A sad smile took place on Shirley's face as she saw how happy Aeinshia was now. But, as they say, happiness won't last long.
"Now, what's wrong with you??" Aeinshia said, while suddenly, appearing in front of her face. Shirley was startled and jumped back a little. "It's nothing, my Princess." Shirley shook her head, violently.
When she saw Aeinshia's suspicious expression, she knew she had to do some damage control. "I wish I had sibling like yours." she blurted out in one breath, which startled Aeinshia a bit. But, what Shirley was not entirely a lie, for most part it was true.
Though, startled at first, Aeinshia's face softened at the confession. She couldn't imagine herself without her brother. He was like a literal lifeline for her. If it wasn't for him, she never would have understood the meaning, while growing up.
Suddenly a heavy silence setteled in the room, which both women didn't know how to cut. Aeinshia was feeling awful for making her favorite servant upset but, little did she know what was her favorite and most trusted servant was doing behind her back.
Shirley was now panicking a bit. She just hoped the excuse would be bought by Aeinshia. Of course, she didn't show any suspicious expression on her face, Yet, the princess was not that dumb and now, she was worried what was going on Aeinshia's mind.
"Now, let's not get emotional. Let's start getting ready. Emperor's orders." Aeinshia said to lighten up her favorite servant's mood and cutting the uncomfortable silence between them. Shirley smiled a bit in relief. Aeinshia skipped her way to get ready for a new, exciting day, with a happy smile decorating her face.
Unknown of the storm, that had started to brew to destroy the future.
....
Aeinshia stepped out of her chambers, to find Felix waiting for her, while gazing out at the nature from the large opening, just opposite from her chambers. She tilted her head, a bit confused.
Felix had a neutral expression but, his brows were furrowed and his eyes kept wandering. They seem to search for the whatever Felix was trying to figure out, physically.
She never saw Felix look like that. He looked so...lost. Something was definitely bothering him, more than it should. She tapped his shoulder and Felix jolted, like he had been taken out from a trance. Now, it was confirmed that her brother had a lot on his mind, that was worrying him to the point of getting lost in the iddle of the day.
Aeinshia decided that her intervention is now necessary at this point. But, Aeinshia decided to deal with it delicately. Felix mostly didn't want her to be bothered with the duty things. But, she wanted to know, since whatever it was it was bothering her brother a lot and she wasn't just going to just sit and let her brother suffer like this.
"Anything bothering you, brother" she asked softly . Felix glanced at her briefly and faced the front. "Duties." He replied curtly and Aeinshia wasn't going to leave it at that. She gave him a blank stare and Felix sighed, knowing there was no room for excuse now. He would never get used to her stubborn attitude.
"I've been working on the code and figured out something but, I don't know..." Felix trailed, his face scrunched a bit. He was trying to find the exact words for his mixed thoughts.
"Something doesn't feel right about all this. Its a just feeling but, I feel that I'm missing out something." he explained, his hands flailing in front of him desperately, as he was sharing what's really on his mind.
Aeinshia frowned. She didn't know her brother was so stressed over the letter. She didn't know how to exactly react to him but, she had to give an answer now or else Felix would definitely be down for the whole day. She couldn't hurt her brother. "If you are really feeling it then, you might have to double check once. Gut feelings are never to be ignored" she mused but, something clicked in her when she spoke out the last sentence. Gut feeling.
Suddenly, she became aware of the feeling stirring in her pit of her stomach as they walked towards the dining room. She wasn't sure what was it for but, she knows it's something not pleasant. And before she could further think about it, they were at the dining hall's entrance. The servants were buzzing in and out of the grand hall, preparing for the special breakfast for all the royals. Servants passing them bowed, showing their respect to the royals.
As Aeinshia glanced at the preparations inside, the feeling was now, strong and setteled and her stomach was squeezing. She didn't understand, why suddenly such feeling was stirring inside her. But, before her thoughts went deeper, she felt a presence beside her.
She looked up to see and found her father by her side. Andrew smiled at her and then his son. The two Rutz heirs greeted their father with a bow and a warm hug, which Andrew gladly accepted and returned with equal warmth.
Together, the Rutz family made their way into the dining hall, with Aeinshia's bad feeling increasing in her gut and spreading through her chest.