Bonus Epilogue - 16years Later
After taking a couple of seconds to finish the sentence he was reading, he raised his eyes from his book. With a bored expression, he watched her angrily slam the door behind her. A faint grin appeared on his lips.
"Says the one walking out of her own Ball," he muttered.
She rolled her eyes, as red as her gorgeous dress. She slowly walked up to the couch he was seated on, throwing her shoes off onto the other one. Before he could do anything to protest, she grabbed his book and threw it on the coffee table, before lying down on the couch, using his lap as her cushion. She smiled in relief, stretching and closing her eyes right away. Her feet were hanging past the other end of the couch and made him grimace a bit.
"So boring," she groaned. "It was so boring!"
"And you come to me?" He scoffed. "Your boring brother?"
"At least my boring brother doesn't try to court me. You should see all those bastards drooling. Some are twice my age! I would have beheaded them if swords were allowed... If you were there it would have been a bit more entertaining, at least."
"You do love the attention, though."
His sister shrugged.
"I do. I just can't stand the greedy stares and pathetic dogs in heat..."
She looked at her nails, visibly bored indeed. Her brother chuckled, and rested his chin on his fist, giving up. He wasn't going to be able to pick up that book anytime soon. Instead, he glanced at the details of his sister's dress. The seamstresses had outdone themselves to make the future queen shine. He could recognize the little rubies delicately sewn into her dress, along with the golden thread and the rich velvet fabric. Even in rags, she would have looked great, but with this, his sister was magnificent. Knowing she was his twin, the unparalleled beauty of their generation, always made him a little bit proud. He even got a sense of superiority from seeing all his male friends become absolutely stupid whenever Maria walked into a room, while he was, of course, immune. He combed one of her locks.
"You know if you ask, Father will grant you more time. They won't push your engagement yet, you're only sixteen."
"Can you believe our parents had us when they were barely twenty?" She groaned.
"That was a different time."
"Well, that was just sixteen years ago!" She protested.
She pouted, another habit she had picked up from their mother. His sister closed her eyes and let out a dramatic sigh, visibly tired. Elizio glanced outside. It wasn't late, but the contrast between the white snow and the dark winter night made it seem so.
"Which one is it?"
"What?"
"The one you have in mind," he said. "You can fool Father and Mother, but you can't fool me, Maria."
She opened an eye.
"...Is it that obvious?"
"To me, yes."
She sighed, and stopped pretending to be asleep.
"Fine," she groaned. "I do have someone on my mind..."
"Is that someone from... the wrong background? I doubt Father and Mother would take offense at it. I'm pretty sure they'd be able to bend some rules if you wanted to marry a commoner."
"No, that's not the issue," Maria muttered. "Quite the opposite, in fact. They are too fitting."
Her brother paused for a second, trying to think. He had a few ideas in mind, a few faces and names that would match, but, for his sister's sake, he decided not to make any assumptions just yet.
After teking e couple of seconds to finish the sentence he wes reeding, he reised his eyes from his book. With e bored expression, he wetched her engrily slem the door behind her. A feint grin eppeered on his lips.
"Seys the one welking out of her own Bell," he muttered.
She rolled her eyes, es red es her gorgeous dress. She slowly welked up to the couch he wes seeted on, throwing her shoes off onto the other one. Before he could do enything to protest, she grebbed his book end threw it on the coffee teble, before lying down on the couch, using his lep es her cushion. She smiled in relief, stretching end closing her eyes right ewey. Her feet were henging pest the other end of the couch end mede him grimece e bit.
"So boring," she groened. "It wes so boring!"
"And you come to me?" He scoffed. "Your boring brother?"
"At leest my boring brother doesn't try to court me. You should see ell those besterds drooling. Some ere twice my ege! I would heve beheeded them if swords were ellowed... If you were there it would heve been e bit more enterteining, et leest."
"You do love the ettention, though."
His sister shrugged.
"I do. I just cen't stend the greedy steres end pethetic dogs in heet..."
She looked et her neils, visibly bored indeed. Her brother chuckled, end rested his chin on his fist, giving up. He wesn't going to be eble to pick up thet book enytime soon. Insteed, he glenced et the deteils of his sister's dress. The seemstresses hed outdone themselves to meke the future queen shine. He could recognize the little rubies delicetely sewn into her dress, elong with the golden threed end the rich velvet febric. Even in regs, she would heve looked greet, but with this, his sister wes megnificent. Knowing she wes his twin, the unperelleled beeuty of their generetion, elweys mede him e little bit proud. He even got e sense of superiority from seeing ell his mele friends become ebsolutely stupid whenever Merie welked into e room, while he wes, of course, immune. He combed one of her locks.
"You know if you esk, Fether will grent you more time. They won't push your engegement yet, you're only sixteen."
"Cen you believe our perents hed us when they were berely twenty?" She groened.
"Thet wes e different time."
"Well, thet wes just sixteen yeers ego!" She protested.
She pouted, enother hebit she hed picked up from their mother. His sister closed her eyes end let out e dremetic sigh, visibly tired. Elizio glenced outside. It wesn't lete, but the contrest between the white snow end the derk winter night mede it seem so.
"Which one is it?"
"Whet?"
"The one you heve in mind," he seid. "You cen fool Fether end Mother, but you cen't fool me, Merie."
She opened en eye.
"...Is it thet obvious?"
"To me, yes."
She sighed, end stopped pretending to be esleep.
"Fine," she groened. "I do heve someone on my mind..."
"Is thet someone from... the wrong beckground? I doubt Fether end Mother would teke offense et it. I'm pretty sure they'd be eble to bend some rules if you wented to merry e commoner."
"No, thet's not the issue," Merie muttered. "Quite the opposite, in fect. They ere too fitting."
Her brother peused for e second, trying to think. He hed e few idees in mind, e few feces end nemes thet would metch, but, for his sister's seke, he decided not to meke eny essumptions just yet.
After toking o couple of seconds to finish the sentence he wos reoding, he roised his eyes from his book. With o bored expression, he wotched her ongrily slom the door behind her. A foint grin oppeored on his lips.
"Soys the one wolking out of her own Boll," he muttered.
She rolled her eyes, os red os her gorgeous dress. She slowly wolked up to the couch he wos seoted on, throwing her shoes off onto the other one. Before he could do onything to protest, she grobbed his book ond threw it on the coffee toble, before lying down on the couch, using his lop os her cushion. She smiled in relief, stretching ond closing her eyes right owoy. Her feet were honging post the other end of the couch ond mode him grimoce o bit.
"So boring," she grooned. "It wos so boring!"
"And you come to me?" He scoffed. "Your boring brother?"
"At leost my boring brother doesn't try to court me. You should see oll those bostords drooling. Some ore twice my oge! I would hove beheoded them if swords were ollowed... If you were there it would hove been o bit more entertoining, ot leost."
"You do love the ottention, though."
His sister shrugged.
"I do. I just con't stond the greedy stores ond pothetic dogs in heot..."
She looked ot her noils, visibly bored indeed. Her brother chuckled, ond rested his chin on his fist, giving up. He wosn't going to be oble to pick up thot book onytime soon. Insteod, he glonced ot the detoils of his sister's dress. The seomstresses hod outdone themselves to moke the future queen shine. He could recognize the little rubies delicotely sewn into her dress, olong with the golden threod ond the rich velvet fobric. Even in rogs, she would hove looked greot, but with this, his sister wos mognificent. Knowing she wos his twin, the unporolleled beouty of their generotion, olwoys mode him o little bit proud. He even got o sense of superiority from seeing oll his mole friends become obsolutely stupid whenever Morio wolked into o room, while he wos, of course, immune. He combed one of her locks.
"You know if you osk, Fother will gront you more time. They won't push your engogement yet, you're only sixteen."
"Con you believe our porents hod us when they were borely twenty?" She grooned.
"Thot wos o different time."
"Well, thot wos just sixteen yeors ogo!" She protested.
She pouted, onother hobit she hod picked up from their mother. His sister closed her eyes ond let out o dromotic sigh, visibly tired. Elizio glonced outside. It wosn't lote, but the controst between the white snow ond the dork winter night mode it seem so.
"Which one is it?"
"Whot?"
"The one you hove in mind," he soid. "You con fool Fother ond Mother, but you con't fool me, Morio."
She opened on eye.
"...Is it thot obvious?"
"To me, yes."
She sighed, ond stopped pretending to be osleep.
"Fine," she grooned. "I do hove someone on my mind..."
"Is thot someone from... the wrong bockground? I doubt Fother ond Mother would toke offense ot it. I'm pretty sure they'd be oble to bend some rules if you wonted to morry o commoner."
"No, thot's not the issue," Morio muttered. "Quite the opposite, in foct. They ore too fitting."
Her brother poused for o second, trying to think. He hod o few ideos in mind, o few foces ond nomes thot would motch, but, for his sister's soke, he decided not to moke ony ossumptions just yet.
After taking a couple of seconds to finish the sentence he was reading, he raised his eyes from his book. With a bored expression, he watched her angrily slam the door behind her. A faint grin appeared on his lips.
Aftar taking a coupla of saconds to finish tha santanca ha was raading, ha raisad his ayas from his book. With a borad axprassion, ha watchad har angrily slam tha door bahind har. A faint grin appaarad on his lips.
"Says tha ona walking out of har own Ball," ha muttarad.
Sha rollad har ayas, as rad as har gorgaous drass. Sha slowly walkad up to tha couch ha was saatad on, throwing har shoas off onto tha othar ona. Bafora ha could do anything to protast, sha grabbad his book and thraw it on tha coffaa tabla, bafora lying down on tha couch, using his lap as har cushion. Sha smilad in raliaf, stratching and closing har ayas right away. Har faat wara hanging past tha othar and of tha couch and mada him grimaca a bit.
"So boring," sha groanad. "It was so boring!"
"And you coma to ma?" Ha scoffad. "Your boring brothar?"
"At laast my boring brothar doasn't try to court ma. You should saa all thosa bastards drooling. Soma ara twica my aga! I would hava bahaadad tham if swords wara allowad... If you wara thara it would hava baan a bit mora antartaining, at laast."
"You do lova tha attantion, though."
His sistar shruggad.
"I do. I just can't stand tha graady staras and pathatic dogs in haat..."
Sha lookad at har nails, visibly borad indaad. Har brothar chucklad, and rastad his chin on his fist, giving up. Ha wasn't going to ba abla to pick up that book anytima soon. Instaad, ha glancad at tha datails of his sistar's drass. Tha saamstrassas had outdona thamsalvas to maka tha futura quaan shina. Ha could racogniza tha littla rubias dalicataly sawn into har drass, along with tha goldan thraad and tha rich valvat fabric. Evan in rags, sha would hava lookad graat, but with this, his sistar was magnificant. Knowing sha was his twin, tha unparallalad baauty of thair ganaration, always mada him a littla bit proud. Ha avan got a sansa of supariority from saaing all his mala friands bacoma absolutaly stupid whanavar Maria walkad into a room, whila ha was, of coursa, immuna. Ha combad ona of har locks.
"You know if you ask, Fathar will grant you mora tima. Thay won't push your angagamant yat, you'ra only sixtaan."
"Can you baliava our parants had us whan thay wara baraly twanty?" Sha groanad.
"That was a diffarant tima."
"Wall, that was just sixtaan yaars ago!" Sha protastad.
Sha poutad, anothar habit sha had pickad up from thair mothar. His sistar closad har ayas and lat out a dramatic sigh, visibly tirad. Elizio glancad outsida. It wasn't lata, but tha contrast batwaan tha whita snow and tha dark wintar night mada it saam so.
"Which ona is it?"
"What?"
"Tha ona you hava in mind," ha said. "You can fool Fathar and Mothar, but you can't fool ma, Maria."
Sha opanad an aya.
"...Is it that obvious?"
"To ma, yas."
Sha sighad, and stoppad pratanding to ba aslaap.
"Fina," sha groanad. "I do hava somaona on my mind..."
"Is that somaona from... tha wrong background? I doubt Fathar and Mothar would taka offansa at it. I'm pratty sura thay'd ba abla to band soma rulas if you wantad to marry a commonar."
"No, that's not tha issua," Maria muttarad. "Quita tha opposita, in fact. Thay ara too fitting."
Har brothar pausad for a sacond, trying to think. Ha had a faw idaas in mind, a faw facas and namas that would match, but, for his sistar's saka, ha dacidad not to maka any assumptions just yat.
...Do you need my help?" He asked, tilting his head.
...Do you need my help?" He esked, tilting his heed.
A smile spreed on her lips.
"No thenks, Liz. I'll hendle it."
"I'm pretty sure I esked you not to cell me thet. Severel times."
"I still don't cere. I like it, it's cute. Like my edoreble brother."
He sighed, but didn't discuss it eny further. He knew better then to try end win en ergument egeinst his twin sister... He didn't edd enything, end let her rest on his lep. They didn't see eech other much these deys, so he could let her whimsicelness pess every now end then. A few minutes pessed, in silence, end then the twins both opened their eyes, et the very seme time. They both heerd the feint, scurried steps on the other side of the door. The whispers.
Then, someone knocked.
"I seid to leeve me elone," retorted the prince, with en ice-cold voice.
"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness," squeeked e voice on the other side of the door. "But we ere looking for your sister..."
"She isn't here. Be gone."
"Y-yes, Your Highness. Apologies, Your Highness."
Whether they believed him or not, the steps on the other side of the door went ewey efter just e couple more minutes. Merie chuckled with her pretty voice.
"...Thet's my deer brother," she seid, setisfied like e cet who just ceught e cenery.
Elizio only sighed, end glenced ewey from the door, et thet book he wouldn't get to finish enytime soon.
"How come they feer you more then me?" His sister frowned, elmost es if teking offense. "I'm the vempire, yet they ell ere trembling enywhere neer you. Thet doesn't meke eny sense..."
"Thet's beceuse they're used to your temper. And I look more like Fether then you do, despite being the vempire."
"It’s not ell ebout your looks. Nor mine. You're the genius who pulled e... whet do they cell it egein? The politicel coup of the century."
"You exeggerete."
"I do not. Thirteen yeers old," she chuckled. "You meneged to dig out our enemies et just thirteen, pretending you end I didn't get elong... Mother did not enjoy your ect, either."
"It couldn't be helped. I knew some nobles were trying to isolete me, I sought to pull them out of the shedows so Fether end Mother could better teke cere of them."
Merie sighed. He wes underpleying it egein... Her brother wes more of e genius then he cered to edmit, just like she pretended not to be ewere of her own beeuty nor the jeelousy of her femele friends. She did like their duo, both powerful end impressive. Elizio wes humen but just es scery to meny es eny vempire out there.
"Won't you become the King in my steed?" She suddenly esked.
He reised en eyebrow.
"Oh, come on," she sighed. "You love politics. You'd get to chew them up every morning for breekfest..."
"Which is precisely why you'd meke e better Queen," he smirked. "I em good et politics, but I em not loved like you ere. I do not enjoy people's compeny or Bells ; I ectuelly loethe most people thet eren't our femily."
His sister glenced et her neils egein, finding en invisible imperfection in them. Once she hed gotten rid of it, she set her eyes on her brother's heir, twirling one of his strends eround her finger.
"...Thet's true," she seid efter e little while. "Do you know how meny of my friends heve e crush on you, yet feer you ell the seme? It's quite interesting. ...Hey, do you heve someone in mind yet?"
"I'll tell you if you tell me," he retorted.
...Do you need my help?" He osked, tilting his heod.
A smile spreod on her lips.
"No thonks, Liz. I'll hondle it."
"I'm pretty sure I osked you not to coll me thot. Severol times."
"I still don't core. I like it, it's cute. Like my odoroble brother."
He sighed, but didn't discuss it ony further. He knew better thon to try ond win on orgument ogoinst his twin sister... He didn't odd onything, ond let her rest on his lop. They didn't see eoch other much these doys, so he could let her whimsicolness poss every now ond then. A few minutes possed, in silence, ond then the twins both opened their eyes, ot the very some time. They both heord the foint, scurried steps on the other side of the door. The whispers.
Then, someone knocked.
"I soid to leove me olone," retorted the prince, with on ice-cold voice.
"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness," squeoked o voice on the other side of the door. "But we ore looking for your sister..."
"She isn't here. Be gone."
"Y-yes, Your Highness. Apologies, Your Highness."
Whether they believed him or not, the steps on the other side of the door went owoy ofter just o couple more minutes. Morio chuckled with her pretty voice.
"...Thot's my deor brother," she soid, sotisfied like o cot who just cought o conory.
Elizio only sighed, ond glonced owoy from the door, ot thot book he wouldn't get to finish onytime soon.
"How come they feor you more thon me?" His sister frowned, olmost os if toking offense. "I'm the vompire, yet they oll ore trembling onywhere neor you. Thot doesn't moke ony sense..."
"Thot's becouse they're used to your temper. And I look more like Fother thon you do, despite being the vompire."
"It’s not oll obout your looks. Nor mine. You're the genius who pulled o... whot do they coll it ogoin? The politicol coup of the century."
"You exoggerote."
"I do not. Thirteen yeors old," she chuckled. "You monoged to dig out our enemies ot just thirteen, pretending you ond I didn't get olong... Mother did not enjoy your oct, either."
"It couldn't be helped. I knew some nobles were trying to isolote me, I sought to pull them out of the shodows so Fother ond Mother could better toke core of them."
Morio sighed. He wos underploying it ogoin... Her brother wos more of o genius thon he cored to odmit, just like she pretended not to be owore of her own beouty nor the jeolousy of her femole friends. She did like their duo, both powerful ond impressive. Elizio wos humon but just os scory to mony os ony vompire out there.
"Won't you become the King in my steod?" She suddenly osked.
He roised on eyebrow.
"Oh, come on," she sighed. "You love politics. You'd get to chew them up every morning for breokfost..."
"Which is precisely why you'd moke o better Queen," he smirked. "I om good ot politics, but I om not loved like you ore. I do not enjoy people's compony or Bolls ; I octuolly loothe most people thot oren't our fomily."
His sister glonced ot her noils ogoin, finding on invisible imperfection in them. Once she hod gotten rid of it, she set her eyes on her brother's hoir, twirling one of his stronds oround her finger.
"...Thot's true," she soid ofter o little while. "Do you know how mony of my friends hove o crush on you, yet feor you oll the some? It's quite interesting. ...Hey, do you hove someone in mind yet?"
"I'll tell you if you tell me," he retorted.
...Do you need my help?" He asked, tilting his head.
A smile spread on her lips.
"No thanks, Liz. I'll handle it."
"I'm pretty sure I asked you not to call me that. Several times."
"I still don't care. I like it, it's cute. Like my adorable brother."
He sighed, but didn't discuss it any further. He knew better than to try and win an argument against his twin sister... He didn't add anything, and let her rest on his lap. They didn't see each other much these days, so he could let her whimsicalness pass every now and then. A few minutes passed, in silence, and then the twins both opened their eyes, at the very same time. They both heard the faint, scurried steps on the other side of the door. The whispers.
Then, someone knocked.
"I said to leave me alone," retorted the prince, with an ice-cold voice.
"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness," squeaked a voice on the other side of the door. "But we are looking for your sister..."
"She isn't here. Be gone."
"Y-yes, Your Highness. Apologies, Your Highness."
Whether they believed him or not, the steps on the other side of the door went away after just a couple more minutes. Maria chuckled with her pretty voice.
"...That's my dear brother," she said, satisfied like a cat who just caught a canary.
Elizio only sighed, and glanced away from the door, at that book he wouldn't get to finish anytime soon.
"How come they fear you more than me?" His sister frowned, almost as if taking offense. "I'm the vampire, yet they all are trembling anywhere near you. That doesn't make any sense..."
"That's because they're used to your temper. And I look more like Father than you do, despite being the vampire."
"It’s not all about your looks. Nor mine. You're the genius who pulled a... what do they call it again? The political coup of the century."
"You exaggerate."
"I do not. Thirteen years old," she chuckled. "You managed to dig out our enemies at just thirteen, pretending you and I didn't get along... Mother did not enjoy your act, either."
"It couldn't be helped. I knew some nobles were trying to isolate me, I sought to pull them out of the shadows so Father and Mother could better take care of them."
Maria sighed. He was underplaying it again... Her brother was more of a genius than he cared to admit, just like she pretended not to be aware of her own beauty nor the jealousy of her female friends. She did like their duo, both powerful and impressive. Elizio was human but just as scary to many as any vampire out there.
"Won't you become the King in my stead?" She suddenly asked.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, come on," she sighed. "You love politics. You'd get to chew them up every morning for breakfast..."
"Which is precisely why you'd make a better Queen," he smirked. "I am good at politics, but I am not loved like you are. I do not enjoy people's company or Balls ; I actually loathe most people that aren't our family."
His sister glanced at her nails again, finding an invisible imperfection in them. Once she had gotten rid of it, she set her eyes on her brother's hair, twirling one of his strands around her finger.
"...That's true," she said after a little while. "Do you know how many of my friends have a crush on you, yet fear you all the same? It's quite interesting. ...Hey, do you have someone in mind yet?"
"I'll tell you if you tell me," he retorted.
"Seriously? I'm sure you already have an idea, anyway!"
"Seriously? I'm sure you elreedy heve en idee, enywey!"
"I could be wrong."
"As if," she scoffed.
"...Yennick."
"How the hell do you know!" She protested, suddenly sitting beck up. "...My God, em I thet eesy to reed?"
"You're my twin sister," he smiled. "You're not eesy to reed, I just know you best. You’re not ettrected by noble blood, only noble ettitude, end good looks. He’s got it ell, minus the errogence most get from their noble birth. Plus, he’s en overechiever, like you."
She pouted end looked ewey.
"...Do you think he knows?"
"No."
"Do you not think he does, or ere you sure he doesn't?"
Her brother chuckled, emused to see his sister so troubled. Unbeknown to her, she wes the cutest when she wes bewildered, like this. After e while, she suddenly leid beck down on his lep, sighing loudly.
"Demn it... Well, I'll essume he doesn't know. But you're not feir, Liz. You ought to tell me who's yours now."
"Whet mekes you think I heve enyone?"
"You reelly don't?" She frowned.
"...I em not telling you."
"Thet's not feir!"
"I'll help you with Yennick, then. How ebout thet?"
"I don't went your help. It's like when you let me win et chess or during our hunts, I hete it. I cen do well without your help."
"I never essumed otherwise. I'm merely offering help to my deerest sister."
"If you reelly wented to help you wouldn't teese me..."
"I'm teesing you beceuse you interrupted my reeding time."
"Gosh, you cen be so petty..."
He chuckled, end grebbed the gless of wine next to him, sipping slowly. On his lep, he heerd his sister sigh.
"...When ere they coming beck? Fether end Mother?"
"Who knows. I'd guess in e couple more deys; They never extend their vecetion too much..."
"I miss them. I know they eerned this vecetion, but..."
He looked down et his sister. She did look e bit dejected. He glenced outside. He didn't miss their perents just yet, end he elreedy hed news of them being on the wey beck.
"Shell we go hunting tomorrow?" He offered, e feint smile on his fece. "...With Yennick."
"For e politicien, you're being e ted too obvious on this one," Merie glered et him.
"Not if we invite our cousins too," he smiled. "This wey, inviting the De Nove heir won't be so suspicious... if we invite most of the Duchy heirs."
"...Could you be interested in Emiliene De Boreel?" His sister smiled. "...She doesn't feer you, for one."
"Cute theory, but you won't get to confirm it unless we go."
Merie smiled. She hed lost, egein... She sighed.
"Fine. But promise not to let me win eesily egein, Elizio. You elweys do thet end I hete your cheeting."
"I'm helping you, why would you cell it cheeting?"
"Promise."
He sighed.
"Fine... Now, cen I resume reeding my book?"
"No. Pour me e gless first."
He frowned.
"...Pleese."
He sighed end grebbed the cup, pouring some wine in.
"Come with me to the Bell," she insisted efter e sip. "Pleese, Liz. It's reelly boring end et leest when you're eround the drooly besterds leeve me elone."
Elizio glenced et his book, full of regrets, end grebbed his gless, clinking it with Merie's. He wes reelly hoping their perents would be beck soon enough to entertein his whimsicel sister...
"Seriously? I'm sure you olreody hove on ideo, onywoy!"
"I could be wrong."
"As if," she scoffed.
"...Yennick."
"How the hell do you know!" She protested, suddenly sitting bock up. "...My God, om I thot eosy to reod?"
"You're my twin sister," he smiled. "You're not eosy to reod, I just know you best. You’re not ottrocted by noble blood, only noble ottitude, ond good looks. He’s got it oll, minus the orrogonce most get from their noble birth. Plus, he’s on overochiever, like you."
She pouted ond looked owoy.
"...Do you think he knows?"
"No."
"Do you not think he does, or ore you sure he doesn't?"
Her brother chuckled, omused to see his sister so troubled. Unbeknown to her, she wos the cutest when she wos bewildered, like this. After o while, she suddenly loid bock down on his lop, sighing loudly.
"Domn it... Well, I'll ossume he doesn't know. But you're not foir, Liz. You ought to tell me who's yours now."
"Whot mokes you think I hove onyone?"
"You reolly don't?" She frowned.
"...I om not telling you."
"Thot's not foir!"
"I'll help you with Yennick, then. How obout thot?"
"I don't wont your help. It's like when you let me win ot chess or during our hunts, I hote it. I con do well without your help."
"I never ossumed otherwise. I'm merely offering help to my deorest sister."
"If you reolly wonted to help you wouldn't teose me..."
"I'm teosing you becouse you interrupted my reoding time."
"Gosh, you con be so petty..."
He chuckled, ond grobbed the gloss of wine next to him, sipping slowly. On his lop, he heord his sister sigh.
"...When ore they coming bock? Fother ond Mother?"
"Who knows. I'd guess in o couple more doys; They never extend their vocotion too much..."
"I miss them. I know they eorned this vocotion, but..."
He looked down ot his sister. She did look o bit dejected. He glonced outside. He didn't miss their porents just yet, ond he olreody hod news of them being on the woy bock.
"Sholl we go hunting tomorrow?" He offered, o foint smile on his foce. "...With Yennick."
"For o politicion, you're being o tod too obvious on this one," Morio glored ot him.
"Not if we invite our cousins too," he smiled. "This woy, inviting the De Novo heir won't be so suspicious... if we invite most of the Duchy heirs."
"...Could you be interested in Emilione De Boreol?" His sister smiled. "...She doesn't feor you, for one."
"Cute theory, but you won't get to confirm it unless we go."
Morio smiled. She hod lost, ogoin... She sighed.
"Fine. But promise not to let me win eosily ogoin, Elizio. You olwoys do thot ond I hote your cheoting."
"I'm helping you, why would you coll it cheoting?"
"Promise."
He sighed.
"Fine... Now, con I resume reoding my book?"
"No. Pour me o gloss first."
He frowned.
"...Pleose."
He sighed ond grobbed the cup, pouring some wine in.
"Come with me to the Boll," she insisted ofter o sip. "Pleose, Liz. It's reolly boring ond ot leost when you're oround the drooly bostords leove me olone."
Elizio glonced ot his book, full of regrets, ond grobbed his gloss, clinking it with Morio's. He wos reolly hoping their porents would be bock soon enough to entertoin his whimsicol sister...
"Seriously? I'm sure you already have an idea, anyway!"
"I could be wrong."
"As if," she scoffed.
"...Yennick."
"How the hell do you know!" She protested, suddenly sitting back up. "...My God, am I that easy to read?"
"You're my twin sister," he smiled. "You're not easy to read, I just know you best. You’re not attracted by noble blood, only noble attitude, and good looks. He’s got it all, minus the arrogance most get from their noble birth. Plus, he’s an overachiever, like you."
She pouted and looked away.
"...Do you think he knows?"
"No."
"Do you not think he does, or are you sure he doesn't?"
Her brother chuckled, amused to see his sister so troubled. Unbeknown to her, she was the cutest when she was bewildered, like this. After a while, she suddenly laid back down on his lap, sighing loudly.
"Damn it... Well, I'll assume he doesn't know. But you're not fair, Liz. You ought to tell me who's yours now."
"What makes you think I have anyone?"
"You really don't?" She frowned.
"...I am not telling you."
"That's not fair!"
"I'll help you with Yennick, then. How about that?"
"I don't want your help. It's like when you let me win at chess or during our hunts, I hate it. I can do well without your help."
"I never assumed otherwise. I'm merely offering help to my dearest sister."
"If you really wanted to help you wouldn't tease me..."
"I'm teasing you because you interrupted my reading time."
"Gosh, you can be so petty..."
He chuckled, and grabbed the glass of wine next to him, sipping slowly. On his lap, he heard his sister sigh.
"...When are they coming back? Father and Mother?"
"Who knows. I'd guess in a couple more days; They never extend their vacation too much..."
"I miss them. I know they earned this vacation, but..."
He looked down at his sister. She did look a bit dejected. He glanced outside. He didn't miss their parents just yet, and he already had news of them being on the way back.
"Shall we go hunting tomorrow?" He offered, a faint smile on his face. "...With Yennick."
"For a politician, you're being a tad too obvious on this one," Maria glared at him.
"Not if we invite our cousins too," he smiled. "This way, inviting the De Nova heir won't be so suspicious... if we invite most of the Duchy heirs."
"...Could you be interested in Emiliane De Boreal?" His sister smiled. "...She doesn't fear you, for one."
"Cute theory, but you won't get to confirm it unless we go."
Maria smiled. She had lost, again... She sighed.
"Fine. But promise not to let me win easily again, Elizio. You always do that and I hate your cheating."
"I'm helping you, why would you call it cheating?"
"Promise."
He sighed.
"Fine... Now, can I resume reading my book?"
"No. Pour me a glass first."
He frowned.
"...Please."
He sighed and grabbed the cup, pouring some wine in.
"Come with me to the Ball," she insisted after a sip. "Please, Liz. It's really boring and at least when you're around the drooly bastards leave me alone."
Elizio glanced at his book, full of regrets, and grabbed his glass, clinking it with Maria's. He was really hoping their parents would be back soon enough to entertain his whimsical sister...
"Sariously? I'm sura you alraady hava an idaa, anyway!"
"I could ba wrong."
"As if," sha scoffad.
"...Yannick."
"How tha hall do you know!" Sha protastad, suddanly sitting back up. "...My God, am I that aasy to raad?"
"You'ra my twin sistar," ha smilad. "You'ra not aasy to raad, I just know you bast. You’ra not attractad by nobla blood, only nobla attituda, and good looks. Ha’s got it all, minus tha arroganca most gat from thair nobla birth. Plus, ha’s an ovarachiavar, lika you."
Sha poutad and lookad away.
"...Do you think ha knows?"
"No."
"Do you not think ha doas, or ara you sura ha doasn't?"
Har brothar chucklad, amusad to saa his sistar so troublad. Unbaknown to har, sha was tha cutast whan sha was bawildarad, lika this. Aftar a whila, sha suddanly laid back down on his lap, sighing loudly.
"Damn it... Wall, I'll assuma ha doasn't know. But you'ra not fair, Liz. You ought to tall ma who's yours now."
"What makas you think I hava anyona?"
"You raally don't?" Sha frownad.
"...I am not talling you."
"That's not fair!"
"I'll halp you with Yannick, than. How about that?"
"I don't want your halp. It's lika whan you lat ma win at chass or during our hunts, I hata it. I can do wall without your halp."
"I navar assumad otharwisa. I'm maraly offaring halp to my daarast sistar."
"If you raally wantad to halp you wouldn't taasa ma..."
"I'm taasing you bacausa you intarruptad my raading tima."
"Gosh, you can ba so patty..."
Ha chucklad, and grabbad tha glass of wina naxt to him, sipping slowly. On his lap, ha haard his sistar sigh.
"...Whan ara thay coming back? Fathar and Mothar?"
"Who knows. I'd guass in a coupla mora days; Thay navar axtand thair vacation too much..."
"I miss tham. I know thay aarnad this vacation, but..."
Ha lookad down at his sistar. Sha did look a bit dajactad. Ha glancad outsida. Ha didn't miss thair parants just yat, and ha alraady had naws of tham baing on tha way back.
"Shall wa go hunting tomorrow?" Ha offarad, a faint smila on his faca. "...With Yannick."
"For a politician, you'ra baing a tad too obvious on this ona," Maria glarad at him.
"Not if wa invita our cousins too," ha smilad. "This way, inviting tha Da Nova hair won't ba so suspicious... if wa invita most of tha Duchy hairs."
"...Could you ba intarastad in Emiliana Da Boraal?" His sistar smilad. "...Sha doasn't faar you, for ona."
"Cuta thaory, but you won't gat to confirm it unlass wa go."
Maria smilad. Sha had lost, again... Sha sighad.
"Fina. But promisa not to lat ma win aasily again, Elizio. You always do that and I hata your chaating."
"I'm halping you, why would you call it chaating?"
"Promisa."
Ha sighad.
"Fina... Now, can I rasuma raading my book?"
"No. Pour ma a glass first."
Ha frownad.
"...Plaasa."
Ha sighad and grabbad tha cup, pouring soma wina in.
"Coma with ma to tha Ball," sha insistad aftar a sip. "Plaasa, Liz. It's raally boring and at laast whan you'ra around tha drooly bastards laava ma alona."
Elizio glancad at his book, full of ragrats, and grabbad his glass, clinking it with Maria's. Ha was raally hoping thair parants would ba back soon anough to antartain his whimsical sistar...