Arius stared at the water, his eyes gleaming with unseen wonder as he admired the twinkling surface, reflecting the light.
Athanasia didn't know why, but she felt at peace with Arius by her side, even though the silence between Claude felt awkward. The same silence felt calming with Arius.
'I wonder if my eyes look as pretty as his. '
Athanasia thought as she admired the look of wonder on her brother's face. She felt the corner of her lips curve up slightly as she watched.
'He's just a child... I wonder why, in the novel, Claude never showed even a sprinkle of kindness to him... Yes, he may hate us, but... to be so cruel... to go as far as to behead Arius... how dare he...'
Athanasia clenched her fist in frustration and anger, remembering the first time she read that section of the novel. To say she was shocked would be an understatement; she was utterly flabbergasted.
She truly adored the character of Arius, but to see him die by the hands of his own father, whom he held so dear to his heart, truly had her sobbing. She felt little droplets of tears gather in the corner of her eyes as she thought.
She flinched when a something soft gently brushed her cheek.
"....here... I just grabbed these lilies from the pond."
Arius said, gently placing them in her palms. ' aww , was he worried about me? ' Athanasia stared at the pretty flowers with a look of awe; she smiled, genuinely.
"Thank you... brother."
Arius's eyes widened slightly as her words reached him , a unfamiliar sense of warmth filled his chest .
Athanasia's smile grew bigger when she noticed a smile forming on Arius's lips.
'Kyahh! How adorable!'
She squealed inside her mind
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Arius was just staring at the water when he felt someone staring at him relentlessly. He turned around only to be met with a look of awe on her face.
'She's daydreaming.'
Arius concluded and was about to turn his attention back to the pond, but he felt his body freeze when he noticed her expression slowly turn into one of frustration and sadness.
He saw a few droplets of tears forming on her eyes. Arius wanted to turn back and pretend as if he didn't see that, but he couldn't. He quickly caught a lily from nearby and brushed her cheek with the flower.
'...oh, that was...weird of me.'
Arius thought, cringing inside.
'Whatever... just take this flower and... wipe that sad expression off... it's ugly on you...'
Arius murmured to himself and placed it in her hand.
"....here... I just grabbed these lilies from the pond."
He said, shoving the flower towards her. He was about to turn around and leave this awkward one-sided conversation but felt his body freeze again when his eyes landed on her grateful expression.
Arius could tell what was fake and what was not after years of experience with the two-faced nobles, but this smile, he knew it was genuine.
"Thank you... brother."
Athanasia smiled. Arius felt his eyes widen slightly at the term; he wondered if she had ever called him brother back in his past life. And the answer was no; she had never once referred to him as her brother, even when he took his last breath, nobody had acknowledged him as a brother, a son, or a friend. Even if she did acknowledge him in his past life ,he didn't know.
But now , it was his first time being acknowledged as someone to someone.
Without knowing, he smiled. A realization settled in.
'I did the right thing... dying for her... and I would do it again... no matter how many times I have to... because... she's my little sister... and what brother wouldn't protect his sister.'
Arius thought as he genuinely smiled back, a sense of warmth settling deep inside his heart.
'This time I won't let you die!! Don't worry, Athy will take you and escape when the time is right!!'
Athanasia thought, a newfound determination firing her up and encouraging her to live on and save both herself and her brother.
As the siblings deepened their bond without speaking much, Claude sat leisurely across them, watching their little interactions.
"You two surely are enjoying yourselves, hm?"
He mused. The two of his children turned their heads to take a look at him. After gaining their attention, Claude leaned back, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his skin.
'He looks like a sunbathing puma.'
Athanasia deadpanned.
'And I was sharing a moment with Arius!! AGH!! You scumbag, how could you ruin my sweet bonding time with my brother!!'
Athanasia exclaimed.
Arius stared at his father's attire and couldn't help but wonder if he had no shame at all to wander around half-naked with his stomach showing and all. He quickly turned his head away when Claude moved, revealing his well-muscled chest.
'Have some decency, you fool!'
Arius exclaimed inside his head. Claude, noticing Arius's embarrassed expression, raised his eyebrows.
"You look pretty and sparkly, Papa."
Athanasia giggled, trying to spark up a conversation after getting her moment disrupted. Hearing her comment, Claude slightly tilted his head to the side with a smirk.
When Arius's eyes landed on the face Claude was making, it felt like his heart was somersaulting.
Arius stared, trying to hide his flabbergasted look. He noticed Athanasia flinch at that smile. Athanasia quickly recovered from the initial shock and continued on.
"I like sparkly things! Hehe."
Athanasia added with an adorable smile. Arius, on her side, couldn't help but feel a need to jump off the boat and swim to the shore.
"That reminds me, you had a jewel pouch that day."
Claude spoke, his tone nonchalant. Arius couldn't help but notice the lack of coldness when he spoke to Athanasia.
"I've kept your treasures safe and sound, why don't you come and retrieve them?"
Claude suggested, staring off towards the water.
'And to that, I can say nothing.'
Athanasia quietly sighed, clenching her little fists.
'I wonder how they met.'
Arius wondered, thinking of any and whatever what-ifs that popped inside his head. Athanasia then left the two in their own thoughts as she admired the flower in her hand.
Her eyes then wandered off to a beautiful lotus; an idea popped into her mind.
'Arius has already given me flowers twice! I should give this lotus to him and impress him with how awesome I am.'
Athanasia pumped her little fist silently in the air as she imagined Arius looking at her starry eyes.
'Athy, you're so nice... I'm so lucky I have a sister like you.'
Athanasia imagined Arius thanking her shyly with a smile, and that further fueled her determination to get to that flower.
With clumsy attempts, she tried to reach over to the floating plant, trying to grab that beautiful lotus.
'A little more.'
Athanasia thought as she leaned over.
'Just a little more.'
She leaned over too much, and her hand slipped.
'Oh no '
She thought before she fell off the boat. Arius quickly snapped out of his thought as the sound , he turned around and saw Athanasia asking for help before she drowned.
" He-l-help !!"
Athanasia exclaimed as she tried to hold onto the boat , she stared at Claude expecting for help but her body froze noticing a cold look on his face .
' he won't help '
Athanasia felt dread creep inside her .
" Athanasia !"
Arius called out as he tried to pull her up . Athanasia felt relief flood her mind as Arius grabbed her hand . She held onto his arm as tightly as she could , Arius being a rather thin child could barely pull her up .
Suddenly Athanasia felt something wrap around her ankles and pull her down with great force . Arius who was tightly holding onto his sister was also hurled down from the boat and into the water .
Arius looked around trying to discern the situation, he quickly cut the plant from Athanasia's ankle with a sharp brooch. He tightly held onto his sister who had already passed out into his arms , with all his might he tried to swim to surface . Arius felt water enter his lungs as he could no longer hold his breath.
Black dots appeared in his vision as he too began to lose consiousness.
' no !'
Arius shook his head trying to get Athanasia to the surface.
Suddenly another figure jumped into the water , it was Claude. He took Athanasia from his hold and as soon as Arius felt that Athanasia was saved , his body went limp from exhaustion and lack of oxygen.
His little body was slowly pulled to bottom of the lake , the magical creatures about to enjoy their meal.
Before they could lay their mouth on the child's flesh , Arius was yanked out from their hold. With a flick of his finger the magical creatures under the lake were cut into pieces and with unseen gentleness Claude held arius and swam up to the surface and laid Arius down beside Athanasia.
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As soon as Athanasia's body hit the ground , she coughed out the water. Lily quickly ran towards her feeling terribly worried .
Athanasia gasped as she spit out the water , she looked around trying to catch the sight of Arius. Her already pale skin turned paler when she noticed him laid still , his chest unmoving , blood dripping from his reopened wounds.
Lily quickly wrapped a towel around Athanasia and she sprinted towards Arius . She gently held his cold and unmoving body. Felix quickly arrived by her side and hit Arius's back trying to make him cough the water out.
In a moment of panic , Lily hit Felix's shoulder . Athanasia stumbled her towards Arius , hoping for the best.
" Not the back ! The stomach !! "
Lily exclaimed . Felix quickly laid Arius down and pressed where lily instructed .
" What about the chest ?!"
Felix exclaimed worriedly as arius showed no signs of response no matter how many times he pressed his stomach.
" I don't know !? "
Lily replied back , rubbing arius's cold palms and feet trying to bring warmth to his cold body. Athanasia had tears swarming down her face as she watched them .
" Arius ! "
She exclaimed desperately as she crouched down near him.
Meanwhile Claude stood by the side completely drenched . He sighed watching the three of them panic like headless chicken.
" Step back "
Claude ordered the two of them , lily and Felix hesitantly stepped back . Claude waved his hand above Arius , using his magic he made arius spit out all the swallowed water.
Arius coughed gasping for air, his vision hazy when he opened his eyes. Arius clenched his fists as he felt a unbearable headache. His body shivered due to the cold and pain. Just as he was about to pass out again he felt something warm engulf him.
Athanasia quickly wrapped her arms around arius , hugging him tightly.
" Thank God thank god !! You're breathing !!"
Athanasia exclaimed as she held her brother tightly. Her eyes filled with unshed tears. Noticing the lack of warmth for the two shivering children , Felix quickly opened his outer jacket and dropped it on Arius's shoulders.
Claude pushed his hair back and sighed not noticing a glare from Athanasia.
' you jerk !! If you could that why didn't you do it sooner !!!! '
Athanasia exclaimed, her eyes burning with anger.
' Claude you jerk !! You scumbag!! Go die in a ditch !!'
Athanasia's thoughts were interrupted when she felt two shaky arms hug her back . Arius buried his head on her shoulder enjoying the comfort.
" Arius , are you in pain ?"
Athanasia spoke softly , as she held him firmly.
" It'll be okay , Athy is here to protect you "
Athanasia spoke with great confidence as she rubbed circles on Arius's back trying to warm him up.
" Learn how to swim first , it'll be a shame if a emperor's children were to die in a mere lake "
Claude spoke coldly and gestured Felix to follow him to the palace. Felix gave a concerned look towards the twins not wanting to go .
" Felix "
Claude called and Felix had to begrudgingly leave.
' you dirtiest of the dirties scumbag !!'
Athanasia thought as her eyebrows twitched in annoyance.
Her negative thoughts instantly vaporized into thin air when she felt arius hug her back tightly with trembling arms .
' when was the last time....I was hugged like this '
Arius thought as he hugged her back , and passed out.
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