Chapter 14 – Aurora Beatrice

Alexandro is still making a fuss about the hickey he found on her neck but Eve chose to not pay him any attention at all. By the looks of it, she’s well aware that Lord Arthur have more pressing matters for her to attend to.

“I do not understand,” Lord Arthur started once Alexandro has already stopped yapping. He then looked at the both of them as if he’s seeing them for the first time.

“When I took you in five years ago, you both told me that you’re both runaway nobles from Zeronis. If that’s the truth then how come it seems to me that someone from Forsythia know you both well, instead? Especially you, sister.”

Eve held her breath hearing that question but she knew better that she cannot keep it anymore. At least not from Lord Arthur who took them both and treated them like his real family.

“When you met us years ago, we were really from Zeronis. But originally, we are not from there. We’re both born at Forsythia.” It was Alexandro who answered when he saw that his twin sister’s lips are still pursed.

Lord Arthur narrowed his eyes and eventually shook his head. He tapped his fingers at the table then moved the parchment towards Eve’s direction.

“The things he offered as a dowry isn’t even something I can get a hold of unless maybe I will be conquering thousands of lands. And it’s not as if he would let us reject his proposal, but at the end of the day, no matter what you are still my sister, Eve. I do not want you to feel that you’re being sold off to but I want to understand what’s going on. Who exactly is Emperor Arsene to you and why is it he’s that desperate to marry you and become his empress?”

Eve sighed then looked at his brother with pained eyes. “We know each other because we used to be lovers.”

His brother has no answer to that but just to smile bitterly. “How did things end between the two of you? Do you think this is some kind of revenge to you, now that he’s an emperor?”

“I think not,” it was Alexandro who answered before Eve could open her mouth. “How about we just tell you who and what exactly are we before we came to Zeronis and eventually here?”

Lord Arthur nodded at that and shifted to his seat as he waited for either of the twins to begin their story.

***

Forsythia. A well renowned country known for her self-sufficiency. The outlanders deem her as a beauty; the flower of the continent, because of her physical shape on the map that looks like a woman sitting prettily.

Neighboring countries, even from irrelevant ones beyond the horizon praised her. Her people seem to be happy, the economy is thriving, and other empire who dared tarnish her have faced their demise.

But above all, she is most admired for her leader. An empress regnant who rules over her citizens. And all of these are possible because of the unyielding power and control of the Leonhart bloodline – the imperial family.

“What nonsense!” a woman’s angry voice can be heard throughout the mansion but she couldn’t care less about it. Anyway, it’s not as if it’s the first time she gets to experience her wrath.

“If you have nothing more to say, it’s best for you to leave,” she dismissed her in a cold tone, that even her is quite surprised that she was able to stood up to her this once.

The woman’s eyes flared even more. Startled by her sudden rebellion, she lifted a hand and struck her on the right cheek, leaving a red mark. Her hand maiden could only watch her with pity. After all, nothing good comes out from intervening the ire of the mistress of the house especially if she has mouths to feed.

“Go back and bend on your knees! Tell them that you admit your mistakes and have them take you back or else this will be your end!”

She sighed exasperatedly. Instead of answering, she pushed her blanket off her then walked towards the door, her hand maiden at her tail. She wanted to at least change into a decent dress and wash herself but she thought that those are impossible to do during that moment when there is a raging monster in her chamber.

“Aurora Beatrice Alvarez!”

She stopped on her tracks and looked back at her mother emotionlessly like what she’s been doing for years now. She wanted to just let this commotion go but she changed her mind. Since she has already angered her, she decided to fuel it more.

“I’m not going back to the academia no matter what you say. I already got the approval of my transfer from Her Majesty herself and I am not puerile to disregard an imperial order.”

Countess Alvarez’ froze at that. She got the shock of her life when she received the letter from the palace saying that her daughter, Aurora Beatrice Alvarez is being expelled from the academia for disrespecting a teacher and for purposely flunking her grades. She was trembling profusely that if a stranger would see her in that state, they would mistake her for being ill.

She couldn’t believe it. She’s fully aware that her daughter does not have an ounce of respect for her but she has always been obedient. When she told her that she would enter the academia and compete with her cousins and other relatives for being the next empress regnant, Aurora obeyed her wordlessly. She was over the moon during that time. For her, her daughter isn’t really the best candidate to be the empress regnant, but she could be especially if she would control her.

But now, her dreams are like a glass that was shattered right in her very eyes. She’s a member of the imperial family herself so she knows that it’s already the end of her illusion.

“That wench!” she yelled hopelessly even though Aurora is already long gone.