except, it barely moved.

  The effort hit him harder than expected. His arms burned almost immediately, and his feet threatened to slide on the polished floor. He clenched his jaw, trying again, pushing with every ounce of strength he had, but the cabinet barely budged. His pride twinged, the weight of his weakness far heavier than the furniture itself.

  The staff member looked increasingly distressed. “You really don’t have to, sir, I can handle it—”

  “I said I’ve got it,” Evan replied, his voice tight as he strained against the wood.

  “Well, well.” Sienna’s voice cut through the moment, low and amused.

  Evan froze, his grip still on the cabinet as he gnced over his shoulder. She was leaning casually against the doorway, her arms crossed and a smirk dancing on her lips. Her auburn hair hung loose around her shoulders, and the oversized sweatshirt paired with joggers gave her an effortless appeal that only made Evan more self-conscious.

  “What’s this?” she teased, walking closer. “My fiancé, saving the day? Barely engaged for a day, and you’re already practicing for domestic life.”

  Evan straightened, his cheeks heating. “I was just helping,” he muttered, stepping back from the cabinet and flexing his aching fingers in an attempt to look unbothered.

  “Helping?” Sienna echoed, her smirk widening. “Is that what you call it? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you were about to throw your back out for two inches of progress.”

  Evan’s face burned. He gnced at the staff member, who quickly murmured a polite, “Thank you, young master,” before hurrying away to finish the task on her own.

  Sienna, now standing right next to him, gave him a long, appraising look. “You know,” she said, her tone deliberately light, “I could get you an apron. Maybe a matching set for us, since you’re so keen.”

  Evan shot her a look, the heat in his face intensifying. “Very funny.”

  She ughed, her teasing always walking the line between pyful and sharp. “Rex, I’m just messing with you. But seriously…” Her expression softened slightly as she leaned a bit closer. “You’ve been acting a little… out of it since yesterday. Is this about, you know, the whole engagement thing? Because I get it. It’s a lot to take in.”

  Evan looked away, unsure how to respond. He couldn’t exactly expin the real reason he felt like an alien in his own skin. Instead, he gave a small shrug. “Maybe. It’s just… a lot all at once.”

  Sienna nodded, her smirk fading into something more genuine. “Hey, no pressure, okay? We’ve got time to figure this out. I don’t expect you to flip a switch and suddenly be Mr. Perfect Fiancé or whatever. Just… don’t strain yourself, alright?”

  Evan exhaled, her words oddly comforting. For all her teasing, there was something steady and reassuring about Sienna.

  Her smirk returned, though it was gentler now. “Alright, hero. Since you’re clearly so eager to contribute, maybe focus on something more important—like that stack of assignments you’ve been avoiding. Or did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

  Evan blinked, caught off guard. “Assignments?” His mind sifted through the new memories he was still grappling with. Sure enough, a vivid image surfaced: a pile of unfinished work on his desk. It was the kind of coursework given out before the short one-week break his college had just started—the perfect time to catch up on things.

  He groaned, rubbing his temples. “I was hoping you wouldn’t.”

  “No such luck.” Sienna grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the study. “Come on. At least this way, you won’t end up straining your muscles trying to impress the servants.”

  As she led him down the hall, Evan let his thoughts wander. These memories, vivid and detailed, felt like puzzle pieces slotting into pce, filling gaps he didn’t even know existed. It was unsettling, like rediscovering an old habit you’d forgotten you had. But it also grounded him, giving him a sense of direction amid the chaos of this reversed world.

  Sienna’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “You know, if you’d just tackled your work earlier, you wouldn’t have to cram now.”

  Evan sighed dramatically. “Where’s the fun in that?”

  She ughed, the sound warm and teasing, and he couldn’t help but crack a small smile as they stepped into the study.

  Inside the study, the two settled at the rge desk, papers and ptops spread out before them. Sienna dove into her own work with practiced efficiency, while Evan stared bnkly at the material in front of him. His memories of “Evan” knew these subjects, but reconciling them with his past life’s struggles left him fumbling.

  “You’re staring at that like it’s written in another nguage,” Sienna commented without looking up.

  “I’m just… tired,” Evan muttered, trying to hide his frustration.

  Sienna gnced over, her sharp eyes softening. “Let me see.” She slid his notebook toward her, skimming the page. “Okay, this isn’t too bad. Here, let me show you—”

  She leaned closer, her shoulder brushing his as she expined the concept. Her proximity, coupled with the way her sweatshirt rode up as she leaned, exposing a few inches of her midriff and a tantalizing curve of her breasts, made Evan’s brain short-circuit for a second. He couldn't help but steal a longer gnce, his eyes drifting from the valley between her breasts to the soft, rounded edges of her exposed cleavage. For a fleeting moment, he forgot they were in a study, surrounded by dusty tomes and flickering fluorescent lights.

  His face burned, his gaze darting back to his book, but the damage was done. His reaction had been painfully obvious, and now his mind raced with panic and embarrassment. Why couldn’t he keep his instincts in check?

  Sienna, of course, didn’t miss a thing. Her sharp eyes caught his brief slip, and for a second, she looked genuinely surprised. Then her lips curled into a slow, teasing smile.

  “Well, well,” she drawled, leaning back in her chair with an exaggerated stretch that did absolutely nothing to help his situation. “Was my little brother just sneaking a peek? Don’t worry; I don’t mind.”

  “What? No! I wasn’t—” Evan stumbled over his words, his ears burning as he avoided her gaze.

  “Rex, Evan,” she said, waving him off with a pyful chuckle. “You’re so easy to fluster. It’s honestly adorable.” She leaned forward again, resting her chin on her hand, her smirk softening just slightly. “Not that I bme you. I mean, I do look pretty hot, don’t I?”

  Evan groaned, burying his face in his hands. “You’re so full of yourself.”

  “And you’re predictable,” she countered, tapping her pen against the table. There was a lightness to her tone, but also something else—an undercurrent of satisfaction that she didn’t bother to hide.

  She shrugged, her casual demeanor making his embarrassment feel even sharper. “It’s really not a big deal, you know. Even guys tend to sneak a peek now and then.” She smirked, leaning back with zy confidence. “Though most are too shy to admit it. At least you’re honest—well, unintentionally honest.” She winked, clearly reveling in his discomfort, and Evan let out another groan.

  He risked a quick gnce at her, half expecting to find her teasing him further. Instead, Sienna’s expression held a mix of amusement and quiet pleasure. She looked… fttered.

  It wasn’t mockery or smugness but something softer, like she’d been unexpectedly reassured.

  For her part, Sienna was reeling a little herself, though she’d never let it show. Evan had always been polite and distant, never one to react to her teasing beyond a quiet sigh or tired smile. But this… this was different. And while she’d never say it aloud, it felt good. Maybe he wasn’t entirely against their engagement after all.

  “Well,” she said breezily, her smirk pyful as she gathered her papers, leaning back in her chair like she owned the moment. “Are my looks satisfactory for you, then? Or should I try harder to meet your standards?”

  Evan groaned again, pulling his hood up to shield his face. “Can we just focus on the assignments?”

  Her ugh was warm, rich, and utterly unbothered. “Alright, alright. But just so you know—you’ve made my day, Evan. Who knew you had this side too?”

  Despite himself, he couldn’t help but let a small, embarrassed grin tug at his lips. Life in this upside-down world was confusing and overwhelming, but at least, for better or worse, he wouldn’t have to face it alone.

  LunarEcho