Do You Like Elaine?

King Arias Astaze had his gaze on his older half-sister who entered his chamber with a concerned look on her face. Though the chamber was quite large, the Princess was in such a hurry that she reached where he sat in no time. And just when she was about to speak up...

"I'm alright, Mira," the young King spoke up first. "I briefly lost my mind but Elaine came. I'm fine thanks to that."

Mira Astaze stared at her younger brother for a while and then sat beside him on the couch. "I should spend more time with you from now on," she said in a low voice. "You always look after me and I feel bad."

His sister's response drew a little smile from the King's lips. "Why must you say that, Mira? Ever since I was young, don't you always tell me that we should be there for each other as a family?"

The Princess recalled the time she used to say those words to the half-younger brother who suddenly appeared in their lives out of nowhere. She was only 11 back then and her mother had already passed away. So, she and her older brother who was the late Crown Prince embraced the little yet lonely boy into their family without complaining.

At first, it wasn't out of familial love. It was more because of the pity they felt for the young boy who recently lost his mother. After all, they knew the pain of losing a mother. They treated him with kindness because of that. As time passed, they formed a deep family bond and love that only grew stronger as more time passed.

During those times, they never had an idea of how much the kindness they showed meant for the little boy. Even Mira only realized it when her father and older brother passed away. Because since that day, it was Arias who always looked after her with love and patience, no matter how weak and broken she had become in contrast to her once confident and cheerful nature.

"You keep on staring at me," the King pointed out, snapping his older sister out of her thoughts. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing much," Mira Astaze replied with a little smile on her face. "I was wondering how much the little boy who suddenly appeared in our lives has grown. Time really flies."

"That's right," Arias muttered. "But you talk as if you're way older than me. I'm only a year younger."

With the familiar argument being brought up, Princess Mira let out a chuckle. "Be it a year or ten years, the fact remains, Arias. I'm your older sister."

"You really love being older," the King pointed out and shook his head with an amusing smile on his face.

"It helps a lot," the Princess simply said. "For instance, you're the King now but because I'm your older sibling, you still treat me with respect. That's already a privilege that only a very few get to enjoy. Don't you think so?"

The young King play along and lazily nodded. "I suppose."

Mira Astaze frowned at her younger brother's lazy response. "What's that for? Don't you agree with me?"

"I agree. Don't you see me nodding?" There was a small yet playful smile on the King's lips and the Princess sighed.

"You're hopeless." Her playful demeanor slowly vanished when she met Arias's gaze and said, "If the officials brought up about my marriage again, you should give your consent."

"Mira -"

"I'm 21 now, Arias," the Princess interjected in a calm voice. "According to the custom, it's time for me to marry now. I don't want you to be in a tight situation because of me."

"I don't want you to live such a life, Mira," the King argued. "If you enter a loveless marriage, you will feel empty for the rest of your life. I don't want that. I want you to be happy."

"Why are you so sure that I won't be happy?" the Princess asked. "Nothing is predictable, Arias. If I can help our Araven through my marriage and find happiness at the same time, won't it be for the best?"

"But -"

"You shoulder all the burden alone. I want to help you and our kingdom too, Arias," Mira Astaze insisted. "I really mean it."

Meeting the determined gaze of his sister, Arias Astaze let out a sigh. "You're always so stubborn and firm in what you want. But I really don't want you to do that. If you marry and leave the palace, then what about me? I will be all alone."

"Alone?" Mira Astaze raised a brow as if she wasn't expecting such a word. "You also have Elaine. You can't cling on to me forever anyway."

"I don't mean that." The young King let out a sigh. "You can take your time. Besides, don't drag Elaine into this. You know how much things have changed."

"I know but I still know you better," Mira Astaze simply said. "You still care about Elaine a lot but you're only holding back because you feel guilty." She placed her hand on her brother's shoulder and added, "You know Elaine doesn't blame you. Don't torment yourself anymore, Arias."

"If she blame me... it would have been easier for me," Arias Astaze muttered as he narrowed his eyes. "She's always so selfless and I hate that."

Mira Astaze recalled the question that used to bother her. After thinking twice or even thrice, she finally asked, "Do you like Elaine?"

In an instant, amazement was written all over the King's face!

Did he like Elaine? What kind of question was that?!

"Why are you asking me that?" he asked his sister back with a mixture of confusion and surprisement on his face. "Elaine is the only friend I ever have and you know that."

"I'm well aware of that," Princess Mira responded. Though she let out a sigh, there was still a little smile on her face. "I'm only curious if she is just a friend to you or more."

"You think too much, Mira," the King said. "Elaine is a friend whom I will never be willing to lose. She's precious to me in that way."

Observing her brother's gaze for a few seconds, the Princess gently nodded several times. "I understand." With that said, she rose from her seat. "I think it's time for dinner. Let's go. We have a guest and it would be rude to keep him waiting."