"Do I though?" Aefia's voice fell plain as if she had returned to her usual expressionless self. She just wasn't expressionless, her tone of voice was already enough to tell anyone what emotion she was speaking. "But if I take a break from life... It would mean I would have to die. So I guess I can't take a break off it right now."
Merissa beside her felt symphathy for the person sitting there, staring blankly at the ceiling with unfocused eyes, with her hand still covering half of her face. "You know... If you were going to get a more public title among the other empires, I would have given you Imperial Princess of Torture and Sufferings." Leaning back in the sofa, she spoke with a softness in her voice.
Finally removing her hand from her face, she lowered her head and crossed her legs. "I mean... It does fit my description from your observations. But why torture?" She smiled while looking sideways. "And I thought you were going to say something like secrecy or violent. Because I was anticipating a title like Imperial Princess of Violent Resolves."
"But you aren't really the type who would execute without a right reasoning. And Imperial Princess of Violent Resolves sound like a tyrant. And why would you resolve something with violence?" The girl asked while tilting her head slightly. "Then what about the Imperial Princess of the crimson? It matches your personality brilliantly."
"As in?"
"Crimson is the colour of blood... And the colour of violence... Which also happens to be the colour that fits your aesthetics and element. Even the way you answer people's gruesome questions is by the colour crimson. You are just related to it, so you should have a title like that. It's also better sounding then those tyrant-like titles you had found for yourself."
"But I what if I said I hate being called a princess. I prefer young master. So what about Master of Crimson?" She spoke while placing a finger at her chin and looking down. Why does it seem like... Crimson used to be a theme colour for me in some part of my life? I have always leaned into a gradient dark blue. But honestly... What matters the most is... How the hell do I tell her that I find it cringe to talk about?!
"I guess it also matches your aesthetics. Young Master Aefia of Crimson." Merissa spoke while standing up and bowing her head. "Although... I have a question to ask you in particular. Why are you hiding so much from the public?" She asked while sitting back down and observing her facial expressions the entire time.
Yo... What was that for? Aefia thought to herself a little displeased. If you were going to stay seated anyways...
"Well... Won't the other empires try to take it an advantage if I was brought out?" She simply replied while being cautious of the naive yet practical girl who seemed to have learnt a lot about her ever since she had heard about her real identity as a 'Nikoanian' resident by now. "Especially knowing how they still see woman as a weak and fragile being. Even if mom is governing this empire... They will still think of me as a fragile being. All until I bring out a knife." She slightly laughed.
"I see... But are you never going to come to public view?"
"... I have a specific reason." She answered while keeping her composure calm and as if it wouldn't bother her much to answer such questions. "But honestly... I just am an introvert and hate people acknowledging me much. So I keep away from the crowd. I see the suffering my brothers face when met with the public... Having to take guards around with them whenever while I have the freedom to do whatever and whenever... Like going outside anytime of the day and no one will notice and come back to the palace to tell mom. But worse... I don't want George to get way more protective around me when the crowd comes around to know about me."
Merissa let out a deep breathe as she looked forward. "Well that's understandable. My brother doesn't even let me out of our house much. I can't even leave to hang out with my friends! Even when my parents insist. I had to speak about your state before leaving the house today... And I know I am in trouble when I reach back home."
"Well at least you were let out of the house! I sneak out... In broad daylight... And now I have to stay in my room with the door open unless I am sleeping or someone else is around!" Aefia spoke while straightening. "But honestly... I think we need a law against overprotective brothers for this. The next thing I know... We are placed in a cage! Just let me breathe for a second!"
"Exactly!" The orange-haired girl spoke while straightening too. "Well you are a princess, why don't you invent the rule?" She asked while smiling. "Then will you help me build it? Although I already know George is going to make me write about ten pages of 'I won't do this and I won't do that again'." Aefia replied silently.
"Wait that's all you get?!" Merissa spoke as if sharing the same trauma as her. "I need to balance books in both my hands for an hour!" She spoke while demonstrating how. "I can't topple... Otherwise he extends it by fifteen minutes!"
Wow... You all really are privelaged. She silently praised while standing up and helping with the books being placing it back down. "Anyways... Even if I established the rule... I would need to send it to mom to review and then she would be questioning me about multiple things at once. And then... The thing will reach George's ears somehow and then... I am just so grounded... I could reach hell!" But I am already in it.
"Yeah sure... Even my brother will avoid me being friends with anyone anymore." She spoke while clasping her hands and then they both fell silent for a long time. "I am bored... And I don't want to do all these homework." This made the orange-haired girl stared at her expressionless face that could be seen masking another emotion. Does she... Have bipolar disorder?
Suddenly... The door jolted open with a loud thud and George bursted in with anger at his face. "Aefia Seraphina Smod... What is up with you nowadays?!" He shouted as she stood up with a shocked face. Finally, she caught Lewis snickering at one corner of the wall, and she immediately understood what was going on. "I swear I didn't do a thing!" She held out her hand while sticking her tongue out at her silver-haired brother. I have saved your life once... And I am definitely ripping your vocal cords out of your throat this time!
"The study... Better be there in five seconds." Holding out a hand, he held out five fingers that went down one by one over the next seconds. Then, she grabbed her glass pen, alerting Merissa with a fear, as she ran out of the door while chasing behind Lewis, all the way to the study. "I will kill you!" Aefia threatened him while he burst into the study with a fast speed. Meanwhile, George glanced at the orange-haired girl who seemed to be around the two siblings' age.
"Do you mind telling me about how she and Lewis behave at school? Maybe even Henry?" He asked while folding his arms as she stood up and bowed her head. The naive orange-haired girl hesitated a long time before dropping the bomb. "Well it is a bit complicated..." She slowly spoke the truth, feeling the need to. "Given that... Aefia lets the others bully her until she bleeds. I was planning on telling you sooner..."
"And who is it?" Rage took over his mind as his voice turned stern. "I can't say that... She won't allow me." The girl replied instantly. "And I don't want her trust to break on me, but I also don't want to see her suffering. So this is the most I can tell."
"Do the brothers know?"
"Yes... But she also told him not to tell you or the duchess just yet." Merissa lifted her head with a straight face. "While the others are just alright. There isn't a problem with them. I am only concerned for her... Noticing how she is a major bully victim by almost everyone else at the school."
"Well... Then thank you for informing me about that. I really appreciate your honesty." With the last words, he walked out of the room, heading back towards the study. Meanwhile, the girl stood there, shock-still and questioning whether what she had said was right. Hopefully, I didn't just go a little too far with this school thing. I guess I shouldn't have come around today. I have disturbed their family discussions... And I must leave early.
She sat back down and glanced at the book in front of her. I will have to head back by the time she returns. Maybe I should apologize when I get the chance to.
***
"And to think... You were already in punishment." Aefia spoke while grinning, and with her arms folded. "Even if you snitch... You will not win this argument or any other arguments in a lifetime."
"Says the same person I just snitched on! Good luck trying to put down the flames of this one." Lewis smirked back at her with a mocking face. "Because you are getting even more grounded after this. You are lucky the duchess isn't taking care of your responsibilities now."
"So aren't your responsibilities! You think only I am the one who still needs a legal guardian?" She asked while wiping the smile off her face. "You have the mind of a twelve-years-old child with brain rot, so of course you won't understand it."
"Well at least I am not the younger sister and still stuck at fifteen years and a month!" He laughed, as her face turned annoyed and she reached out for a book from the shelve. "Yeah well for short... Other woman would find this a compliment... But I kind of find it... Provoking." Throwing it at his face, she stepped back. "Don't test my patience."
"Well you are the one testing mine!" He grabbed onto the book and flung it back at her, as she dodged it by ducking underneath it, as her fingers wrapped against the spine of another. "Relax... It was just four words!" She added while tossing the two books at once through the air. "And it's your words against mine!"
"But now it's the opposite!" He picked up another one and threw three towards her direction as she picked up another one and threw it towards his head. "Well then why are you so secretive of what you snitched about this time?!"
"You were the one who called me a dumb grass in the first place!"
"Because that is what you are! The most unserious coward in the most serious situation!"
"Well at least I don't go outside and get hurt everytime I return!"
"I don't even get into those dungeons due to my willingness! I get entangled!"
"Leaves and foliage are the same words!"
"No it's not! Even a donut knows the difference!"
"And a dog knows better then to think of death as an answer to everything!"
"I don't die out of willingness either! If I did I would have not been able to come back alive another time!"
"But you did! You came back twice!"
"That's because it wasn't my intention!"
"But you do have intention now!"
"No I don't!"
At some point, almost an entire shelf was empty, but their bickering continued, changing from one topic to the other until the door bursted open, and they were forced to stop every type of arguments at that instant. George's eyes narrowed down at the books that laid on the ground with their pages open. There were scratches at their hands, which were all inflicted by the sharp metallic edges of the cover.
"You two will never learn..." Placing a hand at his forehead, he walked inside and shut the door. "Lewis Aurelius Smod... Are you done writing your five pages back and forth?" He asked while heading over to the desk and brining out a piece of paper. "And... I wonder who here had no other work, and can volunteer to clear this mess up." He held a piercing gaze at their younger sister, standing opposite to their brother.
"Consider it done then." She replied while keeping a straight face as the silver-haired brother laughed mockingly. "As if you are as fast as a servant." This angered her, but her face stayed calm as she snapped her finger and everything slowly returned to their rightful places. "Then you try... Doing it faster then me." At the end, she spoke with a prideful gaze at him.
"So... What is it this time?" She asked while her hands hung to her sides. "Since you are supposedly the mastermind of this matter, why not write the letter of invitation for me? I am a bit tired right now." George smiled while holding up a blank paper. Both Lewis and Aefia shared a glance one time, then she finally opened her mouth. "So are you planning on joining him to tease me?"
"Then do you want to talk about the school matters? Especially... How there are a group of people who are... Not acting as they are supposed to be?" He let out a dissapointed breathe while placing the paper down in the table's surface and holding his hands in front of his face. "Who are they? The pink gang?"
Darn! That must be what he snitched about! She cast a sideways glance at the person beside her, as he smiled mockingly. But what mattered the most around this time, was the reply. "There are just a group of popular girls. And they aren't really called the 'pink gang', I just named them that, because they all think they could be real-life dolls."
"And they happen to hurt you around when you are alone? Especially in the morning? When there is no one around."
"Well not specifically. They barely get around me." Beads of sweat settled at her forehead as he looked towards Lewis's direction. And this single glance was enough to tell something was going to go wrong around this time. Then, the words left this mouth as a command. "Roll up her left sleeve. There the injuries are."