It was days later where our father, Aldert, receives an invitation from the Prime minister to invite his wife and also both of his children which is us to a royal wedding between two nobles heirs. As per usual, an invitation to a huge wedding celebration like this, wasn't unexpected, given the level of frequency among some noble families that make amends or deals through the wedding of their children. What set this apart was our inclusion into the wedding.
As novices to grand events where even the king might be present, we prepped as if embarking on a camping trip amidst the woods.
I deliberated among an array of clothes while my sister wrestled with an assortment of makeup. From outside the room, we glimpsed our parents sharing soft chuckles at our eagerness, even before the preparations for the banquet had begun.
"Mom, at least help me pick!" Aurel pleaded, drowning in a sea of clothing options from a massive drawer.
"Don't just stare, lend us at least a little help!" I chimed in. aware that while we had a grasp on the basic dress code, sometimes, asking for help from someone who's more seasoned is better than getting lost mid way.
"I understand you're excited, but is it necessary to prepare three days in advance?" our father chuckled, followed by a soft laugh from our mother.
"Mom, Dad!" We protested, a tad frustrated, evident from our pouted expressions.
"We'll assist you both the day before the wedding, dears. Don't worry," our mother reassured us warmly as she lower her posture a little.
"Ahem, two days before" our father corrected with a playful tone.
"Oh, come on, Aldert," she huffed, sporting her own pout at her husband.
We shared a collective laugh at her reaction. Soon after, Constancia aided in organizing our messy room, following our father's orders. Meanwhile, our mother had vanished again, invited by a friend to a tea party, Constancia informed us when we inquired.
***
"What do you think of my new dress, brother?" Aurel teased, showcasing her new red and orange patterned dress to me while looking all smug about it.
"I prefer when you tie your scarlet wavy hair to the side, to be honest," I replied, keeping my expression neutral while looking at her with a blank stare. Of course, right after that she then faced through the window outside. My guess is that she's blushing, as what happen every time I praised her.
"I only asked about the dress! I don't need comments on my hair!" She protested before clearing her throat,...I'll let you judge by your own.
After our carriage conversation, we arrived at a special-purpose building in the capital city, marking the commencement of the wedding day. Nobles from across the nation gathered to witness the union between the duke's son and the earl's daughter. From what I see around the huge building, I see a lot of familiar faces.
"I thought you only drew inspiration from my light novel, which is the original source. I didn't think you took take the background characters from the anime" I murmured to my sister, who was enjoying a slice of cake.
"Well, technically, your light novel birthed this world first, and the anime merely expanded upon it so, I don't see your point here"she retorted, munching contentedly on a slice of strawberry cake.
I suppose, she got me.
"But, I didn't expect that there's so much nobles or generals here though. How big is the influence of the one that organized this party anyway?"I remarked, chuckling at the grandeur.
"Well, the hosts are a duke and an earl, and with the king's presence, you'd expect a turnout of at least a hundred people, right?" Aurel replied smoothly, savoring another slice of cake with confidence in her voice.
"That was...a rhetorical question...Sister."
"I know, and you're welcome."
Her response made my eye twitch. This brat just never seems to fail to find a way to annoy me, one way or another
"By the way, where's Constancia?" I asked, trying to change the subject while also calming down from the last topic.
"Hmm? She's coming?" Aurel looked puzzled by my question.
Ignoring her protest about her unfinished cake, I swiftly set her plate down and grasped her hand, determined to find Constancia while we ran through crowds of people that attended the wedding.
"Brother, my cake!" She whined, trying to release her hand from my grip.
"You didn't even worried about Constancia?! If everyone knew she was a beastman, It'll be a disaster!" I snapped, frustrated by my sister's obliviousness.
"Why did she even come?! I don't remember about you telling me that she'll be our aide!"
"Did you forgot that our father tasked her with protecting us in case something in this wedding gone awry, how ignorant can you even be!?" My words struck a nerve as Aurel looked down, a tinge of shame evident.
"You don't have to be so harsh, you know..."
We scoured through the throngs of people, scanning rows of maids that circling the building, determined to locate Constancia. Then, a shout, possibly from someone our age, pierced through the crowd. It echoed throughout the building with crowds of people gasping in reaction.
"How dare a lowly beastman such as you even had the permission to attend this party?!"
Following the sound, we dashed until we found Constancia, trembling on the ground, nearing tears while facing a girl, a princess that hurled insults after insults at her.
The girl, with a purple vibrant long hair and two red hair ribbons on her side with the mix of red and violet as she spouted out insults after insults towards Constancia. Complete opposite from the beauty of her amethyst colour dress.
Shocked and horrified, we rushed to Constancia's aid. My sister guided her to the garden outside and while I confronted the girl that's cursing Constancia with all sorts of words, attempting to defuse the situation in the process.
"Calm down. What has she done to upset you?" I tried to mediate
"Huh, Of course!? Her problem is that why she's even here in the first place! Isn't it obvious!? And now you're trying to defend that trash?!" She denounced with her finger pointed at Constancia. Her face contorted with disdain.
"Brother! Don't spend your time on that useless girl!" My sister gibed loudly from the outside, with the purpose for letting that girl hear it
"What?!" She raised her voice, but I seized the chance my sister provided and quickly led us away. "You coward! Wait he-"
Before she could pursue, a boy, likely her brother, whispered something to her, halting her pursuit and calmed her down.
"Good job, sis," I praised her with a thumbs-up, reciprocated by hers.
As Constancia, my sister, and I strolled through the park, silence lingered between us until we settled by a serene fountain, Constancia sitting beside us.
"Master... I'm sorry for causing you trouble," Constancia murmured, her gaze cast downward.
"Don't say that, Constancia!" My sister's voice rose, laced with a touch of anger. "How could you even think that?!"
"I... apologize, master."
Her response surprised my sister, who paused before speaking again in a softer tone, trying to console her.
"We're the ones who wanted you here, Constancia... There's no need for you to apologize."
"Master, what would your father think of your bold action? I should've been the one protecting you, not the other way around!" Constancia chided herself, attempting to maintain composure despite her disappointment, towards both herself, fail to keep her face back at the wedding room.
"Constancia...it's not your fault you know. This nation is the one that made that rules. That shun yo-"
"Stop it, Aurel! Stop trying to distract me from what I've done wrong here..." Her emotions started to surface, leaving both of us at a loss for how to comfort her, with eyes dwelling with tears.
For a moment we just sat right beside her, watching her slowly shed her tears. Our hearts felt like it wanted to break seeing her like this. We knew that she doesn't really intended to blame us for our actions but...we could feel our guilt slowly stacking in our mind, weighing our thinking ability even more with remorse started to clouded our mind.
Until...
The sound of clothes rustling drew my attention. My sister had already wrapped Constancia in a tight hug, offering warmth and comfort, that caught both me and Constancia off guard.
"...Eh?"
"Don't pull away, Constancia, or I'll tickle you," my sister reassured, gently stroking Constancia's hair, calming her down..
"That's it, good Constancia...Brother, join in"
At first, I was a little reluctant about Aurel's request, but after seeing that Constancia at least was a bit better than before, I eventually joined the embrace, feeling the weight of Constancia in my arms.
"Thank you...master"
Hearing the word master, Aurel, taking the initiatives, then offered her pinky finger as she winked at me. Knowing seventy-five percent of what she'll probably do and plan, I followed suit.
"What are you two doing?" Constancia asked, slightly bewildered.
"Just copy us," my sister giggled.
After a moment of thought, Constancia mimicked our action. Not try to loose this precious moment, we intertwined our fingers as quick as possible and swore an oath.
"From now on, Constancia will be our friend! Promise is a promise, and whoever breaks it will be stung by a bee!" Aurel proclaimed playfully, catching Constancia off-guard.
"W-What do you mean by friend, mas-"
"Ssssssh!" Aurel gently hushed her, placing a finger on Constancia's lips. "From now on, call us by our names, okay Constancia?" She couldn't hold back a laugh, seeing Constancia's puzzled expression.
Soon, laughter filled the air, breaking the prior silence.
***
In the passing days, Constancia had started addressing us by our names in secluded spots where our parents rarely ventured. But it was a particular night that heralded a shift in our world.
Awoken by a jolting dream, I stumbled out of bed, compelled by an inexplicable urgency. As I yawned, my first instinct was to reignite the candle atop my drawer using a flicker of magic, intending to fetch a sip of water. My eyes wandered across the room, only to spot a note left by my sister on her bed.
Why would Aurel leave a letter here?
My surprise melded with curiosity as I eagerly unfolded the parchment to discover an unexpected directive.
"Ardentia van Emberstrand...or Brother. Come down stairs to the living room if you suddenly can't go back to sleep. I have something important that might change everything."