"Big brother!" Mirra hooted and jogged over, "Did you see how cool Charming Prince was? And I thought you didn't want to come?"
Enix's head swung back, he first noticed the gentle quiver with which Yoae's hands calmed, and the wheels turning towards the exit pause before his sight jumped to Trevor.
His heart squirmed, his feet skidding an inch back, 'That... guy!'
"Look who's here!" Fria's voice carried over and, noticing Enix's clenched fists, her eyes squinted, "How's your leg doing, young master Trevor?"
"Y-Yoae," Trevor's sweaty hands bit into the arms of his chair, and he growled, his head drooping down, "Let's go."
As Yoae opened his mouth, a firm voice snapped it shut, "Where are you heading too, Trevor? Can't you see the guests? Entertain them!"
Trevor shook, his widened, rotten egg like eyes stared at his father.
"Father!" His voice howled like a wounded wolf's, pained... and grief-struck. His incredulous eyes drenching him in questions.
"What a splendid performance," He clapped, standing tall admits the doorway, "You children are... extraordinary." A smile bloomed on his face, "Very much so!"
A hollow laugh brew out of his throat, "Exceptionally so."
As Gruis chimmed in with his disbelief, Ululus's eyes narrowed sharply, a dark glint overwhelmed his irises, 'They are... in no way... human! Could they be possessed? Should I test them? How..
How can I unravel them? These deadly secrets confined within such cute doll like figures.' His teeth grounded tight.
"Father, what brings you here?" Jurju meekly voiced out, his eyes trampolining between his face and the floor, 'What will he say? How shameful! How shameful!! I was leveled by a three year old toddler!!!'
"Oh!" His nasty expression crawled beneath his charming smile, "I was heading to the library! Your mother wished to discuss the night's gathering."
"Night's gathering?" Enix frowned.
As Fria muttered the same, the Mirra that had rejoined her at some instance exclaimed, "Didn't you know, Charming Prince? We are having a big, big party tonight! Hehehe! It's for you and me!"
Enix's and Fria's expression churned, "That's... fresh!"
Their eyes met, and the thought immediately emerged that nobody had a know of this surprise party! Very likely their parents included. For if it was otherwise, at least Fria would've been informed by Juggu.
"Hmm? Would you care to join us?" Ululus smiled, and headed off.
Ufrra, unable to bear the company of her cousins, darted behind him.
Followed by Jurju and Trevor. And Enix and Fria, after a complementary glance, tagged along with Mirra and Purtris.
***
"Oh, my dears! You had already arrived? Why did nobody inform me?" Gufra smiled while taking their hands.
"Dear aunt! I am sure you were, you might have been a bit busy for us is all." Fria smiled and took her seat.
Gufra's smile stretched a bit further, her eyes closed in a moment of repose.
"So, dear Ululus, have you looked at the guest list?"
"Sorry for interrupting, but what guest list? I was not informed of anything you see." Fria smiled, ignoring the piercing eyes of her cousins.
"Oh, is that so? We are celebrating your engagement with my daughter." Gufra smiled back. "Did you not inform your brother?" Her eyes turned to her husband.
Ululus's brows curved down, "I believe I did," his fingers rubbed his little chin hair, "He may have forgotten to inform you."
"Hmm? I think you should re-send the message to them. Just in case they actually didn't receive it." Fria looked him in the eyes.
The latter gave a hollow laugh and nodded, "Sure, I will see to it."
"Oh, no worries. You seem busy, we will go with Purtris and have some servant leave immediately." Fria stood up and taking Enix's hand, strode toward the door.
Before sliding out, she froze and turned back, "Something the matter, Purtris?"
"Oh, no, no!" He shook his head, and giving his master a glance, walked over, "Let's leave."
"What do you think, Gufra?" Hearing the door gently nudge shut, Ululus's smile receded.
"Terribly odd." Her face fell, "They intrigue me nothing whatsoever. Are they truly children?"
Hearing her words, Trevor felt a shiver, and his eyes, turned to his brother, seemed almost ablaze. While a small blush had come over Jurju's cheeks.
***
"Why'd that woman feel odd?" Fria muttered in Enix's ear.
"I don't know..." He was still being dragged by her, with his head drooping, he was sizing her small chubby hand wrapped around his, "but there was something weird in her eyes."
'How strange... how can such puffy hands wield a blade so masterfully?' His lips pulled back slightly, in his head the quavering voice of Gruis kept singing out his incredulity on loop, 'How wonderfully he had phrased it, by accident!'
His lips moved slowly, the line almost etching into the air in front of him, "He wields a sword as though its not been a few days since he has trained it, but many decades!"
'Hahaha! But how can that be? Fria is just... three year old!' Suddenly, Fria's grip on his hand tightened, "What's wrong, Enix? Your face is pale."
"Huh?" His eyes fell atop her chubby cheeks, her round wide eyes, and her red bangs falling over her broad forehead, "Hahaha! You are older than me, right? Fria!"
"Hmm? Muhahaha! Of course! I'm bigger than you alright!" She nodded her head pridefully.
He smiled, his eyes frozen into her blazing irises, "How curious! Your eyes never seem to change for me..." He paused a great minute, "Always warm, as though they can shield me from any cold."
"What do–" Enix's hand slipped out of her hand and jumped on her collar, startling her, "Fria, do you care for me?"
"Huh? Wh-What are yo—"
"Fria! You will protect me, right? You don't want to kill me right? You won't betray me right? This all is not an act right?"
He stared into her quacking eyes, "Right?"
"Enix, Enix?" Her face turned odd and her lips curled waryly. Raising her free hand, she snapped her fingers in front of his eyes, "Enix, is everything fine?"
"Hmm?" His head fell, his pupils glistened as they took in the sight of his hand interlocked with her's, "Oh! Yes..."
He nodded and looked into Purtris's glinting eyes as he sized the two of them, "Everything's fine... in fact, perfect!"