4 Chapter 2.5 EXTRA : Bond of Twins (1/2)

I woke up earlier than the usual time Darion arrives.

Darion is our head butler. He does not usually attend to me but after the tree accident he was tasked to handle my morning ritual along with several servants. That morning though, I was up early even before the sun rose over the horizon. It was still dark and somehow the air was chilly. Ever since my parents dropped the bomb on me few days ago, I begun to obsessed over the ritual for the summoning of the Centennial Priestess. Sleeping became hard for me, I can't get it off my mind. I still can't believe I am given such cursed fate. What's worse is that I can't confide it to anybody lest they laugh at me or dismiss me for being over imaginative.

I walked to my bedroom's veranda and watched the cosmotic night sky. I never appreciated starry skies as much as this. It seems like I started to appreciate every details around me ever since I retrieved my past memories about a month ago. This luxurious and laid back life, beautiful castle, loving family, and my own body; Everything seems surreal to the point that life's too good to be true- maybe that's why I'm bound to die young and in such a horrible way too. I already died young once, I want to make sure I live long enough this time to enjoy this world and watch how everything will turn out in the future.

I rubbed my arms and hugged myself. The small body I have now is not as tolerant with cold as I was before. I walked back in and studied my self in the mirror. I had snow white hair that is tinged with a blush of carnation at dusk when light hits on it; my nose is small but it's pointy and chiselled, just enough to outline my silhouette. I have a pale blonde-brown lashes that was thick but not so much in length. But what strikes me most is the color of my eyes, the same ones I've seen with my mother and brother. They are bright crystalline blue like the sea in a bright sunny shore of Maldives. It's a striking feature that I think runs only in our bloodlines. I pinched my cheeks, and pat them twice, hoping it makes my skin red. I don't have a natural blush. It made me look pale or maybe because I'm sleepless that's why I look like shit? But I can't complain now. I'm too blessed with this icy beauty even if I'm only 8 years old now.

What I noticed around me most is the common color theme. White and blue. Just like our hair and eyes. I read a book about our lineage, it says our family is directly connected with the crown. I did heard about it before too but I never bothered to ask regarding the matter since it doesn't seem important then. I do know my mother is the sister of the High King of the Seven Kingdoms. That makes my brother a candidate to ascend to the crown if the King bears no heir. But I heard somewhere before that he does have an heir, two sons in fact. I never met my cousins but I have a hunch that I eventually will.

I yawned and threw myself to bed. I need to act as a lady regardless. I don't want to disappoint my parents. So for every chance I have, when no body is looking, I can relax like this and act loose. I sat up and crossed my feet, took a deep breath and screamed. My bedroom is sound proof so I don't think any one can hear me- I screamed loud and long until I can feel both my diaphragm and lungs collapse from all the air that was released. I feel so liberated doing this and to——

The door came swinging wide open, like a storm making an entrance. It bangs against the walls loud enough the furnitures near it was rattled and at the same time Aeron suddenly came barging in.

”AERRA?!!!” He hollered hysterically. In surprise, I answered abruptly,

”What?!?” My body automatically corrects my posture and I ended up sitting properly like a lady with straight back, chest out and head facing front. This... is a bad habit.

Aeron meets my gaze and after the longest pause I ever had in my life, he breaths out as if he had held his breath.

His shoulder eases down as he wings his head backwards, ”You scared me, dimwit” he murmured.

His obvious trembling feet goes limp and he drops to the floor, sighing in relief.

”I scared you??? Geez, Aeron! What came into you!? Do you know what time it is? And exactly how long were you lurking outside my door?” I fumed, jumping off to my feet.

”I wasn't— it's nothing... Wait. Why were you screaming?” He retorted, crawling towards me and then sitting down with feet crossed when he was about a meter close.

”I was just trying to relax” I decided to tell the truth. I don't see why I should lie to him anyway.

He just head cocking to the side, studying me.

”Why are you here?” I ask, walking closer and sitting in front of him on the ground.