A New Sister?

"Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden." Phaedrus

--

We finally make it out. Our footsteps could be heard, and sixth brother would have felt it when third brother used his ability. The only explanation would be that he let us go. But why? I don't understand sixth brother. Why would he let us go?

When we reach eighth brother's room, we're breathing hard. We ran the whole way back.

"It's good that you're back, Grandpa Robert..." Eighth brother mumbles, hugging the old man.

Grandpa Robert laughs. "It's good to be back." He ruffles eighth brother's hair. Seeing the gentleness and happiness between the two made me happy. Their relationship is just too beautiful.

"So, what do we do now?" I ask.

"I think it's time to take a break for now," Grandpa Robert suggests. "You've all had a very long day. I think you all should go rest. Especially you, Princess."

"Ok, Grandpa Robert." I curtsy to my brothers. "Third brother, seventh brother, eighth brother and ninth brother, I bid you farewell for today. I will meet with you all at a later date."

My brothers bow to me. "We shall see you next time, First Princess," they say together.

Smiling at them, I leave the room and head back to my own quarters in the cold palace. I can't wait to see my mother and tell her all about my day.

--

Friday, June 20, 2014

It's been two weeks since we saved Granda Robert from sixth brother, and I still can't understand him. He's still the nasty person he's always been, but why do I get this feeling that not everything is right? He could've caught us that day, but he didn't. Why is that?

I've been working on the basics. Apparently, everyone has magic, and everyone learns the basics. The only reason I didn't was because of what my mother was framed for; murder. Even commoners learn the basics. Was it because I was sheltered that I didn't know? Or was it because I was blind in my previous life? Because I didn't want to know? The only thing women are not supposed to have is their own ability. I don't have a lot of common knowledge, so learning so much information is both a blessing and a curse. I have so much to remember, yet I seem to soak up all this knowledge like a sponge. It's been an extraordinary experience.

Of course, I don't know everything yet. I mean, I have a whole 8 years to make up for, but I'm getting there. I've already crammed 1 year worth of study within these past two weeks, and I can remember everything. Turns out I have a photographic memory. I didn't before, but I think the reason for my memory getting better is because I was reborn.

I was reborn with the soul of an adult, which is much stronger than a child's. As a child, I already had a soul, and so because I was reborn into my younger self, with the two souls merged, my soul has grown much more powerful. With a powerful soul, it affects how much of my brain works. It's much like people with a higher IQ. The stronger the soul, the more information I can retain at more extensive qualities because my brain works more efficiently.

Of course, the brain is active almost all the time, with certain parts being used at different times and completing various activities. Your brain is continuously active, which is the reason for you being alive. The information you retain, though, is less than 10% for the majority of people. This is where the myth of using 10% of your brain comes from. It's not that you only use 10% of your brain. It's just that you can only retain 10% of what you experience every day. This is why there are always holes in your memory or things you don't remember after a long period.

My brain can retain at least 20-25% of the information. This is at least double what others can keep. And so, with a more efficient memory, I have what is called a photographic memory, where images of objects or text from books are retained in my long and short term memory. I do have to review what I know, though, or the things in my short-term memory won't become long-term.

Today, I had just completed my homework given by my brothers when I came across sixth brother when I went on my daily walk. He seemed in a hurry, so I decided to follow him. I hurry back to the cold palace.

"Mother! I wish to leave the palace today."

"Why, Adi?"

"Because there's something I want to do." I look at her with determination. Sixth brother was hiding something, and I had to find out what. Mother looks at me and sighs.

"Ok. But be careful."

I nod happily before rushing out once more. Walking over to the chauffeur we usually use, I ask him to follow sixth brother.

"Sure, Princess," he smiles warmly. The servants living with us were all kind people who didn't believe the rumours surrounding mother. We follow sixth brother out of the city and into the countryside.

Why is sixth brother coming here...? I wonder.  There shouldn't be anything of value out here...  Sixth brother's car eventually comes to a stop outside a farm. It was a beautiful place, full of flowers and fields. There were paddocks full of horses, cattle and sheep. I could only look at the horses with shining eyes. I've always loved horses. Shaking my head, I focus once more on sixth brother.

As he emerges from the car, a pretty little girl with flaming red hair comes running out of the house. As she comes closer, I notice her eyes; they're the same as all of us siblings, a midnight blue, the sign of the royal family. The young girl with curly hair threw herself into sixth brother. If I'm correct, this little girl is slightly younger than me and has to be an eleventh child sired by father. But why hadn't I heard of her before? Why didn't third brother tell me about her? From sixth brother's reaction and her hair colour, she must share the same mother as them. The one and only Lady Kaitlyn, who framed my mother for the death of her son eight years ago...

Eight years ago... Wait! Lady Kaitlyn only mentioned the birth of a son, never a daughter. The little girl looks to be around eight. Of course, I wouldn't know, but she definitely looks younger than me, but the only royal child younger than me should be dead... and a son... so where did this daughter come from?

Just trying to think made my brain hurt. I've done so much cramming, I couldn't even think properly anymore. Forget it. I'll talk to third brother first. He can help.

"Let's go," I tell the chauffeur.

"Of course, Princess." The chauffeur backs away the minute sixth brother enters the house with the little girl and heads back to the palace.

I head for third brother's quarters the second we return. I couldn't wait to tell him what I found out.

"Third brother! I have to tell you something!" I gasp, bursting into his room.

He was standing around a table with seventh brother, eighth brother and ninth brother.

"What's wrong, Adi?" he asks.

"We have a younger sister!" I burst out. My brothers look at me with a frown, confusion written all over their faces.

"A younger sister? Adi, you're kidding, right?"

"I'm not! She has the royal eyes! The same midnight blue as us all."

"The same?"

"The very same," I confirm.

"Well, where is she?"

"On a farm outside the city."

"How did you find out about her?"

"I followed sixth brother."

"Brutus?"

I nod, eagerly examining my brother's expressions.

"It's true! He looked so warm and gentle towards her; I doubt I could be wrong. She has your hair, third brother! The same flaming colour... but her hair is full of curls. Your mother doesn't have curly hair."

"Actually, she does. She just doesn't like it, so she straightens it. No one else would know except father, Brutus and I... as well as mother's family, of course."

"She must be our sister then!"

"Why did you come up with the idea that she may be our sister? She could just be a cousin of Brutus and me."

"Because she's the spitting image of Lady Kaitlyn. Unless Lady Kaitlyn has a twin sister that has children, I doubt she's your cousin." I stand firm with what I saw. "We must interrogate sixth brother."

"We could give it a try, big brother..." ninth brother murmurs.

"If we have a sister, then we need to know more about why we never found out before, and Brutus might have the information we need... No. He'd definitely know what's going on," eighth brother says firmly.

"I want to know our little sister," seventh brother says happily. I could see he was imagining meeting her and spoiling her.