The Sudden Lost

"Brother, why do you come home late everyday?" The little girl asked with confusion on her face.

The boy knelt to level her height and softly placed his hand on her head. He smiled as he was looking deeply to her eyes telling her everything is fine, "Shhh... Don't tell mother and father, Etana.".

"Okay, brother", as her eyes smiled cheerfully.

She excitedly went to the table and pulled a chair under it. The chair is quite tall for her to reach so she tried exerting a force on her toes. Her brother laughed as he was watching her little sister struggling on her feet.

Finally, she was able to put her knees on the platform as she slowly put her force on her hands to support her body and successfully took her seat on the chair. "I'm hungry, brother", pouting her lips.

With a smile he replied, "Alright, alright. Just wait right there. I'll get the dinner ready in a minute", upon going to the firewood place.

After dinner, they went to bed. The house was small. So they sleep together on one sheet. The boy carried her sister laying her on the sheet comfortably.

"Brother, I can't sleep. Sing me a lullaby", the little girl asked.

The boy then made soft taps on her head, "Brother is quite tired, Etana. I can't really sing that well. You can't sleep with it", he replied in a low tone.

The little girl then gave her an angry face and pouts, "Hmmp. You just don't love Etana."

The boy giggled finding her sister cute like how could she disarm him so much. He then gave her a sweet smile, "Just sleep already. I'll be watching you on your sleep. I still have to wait for mother and father to come home", as he pulled the blanket covering up to her neck.

"Okay, brother", the little girl bid good night as she closed her eyes holding her brother's hand.

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Before the king could swing for another slash, suddenly a man just sprouted right in front of him which was unexpected.

In just a glimpse, a hand was already blocking his sword inhibiting a slit in the palm of a young man that surpised him.

Blood came out sliding down to his wrists but his face had shown no feeling of pain at all.

They were already glaring at each other. The king is still pushing his sword deepening the slit more. The blood became thicker as more blood is coming out of the wound. The king grinned. The young man then embraced his fingers around the blade gripping it even tighter.

The king had felt the force and pushed harder. Suddenly, a shout had interrupted the two.

"Brother!"

A voice of a woman called from afar. She was wearing a long color maroon dress that reaches the ground.

The king then looked to the direction where the voice is coming from and to his suprise, it was his sister calling him. He immediately put his sword down without thinking.

The woman then looked at the man that was still badly hurt on the ground. She was seeing blood scattered on the grass and a hand that was freshly cut. She then called the maids to tend the man that needs urgent aid.

"W-what are you doing here, Etana?", the king asked stuttered what to say.

"What have you done again this time, brother?"

"No, I- I was just enjoying myself."

"You're stuttering."

The woman looked again to the man that was still crying in pain and then called the maids.

"Take him to the doctor and make sure to take him to his home safely. Make sure to provide them food supplies as a compensation. Take the other men with you as well."

"Yes, Princess." the maid replied in curtsy.

Silence filled the atmosphere between them. The woman had the unsatisfied look on her face as she was looking with dismay to her brother that has forgotten who he truly is. It has been a long time since the last day she had seen his brother from the revolution.

The king then broke off the silence and asked, "I never knew you were home already. Just when did you arrive? How was your training alone?"

"It was fine, brother. I just came to see how was the kingdom under your care."

The woman displayed an uncaring eyes. She was staring at him that made the king gulped a little.

"I will hold an immediate celebration this evening to celebrate your return. Let's go inside", he suggested to cut off the atmosphere.

"Thank you, brother."

Upon going inside the palace, the woman made a halt for she has sensed something. She followed with her eyes the men that was leaving the palace. She stared deeply as their distance is getting far.

"Hey, Etana."

The king called her still unable to hear so he called again.

"Hey, Etana."

It took her longer to come back to her senses until her gaze towards the men broke off by a loud voice.

"What are you looking at there? You have been frozen on your spot for a minute already."

"N-nothing, brother", she replied stuttering.

"Let us go inside then."

The king led the way and walked her sister to the Great Hall of the palace.

The Great Hall is a wide-space room. The ceiling is high and decorative. There were big windows on both sides and a large fireplace on the right side. At one end of the hall, there is the throne of the king placed on a platform, the only elevation in the room.

Upon arrival in the hall, the king went to the sideway balcony facing the garden. He walked towards the railing then propped his body on the balluster and leaned his arms on the handrail. The woman was still behind silently following him and propped as well beside her brother in a distance. She silently looked around to what her eyes could reach.

There was silence between them, suddenly the king spoke, "The palace is still new to me, Etana", as he was nodding his head upon looking down the garden.

"The day that you have assassinated the late king, repeats in my sleep", he then turned his head up and looked upon the skies releasing a deep sigh.

"I never regretted one thing even if the heavens will deny me as the king of the land. The late king killed mother and father, Etana. Even his wife has to die! She ha-".

Etana cut off her brother before he could finish his sentence and spoke in a high temper.

"No, brother! That is too much. You can't lose more of your human self anymore."

Etana turned her brother to see him unfazed to what he just said. She looked deeper in his eyes to see vengeance had already eaten his very soul. Her once kind brother she knew turned to someone she does not know. Their mother and father died protecting them. She blamed herself since that day unable to protect. She was weak and vulnerable, thinking it was her fault carrying hatred upon herself.

"The servers are getting in to ready the banquet, His Highness", the guard suddenly entered the conversation.

The king nodded.

"Get changed, I don't want you showing yourself to my guests with that dress." the king told Etana with cold eyes and walked away leaving her in the balcony alone.

Etana was left in silence as her eyes followed her brother leaving the great hall.

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The banquet has started and more guests are continuously coming at the struck of dusk.

The king has seated on his throne watching the party. Etana has seated beside him.

"Etana."

"Yes, brother."

"Is your butt heavy?"

"Why?"

"Do I really have to say it?"

"Fine."

Etana then stood up from her seat and immersed herself with the crowd to welcome them.

People were gathered in different circles as the hall is getting louder. The maids were busy serving platters every hour and then, butlers roaming around serving the wine. The hall was alive again after several months of the cruelty of the late king.

The king seemed all his guests have gathered so he called their attention.

The guests then stopped what they were doing and took their seats.

The king started the party with his welcoming speech.

"Good evening, my beloved guests. Thank you for celebrating with me for the return of my sister, Princess Etana. I am glad you have accepted my sudden invitation. Please, do enjoy your night. I hereby open this soirée a start."

The royal band then started playing the royal song as a cue.

The guests gathered on the sides of the hall leaving the dance floor empty, the most awaited part. The royal band then shifted to a ball dance song for the guests. People came entering the center floor and danced to the song with their partners.

Etana on the other hand was just around the corner watching the guests. Suddenly, her head felt heavy. She went to the king for permission to take in a break but had seen him leaving the banquet as well.

"His Highness, where are you going?", she asked.

"I am tired already. The party will end in a few minutes."

"Alright. I'll be staying in the balcony for a while."

The king then replied a nod.

Etana went to the balcony to breathe some fresh air and relieve her drowsiness from the smell of the liquors had caused her. She took her time on the balcony looking at the moon and feeling the cool air of the night is giving.

Almost an hour had passed and there had been no stars as a sign of a heavy rain to fall. Even so, she was enticed by the alluring appearance of the night.

Suddenly, she heard a man's voice spoke coming from her side. "Why did you get out of the party, princess?"

Etana was a little throttled inside and looked to the direction of the voice to see who had spoken to her. It was a young man around her age. He was wearing a thick blue cloak reaching his knees. His tunic was seamed to fit his body embroidered on the button hems. His trousers were black in color with the lower part tucked inside his boots. He was holding a glass of wine in his hands.

Etana took a deep breath.

"I'm not used to parties like this. It gives me headaches. How about you?"

"No, I just don't feel like staying there tonight."

"I see."

The moment felt longer for they had no other else to tell. Suddenly, someone called out to her. She turned her head to see that the right hand servant of the king called her.

"Excuses, Princess."

"Lead me the way." She can already tell that there is something wrong from the eyes of the servant.

Etana immediately followed the servant not turning her back to the young man.

"What happened?" She asked looking at the servant. He had spoken nothing that made her worry.

They were walking fastly to the direction where the king's bedroom is located that made Etana even more worried in confusion.

Upon their arrival at the hallway, there were guards already standing outside the room that made her nervous all of a sudden. She cleared her throat as the servant commanded the guards to open the door to the king's room.

Her tears suddenly fell frightened to what she had seen. The king was already laying on the floor with his blood spilling all over. She then ran towards her brother and checked his pulse to see if there is still a little chance of him breathing but unfortunately, there isn't. Life had already gave up on him.

She cried in deep grievance upon looking on her already dead brother.

"Brother, who did this to you?", as her tears already shedding her face hoping for a reply.

"Search silently within the palace. Maybe the criminal hasn't gone too far yet."

"Yes, Princess."

She remained in the room with her brother laying him on her lap. She explored her brother's wound with her hand. The knife's blade is still inside.

In a glimpse, the light of the moon reflected the tip of the handle. In just a little spark of light, she can see that the handle of the knife is made of gold. At that moment she thought that it might be also a royal who had killed her brother.

"Bring me to the late king's wife", was all the words she uttered. She was filled with hatred.

"Yes, Princess."

"Let no one know about this. We have to keep this a secret from the people."

"Yes, Princess."

The party had come to an adjourn. The guests had left the party ignorant to what happened inside the palace.

Heavy rain fell as if it was grieving for the death of the king. It was again silent in the palace.