It was with a heavy heart that Kalique moved into the holding cells of the criminal. How Titus could be so ridiculously reckless, she knew not.
Mother raised him better than this. Or perhaps… Did she indulge him too much, as she didn't to me and Balem?
Titus was frightfully young, barely reaching his second millennium, barely aware of the privilege he had to be in a House founded by one of the leaders of the Glorious Generation, one of the few that had lasted in prominence despite the passing of its Primary of said generation. Thanks to Balem's tireless efforts in the market, and my own in the social events of the Entitled. And what has Titus done, but ride on our efforts and whine of making more contributions?
"Lovely, beautiful Kalique," Titus preened, the second he saw her, a smile smirking at the edges of his beautifully sculpted face, the one of the three that looked the most like Mother...
It was a pity such an ugly brain was behind that face, Kalique mused as she gave a smile.
"Little brother," she said, and nearly laughed at how much Titus' face soured.
"Come to lecture me, sister?"
"I dare not! One, it would be a wasted effort and having Balem press legal actions against you, sweet brother is punishment enough."
Titus was so frightfully young. He took the bait, took the implied sympathy into his hands without suspecting Kalique's true motive. What a young brother I have.
"Our brother is so utterly unfair, my lovely sister, he plans to really let me have it. He's taking half of my Holdings, leaving me with only three Harvesting Planet. He even took my Alcazar. The one that Mother gave me. I'll be forced to be a vagabond aboard a ship!"
There it is. He wanted the Alcazar. I thought it strange that he would press so hard against someone in his own House, even Titus. The Alcazar on the edge of the fashionable district of the Orous Youth. It wasn't Mother's most beautiful, nor her most favored, but it had been her's, once upon a time. And that is enough.
Kalique pursued her lips.
"I do not think I can persuade him otherwise," she told her brother with a wistful sigh, "He disliked the spying."
Titus scowled, pulling at his face. Poor dear would get wrinkly before he had a chance to bathe in RegenX before the trial.
"Spying. Ha! I was keeping an eye on our interests. Do you know the old boy has that planet underdeveloped? It's ridiculously short-sided of him!"
Alarm settled in Kalique's mind. She had known this of course, but to realize that even Titus could see this meant the problem was worse than she thought. Talking to Balem would prove fruitless. If he received one thing from Mother it was her ridiculous need to be independent and in charge. Well. A Lady's work is never done, and perhaps it is time my own investigation becomes more active.
"I will try, dear brother, to help you," she soothed, creasing her painted lips into a sympathetic smile.
Titus, young as he was, did not see more than that. And talked his fill, telling her more than he ever intended to tell.
A Lady's work is truly never done.
AN:
I LIVE! Constant electricity for me, and chapters for you, my wonderful readers! I, unfortunately, have lost my access to steady water due to a burst pipe, but my family is paranoid enough to have a stock of water, and I was able to go to a friend's for showers, so, really, it could be worst! Thank you again for all you well-wishers, and anyone else going through this difficult time, you are in my thoughts. Hang in there my lovelies!
~Be Well, Be Safe,
Moon Witch '96