Standing, teasing, getting ignored, sighing... lately, that was my daily routine.
After sneaking out with my Leila, Raina ordered Jerome to buy her a canvas, brushes, and pigments. For 4 days and probably nights, I guess, because I'm banned at night in this room, she faces this canvas.
From the moment she wakes up to the moment I leave, she just focuses on painting. Even when eating!
One time, she almost ate paint instead of steak!
Fucking hell, did she get possessed by a painting enthusiast who died before they could finish their work?
No way.
No way, right?
There's no way.
Damn it! I should've followed her secretly!
Knock.
Knock.
"Come in." I answered for Raina, considering her fixation on finishing the painting that she doesn't even notice me making a mess with magic, I doubt she'd notice her maid knocking.
Kia bowed and informed, "His Grace, Duke Archen Richter von Aillard has returned."
Yes! Yes! Yes!
I dashed out immediately to Archen's study. That workaholic would go to his study first rather than his room to rest.
Sure enough, he was in his study, sipping tea as he sat majestically on his desk.
"Archen!"
"Hmmm. I'm back."
"Welcome back."
"The emperor agreed?" I brightened up, it's good if that bastard settled with a substitute in the meantime.
"Hmm."
"That's good!" I cheered, but quickly, it died down as I remembered my true reason for rushing here, well, it was obviously because I wanted to see Archen.
Hehe...
Another reason was the itchiness that has been bothering me since I was assigned as Raina's escort knight.
It was upsetting, very upsetting.
My position as the duke's personal guard was stripped to become his sister's knight. In short, I was demoted.
Isn't this too fucking unfair?! Did I do something wrong or what?! Is it because I've been drinking till dawn for a week now?! Is it?! Then he could've made me run a few miles or suspended me! It's better than this!
Sure, I wanted them to get along, but not at the cost of leaving Archen's side!
My sister abandoned me, and now, it was Archen.
Poor me.
Why, oh, why?!
Loved by the goddess my ass!
After sulking for a while, I stared at the girl sleeping on the bed. I closed my eyes, there was this itch that I so desperately wanted to scratch but was unable to do so. Raina's body had faint traces of black magic and I couldn't purify it, not when Archen didn't ask me to.
Wouldn't it be better to purify it? Perhaps it's the reason why she's so ill. Archen, Archen, Archen! Why can't I purify it!? Order me to purify it! Come back already!
I'm going crazy!
Perhaps I fell from her favor and the goddess wanted me to go mad because she gave me another itch.
"Shut up! There are bees in my heads, 240 fps, Sahara desserts."
"You motherfucking gaslighter."
I grabbed her arm as she was about to fall and instead of being thanked, I was cursed, "ah! That hurts! You fucker!"
How is it that this girl knows words that are unfamiliar to this world?
I was dumbfounded by her sudden reaction, I let go and she consequently fell, "what the hell..." I didn't do anything?!
"Hurry and help me up."
She really did a 180 from being so timid you could barely hear her speak to being so commanding. Hey, my dear sister, are you sure it is possible to change this much after experiencing near death?
I helped her up and walked her towards the white gazebo. It's table filled with tea and cookies. Out of the butler's consideration was a seat with soft cushion.
Heh. I'm so thoughtful, even preparing Raina's favorite cookies!
Raina didn't touch any cookies though and only drank her tea.
It was another itch.
"Are... you not going eat?"
She looked at me as though saying 'why would you care about that', "No, it reeks of sugar."
...?
But you clearly loved sweets???
I spent my first year in this manor wandering about. To find more personal information about Archen, I befriended every single person in the house, including his step-sister that was thrown in the annex, Raina Atara Aillard.
She did not have a single drop of Aillard blood in her yet she shared such similarities with Archen. Their gaze, disposition, and sense all exuded utter loneliness.
Their loneliness stemmed from different circumstances, Archen had a duty to the Emperor so he must not be close to anyone that poses a threat to the monarchy. Every action of his will have an effect on the state of the empire and thus countless lives. It is an undeniable fact that he needs to consider, others may approach him, however, he must always have his guard up.
On the other hand, Raina did not have any of that to worry about. She is lonely for the sole reason that she is Raina. No one wanted to approach her, so capturing her fondness was nothing but a piece of cake.
With a single bite of cookie, her eyes shone and she gave a timid smile. Raina, that girl that would only smile when she's with her plants and eating cookies doesn't like sweets?!
Do I look like a joke to you?!
Al, my dear sister, does 'changing' personality after a near death experience also includes your taste palate?!
I feel dizzy.
Leaning on the pillar, I faced Raina, my eyes shifting to her shoulder and couldn't help but ask, "what hurts...?"
She looked at me with disinterested eyes, "tsk." She then removed her shawl and showed the massive violet bruise on her left arm.
"A bruise...?"
My head tilted, "If you're going to have a bruise, shouldn't it be on your legs or knees? Considering your falls and such."
"That's my question too! Why the fuck am I getting bruised on my arms when my legs are the one getting so much trauma?! It doesn't make any sense!"
"Levan said it's a side effect of Nimen, but that also doesn't make any sense!"
Levan...? Oh the mushroom head physician.
"What does an anesthetic have to do with making me a sore apple?!"
A sore apple... It reminded me of the time Al scolded me for looking like a sore apple after getting beaten up by father. She was just 5 then yet she looked just like mother nagging me.
"Pfft- Bahahhahahha!"
She rolled her eyes, "Well, my legs are also bruised. They just go away quicker, like a day? The bruises on my arms and sides takes two days. Probably thanks to the medicines and ointments."
No. No matter how good an ointment is, it will not help heal a bruise that fast.
Yet another itch.
...
'Clang!'
'Clink!'
Hmm? The others must've started sparring already.
Why is it that when I come to train, it would always be running a mile and other exercises but not sparring?! Damn you, goddess!
"Hey, let's go back, it's too noi- what..."
My movements stopped as soon as I saw Raina's state. A second ago, she was spouting her cheerful complaints and now...
As if she was a taxidermy, she neither moved nor even trembled. Her head was lowered yet her blue eyes seemed to look at nothing, as though she was in a trance, unable to break away.
'Oh, our dear Al must be afraid of loud noises. She wakes at faintest of noises and cries unconsolably until she tires herself to sleep.'
Did she get scared because of the sound of swords clashing?
"Hey." I rushed to Raina's side, with every 'hey' my voice becomes more frantic, even resolving to shaking Raina's body.
Why...
'I really want to die. I cannot live with these memories.'
I couldn't help but bite my lower lip from frustration and perhaps panic, I held Raina's cheeks with both hands and stared straight into her eyes.
"AL!"
"Haa..." Raina's eyes regained clarity and immediately glared at me.
Ah...
I called her my sister's nickname by accident.
It was all an itch that somehow made me unable to sleep at night... but then, I saw her that night.
"What's wrong?"
"Archen... You're hiding something from me."
His luminous red eyes that met mine not long ago lost its focus, he frowned. God, I hate it when he does this. "Is it something even I can't know? Hm?"
"That's not the case..."
"I gave her candies with holy power."
"Sorin!" Archen stood up and slammed his hand on the table. He scolded, his eyes wide and burning with rage, "I told you not to use your holy power on her, did I not?!"
There was a thug in my heart, a painful one at that. "Why not? She had traces of dark magic on her and it was destroying her."
He quickly lowered his head, covering his mouth. He mumbled, "destroy...?"
I sat on his table and grabbed his wrist, slowly releasing holy power. I caressed the ring on his finger, "Archen, you knew, didn't you? She's not Raina."
He tried pulling his hand away but I just tightened my grip, tugging him closer.
"So you knew. What's her name?"
"Let go of me." We stared at each other, the tension increasing.
Okay, I give up. I sighed and released his hand.
Damn, it feels like winter has come.
"Do you not trust me?"
"I told you it was not like that!"
I'm sorry for making you mad.
Archen collapsed on his chair, he muttered as he covered his face. "It's just... I..."
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
"Archen?" I reached out, my hands trembling. I've never seen him be so defeated before. "Don't bite your lips."
I... Sorin, you dumb fuck!
Forcing him like this... Isn't this basically torturing him to admit that his sister is dead?
"I- I won't..."
"Sienna... Sienna Argerich."
Warmth spread across my chest. Of course there was guilt too. "Don't bite your lips. It'll bleed." I pulled his head to my chest. "I'm sorry."
"Mhm."
To be continued.