The conversation they had a moment ago was cut short by the servants knocking on the door. "Lady Ainaira, and Lord Aeron, the Marquess demands for both of your presences."
Ainaira bitterly frowned, upset that she couldn't finish discussing what she wants. She even worked hard to endure the pain and terror of confronting Aeron.
"Just wait a moment, give us 10 minutes." Ainaira replied
"But-"
"Give. Us. 10. Minutes" Her voice was much more authoritative.
The servant didn't reply, which was more than enough for a response.
"Hah..."
she sighed.
"Let's finish this quickly. Aeron, there will be a hunting competition at the academy, right?"
"Huh? Yeah...how did you know that...?"
"I want you to sneak me inside the competition grounds. There's something I need there."
"No." Aeron did not hesitate with his answer.
"You will do it!"
"I will not."
"Will do!"
"Will not!"
The two siblings went back and forth with their argument and wasted 6 minutes doing so.
"Ugh, you're annoying! I won't get caught, so don't worry about our family reputation."
"That's not the point— it might be maintained by the Academy but it's still filled with beasts and monsters!"
"I'm a Witch!"
"And an amateur one."
"Have you seen an amateur Witch that can do that for this long!?" She pointed at the blue azure veil on top of them.
"You don't have proper training!"
"So stubborn..." Ainaira grumbles
Aeron ruffled his hair out of frustration. "Tell me what you want from the forest and I'll bring it back here."
She had a disgusted look on her face.
"Why the fuck should I let you do that?"
"Since when did you learn vulgar words?!"
"That's not the topic of the conversation!"
"Fine, either you tell me what it is and I bring it back here or you will not be having this item you want" Aeron was firm at his proposal.
"Damn you... why do you even care what I want?"
"I don't care about- ...it's about your safety, it's dangerous."
Ainaira's face contorted in rage. trying to avoid doing anything reckless she bit her lips. She was reminded of the day she died, it was still fresh out of her memory.
"You don't care about that. you never did nor will ever do"
"What... makes you think..."
Aeron's voice started to waver. He knew he hadn't exactly been spending time with his family but he didn't give any sign that he didn't care.
Yet when he saw her pained expression he couldn't muster a single excuse. She was hurt and no amount of convincing will undo that.
"Arghh! Forget it. what did I expect?"
His brows twitched.
"You were never there for me no matter what."
Aeron tightened his fist. He felt an agonizing pain on his throat, he felt his chest throbbing uncontrollably, and his fingertips were numb. He couldn't turn around and look at her. He heard the door open and slammed shut.
The servant was relieved when he finally saw Ainaira leave the terrace.
"Where's Lord Aeron?"
"Tsk—"
All it took was one look to notice the throbbing veins at Ainaira's forehead for the servant to retreat in the farthest corner, down in a fetal position and whimper. "I-I'm sorry."
Ignoring the distress of the servant, she went back to her room.
Ainair rolled on her bed, grunting in shame
"Oh no, no, no, no! I did not just say that!"
She started to lay in her bed in a daze.
"GGAAAAAHHHH-!?!"
(How embarrassing! So embarrassing!) She shook her head frantically from left to right.
She plopped down to her soft bed and pouted.
"Ainaira, you're so stupid, he knew you as a villainess in your first life of course he wouldn't take your side."
She rolled to her other side. "And it's not like you were close to him in this life. What rational person would want to be close to their killer?"
"YOU MADE A FOOL OF YOURSELF! GAAH!! KILL ME—"
She casted a sound canceling spell so that she can scream all she wants without anyone coming in. Though, someone clearly still wanted to annoy her after she heard the door creak open.
Pulling the pillow off her face, she grunts upon seeing the Marquess.
"Did you two have a sibling quarrel?"
She gave him an unimpressed look as a response.
'What do you think?' was the expression painted across her face.
"What is the Marquess doing in my room, and without even knocking?" She didn't want to drag the conversation about Aeron so she pointed out her father's rude behavior.
"Hah- don't give me that prideful attitude... didn't I call for you and Aeron to come to me?"
"Is that so? Well, as you can see, I don't care."
The Marquess' eyes narrowed, wondering how he would deal with his difficult daughter.
"-Anyways, move along. I'm going to sleep." Ainaira laid down and covered herself with blankets.
"It's a family meeting, you have to attend."
He put his hands on his forehead when Ainaira showed no sign of movement.
"I'll have to remind you that your marriage with the Crown Prince still hasn't been officially annulled."
"God fucking- ugh..." She disgruntledly raised herself from her bed.
Dragging her feet behind the Marquess, the Servants opened the large door in front of them and she saw her remaining family members sitting around a long large oak table. The table had a white and silky cloth covering it, and had gold-lined utensils and plates so beautiful that you would think twice using it.
There were various dishes on the table, ranging from grapes, wine, ham, lobster, and beef.
The twins stole glances at each other then proceeded to ignore the other family members.
Ainsley, who had no clue of the tense atmosphere, ran up to Ainaira excitedly.
"SISTER! Have you heard we will be having a vacation for the remaining week?"
Everyone in the room except for Aeron was startled.
Since when were those two this close? It perplexed them so much, since Ainaira used to be cold to everybody else.
Unlike Aeron and Ainaira's servants, no one else knew that she and Ainsley were close.
She quickly turned her head towards the Marquess, visibly mortified at what she just heard.
"A family vacation? What the fuck?!"
(This didn't happen in my first life! You were an absent father then, why change?!)
The last thing she needs is seeing Aeron and being in the same place as Rosetta.