After breakfast, we took a stroll on the palace garden. My brothers were all in front, except for Lissander. He was by my side the moment we finished breakfast.
"How are you Lia? I'm sorry I don't have that many time to spend with you and your twins, or with our other brothers as well." he said sadly.
True that he doesn't have the luxury of time anymore, but we understand. We all understand.
"Shouldn't I be the one to ask brother? How are you? Ever since you turned thirteen, more responsibilities has been bestowed upon you, yes we are sad that we cannot spend more time like before, but we are more sad knowing that a lot of pressure is on you." I said.
We stopped on a small bench under a shaded tree. There, we both sat, while our other brothers were at it again, playing. And that made me smile. Despite all the responsibilities we all have, we still remember we are still kids, we celebrate it as much as we can, for we can never be kids forever. We all have to grow up and face more responsibilities, just like Lissander. He is force to grow up and be mature at such a young age, its the duty of the first born and the crown prince of the nation. And that makes us sad for him. tho being the crown prince is an honor but thinking like an adult at the young age is just too much, but it is the role that givin to us and we just have to accept it. Lissander is prim and proper infront of others, the ever responsible eldest of the Delafontaine family. He is raised to be respected by others and only with us he can be who he is. He can be that kid once again, our playmate, our brother. Lissander smiled and ruffled my hair then said,
"I'm fine Princess. Everything's going smooth, tho I miss the times we all sent together. I envy these idiots. They can still fool around, and spend more time with you. But I have to do my best. I have to set an example for them. I must not break, so they won't too. So they won't be scared when the time comes." I felt a pang of sadness when he said that. It's all for us.
"What about me brother? You said you need to set an example for them, but hoe about me?Am I not included?" I asked him jokingly to lighten the mood. He just chuckled.
"You won't be needing me to set an example my dear Princess. You will be the example."He said.
I just looked at him, puzzled.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
He just looked at the sky then said, "You'll understand someday."
I was about to speak when Leo came crying.
"What happened?"Lissander was quick to ask, he's the big brother after all. The boys were laughing at Leo. Lissander glared at them and asked. "What did you do to Leo?" They all just looked at each other then bursted out laughing again. Leo just smuggled to me while crying. I asked him what happened he just looked at me then cried again.
"Leo, tell us what happened." Lissander said. Leo started to talk.
"I, I saw lia, W-with a man. And she's leaving the palace! She was leaving us!" Leo said as he started to cry again.
I looked at Lissander who's shaking his head, he sighed then he looked at the boys who stopped laughing. Lissander stood and signalled our brothers to come near us. And when they did, Lissander asked them about what have they done.
"It was Lean." Lucius answered.
Lean was quick to turn his head to Lucius. staring at him intensely.
"WHAT?! Some brother you are."Lean said.
"Well, Leo is also my brother, and your twin at that." Lucius answered while giving a shrug shoulders.
Lean only rolled his eyes to Lucius. He can never win any arguments with Lucius.
"Well, whatever. It was only a joke. Besides, he's being annoying." Lean answered.
"I asked what happened, not who did it. But, since a name has been dropped, might as well tell me what happened, Lean?" Lissander intrude the almost starting brawl between Lucius and Lean. Lissander knew very well that Lean can be hot headed sometimes and Lucius will never back out in any arguments.
"It was only a joke, brother." Lean answered in a low voice.
"What happened?" Lissander repeated in an angrier tone.
Lean gasp and lowered his head. He must have done something serious, because if it's only a joke, he would be boasting about it. A minute later, I felt something dripping in my hands and Leo had stopped crying too. When I looked at my hands, I saw blood, then I looked at Leo, he suddenly fell in the floor, he's unconscious and blood is dripping from his mouth and nose.
Chills came up from my feet into head, my chest suddenly sting seeing Leo at that state.
"BROTHER! LEO IS... BROTHERS HELP ME!" I shouted.
Lissander was the first one to response and run by my side.
"Leo... is he..." I was shaking so much that I can't utter the correct words. Lissander stood up and was about to carry Leo when suddenly, Lean fall all fours to the ground too. Blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
"Lean!" Leslie went to Lean's side.
"What's happening? What is going on? Please tell me!" I asked in a a shaky voice. My brothers, My twins. Lissander was carrying Leo, and Leslie was carrying Lean. They just looked at each other and with a serious face nodded.
"Liam, escort the princess to her chamber. Lucius, please call the royal mage, summon him to the twins room. And Lorcan, call father, and tell him what happened."
They all nodded like they understand the situation. I looked at my unconscious twins on my brothers arms, blood still dripping.
"Let's go Princess. Lets go back to your room." Liam said as he took my hand.
My room? Why aren't we going to my twins room? Why are we going back to my room.
Shocked at what happened, I couldn't muster a word. I just let Liam held my shaking hand and guided me back to my room. As we are on our way to my room, we came across the royal mage hurrying to my twins room. We are about to reach my room when I stopped at my track. Making Liam stop and turn to me.
"Princess?" Liam asked.
"I.. I want to see my twins. I want to see my brothers." I said as tears started to fall. I am so scared and worried. I have never seen them like that before.
"But princess -"
"And why a mage?! Why not the Royal doctor??! What is happening? It feels like you all know what's going on and I have been kept in the dark. Brother please, please take me to them, I beg you." I don't know how those words rolled out my tongue, but I was desperate. Desperate to see my twins, desperate to know what happened. Liam just stared at me with pity in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Princess. But I cannot take you to them."Liam said as he hugged me.
Leo, Lean... my dear twins. I thought as I cried louder.