"What a surprise... I didn't think that you'd be back after leaving us here. Welcome back." Felicia said as she recovered from the great shock she had in her face, clearly expressing her distaste back then. Of course who wouldn't be shocked upon seeing the devil, coming to ruin the atmosphere once again?
"I couldn't stay away from home. I left temporarily to sort out my feelings after what happened. But here I am, feeling everything is back and calm. If it wasn't for you, sister, I wouldn't have realized a lot of things." Helena said as she smiled at Felicia who had grown weary about the change in this attitude.
It's as if she had changed her personality while staying at the monastery or the church. There was something within her that Felicia found very eerie, the feeling of wariness dancing in her head, like it was filled with uncertain thoughts about the woman standing in front of her, smiling as if she had grown modest and had learned best.
It's as if she doesn't know this woman at all.
Come now, father. I am already old for you to do this." Helena mentioned as the Duke continued to shower her with love and affection while leaving Felicia silent from where she stood up. Even the way she talked was new and eloquent. "You are still my princess, Helena. Let me continue to spoil you as you are my dear princess." The Duke said, earning a lot of gasps from the servants, openly telling everyone about the dynamic shift of the Duke's affection.
Felicia felt a pang in her heart, staring at the Duke who was having fun with Helena. She swallowed a lump in her throat, brushing off the feeling of jealousy forming in her heart. She sighed, letting them have their way of cherishing each other. However, she couldn't push the feeling of being alert with Helena.
It's just that there is something else with her that she just couldn't shrug off. Whatever this feeling is, she needs to be alerted now around her.
"Forgive me, Father, Helena. But I wish to retire now in my room. Have a blessed night." Felicia awkwardly said, bowing her head at the two and started walking past them, didn't wait for their reply. What's there to wait anyway? The Duke despises her once more, just like he used to before. His hatred didn't change.
"Oh, sister..." Helena muttered looking at her way with a sad expression. "Don't stress yourself over her." The Duke commented as he smiled over Helena while throwing sharp glares behind Felicia's back. "Let's have lunch together, Helena."
--
Over a week, a lot of things had changed, including how some of the servants changed their attitude towards Felicia. If not for her attitude and her perseverance to wreak havoc, she would've experienced what happened before, bullying that is. The servants have completely turned hostile and have tried to make fun of her.
If not for Alexander's favouritism towards her even though Helena tried to take away from her, she would still be respected and treated like a noble. Regarding Helena, there were no major things that happened, aside from the occasional words that pierced through her heart like a sharp knife, insulting her through her flowery words which appalled her.
A week in the Goddess' grace doesn't mean a speedy change of behaviour. She went through an evolution and she couldn't find the old Helena in her outer shell. It was suspicious, something that she had to worry about. Even Alexander was sceptical of Helena's new approach, like a white flower with thorns.
"Is something troubling you?" Alexander asked as he stretched out his hand, helping her to stand. They were currently in the middle of sparring when her airhead wasn't paying any attention, reason as to why the last thrust hit her in her stomach, ending with her on the ground. That must have hurt her, especially since it is visible on her face.
"You're overthinking, what's on your mind that is causing you to space out?" He asked, concerned about her little sister who was out of herself, not acting like how she used to. After all, she wouldn't space out and more like she's focused. But this time, she was thinking a lot about her to be like this.
"Huh?" Felicia mumbled, confused with her brother's question. As she stood up, she winced at the pain located on her side, where Alexander must have hurt her that badly. It was especially throbbing, felt like the organ at that part crumpled the moment his hit had struck that part. Worried was evident in his face when she groaned, grabbing his hand as she stood up after being gutted.
"What's on your mind?" He asked once more, leading her towards the bench while everyone was continuing to spar with each other. "Don't use your power here, let's go to your room." He said but Felicia didn't comply and just sat there, not moving and was just staring at the floor, obviously occupied in her mind.
"No. I don't think that's a good idea though. Let's just stay here and cool my head, I've been feeling restless after all." Felicia responded to them as she then sighed, leaning on the bench. "Are you afraid of the sudden change in our house? Is it because of Helena that you feel very restless and uncomfortable?" He asked, hitting the nail in her heart.
"How'd you know?" Felicia asked, smiling at Alexander who stared at her with his eyebrow cocked, hearing something unbelievable coming from her. It's always their step-sister whom she has a problem with.
"Of course, I know. We're living in the same house, idiot." Alexander replied with sarcasm evident in his voice that just made her only laugh at him, but not in a mocking way. "So what's the deal? Jealous because the Duke loves him more than he does to you?" He asked, but it was meant as a joke.
"No... It's not like that." She groaned, getting the chills. She's not going crazy over some trifling matters such as attention and affection. She has long given up on that.
"I'm more like restless with Helena's change. It's like deep within me, I will know that she'll try to get into my skin again." Felicia expresses her thoughts towards Alexander who chuckled at what she said.
"And what? You'll let her trample over you? Aren't you strong, Felicia? With what she plans for you, I doubt she can even try and do harm to you. She's nothing even with the Duke's affection. Don't think so much about her and focus on progressing yourself in self-defence. It's very handy, you know?" He answered Felicia, even patting her shoulder to ease her worry.
"It's a useless worry. If she tried to do anything that would put you in harm, I can fight the Duke over it. As long as she won't put her hand on you, then I won't do things to her." He assured her sister, letting her know that he was always at her side.
"Right... But would she be making a move?" She asked him, only to which he responded with a shrug. He doesn't know what goes on with that woman's head. But for sure, since she got the Duke's love back, she'll hardly give Felicia a hard time.
"Hm, who knows? Maybe she won't. She has the Duke at herself now so I don't think she'll try to harm you in any way." Alexander said, looking at the knights when they suddenly got a little rough.
"What the hell are you all doing?!" He yelled, making the knights look at him while laughing to themselves. He sighed, these knights are too playful, not treating their spar seriously.
"Go back to your room, your assignment is done here. Treat yourself, okay?" Alexander told her, kissing her head first before leaving her alone on the bench, embarrassed by Alexander's action.
That brother of hers thinks she's still a child.
She stood up and just like what he said, she went back towards the manor to have a rest. She didn't let her thoughts affect her anymore, finding it useless to dwell in this restless feeling of hers.
Eventually, everything will be alright anyway. There won't be a big drama happening just because Helena returned and she'll just assume that she'll create trouble for her.
But that soon fell when she saw Helena at the top of the stairs, staring at her with a smile on her face, creating this suspense sensation that tingles the fear within her.
"I see that you are learning swords, sister," Helena commented as Felicia began to climb the stairs, planning to ignore Helena who suddenly decided to strike up a conversation with her.
It's as if she doesn't know that she's been with the sword ever since. What's with her comment? She finds it odd.
Helena who was being ignored by Felicia as she climbed the stairs, chuckled at Felicia's dismissive attitude being fired towards her. As soon as Felicia stepped onto the floor, levelling Helena, she didn't bother looking at her and continued to ignore her.
If not for her arm, reaching towards Felicia and stopping her, smirking at her which frustrated Felicia even more. What does this woman want now? Is she not satisfied with making everyone under her now?
"What do you want?" Felicia asked, her eyes sinking and showing hostility but not with her actions, still under the impression of calm. There's no reason for her to be mad and overly sensitive around her.
"Was it fun staying for a week without me?" Helena asked, maintaining the smile on her face that made Felicia even more suspicious of this woman. "Why? If I said yes, would you leave me alone?" Felicia couldn't help but answer with sarcasm.
"Oh, sister... Staying with me must have kept your guard so high that you're like this." Helena mentioned, shaking her head. "But I have not yet taken my revenge on you." She added, making Felicia frown.
Is this about her mother once again?
"For what? I remember that I haven't done anything to you. If anything, it would not be my fault." Felicia responded to her claim, earning a growl from Helena whose emotion shifted into one aggressive look.
Her hand around her wrist tightened as if she suddenly gained strength which made her wince. The pressure was there, hurting her. "Let me go, Helena. There is nothing for us to communicate." She told her off, trying to pull her wrist.
"No... Sister. It was your fault that the mother died in that place, without anyone at her side. If not for you trying to make a ploy, then she would have not killed herself. Her death is your fault and you're not even sorry about it." Helena reprimanded Felicia, pulling her closer while looking at her aggressively.
It's almost as if she was planning to murder her at that point. Felicia had the strength to pull her arm back but that would make Helena fall on the first floor.
Although her alter ego wanted to do it, she couldn't. She still has her morals.
"Sister... Now that the Duke loves me so much, I assure you, that you will get what you deserve." She whispered with hostility, smirking like a menace at Felicia's frowning expression.
"What—"
Before she could even do something, Helena let go of her grip, losing her balance deliberately as she let out a yell before her body succumbed to falling. It was too late for Felicia to realise the ploy that Helena had devised.
To accuse her.
"Helena!" She yelled but was too late as Helena fell on the
ground, losing consciousness by the time she tried to reach out.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"