Chapter 35

"Big Brother!"

She dropped the stuffed bunny on the floor and ran towards her brothers.

"We missed you. Look, I met two princesses from another Kingdom. You want to meet a princess, right?"

Leo lifted her, looked at his sister with fatherly loving eyes. If their enemies saw this scene, they would kidnap the vulnerable girl.

"Brother, put me down! I will greet the princesses."

The little girl hit her brother's chest. Leo chuckled before granting his sister's request.

She attacked us with her overflowing cuteness when she gave us a curtsy. She almost hit her head on the floor when she lost her balance. Good thing I caught her in my arms.

Her brothers rushed to her side and called for the Royal physician.

We did the same thing and introduced ourselves when the doctor told us there was nothing wrong with her body. She drove her brothers away until they reached the exit door. Liam sniffed, knelt on the floor, begging him to stay. She insisted our meeting was only for girls. We assisted her in closing the door.

"I've never met beautiful princesses before. Can I call you Big Sisters?"

Ella replied she had not seen an adorable princess like her. Her cheeks turned red. Self-restraint was for goal was more important than pinching this kid's cheeks.

We played games together. Just like any child, she had questions.

For example:
"Big Sisters, have you found your Prince Charming?"

Liam didn't lie when he told me about her obsession with romance since the Queen read Ella's novel to her every time she tucked her in at night.
"I have found my Prince Charming! But your other Big Sister Bethany hasn't."

She tilted her head in my direction, held my hands, and said, "Don't worry, your Prince would come!"

Finding any Prince Charming was out of my league, but of course, I agreed and told her I would wait for him. My urge to puke intensified when I heard myself saying those nasty words.

The moment the sun rose, Princess Lian knocked on our doors, inviting us to enjoy drinking hot chocolate with us.
"Big Sisters! Mr. sun was waving at us!"

Her bitty finger pointed at it.

"Yeah, he was cheerful!" Ella said.

This time, she asked questions about Daria, sat on my lap while I braided her hair.

"When I got better, I will visit Daria!"

She reminded me of my siblings. How are they? I miss you, my dear sisters.

A crackle coming from the bushes made us silent. I instructed Princess Lian to stay at Ella's side. The guards pulled out their swords. I picked up the bread knife.

"Who are you?" the guard yelled.

"Hey! Don't attack us! I'm Duke Ivrea from Daria!"

I put the bread knife to its corresponding plate, raised my dress, then marched to where he stood.
"Your Grace, what are you doing here?"

He tied his horse to the stone pine tree.

" I should be the one asking your question."

His footsteps were gigantic. With only five steps, he already reached the roofed patio.
"I apologize if I startled you. Greetings, I'm Duke Frederick."

He knelt on the ground and gave his dangerous smile.

"It's okay, Uhm. Are you my big brother's friend?"

"Yes."

"You look like a Prince!"

Then Princess Lian went near him. The words I heard from the Duke were if it was alright to carry her and introduce his horse. Ella commented how it was easy for him to make friends, which became a discussion on how he got our Mingming's attention. The conversation became awry when she asked what do I feel towards Duke Frederick.

"Annoyance," I said.

I also used the same topic to dodge questions regarding my feelings. My friend told me Her Highness met a new friend.

I nodded. For now, that was the best course of action. I wondered when was the fruit intake scene. A new competitor already appeared. I had to hurry. Who knew when would the next unexpected side character appear.

"Big Brother Frederick, I had fun! Big Sisters, can he join with us?"

We agreed. I didn't want to crush the child's happiness.

She also asked the same romantic question to him, which he responded:

"This pretty woman beside me is my lovely Princess."

The two squealed as Mister Womanizer kissed my hand. Their eyes became hearts. What were these sparkling things around us?

"I knew it! Big Sister Bethany would find her Prince Charming."

"Duke Frederick, if your love for me was great, you'll give me the green jewel called Belle."

"Just wait, I would give it to you."

I clenched my fist. Prince Liam broke my idea of a peaceful vacation.

Part of Princess Lian's schedule was afternoon napping. What a perfect time to confront him.

"You have a habit of making people your chess pieces."

"Why? I had to hire the perfect man for the show?"

He kept on signing the documents.

"In all the people, why him?"

"He's entertaining. You didn't know how his face gave me satisfaction when they asked if I did something to you."

This man didn't love me. He was shaking things up for his enjoyment.

"Did you forget I wanted a peaceful vacation?"

"Say that to his face. I won't prevent the man from visiting our magnificent Kingdom. As a prince, I had to promote tourism myself."

Assessing the situation, all I had to do was lock myself in the room. I would only go out of my shell when the time they needed me came.

Nora's habit of waking me up didn't change. As usual, she moved the curtains to the side, allowing the sun's rays to hit my face.

I had not finished my quinoa with strawberries when a hairstylist and make-up artist bowed over me.

They pulled and twisted my hair, swiping the brush on my cheeks, eyelids, and nose twice. What kind of abuse was this?

I kept on telling myself all of this was for my duty.

Like what we stated in our plans, I had to push the Duke away when he proposed his love for me.

Our plans were a success when the Princess handed her prized possession. We let the expert confirm that it was the Ergon's Jade.

I requested a meeting between the King of Tozia, the Princes, Duke Frederick, and Prince Reyner. Yes, he went with Frederick as well. These two were inseparable.

The meeting lasted for five minutes, followed by the document signing about the artifact's retrieval. He left the room in a hurry. He was about to host a raffle for his people.

"You guys went on a perfect time! Now let's continue our race!"

We turned our heads on the door. The knocks didn't stop until I opened them.

A panting messenger from the Empire rushed to Reyner's side. Reyner offered him a glass of cold water.

Judging by his expression, there must be an urgent message he had to hear.

"Your Highness, the Emperor said you must go back to Daria as soon as possible."

"But why?"

"Someone has eaten the fruit from your tree."

My world turned upside down. I even spilled the tea on my dress.

What kind of shit did I hear?!