Chapter 17

For the next few days, Aeliana spent most of her time with her tutor. At first, she thought she wouldn't be able to keep up with how strict and fast-paced Madam D'Aramitz was but she was slowly getting used to it.

Though once she is done with her lessons, she would immediately need to take a long nap until it was dinner time.

Aeliana was woken up by Flora and headed to the dining hall. Upon reaching, she was the last to arrive however none of them had begun eating.

"Eli, you're here." her father smiled warmly at her.

She nodded and spoke, "I'm sorry for being late..again."

Cassian shook his head and gestured for her to sit beside him, "It is alright, Eli. Come, let's all begin our dinner shall we?"

Her thoughts had been preoccupied with her lessons so she didn't notice many looks given to her as she walked to her father and sat down in her seat. Dinner commences and everyone was chatting with one another except her.

It wasn't because she felt left out but rather her mind was preoccupied with remembering her dining etiquette.

'Right now we are having soup so the soup spoon should be on the right.'

"Leon, how are your studies? Are you prepared for the academy?"

"My studies are doing fine, father. I don't think I am fully prepared yet but I will be sure to work hard to be prepared soon."

"Haha...that's not what I mean but I'm sure you will do great, Leon."

'Oh my food has been cut for me already so I don't need to use the knife, that's good. I can't hold a knife well still.'

"How about you, Claude? Is everything going well for you?"

"Of course father! I'll definitely be able to catch up to Leon in no time!"

"I'm glad to hear that but don't overwork yourself too hard, understand?"

"Yes, father."

'Eat in small bites and don't chew loudly. Don't push the plate away once done, leave it in the same position.'

"What about you two, Marius, Darius?"

"Dad, I got praised for my swordsmanship!"

"That's great, Marius! Soon you will be an excellent swordsman."

"I read enough books that Mr Brooke said I have read around one-third of the library.."

"You are always very interested in books more than swords, Darius. It's good to have things you like to do."

'Hm the fork should be at twelve o'clock to show that I'm done eating.'

"Eli?"

'Or was it six o'clock?'

"Eli? Are you okay, Eli?"

Aeliana felt a tap on her shoulder which brought her out of her thoughts. She lifted her head up to find everyone staring at her.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?"

Cassian let out a soft sigh, "I was asking how are you and your classes. Has Madam D'Aramitz been too strict?"

She shook her head, replying, "No daddy, she has been good to me although she is strict but I can follow!"

Cassian didn't seem to be fully convinced but smiled and nodded, "That's good to hear, Eli but don't always miss out on your meals. You need the nutrients to grow up well."

Aeliana hummed and nodded, "Yes daddy, I'll try not to miss my meals."

"My baby is such a good girl." he chuckled, patting her on the head.

Everyone else had gone back to focusing on their meal but Aeliana felt a long stare on her before it disappeared.

Not long later, dinner ended and everyone began to return to their respective rooms. Aeliana got changed into her pyjamas but didn't go to bed just yet. Instead, she stood in front of her mirror and tried to do a curtsy bow.

Aeliana stood still before moving her right foot behind her left, having it just slightly outwards.

She kept her left foot steady as she transferred some weight onto it in order to balance right. Slowly, she bends her front knee while keeping her eyes straight ahead not once looking down at her feet.

'Madam said I don't need to hold my skirt if I choose not to.'

Aeliana began to rise back up and return to her stance before sighing. She had been told countless times that although she had done it right, it still looked awkward and poorly done.

She sighed and decided to call it a day. Tomorrow was a Sunday which meant she didn't need to meet madam for her class.

She snuggled into her blankets and smiled to herself. Tomorrow she already decided she would go outside and relax under a big shady tree not far from her room window.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, the door to her room was knocked on loudly, like a banging sound. Aeliana peeked one eye over to it before letting out a big sigh and getting out of her blankets.

She waited a bit to see if there would be another knock and not to her surprise, there was.

"Who is it?" she called out as she held onto the door handle.

"Open the door!!"

Aeliana pinched her nose bridge as she heard her third brother's voice. She didn't turn the door knob and spoke again,

"Who is it?"

She could hear grumbling before a soft whisper replying back, "...Marius.."

Aeliana thought for a bit before finally opening the door. Surprisingly, Darius wasn't with him this time around. She tilted her head, confused as to why he came to her room.

"What are you doing here, brother?"

Marius held a finger up to his lips, signalling her to keep quiet before going into her room and closing the door shut softly.

"Brother?"

"Where's your teddy bear?" he suddenly questioned.

Slightly alarmed by it, she hurriedly ran to her bed and grabbed her stuffed toy, hugging it tightly around her arms. Marius didn't pay any heed to her sudden movement and instead grinned.

"Come with me!"

Aeliana was about to retort back but all her words got pushed down her throat as Marius swiftly pushed her out of the room with him.

Everyone was mostly fast asleep already except the night guards on duty and some servants finishing up their rounds. Marius was sneaky around quietly as if he had done this many times and perhaps due to the confidence he had, Aeliana followed him, trying to be as quiet as she can.

When Aeliana noticed they were all alone, she decided to quietly speak up as she tapped on his shoulder.

"Brother—"

"Shh!!"

Marius closed her mouth shut before she could say another word. Her eyebrows furrowed by this but then noticed a shadow figure not too far from where they were. Suddenly the shadow figure stopped moving.

Both of them held their breaths, hoping to not get caught by whoever that was. Fortunately, it wasn't long later that the figure began moving again and disappeared out of their sight. They heaved a soft relieved sigh before Marius removed his hand from her mouth.

"Follow me," he whispered to her and moved again.

Aeliana decided to just follow first and ask later.

After hiding and quietly moving around more, they reached to the back of the kitchen before Marius opened the back door which led to the outside.

He stepped foot outside and turned to Aeliana, waiting for her to do the same but she stood still, hesitant about it. Marius rolled his eyes and motioned her to follow.

"Where are we going?" she whispered unable to hold back her question any longer.

"You'll know when we get there, now come here quickly!" he whispered back in a slightly annoyed tone.

Aeliana huffed and finally followed him out of their house. Marius carefully looked around once more and then proceeded to grab Aeliana's hand, dragging her with him in a hurry.

After a while of trying to quietly run, Marius finally stopped. Aeliana was panting heavily as she hadn't run this much in a long time.

'I'm going to punch him in the stomach for making me run so much!'

However, that train of thought suddenly cut off as she looked up. She froze in place at what she saw.

The sky was shaded with blues and purples mixed in together with millions of stars painted in it alongside the bright moon. To Aeliana, the stars looked as if it was unreal, sparkling so brightly in the beautiful night sky.

Never in her second and current life had she ever paid attention to how beautiful yet detailed the night sky was. It was blinding yet her pink eyes couldn't stop admiring it.

"It's nice isn't it?" she heard Marius speaking.

He hadn't spoken a word since they arrived at the place he had brought her to. Aeliana glanced over to her right where he stood. He had his eyes fixated on the sky just like her not long ago. For the first time, she saw a smile that he had never shown before.

It wasn't his usual grin-like smile or when he was annoying her type of smile. This was a smaller yet more relaxed smile. As if he was at peace with everything around him.

Aeliana didn't point it out and turned back to the sky. She softly hummed in response and after that, neither of them said another word to one other. It was only when they started to head back inside did Aeliana speak up.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Her words made Marius halt his footsteps. He turned to her with a frown plastered on his face. Aeliana decided to not say anything more and raised her arms up.

"I won't ask then. Let's go back inside, brother."

He didn't say a word so Aeliana took it as a signal to continue walking back. As she walked away, he suddenly spoke; "...You shouldn't work so hard.."

"Sorry?"

Marius lightly jumped, not expecting her to be able to hear him although she had walked quite a distance already. He quickly cleared his throat and frowned,

"If you work this hard you will get sick and if— if you get sick, dad and Darius will be sad!"

Aeliana stared at her brother before smiling, "Brother, are you worried about me?"

As she asked that, the pieces began to click as to why he had suddenly come into her room and brought her to that specific spot to look at the sky.

Marius glared and furiously shook his head as he said, "Me!? No way! Why would I be worried and sad if you get sick!!"

She laughed at his words, shaking her head, "Thank you brother, I'll try to take care of myself so I won't get sick."

Marius rolled his eyes and picked up his pace, heading back inside quickly. Aeliana was still laughing as she trailed behind him, noticing the redness in his ears.

The next day, Aeliana was stuck in bed with a cold. She let out a loud sneeze before sighing. For some reason, she could faintly hear Marius' voice shouting at her about how she easily got sick and how weak she was but it didn't bother her the slightest.