Help! Get Me Out of My Sister's Chapter 370: ’Ana & Lilah.’

"Ana!"

The voice rang out like a lody, bright and familiar, cutting through the quiet hum of the estate gardens. Anastasia spun around, her skirts fluttering as her face lit up with unrestrained joy.

There, racing toward her with wind-tousled hair and a grin just as wide, was Delilah.

"Lilah!" Anastasia exclaid, her heart swelling as she dashed forward, eting her best friend in a fierce, breathless embrace.

The force of it nearly knocked Delilah back, but she only laughed, her arms tightening around Anastasia in return.

Delilah Kiersten—daughter of the Marquis of Vaelhurst, a family long intertwined with the Darkthorns through generations of friendship and alliance.

She was the one person who had always understood Anastasia’s wild heart, her dreams, her secret longings.

But today, Anastasia was too exhilarated to linger in the hug. She pulled back abruptly, her hands flying to grip Delilah’s shoulders, her eyes alight with feverish anticipation.

Delilah blinked, montarily dazed by the sudden shift, but Anastasia barely noticed.

"Do you have it?" she demanded, her voice trembling with excitent.

Delilah studied her for a beat, then—slowly, deliberately—a mischievous smirk curled her lips.

"Hehe."

With a dramatic flourish, she revealed the folded paper clutched in her hand.

Anastasia snatched it, her fingers trembling as she unfolded it, her eyes scanning the bold print.

Breaking News!: His Majesty is interested in beginning the search for a bride for the young Crown Prince, Henry Obsidian.

A scream tore from Anastasia’s throat—sharp, unbridled, echoing across the courtyard. Servants startled, nearly dropping their trays. Delilah flinched, her hands flying to her ears. Even Cheskah, Anastasia’s ever-composed maid, gasped, her face paling.

"M-My Lady?! Are you alright?!" Cheskah stamred, clutching her chest.

Anastasia whirled toward her, eyes blazing. "Am I alright? AM I ALRIGHT?!" She seized Delilah again, spinning her in a giddy circle before crushing her in another hug.

"Prince Henry is finally looking for a bride! You know what this ans, right?!"

Delilah, still recovering from the whirlwind of emotions, managed a breathless, "Y-Yes...?" as if she wasn’t entirely sure what madness had seized her friend.

Cheskah exhaled in relief, though her brow remained furrowed. ’At least she isn’t hurt... but stars above, must she be so loud?’

"It ans every eligible lady near his age will be considered!" Anastasia declared, clutching the newspaper to her chest as if it were a sacred text. "Especially —a duke’s daughter! I’ll be one of the main candidates!"

Delilah tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well, there’s also Lady Elara, right?"

Anastasia scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Pfft! Elara? Elara’s too busy scheming to inherit her father’s title to even glance at the prince." Her fingers trembled as she scanned the article again, her pulse roaring in her ears. Just as she’d hoped—the king’s gaze had settled on the daughters of the realm’s highest nobles.

Delilah watched her, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I knew you’d be happy."

Anastasia wasn’t just happy.

She was in love.

Hopelessly, irrevocably in love with Prince Henry Obsidian.

She had loved him since she was seven years old.

"Do you know how I fell in love with him?" Anastasia whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she traced the prince’s na on the paper.

Delilah rolled her eyes, but her expression was fond. "Word for word." Then, with exaggerated dramatics, she pressed a hand to her heart and mimicked Anastasia’s dreamy tone. "I first t him when I was seven. I went with my parents and brother to a royal ball—my very first!—and I was so nervous, I could barely breathe."

Anastasia giggled, her cheeks flushing as Delilah continued, swaying dramatically.

"Then, when I danced with that clumsy oaf Roland Stormwing, I tripped—and who caught ? His Highness, Prince Henry!" Delilah clutched Anastasia’s arm, mimicking her swoon. "I apologized over and over, mortified, everyone staring... but then he said—"

This ti, they spoke in perfect unison, Anastasia’s voice trembling with emotion.

"Who knew I’d see the day where an angel would fall on ?"

Anastasia sighed, leaning heavily against Delilah as if her legs might give out. "I can never forget that day, Lilah. I fell in love right then and there—and I swore I would be his wife."

It wasn’t about the crown. It wasn’t about power.

She just wanted him.

Delilah’s smile softened. "The fact that he said that ans he thought you were beautiful."

Anastasia’s face burned.

She shook her head, gripping Delilah’s hand tightly, their fingers intertwining. "I have to tell Father. Right now. I need to be considered!"

Delilah’s grin widened at the contact, her thumb brushing lightly over Anastasia’s knuckles. But as Anastasia tugged her forward, babbling about arrangents and petitions and the king’s approval, sothing flickered in Delilah’s eyes.

A shadow. A hesitation.

Then—just as quickly—it was gone.

✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧

"Ana!"

"Lilah! I haven’t seen you since the wedding!" Anastasia exclaid, her voice filled with warmth and nostalgia.

The two won stood a few feet apart in the elegant drawing room—sunlight pouring through the tall arched windows, dancing across the polished marble floors and silk-draped furniture.

Plush cream couches surrounded a carved tea table, and a small fire crackled gently in the hearth. Despite the intimacy of their bond, protocol still lood heavy in the air.

Anastasia wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around her best friend, the way she always had. But today, she was not just Ana. Today, she wore a crown.

The subtle tension was broken by the soft but pointed clearing of a knight’s throat nearby. He gave Delilah a pointed look. Realizing her slip, Delilah blinked, then quickly dipped into a low curtsy, her cheeks pink.

"My apologies. I an— I greet Her Majesty, the Queen," she corrected herself, her voice formal but still tinged with affection.

Both girls exchanged quick glances, eyes glinting with barely-suppressed laughter, the weight of their titles pressing down on shared mories of simpler days.

They were nineteen now—won, not girls anymore. The world had changed quickly around them, and they were racing to keep up.

Anastasia motioned toward the couches. "Please, take a seat."

Delilah complied, smoothing the fabric of her dark blue skirts as she sat down, straight-backed, trying her best to balance comfort and composure.

"I was surprised when you summoned , Your Majesty," Delilah said with a soft smile, the formality still feeling foreign on her tongue. "I assud you’d be spending this week solely with King Henry."

Anastasia let out a sheepish laugh. "Well... he’s been rather busy since his coronation. etings, scrolls, council mbers... He barely has ti to sleep."

Their wedding had been a whirlwind. The forr king had died unexpectedly of a heart attack, throwing the entire court into chaos.

Henry had been crowned within the week, and Anastasia married soon after. There had been no ti for a romantic honeymoon, no gentle transition into royal life.

It all happened so fast—but still, Anastasia was happy. Wasn’t she?

Delilah tilted her head slightly, her eyes softening as she noticed the brief flicker in Anastasia’s expression. Her smile faltered for the tiniest second.

"Still," Delilah murmured, "I expected he’d make ti for you."

That faint flicker grew into a shadow, but just as quickly, Anastasia forced it away with a polite smile.

Sensing the awkwardness, Delilah shifted the topic. "So... since we’re talking, I do have sothing to tell you, Your Majesty."

"Right! You did say you had news. too," Anastasia said, leaning forward with a childlike spark in her eyes.

Delilah’s brows lifted, surprised at her friend’s excitent. "Oh, you may go first—"

"No, no, you go," Anastasia insisted with a wave of her hand, trying to keep her giddy smile restrained.

Delilah laughed gently, but her own smile wasn’t as carefree. She smoothed her hands over her skirts once more.

"Well, Your Majesty... I spoke to my father and... he told I’m to be arranged for marr—"

"I want you to beco my head lady-in-waiting!" Anastasia blurted out, her voice bubbling with excitent, her eyes bright.

Delilah blinked. For a mont, she just stared. "You... you what?"

"I’m sorry for interrupting, Lilah, I just... I got too excited. I’ve been thinking about it for days and—"

"You want to be your head lady-in-waiting?" Delilah leaned forward, stunned. "A-Are you serious, Ana—Your Majesty?"

Anastasia chuckled and reached across the table, placing a gentle hand over Delilah’s. "Co on, Delilah. You’re the daughter of a Marquis. You’re more than qualified. And more importantly..." Her voice softened. "I trust you more than anyone."

Delilah’s breath caught. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes began to shimr.

"Your Majesty..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

"Is that a yes?" Anastasia asked, hopeful.

Delilah nodded slowly, trying not to tear up. "Of course, Your Majesty. It would be my greatest honor to serve under you."

Anastasia’s face lit up in a way that made the entire room feel warr. "Oh, I’m so glad, Lilah!" she bead, nearly bouncing in her seat. "I’ve been wanting to tell you all week. This ans so much to ."

But then, as the excitent settled, she tilted her head. "Oh! I almost forgot—I interrupted you earlier. What were you saying?"

Delilah hesitated.

"It..." Her fingers curled around the edge of her skirt. "...isn’t important, Your Majesty. Not as important as this."

Anastasia blinked. "Are you sure?"

Delilah smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Yes, I’m sure."