The dinner was over and because it's late, we are invited as a guest in the palace.
I'm here at the hall and I can't forget the face of the duke and what he said after we left the Royal hall.
"I'll talk to you later," he said with a death glare in his eyes.
He must have been alert since I joked about his lovely daughter. I'm a fool, why did I even say that?
"So you're here, golden brazen"
I looked at the one who spoke and I wasn't glad that it was my cousins Neron and Arthur.
"What do you want?" I said coldly.
"Stay away from Alexis! You're just shaming yourself to him." said Neron.
The hell I care! I'm already done with that bastard.
"Okay," I replied and turn my back to walk.
"You little!"
Arthur grab my hands and placed it on my back so I could face Neron.
This brats will really going to hurt me!
Unfortunately, Lina's not here, she's probably taking care of my room to sleep. How am I supposed to get rid of these jerks? Should I scream? No, it will only cause a trouble. What should I do?
"Aren't you gonna cry like you used too?" Neron said to tease me.
"And what will I gain from crying? Will someone will save me if I cry? " I said while looking in his eyes.
Yes, I'm really tired of it. I don't wanna cry, if I cry again then I'm weak.
"You really have changed." Arthur lose his grip to my hands and freed me. I just glared at him.
So what if I changed?
"If you don't want to be bullied, just fight back." Neron replied.
Wow, coming from you.
I started to get confused on what they were saying. I don't understand them, it's nonsense.
"Is it my fault if I'm being bullied?"
The two of them became silent for a while after I confronted them.
"Why I must fight those who bullies me? Shouldn't the bullies the one who should change themselves?" I added.
"Why don't you get it?!"
I was startled when Neron suddenly raised his voice.
"We all hate you, we all don't want you here. I'm sure you already know that but why do you always ignore it and still being a nuisance in our lives?!" he yelled.
"Neron, calm down!" said Arthur.
So that is why... They don't hate me because of my attitude, they hate me because of my existence. It kinda hurts me. Yeah, it hurts.
As if it's they were saying that it's better if I'm not born. Is it my fault?
"You want to know why?..." I mumbled
They both looked at me and I was now holding back tears. I simply clench my fist so I could control my emotion.
"Because I want to live." I said with a bitter smile and tears flowing in my eyes.
"Just how much attention should I have to catch for me to be acknowledge? You must be happy because you have everything I didn't. Glory, fame, friends and... warm home. I was jealous, I wish I had that too."
"What are you saying---"
"But I had enough. I'm tired of it all. I'll never be the girl I am in the past..." I interrupted Neron's words
".... Please don't come again, please don't show your face to me anymore. From now on, we don't know each other. I won't bother you again, Neron, Arthur. I'm sorry for all I've caused you." I said and wiped my tears with my hands.
They were surprised of what did I said. They seem to be pretty guilty, I guess.
"Here"
I was shocked when Arthur lend me a handkerchief.
"Don't cry anymore" he said but he was looking in other direction and seems to pity me? I don't know.
"Your handkerchief seems to be dirty, Arthur. Take mine, Adel" said Neron while lending me his handkerchief
"What did you say? It's completely clean!" yelled Arthur to Neron
"But why did she not take it? It may be clean but the design is so lame" Neron teased
"You bastard!" Arthur insisted
Ah, these two! They really fighting in front of my face. After what they have done to me.
"Alright, don't fight each other or else it's my fault again." I muttered
They stopped fighting and looked at me then looked at each other again seriously.
"Let's settle this right here and right now" said Neron
"Bring it on!" replied Arthur
Sigh, what nonsense are they going to do? Should I get out of here? I may be accused of someone again and being blamed.
"Rock, paper, scissors" they said in chorus
"Haha, I won!" Arthur cheered
"Hmmp! I'll surely win next time" Neron hissed
SERIOUSLYYYYY??!! I think they're three years older than me. They're so childish!
Later, Arthur handed the handkerchief to me again.
Sigh, they give the handkerchief when my tears are already dried up. They should just give me that earlier, what a bunch of fools.
"My tears already dried up. I don't need it," I said with a cold tone.
"Tsk"
He grab my hand and put his handkerchief to it.
"It's bad to refuse an offer," he said seriously.
You are the 'bad' one.
"Okay," I said and wiped some tears from my eyes with his handkerchief. He smiled when he saw it.
"Well.." Neron said and he looked embarrassed then began to scratch his nape.
"I suddenly feel sorry for some reason. I just thought my actions towards you was always right"
"We're... Uhm... Kind of immature, I think?" Arthur mumbled as he scratches his nape.
"Uhmm yeah.. " I replied
They looked at each other and then they quickly bowed to me. "We're sorry," they both said.
I'll never forget the cruelty they did to me in the past but they're still a child. We're still a child. We ought to decide what we know as best for us just to satisfy our own ego. Even then, I'll choose to give them a second chance to prove something to me.
"Okay, okay. Just stop this madness already!"
"Good, so today I'm your big brother. Call me brother Neron, okay?" Neron said with a smile.
Ehhhh?? Why in a sudden?
"Not fair, call me brother too," Arthur detested.
"Didn't I say that from now on we don't know each other?" I said while raising one of my eyebrows
I don't know what they're planning but they seemed different than I met them in the dinner and they start to hurt me.
"That's so harsh, Adel. Don't say that to your brother." Neron cried
"You are not my brother." I responded
Then he looked angrily at Arthur and pointed him.
"It's all your fault, Arthur! You're the one who told me to bully Adel! Let's go, Adel, stay away from that devil. " Neron implied
"How dare you to blame me Neron! It's your fault that we bullied Adel back then." Arthur replied
Here we go again...
"Adel, we're really sorry. "
"We feel bad about what we've done. We shouldn't judged you because you have a bad attitude and now we already know why. So from now on, throw tantrums all you want, bully your maids more often, stalk the prince all you want, do the things you want, I don't care..."
My heart moved because of his words and my heart were rushing at the same time. Maybe this life gave me another perspective of the people who I used to ignore before will going to be someone important to me now.
"...and if someone dislike you because of it. I will kill them." Neron said in serious tone.
S-Scary!
"I will hunt them and fed their flesh to the dogs," Arthur said while grinning.
I shouldn't offend them, geez. Why did I forget? These two were the Imperial Assassin in the past! But why do I feel happy?
"From now on, we will be your brothers and we're on your side." they said.
How... How did this happened?..
My heart is overflowing with joy so I burst in tears. They looked at me with worried expression and I'm happy. I'm happy to have my brothers.
"D-Dont cry," Neron sobbed.
"Look who's talking, idiot!" Arthur blurted.
"Adel cried!"
"And you are too!"
These fools...
I wiped my tears and smile to them.
"Thank you b-brothers" I stated. I was still uncomfortable of calling them brothers but it's not bad after all.
After they saw my expression, they both looked in other direction and clears their throats.
"Ah.. You're welcome, ehem" said Arthur
"Y-Yeah.." replied Neron
I knew it! I must not smile.
"What's going on here?" said the voice from behind.
I already knew who's voice is speaking. No other voice can shiver me up rather than the voice of my father.
"U-Uncle!" greeted by Neron.
"It's already late, go to your rooms," replied father.
I hear the sound of his footsteps slowly clacking against the floor. I can also feel his pressure from behind even though I don't saw him yet.
"Ah, we're planning on escorting Adel to her room." Neron said happily.
Nervous, I gulped and quickly turn my back to bow and greet the duke.
"Good evening, Duke," I greeted.
I didn't dare to look on his eyes because of fear. My hands are shivering and I can't stop it.
"Are you alright, Adel?" Arthur whispered.
He probably saw my hands shivering but I'm controlling it. I just give him a nod and smile. I was surprised when he held my cold hand with his warm hands.
"Yes, uncle. We'll head to our room after we get Adel to her room," Arthur said.
I secretly smiled because it somehow lessen the shiver in my hands.
"Don't worry, child. I'll escort Adel to her room." said my father
A flashback reminisce to my mind after he said that.
"I'll talk to you later"
He said that with a death glare in his eyes after the dinner. I'm scared, what if he will punish me again like in the past?
"It's really okay, uncle. We will really take care of Adel." Arthur said with a smile
"It's alright boys.. "
I was shocked when suddenly, the hand that I was holding was the hands of my father and I was in the front of them in just a blink of an eye. The two seemed shocked too.
"... go to your rooms. I will have a little talk with Adel. You can visit the mansion tomorrow if you want to see her. " The duke said.
"Okay uncle!"
They turned around and walked away but Arthur looked in my direction again and he looked worried and they walked away.
"Well, now.."
We also turned our back and walk in opposite direction. When he started to walk, I followed his steps.
"...let's begin our small talk"