What Lies Behind

Deathly silence blanketed the reading room. The siblings never uttered a word, never moved an inch, and never thought of anything else, lest things turned for the worst. It did cross their mind that Anasthasia would confront but being a witness firsthand gave them a horror that wilted their souls away.

Anasthasia's eyes glinted; she calculated to the minute details as she barred his advancements.

It was bleak. The Archduke's expression sparked a wave of fear and, at the same time, astonishment. His gaze wandered back and forth—from the crackling sound of the unstable glaciers on top of him and her casual sip of tea.

He was at her mercy.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we continued our conversation without the need for such a display of power in front of your children?"

The Archduke narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he felt the spikes that continued to prod his skin only to leave a dent and not an ounce of bloodshed. His eyes burned with defiance, which had Anasthasia ready for any shenanigans. Instead, he took his time by closing his eyes and heaved out a sigh of defeat.

She smiled in silence; the glaciers waned to a frigid wind, by and by, fading into thin air. Both of them ducked their heads and clutched their chest, rising up and down.

"Do you still think I'm not qualified to teach her?"

He let out a sharp huff, tugging the collar of his sleeves. "Being a talented individual does not warrant the future progress of my daughter."

"Why is that?"

A peal of laughter blurted out from his firm, thin lips, but she ignored. Disappointed by her reaction, he mumbled, "My daughter is a 'cursed child,' for a reason, that not even the best instructors in this kingdom could help her."

Her eyebrows raised and sized his stature and never said a word. She let him continue his discretion.

"Isn't it even suspicious you came all the way here with such a powerful connection?" Leaned forward with hands clasped.

"My, not only you question my capabilities but also my upbringing. A connection? Please, I have proven myself so many times." Anasthasia sipped her tea. "Wouldn't I'd be not in here, in the first place, if you did your duties not as The Archduke but as the father of three great children?"

His eyes seared, seething in anger, while arms trembled in subtlety. "You know nothing," he growled back.

"Indeed. But your actions, right now, speak volumes."

"You dare question how I raise my..."

"Oh, I do! For an esteemed noble who's quite mindful about reputation and public image, I'm not surprised how you treat them at the expense of it."

He slammed the coffee table with one arm, so strong that the teacups shook, albeit close enough to cause spillage. If that happened, it would leave a sour taste on Anasthasia's mouth.

"Your actions, right now, aren't befitting the nobilities of the kingdom, I hope you can contain your emotions."

Navy blue strands were of his hair disheveled with his glare that could tear someone apart. The only thing lacked was bare fangs aimed at her but chose not to. He could only strangle her from afar, at least what the profile of ferocious beast looked like.

If need be, Anasthasia would go through great lengths to criticize him to an extent. As her lips parted, Liam intervened with eyes that gleamed; sadness as he pleaded.

"Ana, please, I beg of you."

She turned in their direction; they felt distraught and wanted themselves to burrow underground. All the more, a pang hit her heart as she glanced at Lucy, whose tears trickled against her pink flushed cheeks.

She uncrossed her legs, shutting her eyes, and gave herself a breather. 'The tension must disappear from this instance, but I have to smack his senses and face reality, so must get through this, for them.'

"To clarify, she's not a 'cursed child.'"

Lucy shot up, and her eyes brimmed with tears, pursing lips so hard to resist the feelings that bottled up.

"Her lack of control is haphazard had something to do with her upbringing."

The Archduke could feel her gaze bore deeper into his soul as though he was the one who lit the flames. Offended, he retorted back at her, "Nonsense! There's no such thing—"

"There is," she said, "It exists and belongs to the minorities; just because it doesn't conform to status quo gives you an excuse to do things however and whatever you want."

'I'm over this conversation. I might, as well, leave.'

"Your methods are questionable." Anasthasia rose from her seat, peering at him. "You never know how your actions create scars that can last for eternity."

"If you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave."

Anasthasia took her time as she strutted her way out. Steven's face turned livid for quite some time, but The Archduke never permitted him to do so; he scratched and raked, with his fingers, through his hair.

She never knew for how long she kept herself moving along the way with her clacks resounded the corridor though it didn't take long for her to notice as she wandered around and wondered in her thoughts.

'Dame! I left, and I don't even remember where I should go.'

"Ana!"

She heard Liam's beckons, but she paid no mind. The choral thuds, loud and clear, was enough for her to look back and darted their hasty approach.

"Ana! Stop!"

Turning around, she gave a half-smile as Liam got closer and Levi, cradling Lucy, panted hard as they stopped.

Levi let out a hoarse voice, "Ana, you're in a wrong direction." He placed Lucy down and fixed his glasses.

"I thought so too." Her eyelashes flickered as she didn't deny the truth.

Liam mused, "Ana, wasn't it too much?"

"What was too much?"

"It was rude for you to leave like that."

She rolled her eyes. "He was rude to me in the first place. Second, I excused myself. Fool!"

"But—"

His qualms irked Anasthasia to the core; she leaned closer and grabbed his collar. Her luscious lips were a few inches away from his cheek.

"Listen up. I don't tolerate that kind of behavior where someone could prattle on such insensitivity and rubbed it on someone's face."

"I beg your pardon—?"

"—But nothing comes worse than an enabler..." Her eyes now dawned upon his dilated pupil. "You know who I'm talking about."

She pushed him away. Liam looked baffled, and Levi held Lucy in his arms, with both of them stunned.

"This is the path we shall take, right? Please lead the way."

Levi was mindless for a moment but got to his feet and cradled Lucy back as they strolled. Meanwhile, Liam, with gritting teeth, scratched his nape and averted his gaze. His face flushed.

It was a long walk, and finally, they reached back to the guest-chamber, where Lucy currently resided. The twins propped their arms on their lap with fingers interlocked; on the other hand, Lucy fiddled her fingers. They all sat with the gloomy air weighing upon them.

Anasthasia walked back and forth as she formulated the course of actions she needed to do at this point, but her thoughts muddled from the mysteries that remained.

'How did he knew 'The Numeric Ice'?'

'What could his relationship have to do with a person from a prideful race, The Carbuncles.'

'What if I never had done it and let him talk about what he wanted? Would things change—" She halted and shook her head. '...Impossible, he'd just use that to boost himself while he chattered the rest.'

"Levi, may I know The Archduke's name?"

"...Eirwin Aureole..."

"And how much did you tell him about me?"

"What—"

"Don't worry, please be honest. I won't get angry."

"Brother and I agreed to speak only the details the moment you came here in this kingdom."

Liam had a grumpy face but still nodded accordingly, agreeing to his every word. "When we told him about it, he jolted from his seat in his office that day. Astonishment clouded his face and denied so badly."

"So that means he knew about 'The Numeric Ice' beforehand."

"Levi, did he angered me on purpose right now?"

"Not that I'm sure of, Ana. But he only summoned and ordered us to spill things out, none of them moved him the way he heard 'The Numeric Ice.'"

"Sister Ana, I did remember you mentioned that before when you showed me how it was done, and it's called."

"Yes, it's one of the abilities that exhibit a sophisticated primordial nature of ice; quite potent at that. If done well, then it's incredibly deadly."

Lucy shuddered from her utterance. She gazed at her palms, and tremors started to overtake them. However, Anasthasia was quick to move by her side and placed hands over hers.

"Truth be told, I remember one person teaching that before." Then her tone dropped to whisper.

"Iris."