CHAPTER #18:Visit to the orphanage.pt#1

The celebration of the new year came in. The country was busy preparing for this grand event. The events in the country take place throughout the four seasons in a year.

Spring Is the season to welcome the good harvest and flower festivals to honor God for his blessings upon the country. Then summer when the summer solstice with the elves is held. Autumn is the time of the year battle games between the knights and mercenaries and last but not the least winter, the season with most events. Starting with the astrological event called "The awakening of the Sky" when the stars shine the brightest dominating in the vast sky throughout the season until spring. Then the founding festival for the birth of the empire and lastly the New year's celebration.

But I don't wish to engage in these events since I will tire out easily after meeting worthless peasants.

Then again I was looking forward to meeting the mysterious woman I saw at Eirlyn's place.

"Luna~What should I do? The academy is asking for your poor brother's presence earlier than usual~The year has not even ended."

-"It's true since it's only November."

"First let go of me, Lucien." I tried to free myself from his abnormally strong grip. He wouldn't let go and continued to rub his cold cheek against mine.

"Let go already!" I was almost in tears.

"But then you will start throwing things on me."He pouted to which my patience was lost.

" Of course I will do that. This morning the letter arrived from Beauregard's place. And it was shockingly a complaint letter stating that you and those trashy friends of yours pulled some tricks on Eirlyn again."

"But it was just some bugs here and there. Harmless petty bugs. What's the deal with that. Even you can kill them."

I sighed hopelessly massaging my forehead.

"Don't you know Eirlyn is weak to these things? She is also frail enough to faint when she gets scared."

"So basically she is a mouse."

"A what?"

"She is pointlessly scared of so many things. At least she should muster some courage instead of fainting herself away. What will she do if she were in a dire situation by herself? She'd probably die a worthless death."

"And that means you have the right to pull such pranks on her? And let go of me already!"

"I am doing a favor to her so she might build herself some confidence." He replied ignoring my efforts.

"Mother lost her temper when she read the letter."

"But I kept it in my room! How did she-?" He abruptly stood up and let go of me.

"I have to escape before she finds me. Luna help me."

"What can I do to protect you. Give it up brother." I shrugged. Since no one can escape her wrath. Even father cautioned us many times to not get on her bad side even for a second.

He was about to open the door to make his escape.

"Mother!" he backed away.

"So you were here my son."

-"Crap! This is bad."

"Mother!" I choked up.

I peeked at the servants trembling behind my mother not daring to stop her.

-"This is going to be hell."I swallowed my words.

"Lucien dear~Whats the meaning of this?"She held up the letter.

" I found it in your room. Were you attempting to hide it from me again?"

-"Not this way!"He thought and looked back at the room.

"I am sorry mother!" He escaped through the balcony and on the tree.

-"How the f****** hell did he?" I looked at him jaw dropped like the servants.

"Come back here you brat!" My mother ran after him.

And then even the worst case was that my mother followed him in the same manner. Letting my eyes out of their sockets.

-"I will pray for you at your funeral my dear brother. You lived well."

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Lucien left the academy bandaged like a mummy which was the after-effects of incurring the wrath of our mother. Since he was to be a part of the student council which he had been rejecting to rid himself of unnecessary workload. He had to accept it as additional punishment from Inina.

"I'd rather train myself to death than enter that lousy place." He scornfully muttered entering the carriage.

"Have a safe trip brother." I waved him goodbye.

"How cruel of you Luna! You should stop me from going instead." He cried trying to reach for my hand.

"Be sure to send us a letter." I beamed slapped his hand away.

"I don't want to leave Luna~! Let me back."

"Young master, please don't do something dangerous.

The poor knights tried their best to hold him back.

"Good riddance." I was relieved that he was gone. Because it means that I can spend time peacefully without having to put myself with Lucien until I exhausted my life away. I jumped on my bed to catch up to my beauty sleep when the door opened and I saw my nanny come in.

"Young miss? Did I disturb your sleep?"

"Well, now you did it." I frowned.

"What is it this time?" I looked at her.

"Madame is asking for your presence."

"Is it an urgent matter?"

"I'm afraid I know not about it."

"Take me there nanny," I said letting out a deep breath to control my frustration.

I strolled down the hallway and to the first floor where my mother's office was.

"Mother, you called?" I took a seat drowsily.

My eyes were half-closed as sleep slowly engulfed my mind.

"Dear get a grip. I called you here to tell you in advance that we are going to visit the orphanages in the capital."

"What? Why? My eyes opened wide with dismay.

"It's to give supplies to them this winter."

"Why would we do that? Does the imperial faction not provide the poor every winter?"

"You...surprisingly know things well my sugar cube." She smiled in applause.

-"That's not what I mean!"

"This time the aristocratic faction has decided to lend hand to the poor as well."

"I hate politics," I mumbled as burying my face in the cushion.

"Since our family has always been the head of the aristocratic faction we need to keep healthy relations with the imperialists to not give rise to a civil war in the empire."

"But that doesn't mean that we need to unnecessarily follow their footsteps." I insisted.

"I mean father and Marquess Aiden and Duke Baudelaire are on friendly terms with one another."

"You won't understand right now Luna."

"Mmm~" I had to give in to my mother's request.

"Fine. I will get ready."

"I will be waiting for you after lunch. We will go out at noon. Be sure to dress warmly since winter these days is extremely harsh."

"I got it," I replied and was escorted by my nanny."

-"I don't want to. Why should it be my family? And over everything else the orphanages? I am already preoccupied with avoiding my fate with Phanessa. I don't want to run into her anywhere."

I scowled as my nanny dressed me up.

"Young miss here." She placed the faux fur cap on my head.

"This will keep you from getting cold."

"Isn't this a bit too much nanny?" I furrowed.

"I can't help it. Since you dislike cold. This is the only way."

By noon we boarded the carriage. The servants wished us a safe trip. The carriage was followed by three knights wearing thick fur cloaks.

"At least they won't die in the cold."