Ariana looked straight into her father's eyes at that time and she knew very well that her four older brothers were paying attention to her. Waiting for a reply. She smirks inside her heart. Thinking about how to play all of them even though she is actually excited to be entrusted with such a big role.
Her expression didn't change and her face didn't seem bothered by the situation. After a minute of silence, Ariana finally said,
"No." Nice and firm.
But her short answer made all who were there sweat on their foreheads including her father. Alexander never knew Ariana would give an answer so quickly. He thought that Ariana would ask him for some time to think.
"You... Didn't want to? " Alexander asks again.
"Mm-hmm..." Ariana still standing with her answer.
"Hey, you should think carefully about this matter," Ariel said in seriousness so that Ariana understood the situation.
Ariana looked at him now. She knows that very well. This is about her future which is linked to their future. Although she just being playful to see her father and brother's reaction, she can't help but think about what her father said just now.
That title comes with great responsibility. Although she knows she will be able to do a perfect job if she accepts, she is not a greedy person. She likes it enough if she only becomes a loyal follower of her four brothers.
Difficult to read his daughter's mind, Alexander began to ask. He knows becoming straightforward is always the best when he deals with Ariana.
"Can I know why your answer is that? Don't you think you need more time to think b before answering?" His voice asked softly.
Ariana tilts her head a little. Showing her most innocent face. In her mind, she started wanted become playful again.
"Are you chronically ill father?"
Ariana continued to ask questions, ignoring the questions that were asked of her.
Dumbfounded!
All her brothers, including Alexander, never thought that this question would come out of her mouth at that time. Seriously!
"Are you going to die?"
Dumbfounded times 2!
All of them feel like they were hit by a supernatural blow coming from Ariana at that time with her ways of thinking. They didn't know that she is just innocent or ignorant at this point.
"N-No, dear. I just wanted to retire and have fun with your mother when we are still strong like this. " Alexander even twisted his tongue when he spoke at that time.
Ariana hummed a little before deciding what to ask next.
"Am I going to get a new sibling?"
Now, Alexander was sweating so much that he needed a napkin to wipe his forehead. He didn't get why the conversation now flows like this. He did try to be serious like a leader before! But smoothly Ariana changes the flow.
Alexander then looked at his sons and wanted to ask for help in his silent stare but all of his sons look at him sharply as a result of what Ariana just asked. They clearly looked like they were really against the idea. Not like he wanted to do that anyway!
"That... Can't be true right, father? " Aiden is the first to ask.
Crack! Ashton snaps his fingers suddenly until it makes a loud noise. But why does it's sound like a warning to Alexander's ears?
"I think the five of us are enough father," Asher said with a very suspicious smile.
"We can't have another Ariana!" Ariel screams a little loud even making Ariana narrow her eyes at him.
'What do you mean? What about me? '
Ariana feels a little dissatisfied with that loud confession and started forming that question in her mind. She makes a note to herself to ask Ariel later when they are alone. She definitely can't let this pass.
For Ariana, of course, she never thought about having a younger sibling, but she will never disagree with that if her parents wanted to have one more child as it might be fun to be an older sister. But seeing the reaction coming from her four brothers, they seriously looked like they can't handle another sibling!
"N-No! All of that is a no." Alexander is in rush to explain.
"I just wanted one of my children to inherit the organization while I and your mother are still around to train and observe you. That way I and your mother can find a feeling of peace even if we will lose our lives later on. We are not living forever and we thought that this is the right time to do this. " Alexander finally expressed clearly what he and his wife were thinking at that time.
All of them now fell into silence.
Actually, Ariana and all of them know very well why their father and mother wanted to do this. It's kinda sad, but she knows this kind of situation will definitely arrive sooner or later.
"Don't say that father. Actually, I am excited that you entrust me with this. I personally think that one of my brothers should inherit the title and not me. As you already know, I'm not a very patient person, never show mercy to the enemy, and love to act on my own. But, I also think that as my strength that my four brothers clearly didn't have."
Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
Didn't know why but Aiden, Ashton, Asher, and Ariel feel something sharp poke their heart. Why did they feel a bit insulted? Or does their mind trick them?
"Before I answer, I want to raise this problem. Even if you as a leader think that it's fine for a woman to take the title, we can't deny that some of our members of the organization probably feel uncomfortable with this as so far only men from Conrad's bloodline hold the title. Don't you think some of them might rebel and our organization might lose its credibility just because I grab the title?"
For the first time, Ariana said something like this. Something so serious with so much sense and even make her four brothers gape wide listening to her. As if she had already been thinking about it for such a long time. She is clearly hiding behind her happy-go-lucky and ignorant mask!
Alexander smiled at that time while watching his daughter, who let her mind out with that much confidence. She is Conrad to the core and he knows he made the right decision at that time.
"So, does this mean you can't hold the position because you're afraid?" Alexander asked with a hard stare. This is a test coming from him, directly to her face.
Ariana flinched a little at that while four of her brothers just kept quiet and watched her and their father. They know this is 'the important' moment.
"I never fear such things."
"Do you think you won't get the people's recognition if you grab the title?" Alexander tests her again.
"Why would I need their recognition? Wouldn't they need mine? " Ariana answered.
"Ha-Ha-Ha"
Alexander laughed a little at her answer while her four brothers now smiled contentedly. They know their father is satisfied with Ariana's answer.
"If I tell you this is an order, will you accept the title?" Alexander didn't want to force his daughter for this, but after listening to her answer, he knew, she didn't hate the idea to be the one who inherit the title. She's too confident!
"If I say yes, will you, mom, and brothers always be on my back?" Ariana didn't want to say it out loud, but she didn't care about what outsiders might be thinking but she can't live without her family.
"Always," Alexander said without hesitation and when Ariana looked at her brothers' faces one by one at that time she knew, they will never leave her alone.
Finally, she can smile in relief.
"Then, I gladly accept."
A new era of the Black Eagle Organization will be coming.
That night,
Ariana decides to walk around the park that she once hid when running away from Mr. Smith, her discipline teacher after returning from Lily's house. They just have a graduation party on their own before the official one that will be held at school soon.
After agreeing with her father to receive such heavy responsibilities, she can't help feeling excited, also stressed at the same time. She knows that she will do a good job, but she also knows that this decision will change her life forever.
But no, she didn't feel any regret.
She just decided to clear her mind a little before going back home. Because who knows when she will have the opportunity to do this after the official transition of power? She knows she will be busy as a bee!
After walking, Ariana decides to sit on one of the benches in the park across the lake to do the thinking. Before long, another voice began to be heard there.
"Do you know that jasmine and lavender are a flower to cure stress?"