4 Meeting Brother (A.k.a, the young miss step brother)

"Emma?". Akari abruptly sat up. Did she hear wrong? Why was the voice sound like the Duke's, but a little immature? She remembered requesting Clara to not let anyone in (except the Duke of course). But...this doesn't sound like the Duke.

It sound's more like a little duke. Is she hallucinating? "Emma?", the same voice called out. It contained a tint of confusion whether the person was the one he had been calling or not.

Akira inwardly grumbled and crawl out of her man made tent. She rarely got time to do things and this 'unknown voice' was here, trying to snatched it away from her. She would surely complain to the young miss's father, if not her caretaker. Standing in front of her was a boy who look 13? 15? (probably below 20).

He had a pair of green eyes, raven-curled hairs, thin lips and flawless white skin. His stature looks more like a mini duke. Was he a mini duke? She hadn't seen someone who resembles the Duke, but this 13 (maybe 13) year old boy seems to have few similarities with the Duke.

Like his strong aura and the sharp, cold pair of eyes. Looking his white skin, Akari sighed in defeat. How does everyone around her keep their skin so smooth and white? Are they using some kind of magic ointment. Clara might have tan skin, but it was so smooth like an iron bar.

Looking at the expressionless boy, she asked with lucid eyes, "did you call me?". This person should be a member of the 'young miss' family. If not, he should be someone related to the Duke. What if he's her brother? or cousin? Will he know that she's not Emma? How...troublesome.....

Nicole coldly stared the small girl in front of him. This is not Emma. That was the first thing he thought when he saw her. When he came to know that his father, duke Cyril constantly visiting his step-sister for breakfast, lunch and dinner, he was bewildered.

Did his father lose his mind or conscious? Why would he interact with the wretch, who tried to kill his wife and daughter? At first, he concluded that his father was spying on the girl, but after hearing the report from his butler, he was flabbergasted. His step-sister was asking hugs and occasionally sleeping in his father's arms?!

Did the kidnapper put a spell on his step-sister? Or did the girl put a spell on his father? He couldn't sit still. He wanted to confirm his suspicious thoughts. Arriving in the west wing of the mansion where his step sister's room was situated, he only found an unknown woman cleaning the room.

"Who are you?" his icy and sharp tone startled Clara (though her face barely twitched). She turned around and instinctively curtsey, "this servant greets young master Nicole". She stood up and respectful lowered her head, more like she didn't dare to look at the young master.

Even though she was new to the mansion, she very well understood the situations and the unspoken rules among all workers. Young master Nicole was known for his cold and emotionless character, which was totally unlike the young miss Ada's cheerful and approachable personality.

Even though he was adopted by the Duke at the age of 5, he proved himself as a genius by possessing four attributes of magic. His water and lightning attributes were third-tiered while his dark and Earth attributes were fourth-tiered.

It was a shocking and astounding feat for a 10 year old boy. Duke Cyril was so proud that he hoisted a grand banquet in the mansion. Now everyone were expecting great results from young miss Ada, who was 9 this year. Unlike his proud family, young master Nicole remained subtle.

For others, it was very rare to see an expression on his stone like face but his family were the only people who gets to see his breathtaking smiles. Young master Nicole especially dotes young miss Ada to the extent that he won't let any boy come near them.

It was extremely frightening to stand in the siblings presence. Young master Nicole was mostly known as a bro-con and the Dark horse of Elmstone. You wouldn't know when he'll strike and destroy your dream.

"Who are you?" Nicole coldly spat out. Clara slightly pinched her hands and replied respectfully, "This servant is bought by the Duke for young miss Emma as her gift". Carla remembered the day when the Duke bought her for serving the young miss. He told her that she needn't work if she didn't want to, but how could she deny her benefactors wish?

She immediately said that she'll take in charge of the young miss of Elmstone. Even though she had heard many rumours from the present maids and workers in the mansion, she didn't care. She was repaying her benefactor for saving her and she won't take back her choice.

When she saw the young miss, she was instantly drawn to her. How could they say those things about the young miss, who look so adorable and cute? Her young miss was the most obedient person whom she ever met and also the most beautiful baby she had ever seen.

Nicole narrowed his eyes and glanced around the wide room. Finding no one except the woman, he asked with a slight frown, "Where's Esmeralda?". Esmeralda was the girl who was born from the one night stand of his father. That female elf was a despicable woman who put a spell on his father and climbed on his bed.

When his father came to know of the woman's deed, he was so enraged that he almost wanted to wage war against the elf kingdom. His wife, Duchess Catherine was enraged by the audacity of the elf. She immediately assigned her people to search for the despicable woman and kill her on the spot. When Duchess Catherine and Duke Cyril found the female elf, it was four years later.

They killed the female elf but spared the small girl. Duchess Catherine couldn't bear to kill a child, so she adopted the little one. Esmeralda hated the Duke and the Duchess to death. She would never accept her mother's murderer as her parents. (well, even I won't accept a murderer as my parente. That's absurd....) Whenever someone come closer to her, she would scream and tell them to stay away.

She would lock herself in the room and starve to death. Whenever the Duke and Duchess spoke with her, she would spit and shout swear words like 'slut', 'b*tch', 'assh*le', 'm*therf*cker' and stuffs like those.... (poor Akari, she doesn't even know what is c*ck).

She would even try to kill the maids who came for taking care of her. In fear of losing their life, the maids would avoid taking care of the girl. Emma didn't even spare the poor cats of the mansion. She would kill them and bury them in the garden.

She even tried to kill Duchess Catherine, earning her a night in dungeon. She also tried to kill young miss Ada, earning her a month in dungeon. This kept on going, until...a man kidnapped Emma, thinking her as Ada. Who knew that after the kidnapping incident, the girl would drastically change her character?

Everybody had two questions: Did the kidnapper put a spell on young miss? ( Or ) Was she pretending? (didn't any one thought of soul transferring?)

Akari was now tired. This boy should either speak or go away. After all, she can't stand still for the whole time. She needed energy to do it, and she had only small amount of energy left in her body. She would probably be falling asleep soon after this.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Nicole looked at his step-sister and asked in an icy tone, "Who are you?". This girl wasn't the evil step sister. Someone might have exchange the evil step sister with the good one.

Akari was now amused (more like thankful). Did the boy know about transmigration souls? Was he also one of them? Can she go home? Thinking of going home, her eyes brighten with happiness. Then remembering about her lifeless and boneless body, it quickly dimmed in darkness. She can't go home.

Seeing this, Nicole furrowed his brows and tightly pursed his lips. This was not the step sister he knew.

Akari held her skirt and elegantly curtsey, "Emma greets...". Great, she didn't ask his name. What should she call him? Young boy or handsome brother? She should have asked his name. But wasn't he the one who asked her, who she was. Did he not know this young miss? Argh, so many possibilities and she had no energy to think about it. Whatever let's just call him brother.

"....brother". Unaware that the boy rounded his eyes in shocked, Akari let out a tired sigh. This young miss's identify is so troublesome. She should quickly find out who is related and who is not. She can't waste her precious energy for these unknown people.

"bro-brother?" Nicole stuttered, surprised that the step sister was recognising him as her brother. Esmeralda never called him brother, hell! she didn't even call him a human. 'Assh*le', 'stud horse', 'poop', 'dog' were the words which she used to call him. Never in his life did he imagine that his name would be changed from 'Assh*le' to 'brother'.

Akari was now tired to death. Isn't he this young miss's brother? If not, why the hell is he here? She was annoyed. The thing she hated in her life were people wasting her energy and time on insignificant matters. Daichi, the class bully was one of the person in her black list.

He was a fat boy with chubby cheeks. He would usually try to bully Akari, who would immediately disappear after class. Akari had the ability to make herself invincible (not literally). She meant like, she had the ability to escape from all the serious problems and dangerous occasions.

"Nicole?". Akari let out a sigh in relief. The one who she expected was already here. She pitter-pattered to the man, who was standing behind the small boy. Cyril smiled and picked his daughter up. His daughter was now accustomed to his embrace and his presence. He was really happy that Esmeralda was opening up to him.

He turned at Nicole and raised a brow, "Nicole?, What are you doing here?". He didn't expect to see Nicole with Esmeralda. Nicole might have been startled by Emma's new behaviour. He should probably inform the good news to Catherine. She would be glad.

Nicole blankly looked at the small koala in his father's embrace. Didn't the girl hate his father? If so, who is this? This wasn't the girl who screamed for distance nor the girl who wanted to kill his father. This was someone he never heard nor knew of.

Akari let out a sigh of satisfaction. The Duke's fragrance was the only thing which eased her mind. He reminded her of the old library, which she usually go to. The Library wasn't big, only the size of a single room. Even so, the books were really interesting and amazing to read. She had read 2/3 varities of books in the library.

Cyril rubbed his daughter's back and chuckled, "Did your brother scare you?". Esmeralda hated everyone in the mansion. Including the maids, animals and the plants. She would also destroy all the flowers in the garden. So he was concerned about Emma meeting Nicole. Does she hate Nicole as she used to?

Akari was somewhat annoyed. If the small boy was the young miss's brother, why was he acting like he had seen an unknown person calling him brother? She already began to dislike this young miss's brother. He was annoying. But...how can she say that? Afterall, he was ths young miss's brother.

Buring her face on the Duke's neck, she said, "He didn't". Well, that young miss's brother be thankful that she didn't complaint. Or else....(she would go do some other work). Nicole squinted his eyes and looked at his father. His sister might have hit her head and lose her memories. If not, who could explain this drastic character?

Cyril chuckled and patted Akari's back, "Don't worry, if brother Nicole hurt you, father will take care of him". Hearing what his father said, Nicole raised his brows. Was his cold father coaxing his step daughter? He might have woke up in the wrong world.

Akari absent mindedly nodded. She was now grateful that she got to know the Young miss's brother name. Now she needn't call him brother. Well, she previously called him brother because she didn't know his name. She also wanted to call the Duke as duke, not father.

Sadly, the Duke asked her to call him as father. When she called him duke, he had this scary look on his face that frightened her to death. He also warned her about calling him duke.

Was the word duke a taboo? But the old aged butler also called the man duke, so why wasn't she allowed to? When she asked the Duke why shouldn't she call him duke? he only looked at her and remained silent. Though, she didn't ask anymore, she was curious. Then she remembered Hana saying, "Curiosity kills the cat".

So, she just shut her mouth and didn't ask any more question. Even though she wasn't a cat, she also didn't want to get kill. Probably children were not allowed to call him duke. Then, she had to grow up and call him duke. How troublesome...she had to wait 11 years for that. Afterall, she was only seven.

Wait. How old is the young miss's brother? Was he the young miss's elder brother or younger brother? Argh, she had yet to know a brief information.

Duke Cyril and Nicole went silently walked tot he dining room for lunch. Akari drowsily turned to the young miss's brother. The boy looks 13 (she was sure that he look below 20). 20s would have beard and hairs around their skin, but this boy doesn't have one. His skin was almost like a milk (but she won't drink it).

Nicole raised his head and found a pair of eyes eyeing him. Raising a brow, he looked at the small girl. His evil step sister had change for good. If it was the old one, then he wouldn't mind to pulled her away from his father and lock her up in dungeon.

Akari looked at the young miss's brother and smiled at him. Unaware that the boy stopped on his track, she buried her face on the Duke's chest and let out a sleepy yawn. After lunch, she should definitely go to sleep. If not, her energy would deplete to 0.

Cyril confusedly turned to his son and asked, "Is something wrong?". Nicole chuckled and shook his head, "Nothing father". Cyril nodded and turned around. Nicole looked at the sleepy girl and furrowed his brows. Did the evil girl just smile at him? Well, not like the creepy and ugly smile. More like a genuine and lazy smile.

Did the girl really changed or was she pretending? Nicole let out an exasperated sigh. Whatever it is, he should probably take measures in protecting his family. Afterall, he was the future duke of Elmstone family.

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