Night fell upon the earth. Diane was busy smoothening out the sheets, while Dororhy watched her helplessly. "Like this right?" She asked. "Lady, you are doing a great job, but I am here, you know." Dorothy told her with a slight frown. "I know you are here, but you are not always going to be by my side. Besides, it will be embarrassing to tell the works that I don't even know how to spread a bed." Diane explained. "I realize that, but it just feels wrong. Please permit me." Dorothy said, as she took a stride forward to assist her mistress. "What do you think you are doing? Just stay right there." Diane warned with a firm glare. Dorothy could only sigh, and keep her mind preoccupied with other things. Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Diego walked in. His eyes moved from Diane, to the bed, to the anxious looking Dorothy, then back to the bed. "I am sorry, but I don't quite comprehend what is going on here." He said as he closed the door behind him. Just as Dorothy was about to open her mouth, Diane quipped in "Can you not see? I am making the bed! It looks rather nice, doesn't it?" Diane said, as she folded her arms across her chest, smiling like one that had achieved the impossible. "That side of the bed is crumpled." Dennis quickly observed. Diane instantly threw a pillow at him. "Will it kill for you to compliment me for once in your life?" Diane said. "You will only end up ruining your handiwork at this rate." Diego said, as he placed the pillow back on the bed. "Dorothy, just how did you put up with her?" Diego inquired. "Honestly my Lord, I really do the best that I can." Dorothy replied, with an exhausted look on her face. "Hmph." Diane pouted, and scowled, unwilling to look at either of them. "How cute." Diego thought In his mind. "Dorothy, could you kindly excuse us for some time?" He asked, turning to Diane's handmaid. "Of course, My lord." Dorothy said, while bowing slightly. "Have a good night rest, my lord and lady." She said as she opened the door. "You too." Diego replied. "Traitor!" Diane called out loudly, as Dorothy shut the door. "You are truly impossible." Diego said, as she turned to her. Diane only looked away. Diego walked over to where she was sitting on the bed. "Sometimes; you really remind me of my Leonia." He said as he placed his hand on his cheek, observing her as if she was some biological specimen. Diane felt a little... okay, a lot embarrassed, and she could feel blood rushing up to her cheeks. Could he stop staring? Her night gown was a bit too revealing, to say the least.
Just as Diane was thinking that Digeo was Intending to stare at her for all of eternity, a knock came on the door. Diane sprung to her feet immediately, using this God sent opportunity to escape. "Coming!" She said, as she approached the door. She opened it, only to see a petite eight year old, her blue hair packed into two buns, holding a doll and wearing a pajama covered in bunnies. "Leonia?" Diane called out surprised. She looked around the corridor, but didn't see any servant around. "Did you come here by yourself?" Diane asked. Leonia nodded. "May I Come in?" She asked. "Of course." Diane said, letting the child in. "Leonia?" She heard Diego say as she shut the door. "What's wrong, are you okay?" He asked, his face anxious. "It's fine, I came here to see... Diane." Leonia said, as she climbed up the bed. "You came for Diane, not for me?" Diego asked, a bit surprised. Leonia squeezed her doll tighter. "Yes." She said. Diane went to sit next to Leonia. Something wasn't right- was this child doting on her more than she did on Diego? "Hey, Diane can I braid your hair, for a little bit?" Leonia asked, dropping her doll on the bed. Diane was a bit taken aback- she wasn't going anywhere, was there really a need for it? "Fine." She said, when she saw Leonia's puppy dog eyes. "Uhm, I will sit here. Just one or two braids, okay?" She said, as she sat at the foot of the bed. Leonia nodded her head like Scales. She proceeded to touch Diane's head. "It's a little wet." She said, a slight frown forming on her small face. "Sorry, I had my bath not long ago." Diane smiled awkwardly. Leonia sighed.
She continued her work, her small hands weaving through delicately. Diego arched his brows. "Since when did you learn how to braid?" He asked. Leonia ignored him. "Alice taught her." Diane quipped in, upon seeing that the atmosphere in the room between the two wasn't right. After a few braids, Leonia continued to make small chat with Diane. Diego, either out of boredom, or he was genuinely exhausted, laid on his back, arms folded across his chest, eyes closed. "Your hair is so soft, Diane." Leonia complimented. "I wonder if my mother's hair was just as soft." Leonia said a little dejected. Out of the corner of her eye, Diane could see Diego frowning- it turned out that he was still awake, afterall. "Leonia can I ask you something?" Diane asked. "Are you maybe.. upset with your brother?" She said. Leonia kept mute. "So you ARE upset with him." She said. "I didn't say anything." Leomia argued. "Keeping Silent can mean a yes, Leonia." Diane said. "Why are you mad at him?" She asked, trying to sound as gentle as possible. Diane noticed her lower lip quiver, and the fists tightly clenched, as though she were strongly resisting something. "He doesn't have time for me anymore!" Leonia said, as the tears gushed out. "I know he is busy and all.. I know that it is not his fault, but still I.." Leonia was interrupted by Diane's embrace. Diego was sitting upright now, but only Diane could see him, because Leonia had her back to him. "So this is what has been eating away at your heart all this time." Diane said, as she rubbed Leonia'back.So that was the reason Leonia showed her attitude at first. She probably felt that since he had a wife, he would focus all his attention on her, and forget about his sister. She was still a child, afterall.
"I didn't know you felt that way." Leonia was a bit surprised to hear her brother's voice. She broke out of Diane's hug, turning round to look at him. "You don't ever notice anything." Leonia snapped at her brother. "The only time I ever get to see you is at the dining room or if you are taking a break from work. It's not fair. I feel lonely. Morris and Alice are there, but it's still not the same without you." Leonia began to cry again. "And sometimes, when I see you and Diane together, it reminds me of the portrait of mom and dad. I am afraid, I am scared... that the both of you will leave me just like they did." She said, as she continously rubbed at her eyes with her hands. "Leonia..." Diane felt bad. So they had gotten this close that Leonia began to view her as a mother figure. "Leonia, come here." Diego said as he embraced her. "Hush now, stop crying. I won't leave you, not even if a million stars fall down to the earth." He said as he cradled her. "Never?" Leonia asked, looking up at him with reddened eyes. "Never. I will always be there for you, Leonia, and I will always dedicate my time to you." He said. Leonia sobbed. "What about you, Diane? You won't leave me, will you?" Damn. The contract. She made eye contact with Diego, and noticed his pleading eyes. "Of course not." Diabe Said, having a bad feeling in her stomach. "So dry those eyes, okay?"