"Wahhh, Good morning Seria" I yawned, as I went downstairs and saw Seria. "G-good day! Ed-sama… Well then, later" She hastily escaped, like a rat.
Everyone I passed by, also did the same thing. They all forced themselves to ignore me like air. "What the heck is wrong with them?" I mumbled.
As I walked the hallway, to go to Gino's room. I was called out by…"Ed!" by my elder sister Altheia.
She explained to me that she is in the midst of holding her tea party, with some of the daughters of some well-known nobles.
For some reason, after explaining everything to me, she invited me to join them.
What kind of act of a whim is this?
I do know that her attitude towards me had become a bit good, when you compare it with her attitude back then. But…
Why is she doing something like this?
"O-oi..! Theia, why are you including me here?" I whispered to Altheia, as the girls that joined her tea party were chatting with themselves, in a very ladylike manner.
Altheia looked at me, before taking a sip from her tea. "Because it's boring for me to only talk with them" She said, as she fluttered her hair like a princess.
Well, she is a princess, though…
Still, I can't comprehend to a sister's feeling of boredom that she suddenly invites her little brother who she used to hate, to her tea party.
"Sheesh" I can only sigh, as I stand behind her seat, like a knight. "Hmm, Altheia-sama that boy is?" A girl asked her. "He is my little brother, Edward" Theia answered
"He's plenty cute for a kid, don't you think?" Another girl stated, making Altheia look at me. "Is he now?" she asked, as she took another sip.
We look the same, you know.
I suddenly saw Reina walking on the hallway. She took a glimpse on us and I tried to signal her for rescue by my thumb.
"No way" She muttered, with no voice. And I also did the same as her, "Come on!"
She sighed, as she did Altheia noticed her. "Ed, is that girl the little sister of Erina sen Arledimeth?" Theia asked me. "Well, yeah" I nodded.
Did she know Erina? It's strange for my sister who doesn't normally even remembers the names of those who approach her, to recognize Reina and even be aware of Erina.
"Call her" Altheia mumbled, before she took a sip from her tea. "Alright…" I nodded, as I went over to where Reina is.
Altheia's really acting strange.
"Reina!" I called out to her. "What? Were you finally released and you are here to tell me about your happiness with that?" Reina stated.
I retorted, "That's not it!" I sighed. "Altheia's calling for you, she told me to call you"
"Me?" Reina asked. "Yes you" I nodded.
She remained silent for a few seconds and repeated, "Me??" I got a bit pissed."Like, I'm saying you!" I stated.
"Okay" She nonchalantly agreed.
I looked at Reina's back as she walked ahead me. She is also acting weird. Really, what's with these two?
"Theia, here she i-?!" I was suddenly interrupted with the sudden standing of Altheia and approach to Reina, just to look at her face more closely.
I and the girls invited to Altheia's tea party, mumbled, "Eh?!"
"You really look like her. It's like I am looking at her doppelganger…" Altheia mumbled, with a bit sobbing heard from her. "Y-your highness..?" Reina uttered.
Altheia quickly looked at the girls she invited.
"I am very sorry ladies, but I will be closing our tea party today for now. I will be glad if you joined the next one as well" She smiled, as she quickly forced the girls to leave.
They looked at each other, before nodding at Altheia. "Then… Good day to you, your highnesses" They bid goodbye to us.
…
As the girls left, "Uhm, do you know my sister?" Reina asked.
"Know, you say? It is more than the words "know". I am close with her, to the fact that I always hear her talk about you" Altheia stated.
She continued, as she sat down. "I don't really get why sisters and brothers like her fuss about their little siblings very much, though"
"I see" Reina smiled bitterly, but somehow it showed her happiness. "I'm sorry to hear that she passed away" Theia looked beneath her feet.
"It's alright, it's not like it's your fault Theia and more or less it is my fault…" Reina said, while whispering the last part.
Reina added, "Uhm. I'm sorry I unconsciously called you without any honorifics"
"It is fine. I don't mind, it reminded me of Erina a bit" Altheia smiled bitterly, as she left the two of us.
We looked at my sister's back that seemed a bit sad.
"You know, she's usually not like that around others" I mumbled. "Then why..?" Reina asked. "Like she said, you looked like Erina-san" I said, as I walked.
After I parted ways with Reina, somehow here I am finding myself in the training hall with a wooden sword in hand.
"Just what am I doing?" I asked myself.
Why is it that I've been finding myself suddenly wielding a sword, these days? Am I cursed with a sword or something?
I looked at my brother, who was the main reason I am here.
"Why did you suddenly wanted to have a spar with me, Herd-nii?" I asked my brother who was wearing his protectors.
He flinched, "W-well. I heard from master that you managed to take his guard down and defeat him, so…" he unusually fidgeted.
No one needs to tell me, I can suspect that they're hiding something.
The way Seria acted, Altheia acting out of a whim like that and now this… but I can't just spurt that out of intuition.
Plus if this is really an excuse. What is it for?
Herd jumped like a frog straight to my strike zone. Stopping with a stomp, he tried to slash me.
But, I managed to lower my body right on time. He kicked me quick, as I did and I was thrown off the other side.
A déjà vu…it hurts like hell.
If this is really an excuse then why does he need to kick me so strong? I panted, as I standed firmly.
Don't tell me that he's merely frustrated, with me beating his master? I grinned. Then let me deal with you the same as I did with him!
Like with Christophe-san, I controlled my breathing and stopped my heart beat and respiration.
I rushed straight to his strike zone, this time I was the one who threw him off straight to the other side.
"I think I did it too much…" I panted, trying to catch my breath that I stopped. Heldrad sat down as if nothing happened. "Nice hit, Lil'bro" he chuckled.
You are a monster like your master, brother…
Suddenly, the bell rang. "Hmm, I guess it's time" Heldrad mumbled. "Time..? Time for what?" I asked.
"Just follow me" He grinned.