Hey guys, how are you? I was a bit busy these days, I hope you'll enjoy today's chapter.
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Siblings – the definition that comprises love, strife, competition and forever friends." — Byron Pulsifer
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-The crown prince, Alexander-
"Your Highness, Princess Catherina has arrived."
I looked at my councilor. He nodded, bowed, and left the room.
"Alright… let the show begin."
I got up from my seat when I heard a second announcement I was unprepared for.
"Your Highness, Princess Marissa has arrived, with her husband, the Duke Felling."
Mr. Allcar returned to the room with eyes wide open, and the visible distress on my butler showed that our plan was, in fact, ruined. The little brat was back.
"Your Highness, wasn't she supposed to be in Karlim to study?" asked Mr. Allcar.
I sighed deeply, thinking of a way to handle my little sister. I had to be very clever; she couldn't be an obstacle to my plan.
"Well, it seems you will have to accompany me, dear friend. The plot thickens." I patted his shoulder before leaving the room.
I descended the stairs and walked through the corridor toward my salon.
When I entered, everyone in the room got up from their seats and bowed. I immediately turned my attention toward my most important guest.
"Good morning, Princess Catherina. You surely look marvelous today." It was a compliment until I saw the very peculiar dress she chose to wear.
She wore a yellow dress overloaded with green gemstones and decorated with unnecessarily thick red veils—of questionable taste, if anyone asked me.
I took her hand and brushed my lips against her gloved fingers.
The color did not do justice to her hazel eyes or brown hair. She seemed to want to display her status through expensive materials but clearly lacked the etiquette that went with them.
At least she had a beautiful face.
"Miss Leonora, Madam Nazar." I gave a smile to her lady-in-waiting.
The charming-looking girl wore a simple blue dress with a satin veil covering her shoulders. Smiling ear to ear, with blushing cheeks and blond hair, it was obvious that she was overjoyed by my invitation.
But perhaps someone else wasn't.
Madam Nazar was the opposite of this girl: sharp and old. With her grave air, she seemed both bothered and bored.
I finally turned to greet my sister and her husband, the so-famous Duchess Marissa Margaret Hemsworth and the Duke Gaston Christopher Felling.
This bratty child smirked and extended her hand.
She, as always, wore a very deep red dress that complemented the dark ebony hair she had inherited from our mother. She fanned herself and smirked, knowing that her presence was rude and entirely uninvited.
The Duke, without a care for the situation, stood next to her, gazing dreamily toward Princess Catherina.
He, on the other hand, wore a royal blue suit in his family's color, reminding us of his homeland.,
"Now, dear brother, won't you greet your sister?"
I answered with a polite smile to conceal the irritation growing inside me. I shook her husband's hand coldly.
"How have you been, dear sister? Why return home so soon? Were your intellectual capacities challenged by the harsh environment of your university?" I asked as we all sat down. The servants poured our tea.
The young lady took a biscuit and nervously bit into it.
My sister glared but did not respond.
"Perhaps our mother was right. A married woman shouldn't be sent to university." I gave her an innocent smile. She frowned momentarily. It was a very hypocritical move, but I only wished to get back at her for coming here uninvited.
Princess Catherina laughed a bit, sensing the obvious tension in the room.
"Well, no, dear brother. It was simply time for me to visit family. You and Mother missed me dearly. But how about you? The regent still hasn't planned the crowning ceremony, I heard." She spoke in a falsely concerned voice.
I ignored her remark and turned toward my main interest.
"Yes, it seems the council still has a few things to deal with before proceeding with my crowning. When will you return to Hyslenie?"
I asked the Duke. He instantly turned to my sister.
"W-well… in a few weeks. I still have to greet my friends and rest before leaving." The man answered, then immediately went back to dreaming.
"Your Highness, we must excuse ourselves. But it seems we must attend tea at my aunt's house. She is a rather punctual woman, and I do not wish to cause her unnecessary frustration. We will therefore leave."
The princess and the other women got up from their sofa, bowed before me, and left.
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As my attempt to get closer to the princess was ruined by my sister's presence, I excused myself on the pretense of an important meeting with ministers. Instead, I had my carriage prepared for Wellington Castle.
As soon as the vehicle stopped, my heavy footsteps echoed as I climbed the stairs.
I walked through the estate until I reached the garden. As I opened the door, a footman tried to stop me, but I did not let him speak.
"Mother, have you met Marissa yet?"
Only then did I notice she was not alone.
She sat with the regent.
I bowed to him and turned my attention back to my mother. Her ladies-in-waiting stood behind her like silent guards, watching her every movement, while the regent had his counselor and personal guard standing just behind him.
"Good morning, my dear. Your darling sister came to greet me right after you."
She sipped her tea calmly.
I clenched my fist but stood tall.
"Good morning, Alexander. I am delighted to see you, dear nephew."
My heart skipped a beat.
No words left my mouth.
My mother looked at me innocently, a smile on her lips, tea cup still in hand.
As if she had known I would come.
As if everything had been planned.
I took a step back, excused myself, and bowed. I had already forgotten the reason for my sudden visit. As no word came to my mind to escape my unfortunate situation, I chose to retreat.
I turned and began walking away when the regent called my name. God wasn't on my side today…
"Well, dear nephew. I heard you started courting Princess Catherina, just as we all hoped. Won't you tell us more? Come, sit down, son."
I clenched my jaw, sighed, and turned back with a beautiful smile.
"Of course."
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-Captain Morlon of the brotherhood of shadow knights-
The stars were our only source of light as my squad and I hid behind a carriage. Not a sound—it was the rule.
I raised my fist in the air, signaling them to move as we crept closer to the noisy warehouses.
Light seeped from the three dilapidated buildings. The shouts of men and the cries of frightened prisoners echoed through the night.
I dreaded what we would find once inside.
Vincent, right behind me, transformed into an owl and flew silently toward the roof to get inside one of the warehouses, as four other knights metamorphosed into animals to go unnoticed.
Twenty knights stood ready to charge under my command, while thirty others remained hidden in the nearby forest—prepared to intervene if we were outnumbered.
I took my sword out of its sheath, and the men did the same as we all stood ready at the entrances of the warehouses.
"Stand ready," I signed, then moved forward as we ran toward the entrance.
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To be continued...