13 Big Brother Eric!

Almost two days later, we arrived at our final stop, the Coast City Coral.

Coral was built so close to the ocean that one could hear the waves at night when the bustling city calmed down. Since white limestone was the main building ingredient in this country, the whole capital was radiating in white light from afar, giving off a leisurely but vibrant vibe. This city was full of commerce, many people flocked on the streets, and in every corner was a market. The all year round warm Mediterranean climate here gave people a healthy wheat skin colour, unlike the dark golden skin-coloured people who lived closer to the desert.

Since it was much cooler so close to the water but still warm, people wore mostly tunics and light dresses made of linen and silk. Bright colours fluttered in the wind with every step. Inhabitants talked loudly on the streets, chattered and laughed in the tea houses and on the markets, haggling for prices. This place was so much livelier than our capital, Florence. At sunset, people were flocking to the streets like busy bees.

They didn't mind us when our caravan came through as if they met with many foreign entities throughout the year. Some just gave us a glimpse and went forth with what they were doing. On the other hand, I couldn't stop my head from jumping left and right. Every corner and every stall looked so appealing! There were fruits I have never seen and food I have never tasted before!

Must. Try. Them. All!

"We've arrived!"

Our caravan came to a stop, and people began to chatter. People were greeting each other, discussing where to place the luggage and where to bring the horses or park the carriages.

Mother was the first to get down from the carriage. Because it was too loud, I couldn't hear what she was saying, but when it was my turn to get down from the carriage, an outstretched hand reached out to me. Because wearing a big fluffy dress and getting down a carriage wasn't something a lady could do elegantly on her own usually, I took the offered hand without thinking much about it, assuming it was the coachman or one of the attendants. But this hand was gripping me much stronger and refused to let go even after I stood steadily on both feet.

I came to realisation and looked up to the person in front of me. A familiar face greeted me. As if carved out of Father's mould, he was young and handsome, but instead of inheriting Father's trademarks as I did, he looked more like Mother with his platinum blonde hair and the steely blue eyes at first glance. With those sunny features, even though his face had about seventy per-cent of Father's face paralysis, he seemed much more approachable. If Dahlia had those features, maybe she would have evoked more pity in other's and wouldn't have looked like a cold-blooded villainess?

Tears welled up in my eyes all of a sudden. This young man in front of me was the last of Dahlias closest family members I haven't met yet.

"Big Brother Eric!" My body moved on its own and jumped into his embrace very naturally. Dahlia and Eric must have been very close to each other.

"Long not see, Ally." He laughed and hugged me without reserve. His voice overflowed with doting love.

Eric had called Dahlia Ally since they were kids and he keeps on doing so until now. Usually, the two of them would be much more restrained in public, but my sudden outburst must have made him lose his constraints as a gentleman as well. People said distance makes the heart grow fonder. It must be valid in this case.

Anyways, no one said anything. In peoples eyes we haven't seen each other for about a year, so we must have had a lot to catch up. And even though I seemed much more mature than girls my age, I still haven't had my official debut, so I could still be considered a child in other's eyes. No one found it strange that I suddenly had tears welling up my eyes. The only one who was perplexed was Eric, who petrified on the spot. He gripped me by the shoulders and stared at me intensely.

"What's wrong, Ally? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

After it was announced that Dahlia would become Leon's fiancée, her upbringing was stricter than that of any other girl in the kingdom. She trained hard and always maintained an elevated surface. Most importantly, she never cried in front of others. At least Eric had been used to that side of her. To see his younger sister become so emotional, he must have concluded that something was wrong with me.

"No... I guess I am just glad to see you?" I tried to downplay the whole thing. Because who could tell him that it was guilt over ruining his and the entire family's lives?

"Aw, I wish I had a sister as cute as your's." A voice next to us exclaimed.

When I turned my head to see who had spoken, my eyes interlocked with a golden pair of eyes. They belonged to a dark-haired man standing next to Mother who giggled when she watched us, siblings. The two of them seemed to have exchanged pleasantries but turned their attention towards us when Eric showed his concern towards me.

Eric, who found back his countenance, introduced the three of us.

"Mother, Dahlia, let me introduce you to His Highness, Prince Ramsis K'ir Malek Del Raj. Your Highness, you've met my Mother, Duchess Rubin, let me also introduce you to my one and only sister, Dahlia Rubin."

Proudly smiling, Eric put his hands on my shoulders while standing protectingly behind me; he added: "As I recall correctly, you have sisters of your own already."

"Dahlia Rubin greets Your Highness. It is an honour, as you have come personally to welcome us. May peace follow wherever you are."

"It is my pleasure to meet such a beauty. Raj will protect you as one of his own as long as you stay in Coronia." He then shocked me by reaching out for my right hand and bending down to press his forehead on the back of it lightly. This custom was unique to the southern kingdom of Coronia and practised only when you hold someone in high esteem. People usually do this to family members, teachers, royalty or high priests of the temple.

As a prince, he wouldn't have to do that to many people, and I was honestly surprised that he would show me this incomprehensible favour.

When he saw the confusion on my face, he laughed and explained vigorously: "Enkir is like family to me. Since you are his sister, you might as well be my sister. It would be great to have another sister actually."

Enkir? Does he mean Eric? I understood that people from Coronia valued their family ties and have tight-knit bounds within their clans. Those people live and die together. When they say they will treat you like family, then they mean it. That is a commitment for life, and probably the reason why Eric found a safe haven in Coronia after Father lost his title.

"Your Highness, this..."

"Ah, you can call me Elem." He beamed like a little boy. One could hardly say no to such a smile.

As I was still unsure, I raised my head towards Eric, who just rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

"Just do as he said. Calling this skirt chaser a prince is actually an insult to the title itself."

To call a Prince a skirt chaser in his face, nonetheless, Brother was fearless. Or perhaps these two are, as Ramsis mentioned, close friends indeed. Any denigration of the Royal Family might end up with people's heads rolling. But when I watched them, it seems like they make such remarks very often. At least often enough that it just slipped out of Brother's mouth naturally and for it to brush off of Ramsis like water running down a window.

I had many unspoken questions. Although Ramsis was a figure I had introduced to the original story, he was just a guest, coming and going fleetingly with a seemingly neutral standing. When I wrote the story, I had not paid him many thoughts since Ellie and Leon never went to Coronia. Because of his exotic background, he did gather some attention from fans. Many had thought of him as another male lead candidate, but he didn't even exchange a personal dialogue with Ellie. At the end of the story, people did not know what he was doing or what he thought in the end. They only knew that Eric, after the fall of the House of Rubin, went with Ramsis to Coronia.

Now that I see him myself, I do get why people had their hopes up. If they could see him as I saw him now, many would jump ships without a second thought.

Prince Ramsis was outstandingly good looking.

He owns straight ebony black hair that reached his hips which were bound back together by a golden clip adorned with rubies; bronze skin with a golden hue and most distinctive, light brown eyes that glittered like specks of gold dust when the light found its way through his long curly lashes which many girls would kill for. He has a handsome, manly face, but it was those eyes of his that could captivate a person's soul at first glance. I found it hard to look him in the eyes, but disturbingly, I also do not want to look away. It was awkward and probably rude, considering he was a prince and all.

Despite the length of his hair or his alluring eyes, no one would ever mistake him for a woman when standing before him because he had tight muscles, broad shoulders and was quite large. Already in his twenties, he towered two heads over me. Standing next to Brother, who was considered to be an eyecatcher usually, he still gathered momentum despite looking very relaxed, making even Eric look almost dull in comparison.

Thanks to the light clothing of the south (only two tightly wrapped large sashes draped his muscular chest at his waist), he showed more skin than what I was used to from Florencia. Various golden accessories that only highlighted his skin colour adorned him - it wasn't vulgar but added an unimaginable allure to his already charming character.

I understood even more why Eric called Prince Ramsis of Coronia a skirt chaser. This mans whole existence was a deadly weapon for any tender maidens heart. Ramsis was not just handsome or pretty like Eric and Leon. He was carefree, wild and sexy. A dangerous combination - considering his outgoing nature. If he doesn't have a harem or at least a big fan club, his transcendent looks would have been wasted on him.

I shrank back in front of his brilliant smile that screamed heartbreaker, unsure of this mans true nature. His smile dimmed a little and reluctance showed in his eyes.

"You guys are truly fruits from the same tree." He ridiculed in a joking tone and grabbed my hand. Without much effort, he dragged me away from Eric in the direction of the villa where mother has been lead away already by the servants.

"I see that you are shy towards strangers. Let us not waste time here and get inside to get to know each other better."