Dining Chamber

"Is this really my room?" Aries asked when they returned to the chamber where the magical bracelet kept transporting them.

"It is," Pieffer settled on one of the couches.

"And I own this entire manor?"

"You are the Ram House Leader. You own not only this manor but the entire House of Ram," Sunrei impatiently informed him. He had settled on the couch opposite Pieffer.

"Is this manor short of guest rooms?"

Pieffer smiled while Sunrei looked taken aback.

"We want to make sure that you will stay here and help us in saving Serestral!" the blonde prince frowned then lay down on the couch.

"I always keep my word," Aries glared.

"We know," Pieffer gazed sincerely at him. "It's just that you only came back to us. Please understand how much we fear losing you again."

"Hey, you are the only one who is afraid of losing him again."

Pieffer blushed and yelled at her sibling, "Sunrei Celestine! I hate you!"

The blonde prince smiled and said, "Truth be told, I am worried," he laughed teasingly at Pieffer and added, "But you, my dear sister, are exaggerating everything when it comes to him!"

Pieffer shot a deadly glare at his laughing brother.

Aries stifled a smile then cleared his throat, "Sleep here."

He pointed at the bed and quickly added, "I'll sleep there on the couch," because Pieffer blushed further while Sunrei glared maliciously at him.

"Tell me more about Merrick," he said as soon as he settled on the couch because the silence that floated around the room made him uncomfortable.  He suddenly wanted to hear something.

"Merrick is Tauren's cousin," Sunrei answered. "He has this arrogance that turns people off. You and Pieffer do not want to be close to him. But he eventually became my friend."

Of course, birds of the same feather flock together, Aries refrained from saying those words out loud.

"Sunrei is the only one who can tolerate that man's arrogance," Pieffer commented with a teasing smile. "Or should I say that he becomes so tamed whenever you are with him?"

Who cannot be tamed by the devil himself? Aries glared suspiciously at Sunrei.

"Merrick is trying," the crown prince reasoned. "And because of that, I decided to give him a chance. He doesn't have any friends. He is probably lonely, right? But you," he smiled at Aries then shook his head, "You and Pieffer were always finding reasons to exclude him. Even when we were given this task to look for the house leaders, the two of you petitioned to His Highness that the three of us will be enough to fulfill the mission," Sunrei guiltily sighed before saying, "I should have listened to you. Giving him permission to follow us in secret just because he terribly wanted to go with us was wrong," he felt so ashamed and had to cover his face with his hands, "I should not have done that. It was because he left the House of Bull that he had been possessed by a corrupted soul and we had been followed by that armored Celestial Knight."

"It was also because of your decision that Aries came back to us," Pieffer smiled gratefully to her older brother.

"You want to save Merrick but you don't want him to tag along with you and your brother?" Aries gazed suspiciously at Pieffer.

"He is a mischievous person. I always had this feeling that he will bring us some difficulties. I only want to protect all of us. That is the reason I don't want him to join our missions," Pieffer admitted without a trace of remorse. "I don't want to see him die. He is still Tauren's cousin. I cannot easily give up on him."

"Okay then. I will try not to kill him," Aries pretended a yawn then lay down on the couch. "It's getting late. Let's sleep."

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When Aries woke up, Pieffer was arranging the magical bracelets on the bed.

"Those things can transport people anywhere?" Aries curiously asked.

"You see that tear-shaped crystal?" Pieffer pointed at the center of a chandelier just above Aries and Sunrei. It was crimson in color and as big as a light bulb.

"Is it related to the magical bracelets?"

"Yes," Pieffer answered and raised her hand. She showed Aries the bracelet with a ram's head ornament. "Breaking this will teleport you to where that crimson crystal is."

"How about the rose ornament that took us to that tower? I didn't notice any crystal on that area."

"Tauren put it on top of the flagpole."

"Tauren? I kept hearing his name. Who is he?"

  "Tauren is a Zodiac Knight and Leader of the House of Bull," Pieffer explained with a proud smile that was strangely annoying to Aries. "He had an amazing gift when it comes to creating things. He also knows a bit of magic. He keeps his land safe with his magnificent inventions. You will eventually meet him. He comes out of his laboratory once in a while and visits us."

"But I guess you will meet Siorre and Pines first," Sunrei opened his eyes and yawned. "Siorre leads the House of Scorpion while Pines leads the House of Fish."

"Quaria who leads the House of Pitcher also visits us from time to time. She is as busy as Tauren," Pieffer moved out of the bed and opened a cabinet at the corner of the room. "Quaria loves to read books and conduct endless research."

She pulled two overcoats from the cabinet and went on with her story, "Quaria helps Tauren in some of his inventions."

She handed the black overcoat to Sunrei after placing a few bracelets in the pocket. She also did the same to the crimson one before giving it to Aries then she told them, "Change your clothes first."

"This will only get dirty," Sunrei said after replacing the one he was wearing. "Let's go?"

"Let's eat first," Pieffer looked excited when she opened the door. "Aries, you have an incredible cook. Miko is his name. Let's go downstairs."

After passing long hallways and descending a few staircases, they finally reached the dining area. A mouth-watering aroma was floating all over the room. Its source was none other than the long table at the center of the chamber. It was filled with delightful dishes. Long benches lined on each side of the table. Open windows lined on one side of the wall. Lamps were sticking out on the other side.

"Are we eating all of that?" Aries was staring hungrily at the bountiful table that could probably feed twenty or more people.

"Sir Aries!!!" a muscular man wearing purple and body fit clothing was running towards him with arms wide open.

Aries quickly bent his knees and evaded being crushed to death by those big arms. He closed his right fist and aimed at the head of the muscular man whose eyes had widened with fear.

"Aries!" Sunrei caught his fist and pulled it away from the muscular man. "This is Miko, your cook. This is how he greets people."

Pieffer put an arm around Miko's shoulders and led him towards one of the benches.

"Did you…" Miko swallowed then cried like a baby, "Did you truly forget about us, Sir Aries?!"

"Miko, please understand," Pieffer offered him a handkerchief.

"How can I forget someone that I never – OUCH!" Aries glared at Sunrei who elbowed his torso.

"Just be quiet," the annoying prince hissed at him.

"Aries is not feeling well, Miko. Please understand," Pieffer was rubbing the back of the irksome muscular crybaby.

"I understand," Miko got up on his feet and motioned for Aries to take his seat. "I'm just… a little surprised. This must be hard for you, Sir Aries. Don't mind me. Just enjoy the food. Maybe the taste can help you remember. I'll call the kids."

"What kids?" Aries asked as his heart pounded with dread.

The door opened and twenty or more kids came running towards him with arms wide open.

"STOP!!!" Aries roared angrily, silencing everyone. "I WILL EAT IN MY ROOM!"

"No," Pieffer held his hand and pushed him down on the bench. "You will eat with everyone."

"You want to torment me with these kids?!"

"As Miko had said, don't mind us. Just enjoy your meal," Pieffer smiled annoyingly at him.

But, as always, he could not fully reject her. He sat between Pieffer and Sunrei.

Aries tried to ignore Miko and the children that looked awfully sad as they sat around the table. He focused on the food in front of him.

"Kids, you have to be patient with Sir Aries," Miko explained. "He is still recovering from his injuries. We should not stress him out."

One lad, who seemed to be the oldest among the children gathered around the table, moved out of his chair and put a piece of meat on the empty plate of Aries.

"I'm Matchi," the kid smiled at him. "You told me that a bad memory should be thrown away to be replaced with better ones. I can smile now because you saved me. Not just me but all of us in here. We can smile now because of you. Thank you, Sir Aries!" he cried. "You don't have to worry about us anymore. We can take care of each other. Just please, be well and be safe."

All the children cried to him, "Please, Sir Aries, don't die…"

Aries cursed as tears flowed from his eyes.

Why am I crying? I don't even know these little devils!

He got up on his feet and walked out of the dining area.

"Aries!" Pieffer seized his hand and stopped him from wandering aimlessly.

"What was that?" he angrily snapped at Pieffer.

"I'm sorry," the princess sincerely apologized. "I should have told you about them."

"Is there any other Aries? Because I seriously don't know any of the people in there!"

"Do you think that your body will move on its own towards the House of Lion?" Sunrei had caught up to them. He was carrying lunch boxes. "Miko saved this for us. We should eat before entering the House of Lion."

"What are you saying?"

"We will be fighting a lot once we entered the House of Lion. We should gather as much energy as we can."

"Not that," Aries was annoyed. "But what you said before that."

"Ah! About your body moving towards the House of Lion." Sunrei exclaimed. "You walked, of course."

Aries held his head that was starting to ache. He was once again confused and it was frustrating.

"Let's talk about it after we save the House of Lion," Pieffer held his hand. "Let's go?"

Aries only nodded and Pieffer led him out of the manor.

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