CHAPTER 7

"Ramira."

"Hmm?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Hmm."

"...Really?"

"Hmm..."

Geradine stares at his twin sister before letting out a sigh. He folds down the fallboard of his piano before facing Ramira who is sitting next to her while stifling a yawn. Geradine is given a few hours of a break today so he decided to find his sister and spend that time with her. But instead of seeing her excited and happy, Ramira looks like someone who is lacking sleep for several days.

When Geradine asked if she wants to do something today, Ramira told him to play the piano while she will sing for him. Geradina agreed to it because he also loves listening to her singing voice. King Teriza once said that Geradine is a talented musician while Ramira is a natural singer with an angelic voice. He also said that they inherited those talents from their mother who they never had a chance to meet.

But after several minutes of playing the piano, Ramira remains sitting next to him. He already finished two full musical pieces but his twin sister never sing even a word. Getting tired, Geradine stops playing the piano and decided to confront Ramira.

"Ramira Jane Serpine." Geradine called her full name.

"Hmm? What is it?" Ramira asked while wiping the unshed tears in her eyes using her handkerchief.

"Look at me."

"I don't want to see your face."

"...You're hiding something from me."

"You're just full of assumption these days, Geradine. I think you are sticking too much with Theo these days."

"What did you do this time?" He asked again and ignored her attempt to change the topic.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ramira replied while trying to make her voice sound natural.

"Why did you use your magic again?" Geradine questioned her with a frown on his face. "I told you not to use too much of your magical abilities because it will always bring a negative effect on your body."

Ramira feels like the sleepiness she's feeling right now suddenly disappears hearing her twin brother's interrogating voice. She even forces herself to stop yawning again in front of him. The princess is really trying her best not to show how tired she is to everyone, especially to the king and her twin brother.

Two days had already passed since she last wandered around the plaza without anyone knowing about it. When he returned to her palace, Ramira quickly removed her disguised and changed her eyes and hair back to their original colors. After that, she stayed under the oak tree near the gardens and let the other servants find her sitting under it. Ramira just made an excuse that she accidentally fell asleep there while waiting for the squirrel she wants to feed with peanuts.

Since then, Ramira always felt tired and lethargic. When Geradine asked her about it, she told her not to worry about it. She made another excuse saying there is an interesting book in her library and she has been sleeping late just to finish it. Although both of them know she is lying, Geradine didn't try to expose her and just tell her to sleep early and have plenty of rest.

But maybe because she feels more tired today than those two days, Geradine finally exposed her lies and he is now demanding an answer. Ramira should have seen it coming. She did not expect that releasing that young man from the restraining chains he had around his wrists will need more mana that exceeds her usual consumption. Because of it, Ramira is now suffering the conditions of her choices that day.

"Now tell me why did you use your mana that makes your condition like that." Geradine said with crossed arms.

"How can you be so sure that I used my mana?" challenged Ramira as she copy Geradine and crossed her arms too.

Geradine and Ramira stare at each other's faces until both of them let out a sigh. Ramira just said the most useless question she can ever ask. She even stupidly stares back at his eyes that spills what she is trying to hide from him. But of course, Geradine would still know that Ramira is hiding something from her because he is the closest person to her.

There is a reason why Ramira and Geradine are born as special twins. It's because the both of them can feel each other's feelings. They have a special ability called twin telepathy. As long as they are within each other's sight, they can easily have an access to know what the other twin is feeling at that moment.

"I'm waiting for your answers, Ramira."

Now it's her turn to let out a sign. She knows that Geradine will not stop asking until he finally hears her answer. Ramira should have told him earlier to play with Theo instead of asking him to play the piano for her.

"Well, you see..."

Ramira will never tell him about her secret passage inside her palace. It is a secret that she will protect as long as no one can discover it like King Teriza or Geradine. The princess is not yet ready to give up the small freedom it offers acquires every time she uses it.

Princess Ramira is a beloved person in their kingdom. She is also obviously their father's favorite and Geradine's twin soulmate. These people never abused her and instead, they offer her the best things they can ever give her. But there are rare times when Ramira will feel a little restrained because of her status as a princess.

Ramira is the pampered daughter of King Teriza, but she still has duties to do as a royal princess. She may not be the Crown Princess, but Ramira still has responsibilities for her kingdom. She may be a royal princess, but Ramira is still a child who wants to see the world with her own eyes.

That's why even if she feels guilty for hiding something from her twin brother, Ramira will still choose not to reveal the secret of her palace to him.

"I used a healing magic to the injured fox I saw in the garden behind my palace." answered Ramira.

"Fox?"

"Uh-huh." The princess said while nodding her head. "That fox has a silver-white color and its eyes are red. I also noticed that its legs are bound with a chain so I decided to help it. I used my mana to release him from its restrains."

Ramira made an excuse to herself that she is not totally lying to Geradine. She really used her magic for that purpose. The only difference is that the fox she's talking about right now is in fact a young man who looks like a slave that was being chased by its owner.

"And why did you save it?"

"Geradine, I am not that heartless. Since I have the ability to do it, then I will obviously help it!"

"...Are you really telling me the truth?" Geradine asked with a skeptical look on his face.

"Why? Are you doubting your sister now?"

"Ramira, there is no way a fox can walk near your palace. Have you forgotten our Imperial father cast protection spells on our palaces? Any wild animals will have no ability to get near our places."

Of course, Ramira knows that too.

"But I really treated a fox. And if I say I saw a fox, then it is indeed a fox. End of discussion."

Since Ramira is obviously on the losing side of their conversation, it's better to end it as soon as possible. Geradine probably sees it coming since he just rolls his eyes and didn't try to pursue the topic. Instead, he moves closer to Ramira and holds her hand. Before the princess can ask him anything, she suddenly feels something warm flowing inside her body.

Geradine is transferring his mana to replace the mana that Ramira used the other day. It only happens for a few seconds, but Ramira can no longer feel the fatigue she has been enduring for the past two days. Then she stares at her twin brother who is snickering beside her.

"Geradine! You are really the best big brother in this kingdom!" Ramira excitedly said as she wraps her arms around his neck. "I really like you, brother Geradine!"

"...We're twins. Stop making it sound like I was born several years older than you."

"You are still my big brother!"

"I'm only older than you by six hours."

"Brother Geradine!"

Geradine didn't try to change her words again. It was a hopeless attempt anyway. Instead, he also wraps his arms around her back and gives her a hug. He knows that being touchy is something that a royal member of the family should avoid doing especially in public. But since no one can see them right now, he decided to spoil his sister this time and let her hug him just like when they were still kids.