The first time that Ember and Emery met Hiciel was a year after they were reinstated as the prince and princess of the empire.
They were there on the glasshouse having picnic by themselves. They were sitting in a picnic mattress and eating snacks.
"Are you really mommy ninang's daughter?" The twelve year old Hiciel asked
"I am. I'm pretty just like mommy." Ember said confidently
Emery was leaning against the tree and reading a book not minding the bickering of the two.
"You don't look like her at all. Look at me, I have the same silver hair as her. If we asked other people I'm sure they will think that I am her daughter and you're adopted." She teased Ember
"I'm not adopted!" Ember said starting to get annoyed
"Oh really? I heard your daddy has so many women that my kind mommy ninang took take of you in behalf of some girls."
"No! I have a twin idiot!" She shouted
"Oh Emery was definitely Mommy ninang's son. He even has the power of spirits. You're the only one who's definitely adopted."
"What are you saying? You're not even Mommy's real daughter." Ember said
"Oh? Are you sure 'bout that? I have her dragon. Her legacy's passed on to me. Her first 'daughter'" Hiciel continued
"No! And stop calling her Mommy Ninang! You're not her child! She didn't even contacted you for years while I was taken care of by her!" Ember rebutted
"Nope you're the one who's adopted."
The two were having a heated argument and the maids who didn't know what to do or say was just standing there concerned.
"I'm not adopted! Right?!" Ember looked at the maids
"Y-you're right princess. You're not adopted." She said
"She stutter. It's official. You're adopted."
Ember cannot take it anymore and stand her ground then pulled Hiciel's hair.
"I said I'm not adopted!" She said as she was.pulling her hair
"You're like a barbarian using violence! You're so unlike Mommy ninang!" Hiciel said fighting her off
Emery was there sitting and still reading the book unbothered while the maids didn't know what to do.
"Prince Emery please stop those two." A maid tried coaxing Emery.
"It's a woman's fight. A man shouldn't be involved in a woman's fight. That's what father said." He said then took a bite of his sandwich
The maids felt helpless and one called Alarice and Nicholas.
--
Ember, Emery and Hiciel were both sitting in their knees facing the wall while Alarice was holding a slippers.
"Why am I also being punished? I didn't get involved." Emery asked
"That's why you're being punished. You didn't try to stop them." Alarice answered
"Father said that being involved with a woman's fight will do me mo good."
Alarice looked at Nicholas who looked the other way.
"You kneel too." Alarice said
"Why? I'm not involved-"
"Kneel." Alarice commanded and Nicholas obliged
Emery smirked at him.
"Way to go father." He said
"Raising a son is useless." Muttered
"You didn't raise me. You left us with mother only right?" Emery said
"Enough! Ember and Hiciel you're going to stay like that for an hour. Reflect on what you did wrong! Emery and Nicholas you're going to kneel for half an hour." She said
"Yes!" Emery and Nicholas both muttered softly
"Why?! It's not fair!" Ember said
"Yes! The boys should also sit for an hour." Hiciel said
"You guys fought for a baseless reasoning. You teased Ember that she's adopted and You Ember pulled out her hair." She said
"She deserve it."
"That doesn't mean you should use violence!" She told her
"Father taught me how to do self defense. Isn't this the time where it should be useful?"
"Pulling one's hair isn't part of taught self defense."
"Yeah, and I cut her some slack as to not pull out my sword." She said
"Enough! You still won't reflect so you both will kneel for another half an hour." Alarice said that made Ember and Hiciel grunted and Alarice walked away.
Yuwei was on the side just watching.
"Dad didn't even save me!" Hiciel complained
"Hey you were in the wrong so you deserve it too. Plus I don't want to be an additional members of you guys. Goodbye. Imma have some tea." He said
"You guys suck!" Emery said
--
Hi!! Next chapter will be the last one so stay tuned!
It'll be the somewhat resolution of Alarice and Nicholas' story~~
See yah!