Chapter 20: Almost Pickpocketed

"…That's a lot to take in." Selina's voice was quiet, but the storm of emotions in her chest was anything but. Pain, confusion, sorrow—all of it swirled, her head pounding as if it too were caught in the chaos. Today was not her day.

"So, my mother was a traitor, and I'm a mistake. Well, always kind of felt like one, so that tracks." She let out a dry, humorless laugh, though it sounded more like a sigh.

"Does Troye know about all this?"

"I told him enough," Elessia replied with a flick of her wrist, as though the question bored her. "Amelia, one must grow through hardship. A life of comfort won't lead you anywhere. Take your mother, for instance. I told him to make you stronger, physically and mentally. Yet, seeing you now, I wonder if he's taken the task seriously."

Selina's hands curled into fists, her nails biting into her palms. She kept her voice steady, though the veins on her arms betrayed her anger. "So, you're telling me all the name-calling, mistreatment, and constant blame, it was because of you?"

"Tsk." Elessia rolled her eyes. "What you've endured is nothing compared to the trials the others of draconic blood have faced. I thought the north would be crawling with monsters, you're lucky he didn't throw you in the woods and make you fend for yourself. Humans are emotional creatures, after all. Perhaps he pitied you."

"Don't flatter yourself." Selina's sneer was sharp enough to cut. "The only reason I wasn't thrown to the wolves was because if I died, it would tarnish the Amister name. Pity had nothing to do with it.

"Well, time is running out and I don't have much to say. Don't disappoint me the next time we meet."

"Wait! I still have so many more questions–"

*Snap*

Selina falls on the floor with a big thud. 

"Ow, couldn't the landing be a little gentler." Selina pats herself off and looks around. She was in the… history section? That's weird and disgusting, ew. Just as Selina was planning to walk away, she heard a person call out for her

"Lady Amelia!" The redhead shouts out.

"I was looking for you everywhere, I was only joking when I told you to not get lost, I didn't think that would actually happen. You're so hopeless." The worried look in her eyes betrays the harsh tone of her words.

"Listen, it's a big library alright and plus, there weren't any attendants around either." Selina lies. 

"Sigh, what am I going to do with you?" Reinhart shakes her head in disappointment. 

"How long were you looking for me in the first place?" 

"Half an hour."

"That isn't that long, can't a lady have her private time?" Selina could've sworn the time spent with her new grandma was way longer than that. Maybe time flowed differently in that space. 

"Most ladies can, but not you. I wouldn't be surprised if you managed to get yourself into trouble." 

"Leave me alone! Ugh, this library relaxation was a bust, get this lady some food."

…

Selina walks out of a bakery fully content and happy with a bag in hand.

"Gosh, I can't wait to eat these! Are you sure you don't want any Reinhart?"

Reinhart stares at the delicious cake, a hint of longing in her chest.

"It's fine, eating sweets are childish." She coldly replies.

Selina whirled around, walking backward to face her knight. "Hey! I am not childish. I'm simply—Ah!" She yelped as she collided with someone.

"I am so sorry, are you alright?" Selina asks the little girl wearing tethered clothing, a hood covering her hair, she's clearly not a noble.

"It's fine, I should apologize miss!." The young girl replies, she pats Selina down to get rid of the dust but then gets her wrist gripped by Reinhart.

"What are you doing?! Let the child go!" Selina was confused why her knight was bullying some kid.

"Idiot, she's a pickpocketer." 

Before Selina could speak up, the girl did instead.

"I-I am so sorry miss! Please let me go, I'm just trying to feed my family!" She shouts out, attracting too much attention towards them.

Reinhart clicks her tongue and drags both Selina and the kid to an obscure alleyway for privacy. Along the way, the child's hood falls off, revealing a pair of fluffy dog ears!

"A beast person? You guy shouldn't be here." Selina was shocked, the animal kingdom and the human empire stay far away from each other. Racism was quite rampant among both beast kin and humans alike.

"What are you doing here?" Selina questions.

"I-I ran away from home with my brother to be here. There was so much violence and loud noises; he said that this was the safest place." The little girl answers timidly.

"Violence and loud noises? Can you elaborate on that?" Reinhart steps in, clearly curious.

"I don't know a lot about it, but my brother does."

"Can you take us to your brother then?" Selina adds.

"Um, he said that I shouldn't tell strangers where I live."

Selina holds up her bag of pastries.

"I'll give you this if you take us to him. You guys can both eat. Look, powdered sugar, cake. We mean no harm" Selina tries to convince.

"O-okay, only because brother doesn't let me eat sweets. He said it'll give me a toothache!" 

"Your brother's right, but a little treat every once in a while won't hurt, right? I'll keep this a secret~" Selina places a finger on her lips, winking.

As the girl led the way, Selina's thoughts drifted to her own brother. Watching the girl's excitement stirred a pang of longing in her chest. She wondered how he was holding up, if he missed her as much as she missed him. Selina and ****** siblings for life, even when they're separated…