ᴛʜɪʀᴅ.

"My dear brother, please don't do this." She is trying to stop her twin brother from rummaging her things but she is already too late. He got the contract already. 

"I didn't ask you to do this. It's my responsibility to take care of you." He said. She grasped on his trouser tightly and shook her head. 

"Let me help you. I'm not a little child anymore." She cried softly while looking up at him. He read the contract and saw that it is valid for two years. 

"I didn't ask you to be a courtesan, Fuyu. The King gave us this manor to keep ourselves warm and comfortable. Our parents will not like this if they are still alive." He threw it to her study table and held her hands tight before letting it go to leave her bedchamber. 

"Don't get mad, please. This will be the first and last. I will not sign any more contracts after this one." It is not really her intention to make him mad. She just wanted to help because she saw some of the Ladies, even the married ones, make him a paramour. 

The twins' parents died during a chivalry and with the King's help, he sheltered them. He gave the manor to the twins to keep it as their own. To continue their studies, the Lord of the Hasegawa family, Makoto, decided to be a paramour. He is keeping it discreet as much as possible because he doesn't want to taint their family's history and legacy. This led to their family being almost forgotten. 

"Brother, forgive me, please?" She begged while hugging him from behind. He is the only family she has right now and she can't bear to lose him as well. 

"Don't cry anymore. This will be the last time, alright?" He turned around to hug her back and she nodded many times. He wiped her tears carefully and placed a kiss on her forehead. 

"Prepare yourself. We will attend the banquet." He whispered and she nodded once more. She received the invitation yesterday morning and her personal servant helped her to choose which gown she would wear for the event. 

"The Viscount of the Suzuki family will be my companion for the night." She said and Makoto narrowed his eyes. 

"Lord Higa? Lord Ryoji's close friend?" He asked and she bit her lower lip before nodding. He already knew it because he is the one who got his twin sister as a courtesan. 

"You cannot have an intercourse with him. Promise me you will stay pure until you get married." He kept his voice low. 

"I will. I promise. I don't want to die yet." She mumbled. Premarital intercourse is a sin and if someone will see them doing it, they will be punished with disembowelment according to the Church. 

"And you should do the same, Brother. I don't want to lose you." She added. He smiled at her and nodded his head. 

The banquet is for the announcement of marriage between the Archduke of the Aoyama family and the Countess of the Jung family, so it is given that the Lord and Lady of the Hasegawa family are invited because Fuyu is a friend of Lady Gia. The invitations were sent to few and it also means strengthening of alliances between the families. The twins prepared for the night with the help of their personal servants. 

"Careful." Makoto held her hand tight while she's trying to ride the horse. She has been complaining to him about how uncomfortable it is to ride in a carriage, so they decided to ride a horse as their mode of transportation. 

She sat in front of him and held on to the saddle tightly. He held the reins and started cantering. It took them minutes to arrive at the castle of the Jung family and when they arrived, few Lords were already there and conversing with each other. One of the guards helped Fuyu dismount from the horse and Makoto followed. After that, the guard brought the horse to the stable. 

She held on her twin brother's arm and got her hand fan on her free hand, opening it as they walked inside the castle. A servant lead them to the great hall and her eyes wandered when they arrived. She smiled softly behind her fan when she saw the Viscount of the Suzuki family. She did a curtsy and he bowed his head as greetings. 

"Brother, I'll accompany Lord Higa for a while." She said and he nodded, giving her a look to remind her of what she should and should not do. 

"I'm expecting you tonight, Lord Makoto." The Knights of the Yoshino family and Fujiwara family approached him with smiles and he chuckled softly before accepting the wine glass from them. 

"I should be here as my sister is also attending." He said before offering a toast. He took a sip from his wine glass and his eyes caught a glimpse of one of the Archdukes of the Aoyama family. 

"Guarding her as always, aren't you?" He let out a laugh and nodded. They all know that lots of men are coming for her, so he is always keeping her close and guarded. 

"She is still studying. I can't let her get married yet." The trio looked at the Lady who is currently with the Viscount. She got her hair braided and studded with rubies and sapphires. 

"It is a pleasure to meet you tonight, Milady." She turned her head to the side when they heard that voice. She covered her lips with the hand fan and then, she offered her hand when the gentleman asked for it. 

"A good evening for you, Lord Kazuma. I'm glad that I got your eyes set upon me." She said as she noticed the other gentleman besides him. 

"I would like you to meet my dear friend, the Prince of the Yamamoto family, Prince Sho." Kazuma said and she didn't take her eyes off him ever since the moment it met his stares. She did a curtsy and gave him one of her softest smiles. 

"It is an honor to meet the Prince tonight. I am the Lady of the Hasegawa family, my Prince. My name is Fuyu." She finally introduced herself to the Prince and Kazuma almost smirked when he saw his reaction.