Twin sisters (2)

Just as Edwin was about to start fighting first, he suddenly paused at the sound of Estelle's voice. Upon hearing her words, his lips curled down, clearly not agreeing with her and expressing his displeasure.

''Why should I withdraw?'' He asked, hating that someone must suggest that he always needed to withdraw from a battle. During the family dinner, his mother wanted him to withdraw. Now, his second sister was telling to withdraw from this fight as well.

The most annoying fact of all, was that his opponent remained the same.

His weak fourth sister!

''You must give me a clear answer. Why should I withdraw, Estelle?'' With clenched hands, Edwin asked again. This time, a little louder as his anger was reaching its peak. Was everyone thinking he was weaker than that weakling?

How was he weaker than that weakling?

He was a powerful swordsman for his young age. His mother had told him that it wouldn't be long before he reaches the level of a sword master. If he worked harder, he could become an aura master.

His mother clearly told him that, yet she was the same who forced him to withdraw during the family dinner.

''Haa...'' Estelle sighed, tiredly with her fingers on her forehead. Her head shook lightly in annoyance. Just by looking at Edwin's face, she could already tell his arrogant thoughts. He should be grateful that she stopped him from doing something that he would regret.

'If not that he was useful...I wouldn't expend this much energy to manipulate him....' Dark emerald eyes flickered in disdain.

''Fourth brother, if you fight with fourth sister's elite slave, father will not like that. He promised you and fourth sister the battle that you desired. If you fight now, won't it be the same as not giving father face?'' Closing the distance between herself and Edwin, Estelle took her time to explain the consequences of Edwin's actions.

''If you want to continue, then you can. Don't say that this sister didn't warn you.'' Saying that, she stood in front of Edwin, whose face paled beyond recognition as if her words just poured freezing water on him, cooling the heat from within.

''We have to leave, Estella.'' Ignoring the dazed Edwin, Estelle called her twin sister before turning to the side where Raven stood with an apologetic smile. ''Fourth sister, pardon us twin sisters, but we have engagements with some friends and relatives.''

''You do not need to excuse yourself, second elder sister. Thank you for visiting this younger sister's home.'' Raven returned with a sweet and appreciative smile. Inwardly, she snorted at the obvious lie thrown in her face. If these twin sisters truly had the so-called engagements, they wouldn't have bothered to show up in this manor.

''We are sisters, fourth sister. There's no such thing as visit. When we have free time on our hands, let's have some sisterly chat over tea.'' Estelle suggested with the same apologetic smile. At the same time, she couldn't help closely observe this fourth sisters of hers.

Her weak fourth sister was now staring at her in the eye.

'She's really different from before...' Estelle thought before turning her gaze and walking away from Edwin, out of the battle grounds. For some reason, her courage to stare at her fourth sister's smiling face seemed to be crumbling bit by bit.

That smile of hers didn't seem right.

''Fourth sister, I wish you luck on your life and death battle.''

''Thank you, third elder sister.'' Raven smiled sweetly at Estella who returned hers and hastened her steps to Estelle who waited for her at a distance.

''Fourth elder brother, second elder sister is right.'' Raven's words snapped Edwin from his fearful daze. Realizing that he did something stupid, Edwin rushed his way out the battle grounds, by stomping his feet angrily with a yell.

''I don't need you to tell me!''

''....Jane, see the guests out and do something your cheek. As my maid, you aren't supposed to be look this way.'' After a moment, Raven looked over to Jane, who stood mutely on the side, probably trying to reduce her presence in order not incur Edwin's wrath.

''T-Thank you for concern, young lady.'' Keeping her tears at bay, Jane gave a quick bow before rushing to the young master and young ladies waiting for her. If not for them, Jane would have given a full-blown smile.

No matter what, her young lady still remained the same, even if her weak character changed a bit.

____

''Elder sister, what do you think about fourth sister?''

In the moving carriage, the twin sisters sat side by side on their way to their mother's manor. The person who asked that question was Estella, who looked innocently to her elder twin sister.

''She's different. For the first time, the snobbish Edwin was smart to notice that little detail.'' Estelle snorted with disdain.

''Fourth brother did say fourth sister clearly died on that day. However, everyone can see that fourth sister is alive and breathing.'' In contemplation, Estelle murmured to herself.

Recalling that sweet yet uncomfortable smile, the frown on her lips deepened more than ever. That smile really did not give a good feeling. Her instincts were telling her to be cautious around her fourth sister, but....why should she cautious around someone clearly weaker than herself?

That was something Estelle could not understand. Nevertheless, she wouldn't fully ignore her instincts. If her fourth sister becomes someone dangerous in the future, then she would have to adjust her plans.

'No matter what...I will stop those voices about myself and Estella.' With a serious gaze of determination, Estelle vowed deeply in her heart.

''Elder sister.....'' Estella's hesitant voice returned Estelle back to reality.

''Yes Estella?'' She turned to her younger sister, who parted her lips, seeming as if to say something, but closed them back as though she was nervous and scared.

''You can say what you want, Estella.'' Estelle's gaze softened at the sight of her young sister's cute action.

''W-What if fourth sister has awaken....'' She stuttered, then her voice reduced to nothing at the end of her unfinished sentence, as though she said something wrong.

''...''

It would be a lie if Estelle said to anyone that she had not thought about that. The possibility of her fourth sister's awakening. Apart from her second elder brother, her fourth sister was the only one who took after their father, which also meant that she was of pure blood. Her eyes particularly were a sign.

''If she has, then father will say something.'' Answering with that, Estelle's mood sunken, and she turned her gaze away from her younger twin sister. Her eyes remained on the moving scenery outside of the carriage.

When their second elder brother awakened his, their father announced to the entire Langston grand duchy. If Raven awakened hers, he would do the same.

It was as simple as that.

''...'' Estella quietly watched the back of her elder twin sister. Her eyes then moved down to the fisted hands on her lap. Something as quick as a shooting star flashed in her light emerald eyes as she turned away, acting blind to her elder twin sister's action.

****

''Have a peaceful night, young lady.''

''Goodnight to you as well, Jane.''

After the exchange of words between maid and master, the door closed and what could be seen in the dark room was a lone lighted candle on the nightstand, and the shadows of objects reflected by the moonlight on the ground.

As Jane wished, the room was peaceful until rustling sounds came from the bed. Tiny feet landed on the ground and slowly moved over to the dressing closet. It didn't take long until the set of feet was shielded from sight. The small heel of the small-sized black boots clicked on the ground until it stopped near the dressing mirror.

The lone lighted candle was placed on the dressing table. A moment after that, rustling sounds could be heard. Glossy black hair was tied into a low bun, and then a dark hood shielded the hair from sight, the same as the tiny feet.

*pak* *pak*

''He's here.'' A soft murmur sounded. Not a moment later, another presence was in the quiet and dark room.

''You look very different in this attire, Kieran.'' An amused voice came after. Vibrant eyes took in the black attire of the man kneeling in her gaze. Everything on him was shielded underneath the clothes, including his face. The only feature showing was his eyes.

Kieran's dressing reminded Raven of the assassin that she killed on a night like this.

'If I were to count the number of weeks I've spend in this world, it would probably be a month or so...' Raven suddenly thought of the time she had spent in this world.

''Thank you for the compliment, master. Does master's robe fit well?'' Kieran asked without a change in his expression, even though nothing could be seen.

''Yes it does. You got the right size, thank you.'' Raven's eyes briefly went down her clothes, before walking past the kneeling Kieran to the opened window. Her robe fluttered a bit due to the cooling breeze of the night. Her red eyes focused on the beautiful scenery of the Langston Grand duchy in her gaze.

Somewhere out there would be an organization of assassins under her lead after tonight.

''Time waits for no one, Kieran. Let's go.''

''As you wish, master.'' Saying that, Kieran stood up from the ground, and moved towards the source of the night breeze. Kneeling down in front Raven, he waited until he felt the weight drop on his back. Small arms curled around his neck, and her face laid close to his neck. Because of her breathing, the hair on his neck stood upright. Kieran ignored the silly reaction, and leaped up to the window frame, quite perfectly without staggering.

A moment later, without a word, Kieran moved a foot forward, and the two bodies glued together descended down the old manor.

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