Side Story 3.9 - HAPPILY EVER AFTER(9) (1/2)
HAPPILY EVER AFTER(9)
“Elder brother!”
As Damian came down from the carriage, he smiled at the girl running towards him with her golden blonde hair fluttering in the wind. Damian caught his sister as she ran towards him with all her might then he hugged her tightly, lifted her into the air and placed her down.
The sound of the girl’s boisterous laughter spread in the air. Damian’s heart felt full every time he heard his sister’s clear laughter.
“Pretty big brother!”
Evangeline hugged Bruno tight too and greeted him. Evangeline had three big brothers, so she called them in a different way. For Damian, it was simply ‘elder brother’, for Chris, it was ‘Jude’s big brother’, and when Evangeline first saw Bruno, she shouted.
[It’s a pretty big brother!]
And since then, Bruno’s name became pretty big brother. Bruno sighed as he stroked his cute little sister’s head.
“Eve. Can’t you change the way you call me? You can just call me big brother. Or call me by my name rather.”
“Okay, pretty big brother.”
“…”
Bruno suspected she was doing this on purpose since she was definitely at an age where she could understand his meaning now. She had a wide smile on her face and her expression was full of mischief. Bruno chuckled as if saying it was his loss.
Selena had run over like Evangeline but couldn’t hug them like Eve did, so she stood some distance away with envy in her eyes. Selena also had elder brothers of similar age like that of the two in the ducal residence, but there weren’t many chances to come out and greet them.
She felt very envious to see Eve’s elder brother look at Eve with a gaze full of affection, hug her and indulge her. And above all, Eve’s brother, Damian was far cooler and awesome-r than Selena’s older brother. To Selena, he was a prince dreamy beyond words.
“It has been a long time, Princess.”
When Damian greeted her, Selena hesitantly approached them, picked her skirt slightly and returned the greeting.
“It has been a while, Sir. Damian. Lady Eve, I believe it’s time to say my regretful goodbyes.”
“Lady Selena, goodbyes are really regretful. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Damian and Bruno glanced at each other with a strange look in their eyes then they turned away and tried their best not to laugh.
* * *
After watching the carriage leave with the children that came to visit, the three siblings turned around. The fox, Asha, who had at some point, noticed that her owner was home, came to rub her head at Damian’s feet.
Damian picked Asha up and hugged her. She was now quite old, and her movements were not as fast as before. Asha closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of Damian caressing the back of her neck.
“Ah, right. Elder brother, what is marriage?”
“Marriage is…uh…when a man and a woman come together to make a family. Like mother and father. Father and mother got married and so Eve, you were born.”
“Hmm, I see. So if I marry, my little sibling will be born?”
“That’s not how it wo…wait, Eve. Why are you suddenly curious about this?”
“Jude asked me to marry him. Can I?”
“No!”
Damian and Bruno shouted at the same time.
* * *
Hugo’s discussion with the king took longer than he expected. After managing to reject the King’s invite to dinner, Hugo returned home later than usual. As soon as he entered the mansion, he approached his wife who came to greet him like usual.