Chapter 13

Yui stared at the woman for a moment, awestruck as she emitted an extravert yet cold demeanour, before she noticed the little boy sitting silently beside her, his head buried in a thick book. Her eyes widened in recognition. '…Reiji?'

The diligent boy was reading a book far more advance for his age, and yet he read it with ease, his eyes brightening with interest upon every word. A barking noise pierced Reiji's ears, the interruption causing him to lift his head up in displeasure. Below the wide, concrete steps stood his elder brother, Shuu, whose captivating sapphire eyes and sunlight painted hair were inherited by their mother. He appeared blissfully carefree as he held a puppy in his hands.

Reiji repressed a sigh, pushing his rectangular glasses as it began to slip. His attention shifted towards him mother, who abruptly stood up from where she sat. The fabric and sewing kit were placed on the wooden table with a light thud before she begun making her way towards his elder brother, wearing a stern expression.

"Shuu, what are you doing?" Her tone matched her facial features.

Her hooded eyes grew colder once they landed on the brown puppy in his arms, but the boy seemed unfazed as he continued laughing along with it. Shuu then looked up at his mum and held the puppy out towards her.

Its little tail was wagging giddily when he said, "Look, a friend just gave him to me!"

Then, the puppy released a small bark, before its black nose began twitching. A sneeze followed soon after, shaking its tiny body.

The mother's icy expression didn't waver. "Release him at once."

Shuu ignored her words and gazed at the puppy with adoration. It then licked his cheek, causing him to shut an eye as he giggled. "Hey, that tickles!"

Reiji's opened book was left unread in his hands as he stared at Shuu with brows furrowed in displeasure. To further emphasise his discontentment, he released a barely audible growl from the back of his throat.

"Shuu!" Being one of the rare moments, the mother's voice was raised. She paused to take breath, and continued once she regained her composure. "You are the eldest son, and therefore the next head of the family. You must learn how to conduct yourself at all times."

The elder butler behind her nodded in understanding before he began advancing towards Shuu, attempting to remove the puppy from his grasp. Shuu immediately resisted.

"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed, tugging the puppy away from the butler's clutches. "No! I promised Edgar I'd take care of him!"

Reiji's eyes still reflected distaste as he observed the scene unfolding in front of his eyes, as his mother silently walked down the steps. She now stood in front of Shuu, not a single word uttered. Shuu turned, and upon seeing her criticized glare, he stopped and was forced to weaken his grasp on the puppy. The butler seized the moment to confiscate it.

With empty hands, Shuu buried a hole on the ground with his gaze, his eyes quivering as they blinked back tears. He dashed off a second after, ignoring the stares that stabbed his back.

Reiji's sour expression went away when he saw that his mother had returned to his seat like before. Her perfect posture sagged, and she had to take another deep breath to straighten into her usual, solemn demeanour. Her eyes remained closed as her second son spoke.

"Mother," Reiji said, a hint of desperation. "I have finished memorizing this entire book."

The mother simply looked down at her lap, before picking up her materials from the table and continued to sew. Upon the neglection, Reiji's magenta eyes dulled, shifting back to the pages that now seemed bland.

Yui watched where she stood beside the thick tree as young Reiji tightened his grip on the book, a frustrated expression suddenly adorning his face. She was about to advance towards him when she heard light footsteps, followed by a familiar voice.

"My, my…aren't you a diligent child," said Cecelia.

Reiji whipped his head to the side, eyes widening. "Cecelia-sama!"

"Hello there, dear," the woman beside him said. Her interest was piped when her gaze landed on his book. "May I?" she asked, gesturing towards the book.

When she received a nod, she gently took it and opened the dark, leathered cover to read the title page.

She blinked. "Chemistry? This standard at this age? …That is simply astonishing." Cecelia was still slightly awestruck as she began flipping through the pages, her silver eyes scanning the complexity of the words and numbers from within. "Fufu~ You fail to disappoint me, after all."

Reiji inhaled sharply, incredibly caught off-guarded at the compliment. He bowed his head, mouth twitching as he tried to hide the fluttery sensation that threatened to spill. A faint blush was evident on his cheek while his chest felt oddly lighter.

Cecelia smiled, as if she read his thoughts. "Feels good does it not?" She then closed the book and placed it in front of him before leaning closer. Tilting her head, she met his gaze.

"Do not forget this feeling. Keep achieving, Reiji. Your efforts are, and will not in vain." She then lightly petted his head. "After all, diligent people tend to earn many things within their desire."

Someone cleared their throat. The two looked towards the source of sound to see the Reiji's mother looking at them, at Cecelia in particular, with a slightly irritated glare. However, something else flashed in her eyes before it was quickly demolished by the coldness.

Cecelia, noticing this, hummed in amusement before lifting her hand from Reiji's head. Almost abruptly, he turned to her, eyes pleading for her loving touch. In response, she gently patted his back, her gaze still at the woman in front of them.

"Ah, Beatrix." Cecelia feigned a tone of surprise. "Your son here is quite the astounding one."

Beatrix narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Can I not visit my nephew?" she replied, a brow raised.

Beatrix sighed and resumed her sewing. "Do what you wish."

Cecelia thanked the butler, and settled down on the new, elegant wooden chair. The butler then led Reiji away to his tutoring class for the day. Cecelia waved at the black, purplish-haired boy while giving him encouraging words as he walked away, to which he stuttered for a response before spinning on his heels and continued making his way towards the mansion. Due to a glimpse of his slightly flushed cheeks, Cecelia's smile widened. She then rested her cheek on her palm. her half-lidded eyes fixed on the Beatrix's hand as the blond-haired woman pierced the needle through the fabric, pulling it to drag the strings across.

"You seem very worn out," Cecelia mused.

"How observant of you." The sarcasm was thick in Beatrix's voice.

"Well, I have never had boys before, so I could not imagine what it would be like to raise one…" Cecelia then whispered the next statement. "Is it that difficult?"

She received the second sigh. "Yes. Quite bothersome."

"How so? After witnessing your son here for a while, his behaviour seemed to be no less that exquisite. Does he throw tantrums? I simply cannot imagine that."

"Of course he doesn't."

"Hehhh…then may I ask, why are you treating him with neglection? Why is it that all he sees is his mother's back, with the most extent being her side profile?"

The needle stopped midway through the fabric. "…It is none of your business," Beatrix finally said coldly.

"How observant of you, Beatrix." Cecelia's smirk widened upon receiving a glare. Amused, she proceeded, "I am merely stating from an outsider's perspective. It is quite disappointing on how precise it is, do you not agree?"

The smooth sewing sequence was broken once again as the needle stopped brusquely. Silence hung in the air. However, Cecelia didn't seem bothered by that, and parted her luscious, dark lips to speak once more.

"Besides, it does not matter what I say, for it really depends on whether you take it into account or not. Unlike that troublesome sister of mine—" Slight bitterness laced her voice before disappearing as quite as it came. "—I actually might sympathise you, since, as I said before, I am inexperience when it comes to raising boys. Besides, I know you do not truly hate your sons…."

Beatrix raised a brow, a curious expression surfacing ever-so-slightly. "Oh? Enlighten me."

"Well, for a starter, you do not have the intention of drowning them, or force them sing until their throats bleed. And for that much to be shown in public's eye, who knows what a vile being such as that sister of mine would do behind the walls of this mansion." Cecelia's angered demeanour was the washed away with a close-eyed smile. "You do not do any of such. The worst you could do is probably turn your eye the other way. But you know…

…neglection is capable of creating deep scars. Especially if one—" Cecelia ticked a finger off. "—where someone has poured all their efforts into their achievement, only for it all to be brushed away. And two, and most importantly, where you are ignored by a loved one, for…simply existing. That could be extremely painful, so do not disappoint you son. He deserves to have a childhood like any other children. To be loved, to experience motherhood and—this going to apply for your other son, Shuu, as well—to have fun. That way, they can grow, fail, and grow even stronger and healthier. See? The sight in front of me could be an example. No one is forcing you to sew, am I correct?"

"Don't be absurd. Of course not."

"Exactly what I presume. So why can't those two be able to experience what they desire more frequently?"

"…Your lecture is lengthier than usual today. And don't ask a question you already know the answer to. It wastes unnecessary time and breath."

Cecelia blinked. "Well, it was a rhetorical question. I cannot be of blame when it was you who simply chose to answer it…My, what a rare expression you are making~"

"Will I ever have a serene moment within your presence?"

"Now who's absurd? …Ah, that expression again is just..." Cecelia's eyes then hardened, leaving her previous statement unfinished. "I am not dense enough to lecture you without a purpose. It is because I believe that you can change. I wish, in the position of a…possible friend and from a mother's perspective, for you and your sons to have the most pleasant life possible."

Beatrix's stoic façade wavered. "…What about that sister of yours then?" she asked quietly. Despite the low volume, hatred was evident. "Wouldn't it be more natural to be more concerned about her instead?"

"And wouldn't it be natural if she would actually show signs of respect towards our parents, me, or anyone even?" Cecelia then sighed. "Your words indicate as though I have not lectured her yet. Believe me, during our immortal lives, the amount of times I have lectured her is perhaps more than the number of stars above. Even a whole lot of patience can grow thin."

When Cecelia's eyes locked with Beatrix, the blond-haired woman could suddenly see tiredness and disappointment oozing out from the woman in front of her.

With a forced, weak smile, Cecelia said, "Unless she feels the need to change herself, my words will simply remain futile."

The needle was hovering over the fabric. Beatrix's reluctance disappeared a few second after, and with a smooth motion, she stabbed the needle through.

Cecelia tilted her head, her mood gradually settling. "You know, ironically, you are quite the listener. You did not say unnecessary things throughout my lecture."

"Ironically?"

A giggle slipped past Cecelia's hand. "I would not mind being your friend…if you would put on effort to treat your sons more decently, since I find that very important. Other than that, I do not mind your solemness and professionalism. I find it quite soothing, in fact."

"…It is not as easy as you think," Beatrix replied after a sigh.

"I never said it was. Those things require a long while, after all," Cecelia said as she stood. "Especially in relationship situations such as this where it has been carrying on for quite some time that currently even mistreatment appears normal…Beatrix, mending the massive gap between you and your sons would be challenging, but it is possible, especially for creatures like us where time is plenty.

I hope the outcomes are in favour of your actions, and it would be lovely if you could consider my words."

She then left the woman to her sewing. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a friend to visit. Hopefully, she would not have attempted something foolish by then."

When she turned her back towards Beatrix, she did not notice that unusual expression that flashed through blonde-haired woman's eyes once again. It was faint, yet can be painfully obvious of one looked closely…

It was admiration.

Yui's red eyes followed Cecelia as the wind played with her silky hair. She managed to take a step when she noticed a white rose lying beside her foot, a few white petals scattering after it had fallen from the flower. Curious, she picked it up, only to wince and dropped it abruptly when one of its thorns stabbed her finger. A thin trail of crimson dribbled down her slender finger. When Yui looked up again, the scenery had already changed.

Cecelia was standing in front of her, arms crossed as her gaze bored into the distance. She seemed to be deep in thought, her body still. After a moment, she calmly moved towards the castle. Yui, confused, trailed after her, her bare feet tingling with coldness as they made contact with the slightly rough, brick surface.

Her gaze chased the purplish-grey bricks underneath her as they ran along the ground, piling up one another to form castle walls that surrounded her sides. Against those parallel walls was a long isle of blooming white roses that radiated their beauty and elegance among the greenery from their leaves.

Yui went towards the sides and peered past the wall of white roses to see an astonishing view. She could see the thriving forests and mountains ahead, the looming, purple walls acting as borders to block the dull pavement that trailed behind. She could see the sheltered location where Beatrix sat, and the tall tree where she stood beside earlier. She then spun around, her eyes uncovering the grand, unmissable castle towers that stood behind her, some appearing higher than others as the rooves were painted a darker shade of purple. Realisation lit her eyes; she was most likely standing on the battlement section of the castle.

The movement at the corner of her eyes snatched her attention away from the admiring view, and she turned her head to see Cecelia making her way towards a tall tower ahead that seemed to be a part of a castle, the other towers and thick castle buildings shadowing behind.

It had wooden double doors that appeared to be bolted. Made with the same purplish-grey bricks, the tower had a lean but broadly round structure. A small window, somewhat resembling Rapunzel's tower in fables, was visible towards the peak of the castle, below the roof. The only difference was that unlike Rapunzel's tower, metal bars caged the window, and no Rapunzel or luscious long hair was in sight. Instead, Yui glimpsed the sight of a woman in white behind the bars, her crimson eyes emphasized against her porcelain complexion.

Yui could not take her eyes away from them, those hooded, dull eyes that contained so much despair, so much sadness as they stared out into the distance. She was so entranced that she didn't notice the missing presence of the silver-eyed woman who she had been following all along. She jumped, startled as a certain albino stood where Cecelia was moments ago, his head tilted upwards.

In his hand was a silver dagger.