"Sister! Sister!" Enoch Luxembourg ran desperately along the hallway of the mansion. In his hands was a box of cookies that upon closer look, was burnt and broken.
"Sister!"
"What's the matter? Why are you running?" Luna ask as she stood up from her seat. She looked at her brother's sweat drenched hair and the box in his hands.
"Have you been in the kitchen Enoch?" she softly asked and smiled. Enoch averted his gaze shyly and rubbed his toes against each other while handling the box to Luna.
"I made it earlier with the knights! Happy birthday sister!"
"Ugh!" Luna covered her eyes with her left hand while her right hands on her chest. It was a very cute scene that will melt the heart of anyone watching.
"Thank you!" She happily said as she locked him in an embrace, her brother laughed happily. Enoch was born three years after Luna. With his light blond hair and violet eyes, he looked so cute with his plump cheeks.
"Shall we eat this?" she asked but Enoch shook his head.
"You rascal, you know it was burnt that's why you're rejecting me aren't you?!"
Her soft and gentle tone suddenly changed when she guessed the intention behind. It was a touching gift that is made from the heart but Enoch himself knew it ended badly and he won't dare put it in his mouth.
" Hehe" he laughed and ran away from the parlor. Leaving Luna annoyed.
"Enoch Luxembourg!" she left the cookies to Jena as she raised her dress up to her knees and ran after her brother.
"My lady!" the maid belatedly called after her miss but she was nowhere in sight.
"Enoch you little runt!"
She spotted Enoch trying to squirm his way out of the corridor.
"Stop!"
"Why are you following me!"
"Because you keep running away!"
The sight of the two chasing one another was a lovely sight for anyone to see, despite Luna's harsh way of speaking and Enoch's mocking tone, this was a proof that both got along well. The chase continued until the main staircase and just when Enoch's about to open the giant main door, he bumped into someone.
"Be careful!" Before Luna can catch her brother, his body suddenly floated and Enoch found himself in the arms of the Duke.
"Are you teasing your sister again, Enoch?" the Duke's soft tone of asking his son put an end to the chase.
"Father!"
"Daddy!"
Both son and daughter called him. He smiled at his children and kneeled down to level their eye sight.
The duke's return home had always been a heart-warming scene everyday today was especially lovely because behind him was a tons of gifts dedicated for his daughter who'll be celebrating her 15th birthday today.
"Happy birthday Luna!" The duke said with a smile while opening his arms wide for a hug. Luna happily chimed in and muttered a thank you while kissing him on the cheeks.
It has been five years since she got inside the novel, every year a banquet was being held at Luxembourg estate to celebrate the birthday of the young master and the princess. But this syear was different, Luna insisted on not having a party but rather an intimate dinner with her family.
For the everyone, it was the act of a loving daughter who wanted to spend time with her family but for Luna, it was a means to step away from the social world.
'The farther away from the society, the safer I am from death'
That was what she thought until her father dropped the bomb.
"Kids, I have news."
It was during dinner while Luna and Enoch was exchanging vegetables on their plates. Enoch was fond of carrots and brocoli but hates the bell pepper and potato, Luna likes bell pepper and potatoes.
"What is it father?" Luna asked, while cutting the potatoes into bite size.
"We're going to the capital."
"When will you be back?" She nonchalantly asked as if it was a matter of fact.
"I don't know, we'll probably have to settle there, his majesty had ordered me to join the council."
Luna continued chewing as her father keep talking, she wasn't listening properly thinking that it was just a typical round trip to the capital.
"I see, we'll write you letters then."
"You're coming with me."
"Cough!"
"Sister!" Enoch handled her a water when she choked on the potatoes she was chewing. It was because she belatedly realise the meaning behind the announcements.
"Are you okay?" The duke carefully asked. She gulped down the water until she calmed herself.
"Can I not go?" The duke's eyes shook at her question while Enoch's face turned pale.
"If sister is staying, so am I!" he announced and the duke's face turned horrid.
"No, don't you want to be with daddy anymore?"
Tears trickle down his fine jaws as his eyes blurred out. The two children frown at the sight of a grown man crying. The duke of Luxembourg was talented in many ways, he was good in magic, a talented swordsman and a political genius who many would not dare go against with. He is also a talented conman who always with over his children's affection through tears. Sadly, however the two have grown enough to not be swayed with his antics.
"Dad, you're disgusting."
"Father, how old are you?"
Both Enoch and Luna refute at the same time. This caused the duke to put his hands on his chest, a dramatic display of his resistance.
"I can't believe the two of you think of your father that way, I have raised you wrong!"
"Yes, yes..." The two only continued eating while the Duke kept on whining about how much his children has grown and how he was no longer relevant.
'Why the hell should we go to the capital, when we're living well in the territory.'
Luna never wanted to go down the capital, aside from she'll be easily spotted, she'll also be forced to socialise whether she likes it or not as the Luxembourg family doesn't have a duchess, the lady of the house was her. Enoch on the other hand, just follow his sister well, besides he was fond of their territory where he always go around in horseback.
"It takes two weeks from here to the capital, it's a hassle." Luna said, as if to say that she doesn't want to spent time camping outside while travelling.
"We had the magic portal. We just had to ride the carriage to the gate and we'll reach the capital in one day."
However, the Duke doesn't give up that easily. Honestly, Lucio Luxembourg doesn't want to stay in the capital either, however he was ordered by the emperor and he thought it was best for his children to start living and gaining connection with other families at the capital.
He realised long before that his daughter had no interest in entering the social world, and so was his son who listens to his sister like a sinner. It worried him that in the future the two will be deprive of opportunity they should have by being this uninterested.
"Besides, it was already time for Enoch to enter the Academy."
"Why should I waste three years of my life inside that cursed place?"
Enoch mumbled in discontent. The imperial academy is a school that teaches nobles on various fields such as magic, swordmanship, and politics. It was established to foster talents however enrollment was not required.
Luna's furrowed brows soften at the mention of his brother's future.
'Enoch is stubborn, he won't be willing to leave me here alone. But he's the next Duke it won't be good if he doesn't have connections.'
"Enoch, you have to enroll and be a respected individual in the future." she coaxed and turn to his brother. Enoch smiled softly and mumbled
"Yes."
'I can still stay out of the society even in the capital, it's a big city anyway.'
The duke smiled at the sight of his children finally agreeing to his suggestion. In his mind, he was already planning on the places he should visit with the two and the shops they should go to and dresses to prepare for Luna's debut.
"But father..."
His train of thoughts was disrupted at her words. He smiled as if gesturing her to continue.
"I won't have a social debut or even a coming of age banquet at the capital."
His jaw dropped to the ground at his daughter's stern declaration. Next year, will be her 16th birthday when she'll come of age, he was preparing for that day for years now and the social debut had also already been set.
" But... "
" Enoch said he won't go if I won't go."
At the sudden mention of his son, the duke can only nod in agreement. Thus it was the beginning of the Luxembourg family life in the capital.