Spending time with the twins was always full of festivity.
Even though Violet was a somewhat reserved and dignified young lady. But when she was with her twin, she'd transform into a little gremlin that liked to cause mischief. The same goes for Juniper.
"I want to hold him!"
"No, you'll drop him!"
"I won't, you ninny,"
Juniper gasped exaggeratedly, clutching his chest and pointing at Violet accusingly. "You swore!"
"That's not a swore," Violet huffed, folding her arms under her chest heatedly.
Emma gave a small, drained chuckle.
"I'll let you hold Prince Esther, Princess. But you must promise me to be careful,"
"I promise!" Violet nodded her head, grinning from ear to ear.
Juniper scoffed, clearly jealous. Emma carefully placed Esther on Violet's lap, and Esther immediately clutched onto Violet's dress like a lifeline.
'If she dropped me, I'll be sure to kick her butt once I get older,' Esther thought, eyes narrowed onto Violet.
The girl cooed loudly, mesmerized by Esther's cuteness. Her dark purple hair tickled Esther's face, and the baby couldn't help but giggle.
"He's so cute!" Violet squealed.
Emma smiled happily. Juniper huffed and scooted closer to Emma and Violet on the sofa.
"Can I hold him too?" He asked quietly.
"Your Highness has butterfingers. Her Majesty sternly instructed me to not let you hold Prince Esther,"
"Bummer," Juniper muttered.
Violet gave Juniper a taunting smirk as she wrapped her arms around Esther tightly, rocking him back and forth. Esther squealed cutely, the motion reminded him of flying—something he had missed dearly.
"Urgh," Juniper fidgeted in his seat. He got up from the sofa, and pointed at Violet. "Just wait, I can impress Esther too!"
And then he practically threw himself out of the room.
"He's such a child," Violet sighed, shaking her head.
'You're both eight...' Esther raised a brow quizzically.
A few moments later, Juniper returned with a messy flower crown. His clothes were cluttered, his dark purple hair was unkempt and sticking out in every direction, and his hands and knees were covered in mud.
"Goodness!" Emma gasped, feeling her heart was about to stop at witnessing the state of Prince Juniper.
"You look like you took a mud bath," Violet grumbled.
"Shush. Esther!" Juniper exclaimed, walking eagerly toward Esther, who was still in Violet's arms. "Look what I made for you! I'm sure you love flower crowns,"
"Don't get too close! Esther will get dirty if you touch him," Violet scolded, frowning.
But Esther couldn't hear what anyone was saying.
Suddenly his hearing muffled, replaced by a perpetual static. His vision began to cloud as he kept gazing at the flower in Juniper's hand. Vivid pink, intoxicating scent of raspberries.
Zephirine Drouhin.
The roses that created the Queen.
["I woke up in a field of vivid, pink roses. I smelled like raspberries, and my hair was pink as well. When I look around, I can't see anyone else. I'm alone in a field of flowers. But then the skies turned dark, and one star appeared. That one star that accompanied me in my lonely days is you. That's why your name is Esther,"]
"Esther?!"
["You are my most trusted fairy, Esther. You are my companion, my family."]
"Oh my God, call the physicians!"
["Go and check the beasts in the mortal realm, Esther. Your power is enough to bring them back. Loire, Zephyr, and Senka will be waiting for you. I'll be waiting for you as well,"]
"Esther! Wake up, Esther. His body is ice cold. Please—"
["...I wish you will never return, Esther."]
Esther felt his head throb painfully, his chest tighten, and his body break into a cold sweat. Before he could comprehend what had happened to him, everything went dark.