“Brother Lein! You cheater! We will report you to Dad!” Maxwell shouted like a kid who lost his favorite toy. He ran off of the dining room… just to protest to Dad.
While on the other hand, Maxillary grabbed my hand and tried to take me away from Brother Lein who was hugging me right now. Maxlein did not even faltered.
“Brother Lein! I got her first! Let go!” Maxillary shouted angrily while pulling me on the shoulder. I feel like crying because I could not get off from my older brother’s hug and the way Maxillary was pulling me with force.
“Hmm..” was the only sound I heard from Lein. Why did I imagine him with his eyes closed while rubbing his cheek on mine as if he was savoring the moment? was that really normal?
My cheek hurts and now, both my arm and shoulder hurts too. I really want to say something to stop them from tugging me but I could not because of Brother Lein.
‘Kath! Kath! I need you…! I need help please!’ I screamed internally in my mind.
Should I start crying like a normal child now? That would be embarassing but I think, I have no choice. I should.
“Hngh! Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah! Uwaaaaahhhhh!” I started crying out loud that made Brother Lein immediately backed away from me and Maxillary let my arms free.
They looked worried, shock, nervous and something I could not name. The look on their faces were like they smelled something not nice and to wants leave immediately but could not.
“H-hey, what is the problem?” Maxlein asked nervously but I could not talk, certainly, my child instincts were really kicking in.
Maxlein reached for me but I jolted when I felt a pain in my shoulder, plus his heavy hand that he still could not notice he was using a bit of his strength. He quickly retreated.
Looks like he noticed my shoulder and so, he tucked up my sleeve and saw my bruised shoulder. It really bruised that fast?
“What happened here?” the cold voice of Brother Millian who just entered, echoed in the room. Maxlein, Maxillary and I were startled.
I stopped from crying and looked at his handsome face. From the looks of it, he just came from the training ground because of the beads of sweat all over his body, wet shirt and the wooden sword hanging on his waist. Brother Amo was just behind him a little late, just like Brother Millian, his shirt was drenched in sweat.
“Hic… Brother Millian!” I spread my arms and ran towards him but he suddenly moved aside to avoid me that I almost stumbled.
I was dumbfounded. Did he just avoided my hug? My tears started to welled up and cried harder once again that I even caught the attention of the servants who were busy with their works. They turned their heads in our direction to watch the ongoing commotion.
Brother Millian looked guilty and diverted his eyes from me.
“Brother Millian!” Amo warned him and Brother Millian whisphered something to him that widened his eyes and wanted to laugh.
“Fine. Fine.” Brother Amo said almost laughing and kneeled smiling with his arms open towards my direction, welcoming me.
“Aww… Come to Brother Amo, Princess.” Brother Amo called in a childish way, pouting like he wants to kiss me. I immediately ran to his arms and cried. Does Brother Millian really hate me? Now, I wonder if he really is. He was not like this last night so, why now…?
Brother Amo caressed and tapped my head and back gently. I am amazed. He knows how to comfort.
So this is how a normal child would cry. It was my first time because this never happened to me in the past. I never cried nor did anything about being too emotional to the point that I would cry.
I was too stiff since I had to overlook all the things around me in the past. I never get treated like a child like this.
My cries would not stop immediately until Dad, Maxwell together with Kath came to the dining hall.
“Milady!” Kath called in surprise and immmediately went to my side, worry evident to her face.
“What happened here?” the Duke asked so grimly. Everyone fell on silence that a needle could be heard if fell but except from the silence, my sobs alone were alarming.
I could see clearly how everyone was frightened by my father, even those people who did nothing, guilty or not. Even I, could not help but to shiver a bit but child instincts were still kicking in and it was protecting me from Dad’s grim aura.
It was as if my father could turn the whole Estate upside down just with his complexion. My brothers were the only ones who could still directly look at our father’s fuming eyes even in this mood.
“Maxlein…?” he called Brother Lein for some answers when no one replied to his question. Brother Lein refused to answer and looked away. His Grace, then looked at Brother Millian who was not looking at Dad directly in the first place.
“Maximillian?” he called but also turned his head away.
“Maxillary…” Dad said in a warning tone but Brother Maxillary did not faltered and also refused to give his reply. Why did they not answer Dad was question when no one was really at fault here? Why were not they saying anything? I could save whoever would be blamed in the end though.
“Maximo…?” he then asked Brother Amo who was holding me a while ago before Kath. He was still kneeling beside me but stood up when his name was called.
Dad becomes furious when none of my brothers answered.
“What? No one was gonna answer me?” Dad asked in a low cold serious voice that startled everyone. It feels like a war’s gonna break out anytime soon in this Castle.
Seconds passed in silence and at last, my sobbing stopped. I bit my nails in nervous. What the hell I was thinking for crying out loud? I was thankful no one from this house knows the embarrasment I am feeling right now.
The only problem was Dad who was currently freaking out from my crying and visible bruise in my shoulders.
Maxwell was startled when Dad suddenly looked at him. Now, I remember. He ran to Dad to complain Lein for stealing me from him.
Dad did not said anything but Brother Maxwell knew what father wants to ask him just from the looks of it.
Maxwell looked away and scratched his head. His mouth opened to say something. “U-uhm…-“
My Brothers, Millian, Amo, Lein and Maxillary suddenly looked at him in unison showing him their lips tightly sealed with a slightly widened eyes.
What was that? was that a warning? A secret conversation or signal?
Were they telling him to shut up?
Looks like I was right because Maxwell immediately zipped his mouth and his eyes became unfocused. But why? Why did no one want to say anything?
Wait… It suddenly looked and felt familiar like it already happened… in the past…
Dad sighed in defeat when he realized that no one would answer him. He then walked towards me and lifted me up to place on his arms. I was shock on what he did. Everyone were.
It felt like everything was in slow motion. His cold eyes were staring at me that suddenly glistened for a while and gone like a flash.
“Kath, prepare our breakfast in my room. And an ice pack.” Dad said and turned his back but he immediately stopped midway and looked back, specifically to my brothers.
“We are not done yet.” Dad said with finality and turned around. We walked away from my brothers and I only got to eyed them worriedly.
The servants blew out a relieved sigh when we were already far away from them and they started to get back on their own bothered works while muttering something to each other.
We did create a scene and it would be a talk for days.