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Sigh.
Flick.
Siiiiiiiiigh.
A golden brow twitched. Flick.
"SSSIIIIIIGGGGHHHHHHH"
Thump. Closing his book shut, he lifted his eyes to glance at the other bed within the room where the sighs an aura of depression was coming from. Pursing his lips as his brows furrowed in thoughts, Adrastos placed the book he was reading aside to jump off his bed.
"Noona"
"ACK!"
He watched in amusement as the little girl known as his older sister jumped like a cat. A fluttering paper caught his gaze, and in his curiosity, he reached out to take it—
Only for said paper to disappear before his eyes like a magic trick.
Albeit, he swore he saw the words Ardy's backstory?? in the paper. Alas, he decided not to pressure the obviously high-strung girl that sat before him.
"A-ah, Ardy, heeeeeey," he arched a brow at the obvious nervous greeting, his gaze shifted to the paper she hid behind her back, "I thought you were asleep?"
"Noona," he frowned, "how can anyone sleep with the sighs you were exhibiting?"
"Who said I was sighing, I wasn't sighing!"
He stared, and she nervously met his gaze. Holding her gaze and assessing her obvious lie (once again, a liar his sister was not), he finally shrugged. "Alright, but can't we just sleep?"
"Yeah, let's slee— eh? Why are you climbing up my bed?"
Adrastos yawned, flopping beside his sister, he buried his face in the fluffy pillow. He replied a muffled, "I wanna sleep with Noona"
Silence responded. Bewildered by the silence that shouldn't be associated with Athy, he tilted his head, only to be met with the sad eyes of his Noona. 'I don't like that face,' he thought with a frown. "Noona? What's wrong?"
He saw her visibly hesitate before she nudged her books and paper aside to lay beside him. He watched with a curious gaze as she took his hands in hers and leaned their foreheads together. "Ardy," her voice was sad, too sad, "I'm your Noona, I should protect you, not the other way around"
'What the heck,' he thought, very confused of his situation, 'where was this coming from?'
"I'm your twin, Noona, we can protect each other," he pointed out slowly
She shook her head, and much to his alarm and confusion, tears pricked her eyes, "promise me you won't do anything stupid, Ardy"
Feeling her shaky hands in his, he could only nod after some hesitation, "I won't"
Sniffling, she wrapped an arm around him and pulled him in a hug. Sighing softly, he also wrapped his arms around his beloved sister. No, he won't do anything stupid. He had done it once before, and he would do it again for his sister's sake but...
He gently patted her back, 'but, this time, I want to be beside you to hold you at times like this, Noona.'
-♕15♕-
[TWO YEARS LATER]
"Ardy, wake up! wake up!"
The subject of her calls buried himself deeper into his blankets.
"Arddyyyy, the sun's awake, and I'm awake, and my stomach is awake, too!"
A groan responded to her call. Huffing at the lazy boy still underneath the covers, she stepped back, before running forward with a battle cry.
"GET UP!"
"GAH!!"
Thump.
Giggling with fervor, Athanasia peered over the bed where her brother and his pillows had joined him in his fall. Meeting annoyed blue jewel eyes under long golden bangs, she grinned innocently, "I warned ya"
"You didn't," he immediately grumbled, pushing himself off the floor. Groaning as he stood up, he ran a hand through his hair before looking back to find her staring with a wide grin. "What?"
If anything, she felt her grin only grow wider. "You look so pretty with long hair, Ardy, maybe you should grow it out?"
He froze, passing her a repulsed look, another peal of laughter escaped the young princess' lips. "Come on, Ardy~! It's time to play~!"
She jumped off his bed in a graceful manner, ignoring the groan of her younger brother as she dashed out of their shared room. Two years has easily gone past, both her twin and her passed their seventh year (their actual seventh birthday was only a few short months away), and Athanasia was (surprisingly) still alive.
Hearing the door shut behind her, she glanced back to her brother who was still in the middle of a yawn. She rolled her eyes as she noticed his outfit, "I swear, Papa is influencing your fashion choices"
The boy paused on his stretching to look down on his outfit. A loose white V-neck blouse with a string lacing on the boy's chest, acting as type of zipper. Partnered with loose brown shorts and black gladiator sandals, it was unfair that he was still shining, just like their father.
"What? It's comfy" he shrugged before shoving his hands within his shorts' pockets, "where are we going so early?"
"To see Papa~!"
He arched a brow as he ran a hand through his locks, "you just want sweets cuz Lily's cutting down on your sugar intake, you sugar maniac"
Sticking her tongue out, she huffed, "am not a sugar maniac"
A laugh rang in her ears and Athy couldn't help but warmly smile at the familiar sound, before it fell with the following words that flew out of her little brother's mouth, "Noona, you're a sugar addict. I'm just glad that sucrose isn't a type of drug, lest for me to fear for your safety"
Hearing his drawled and lazy voice, the princess sighed dramatically, tossing her hand to the air for added flair, "oh woe is this poor princess, for her prince shalt not save her from the clutches of her curse"
"What curse?"
She grinned, her eyes glimmering, "the curse of being an absolute cutie~!"
His groan was buried by her giggles.
"So where are we going?"
"I just told you! We're off to see Papa~!"
The journey to their father came to a sweet end, as sweet as the desserts she can already taste within her mouth. "Papa~ Papa~~!"
"You're here"
"Ha..."
Ignoring her sighing brother, the little princess dashed to be beside the man's side. "Papa, Athy's here!"
"Nowadays, you both just come and go as you please, don't you?"
"Hehe~ All of a sudden, I wanted to see Papa this thiiiiis much! So I came right away!" stretching her arms as wide as she could, she ignored her brother who was staring daggers on her back, most probably judging her within his mind.
'Shut it you brat' she thought, still smiling outwardly, 'I'm doing this to keep your ass safe'
"Isn't it a bit early for you to be making all this ruckus?"
Interestingly enough, Claude's manner of speaking hasn't changed (surprise, surprise). But he doesn't seem to mind it when either Athy or Ardy bothers him. Inwardly smiling a little bit too cheekily, she glanced at the man called her father, 'you even like it, don't you~?'
"Bring it in"
The doors opened and Athanasia swore she saw heaven. Eyes sparkling as she eyed the tray of sweets, she couldn't help but drool at the picturesque sight.
"Hm? It seems you're more excited to see that cake than you are to see me"
'Ack, he's unnecessarily perceptive!'
"It's tastier because Athy can eat it with Papa! Here Papa, try this!"
"...No thanks"
'But time is a scary thing, to think that there would be a time where I would seek Claude out on my own,' she thought while chewing on a delicious slice of macaron. 'But! I get to eat all the snacks I want, sooo~'
"It always surprises me you don't have chubbier cheeks."
'I've gotten used to that, too'
"It surprises me you only got cavities once, " Ardy added in a grumble.
'Also this weird father-son tandem.'
She arched her brow at the boy that had sat beside their father. It surprised her(and she was sure it surprised Claude too) when Ardy first voluntarily sat beside the man during tea time nearly half a year ago. Albeit, she suspected because the less-sweet desserts were on that side of the table.
But it was still weird since Ardy didn't look like he was going to trust Claude anytime soon.
'Heck, it took a while for him to completely trust Felix, too!'
"Your sister had cavities?"
The surprised tone, despite barely heard, made Athanasia look up from admiring the chocolate truffle that sat preciously on top of her plate. Seeing the man shift his brows together, jewel eyes glancing at her cheeks, before lifting a hand to touch his own cheeks, she felt her face flush in embarrassment. (*)
"Ardy, you don't have to tell Papa!" she whined, embarrassed.
The younger boy simply rolled his eyes in reply, before childishly sticking out his tongue. "I want him to lessen your sugar drugs, Noona"
"It's not an addiction!"
"Oh right, obsession, my bad"
"Not that, either!"
"Did neither of you meet anyone on the way here?"
Both Athy and Ardy paused, just like twins, they both turned to look at the man at the same time (yay, twinpathy~), "Meet someone?" she asked
"Who?" Ardy followed immediately after
Claude picked up his cup, not bothered by how they both acted as... well, twins. "If you didn't meet them, it's fine. You can continue ignoring them in the future."
Athy met Ardy's equally confused gaze. Seeing his brother shrug before attacking another lemon square, the princess huffed, glancing curiously at the man the continued to drink his tea, Athy couldn't help wonder 'but who did you mean?'
"Ah! It's Mister Whitey!"
She ignored the snigger from below.
"Mister White, paw!"
"My lady, my name is Roger Alpheus..." she inwardly grinned when the man gave his hand, nevertheless. Beaming at the man that had followed her instructions, she rose her arm to reach for his white locks, patting the (surprisingly soft) hair, she hummed out a "What a good boy, Mister Whitey!"
Athanasia found herself being carried by Felix as they returned to the Ruby Palace after their (now) regular tea time with Claude. By dashing to the knight first, she had the honor of being carried by the man over the sulking blonde that was her brother.
This was when they met with Roger Alpheus, also known as the person that had planned against the downfall of Athanasia from the novel The Lovely Princess.
"Noona, I wanna pat Mister Whitey, too!" Ardy called out.
"Nuh-uh, maybe next time, Ardy," she tittered at the younger boy, enjoying the mocking glare he threw at her.
She found it odd, when they initially met the Duke, that her brother acted a whole 180 degree difference from his usual likeness. Maybe it was because they met with a stranger, but somehow, Athy doubted it.
'Didn't Ardy glare at the painting of Penelope too, back then?' she curiously thought, eyeing her brother who chose to pester the Duke to bend down for a pat on the head.
'But still... It's kind of surprising that Ardy's feelings are... scarily spot on. Is this his intuition?'
"Your highnesses, is there no one for you that can serve as your friend or companion...? I worry that you may both get lonely"
Athy blinked at the sudden question. Despite that the man had bended down to satisfy her younger brother's childishness, the man had questioned her, his golden eyes trained on her person. Was it because she was the older twin?
'That's not what important, is it?' She thought to herself, 'what's this man up to now?'
"Silly Mister," Athy chittered, grinning innocently, "of course Athy and Ardy has friends! We have Felix!"
"Yeah, Noona has Ardy, too"
If she wasn't prepared for it, Athy would have fallen to a cooing mess seeing how her little brother narrowed his eyes at the man (although it should look threatening a few years down the line, right now, it was just adorable).
"My lady," she held back the urge to flinch as the man stood up, "is it not better to have someone that is close in age? Someone you could relate better? It must be tiring to always tend to the whims of your younger brother, much more so he is of the opposite gender."
The air turned chilly, and the young princess had to refrain from tearing her gaze away to glance at her brother. Right now, her twinpathy was telling her that Ardy was mad— no, livid is more appropriate.
And if she didn't do anything, things can get messy. Because, after all, her brother was still her father's son. And sadly, they both got the man's temper, based on Lily's claims (Of course, she doesn't believe it, as she's an absolute cutie, how could she, such a lovely girl, be anything like that tyrannical, trigger-happy-pulling, cold-hearted man?)
"I have a son, your highness, he can be a playmate to you both. Despite being three years older, I can assure you that he will treasure you both," the Duke continued, ignoring the obvious chilling air that even got Felix fidgeting. "My niece can also accompany you both. As such, both his and her highnesses may both have playmates that they can relate with"
What. The. Fuck.
'Is this man crazy?! Just because both Ardy and I are close with Claude, you're trying to make me your insurance plan?!! AND TO BRING JENNETTE IN THE PICTURE THIS EARLY?!!' Athy remained her outward grin, but was seething within.
"Although it is embarrassing for me to say so myself, my son does take after me and is quite good looking. My niece is also a very gentle soul, too."
'THIS CRAZY WHITE DOG!'
"Ah, by your niece, does the Duke mean of the child your cousin that had moved to the country side to recuperate?"
"Of course, sir Robane, as of the moment, her youngest daughter is flourishing underneath my care. What do you think, princess?"
'WHAT DO I THINK? OF COURSE NOT, YOU CRAZY BASTARD! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE NERVE OF THIS GUY. HE'S NOT THE LEAST SCARED OF ANYTHING, IS HE?!! IN ORDER TO GET CLAUDE TO NOTICE JENNETTE— HAH!' Athanasia could feel her teeth gritting in her heightened emotions.
"If both his and her highnesses would desire, I can also convince his Majesty—"
"No."
The quiet voice sharply rang through the air, cutting Felix off, and rendering both adults to silence. Athy, whose eyes immediately flown to her brother in worry, found the young boy's face a replica of Claude's impassive stare, down to the coldness of his eyes.
Such a sight slightly surprised the sister who had only seen Ardy with warm-filled jewel blue eyes.
Deciding to step in, Athy continued her brother's blunt comment. "Athy doesn't want a friend that's more stupid than Athy or Ardy," she ignored the surprised looks, unknowingly channeling her own impassive stare that was a copy of her father's, "I want a friend that won't hold back Athy, especially Ardy."
The Duke's eyes had widen. 'Sorry Mister White. It's not that I hate you or Jennette. It's just— I'm Athanasia, I ain't risking it.'
"Princess, you don't have to worry, both my son and niece are very bright and capable—"
"If that's the case, until what social theory have either of them studied?" Ardy suddenly cut in, dropping all pretense of the childish disposition he had presented earlier on, further surprising the white-haired man, "they should be at least until the second volume. Noona's already passed Bill Roitz, although she currently slumped at Max Berlinger's theory of functionalism. How about her studies in Magic? Physics? Philosophy? Foreign Languages?"
Following along her little brother's momentum, Athy pitched in. "Can either of them speak Arlanta? Ardy is much proficient in the official language of Pascal" humming, she poked her cheek in faux innocence, "The Heavens know of everything, the truth cannot be hidden—"
"That was slightly hard, but Saicana's Imperial Language must be fairly easy, for sure," Ardy piqued up, shrugging as he threw his arms behind his head, looking away with a bored look on his face, "May God punish those who deceive with a thousand punishments"
Athy was surprised by her brother's insert. 'Look at this brat! And here I thought he wasn't paying attention during our lessons. And here I was just bluffing.'
"Although both my son and niece are interested in their studies," the soft voice of Duke Alpheus entered her ears once more, garnering her attention towards the man, "I don't think that either of them are at the levels of your highnesses. I have heard that both the princess and prince as extremely bright but... " his golden eyes trailed from her down to her disinterested brother, "it seems that the rumors of your royal highnesses do no justice"
The man quietly left after that.
"Princess, Prince! This Knight will strive harder to be your friend!"
Eh?
"But Athy likes Felix just the way he is!"
Even as she played with Felix, enjoying how he sulked like a puppy, her mind was clouded with thoughts about the golden haired boy beside her. Once more, her eyes trailed at her now silent twin.
This time, Ardy really and truly surprised her.
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(*)Scene inspired by The story of Dhanvanthri from the awesome author red_anarchy
Waaahh! Thank you everyone for the reads, votes, comments, and even follows~! MUCH MORE SO, I'm slightly confused (but of course ecstatic) to see that we have OVER 12K VIEWS????!!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
I'm gonna make a special chapter for the twins' birthday (December 3, as stated in Naver~) so for that, I need you guys to send in your questions for a special 'Behind the scenes / Lovely Twins making' for any of your chosen characters! You can include questions for me, your author, or for the characters that haven't shown up yet :D
It'll be on my wall (as soon as this chapter is up!) so please head there and send in your questions there :D here's a link for easy access >>> https://www.wattpad.com/user/KaeNawa OR you know, just click my face lmao
That's all from me, see you all tomorrow :D