Adinda

The next day, in the garden of the Croix Mansion, Roxus walks with her two servants, and Lucifer. Seeing Roxus and Lucifer walking side by side together made the servants who saw them feel at peace. The two of them also chatted warmly with each other, as if nothing was wrong at all.

Roxus sighed. "Social season will start with Cece's birthday party," Roxus said quietly. Her right hand hung from Lucifer's left arm. "I hope nothing bad happens," Roxus said quietly.

"As long as I'm here, I won't let anything bad happen. Remember that you've got rid of Ariaster from the capital and soon, your beloved little brother will arrive from the County," said Lucifer.

Roxus smiled. Lucifer stopped walking. He seemed just to remember something. "Right. The Red Moon is coming soon," said Lucifer. Suddenly, his eyes became emotionless cold. He stared at Roxus who was staring at him with innocent eyes.

"About that, you don't need to worry. My family is currently fine, so..." Lucifer didn't change his gaze. "Luc, I'll be fine, I promise," Roxus said softly.

"When you talk like that, I become even more certain that you will hurt yourself again. Roxe, My Love, at least let me be with you wherever you are. Even if you decide on an impromptu plan, give me time to listen to it first." Lucifer spoke quickly and evenly.

"Of course, my dear friend, Luc. And besides, I'm not planning anything right now, really!" said Roxus in a warm voice.

Lucifer shook his head. "This is not enough. I have something to propose. I want to make you promise, if you come to endanger yourself, you will grant one wish from me."

Roxus tilted her face. "I'll even give you all the requests you want, you just have to ask."

Lucifer chuckled. He faced Roxus and pinched her cheeks gently. "You will refuse if you don't promise now."

"I won't reject it!" Roxus denies quickly.

"You will reject it," said Lucifer.

Roxus started to think hard. "Could it be, you will do something to my brother—"

"Roxus, I've told you many times I'm not interested in your brother," Lucifer denied back quickly.

"Impossible!" Roxus was getting clueless.

"I know you think that your brother is the most special human in this world," said Lucifer.

"My brother is indeed the most special human in this world!" said Roxus quickly.

Lucifer laughed again, and this time it was no ordinary chuckle. "But I'm only interested in making him stronger so he can protect you too," said Lucifer.

"You are not interested because my brother is very talented and special?" Roxus asked and tilted her face.

"Yes, yes, I understand, you two are very talented and special," said Lucifer dryly.

Roxus gave a disgusted look at Lucifer. "I'll kill you if you plan something weird on my little brother again," recalled how Lucifer trained Ernacht on the battlefield.

"Hey, we're not planning a coup, so don't worry about your brother," said Lucifer then. "And," he continued, "...I want you to promise not to refuse my request."

"I even gave you my Mana Core. Is there in this world that I can't give to you (except my brother)?" Roxus asked, suspicious of Lucifer after what he said yesterday, but decided to play along. She can always turn the table even if something happened anyway.

Lucifer smiled. He looks so happy. "Then I'll just ask your father's permission," whispered Lucifer.

Roxus furrowed her brows, realizing something. "Are you sure this isn't about my brother?" she asked again, pretending not to notice.

"My Love," Lucifer said in a soft, warm tone. "I promise it's not about your brother."

Since Roxus's servants walked some distance away from them, they couldn't hear what Lucifer and their master were talking about. But both of them know that Roxus and Lucifer's relationship has improved and is back to normal.

.

Finally, the social season began. Two days away is Princess Cecilia's birthday party, and today, Ernacht and Amaranth Croix will arrive in the capital.

Amaranth Croix is ​​Roxus's stepmother. She is an ordinary citizen who was pregnant when Eoin married her. Everyone thought that Count Eoin Croix married her because the woman was pregnant with his son, but that is not true, although Eoin never refuted people's allegations.

Eoin first met Amaranth when Roxus was three years old. Amaranth was already pregnant when they first met, and at that time Amaranth was in a dangerous situation. Eoin saves her from the human trafficking network and later, the two fall in love.

The horse carriage stopped at the front door of the Croix mansion. An aide quickly opened the door, and when a beautiful woman got off the carriage, Eoin quickly greeted her by helping her while reaching out for a handle.

Roxus, standing near them, smiled sweetly. "Welcome to the capital, Dear Mother," Roxus said softly.

"My daughter Roxus!" Amaranth looks so happy seeing Roxus after so long but also surprised because Roxus cut her long hair so short. The two of them hugged.

The scandal about the Croix family died down after Eoin decided to block people from tracing his family's privacy. But things came back to the fore when Ernacht was born. Eoin had blonde hair as pale as snow and blue eyes like the ocean. Roxus inherited her father's blonde hair colour and lavender eyes from her birth mother who died giving birth to her.

Amaranth, has sky blue hair, a hair colour that is so unique and rare when compared to the hair colour of the people from the Bertia Kingdom. But the thing is, Ernacht is different. The baby was born that day had jet black hair, a rare hair colour, even in continents other than the Rotund Empire's Great Continent.

Because of that, everyone began to suspect and whisper, that Ernacht Croix did not have Croix blood at all. Even so, a completely different situation existed at the Croix residence.

A young man got off the same train, and at once, the world seemed to be welcoming him. He was so charming, around 17 years old, and in the prime of his teenage years. Ernacht Croix, a black-haired young man with rare good looks.

"Adinda Ernacht!" Softly, Roxus released her embrace from her mother and greeted Ernacht with a sparkling face. 

Hearing his sister call him the way she always does makes Ernacht's cold and flat face change. He may still look flat, but the look in his grey eyes is warm and sweet. "Thank you for welcoming us, Father, Ayunda," he said politely.

After Eoin patted Ernacht on the shoulder, he escorted Amaranth into the house. Ernacht is still standing there with Roxus who looks so happy. Ernacht didn't look angry, but he didn't look happy either. His older sister greeted them with happiness in her eyes as usual, but the woman's different appearance worried him. Moreover, he also knew through the letters his father sent to the County and the information he got himself about what was going on in the capital.

"You look thin, Ayunda. Even though we only didn't meet for two months," said Ernacht.

Roxus smiled. "Is it true? A girl looks prettier when she is slimmer, right? That means it's a good thing," said Roxus.

Ernacht furrowed his brows. Automatically, he took his sister's hand to escort her back into the house. The two of them chatted briefly, and there wasn't any awkwardness between them. Yes, they were always this close. 

After Ernacht's birth, Eoin was very happy that his wife, Amaranth, was healthy and well. After losing his first wife while giving birth to Roxus, he was so afraid that Amaranth would leave him too. He is also grateful that Ernacht was born in a healthy condition, after what he and his mother experienced while he was in the womb.

Roxus also felt the same way. She is happy that her father doesn't have to be sad anymore, and is happy to have had the opportunity to have a complete family. Especially, because of Ernacht's presence.

Today, seeing Amaranth and Ernacht coming and watching the Croix family reunite, the servants feel even more at ease and at peace. Many noble families do not get along very well with each other, whether the Lord and Madam are not harmonious, or between siblings who are always fighting with each other.

But the Croix Family, although often appeared in the circle of rumours thanks to Ernacht's appearance and the fact of Amaranth's background, are the most harmonious family they have ever seen. In the past, everyone wasn't sure how to treat a son who was born without Croix blood. Even Amaranth felt very scared and sad because of her son's ambiguous position.

However, because of the Croix family's position in politics and government, nothing could stand in the way of Eoin's decision to appoint an heir, so right after Ernacht was named, Eoin announced that Ernacht would be heir to the title of Count Croix once he grew up and married.

At first, after the decision was made, everyone criticized him and asked Eoin to reconsider. Eoin still had a blood daughter, and it made sense to make Roxus the Countess of Croix, or make Roxus' husband the heir to his title, rather than make Ernacht, a son whose background is unclear, to be an heir.

Eoin quickly punished those who spread rumours of all the hurtful words about Ernacht and decided to let Amaranth and Ernacht spend more time in the County than in the Capital. So except during the social season, the two of them will spend time in the County and Ernacht can train himself to be a Count there. On the other hand, Roxus studied politics and social life in the capital to support Ernacht in external affairs.

The two siblings have always worked hard to support each other, and although the two of them also often quarrelled like siblings in general, the two of them never stop loving each other. Calling each other with Ayunda and Adinda, as an example, was something out of formality, but also filial love. As Ayunda meant Dearest Big Sister and Adinda meant Dearest Little Sibling, some might just see it as a habit, but when the two of them, doesn't even share the same blood called each other that way...

"Oh! Adinda," Roxus turned to her younger brother who was now much taller than her. "I want to introduce you to someone. But if you're tired, you better rest first, and I'll introduce you to him next time."

Ernacht closed his eyes for a moment. Here it comes.

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Adinda: Dearest Little Sibling

Ayunda: Dearest Big Sister