Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

"Princess Asiana Soleil de Avalon will die."

I said and both of them stood cold. The sound of birds chirping were the only thing that rings my eardrums it remained quiet for another couple of minutes before Sancho sighed in defeat. Damn that awkward three minute moment of silence and to think I expressed myself rather proudly feeling cool.

"I don't like this." He replied but we all know there's nothing he can do about it. Helix's gaze were fixed on me as if he just heard the most absurd news in his life, well I agree with him this is actually absurd. Why do I have to die for the sake of those mother freaking bastards who wants to usurp the throne!

"Sol, that plan is reckless." His calmness sends chill to my spine. That is definitely the coldest voice he had ever used against me.

"That's exactly why we're planning right now. To minimize the recklessness of this reckless plan!" my eyes met his and the intense exchange between our gaze were enough to cause static around us. None of us wishes to yield as both of us are stubborn enough to keep this battle for hours.

"Both of you, enough" Sancho called us out but his pleas fell onto deaf ears. From my peripheral view, Irritation is visible in his eyes and so he stood and draws his sword.

"Why don't you just slice each other's throat?" his scream took us back to reality.

"Let's not forget why we were here in the first place." Sancho sighed, brushing his jet black hair. We were so engrossed with what has happened that we totally forgot the purpose of today's meeting. I furrowed my brows.

"What for? I don't think I'm getting married anytime soon."

"Wedding or not, ten years still had pass. Let's just open that goddamn box!" Sancho's voice were impatient, I smiled in amusement. He had always worn a stoic expression on his face whenever he was doing his rounds and work at the government palace, he was known to be a calm and collected individual who is level headed enough to handle difficult things under pressure. Who would've thought that my brother who is three years older than me is just as childish and impertinent as a ten year old.

Helix stood up and picked up the shovel and started digging through the spot where we buried our treasure box. Ten years ago, we decided to bury something that we wanted to give each other, something that will remind us that wherever we are or whatever happens, we still have each other's back. That was some pretty sentimental stuff we thought for a kid, it was Sancho's idea. Moments later, a brown treasure chest came into view I ducked and picked it up with my hands, not minding the dirt.

"You're gross." My brother snide and I look at him with blank stares. For a prince and a knight, he's quite the prickly one.

"Shut up, Sancho." I laughed when my brother's shocked expression fell onto Helix who just told him to shut up. Helix rarely go against him especially on petty things like this, it must have been a shocked.

"Helix, you meanie! I'll never allow you to get married."

"Fine by me." I looked at the both of them and smiled as they bicker around each other. How time flies, how I'll miss this sight because two months from now, I'll have to disappear and leave them behind.

"Alright, here it goes!" Sancho opened the chest and revealed six gift boxes. He picked up his gifts and handed one to Helix in a very childish manner like a kid who was forced to share his favourite toy to someone else.

"I won't give you a speech because you're mean and it's gross!" He said while he smiled at me. "Soooool!" my brother run towards me and gave a bone wrecking hug a cold chain touched my skin. I looked at me neck and saw a pendant as twice as big as a coin. The golden chain was in contrast with the oval shaped pendant that was decorated in small sapphire stones, and diamonds that forms the royal family crest. An aster flower, with sword blades for its leaves "This is…" My face was flushed an unknown expression unsure whether to smile or to tear up. "Open it." I was confused for a moment when Sancho told me to open it but upon further inspection, it was a locket necklace. I slowly open the necklace and revealed our royal family picture on one side, and on the other side, there was an engraving that says "Royal Family of Avalon- Princess Asiana Soleil de Avalon"

"This should remind you that wherever you'll be, Avalon will always be your home and we will always be your family." Sancho looked at me with gentle eyes and gave me a hug. I grew up loved by everyone else and I had never been this thankful to the Gods for giving me a family that cares so much for me, I swear to do everything to protect them too.

Helix faked a cough as if reminding us of his existence. "My turn" He said while handing me a rectangular box, I unwrapped the ribbon and removed the cover I blinked my eyes when the sun reflected the light coming from his gift. It was a dagger with a mermaid as its handle. A siren with its hand cross on its chest and an engraving of its scales, it appears as if the blade was an extension of its tail. I smiled on Helix, this is typical of him. When we were young my parents and my brother were against with the idea of me picking up a sword or any types of weapon although they all gave in in the end, but Helix was the only one who supported me from the start. "You can use it to kill that Logan bastard, I think my gift from ten years ago were for this moment." I laugh at his spiteful remark while he scratched his red locks.

It was finally my turn and a sudden realization hit me when I carefully glance at the gifts I received from the two. My shabby gifts that the eight year old me prepared were nothing but trash compared to their flashy ones.

"Well, my dear sister where is it?" Sancho looked at me in anticipation my eyes shifted from the dagger in my hands and the remaining gift boxes inside the chest. "I…" as if in a hurry, Helix picked up the boxes and handed it over to me "Princess, we don't have forever" he said in annoyance with my stalling. I sighed in dismay and with a heavy heart, I handed Sancho a small box his eyes lit up when he saw the box and I looked away, not wanting to see his disappointed look when he sees my gift. It was a king chess piece made of glass. When I was a kid my mother was against the idea of me picking up weapons and so she made me took classes in arts and crafts and other stuffs that should be princess-like. Avalon is a country of archipelago surrounded in mines like gold and sapphire, it was also a country where glass crafts are one of its main economic trades. "It was a glass craft I made when I took classes. You will be king one day and will always be treading on situations where one wrong choice can break everything just like a glass. So I hope that will remind you the important things to remember." I explained while still looking away. With one eyes closed, I took a peek at Sancho and to my surprise, my proud older brother were in tears "Wait, are you that disappointed with my gift?"

"N-no… it's just… I'm so touched" Sancho replied in between sniffs, I let out a small chuckle watching him act like a teenage girl in puberty. A smiling Helix filled my vision and I remembered that among the gifts I have prepared, his were the most disappointing. "Whoa Princess, you're so frugal. My gift was pure silver you know?" I covered my face in embarrassment at Helix's remark I know he's joking but to point it out like that is another level of shame that I'd rather not relive. "That was my first ever embroidery work you know…" I whispered enough for him to hear. "What? No way, Helix let's switch, I want that hanker chief!" Sancho tried to snatch Helix's gift but he effortlessly blocked my brother's face. It was a hanker chief with the de Marso family crest on the edge, a black shield with red rose in the middle.

"You are my first friend and the first person who allowed me to let me protect myself. I wanted to give you the very first thing I made…" I whispered once again, unexpectedly my face is flushed red. I was too embarrassed to look at Helix so I walked through the other side of the garden. When I was far away enough, I saw him hide his smile.