Siblings

"Let's go," Aris said firmly. Lumielle always wished to capture these moments; the moments in which Aris showed the colors that had been dulled in his first timeline. He had never been decisive, always cowering behind Lumielle. Struck with indecisiveness, he was unable to move without her word of advice, "Excuse us, Sir Allard."

There was no use in denying for Aris offered his arm to Lumielle and the two siblings left the son of the Grand Duke. The humiliation made her lips curve up into a slight grin. She couldn't help but turn back and stare at him. How hilarious.

"Are you upset?" Lumielle asked tilting her head. Her hand rested on his arm. His blonde locks looked soft in the sunlight. A dark turtleneck with a white shirt that dipped at the chest. There was the golden broach of the Imperial family pinned to his white linen shirt.

"He stabbed you," Aris responded almost blatantly as if he didn't understand the source of the question. She couldn't help but smile.

"You were the one that asked him to show his magic." Lumielle was enjoying teasing her brother. She was no longer upset by Allard's actions. There was a second in which her emotions had broiled over, she had cracked—the canvas of her heart shattering into pieces.

"Still," Aris said almost pouting.

Lumielle patted his head. She was still taller than him, though she knew that soon she would be unable to do that. He would grow. What a shame, he was cute right no. She would just have to savor it as long as she could.

"I don't like it," Aris paused, though he often envies his sister for her unwavering behavior, he had to admit that he despised it when she was scared. Possibly, he hated it more than when she succeeded. Indeed, Aris sometimes felt inferior to Lumielle. After all, Lumielle was the model of perfection to him. She never faltered and never fell, both to his pride and annoyance. To see her flinch made his heart lurch, "He made you feel scared, didn't he?"

Lumielle paused, "I don't particularly like it when anyone tries to stab me. It was just a natural reaction."

Aris continued his pace, "You always tell me that I'm the precious Crown Prince, but you're also the one and only Princess of Endora and," he paused. Cheeks were flushed. "You're my sister."

Her heart felt as though it would explode. In fact, she almost felt light-headed. She smiled. It was a bright and dazzling grin. Was her brother really this kind and compassionate? For Lumielle, it was almost as though she had raised him well. She knew that she was only older by a year, but due to her regressing into the past, she couldn't help but see him as a young child. Mentally, she was far older than her body was. As such, she treated Aris like a young child. "When did you grow up so well?"

It was thanks to her. Aris knew that it was due to Lumielle, but he would never verbalize that. The female read him books before bed and guided him when he struggled with his studies. She gave him everything he wanted without him even opening his lips. Somehow, she had done the impossible. He would forever be grateful. No matter how much he envied his sister, Aris would never be able to dislike her. He wouldn't be able to repay her. His sister was his everything; he wanted for her to be happy.

"I've always been this mature," he boasted.

What a childish thing to say. But still, it made her smile. To Lumielle, almost every part of her younger brother was lovable.

"Have you really?" Lumielle inquired.

"You just never noticed," Aris grumbled.

She laughed, "Either way, I'm proud."

Aris was prouder to have her as a sister. Sometimes he wondered how she could say such things without a modicum of hesitation. She spoke with such ease and shamelessness, "Are you saying these things to everyone?" Aris asked.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" Lumielle queried.

"Mielle, it's embarrassing," Aris spoke seriously, his golden eyes almost stern. A laugh escaped her lips. He was acting like a child once again. It made her let out a sigh of relief. Whenever Aris acted his age, it made her feel relieved.

"My love is embarrassing?"

Aris responded without any hesitance, "Yes."

"I take it back then, I'm not proud of you."

Lumielle huffed turning her head away. Indeed, they were still siblings.

Aris chuckled, "That's a lie."

"Then, guess we're both liars then, huh?" Lumielle spoke with a smile as Aris rolled his eyes. She giggled. Indeed, Aris was one of the only people that could make her laugh. It was easy for her to show emotion in front of him. Lumielle always struggled to emote; she was not someone who showed her sleeve. Even in her past life, she had been stunted. It was difficult for her to feel joy and often, she shrouded herself in an algid case of glass. She didn't wish to show anyone how she felt and the larger her schemes became, the more detached she was.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Aris tutted back as they finally reached the outside. She hadn't realized how fast she had been moving to go to the bathroom when escaping the scene. Now seeing the route at a normal pace, the mystery of why she had been so breathless was finally answered.

Asterias smiled, "It took you long enough to come back." He was in the chair. His eyes gleaming warmly at her; she remembered that his hand had wrapped around the son of Salvatore's wrist, frost blossoming at his touch after Allard's somewhat ostentatious show.

"Are you alright?" Ruenti asked his emerald eyes glazing over with concern. What a kind person. Lumielle couldn't believe that she had killed him. How awkward. She would have to try and do her best to repent.

"Thank you for your concern," Lumielle said with a tender smile on her face.

"It wasn't just concern," Lucius mumbled to himself as Asterias kicked the male from underneath the table.

Lumielle tilted her head as Asterias smacked Lucius and the two squabbled amongst one another with low breaths a conversation being heard revolving along the lines of 'don't say anything' and 'fine'.

Aris sat back down, "Oh," he inquired, "Did you lie to Sir Allard from before?" Was she referring to the fact that she had an escort to the debutante?

"No," Lumielle responded, "Asterias asked me to the debutante."

"Rias," Asterias said with a smile. It was as if he was reminding her and Lumielle sighed. She was too tired to try and fight him on this. He was using her mental weariness as a good scapegoat.

"Rias," Lumielle glowered, "asked me to the debutante."

All eyes were directed towards the white-haired male. "You asked her?" Ruenti inquired.

A smile was perched on his face, "I thought I should. After all, it would be a shame if she wasn't escorted by anyone, and isn't it better than Allard. If I hadn't asked her, she wouldn't have had an excuse to reject him." He was smug. The self-entitlement was almost visceral. She had never seen a man more superior in her life.

"I would have rejected him either way," Lumielle spoke as she sipped her tea. There should be nothing given to Asterias. The purple-haired female would have rather perished than attended another ball with Allard. The memories blossoming in her mind made her resist scowling.

"That's just how much the Princess favors me," Asterias spoke as he propped his cheek with his fist, his face turned to face the female. He was smiling, as he always was, Lumielle rolled her eyes.

"If that's what you wish to believe."

"I didn't realize the two of you were that close," Lucius said, "Enough to call him Rias." It was always Lucius who picked up on things quickly. Lumielle understood why he was so rich. No dumb man could make money. She had realized that very quickly.

"I was manipulated," Lumielle spoke briskly.

"I see," Lucius said sympathetically nodding. It seemed that Lucius also understood as Lumielle's eyes met his own. They were comrades, "He has a habit of doing that."

"A habit," Lumielle said shaking her head in agreement.

Asterias couldn't help but give Lucius a ticked smile, "Wait, Princess. . ."

"I didn't think you were that type of person," Aris spoke as he clutched Lumielle's hands succinctly cutting off the older male, "I'm sorry, Mielle. I'll befriend better people in the future."

"Just what type of person do you see me as?" Asterias inquired, a heavy exhale leaving his lips.

"A womanizer," Ruenti spoke clearly. It was a blunt assessment.

Lumielle couldn't help but laugh as she used her napkin to cover her lips at his straight forward response. "Even the Princess agrees," Ruenti exclaimed brightly. He seemed overjoyed by the fact that she had responded warmly.

"Is there even a person that disagrees?" Lumielle answered back.

"I don't understand," a slight pout on his face. Lumielle almost wanted to kindly inform him. It was his face and his words. Everything about him invited women, "It's not like I'm doing anything with them."

That was true. It was just harmless flirting. Perhaps being a womanizer was a bit of a serious crime for someone who just tenderly grinned and spoke sweetly like honey.

"You're right, you're far too young," Lumielle nodded. For once, Asterias seemed flustered by her response as did the other boys.

"M-Mielle!" Aris exclaimed as she blinked. That was right. They were still teenagers.

Had she gone too far? "Did I say something wrong? What are all of you thinking of?" Lumielle inquired feigning ignorance. She chuckled to herself.