Finally, they arrived at the entrance of the Main Hall.
The beauty of the Moonsilver flowers was gone, replaced by an inky blackness that swallowed the vast space.
Aurora clung to Asher like a frightened spider-monkey. Some trembling whisper escaping her lips every few steps.
"A-are we there, Ash?" Aurora cried softly, her voice barely a squeak.
He couldn't blame her. Unlike Aurora, who trembled like a frightened fawn in his grasp, the darkness held no secrets for Asher. He could see perfectly in the inky blackness.
Just as they entered the center of the Main Hall, faint whispers started swirling around them.
And along with them. They felt eyes surrounding them. He heard some movement, and Aurora got frightened. She reacted with pure terror.
She clung to Asher as if her life depended on him, burying her face in his chest.
He felt the frantic rise and fall of her breath against his shirt.
Bang
Suddenly, a loud BANG echoed through the hall, the sound so abrupt it made Aurora flinch. It resonated through the vast space.
Instinctively, Aurora's breath hitched, her heart pounding frantically, her face buried in Asher's chest, muffling the noise and seeking his protection.
Her tiny hands flew up, clutching Asher's arm tightly, eyes squeezed shut, tears welling up and threatening to spill.
Asher held her tighter, slowly whispering to her.
"Aurora, hey," Asher murmured, his voice a touch too calm in the tense atmosphere. He stroked her hair, slowly, her breathing hitched and her trembling subsided.
"Asher…" she mumbled, gradually breathing out, the calm and reassuring that remained all close to her.
"Shh, Aurora, it's okay," Asher soothed, gently stroking her hair. He could feel the fear radiating off her in waves.
Hesitantly, Aurora peeked out, one eye at a time, blinking away the confusion. Then, her eyes widened in wonder. Her fear melted away at the sight before her.
The dimness of the hallway had been replaced by a magical glow. Hundreds of tiny fireflies, shining like miniature stars, surrounded the entire main hall. It looked like a scene straight out of a fairytale.
"Fireflies, Ash! Look! Pretty~" A giggle escaped Aurora's lips, the sound like tinkling bells.
Turning around, she saw her brother smile and went back to the hall again.
Excitement courses through her little heart. The Main Hall wasn't dark and scary anymore.
Instead, it was filled with a soft, warm glow emanating from dozens of candles and fireflies.
In the centre of the room stood a large table, covered in a silky white tablecloth.
Upon it placed a magnificent cake, a chocolate masterpiece adorned with colourful sprinkles and topped with ten flickering candles.
But the most beautiful sight of all was the people gathered around the table.
Scarlett, dressed in a light blue dress that seemed to catch the light from the fireflies, stood at the centre of the room, a beautiful and wide smile plastered on her face.
Beside her, Elysia, her expression a mix of warmth and something… secret, wore a white gown.
Anyway, around the perimeter of the room, the familiar faces of the maids were filled with joy.
They had watched Asher and Aurora grow from tiny, curious toddlers into the kind and loving young people they are today.
"Happy birthday, Asher! Happy birthday, Aurora!" Scarlett's voice rang out, filled with a joyous tone. Her arms opened wide, engulfing both of them in a warm, loving embrace.
Aurora, her initial fear forgotten, snuggled into Scarlett's hug, along with her, Asher also returned the gesture with a 'genuine' smile.
"Once again," Slowly, she released them, her hand resting gently on each of their shoulders.
"Happy birthday, my sweeties, Aurora, and Asher." Scarlett smiles, her voice brimming with emotion,
Elysia stepped forward, her gaze lingering on Aurora, even she managed a small smile. Before meeting Asher's eyes.
"Happy birthday, Aur… and…. Asher." but when it comes to Asher, her voice is quite down, and the smile on her lips turns strained.
"Happy Birthday, young master Asher, Miss Aurora!' The maids chorused, their voices warm and filled with joy.
Ten years had flown by, and the two children they'd nurtured had blossomed into splendid young individuals.
Each maid held a cherished memory of caring for these two, memories that would forever hold a special place in their hearts.
The shock and fear slowly seeped away from Aurora, replaced by a wave of relief and then… confusion. But a new feeling bubbled up – a tiny spark of anger… remembering the scenes in ten minutes, the scary hallway.
Aurora's lower lip trembled, and her cheeks puffed up like a tiny pufferfish.
Fat tears welled up in her big, watery amethyst eyes, again. But this time, they were tinged with a different emotion.
"You guys..." she mumbled, her voice thick with a betrayal that only a little girl could feel after a prank gone slightly wrong.
"That wasn't funny!" she shouted, her bright eyes like kitten glares that darted between Scarlett and Elysia.
The sight, with her puffed-out cheeks and watery eyes, made the maids exchange awkward smiles.
They knew the birthday surprise had backfired a bit.
"Aur, it's not their fa—" Scarlett sighed, but Aurora, with the fiery spirit of a tiny dragon, cut her off.
Aurora pouted, tears welling up again "I don't want to talk with you, Mamma..." she mumbled through gritted teeth.
This time, they were the tears of a little girl who felt unfairly scared by her own birthday surprise.
And honestly, she looked more adorable than angry.
"Aww~ My baby daughter is angry now." Scarlett with a sad expression muttered.
A small, angered "Humph!" escaped Aurora's lips, completely shutting down any chance of explanation.
Aurora was not appeased, she crossed her arms and refused to look at anyone except
Asher, who stood beside her. A calm smile on his face, watching the live show 'Happy Mother & Child'.
'I wonder when this shit going to end!?' he thought with amusement.
Scarlett looks at her son now, standing beside Aurora with hopeful eyes, but all she got was a faint smile.
"Aur, listen to Mom, it's not their fault, I was the one to—" Elysia softly tone tried again, her gaze lingering on Asher, looking out for something… but Aurora stubbornly shook her head.
"I don't want to hear it, anything…" Aurora sharply replied. Her small hands covered her ears.
Scarlett gave him a pleading look to make his magic work. He sighed. Really?
Taking her hands in his,
"It's okay, Aur, forgive them," Asher said softly, but with a hint of mischief in his voice. "It's your birthday, so let's enjoy it, okay? But…" he got closer to her ear, and slowly whispered, "If you're still mad, you don't have to share your cake with anyone." Aurora almost let out giggles from the tickle near her ear.
Hiding her face, Aurora pondered this for a moment, her gaze flitting between her tearful mamma, her stoic sister, and the magnificent cake in the center of the room.
Not talking to her mamma or anyone else was a powerful punishment, that much she knew. But missing out on cake?
That was a punishment too far, even for a furious little princess.
It was simply unthinkable.
"Umu..." Aurora finally nodded reluctantly, mostly because it was her brother who told her to. Still, her cheeks remained puffed out, a sign her anger wasn't entirely gone. But she just couldn't maintain the facade for long.
"Let's cut the cake, you are hungry right?" Aurora, even in anger, couldn't resist peeking at the cake.
The bulge in her cheeks started to deflate like a tiny, disappointed balloon. A tiny drool escaped the corner of her mouth and her eyes widened.
"Umm..." she swallowed audibly, her voice a tiny squeak torn between anger and pure, sugary temptation.
Asher, oblivious to her internal battle, pretends not to notice. He took a knife and sliced a generous piece of cake, the chocolate frosting shining like a little chocolate mountain under the candlelight. He held it out to her with a playful smile.
"See this, Aurora? This is the most delicious birthday cake in the whole wide world. And guess what? It has your name on it!" he teased, knowing full well there wasn't a single letter on the cake.
"Say aaah~'" Slowly he pushed the cake towards her little mouth awaiting her to respond.
Aurora peeked at the slice, then back at Asher, his smile so warm and inviting it practically melted the last bit of her anger away.
There was something else in his smile too, a tiny twinkle that made butterflies erupt in her tummy.
A blush, as pink as the frosting on the cake, crept onto her cheeks.
"Aaah~" she breathed out shyly, leaning in to take a bite. Her eyes widened with pure delight as the cake touched her tongue.
"Mmm!" she mumbled, a look of pure bliss replacing her earlier frown. The world had shrunk down to the delicious slice of chocolate heaven held by her brother.
For now, that was all that mattered.
After swallowing the small bite, she stared at the remaining cake, her little hand itching to grab another piece. Forgiveness, it seemed, could be quite delicious.
But her focus quickly shifted. Her brother was better!
"Me too, me too!" Aurora exclaimed, excitement bubbling over like a fizzy soda. She snatched another piece of cake, her tiny hand barely big enough to hold it.
"Ash~ say aaah~" With a determined glint in her eye, she mirrored Asher's movement, holding the cake out toward his mouth.
"Mmm," he mumbled, taking a bite.
The sweetness assaulted his taste buds, a bit much for his usual preference.
He glanced at the remaining piece of the cake, then back at Aurora, a playful glint in his eyes. He leaned in and licked the frosting off her fingers, sending a jolt through her.
"Ash!" Aurora yelped, her cheeks turning the color of a ripe strawberry. The unexpected contact sent a jolt through her, making her giggle and squirm.
"What~ is there something, little Aur~" Asher feigned innocence, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He knew exactly what he'd done, and the sight of Aurora's flustered expression made it worth the overly sweet cake.
Aurora, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions – the sweetness of the cake, the warmth of her brother's touch, the thrill of playful teasing – could only splutter and blush, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Umm.. wha… Nothing~ hehe...give me more cake..." she mumbled shyly, her voice barely a whisper. But she made the vow to take revenge. '
"Here you go," he chuckled, handing her another slice. "But you should feed Mamma too, right? She must be excited to celebrate your birthday."
The suggestion hung in the air. Feeding Mamma? Aurora contemplated this, a thoughtful frown replacing her blush.
This birthday surprise may have started scary, but with cake and her brother's teasing, it was turning out to be pretty amazing after all.
Aurora glanced at her Mamma's sad expression, seemingly hiding a small smile with her hands. What a sly woman.
An idea sparked in her mind.
"I will go first and feed her, okay?" getting no response, he asked.
Aurora, still contemplating the cake-sharing proposition, simply mumbled a slow, "Okay~" A sly grin, however, was slowly creeping onto her face, hinting at a mischievous plan brewing in her mind.
"Mom" Seeing Asher call out to Scarlett, Aurora watched intently. Her mother knelt down, her face etched with concern and love. Brushing a stray strand of hair out of Asher's face, she opened her mouth patiently, waiting for a bite of cake.
Asher didn't hesitate. He popped the cake in, but Scarlett didn't swallow the entire bite. Instead, she took a small piece off and held it out to him.
"Happy birthday, my dearest son," Scarlett whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
"I wish you to have the brightest future ahead." After he ate the cake, she pulled him into a tight hug, the warmth radiating from her was of comfort and a peaceful embrace.
Meanwhile, Aurora had her own agenda brewing. While they were embraced, she tiptoed closer to the cake, her tiny hand reaching for a piece.
This time, she opted for a much larger slice than the previous ones, the chocolate mountain practically dwarfing her small hand. It was practically a weapon in her tiny grasp.
After separating from the hug, Asher stood beside Scarlett, a hint of amusement playing in his eyes as he watched Aurora toddle over to their mother.
"Mamma~ Say aaah~" she declared in a mock-serious voice, mimicking Asher. But the slight tremor in her voice and the soft giggles escaping her lips betrayed her attempt at sternness.
"Aah~" Seeing her daughter approach, Scarlett happily bent down. Unaware of the impending chaos, her eyes softened as she opened her mouth, eager to share a sweet chocolate bite with her daughter.
And just as she waited, Aurora brought the cake close to her face, a glint twinkling in her eyes like a mischievous fairy.
In a lightning-fast move, she shoved the entire piece of cake into Scarlett's mouth, giggling uncontrollably as frosting smeared across her mother's face.
"Hehehehe~ Mamma look at your face!" she exclaimed, doubled over with laughter.
"Look what my daughter has done." Said in a fake annoyance, but then burst out laughing too. Wiping the cake off her cheeks with her hands, she looked at Aurora, a wave of happiness washing over her.
The moment, the genuine joy emanating from Aurora was a far greater gift than any perfectly placed cake. And it meant her daughter was no longer angry.
Asher watched the scene before him, the maids and Elysia joining in the laughter.
It was pure chaos, a delicious, frosting-filled chaos, filled with the sounds of a happy family.
It was the perfect ending to a birthday surprise, a little scary, a little sweet, and a whole lot of love. Or was it?