"say ahh, Joelle." Wren held out a spoon and feed the baby while Jemina supervises them.
"umm..." Wren is in bliss upon seeing her little sister chewing her food. Undeniably she is cute and it made her heart flutter, forgetting that Joelle is a carbon copy of their father.
she decided to see her baby sister despite the fact that she ditched her lessons with Patrice. At times like these she had realized her sister is growing fast. Last time Joelle flipped and tried to crawl and she wasn't there to see it.
It is admirable of how she keeps trying with its little limbs to crawl, and the first ones to see it were the twins. Her anger towards the two are undeniably high.
"Oh, here you are."
Wren turned around only to see his brother looking at several letters, brows creasing as he moved to another letters. Wren is going to ask when he burned it into ashes. He smiles like he didn't just burned a couple of letters in front of her. No matter what she cannot find out what are the contents of the other letters. However Wren already had a guess from where the letter came from.
"your birthday is coming up. Do you have something you want?"
Wren grimaced at the thought. She already disapproved of the idea of having another birthday banquet. Not only will it be a hassle, the princes will surely come to her birthday.
"Asides from having a small party there's nothing I could think of," Caesar sighed as he ruffled Wren's hair, "alright, just tell me if you want something." he said softly, then pats Joelle and leaves the room.
Wren also sigh after the door closed. These days she often notices his brother's absence for a day. When she do see him, it is either occupied by running some tasks or he was busy practicing his swordmanship.
The Duke is not also at the estate. As soon as his wife woke up he stayed for 3 days and left the Duchy to report in the palace and also finish the investigation in the Jade Mountain.
Wren was relieved when he didn't see her father after coming home but it is troubling her as he was away for weeks now.
Loud thumpings followed by the loud swing of the door as Yessenia came bursting and beaming with energy.
"Wren!! Listen to me!" because of her high voice and her sudden pound on the little table, Joelle was startled that the food was in mess on her table.
she wiped Joelle's face and said, "What is it? Please refrain pounding the table."
Wren sighs and called Jemina, "Joelle has finished eating. Mother wants to see her."
'young miss sometimes spoke like an elderly woman' Jemina thought in her head while smiling, "yes, young miss..."
Yessenia pouts in which Wren is aware of but shrugs it off but then she mumbles something that Wren couldn't catch on.
"Gift"
"yes?..." Her pout got even deeper as she crossed her arms, when a mocking like voice said, "You should find it out soon because..."
Wren's plan to shut her up is feeding her baby formula forcibly. Boaife isn't helping her at all, instead she is enjoying the scene.
"Young Miss there is a letter for you, from Master Royce's estate."
Her eyes lit up suddenly forgetting the fact that Yessenia is sulking. After all the letter must have been from Aria. She quickly opened the letter and read it. The letter is mostly about their fief and her gratitude over Wren's souveneir. In exchange Aria also sent a dried lavender candies.
But before she could hug and eat the candies, Anna already had it in her hands, "Annaaaaaa let me have one!" She says but Anna only shakes her head in disapprovement.
"Oh, this is good," Boaife commented while chewing on the candy while floating in the air with blissful face. Wren could only swear at the bird because she ate one of her candy.
"Boaife I will really roast you someday," Seeing how Boaife opens the lid and pops one on her mouth made her boil in anger more as she hissed.
"Where's my gift?!"
she looks in daze at Yessenia, "didn't I give it before we sleep?"
Wren chose to give her an amethyst decorated hairpin. She gave one gift for everyone including the twins and seeing how flushed Yessenia is right now. She assumed that she might have remembered it already.
---------------------------------------------------
Days passed as usual and there is nothing new in my life. Except that I accepted the fact that these twins have nothing better to do for their free time.
I am in the study room with Aunt Patrice. We are in the middle of lessons in etiquette when suddenly something sparks in front of my desk, then smokes filled the room. I heard Aunt Patrice groans as she whipped the table, loudly and said angrily, "Just don't make me catch you two!" she is already terrifying with a whip on hand though.
the place is already messy now as I evaded each whip in the room. I can't come out because the twins sealed it and Boaife isn't going to help me with this. The twins laugh at Aunt Patrice's attempts to strike them with her whip but to no avail, she didn't hit them.
After my lessons or hell time with Aunt that end up in the twins hanging upside-down. My next schedule is to check on Cervi at the training hall. Caesar hired him in our estate and let him train under him. Of course our father and uncle doesn't know about this.
He says, "why tell them if I can do it?" Well, he's the heir, so, I think that's the reason behind his words.
Anyway, Caesar is the one who will train my spirit— an eight-year-old kid will train him and Sir Antonio let's him.
Cervi is fine with whatever it is. Besides, he was already doted here and that got out of hand when they found out he's only ten. Am I the only one who is not used to this?
"..."
no matter how you look at it. I cannot believe that he's only 10 years old with that height. Is it because he's a spirit that he has undeniable beauty and being tall?
"you're here..." it looks like Boaife has woken up. Boaife often rests here in the training hall, on top of the trees, like a bird in a nest. By the way, why does she look more tired than usual? She has faint bags under her eyes.
"did you not sleep?" I ask, but because of that question she looks like she is now wide awake and she's glaring at me. Is she angry that I ask?
"NO! I did not have a good night sleep at all and it's been days!"
She then landed down and pinched my cheeks harshly and said, "you! just how thick-skinned are you to not notice that there is someone in your room last night!"
"owiiee..." I groaned and tapped her hands off. Someone is in my room? I wonder who will enter my room late at night though.
"are you not mistaking it for Cervi or the twins? Or maybe, my devilish father or brother?"
she winced and pinched my cheeks more, "there is no reason for them to conceal himself and it's wearing a robe! Besides, even if it is Cervi, you should be more alert!"
just how long will she do this? To think that Boaife is guarding me at night makes me assured that even if there is an assassin in place, she will do her job well.
Nah, I'm sure it's one of my cousins who snuck out in my room last night.
A loud sound of metal dropped on the ground followed by the sound light foot steps, before I could see who it was, another hand joined in pulling my cheeks.
"y-young miss..."
"she looks like a dough..."
Now I look like some food to Cervi... the spirits I contracted with have their heads full about food.
"stop it. My face is going to be saggy." to my dismay, only Boaife retreated as she watched Cervi keep pulling my cheeks. That bird, I will really roast her someday.
"stop i..." not champagned hair color but a blue hair is in front of me while his gaze is like he's hunting his prey.
"It is rude to do that to a noblelady"
what is Zairon doing here?!?!?!?
---------------------------------------------------
"what?" Zairon is unsure if what he heard is right from his brother's lips. Unfortunately, he has deep trust issues with the 1st Prince.
he was just sleeping inside the glass house when he suddenly appeared, blocking the sun. The glass house is his perfect place for nap because of its calming ambiance and there's no disturbance inside. Well, not anymore since his older brother is right above him.
"aw, come on. Believe your big brother˜"
he finds it disgusting. Asterion usually never acts like this, except if there is something that he wants to do something to amuse him or because of how he is for one thing.
In Zairon's case we can say it is both.
All in the corners of the palace, 1st Imperial Prince, Asterion is being avoided by most of the employees. They fear that they will be the next entertainment for the prince for the next 2 years.
Luckily, that subsided when his siblings were born, specially Zairon. He finds Zairon amusing because out of his siblings, Zairon is the only one whom he find cute and easy to tease. Unlike the 2nd Prince and Princess Alisa. One was boring and the other one has flowers in her head.
"Come with me to the Vacarella Duchy. For sure Wren misses you," Zairon chokes with that statement as he angrily puts down the chocolate he's drinking
"stop joking around" He said, wiping his mouth and turning away, mumbling. His ears and face are flushed red which did not escape Asterion's eyes. That's the first time he became red and it made Asterion smile wide.
Something had happened~ in his mind he's guessing about it, betting even with himself. Prince Asterion also is very greatful for Wren because if it weren't for her he wouldn't see these emotions.
If only he could record this to be his souvenir, "spill the reason why you are pestering me."
he chuckled at Zairon and tilts his head, "aren't you worried about Wren?" after roaming around stealthily everyday, he overheard the emperor and the council talking about the accident that occurred in the East.
Asterion was worried when he heard that Wren has caught up, but more shocking is that she goes into mana berserk. The last time he eavesdrops is when Alef, the duke's aide came for the report. At that time he knew that something happened within her mana.
Well, he knows that something is bound to happen with the young lady, but it seems like she handled it just fine.
As to why he wants to visit the duchy as soon as he finds out that Wren already has returned. Of course it would be fun if he invited his little brother for this visit.
"also, isn't their place quiet? perfect for naps."
"I can do that in here if you just didn't disturb me" Zairon retorted and stood up. His persuasion failed.
"haiz... are you just going to stay here everyday?" he asked him and yet Zairon leaves him with a statement that surprised Asterion, "tell me when we are going to leave."
as etiquette follows, it is respectful to send a letter prior to the visit. Of course, the prince expected not to receive a reply as Caesar is at home. He also expected that Caesar might have burned the letters he sent but is preparing for their arrival.
after they left, both princes bought a gift for Wren, not to expect that she was in the training hall, some random guy pinching her cheeks.
He finds this amusing as he looks at his brother who has a serious look. An idea struck him as he said, "It seems that Wren has a new... hey!"
he was surprised to see Zairon trudge and pulled the hand away from her cheeks and get himself in between the two.
"It is rude to do that to a noblelady"
Cervi, who is unknown to both princes rubs his hand and looks at Zairon as he tilts his head.
"ah... is that so." he said in an uninterested tone as he picked up his sword. Asterion who was watching suddenly clasped his hand to his mouth, shaking in laughter.
Unbelievable, he thought upon seeing the scene in front of him.