"Brother, can we talk about it?" asked Kael as he walked next to Blanc, trying to keep up with his stride.
"Kael… let father be the one to tell everyone everything, alright?" he started, "it isn't my place to talk about such things as I've only heard it by mistake. And even if I knew, either the Blood's heir or the head is supposed to declare such a thing, and me? I'm neither of them, now am I?"
"You are right," Kael gave up, "What about after dinner, will you practice archery with me again?" he asked, trying to lift the spirits of both his own and his brother's.
Blanc giggled, a bit of the tension from his shoulders leaving him with every laugh, "What, not enough shaming for the day? Want your older brother to educate you until the end?"
"If my Lord would honor this lowly one with such an honor," bowed Kael.
"Stupid but humble, this Lord would have to agree then," concluded Blanc.
Kael raised his face towards the sky, hearing his brother say, "Ah, the Vita is good."
"Don't speak words you don't yet understand, little fool," said Blanc, as he pushed Kael forward, "We're almost home."
"Young Masters," bowed two guards as they opened the iron doors to the estate, but Blanc and Kael did not answer them.
They kept moving forward, neither breaking their stride nor the person they were looking at.
Lune.
She was playing with a stick in the front part of the estate, hidden by trees from the outside.
She did not notice them; she was focused on the stick, using it as a sword, trying to chop down one of the trees. A giant enemy of hers, perhaps.
But to Blanc, this was perhaps the cutest thing he had ever laid eyes upon. Warming his heart to no end, and washing away all the worry he could have had up until that moment.
Lune was watched over by one of the stewards of the Blood, Drew, an older man, in the latter part of his life.
He was a retainer of Blanc's father, as were his sons and daughters, all of them working for the Blood both as stewards and maids.
"I do wonder, really, since when did Father acquire such fine swords for the Guard? Or is she a Warden? I swear to Vita, I couldn't tell. My puny eyes are not worthy enough to witness such fine swordsmanship!" asked Blanc, loud enough to be heard by the target of his question.
"Brother!" yelled Lune, dropping the stick sword as if it never mattered as she headed, in a sprint, towards Blanc and Kael.
"Little flower," giggled Blanc, laying the wooden box on the ground as he crouched with his arms open, ready to receive the swift attack of a below-average predator.
Lune's eyes were a deep violet, like her mother's, and her hair a beautiful gray, like her father's.
A talented young lady, perhaps as much in love with books as her twin brother. But gifted with wielding swords, it seemed.
As Lune got closer and closer, she jumped with a smile on her lips.
She knew she would be caught. That wasn't an issue.
And so she was. With a swift movement, Blanc caught her and began spinning her. Laughter erupted as they spun for a few moments before he finally set her down.
"Hello to you, too, sister," muttered Kael.
She giggled. Her twin brother's jealousy is a common occurrence in their relationship.
They were always together at the house, eating, learning, fighting, and even sleeping together until a few months ago.
And she loved him dearly, and so did he. Each was as indispensable to the other as were the eyes on their heads.
"Hello, Kael," she said, as she hugged him, "how was the hunt? Did you manage to catch anything?"
"There were some issues…" Kael muttered, "But Blanc did! A great stag, as big as a horse!" he explained, his hands moving all around as he started reenacting the hunt.
"Wow…" were the only words leaving Lune's mouth from time to time as she listened to Kael.
Blanc, after a while, seeing Drew getting closer to him, patted their head, "Keep telling my great deeds to Lune, Kael. I'll go and have a word with Drew."
"Young Master," bowed Drew quickly, "The hunt took a long time. The Matriarchs are quite… displeased."
"Oh, are they?" asked Blanc, "A pity really, but there was nothing I could've done, unforeseen circumstances happened."
Drew looked curious for a moment before regaining his cold and professional demeanor. "Such as?"
But Blanc ignored his question, "Where are Sera and Valar?" he asked.
"The Young Mistress is with the Matriarchs drinking tea in the back gardens, and Lord Valar is with the Patriarch; he was summoned to Duldera to join in on a meeting."
"It seems the family is full of productive people, Drew," said Blanc sarcastically, "Since everyone is so busy, why was it important for us to be back earlier?"
Yet Drew maintained his composure, not showing any signs of having an opinion on Blanc's remark, "You will hear more about it when the Patriarch and Lord Valar get home."
"Very well," Blanc sighed, "now then, if you would be so kind, could you take us to our beloved mothers and sister?"
"As you wish," Drew nodded.
"Kael, Lune," Blanc spoke, calling for his younger siblings, "Speak while you walk, we have to see our mothers."
They only nodded, acknowledging what Blanc said, before Kael continued explaining.
And so, they began following the old steward, as they walked on a paved path on the left side of the mansion that led to a beautiful flower garden, courtesy of Kael and Lune's mother.
If his mother loved trees, their mother loved flowers.
But the flower garden had more than a purpose of beauty.
It was used as a medicinal field as well, growing plants that could heal wounds, as well as close eyes forever.
Blanc knew many shadows walked behind the reach of his eyes, yet he didn't question them. It wasn't his destiny to know of such things.
As a second son, his only purpose was to know enough that, in the event that something unfortunate were to happen to the heir, he would be able to handle basic responsibilities while getting up to date on all the workings of an heir.
For that was what he was. Reserve.
"Hello, mothers." Blanc bowed deeply as he was now in front of the Matriarchs of Blood Denegis.