The Clash

At the day of the royal ball, Prince Licht and Princess Licha were approaching to the Vermillion Unlimited store on Licht's Master's bike as always and placed it in the parking lot of the establishment. They both entered the store, and Licht sat in the customer's seat with a cup of coffee while watching Licha work. Licha's shift concluded at one o'clock in the afternoon with the ball commencing at 7 in the evening. Licht already found the perfect suit to wear for the event whereas Licha was perplexed on which of her designs to wear at the royal ball. She decided on asking the Master of the store for his opinion on which one would be the best.

In the meanwhile, Brunia spoke while she, Aubrey and Chantel were walking across the street, "I want to purchase by ballgown from this particular store. My sister, Licha, has an amazing and breathtaking selection of wardrobe items, and she told me that she bought all of them from this shop. And for a long time, I have been aching to meet up with the designer of the clothing as the pieces are original and convey a deep meaning."

Aubrey added, "Not to mention their valuable prices! Well, it's an established business for decades, so they have adapted to the needs of their customers."

Chantel responded, "Then it's settled, we're going there."

As they arrived at the establishment, Brunia affirmed, "You guys so inside and view the selections, I will just have a quick word with the carriage driver."

Aubrey and Chantel entered the store and started viewing different pieces of clothing. Licht noticed them as they set foot in the shop and sidled next to them and spoke confidently, "Hello, ladies! I'm Richie from Granzreich and how may I entertain you this morning?" Aubrey and Chantel looked at one another, and there was an awkward silence until Aubrey responded, "Don't bother hotshot. I already have a boyfriend."

Chantel added, "Yeah, me too. But you're too cute to be resisted, and your communication and flirting skills hit the mark so I can reassure you that you will find someone else."

Licht scoffed, "Nah! It was worth a shot, so I guess I don't mind."

At that moment, Brunia entered the shop and found Prince Licht conversing with her companions. Her eyes widened as she approached the group, and as she made eye contact with the Prince. She advanced towards her group and said, "Hey, guys! Did you find anything yet? And who is this cute guy and what on earth is he doing here?"

Aubrey answered, "Not really, we're still looking around, and by the way, this charming guy named Richie tried to hit on us, but we didn't mind."

Brunia replied, "Oh! That's wonderful! Can you excuse me for a second while I talk to him for a second?" She then pulled Licht out of the store and yelled, "WHAT IN THE DEVIL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

Licht screamed, "Don't mimic me! What is the devil are you doing here?! Weren't you supposed to be in Orosz?!"

Brunia was zoned out for a minute and then quickly countered, "The department gave me the assignment to write a report on the Vermillion Unlimited store, and I happened to make arrangments to stay with my friends here! Now may I know what you are doing here?!" Licht was silent as a response and then fidgeted with his fingers as he had nothing to answer her question without blowing Licha's cover.

While she was waiting for Licht's counter-argument, she looked over the window to see Licha sewing a dress and conversing with a patron in her uniform. After the customer made his purchase, Licha looked over to see her sister outside staring at her! Both of their eyes widened with shock and surprise as none of them expected to see each other there. Licha panicked and screamed while pacing up and down and jumping with fear everywhere, "AHHHHHH!!!!! G-Gotta get outta here! AHHHHHHH!!!! What am I going to do!?" She then paused for a moment and then said to herself, "I'll act as though I'm someone else and pretend that I'm a look-alike. No.... she will totally see through that..." She then looked over the chairs and shrieked, "THEN... AS LONG AS I PREVENT HER FROM ENTERING THE SHOP, SHE WILL BE POWERLESS! BARRICADE ALL THE ENTRANCES!!!" Licht reminisced that he had the exact same reaction when his brother found out about his work in the cafe back in Grazreich. He presumed and took charge and act as a mediator to mend the situation between the two sisters.

Licht grabbed Brunia's arm and then pulled her inside the store, saying, "You're coming with me!"

As they entered the store, Licha yelled, "YOU BASTARD! I'm going to kill you after my death!"

Licht responded, "Is she has already seen you, then what's the point of hiding? Licha, please calm down and speak with your sister."

Brunia added, "Licha, I'm not mad, but it will help the situation if you append that you owe me and an explanation for this. If it pleases you, I will reveal the purpose of my visit as well."

Licha confessed, "Okay, Brunie! You caught me! I have been working here in secret for a long time now. But I'll have you know that you can't nag me since the Professor and our mother had approved of my job."

Brunia asked, "Do any of them know that you're here right now?"

When Licha doesn't respond, Brunia spoke, "That's what I thought. Anyhoo, I'm here to write a report about this store and to buy the best designer dress to take back to Orosz as a sample. So miss, would you please display the best designs that I assume that this establishment portrays?"

Licha silently obeyed and displayed five dresses that she creatively and indigenously crafted. Aubrey and Chantel huddled around and were captivated by what they saw before them. Aubrey asked, "Wow! these are eye-opening, who made these?"

Licha answered, "That would be me, ma'am." Brunia's eyes widened with astoundment, and her stern expression softened as she perceived that.

Brunia responded, "Well... your work receives very little attention according to the results that are right in front of me. You must foster in your natural talents, young lady." Licha thanked her and then handed over the ballgowns to Aubrey and Chantel.

Aubrey asked, "Hey Brunia, why haven't you picked out an outfit yet?"

Brunia answered, "I will. I just need a little bit more time. You guys go home, and I will catch up with you, okay?"

Chantel responded, "Alright, we'll be there if you need us." And as they departed from the store,

Licha proposed, "Ma'am, I may have the perfect dress for you, which I made myself and I wanted to give it to my older sister."

Brunia subtlely inquired, "Which older sister? I think you have three of them, don't you?"

Licha took a deep breath and answered, "The one who has been continually praising my designs from the first day I started to display them."

Brunia asked, "Alright, may I see the dress then, Rachel?" 

Licha displayed a mesmerizing and beautiful ballgown in front of her, and without question, Brunia purchased it and left a note in the cash she gave Licha for payment. Licha read the following words and trembled at the sight of them:

"I DO NOT INTEND TO DISCUSS THIS AT YOUR WORKPLACE, BUT IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE NO CHOICE. PLEASE SEE ME AT THE BACK ENTRANCE (STAFF ENTRANCE) OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT.

-BRUNIA"

Licht appeared and placed his hand on her shoulder and reassuring her that everything would turn out to be subtle. Licha nodded and came out from the back entrance of the store where Brunia was already waiting for her. Licha approached and said, "Alright, fine! Let me hear the nagging; it's precise that I deserve it, and I will get it no matter what I do?"

Brunia affirmed, "You're right, Licha. I pamper Leonora too much, and a few days ago it was even revealed that it is her that I love her most in this world. But do you also know why? She may be the type of person who needs someone to depend on, but also, she idolizes the person who helps her the most. I don't do that with you because I think that you're independent. However, when I try to state my point of view, warn you about the consequences and point out your flaws so that you can better yourself and emerge as a better human being, you consider that as nagging you. Leonora is so open into willing advise from others, and now, even I have molded myself into a flexible thinker. Do you know how much it hurts for me when you think that all I love to do is irritate you?"

Licha questioned, "Wait... so you're not mad at me that I work here and that I don't have cognizance of my place as a royal?"

Brunia yelled, "What do you think; that I am like Bruno?!"

Licha countered, "You chose him, so I assumed th---"

Brunia shouted even louder, "WHOA! Let me stop you right there, sister! This is not rebelling, this is disrespectful, and is a huge mistake! Yes, I chose Bruno for a whole different reason that you won't comprehend right now! You assuming things about me and letting that reflect on your decisions is what that makes me angry! Bruno was initially mad at his brother when he found out about Licht's job at the cafe, don't think that I don't know that! I am not infuriated by your post in town, and I am also not furious because you didn't tell me because I did the same."

She then revealed, "I am mad at you for trying to hide even after I caught you! You attempted to barricade all the entrances, and if it weren't for Licht, I wouldn't have been able to praise you for your work! At least I confessed everything when it was time to, and when it was your turn, you still denied it. You're right! If you didn't have the requisite skill for this job and were abandoning your position as a royal, I would be mad, but I would try my best to understand how you feel and why you do. I keep telling you that you're indecent and disgraceful as I expect you to do better. But now I realize that it's a part of who you are and I can't change that. Even if those qualities anger me, I think that this skill of you presuming things about me is what that has made me feel so disappointed in you as an elder sibling. And all these years that I know you, I believe you can change that part of yourself, and if you don't, then I genuinely don't know who you are. And you don't know who I am." With that said, Brunia stormed off from the premises, thus leaving Licha speechless with tears after the exchange. Licht appeared in the scene and then drove Licha back to Granzreich on the Cafe's Master's bike for them to reach on time for the royal ball. No one spoke anything during the entire journey.

After that, Brunia arrived at Michael's residence, and then merely affirmed that she was going to take a nap before they commence getting ready for the royal ball. She didn't get a wink of sleep, nor she intended to. All she needed was a quiet place to weep and consider what had transpired at the Vermillion Unlimited store. She even believed that she had to mold herself to be a better sibling to her younger sister.