When I was little, I could only remember the face of my brother who left me. His carefree smile and how we always played together, surrounded by the beautiful golden flowers. It was like we had our own little world. Mother never talked about father or my brother, she always ignored the subject whenever I try to bring it up.
Len who was beside me, was smiling. But not the happy kind of smile. It was full of sorrow.
I couldn't help but cry for him.
Without hesitation, I instantly hug Len and felt his arms around me as he touched my head.
"This must be a dream right?" I said as I buried my face onto his clothes.
"I hope it isn't." Len replies with a soft tone.
My brother, Len. The brother who I believe was dead was right here all this time and a prince no less.
I faced Len.
"Mother." Tears kept falling down. "She's not here anymore."
Len's face kept his soft yet sad smile, it's as if he wanted to hide his sorrow for me. He swept my tears as he tucked my hair behind my ear.
"Ever since that time," He said. "You were in here in the garden, I instantly knew."
"I just couldn't believe it, this has to be fate." He added as he smiled.
After a few minutes, I heard the sound of crickets in the air. It was so peaceful. Sitting beside my own twin brother and surrounded by the same flowers made me feel at ease. Who would've known that this cold-hearted prince was my brother.
"Should I tell father?" I heard him say.
I suddenly faced him with a surprised expression.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
Suddenly, I began to remember what my mother said to me a long time ago, something she had always said to me. I couldn't understand it before but now I did. Was this what she meant? I wasn't sure.
"Rin, remember not to tell anyone who you really are." "Why?" Or else bad people will catch us, you don't want bad people to catch us now do you?" "No." "Promise me." "I promise mama."
I turned away from Len.
"Rin?" He said.
"I can't." I said. "Not now at least."
"Why not?" He asked.
I don't know exactly myself but it's better if I don't know. I just faced him with a forced smile.
"I'm fine being your servant," I said as I lifted his hand. "Besides, I'm already happy like this."
"But think about what father has to say, won't he be pleased?" He said.
"Let's just keep this a secret," I said as squeezed his hand. "I promise we'll tell him in the future."
Len sighed.
"Well, fine." He sighed.
I hugged him once again.
"It feels weird." Len said with red on his cheeks. "Hugging."
"I'm sorry!" I instantly pulled away.
"It's fine. It's just that It's been such a long time since I hugged someone." He said. "You can hug me if you wish but do it when there's no people around. I won't mind since you're my sister and all." He smiles.
I smiled back at him.
"Well," He said smartly. "Since you want to be my servant instead of my sister, you'll have to make me brioche every day."
"Bri-Brioche?" I said confused. "What's that?"
"It's a sort of pastry," He said. "It's one of my favorites."
"I'm sure you'll learn to love it too." He smiled.
I smiled and nodded.
It was getting chilly than ever, so we decided to head back to the palace. We stopped at the front of the big staircase.
"We can sleep together if you want," He said blushing. "I have plenty of room."
I laughed.
"I'm your servant, remember?" I said.
"Oh, right." he smirked "Good night, sister."
"Good night, brother." I said to him.
Len playfully sighed as he waved back at me until he went upstairs to his room. I went back to my own room as well, twisting and turning on my bed since I wasn't tired at all. In fact, I felt as if my heart was in a sea of mixed feelings, I don't know if I should be happy or sad at all. All I know is that I finally found my brother, my lovely brother.
Who is in danger in this kingdom.
No matter what, I will protect you from the other kingdoms. Even if I have to become evil myself. I found you, Len. There's no way I'm going to lose you again. Not this time.
I felt the sun's gaze on my eyes, it was morning already. I changed to my maid uniform and tossed my used clothes to the side. As I opened the door, the smell of fresh baked bread circled the whole palace.
I swiftly walked inside the kitchen, only to see Teto standing in front of the big oven.
"Teto!" I called to her.
The pig-tailed girl turned around and sighed.
"You slept in again." She said as she turned her attention back on the oven.
"Sorry." I said.
But aren't there any maids at all besides me and Teto?
"Well, the maids are distributed to one of each royal here." She said. "We're the maids of Len-sama."
"W-Wait! How did you know I was thinking that!?" I yelled. "You're finally showing your true colors, teleporting, mind-reading Teto!"
"Idiot, you were talking just now" She sighed.
"Oh, really?" I smiled at her.
"Listen Rin," She said. "If you want to keep this job, you'll have to stop slacking off."
How familiar.
Neru always used to say that to me.
"Your name is Rin?" Neru said to me. "Yeah..." I said in a quiet voice.
It was a job that harvested fruits and vegetables, it was also some kind of delivery service.
Neru was the first one to approach me.
"What a weird name." She said with narrowed eyes. "Then what's yours?" I replied. "Neru, Fantastic-Magical-Beautiful-Neru!" She said proudly. "And you said my name was weird." I laughed. "You can smile after all." She smiled. "Eh?" "You're always so gloomy and depressed," She said. "Why are you so sad?" "It's because my mother just died." I said nervously, holding back the tears. She paused and her eyes widened. "I-I'm so sorry!" She bowed and held my hand.
"Rin?" A voice called. "Rin!"
"Owah!" I snapped back.
"Seriously." Teto said as she took out the pan from the oven. "You need to stop slacking off."
"You were daydreaming just now." She said. "Which is much worse."
"Teto." I said.
"Wha-!" I instantly hugged her from behind.
"Hey!" She yelled. "What's gotten into you?"
"I won't slack off, I promise!" I said as I cried. "Just please let us stay friends!"
She sighs but smiles after.
"You're such a kid you know that?" She said.
We both held each other and laughed but was soon interrupted by a voice.
"Teto, Rin I-" Miss Haku's eyes shrunk as she saw us.
Then she began to smile mischievously.
"Have I come in a bad time?" She said in a seductive voice.
"Miss Haku!" Teto said as she moved away from me. "It's not what it looks like-!"
"I didn't know Teto had a thing for girls." Miss Haku teased. "Bad girl, targeting the young ones, huh?"
Teto's face flushed red.
"It's- Not like that." She began to cry.
Miss Haku just patted her head.
"I was just kidding around." She said. "Now I need to announce something to you both."
Teto's red face faded as she paid attention to Miss Haku.
"What is it?" I asked.
"One of you will be coming with me to a gathering this afternoon." She said.
"What sort of gathering?" I asked.
"Just a party." She smiled. "I just need someone to go with, that's all."
"It would be kind of lonely if I went alone by myself." She swayed.
Teto sighed.
"Really?" Teto said as she put the pan on the table. "Here you go again with the parties."
"But it's really embarrassing if I go alone!" Miss Haku cried.
"Why not bring a friend then?" Teto and I both said in chorus.
"Please! Teto-chan!" She grabbed Teto by the shoulders.
"Miss Haku! Stop!" She cried.
"Then if Teto doesn't want to-" Miss Haku was about to say something but I interrupt her.
"That won't be necessary." I said.
"To repay Teto." I said smiling "I'll stay."
"Wha-?" Teto's eyes sunk.
"Yay!" Miss Haku hugged Teto from behind "Come, I'll pick a dress for you!"
"Wait a second!" Teto pointed at me. "Are you absolutely sure you're going to be alright?"
I nodded.
Teto stared at me for a few seconds and sighed.
"Fine." She sighed as she walked away with Miss Haku. "Just don't make me see a mess when we return."
Several minutes pass, we said our goodbyes to each other from the closing gates. As Teto was about to step inside the carriage, she stopped and quickly approached me. She held the bars.
"Thanks, Rin," She smiled. "It's been a long time since I've worn a real dress."
She swiftly walks back to the carriage and waves back at me.
I smiled and waved back as well. I watched the carriage disappear into the distance.
"I wonder when I'll get to wear a real dress too?" I said to myself as I walk back to palace door.
It's already twelve o'clock. It's time to wake up Len. I make my way to the big staircases to Len's room. I peeked inside as I push the door lightly. It was very dim like always as the curtains hid the bright windows and it gave a lazy atmosphere in the room. Not to mention that the room was a mess, Len's clothes were all over the place. Not only that but pillows, blankets where spilled everywhere.
Was there some kind of storm here?
I walk across the room and pulled the curtains causing the light to scatter about the dark room.
Len was still asleep. I silently approach him with looks so peaceful when he's asleep. I smiled at the thought.
I silently approach the bed.
"What is it, Rin?" He spoke while his eyes were closed shut.
"It's time to wake up." I tell him with a smile.
"I'm still sleepy," He said with annoyance as he turned to the other side. "Close the curtains. It's too bright."
Is he a vampire?
"Don't you want to eat?" I said.
"Later." He muttered.
"How sly." I said to myself.
"Hmm. If you're not going to get out of bed." I said as I climbed on top of the bed.
"What're you-" Len turns around to face me.
But it's too late! I begin to tickle him all over his waist.
"Wha! Hahah! What- Stop! Hahah!" He yells. "Stop it!"
"That's what you get for always waking up so late!" I tell him.
Len kept squirming all over while laughing.
"Dammit, Rin! Stop it!" He says while laughing. "You're really going to get it!"
"Am I interrupting something?" A familiar voice silences the both of us.
As I turned my head to where the voice came from, a boy with blue hair appeared.
"Kaito?" I said with surprise.
Kaito had a smile on his face but it seemed different from the other smiles I've seen him make.
What the heck am I doing? I'm supposed to be a maid not Len's sister right now!
"What's this?" Kaito looks at me with a strange expression. "A maid on the bed of her master?"
"It-It's not what you think!" I said as I begin to get off the bed.
But suddenly, Len pulls me back to his side causing me to fall behind on his chest.
Kaito looked surprise as it happened.
"Why don't you just go back to Miku and leave us alone, Kaito." Len says with an angry tone in his voice. "You're interrupting us."
The blue-haired boy draws a fake smile on his face.
"Oh, I see!" He says with a facade. "I'm really sorry, Len. Maybe we'll play some other time."
"Kaito." I said.
Kaito stares at me emotionless.
"I get it, Rin." He says. "Now I know why you won't answer me."
"No." I try to explain, "Kaito—"