Chapter 64

My heart throbbed rapidly from my chest, and I got to have no normal pulse from hearing that coming out from her mouth.

My eyes slightly widened, and mouth gaped in shock.

Her reaction was still the same. Her thumbs were fidgeting in the cup between her hands Am I that obvious? Were my thoughts being not as oblivious as I thought?

"It is okay to be dump but thinking about your welfare, I think I could not ignore you there. The fear surged my nerves like a river flow, thinking that something bad might have happened to you. At the least, I want to protect everyone and that counts your despite of knowing I could not do anything big to protect you,” she said slowly in a low voice "Maxine…" I called out to her. I did not remove my eyes on her because I wanted to see her every reaction.

It was no doubt that she really meant it from the bottom of her heart, looking at her right now, I thought for a moment that she was suddenly a different person who already know what would happen at the same time, has already experienced the things she was saying.

The tone she was using. I thought she had already been through a lot to have this kind of thinking. What have you been feeling all along this past five years to be able to think like this, Maxine?

It feels like she was older than anybody I know. The oldest.

"It was okay for me to be in danger but not you, Lein nor Brothers, not even father." Because of what she said, I dropped the teacup I was holding from my hands and the thick cloth that was covering me slipped. I kneeled and finally faced her.

I grabbed her on the shoulders without a notice.

I did not know what expression I was wearing right now but I felt really upset, sad and bad on what she told me.

"Do not say something like that so carelessly, Maxine! I know that we were not that close to each other nor do have the kind of relationship that would know every inch of us, but we were still your older brothers, and it is only right for us to shield you and that being said, we could also be your swords." I told her.

She was just staring at me as if her mind was sailing afar.

"Brother…" she called blankly. I hugged her so tight that also made the blanket wrapped around her fell on her back.

"I cannot do that,” she said that made me hug her more tightly.

"I do not want you to be in danger just because of me. I beg you brother, leave me right away if I made a grave mistake that would surely tarnish our name, which will involve you, brothers and father."

"Tell me, how could we do that? You are our sole princess, Maxine. What kind of family are we if we leave our little girl struggling alone?" she could not say anything on what I told her and I just felt her hugged me more tightly.

"The protection you were offering to us, that was the same greed we wanted to do with you. We wanted to protect you so badly that we are ready to put our heads in front of you if needed."

She buried her face more in my chest and I could feel her slightly trembling.

Huh? Was she cold?

"Are you cold?" I asked and I pushed her away gently to look at her, but she glared at me.

"You really know when to ruin the mood." she frowned but chuckled in the end.

Eh?

I tilted my head, trying to think what she meant.

"You really have no idea, Brother?" she sighed. I ended up scratching my head and twitched my lips.

'I knew I am not a good brother to her.'

She offered her glass in front of me and I immediately got embarrassed.

'…We were the worst brothers one would know.'

How could she share her used glass cup?

'…But seeing Maxine, our one and only princess, '

I looked at the glass she was holding disgustingly but she just chuckled and pushed the glass more to me.

'…I at least want to do…'

"Come on Lein!" she persuaded.

'…all the best I could do for her,'

"I know you used to share utensils with father but do not apply yourself to me!" I stormed out.

'…to become a good brother, '

"What? Why? We are siblings! There was nothing wrong in that!" she rebutted and laughed at me. I knew it, she was just teasing me.

'…to be a shield and sword…'

I forced myself to hold the cup from her because her arms might be tired. I looked at the cup in my hands with a disgusting looked before looking back at Maxine.

'…for this flower…'

She frowned at me. "Do not tell me, you are refusing me,” she said in a sad voice.

'…and only guide light…'

"Fine. Fine." I forced to drink myself on the milk she gave.

After drinking it, I looked at her only to froze when she smiled at me heartily that made my world shaken.

'…of this dark family.'

***

Maxlein was put on probation for two weeks but compared to his relationship with his sister, Maxineirah felt it was better than before. Maxlein initially forgot nor held any secret ill intentions or grudges with his younger sister.

Maxineirah visits his brother on probation every other day with either Maxwell or Maxillary.

Maxlein was forbidden to leave his room and food were only delivered by the maids in time.

It should had been a whole month of probation if it had not been for Maxineirah to beg on her knees for her brother all day in front of their father’s cold stone office without eating or drinking anything. But of course, her father could not bear to know that his daughter was kneeling, so he listened to her instead.

Also, Maxwell almost received a hard rock punch from Maximillian when he got home together with the duke if Maximo was just a second late to stop him.

The five brothers were gathered inside Maxlein’s room who was under probation just like the night before the incident.

“Did I not tell you not to rash things?!” Maximillian screamed angrily as he grabbed Maxlein in the collar and was about to punch his younger brother but Maximo immediately came in between and restrained Maximillian’s fist.

Maximo was still wearing a smile but a worried one.

His eyes twitched as Maximillian glared at him. He did not let himself being defeated without giving a fight and also glared back at Maximillian.

“Enough about this, Millian. What was done was done.” He remarked but the latter was stubborn and became ominous on what he had heard.

“If Maxine really lost and cannot be found or worst, died, I wonder if you could still say that to me. If you are, I might have punched your face before you could even finish those words.” Maximillian spit like a venom.

Maximillian withdraw his hand from his brother’s collar and passed beside him, bumping his younger brother’s shoulder intentionally.

He stopped beside Maxlein and placed his heavy hand on the latter’s shoulder. He gripped Maxlein tightly in a gritted teeth that made Maxlein winced in pain but did not say anything since Maxlein knew and acknowledged his mistake.

“Better watch your back from now on. One wrong move and you might drop dead on the ground.” Maximillian threatened boldly with his tone as dark and hollowed like midnight storm in the middle of the ocean.

His four younger brothers shivered, moreover when they saw his violet eyes darkened.

The room has gone cold and breathing seemed to be harder.

Maximillian left the room, slamming the door that made them jolt on where they stood.

They fell silence and a little relieved for seconds before Maximo faced Maxlein, gone his smile as if he was now a different person or possessed by someone and all that was all left was burning gaze as he stared down to the younger brother.

Maxlein unconsciously moved backwards seeing his second brother’s expression. He averted his eyes and lowered his head.

“If I were not here, Brother Millian would have beaten you to a pulp already before I even come. Reflect on your actions, Lein.” Maximo said as he slipped his right hand in the pocket of his pants and pulled out a bottle with a violet, almost dark liquid. He threw it to Maxlein, who immediately caught in the air.

Maxlein looked at his hand with a shock expression before looking back to his older brother.

“Why…” Maxlein could not finished his words, contemplating.

“The dosage has increase twice than the last time. The duke said it was part of your punishment.” Maxlein gripped the container tightly on his hand as he self-accepted the punishment, he knew was befitting him.

Their father did not even visit him, most likely because his father might do something unpleasant if he saw him.

“I knew your hatred with Maxine, but you should not have been so careless. She is still the only female member on this house and His Grace favors him greatly,” he said as he also paid attention to Maxwell and Maxillary who could not look at him directly in the eyes.

“I know you are smart Maxillary. You should guard Maxwell; I worry what will happen next. Know your places. I hope this served as a lesson to everyone.” He finally said before leaving the room with a glance before the door shuts.