Silvester has arrived and I was so excited to see him. Its been a long time since I've seen me. The truth is, we have never been separated this long before. He is my twin and my older brother. After seeing him for so long before, I just realize that he is getting more handsome than before. Is it because he is married to Corra?
"Welcome Vester! Its been a long time I have never seen you. How is the North?" I greeted him with a loud voice.
"Hush now Silvy… you will be a grown woman after two days. You should be more composed by now. I have thought that you being trapped here can make you change but I think I jumped into conclusion without any basis. Grow up now Silvy. You are no longer a child and you are no longer in the North where I can tolerate all of your mistakes. I just hope that you are not bringing any trouble here." Silvester's harsh response. Well, I guess he also didn't change.
He went closer to mother and father and greeted them. After that he just tap Arthur's head. He waited for father to step forward before he moves. While I just entered the house without minding any etiquette. The maids are creating another commotion upon the arrival of the cold wind. I call Silvester as the cold wind for being a party-pooper.
The next day, Father left to report in the palace while mother and Arthur left to attend some tea party gathering. Silvester and I left in the mansion and as usual he always having his rounds around the mansion. He likes observing things.
While I was in the courtyard looking at the preparation, Silvester sent a maid to call me in to his room. So, what now? Did I do any mistake again without realizing it?
"Do you need something?" I bluntly ask.
"I don't need anything from you. I think that you have something to tell me, a lot of things." He stared at me.
"Like what?" I pretended that I don't know.
"Look Silvestine, you might fool our parents but you cannot fool me. You know what and who I am talking about. Say it." He emphasized the topic he wanted to know.
Oh right, I have forgotten that my paranoid twin brother is good at observing people.
"I want you to start explaining about your cancellation of your engagement to the son of the Duke of Cleiden." He started his interrogation.
I told him my reasons why I cancelled my engagement with Luke. Luke and I is not really for each other. We could be friends but we cannot be lovers. I know and I can feel that Luke doesn't have any interest to me and I am too with him. If we get married now, I don't think that our house will have some peace. Silvester understood my reasons and although he doesn't agree with my decision but he also doesn't want to push me to marry someone whom I don't like.
"Your reason towards your decision of your engagement is understandable and even the king would not question you. But what is your reason of letting two fallen royals from a conquered kingdom to stay in this house and make them as your slaves? I will repeat, they are not our family's slaves but yours." Silvester insisted to know.
I knew this day will come. I explained the whole scenario on how Cayden and Louis became my slaves. Like as usual, Silvester doesn't agree to my decisions. Silvester doesn't shout while reprimanding me but he used careful words.
"Let's just say that you found out their real identity just recently after you purchased them. Why did you not kill them? Knowing you, it is not your attitude to keep people whom you know might cause your destruction nor the kingdom's. But why are you keeping them? If the king finds this out, he will not only banish you. The king might order to execute you and not only you but the whole duke's family for committing a high treason. You are not hiding normal enemy's kingdom fugitives but they are royals from the previous fallen monarch." Silvester said.
"I know. You keep telling before that I should learn to grow mercy on me so I am trying to do that." I reasoned out.
"I did, but I didn't say that the mercy you are trying to grow can cause the risk of the destruction of our entire family." His voice are firmed that he doesn't like what I did.
"So, what do you want me to do. Should I kill them before the king find it out? Or should I just hand them over to the king?" I ask.
"You are aware that both choices can lead them to their death. And yet you didn't acted when you still have some chance." He said.
"But those are the only choices I could think of." I said.
Silvester sighed. I know that this day will come. I also don't want to put my family at risk. If you are going to let me choose, I will just hand them over to the king and let the killing done my them. I don't want to kill people whom I just save.
Silvester looked at me and saw what I truly want. He sighed a couple of times.
"I don't know what to do to you. Personally, I want you to kill both of them tonight like you always do but I can see though your eyes that you don't want to. Who would anyway? I would not also kill the people whom I just save just to save my neck." He said.
"But I would if I must." I said.
"I know." Silvester sighed. "If you handed them to the king, they will be executed and you will be punished for keeping the truth. This will make an impact once again to your name and to our house. It's a risk. There are many nobles who wanted to bring down our family and this issue is enough to do that. If you can just all go back to…" He stopped.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. Well, since no one still knows the real identities of your slaves, don't let anyone know about it. After your birthday, I will take the young girl with me to the North. Even though I want to take the fallen prince with me, the people knew him already." Silvester suggested.
"I knew you will help." I smiled.
"Just think of this as your gift. Don't let them out tomorrow, people might recognize them. If you can cast a spell to change their appearance then do it. Keep an eye to that fallen prince. As of now, I still have a lot of things to think." He said.
"I will. Thank you, brother." I thanked him.
I knew Silvester very well; he doesn't want to execute them as well but I cannot blame his wild suggestion earlier since he is thinking for our family.
The next day before my birthday party begun, I instructed Cayden that they should not come out of their room no matter what. I explained everything to him and I was shocked that he is indeed aware of their situation. It feels like I am the only one who didn't think it that way. I feel so stupid. He also agreed to send Louis to the North. That way, he is well assured that his sister is safer than staying in the capital.
I told Cayden that he should cast the identity spell again to his face. I will do the explanation to the household after the party.
The whole family of Duke Azure came except for France since he is now in Eleanor. Luke and I announced that we are cancelling our engagement publicly but we both proposed a conjoined friendship of both families. Our parents already agreed to it.
During the party, I danced with my father and Silvester. I also danced with Luke since we are friends. He also asks where I put Cayden, but I didn't tell him that. Luke is not aware of Cayden's identity and to him he is just a slave that can cause a destruction to my reputation. Luke and I are so called friends since we are both sharing same ideas and thoughts in our lives. He is indeed my soulmate if you say it but we thought that it is not yet the right time to deal with marriage life. We could be friends in the meantime. Besides we made an agreement.
The Azure family also have a mansion in the capital and they choose to stay there instead of staying in our mansion.
My birthday celebration was successful but I didn't think that it could be this tiring. Socializing with the nobles who only know how to put poker face is tiring. I got a lot of positive feed back from them but who knows, what if they are just trying to suck up to me for more connection. They also invited me to attend they gathering sometimes.
The next day, Silvester have to go back to the North and he did take Louis with him. I know that Silvester will take care of her as he promised. He went closer to Cayden and he assured that he will take good care of his sister. Silvester also knows their language.
"No one can understand us, I know that you are a prince from the kingdom of Eleanor and you are now a slave of my sister. I know that you are aware what my sister did in able to save the both of you. It is my turn to save my family from her rash decision. You and your sister might be slaves now but I assure you that I will treat your sister higher than a treatment to the slaves. But please, protect my family as well as I protect yours." Silvester said in Eleanor language.
"As you wish my lord." Cayden said. Well Silvester still doesn't know about the spell. But Cayden really means his words that it can be translated into, 'I do understand and I will also protect your family to my utmost ability.'
Silvester's carriage left with Louis inside. I forgot to ask, how did Silvester found out that Cayden and Louis are royals from the fallen kingdom of Eleanor?