"Are you ready to have this conversation with him?" Dasa asked her Master as she washed her hair. "Why not? If he met me up close five years ago, he would've figured it out earlier." Opal kept her eyes closed, her body submerged in the warm water.
"Will he rush to reveal the truth?" Dasa asked, worried that it might disrupt her master's plan. "Of course not." She chuckled. "If that was the case then he wouldn't have suggested to meet me privately on my ground. He's smart. As smart as his older brothers." Opal opened her eyes and stood up.
The servants to the side stepped forward, helped her dry off and clothed her. Her hair was dried and pinned up with a white jade hairpin. Dasa draped her black cloak around her shoulders and the two let her room.
In the study, Lion sat at Opal's table, painting. When the doors opened, he was finished. He stood up and bowed. "My apologies. I saw the paints and couldn't help myself." He said quickly. Opal nodded and took off her cloak.
Dasa closed the door, took the cloak from Opal and stood to the side silently. Opal looked at the painting. "I don't really like paintings of my face." She said as she looked down at it. "Mother." She smiled. "Hm."
Lion grabbed her hand tightly. "You're really her? You aren't playing with my feelings, are you?" Opal looked at him, his eyes were like water pumps. She reached up and pinched his cheek. "What fun is playing with your feelings? Are you that little black cat?"
Lion hugged her tightly, crying loudly. Opal kissed his head as she hugged him back and waited patiently until he calmed down. Three hours later, he fell asleep in Opal's arms. Not a word was said, he just cried. Opal couldn't help but to laugh a bit.
Kai came looking for him, ready to go back to the Palace only to find his brother curled up on the sofa in the study. "He just fell asleep." Opal told him. "I heard crying when I came by earlier. Was something wrong?" She sighed.
"We were talking about a few things, then he remembered his mother and cried. How did your father take care of you? Allowing you to bottle up your feelings until you explode like this?" Opal looked up from the paper in front of her to see Kai also crying.
She sighed, stood up and walked over to him. She patted his head. "Cry. Let it all out." She comforted softly. Kai repeated his brother's actions and cried but it was silent, he didn't let a sound leave his lips.
He also cried himself to sleep. "Send word back to the Palace. Tell them the two Princes will have lunch here and return tonight." Opal told Dasa, as she smiled at the scene. "Yes, Master." Dasa bowed and left the room.
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"Master. King Kasian is here." A servant suddenly disrupted lunch. They had all just sat down when the servant burst in. "For what?" Kain asked defensively. "He wishes to join you for lunch." Opal chuckled. "Our house isn't a marketplace. Tell him to leave." Rain waved the servant out.
"Master!" Another servant burst in hurriedly but Opal was already on her feet and rushing out the door. Opal ran towards the front courtyard and got there in time as Sera's body dropped.
The servants were quick and caught her. Opal rushed forward and checked Sera's pulse. She looked at the other two that were being held onto by the servants then her eyes went to Kasian who was standing looking at them in shock.
"Half an hour." His eyes snapped to Opal to see her glaring at him with hatred. "I'll get it done." He turned and left. Opal picked up Sera and rushed towards the medical courtyard quickly.
The doctor was already there waiting. Servants were helping on the side. "Give Sera the pain relief pill and get her out of those bloody clothes." Opal ordered before moving to the other table were Sena lay.
She checked her pulse while her eyes checked her body. Sena had internal injuries and multiple stab wounds. Her condition was more serious than Sera's. Opal walked over to the servant that walked in with a basin of hot water. "How is he?" She asked.
"Internal injuries and multiple stab wounds. I've given him pills and I'll begin stitching his wounds." The doctor answered from behind the screen. "Dasa. Help him." Dasa didn't answer but she moved to the doctor's side immediately.
Outside was silent despite the tension. Soria held onto her sister's hand tightly as the two stared at the door. Lunch was forgotten, even the snow seemingly forgot to fall as they waited.
"Go back and get some rest. They won't wake until early morning." Opal's voice broke the silence three hours later. Gena breathed a sigh in relief. "As long as they're alive." She mumbled. She gently touched Varin's shoulder. "Let's go back." She suggested softly.
Varin nodded. She turned and reached for Rain. He held her hand and left with her. Kain picked up Soria in his arms and left. Gena left and the children followed her. "This is worse than before." Kai sighed softly. "Looks like the Name Regila will be no longer." Lion didn't say anything, just shook his head and left the courtyard.
Opal sat between the beds of the twins. She stared at the wall in silence and waited. Calin was the first to wake up despite his injuries being the worst. He looked up at the roof, tears streamed down and dripped into his ear.
"Go back to sleep." Opal whispered as she appeared above him. "I." She patted his head gently. "You didn't disappoint me. Get some rest." He nodded and closed his eyes once again. Opal sat back down and stared at the wall.
Opal wasn't foolish, she could see from the injuries that he tried his best to protect them both and Sena was protecting her sister. They made sure that they got back home because she would be there. Even if they died, they knew she would raze the entire Kingdom to the ground to accompany them.
Just as dawn broke, the twins woke up.