There was a buzzing sound inside her head and after that, her ears gave ringing sound as her forehead got covered in a cold sweat in an instant, that annoying pain she has been getting all her life came back with full force.
But something was different at a basic level, the pain today made her whole body feel worse, as if, something deep inside her was trying to get out, for her little body it was enough to make her wobble a bit.
By now, her pallid face and trembling body had attracted the attention of the other two. Aki saw her sister in pain, it was the third time he saw this, the first time was on the day they met, though she hid it very well, he has been a sensitive kid and could still feel it, the next time was during their journey here... back then he had lost control of his emotions and he made things difficult for her, he wasn't sure how, but he knew that he did something he shouldn't have.
Now, he was again becoming restless, "Onee-chan...? What happened...? Onee-chan...?", his voice was very soft and raspy, he was holding back his tears, he didn't like to see her like this.
Even the aloof prince was affected by this pitiful bunny and became worried for the young girl. He was about to call for a guard when Yuki spoke something rapidly, "Aki, stay with him for a bit. Don't worry. Please take care of my brother", saying this, unable to control her urge to retch, she darted into the washroom she came out of.
Aki was about to follow him, but the prince had probably guessed that it won't be a pleasant experience for this little child so, he simply carried him into his embrace and walked back to the room. Aki wanted to struggle and he was crying huge beads of tears, but a single sentence from the crown prince stopped him.
As Makarios soothingly patted his back, he whispered in a soft but innately deep voice, " She will be alright. We'll just get in her way. Let me call for a doctor. Please wait here for her to come back, hm?"
Aki was a good kid and decided on the right steps to be taken.
The person he loved the most was his Onee-chan, he didn't want to burden her just because of his insecurities and selfishness. He sniffed a bit and habitually locked his hands around the prince's neck, and snuggled a bit, he was still a child and at times like this, he needed a strong support to lean on, the prince happened to fulfil the requirements for that, at the moment!
Makarios was a clean freak and even as a very small child, he didn't like to be cuddled and kissed, he didn't even let his mother do that... but before he knew it, his mother died and it made him shoulder some sort of guilt, as well as, it became a regret for him.
'... if he was not like this, would his mother have lived longer?'
'Was it his fault that his mother died? Because he was willful...?'
He always found himself asking these question.
But it was in the past and she couldn't come back to life... he will have to live with this lifelong regret forever.
This caused a psychological trauma and his mysophobia became even stronger, he felt as if he was cursed and his personality also took a wrong turn and he became reticent and aloof, for the record, he did visit some psychiatrists, but all they had to say was, it should go away when he becomes older and his cognition develops, they also did many therapies... but in the end, he just decided to bottle everything up and carry on.
He already caused his mother's death, he didn't want to burden his father more than he already did.
But he was just a 7-year-old child, how much can he carry on his tiny shoulders, how much of his feelings can he suppress in that tiny body?
With each passing day, he was becoming more strict and cold, but this finally broke.
The pure glistening eyes of the child in his arms, his soft warmth and heat, finally broke that wall he had created for himself... no matter what, he had to protect this fragile and soft child, who wanted to be protected by him and was trying to depend on him.
His life was not a curse, this child was supposed to shine and smile, just like he did a while ago... this child made him feel that he was still needed and his life did matter. He could still hug him, he could feel his soft body in his arms... he wanted to protect this child's world.
So, he will get over his past and move on... there was again someone who made him feel alive...
…....
Makarios let Aki down with very gentle movements, as one did with their precious gems, to him.. in just a few minutes of meeting this child, he has already become that sort of precious existence for him plus, the child's sister had left him in his care, he would like to live by those words.
Makarios made him feel comfortable on the sofa and bent a little to look into his eyes, "I'll immediately come back with someone. Don't be afraid... okay?", his voice was very tender to the ear, like whispering lullaby... it made people relax.
Aki softly bit his lips and nodded, but his trembling hands, that still held on to the hem of the young prince's shirt, showed that he was not alright at all and just gritting and persevering.
Makarios melted from this purely vulnerable gesture and gave the child's head a pat, he had seen Yuki do it and mimicked the exact same movement to help him calm down and said, "Just count to ten and I'll be back by then..."
Aki looked up at the beautiful face of the prince with his misty eyes, he slowly raised his pinky and said, "Promise..?"
Even though the situation didn't allow it, Makarios almost wanted to grin and dote on this cute bunny, that thin shred of rationality still brought him back and he raised his own pinky and hooked it with his, "I promise." The prince gave him a solemn vow.