"You must've been so shocked!"
She rolled her eyes, as she was being treated by the Family doctor, she could see how her mother had been overly dramatic over a small injury,
"Mother, Ariana was unscathed she only has a small scratch on her wrist, please don't be overly dramatic over this"
Her eyes wander to her second older brother, who is crossing his arms, can't stand how their mother is acting so undignified, not acting like a noblewoman
"B-but-"
"Mother, I'm fine, it's practically my fault as my hand slipped while I was drinking tea, so no need to worry" She assured her mother, as she touched her mother's hands, clasping them,
Facing her mother who had tears in her eyes, she only let out a smile, assuring her mother that she was just fine, and in a split second, her mother hugged her tight, making her feel taken aback by the sudden skin-ship
"But mother, don't you have a tea party to attend to?" She asked her mother, slowly pushing her away, uncomfortable as she had never experienced skin-ship with another human person,
"Oh my! You're right! My guests have just been waiting for me! Oh dear!"
Looking at her mother panicking that she completely forgot that she had guests and rushes to her side, "I need to go, see you at dinner kids!" Her mother then kissed her on her cheek as well as her brother, who is getting used to their mother's habit
The duchess then rushed back to the garden, where many influential women were at present, also the Empress herself had attended,
Ariana frowned as she stared at her brother who had been staring at her for some quiet time now, "Is there something in my face Brother?" She asked him,
"You look nothing like us!"
She was taken aback by the words of her brother, but she didn't let her emotions be the best of her, but just let out a small smile, "How so? Is it because of the hair? The eyes?" She sarcastically said, as she then rolled her eyes at her brother and stood up from the couch
"Where are you going?" He asked her, "Back to my room, to finish unpacking, cause I'll be living here for who knows how long" she retorted back
"You won't be able to leave the Duchy unless you get married, Father wouldn't allow you so"
"I know, so I need to go, back to my room, You can help me carry my luggage to my room, so you can be useful for once," she said, as she walked towards where her bags were, not noticing that her brother followed her when she was about to carry her bags, her brother beat her to it,
She looked at him with a questionable look, "Don't you say, I should be useful for once? You should be lucky as you're the only person I've helped" He said as they walked back to her room,
"Ah yes, what an honor, indeed" she sarcastically remarked and followed him, as they walked through the hallways of the mansion, the maids respectfully bowed at them, till they arrived at her room,
He then took her bags to her bed, placing it above the soft mattress,
"What on earth is inside those bags? How is it is so darn heavy?" He asked her, as she could only chuckle,
'No wonder he is being quiet, he just wanted to keep his pride, but never expected to lose his cool'
She thought, as she saw him, giving her a questionable look, "Nothing, but if you want to know" she stated as she opened her bags, revealing what was inside each of them, his brows furrowed looking at her in disbelief
"Books? You don't have any other things but just brought along some books?" He asked her, as he then took one of her books, and he then shook his head in disappointment
"So you're a fan of the esteemed Lady Ria?" He asked her, noticing the familiar title of the book, that mostly everyone in the whole world knew and had read
"Are you also a fan? Brother?" She asked him, as she then revealed her whole collection of her favorite Author's books
"Not really, people mostly hated her, as she turned gossip into a love story, but who does that?" He remarked as he then shook his head in disappointment, letting out a 'Tsk' sound
"Gossips?"
She innocently said, confused by the words of her brother, Her brother then looked at her in disbelief
"Oh my gosh! You didn't know?"
"Know what?"
She was confused, it was clearly shown in her facial expressions, and didn't understand what her brother was trying to tell her
"Don't ever call yourself a fan, if you haven't heard of the rumors!" He exclaimed as she was taken aback by those sudden words,
"Don't they just simply jealous of her because she's a woman? Who had a thriving business in the world of men?" She pointed at facts, as she noticed her brother shaking his head,
"Of course not! What do you mean by that? The Rose Red publishing company is being managed by a woman, It's not a surprise to be a woman who is willing to be independent, but people are offended, especially how that author used real people's names and their real problems, Everyone would be angry right?"
She could sense the hatred he has for the author,
"I see, but don't people buy her books because she writes them differently than any other author?"
"I mean yeah, she has a way of words that is different from other novels, but what I'm trying to say is that people are hunting her down, especially those people who were involved in her stories," He told her, as he then places the books to one of the empty shelves in her room,
"But brother, may I ask something"
She started,
"Sure! What is it?" He responded, continuing to arrange a couple of books by the esteemed author, waiting for his little sister's question
"Do you ever believe in magic?"