III - B e g g i n n i n g

"Afterall, a tiger is stronger when it's on its four." - Griselle Colen

Helianthus Alexis Point of View

White and red pattern filled my eyes as it dash back and forth of the fifty meters garden, lady Griselle sat quietly in seat prepared, taking notes of the actions in happening in front with me beside her flinching.

"Its just 50 meters! Don't make me laugh!" Screamed the lady as she points a finger to her younger brother who was being supported by their father as the two run around the area.

"I better hear an accurate counting this time Sunny." She added glancing to my direction, causing me to flinch in my place while giving out a vigorous nod.

"How did we come to this again?" I mumbled recalling the events that happened these past few weeks.

—————

Three weeks Before

Helianthus Alexis Point of View

"Dayne as per requested by the young miss along with Pamela and Sabrina will be sent here to the capital." I look over to the Duke whose eyes are fixated on the paper at hand while giving me a humm in return that indicates he's listening.

The incident of Count Brinzel ended a week ago, and news of lady Griselle's recovery had been spread. The count spread the news of her nasty personality to public but was shoved off by her heroic deed of saving young master Gabrielle from drowning.

And during dinner time last night, the lady suddenly requested for the Colen's family artisan Dayne, the Colen family's researcher Pamela and my sister, the children's nanny Sabrina whose staying at the Duchy, to be immediately transferred to this. residence. Her requests was of course, agreed upon without further arguments which caused a bit of a shock to my part.

"Seriously, stop spoiling your children too much." I sighed, rubbing my temples in frustration. I know Griselle's actions were of good intentions but to think he'd agree easily, next time if one of them asked to murder someone and he'd agree, I won't know what to do then.

"I was scared." I look up to the Duke to see him looking at me with an unusual look in his face, sadness. "Griselle's lifeless form reminded me of Katarina's. And immediately I realised, that if I loose even just one of those two. I'll go crazy."

Twenty years, I've been this guys friend for twenty years. I have served him for so long, watch as he married and even as he had his own family. The first sight of Griselle was the reason I abandoned my own future of marriage and family, and the first sight of Gabrielle became my reason of happiness. And Farol, for those years were the same as me. Its enough for me to know how much he's change, for the best, how that emo killer became a father that his children dearly loved.

I could only sigh in content. Even though I want to say I'm jealous, I don't think I am since I'm receiving the same treatment as he is from his children.

"Adam also wants you to pay him a visit." Immediately, he's anxious reaction from earlier immediately scrunched up in disgust causing me to held back a laugh.

And for twenty years, pissing him off is one of my best stress reliever.

"Such a demanding prick! I was at his place a few days ago! What's this all about?!"

"And also---"

"There's more?!" He's ticked off face is really amusing that I have to cover my mouth to prevent my smile from showing. It took me a while but when I calmed down, I worded out the most important agenda.

"Griselle wanted to manage the household affairs."

To be honest, this wasn't a surprise to me anymore since it has been mentioned to me before we left the duchy. She says that she was worried of how much pressure is being put to her father, and helping him might give the guy some free time to rest and spend time with her and Gabrielle. But of course, this was only known by me, the lady and Liana. So, of course I wasn't a bit fazed to see how surprised Farol is.

"Father can't spend time with us anymore since he took both mom and his work seems too much for him. That's why I figured I'd help him out. Is what she said."

'He looks like he's about to cry.' I thought, once again holding back a laugh. As I watch him trying to hide his tears. 'I bet his thinking of how adorable sweet and reliable Lady Griselle now in his head." I deadpaned, gazing at him with a knowing look.

"There's another purpose for that." I turned my gaze to meet the same red orbs, only kinder looking. Lady Griselle walked in to the room in her usual sleeping gown with Gabrielle following behind her clutching his sister's clothes. Truly, an adorable sight.

" Since Gabrielle already agreed to be my teacher, taking over the household affairs can give me a good training example. for Gabrielle who'll be the next head of this house."

Stopping besidr me, I gave the two a bow to which they both replied with a good toothy grin.

"Father, our family is small, yet the people wanting to destroy us is vast. If you and Sunny handles it alone and keep us in the dark, it would be too late for us to realize how many exit we have left."

"F-father, Lian." Started the young boy that caught me and Farol's attention. "I might not be the perfect son that this family has, I might even be the start of trouble once in a while. But starting today, I'll also do my best for this family's sake!" My eyes who often locks with a sad and distorted purple hues, was for once, staring straight at determined purples ones. Though, his shaking hands continued to clutch his sister's clothes, though his tears continuously falls from his eyes. His gaze made me feel warm and hopeful. That somehow, I realize how much these two have grown.

He is brave, not because he's not afraid of the enemy. But because he knows he's not alone to win the battlefield.

"I think the four of us is better off fighting than just you two." Griselle looked at Farol with a wide grin. "Afterall, a tiger is stronger when its on its four."

With a fits of giggles the two went over to comfort their crying father, that he, didn't even realize himself, the two sat on his lap surrounding him with a warm hug that even though I'm just looking, made me feel warm myself.

The image kept smile on my face.

And looking at it, I know for a fact that this scene would be something normal from now on.

—————

After those warm events, the two sleep on Farol's room in the night and some nights more, the three became more lively, and Farol's work time shorten because of Griselle's help and while she's at it, she also prepared for Gabrielle's lesson. Making him observe some situations in the office, even Farol teach him a thing or two. Afterwards, Griselle gave us a new set of training clothes that she sewed herself, her actions made her father burst into happyland.

Even I was moved to tears since she made one for me too. Who would've thought that afterwards...

Hell would break loose.

—————

Present Time

"Stretching before and after engaging into work outs is a necessary thing." Right now, the sprinting just and ended and lady Griselle was once again talking to the two, with Gabrielle on the ground drinking a glass of water that I manage to hand over. The water was a necessary order from Lady Griselle to prepare for she said that it was for hydration. The Duke standing beside his exhausted son raised his hand to ask.

Why is he here? Well, after finding out that I received an invitation to also take Griselle's lesson along with the "Jersey" he got jealous and insisted of tagging along saying he wanted to guide Gabrielle too and it won't get in the way of his work.

I sigh when the image of his pouting face came into mind, what a hopeless guy my master is. I shook my head with a chuckle.

"Does it have any difference to sudden running laps and sparring?"

"There is. Stretching before and after laps increased power and speed, it also reduces injury."

While continuing her explanation, the Lady gestured Gabrielle to her side not before showing some stretches that can be done with arms.

"Stretching increases your flexibility, improves posture, reduce muscle tension, increases range of movement in the joints and increase blood circulation through various parts of the body."

Motioning for Gabrielle to sit, the lady straightened his legs and closing them ordering to put force to not bending the legs.

"Straighten the arms, and place one above the other." I watch in curiosity as Gabrielle follows the instructions. "And reach your feet."

Gabrielle then struggle to reach his feet, and Griselle from behind gently started pushing her younger brother to support him. It was dead silent, then all of a sudden, Gabrielle's grunt turned to a scream.

Realising that Griselle pushed him stronger than the usual made me want to interfere, to which I did. Walking closely to the three I stopped midway when I hear the young child speak.

"Don't worry about me and push sis!"

Farol, who sat beside his son, shouts cheers to the lad, telling him encouraging words that I doubt any nobleman would do to their children who they only see as a tool.

The same scene of the three people I cared about most, from the office, to their room, to this garden. It drew a smile to my face.

I thought the kids stop growing after all those weeks.

But I guess it was just the beginning.

"You're almost there Master Gabrielle!" I cheered approaching the trio and sitting beside the pink haired kid.

Being there to watch them grow is an utter honor and privilege.