10 Odette, the Swan Princess

Odette offered room for them to pamper themselves before eating.

Gusion and Guinevere followed the castle maids to the chambers they were given, and both of them immediately hit the tub and cleaned themselves.

When Guinevere came out of the bathroom wearing only robes, she saw Odette sitting at the bench of the nightstand of the room.

"I hope you don't mind me barging into your room unpermitted." She said.

Her smile was so genuine that it immediately softened Guinevere's enraged heart.

She had been so caught up with trying to beat her brother up that she hadn't had enough time to look at the Lady properly.

Now that she was doing so, Guinevere could do nothing but stare.

Odette had a face that could make anyone who stares at it feel soft and calm. Her eyes seemed to sparkle in different hues everytime she blinked and soft dimples appeared in her cheeks whenever she smiled.

Her dress looked like a belled-out peacock's feathers flowing down to her knees, reflecting different colors every time she moves.

"It's alright, Lady Odette. I am but a mere uninvited guest in your home."

"Please, let us speak comfortably. If it's alright with you, I want to get to know you better."

Her brother having someone whom he could consider as a wife was something that Guinevere couldn't wrap around her head so easily. So she was kind of hesitant on being too friendly with the Lady yet.

But Guinevere forced a smile. "Do as you like, Lady Odette."

Odette's smile grew wider and she got to her feet and drew near the bed. "Your dress is still being washed. Your brother told me you liked dresses that couldn't interfere with your thumping spell. So I got you this. I hope you like it."

Guinevere looked down at the gown Odette was gesturing, laid over the bed.

A blue dress with white puffed sleeves and tight waistline with a voluminous skirt that belled widely, its front slitted gracefully in ruffles just like her favorite violet dress. It did not look too elegant but not too plain as well.

"It's perfect." she expressed.

"Great. Then I'll help you in wearing them."

Despite Guinevere's protest, Odette did help her wear the dress.

"I'm sure you were shocked at what you saw earlier." Odette said as she did the ties of Guinevere's dress at the back.

Guinevere met her gaze through the full-length mirror, and immediately felt embarrassed upon remembering how she reacted earlier.

"I'm sorry. I didn't really mean that."

"Lancelot told me how you're very carefree at expressing your thoughts." Odette said, her smile unfading.

"I was just surprised at what I saw. I expected to see him here injured, so I got too irritated upon knowing he was all well. It didn't have anything to do with you."

"I understand. Do not worry." Odette stepped away and looked at her in the mirror. "There. You're all dressed. Now let's go to the dining area."

"Finally." Guinevere followed Odette out of the room.

"Do you really like my brother?" Guinevere asked while they were walking along the corridors filled with larger than life portraits of the Regina Generation.

"Well, yes. He's very easy to like."

"Really?" She asked in disbelief.

She knew that many girls adored her brother. But she was also aware that they were all just after the fame he had, blinded by the light he was lit with, the attention he was attracting by his swords fighting skills.

She grew up with her brother and she knew lots of factors that could very much make him unlikeable. Like the fact that he loved himself too much to like someone else so deeply.

"Of course, Lady Guinevere. What's not to like?" Odette replied.

"Well, there's many. Though I prefer not to ruin your image of my brother."

Odette giggled. "This is exactly what he said."

"About what?"

"About you being the best thing in his life and also his living nightmare. You say something bad about him but still shows you're on his side."

"Well, isn't that normal? That's what siblings are supposed to do."

Odette just giggled, even it sounded melodious. "Your brother's a great man, Guinevere. And I know you of all people know that."

"Certainly." She agreed.

Lancelot and Gusion were already in the long dining table when they arrived, reminding Guinevere that she was still irritated at her brother.

Gusion, on the other hand, was looking dashing now that he had cleaned up entirely, a clean vest and trousers made him look more like a man than Guinevere had ever seen him before.

His brown hair were neatly combed, falling over one side of his forehead, and Guinevere thought they made his blue eyes look darker and eye-catching.

Guinevere would have stared longer at him if it weren't for the smell of stews and sweets and steaks and vegetables being served on the table, making Guinevere's stomach rumble wildly.

They joined the two men and started eating.

Guinevere and Gusion didn't hesitate on eating, even while Lancelot explained how he got chased off and got injured badly.

"That's what you get for being so arrogant." Guinevere said before chewing some of the strawberry tarts on her plate.

Disappointed astonishment flashed on Lancelot's eyes as he stared across his sister. "That's all you have to say when I nearly died?"

"Well, you should hear what I had to go through to find you. And maybe you'll feel how irrelevant your story is."

Odette giggled in her seat as she listened to them, making Guinevere turn her gaze at her.

"I'm sorry. Lancelot mentioned how you guys argue a lot and it's really fascinating to witness it firsthand."

"You should really get to know my brother well so you should realize that there are a bunch of words that could describe him," she turned her gaze to Lancelot, "and fascinating isn't one of them."

But Odette beamed at Lancelot, not bothered by Guinevere's words. "Your brother is the best man I had ever met."

Guinevere scoffed and looked away, and Gusion clearly saw the expression on her face.

He suppressed a smile as he continued to eat. He knew completely well the girl was trying so hard not to roll her eyes at what she was hearing. She just couldn't accept that her brother had found someone to care for.

He felt something hit his shoes and realized Guinevere had kicked him under the table upon catching him suppressing a smile.

He glanced at her. She was really at a foul mood. But he was not bothered by her glares and continued to eat.

Later, Guinevere found herself at the top balcony of Swan Castle, staring at the sun as it slowly sunk down the horizon.

Its orange hues were making everything even more beautiful with its soft glow that even the Barren Lands far away looked alive in its color.

Azure Lake was sparkling with the last rays of the day, making it look magical.

"Beautiful."

Guinevere jumped in her place as Gusion suddenly appeared right next to her, leaning his elbows against the marble railings of the balcony.

"You shouldn't startle people like that!"

He turned his gaze at her. His eyes looked dazzling in the sunlight up close that she would've thought her heart skipped a beat.

"Lady Guinevere, it is not my fault that you're so absorbed in your thoughts that you did not hear me approaching."

She frowned at him and was reminded of something. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"What was so amusing earlier?" She asked.

He merely gave her an innocent look. "What?"

"Why were you smirking earlier in the dining area."

Gusion finally chuckled. "I'm sorry, it's just that...you're very close to your brother, aren't you?"

She frowned at him. "What made you say that?"

"You seem to be refusing to accept that he has found someone he cares for more than you and that's why you're hating him."

"I am definitely not refusing to accept it!" She denied. "It is just all gross to hear and witness all of that."

Gusion shrugged dismissively. "If you say so."

"It is true." She insisted.

"I didn't argue."

"But you sounded unconvinced."

"Because it isn't."

"Could you be any clearer?" She demanded.

But he chuckled again, now leaning the side of his waist against the railings as he turned to her direction.

The sun had almost completely set, and Gusion's eyes were turning more of a midnight kind of blue with the lights dimming around them. But it didn't make them look any less attractive.

"What are you laughing at?" She asked.

"I must say that you are in your best state now."

She scoffed, insulted at the point he was making.

"You look beautiful, Lady Guinevere. That's what I'm saying."

This time, she was certain her heart was racing just because of what Gusion had just said. And she silently wished her cheeks weren't really as red as tomatoes.

She had received such compliments from fine gentlemen before so she wondered why her heart would be racing as if it was her first time hearing them. For her, it was a common compliment she usually received, so why was she reacting so differently?

Gusion, having felt the awkward air that had grown between them, scratched his head and looked away from Guinevere.

"I just.. thought you should know...you know, after what I said earlier in the forest."

"Th-thank you." She said, her voice too stiff to mean it.

"Well, excuse me. I must go check if my armor is already clean." Gusion then walked back inside, leaving Guinevere finally easing up but still confused as she stared at his retreating back.

They had been around each other for days, so why were they being awkward around each other now?

"Have you calmed down now?" Lancelot asked as he joined her at the balcony.

She merely glanced at him and looked back at the view ahead. "So tell me how you managed to catch the eye of the prominent Odette Regina who never settles for mediocrity."

Lancelot grinned proudly as he shrugged. "She already told you. I'm the best."

Guinevere shook her head and rolled her eyes skyward, unapproving. "How does she find your boastful esteem? Does she know how narcissistic you are?"

"Oh come on, Guinevere! There are things that is meant to be kept between siblings."

"I don't know about you, but it sounds like a probable scam for me."

"Guinevere, can you just...support me in this? Please?" Lancelot begged, holding his sister by the shoulders and turning her to face him. "Odette is the best thing that's ever happened to me. And...she's making me realize a lot of things."

"Like how irrelevant family is."

Lancelot's brows furrowed in disagreement. "No. Of course not." He looked at Guinevere straight in the eyes. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't go back as soon as I recovered. It's just because...Odette...she has this way into me that makes me want  to be a better version of myself. And I don't think I can let her go anymore."

As Guinevere listened to her brother talk about Odette with his voice so sincere and his eyes glistening with a different light, she began to realize how right Gusion was.

She was being mean to him because she couldn't accept the fact that he had found someone to care for, someone to love so passionately that it might make her his second priority. And thinking about it made her feel a pang of pain in her chest.

But she also realized that she could do nothing about it. After meeting Cecilion and Carmilla, she had came to know that there was just no stopping two people who felt so deeply in love with each other.

And getting between them would be just a waste of her energy.

She sighed, Lancelot staring at her as he waited for her reply.

"I'm sorry." She muttered. "It's just that I was so worried about you."

"Oh, little sister." Lancelot pulled her into his embrace.

There was no denying it. Something about her brother really had changed since she arrived in Swan Castle.

He seemed to have mellowed down, the mischievous glint in his eyes had faded and was replaced by soft light, and his playful grin had turned into a gentle one.

"So," she began as they pulled away. "when are you going home?"

Lancelot's eyes went hesitant, and she could almost see the gears of his mind working as he tried to find the right words to break it to her.

She turned away before he could say it. "It's alright. I can go back on my own."

"Are you certain?" Lancelot asked, but his voice sounded relieved.

"Yes."

"Thank you, sister." Lancelot held her hand and gave it a little squeeze. "By the way, how did you meet the Paxley boy?"

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