Chapter 32

The twins were sitting down with a line of people waiting with gifts in their hands. One by one came up, introducing themselves before wishing them a happy birthday and handing them a gift.

Aeliana was with their father, holding a plate of savoury snacks while people made conversations with her father. As she quietly munched on them, her gaze moved over to her twins.

Surprisingly, they didn't look tired and continued accepting, and thanking the guests. She admired the energy they still had despite it going on for some time now.

'Right I still haven't given them the gifts I got for them. I'll do it when the line gets shorter I guess.'

Aeliana took another bite of her snack before she felt a presence looming over her. She followed her guts and turned to the left, finding Leon standing beside her. Lightly, she jumped, not expecting her first brother to come up to her so suddenly.

"Leo—" before she finished saying his name, she immediately cut herself off as she remembered something from her classes with Madam D'Aramitz.

"Lord Leon?" she fixed her sentence.

A visible frown formed between Leon's eyebrows, indicating he was displeased about something. Aeliana noticed the shift of atmosphere causing her to question whatever she had done that led up to this.

A small lightbulb flashed in her thoughts. She lifted her plate up towards Leon and in return she received a confused look from him.

"Here, Lord Leon." she gestured towards the snacks.

"What?" he questioned, the frown still visible.

"You kept looking at this so, I thought you wanted it. Am I right?"

Leon kept silent as he gazed down at the snacks before looking at her and sighing. He shook his head and turned his heel, walking away, leaving Aeliana standing there utterly puzzled.

After three seconds, she huffed in annoyance and continued eating the savoury snacks, complaining in her heart.

'What the heck was that? First, you creep up from behind then start showing a sour face before leaving! Stupid first brother! So what if you're the oldest huh!? I used to be too and I have better manners than you that's for sure!'

She continued grumbling in her heart before she finally stopped once she noticed the line was getting shorter. Hurriedly, she put the plate away and called a servant over, requesting them to call for Flora.

She had already told Flora beforehand that when she calls for her, it is about the presents. Flora came and handed her the neatly wrapped presents before whispering; "Good luck, my lady!"

Aeliana nodded and headed over to the line, silently lining without letting her father notice she had left his side. She could hear whispers in front and behind her.

All of them were about her.

"Isn't that the youngest child? What is she doing here waiting?"

"I know right? Just let her be, she's just a child that doesn't know any better."

"Do you think she's trying to give something to her brothers?"

"Probably, honestly that's quite cute to see her waiting so patiently."

"Right? She isn't cutting the line either, how polite!"

Hearing the positive words, she had a cheeky grin in her mind.

'That's right! Polite and well-mannered! First brother should learn a thing or two from me'

Soon it was finally her turn to give the gifts she prepared for her twin brothers. As the people in front of her bowed and said their goodbyes, she walked up to them and smiled widely.

"Aeliana? What are you doing here?" Darius questioned with a surprised expression on his face.

Marius raised an eyebrow before snickering, "Is our little sister that bored until you had to come here for us?"

Aeliana refrained from sticking her tongue out at Marius and shook her head.

"Nope, I'm here because I have gifts for brothers!"

The twins' eyes lit up at her words.

"Really?"

She nodded and handed two gifts over to them, "I hope you like them."

The twins took the gifts that were respectively for them and opened them, openly showing their excitement making Aeliana happy yet nervous.

"Woah!" the two gasped, staring at the gifts with wide eyes.

Marius carefully held the wooden sheath, slowly gliding his fingers across the carefully crafted item.

Darius on the other hand, held a slim rectangular item. It had a small tassel attached to it through a small hole at the top and pressed flowers decorated all over it.

"For brother Marius, I remember you love using the sword so I got you that to hold your sword and there is a protection magic spell on it so it won't break." Aeliana began to explain,

"As for brother Darius, you always read a lot of books but I saw you don't use anything to remember what page so I made you a bookmark with the help of Flora. It's not the best but I hope it can help you remember the pages." she sheepishly smiled as she ended her sentence.

The twins gave her a long stare before Darius reached out and engulfed her in a hug.

"I..I love it a lot, thank you Aeliana...I promise I will treasure it!" Darius said in a serious and sincere tone.

She giggled at his words, hugging him back as she replied, "I'm glad you like it brother but you have to use it, I made it for you to use it."

"I will use it carefully."

When Darius released her from the hug, she heard a cough.

Marius was standing close by, holding the sheath tightly in his hand before shutting his eyes and slowly extending his arms out.

Aeliana raised an eyebrow at his weird stance.

"I'll...I'll let you hug me just this once!" Marius said, trying to sound arrogant but failed.

She noticed his face turning red making her laugh. She ran over and hugged him. Marius was caught off-guard by the sudden hug but returned it back regardless.

"Thank you.." Aeliana heard a soft whisper before she was suddenly released.

"Come on Darius! We still have the others waiting for us." Marius quickly said, speeding back to his chair.

She and Darius glanced at each other before lightly laughing. Aeliana waved goodbye to them and returned to where her father was.

"I see the twins are happy with what you got for them, Eli." Cassian spoke.

She nodded, her eyes gazing towards them, "I'm happy they like it."

"Of course they would, you specially thought of them while finding for a gift." he gently patted her head, not wanting to ruin her look for the day.

Aeliana laughed and without meaning to, she said, "This is the first time they accepted my wishes and presents."

Silence fell upon her, Cassian, and the few people that were chatting with Cassian previously. Aeliana noticed the silence and realised she had said something she shouldn't have.

Not wanting to deal with what she had done, she glanced at Claud who was simply minding his own business at a corner, and swiftly said,

"I want to spend time with second brother!"

And without waiting for her father to answer, she turned and dashed over to Claud.

He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he leisurely glanced around the hall before he noticed a small figure approaching him. He raised his eyebrow at the unusual occurrence.

"Brother!" Aeliana said, standing in front of him.

Claud squinted his eyes before sighing. He didn't change his posture and indifferently glanced at her.

"What do you want?" he asked, his tone filled with displeasure.