III - F e l i n e s

"Cats are Felines too... Just more deceiving."

————

Third Person's Point of View

"There's no need for that."

"Obviously." Griselle replied while rolled her eyes, boredom once again looming on her face. "Well, I'm exhausted so you should probably handle this one."

"Sister." With worry written all over his face, Gabrielle called out to his sister which Griselle replied by giving him an assuring pat while a smile on her face.

"Next time Count Brinzel, you should pick on someone your own size." Griselle who turn to look at the agitated count said in between her yawns. She even stretch her limbs out walking over to the only available seat in the room which was his father's seat in the office, crossing her legs and resting her head in her hand.

"I think that also goes for you as well Lady Colen." Replied Count Brinzel, glaring at the silver haired girl.

"Who? Me?" The girl asked pointing over to herself, paying no heed of her father at the door who got no intention of shooing her away from her seat nor her brother who approached their father.

"I'm quite small." Griselle stated, her eyes over the irked Count taking a good minute to appreciate the mess she made before letting out a snort. "Like your brain."

"So, basically I am picking at someone my own size."

'The young miss is really having a lot of fun bullying others after sleeping for months.' Sighed Helianthus whose standing behind the amused Duke, with the "Proud" written all over his face.

"Duke, you already witness it yourself!" Countess Brinzel suddenly intervened, looking over to the Duke while pointing an accusing finger to Griselle who grabbed one of the paper in the table, scanning it. "She's challenging your position in this house, not to mention she's very rude to a guest!"

Farol glanced at his daughter whose waving at him with a bright smile on her face and pointing over at the Brinzel family and did a sliding action with her thumb on her neck. The Duke was shaking on his place, trying to suppress a laugh with Helianthus rubbing his temples on the bridge of his nose behind him and Gabrielle at his side looking wierdly at his sister and father.

"How was two months of sleep my daughter?" The Duke asked, paying no mind at the rejected look he received from the Brinzel family.

'I was asleep that long?' Griselle thought her gaze falling to the bags under Gabrielle, Helianthus and her father's eyes. 'No wonder why.' She sigh at the thought and decided to put that to another discussion later. "Father, did the house became a vegetable garden while I was asleep?"

"I believe not. Why do you say so Griselle?" Asked Farol, still shaking from the suppression of his laughter.

"Oh. Nothing. I thought you were growing peas. Turns out it was brains."

"I think your mistaken." Farol who had manage to calm down protested. "House of Farol is a Streak of Sabers."

(A/n: A group of tigers is basically called an Ambush or Streak. And since Saber Tooth or Smilodon is from a tiger family, I just used it as that.)

"Then I guess a little kitty strayed its way then." Smirked the Count while glancing at the quiet Gabrielle who was now carried by the Duke.

"I hope you don't forget." Griselle walked over to her father glaring at the Brinzel's as she does.

"Cats are Felines too... Just more deceiving."

And with that said, the girl walked out of the room while screaming her personal maid's name.

"Helianthus." The Duke called out with his usual calm manner. "Escort the pea--- ahem... Brinzel family out. I need to have a word with my children."

"Yes M'Lord."

"And..." Farol trailed off staring at the hallway where his daughter just passed. "Get that child back here."

—————

"Father!" Now that the Brinzel family is gone, Griselle took this as a sign to act her usual giddy self again tackling her father to an embrace to which he surprisingly return.

"Sister..." The youngest Farol called out catching his sister's attention. The eight year old has his head down clutching the hem of his shirt tightly. "Even if you just woke up, the first thing you did was protect me."

Seeing the tears fall from her brother, Griselle kneeled in front of the child cupping his face to face hers. His now raised head didn't hide the surprise written on his widened purple hues, reflecting the appearance of his smiling sister.

"I'd defeat even the god of death just to give you brighter future Rie." The girl pulled her brother to her arms sheltering her from all the pain he's been through while she was fast asleep. "I'm your sister afterall."

Although weak and exhausted, Griselle didn't leave the crying Gabrielle alone, keeping him safe in her arms till he managed to calm down.

————

"Why did you not call the Duke miss?" As she took the cup of tea Helianthus prepared, Griselle's eyes shifted from the butler to her father.

"It's a tiring job dragging a bunch of lifeless body out of this house y'know that."

Helianthus could only nod in response. 'Yeah, that's a tiring one.'

"Sunny!" The red haired butler walked over to the silver haired girl upon seeing the 'come here' gesture she's been making with her hand. "I also missed you Sunny."

The young girl said patting his head which was lowered earlier when he performed a bow.

"Thank you for taking care of both father and Rie while I was gone."

For some reason, Helianthus found himself all warm inside, he felt very thankful that although it was part of his job, he was still acknowledged and gratified.

"Thank you miss." He managed to spout. 'For coming back to us.'

Griselle could only nod at him, as if she knows what he wants to say.

"And as for you." Griselle suddenly shifted her gaze from the butler to the child using her lap as a pillow.

"That will be the last time I see you looking so pitiful like that."

"B-but sister... what should I do?" The child was once again on the verge of tearing up glancing over from his sister to his father. "What should I do father?"

"Just separate their head from their body." The middle aged man replied, not leaving his sight on the paper in hand.

"Just tell them." This guy with the girly face here can make you loose your chance of having a future if I hear another word again!" Like that." Helianthus at the corner sighed.

"I can't even do that!" Protest Gabrielle who looked at the butler. "What about you Lian? What do you think should I do?"

"Young master. Just remember their face. And leave the rest to your two wild family members. Is what I want to say." Helianthus explained as he wipe Gabrielle's face with a wet towel earning a few protest from Griselle and Farol. "But your sister and father has a point young master. You have to know how to defend yourself."

"Did you know where the name the miss gave to you came from?" The red haired butler asked to the child who eyed his sister curiously.

"Its from God's archangel. The 'Hero of God' and I named you that cause you are this family's strength Rie." Griselle explained, her red hues meeting his brother's purple one's. "You are the one that makes this family strong."

Gabrielle Colen's Point of View

"Its from the God's archangel. He's known to have the title; The Hero of God."

For a second, I saw myself looking at the familiar red orbs of my sister, younger. Like how its the first time I saw the minute I opened my eyes.

"Mom said, I should be the one naming you so I'll name you Gabrielle!"

Her enthusiastic voice echoing, ringing in my ears. At first, I only love my name cause its from sister. But now that I heard why she named me that, it gave me a more reason to cherish it more.

"You can't do it, you say? Why is that?" I was cut off the thoughts that I was dazed of upon hearing my sister's voice.

'Why' she ask?' I thought and shuddered. "Wouldn't I be giving out empty threats when speaking something I couldn't even do?"

She was at first taken aback by my response but what she replied almost made me jump out of my seat.

"It wouldn't be one if you actually do it."

'I think sister's two months of slumber made her forgot that my stamina is lower than a turtle.' I thought as I scan the smiling, oblivious face of my beloved sister.

"But no teacher wants to train me." I felt my self holding back another sob, my view once again to my feet. Teacher that father hired for me only took advantage of my weak physicality to spread bad rumours about me. If I train with father's knights, I couldn't keep up. And father is too busy that I don't want him to get no rest if he trained me personally as well.

Some Hero of God that can't even protect his own sister.

The anxiety that has been eating me ever since my sister risked her life to save me, it haunts me everytime I see her eyes closed, dreading that it won't open again. The fear that lingered in me for those two months all vanished when a hand gently placed into mine was seen by my lowered gaze, and as I look up. Sister's gentle red hues came into view. Like rubies, and this time

Its Open.

"There's one right here. Actually two." She suddenly yet gently stated, that instantly caused my confusion to rise.

"A person that'll train you."

My eyes darted to my busy father and to Helianthus. "Those two?"

Sister's hand then Point at my father. "That one. And the other..."

She trailed off cupping my cheeks and moving it to face her smiling face.

"Right here."