"Char! ...You need to be careful as you explore here..."
"Uhhh, sorry..."
Maverick helped the girl up carefully not hurting her. The girl gently nodded and scratched her head in embarrassment.
Linda blankly looked at the two. She wasn't sure if what she witnessed was reality or a dream.
"Linda..."
She snapped out of her daze and stared at her brother who was looking at her painfully. She quickly let go and apologized to him for her sudden grip on his arms.
Edwin softly chuckled at her and stroked her hair gently. She flushed at his action but gave out a small smile.
"I'm so sorry for bumping into you!"
The twins turn to the strangely familiar girl blowing toward them.
"Hooo..."
Linda exhaled to calm her boiling blood inside. She couldn't help but feel anger and hate toward her.
"Big Bro, who is she?"
Linda swiftly turned her head towards Edwin's indifference towards the girl's apology as he asked the question to their older brother.
Maverick stared at them spitefully.
'How strange, he hadn't shown that type of expression towards us before.'
"This Charlotte Armstrong, a companion who will be coming here from time to time."
Linda widened her eyes in shock, her mouth agape. Edwin's pupils trembled, biting his lips and staring at Charlotte intensely. The two stood there stuck at their places, complicated thoughts running through their mind.
The two felt a boulder atop their shoulders. Looking at the culprit, they stared at each other and then looked at Amanda with complicated emotions.
"My apologies, Master Maverick, Lady Armstrong. But it seems I need to get the children ready for bed."
Amanda gracefully walked forward and curtsy bowed her head in apology. Maverick nodded in agreement and led Charlotte away from the halls.
Charlotte couldn't help but turn her head towards the twins and sadly stare at them as they walked away.
———
"Lin, Lin, I felt weird when I met Charlotte even before knowing her to identify..."
Linda stared at her brother who was nervously playing with the mimic he locked in a cage.
"Hah..."
She nervously looked down and then stared back at her brother and calmly spoke.
"I also felt strange and intense emotions when I met her eyes. Like this body wanted to immediately lunge onto her and rip off her hair just to see her painful face."
"Uhhhh... That's oddly detailed..."
Edwin looked at his sister in shock. Her words somehow scared him and looked at her in concern.
She felt sorry for her brother's knowing concern for her. But she did feel that way.
She clenched and unclenched her fists multiple times until she inhaled deeply then slowly exhaled. At least doing this action somehow calms her mind even if it's a little.
Why did they feel this kind of intensity?
Was the possibility of being in a good relationship with the main character impossible?
Is the fear that they felt when they first met Maverick in the garden similar to their situation with Charlotte?
'No, just like back then... Yes. The journal...'
She bent down under her bed and hurriedly searched for the journal they wrote the novel's information.
"Phew..."
She breathed in relief having it in her hold and hastily went through the papers looking for the specific event.
"This... what..."
"Lin?"
Seeing his sister's absurd behavior, Edwin stepped toward her carefully. Her eyes were glued to a specific paragraph on the paper.
"What are you staring so intently at..."
He tilted his head to see from her perspective. Before he could even analyze the content clearly, the book was immediately shut, surprising him.
"Big Bro, it's best I will simply explain to you but just in case bring Ian."
Edwin confusedly looked at his sister but agreed to her order.
"Then just stay put in this room until I bring Ian with me, okay?"
Edwin worriedly stared at her and nagged her to not do anything until he came back. Linda softly smiles as she watches him leave the room.
Squeak
"Who?"
She widened her eyes in surprise at the sudden noise she suddenly heard. She turns to see two small eyes looking at her quietly.
The creature blinked its eyes as it dangles from the rope.
"Adorable..."
She whispered. Her eyes soften at the sight of the cage.
Linda slapped her cheeks to bring back her stability. She was nearly seduced by that mimic!
"I just need to wait until Big Bro comes back..."
She tiredly muttered holding the book between her legs and chest. Her eyelids felt heavy.
'Just a little more...'
She forcefully thought. Just a little more until her brother comes back with Ian.
Yeah, it's always been that way...
Just like back then...
She couldn't contain it anymore and closed her eyes. Her breathing became Evan as she drifted to sleep on the sofa, placing her head atop her legs.
———
"Ugh, I'm sorry... Eli will be a good girl! Please don't go... Really, Eli will study even harder and have a bunch of money!"
"Hic, Hik, Waaaah—!"
A short black-haired girl held a withering woman's hand tightly. Tears stream across her white cheeks now staining them darkly.
"Nana! Please don't leave me too!!"
She covers her eyes behind her arm, weeping with sadness. She tightly held the pale cold hand in her pale warm hands.
"Really! Lisa promises!"
She whimpered, rubbing her cheeks against the once caring and warm hands that used to stroke her gently.
"Elisa..."
The girl, Elisa, didn't respond to the call and continued to beg the unresponsive woman on the bed.
A boy taller than her by a head sadly stares at Elisa. He had similar features as Elisa. His name was Ron.
"Elisa, let Nana rest..."
Ron quietly patted her back signaling her to let go.
"But... but, Big Bro!"
She looked at him in horror. She wanted to deny reality, at least she tried to.
He was already dry from tears. He couldn't cry anymore, especially now he was in front of his younger sister.
He held her hands that were holding their grandmother's hand and released them. He gently placed her hand on top of her chest.
Elisa followed her hand as he returned it to its place. Her eyes didn't move from their grandmother's hand.
Suddenly she couldn't see anything. Ron was tightly hugging her into his arm to at least comfort her.
"Hik, Hic, Hiccup!"
Elisa grabbed onto his jacket tightly crying into his embrace.
"It's fine. Everything is going to be okay."
Ron softly gave a small smile as he stroked her hair. Elisa couldn't help but weep even more sadly.
She felt her emotions calm down in his arm.
So calm she didn't want to let go.
Yes, she didn't want to leave his arms. But one thing she knows, he will always come when she needs him.
After all, he is her older brother...
Her one and only foolish brother...
Her remaining family...
She didn't want to lose him. Never.
———
"I...wake...so wait...Ian..."
Linda could hear voices near her. She opened her eyes, blinking to adjust her eyesight.
The view was finally clear to her and jumped up from her spot at the close-up face that was near her face.
"Ack!"
She felt nothing as she placed her hand in the air, tripping from the blanket. She shuts her eyes tightly for the incoming impact.
"Elisa!"
Before she could feel any pain as she fell, she felt herself floating. She slowly opened her tightly shut eyes. Ian was safely holding onto her tightly and placed her back on top of the bed sheets.
"Woah, sorry for scaring you..."
Edwin stared at his sister sadly. Staring at her brother who was guilty of looking down, she giggled.
"I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Really."
His pitiful expression brightened at her consolation. He widens his eyes in realization.
"Ah, I almost forgot!"
He hurriedly grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her towards Ian. Now that she looked at Ian closely, she couldn't help but see a small fluffy ginger hair resting on his arm.
"A baby?"
Linda tilted her head in doubt to look closer at the being in question. Ian shook his head and slowly revealed a child that looked even smaller than them.
"This is Peony, she just turned 2."
Peony cutely blinked her eyes as she curiously stared at the strangers in front of her. Linda couldn't help but hold her breath.
Her eyes shone brightly at the cute child in front of her sight. She couldn't help but touch Peony's cheek.
"She looks just like you..."
Noticing their similar hair color and eyes, she inwardly pouted and wondered how Peony would grow to be. After all her older brother is soon to be a talented knight that will be sighted by the whole continent.
"Right?! She will be just like her brother, am I right, My Pea?"
Ian excitedly held Peony up in the air as he smiled brightly. She giggled at her brother's actions.
The twins blankly stared at the doting brother towards his younger sister. They blinked and looked at each other. Not needing to tell each other, they both thought the same.
'The devoted and silent Ian is doting and a fool to his sister.'
***
A new year. A new day. A new beginning.
The snowflakes began to fall one by one from the overcast sky. As the snow rained down, replacing the old and muddy ones, the workers in the mansion were running around the place, here and there.
The days before had been busy since a week ago.
Edwin dazedly stares at his sister as the maids stylish her grown hair. He couldn't help but exhale in exhaustion, looking at himself.
In this world, a new year is nearly coming for them. It's been about over a half year since they came to this world. He couldn't help but feel his time here was extremely slow and boring.
Back in their previous world, they at least had phones that could entertain themselves.
"I miss my PlayStation..."
He sadly muttered as he inwardly cried out his eyeballs. Linda slightly flinched but didn't turn to look at her brother. She had to stay seated so the maids could comfortably make her hair.
"Whew..."
Edwin revealed a breath once again and turned his head towards the one who is standing next to him.
"So Momma and Brother won't be present for tomorrow?"
"Indeed, after all, they are invited by his imperial majesty himself."
"I know, I know."
He slightly pouted and wondered what the imperial place looked like.
"Hmmm..."
'I wonder how Aiden is doing there if children under 7 aren't allowed to participate in the social world?'
He was sure the crown prince wouldn't be present as well. If the princes aren't attending the imperial banquets, then what do they do during those times? And that princess...
He stared at the empty air as he drowned in his deep thoughts. Linda, finally escaping from the maids' grasp, walked towards her brother who was completely in another world. She angrily smacked the back of his head.
"Owww..."
Edwin painfully rubbed the back of his head and tearfully looked up to meet his grumbling sister.
"Oh, Lin, have you finished already?"
He stared at her in surprise and couldn't help but admire how they made his sister. He raised his thumbs and grinned.
"Those ladies have a nice fashion seeing you looking beautiful today."
Linda became frustrated at his words. Her cheeks turned slightly red and turned her head around in annoyance.
"Of course, I have already heard enough sweet words in the past. But since you said so, I guess they did a great job..."
She gave out a small smile. Seeing her smile, he also returned her smile and touched his hair.
"Though they didn't do much with my hair..."
"You're not a girl!"
"Hehe..."
Linda pounced on him, tightening her grip on his shoulder. Edwin awkwardly scratched his cheek, sweating from pain from the grip.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"
He tried to soothe her by not taking it so seriously.
She didn't immediately believe his words but let him go just this once.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood right now."
"...Haha."
He nervously laughed at the intense aura his sister was releasing. Even if his sister had a calm and peaceful expression, he knew deep inside his sister get emotional if she found anything strange about him.
He doesn't know whether he should cry or laugh at his sister's obsession. He didn't want her to grow up that way.
He doesn't remember many of the incidents that happen to his family members when Aunt Jay mentions them to him.
Now thinking deeply about it, it's strange. How come he doesn't remember much of his past? Did something happen between himself and his memories?
He stared at the floor, perplexed. Linda silently gazed at her brother. She turned her head to Amanda. She moved her lips without a sound, shaping her words with her mouth.
'Leave us alone.'
Amanda bowed in response and took her to leave. Feeling no one's presence near them, She hurriedly grabbed Edwin's hands and dragged him towards her.
He was bewildered and stared at his sister who was nervously grabbing the cage that contained the mimic who was lying down as if dead.
"Where–?"
Before he could even raise his question to Linda, he was immediately trying to balance himself at the sudden shock. He isn't sure but he felt something grab his ankle.
'What..?'
He gazed to see nothing on his ankle. Looking up at his twin, his eyes shook at the haggard face on her face. Linda grabbed the curtain and slowly stepped on the window's stool after letting go of her twin's hand.
"...Lin..da..?"
She jumped off the window tightly holding the curtain as a rope. The cage dangled from her hand as she landed on top of the fluffy snow.
"Edwin. Come down from there."
Linda smiled sweetly at her brother, letting go of the curtain. He blinked his eyes in surprise but didn't ask questions as he also grabbed the curtain and landed by her side.
Linda grabbed his hand once again and ran with him behind her. Edwin was confused about where exactly she was taking him.
Even if he was, he firmly grabbed her hand in not to lose her as he was dragged somewhere he wouldn't expect to be in an unavoidable situation.
———
"Who?"
The twins looked at the male in front of them in doubt. Linda couldn't help but grit her teeth as she held tightly to the child in her grasp.
She was able to find 'her' through the puzzle of that letter that was sent to them a few weeks ago. The one that Edwin thought was from Alastair.
The man who stood before them looked like an adult version of their older brother, Maverick. Their hands started sweating in nervousness unable to expect this situation to unfold like this.
"I'm your biological father. It's nice to meet you, Edwin, Linda."
Edwin really couldn't help but feel shocked. Why did he suddenly appear out of nowhere and just claim to be their father? Was this part of Linda's aim?
The child that was held by Linda couldn't help but raise their head to look at the twins in surprise. Their silver eyes dully gazed at the man in confusion clearly wishing for an explanation.
"Umm..."
"Don't speak, Romeo."
The child, 'Romeo,' shut their mouth obediently and lowered their head down. Edwin stared at the man who calmly spoke as if he had known the child for a long time.
He frowned at the realization and looked up. He stared at the man even more intensely at the possibility that was flooding his mind right now and spoke.
"Then what do you want us to do? Scream and cry into your arms in happiness?"
He laughed pathetically at him and raised an eyebrow. The man frowned at his words but reclaimed his calm composer.
"You're quite daring for a child."
He smirked at the boldness the child was releasing making him somehow nauseous. He inwardly waved his hand forgetting the intense emotions he was feeling.
He raised his hand toward Romeo and pointed at them with his index finger. He opened his mouth and then closed it. He frowned even more making his handsome face wrinkle.
He hesitated but finally opened his mouth.
"Tell your mother this. I won't appear in front of her for the rest of her life but on one condition."
The twins trembled at the threatening words he spit out.
"Take this child in or I will be waving out you know what."
"That's it?"
The man nodded and his smile widened creepily. He whispered not purposely letting anyone hear his words.
"Go back now before this place flips out in flames."
He chuckled deeply as he turned his back against them.
The wind blew blocking the trio's view. Romeo hurriedly turned their head to see the man finally vanish.
Romeo looked down, their hair overshadowing their face. Feeling a strong grip against her clothes, Linda looked down to see Romeo slightly trembling.
"...A-are you okay?"
Linda hesitantly raised her hand to stroke their hair to comfort them but in the end, just held their shoulder.
"Ah!"
Romeo flinched and nodded gently. Edwin went between them as he placed his fingers against Romeo's face. He lifted the child's face and widened his eyes in surprise.
Romeo's face is full of tears and a slight snot coming out of their nose. Romeo trembled in embarrassment and tried to release herself from Edwin's hand.
Edwin let go of his grip against their chin and stared at Linda in wonder.
"What?!"
Linda glared at him at what he was looking at.
"Did you grip on the little one too forcefully while we were talking to him?"
Edwin curiously tilted his head towards her. Linda's eyes turned red in anger and screamed in frustration.
"You idiot! Of course, I didn't!!"
"Huh!"
Edwin flinched and nodded his head in response to seeing his sister breathing heavily in anger.
'Wow, hadn't seen her explode this much anger since we came to this world...'
He inwardly giggled at his sister's rare change of emotions. He shouldn't be laughing but he really couldn't help it.
"You're name is Romeo?"
Edwin turned his head back hearing his sister's question to the child. Romeo hesitated for a moment but nodded.
'Strange.'
The two looked at each other about ignored their suspiciousness. Edwin slowly reached his hand towards them and gently smiled.
"We have a place for you to stay luxurious. Won't it be fun if you come with us?"
He laughed in enjoyment and Linda smiled gently. Romeo blankly stared at the two and pursed their lips.
"Mhmm..."
Letting out a small sound of agreement, Romeo grabbed onto Edwin's outstretched hand. The twins smiled and grabbed a hold of them tightly.
The wind blew even stronger at the response of the connection of the trio. Romeo couldn't help but turn their head in the direction of the wind.
Romeo's silver eyes glowed strongly towards the person who was standing on top of the buildings.
Seeing a small wave from the person as they disappeared as the wind blew strongly, Romeo blinked their eyes for a moment and turned towards the confused duo in front of them.
Romeo let out a small smile and shook their head in response.
———
"So you finally had let 'her' go?"
A young woman with long auburn hair tied into a ponytail stared coldly at the man in front of her.
She couldn't help but clench her hands into a fist in anger. The man with silver hair and violet eyes, stood calmly as he stared at the departing backs of three children.
"Carlos."
Hearing his name, Carlos turned his head towards the young woman who called him. He sadly smiled and tilted his head.
"What was I supposed to do? Wait until her fate turns up like her mother?"
"Still! You know what blood is running within her! If..!"
Carlos waved his hand and cut her off.
"I'm already done with you and the temple's devotion beliefs. Do you think I cared? The only what I care about is her safety which is safer under that woman."
The young woman flinched and stopped. She knew how strong that woman was but still...
Carlos turned his head and exhaled. He silently turned his gaze towards her and his smile hardened and turned upside down drastically at the sight he was watching.
The young woman was now slowly fading. She widened her eyes in surprise and raised her hand to see her hand now transparent.
She smiled and waved toward him.
"I guess this means I'm taking my leave earlier than I thought."
Her sky-blue eyes shined for a moment then turned back to their dullness. Carlos bit his lips in frustration and sighed as he finally watched her disappear.
"Seriously, where is this world reaching?"
He softly murmured as he closed his eyes. The wind slowly whistles against his ears and finally lets out his final smile.
He turned his back towards the duke's mansion and floated in the opposite direction as he faded with the wind.
AKS