Not Really my Brother

It has been a week since the misunderstanding between me and Eric. And he has been avoiding me with since then.

I tried many ways to try and talk to him but he is very talented in dodging each of my getting close efforts.

"Big brother Eric, can we talk for a while." I said after finishing breakfast.

Father, Eric and I were the ones eating breakfast at the dining table. My mother has been sick this past month and her meals are brought to her room for her to eat.

"I'm sorry Alyssa, I have a prior engagement today." Eric reasoned out.

"It won't take long brother." I said with a frown.

Eric paused for a second after seeing me with a sad face. "I am really sorry. The son of Earl Carlson is already waiting for me at his estate. I have to go, bye." And with that he simply dashed outside.

Father was looking at us with a confused expression. "Did you and Eric have a fight again?" He asked.

"I-I said some words that he had misunderstood." I bowed my head in remorse. "If I have known he would get hurt by my words, then I wouldn't have said it."

"Can you tell father what you said?" Father asked in a calm and soothing voice as a father who is ready to hear and give advice would do.

Father waved at me to come closer to him and I walked with my head held low. When I was near, he picked me up and let me seat on his lap.

I was embarrassed with what just happened, but I composed myself in no time. At heart I am a thirty year old woman, that's why this position is a little awkward. But I quickly realized that I am an eight year old child and no one will see this father and daughter bond weird.

"You can tell father." Father coaxed me.

"Well, big brother Eric and I talked about the royal academy. He told me that the children of top nobility are expected to enrol and study there." I started to narrate me and Eric's conversation. "And well I kind of said that he would be officially be an adopted son of the Broderick family in the near future and become your male heir, then I woudn't have to be enrolled there because he would represent our ducal family in the royal academy. And he misunderstood what I said and thought I am accusing him of stealing the heir's place. Father I didn't really have such intentions, please believe me." I looked at my father with truthful eyes.

I see my father sigh. "I understand what you mean Ysa." He patted my head gently. "I know you are trying your best to get closer to Eric. He is a good kid but still sensitive. He lost his mother when he was young and he lost his father just recently. They were his closest family and he thinks of others as outsiders. Did you know that I invested a lot of effort just for him to trust me?"

I looked at father in confusion. "Isn't Eric my big brother?" I asked. "Isn't he your son father?" I looked innocently at my father.

My father looked at me straight in my eyes and sighed. "You also thought the rumors were true?"

I nodded innocently. "Well big brother Eric looks like you. I, your daughter didn't have even one physical trait from you father."

"Haha, I couldn't have wished it the other way. I am happy that you look like your mother, with beautiful silver hair and amethyst eyes." Father stroked my hair gently. "That is what I love about your mother and also her kindness and gentleness."

'Father loves mother?' I thought. But what I know is that father and mother had a political marriage. It was also rumored that the one father really loved was of a lower born noble and was the one who was married to Eric's father from the branch family.

"You really love mother?" I asked with my innocent child act. "And big brother Eric isn't your son from outside." I opted to use the word 'son from outside' rather than 'bastard' because I don't want to incur father's wrath.

"Of course I love your mother." Father looked at me with gentle eyes and smiled. "And yes, Eric isn't my son. He is the son of my cousin from the branch family."

I nodded in understanding. "But you know father, I am okay if you adopt Eric as my big brother. I want to have a big brother to protect me too." I reasoned out.

I want to tell father that he needs a male heir to inherit the ducal house because I cannot inherit it. I will be married off to another noble family with the same status or higher. But I will keep this in mind because I am just a kid right now.

"That will be up to Eric." Father said. "I have already asked him and he politely refused. He said he is content to be given a house to sleep and food to eat. He really is a stubborn one, haha." He chuckled.

"Yes he is really stubborn hehe." I giggled just the same. "But father you know, you need to tell mother what you just said to me. Because like me, she believes that Eric is your son from a different woman."

Father's smiling face had a hint of sadness in them. "I will try. But to tell you the truth, I don't know how to. I don't even know if your mother loves me like I do to her."

"I am sure mother loves you." I said with resolution. "Why do you think mother doesn't feel the same way?"

"Haha, you are still young and I don't know if you will understand. But your mother and I only met once at our engagement party and the next was our wedding ceremony. I felt that your mother was forced into this political marriage and isn't happy being with me." I saw a hint of sadness in his eyes.

I have a feeling that this ducal couple is also in a huge misunderstanding of their feelings for one another.

I can see how my mother looks at my father with loving eyes. And now my father just confessed he feels the same way. They are clearly misunderstanding each other. They aren't communicating there feeling and are being civil with their relationship.

"Don't worry father, I will help you and mother see your feelings for one another." I said with resolve.

"Haha, thanks for thinking about us Ysa." Father patted my head. He didn't believe the words of an eight year old child and so I pouted my lips.

'I will surely resolve the misunderstanding between the two of you. But first I need to resolve the misunderstanding between me and Eric, that is if I want to have a bright future ahead.' I thought to myself.

"Because you are going to help me, why don't I also help you." Father said. My eyes shined bright with what he said.

"What is it father? How can you help me?" I asked.

"Well winter is coming and I guess giving Eric a gift would me great." Father said. "Why not try knitting a scarf for him. It would at least show your sincerity."

"Father, your a genius!" I hugged him tightly. "I will go to town today, is that alright father."

"Haha okay. Flora will come with you. She will help you show your way in yown. And I will assign Sir Frank to accompany you."

Flora is the personal maid assigned to me. She was sixteen years of age. Sir Frank is one of my father's knights. He will serve as my bodyguard.

"Thanks father." I said happily.

"Are you sure you are going to be okay?" Father asked in a worried tone. "I mean, I can file a leave in office for today to accompany you."

I am sure father is being worried because this would me my first time going out of the house since I had 'amnesia'.

"Don't worry father, I won't be long." I assured him. "I just need to buy a few knitting things and maybe walk around. I will head back in no time. I know you are busy father, I don't want to burden you."

"Of course it's no burden to accompany my daughter shopping haha." Father chuckled. "But I am afraid you are correct. Winter is just a few weeks from now and I have to finalize things in our fief." He sighed sadly.

"Don't worry father, Flora and Sir Frank is their to accompany me." I said with a beaming smile.

I am looking forward in going out and seeing a this world inside the novel.

Edited by: nalyn