Rai Shinah spent two hours carefully selecting jewelry and matching dresses from her room, under Shen's watchful eye.
"These are the things you needed to collect, I could have received them for you."
Shinah ignored Shens comment and carefully collected her crowns, she looked conflicted with only choosing a few, she ended up rearranging them all to fit in a jewelry box taking them all in the end.
Shinah collected everything she wanted, excluding a pink round box -into her Mindscape. She walked beside Rai Shen silently as they made their way out her room.
"Big Brother Shen! Hey your back already?"
Akuma and Jing Xuan rush over excitingly "First brother... welcome back home!" He bows down to Shen gracefully.
"Akuma get up, you can skip formalities I trust Little Xuan. Have you been well? I see you've broke through to the last stage of Expert Class congratulations.
Little Xuan, I've returned to collect my little sisters belongings, you know how girls can be with their accessories. I'll return for dinner." Rai Shen covers Shinah's boyish figure behind him missing Shinah's stunned expression.
Since when did Shen get close to Flower Big Brother. Anger flashes quickly through her eyes while she hides behind Rai Shen cover.
"You noticed? Yes we didn't let our training slip during this time. But you were gone to long, we all missed you. Especially a certain little sister of ours." He smiles and secretly glances at the boy behind Rai Shen.
"Big Brother Shen is this Fourth Brother Shinah?" Jing Xuan interrupts excitedly. All three siblings gaze in confusion at Jing Xuan.
"Little Xuan who told you Shinah was our brother?"
"Huh? Big Brother Shen of course.. uhh actually I assumed from the way he referred to your brother as Little Shin'er or Shinah in stories. While your sisters hasn't been introduced to the Kingdom yet and you both refer to her only as 'little sister or princess'. Forgive me if I said something offensive, I assumed because he looks cut from the same cloth as you and is carrying your sisters belongings, and Brother Akuma told me nobody aside from family and the new Physician can go near the little princess." Jing Xuan explained after noticing their odd expressions.
The hall fell into an awkward silence...
Cynical laughter from behind Rai Shen increased the heavy atmosphere. "Little Xuan is correct, I'm Rai Shinah I'll be in your care." Shinah erases her intense aggression swiftly, before stepping out to greet Jing Xuan politely with a sincere smile.
"Ahh ... I was most excited to meet you! Let's be brothers.. I feel a great affinity with you."
"Excuse us Little Xuan, were in a hurry to return to our sister." Rai Shen snatches Shinah and disappeared before Jing Xuan could respond.
"... You brothers really dote on your sister."
"Yes... she is the most precious person in our hearts." Akuma smiles gently at the retreating figures of his siblings.
——
Rai Shen carries Shinah to the edge of the cliff behind the forest of their castle, his speed incredibly fast and powered by his anger they arrived in less than five minutes. He set her down turning away from her, collecting his thoughts. As if trying to suppress his anger, his voice trembled in a cruel tone.
"Did we not agree to avoid everyone why did you step out from behind me?"
"Did we not agree it was best to stay hidden for now?"
"Did we not agree to keep your power hidden."
"What if it wasn't Jing Xuan we ran into but Lu Remington and what if I wasn't around how would you be able to protect yourself?"
"Why did you say that? Do you not realize the butterfly effect this lie will have on the kingdom?"
"How do you plan on telling father and mother."
"Why didn't you, talk to me first before deciding to speak about yourself, do you think that little bit of spirit power can truly protect you? You were only a Spirit Paragon in your last life and still died miserably despite that. I thought that would teach you to act less rashly.. if you didn't speak nobody would think your a fool. Think of the consequences before you make decisions for this family, or are you so hell bent on revenge your willing to sacrifice your family again."
Shen's icy tone, froze her on the spot. Memories of her loved ones and companions deaths from her previous life invaded her mind.
Rai Shinahs anxiety intensified under his interrogation and onslaught of memories it triggered. The fear and devastation she felt when she thought of Lu Rem ..choked her and the light in her golden eyes slowly dimmed.
Shinah stood there for along time face devoid of emotion, as if stuck in a trance.
Rai Shen turned around impatiently after not receiving a response. His hateful words stuck in his throat after seeing her desolate expression. His heart felt an uncomfortable tightness he couldn't make go away. He panicked and immediately regretted questioning her, his wrath extinguished into thin air.
"Did you know Jing Xuan before this?" Rai Shen questioned trying to pull her out of her daze.
"His box had the poison at Aunties. You can figure it out on your own, I'm going home." Shinah activated her Silents Steps and took off towards the mountain leaving Rai Shen in an uncomfortable silence.