ALORA EMBRY
I wake up early and in the morning I leave my room satisfied because I had a good sleep last night. Then I saw the twins who had just come off from the library.
"Good morning, Sister."
"Morning. We will be having breakfast in the garden."
"Yes, My Lady, we will prepare it now."
"Sister, you'll leave tonight?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Tomorrow Big Brother will be back."
"Oh, then I will just leave after I talk to them."
"Yes! You're the best sister." I pat their heads and we go straight to the father's study to say our Good Morning.
"Father, Mother Good Morning."
"Good morning." they greeted us back.
"We can't join you in eating breakfast, we are still busy." I nod.
"Hmm, we're going to eat in the garden." Father looks at me and he nods his head.
"I see. Enjoy."
"Thank you, Father."
"And after you eat go to your teacher." Mother said to the twins and they obediently nod.
"Yes, mother."
"Very good, come here my beloved sons." they ran and hug our mother. "That's it be good boys and grow stronger. Be a fine Astley like your brothers and sister."
"Yes, Mother." After that, we go straight to the garden and eat there. They have many stories while we were eating and I listen to them and we go next to the glass greenhouse. I help them in putting on the mask.
"There you go." I put on my mask and enter the greenhouse. This is where we grow poisonous flowers, we hired people conducting this research and they have already developed a poison that can kill a person in just a minute.
There is also this flower that by just smelling it will cause an irregular heart rate, the heart will beat so fast and then drops to below normal until the heart stops beating altogether.
"These flowers were beautiful yet deadly." I started at Kieran. "Sister, do you think one day what we are doing right now... "
"That someday what we're doing right now will be able to stop?"
"Yes." I look at him coldly and he trembles.
"Do not ask that ridiculous question again Kieran, I'm warning you."
"I just thought about-" I thought he would already stop but he still keep ongoing. What if someone heard what he was saying and report it to father?
"Do you understand or do you want me to punish you."
"I'm sorry sister."
"I'm asking you, Kieran."
"Yes, Sister I understand. I will not ask those questions again."
"Go back to your room and reflect." he bows his head and I leave them there. I just stayed in my room and didn't eat dinner because I keep on thinking about what Kieran said a while ago.
I was in a deep thought when someone knocked and when the door opened Kieran's head appeared.
"Sister."
"What is it?"
"Brother Kaden and Kio are already here." I look outside it's already morning. So, I didn't sleep at all last night? I massage my temples and just nod at him.
"I will be there in a minute."
"Sister, can I enter?"
"Hmm." I watch him tremble in fear, then he suddenly gets on his knees and cry.
"Sister I'm sorry, please forgive me already."
"Continue."
"I'm just wondering that's it, I'm proud to be Astley. I accept what we do and gladly do whatever Father orders to me. It's just a what-if, that's it."
"Stop those useless what ifs. Our family is not normal, If Father and Mother heard this you will be severely punished, do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, get up." He looks at me and tears won't stop coming.
"Are you still mad at me?"
"No, I'm not mad at you, come here."
"Sister." he cries hard while hugging me.
I didn't think of it when I was the same age as him back then, I was busy pleasing my parents that I forget... That kids like to play at that age, not holding a knife and sword. That it is not good for kids like them to saw adults doing dirty work. But I can't do anything about it, like what I said our family is not normal. And we can't oppose to our parents.
Everyone wants to have the authority and for us to stand firm on top we need to do some dirty work. To strengthen our power and to survive.
But why I can't picture us having a normal life, free from the shackles in our hearts and mind to these never-ending lies, us that won't even bother growing poisonous flowers, won't need to kill so our hands won't be dirty. But no matter how we wash our hands it was already stained with countless crimson blood.
"It's okay, I'm not angry you can now stop crying. But Kieran keep this in your mind we are doing this to survive." He nods and I gently pat his head and wipe his tears then he suddenly fell asleep in my arms. I put him on my bed for a minute and I wash my body.
"Kieran, you're big now and heavy Haha." I gently put him on his bed and kiss his cheek. "Sleep tight."
"Alora Embry." I look at brother Kaden with a surprised face. Ugh, I didn't notice his presence. I quietly approach him and greet brother.
"It's good to see you again, Brother." He raised his eyebrows and started to walk so I followed him.
"You already forgive him?"
"It's not that I'm angry at him, maybe I'm disappointed." Looks like Kieran confess everything to brother.
"You still haven't changed." I stared at my brother's back and laugh.
"Is that good?"
"I think. Let's go now." He offered his hands and I gladly took them.
"Yes, brother."
"Good morning, everyone, Father, Mother."
"Good morning."
"Good morning, go and sit now."
"Where's Kieran?" father asked me.
"He's asleep if father wants I can send someone to wake him up."
"Let him rest." I smiled and started to eat. They were discussing the hunt near the borders and the successful delivery of poisons in the neighboring Empire.
"You should go now if you don't want to be late for your classes." He said it after we were done eating breakfast. I nod and father tells the maids to get my luggage.
"Yes, father."
"Have a safe trip."
"What about Kieran, you won't say goodbye to him?" brother Kaden asked.
"I don't want to wake him but I already sent some cookies to his room. By that, I knew he will realize that I'm not already mad at him."
"Okay. Goodbye Alora, be safe on your way to the academy."
"Thank you, brother."
"Bye, sister." I kiss their cheeks and wave my hand.
"Bye." when I get back to the academy it's already evening. Everyone is already in their dorms, sleeping. Walking alone on the grounds I sighed now I feel tired. Want to rest...
"Oh, your back."
"Greetings to Your Highness." I bow my head and look at him. It looks like he was about to say something again. Just notice that they like to show up when I was not in a good mood or when I want to be alone.
Why can't they just ignore me?
-IAmRoseee