A little kid is intently staring at me. Bored, tired and with anger. It looks like she was Uncle Royce's child but I don't know why she's giving me that kind of look and I don't like it. It's not like I've done something to her.
"Welcome back... Uncle Royce and Aunt Claire,"I greeted them. Then... Before I could greet the girl, she turned away.
"..."
It's obvious that she hates me. Why else would she turn away as soon as our eyes met?!
"Why did you come back here?" Father broke the silence.
I'm not surprised anymore that it is the first thing he will say. Uncle Royce chuckled and scratched the back of his neck in an embarrassed manner.
"I see that older Brother hasn't changed one bit. But..." He turned to us and I know that look. It's the go-away-you-shouldn't-listen-to-this-look. Father and Mother do it lately.
"I will retire first, Royce. Pardon me, your grace."
Uncle Royce's wife bid as her red hair fluttered and another wave of red hair appeared behind her. The little girl glanced back at me then looked away. Again. Now I am thinking if I had done anything to her that I'm not aware of.
But we haven't met before.
"Wren." my father looked at me. You want us to leave? No, I am not leaving. I am staying to see if I can see other than that poker face he's showing. He then turned over to the two boys behind me.
right, they're here too.
"Why are you here?"
The twins shrugged and said, "We went to find Wren and Yessenia."
Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran through my body. Those words are sending me a warning already.
"We are supposed to study together."
Excuses. We did not have that kind of schedule today. I believe they will do some pranks again today. Why are they also dressed up fancily from head to toe? Are they trying to impress someone or what? and there's no way someone would believe them that they will go to study.
"Azi and the others are already in the library. So..." Suddenly I'm being lifted up and placed in Laxus' shoulders. Damn it, this is another demonic summoning of theirs.
Too stunned, I stared at Mother. Horrible, she's smiling as Laxus starts to drift me away.
"Wait! I don't want to leave!!" I said while tapping his back. I can see my father's lips curved into a demonic smile. Fxxk!
"Let's go after Aria!"
"Waaahh!" Yessenia and I screamed when they ran fast out of the room making the surrounding blurry. They used magic once again.
Wait, who will they meet?! Horrified I asked, "Who?!"
"Oh, Aria. You met her earlier. Uncle Royce's daughter" my mouth hang up open. Damn it.
---------------------------------------------------
"Her kids are growing up fas---" pertaining to the twins who just ran off, his words caught off when the duke held his wife as he guided her to sit.
"Shouldn't you be with the kids?"
Royce just shut his mouth up as he saw the couple talking. Eventually, this kind of scene would make him puke. He never had seen his brother act like this in front of them, but... He cannot say anything now. Fearing he might beat him up like before.
The Duchess smiled before shaking her head, "I'll be fine. Besides, I should be here and listen..." she cut off and momentarily closed her eyes.
Sun rays are visible from the thick clouds, she hears the low chirps of the birds. A past memory rushed in her mind. Her past self studying with the High Priest.
It's just impossible for the temple to scheme.
"This also involves the temple... that is why--"
Mave sighs in defeat when Royce cleared his throat making the two to turn their gazes to the man. He revealed a stack of papers and documents from his luggage.
Royce laid the papers on the table and Mave studied it, "About that... we found no traces from them."
Mave carefully scanned the papers as he drifted into a deep thought. Carina also picks up the remaining papers, detailed writing of reports for the past months of an activity in a certain territory. Her hands gripped the edges of the papers, wrinkling it as she grit her teeth.
"Whoever it was... they are way too careful." The duchess mumbled. The two men in the room stared at her.
"You should calm down. Take a rest and we will handle everything." the duke says as he pulls away the papers from her wife.
"Yes... Very well, I should go back to the children." She silently obeyed and stood up, leaving the room to the two men.
When the duchess closed the door, the atmosphere instantly changed. The duke reads the papers once again.
"You did not come here only to give me a detailed report. Spit it out." he says not looking at his brother.
Royce instantly changed his demeanor as he showed different papers, passing it on the duke.
"Right, the thing is I found something suspicious in the West---"
"The West is always suspicious especially that family." Mave instantly brushes off what his brother has to say. He stops when he senses the stare he's getting.
He sighs, "What is it?"
"Merchants keep coming back and forth in Rochette and those merchants came from South." The duke listened and finally closed his eyes. South huh, he thought. It was indeed more suspicious since South has been mentioned.
"Keep surveilling both West and South then. Find whoever or whatever they are doing," the other man gave him another shot of glare, "You are really giving me more work."
---------------------------------------------------
"What are you doing here?"
"Aria, Aria! Do 'ya remember me?!" Laxus slid and pops in front of Aria as he asked another random question.
The girl is showing displeasure with our sudden intrusion in her room as the three kids start to run in circles.
The library thing is a lie, as suspected. We are all inside Aria's Room. Astreia, Azi and Tristan (Aria's little brother) are playing blocks at the corner.
Meanwhile, these two, Laxus and Lexus kept poking Aria and irritating her while she was reading. I have known Aria since she was mentioned in the book many times and somehow this Aria is different from the book.
Aria Vacarella is one of the antagonists in the book. She was the only daughter of Royce Vacarella, the 4th child and younger brother of Mave.
She was known as a child in the Vacarella that didn't inherit any traits of a Vacarella. Having long, crimson red hair and while she was dancing that it seems like the fire is dancing along with her and her eyes are dark as night. Aria was the top candidate for the position of crown princess alongside Wren who stepped down.
Aria, being the villainess. She schemed everything to get the Crown Prince's attention and even harmed the other candidates. Wren is no exception to these schemes. It happened before their debutante and eventually. Wren stepped out of the selection since she's still into Prince Zairon.
Aria who was the last remaining candidate became happy with this news. The process of her being the crown princess is going smooth and fast. Even if there are many nobles and aristocrats that demanded to reject Aria as crown princess because of rumors surrounding her, she still hold the position of crown princess.
Too bad, The crown prince did not reciprocate her love nor had the thought of looking at her as a woman. This made Aria even more devastated and she clung more to her schemes to get his attention.
But... as expected of the villains, she did not escape death. After crowning as crown princess and celebrating their debutante. Aria is finally living in the Imperial Palace for a year. Known for her short-temper and cruel ways within the palace, she was accused of poisoning the emperor on his birthday celebration.
Zairon led the investigation and it took a month to find evidence on Aria. The court judge found her guilty for treason and to be executed in the guillotine.
Her death was a lonely one since not a single one from her family ever came in her execution nor visited her while she was in the prison. Even the crown prince left her there, watching Aria's pleas.
Then, she blamed the Crown Prince for what was happening to her.
'If only I didn't love you!'
Aria died at the age of 19. One year before the rebellion.
Even as a kid it looks like she is a serious person, "Wren."
I looked at Yessenia and she came close to me and whispered, "Aria seems like she's ready to stab us."
"hahaha... maybe." I teased her since she really does seem like she will do it.
Her eyes grew wide, "R-Really? She keeps staring at our spot"
Yes, I could also feel her deadly stares. I'm sweating over here. I did not voluntarily come here. I was dragged by those two morons.
"Hey, Hey Aria! I heard that ya started studying? Why?"
They are asking that as if it was the first time they saw someone in this family to study at a young age.
"Yeah, You should grow up first." Lexus added and pokes Aria's cheeks.
"She doesn't look annoyed"
Yes, that's because she has high level of patience and tolerance already. Seemingly she finally surrendered to the twins.
"Studying doesn't have an age preference. You should go back instead of pestering me."
She said with a smile and stood up.
"Twistan! not that!!" Astreia shouts and slaps Tristan's hands away from the tiny blocks.
"You can't eat that!" and my sister is at the age where she can reprimand someone.
"Tristan, let's go back to mommy." Aria struggled at first picking up Tristan when Laxus suddenly went beside her.
"Hey, Hey what if---"
"No, I can handle this. Thank you." Aria instantly rejected Laxus as fast as she opened the door, "Get out of my room."
She slammed the door loud and left us inside staring at the door she shut.
"I told you that the kid has issues," Lexus finally spoke up and he put his arms behind his head as he whistled.
"That brat is like Aunt Mavis!"
I can't see Aunt Mavis being like that.
"Wren tomorrow let's go out and have a picnic!"
I looked outside and it seemed like the weather was fine for a picnic.
"Okay." She looked happy when I agreed.
"By the way, When is Caesar coming home?" Laxus asks me. Which made me wonder as to why they are still here. They still have at least two more months before the school year ends.
A question then appeared in my mind that i've been meaning to ask but failed.
"Lexus... aren't you two supposed to be at the academy also? Did you two also go out without the headmaster's permission?"
the two look at each other and gulp. I knew it, "When are you going back---"
"Young masters! There is a letter from the academy and are requesting that you come back this instant!"
Their eyes both grew wide. Both of them jump from their seat
"Yikes! That is our cue! See you on Summer break!"
Before Noland opened the door, the twins disappeared into thin air. So that's the reason why they are dressed up. They know that a letter will arrive today and decide to leave when it comes. I could only laugh at Noland's face upon seeing the room empty.
And finally, spring entered the month.