Chapter 3: The Autumn Harvest (Part 2)

That night, noble members of the tribe filled the ballroom. The crowded room was brimming with small talk, chatting, and boisterous laughter. The young lord felt crushed by the noise and pressure on his shoulders. Still, he knew there was no escape; he would just have to get through it. Blumiere looked down at the glass of red wine in his hand and tilted the glass back and forth, watching the liquid swish inside. He was about to take a sip when he heard a voice.

"How are you doing, Blue?"

Blumiere jumped, but relaxed when he saw that it was just his brothers. Erik furrowed his brow. The oldest brother grinned. "I'm alright," He said before taking a sip of wine.

Ben frowned. "Hey! No drinking."

"Why not?"

"Because...You get really tipsy, really fast when you drink."

"Please wait until after the dance, at least," Erik suggested.

Blumiere stared at his drink, swishing the glass again, debating whether or not he should follow his brothers' advice. "A drink would make this more fun though…"

Before he could sip his drink, however, Ben shoved him playfully. "Oh, come on! Lighten up, Blue!"

He rolled his eyes. "When you have to marry a stranger, I'll remind you to lighten up."

Ben groaned. "Why are you being so grouchy about this? All you have to do is pick the prettiest one and tell Father that you like her! It's not that hard!" Blumiere turned away, taking a long sip of his wine. His younger brother rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to try and see if my friends are here." With that, he walked away.

Erik sighed. "Come on, Blue." He took his brother's hand and led him to a quiet area in the ballroom before letting go. "Look. I know that you're nervous, but don't take it out on us! We're trying to help you!"

With the noise dialed down, Blumiere could finally think. As relieved as he was, the present matter became all the more clear. "Nervous? I would rather be anywhere but here, Erik."

"Hey. Remember to breathe," Erik said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Hands trembling, Blumiere responded, "I...I can't."

He stepped in front of him and grabbed both shoulders. "Deep breaths. Okay?"

With that, Erik helped Blumiere take deep breaths until he was calm enough to speak. "I...I'm alright now…"

The middle brother stepped back, smiling. "See? I'm here. You're not alone."

Blumiere relaxed somewhat, but was still tense. "I wish you were born first." He looked into the crowd and saw Ben joking with his normal group of friends, some cousins on their mother's side and a few noblemen their age. "Or Ben perhaps. He's more pleasant with people that he doesn't know…"

Erik let out a dramatic gasp. "Ben? As the chief!?" He shook his head in mock disapproval. "No, that would be a disaster."

He laughed before remembering a moment they shared earlier that day and feeling instant remorse. "Look, I apologize for being cross with you after the meeting today."

"It's alright. Look, don't even worry about finding a bride. Just talk to people, dance with the girls, and this night will be over before you know it! Remember: you won't even have to choose a noblewoman to marry until later."

He sighed. "That's the thing, Erik. There are plenty of pretty girls out there. How am I supposed to choose one to marry?"

Erik thought for a moment. "Well, do you remember how Grandfather told us that Grandmother was a good friend of his long before they were engaged?" Blumiere nodded. The second oldest continued, "So, why not pick the girl that you get along with the most tonight?"

Blumiere thought about that advice. "That...might work."

"See?" Giving his older brother a hug, Erik said, "You're more likeable than you give yourself credit for, Blue. You'll do fine!"

"But...What if I don't-?"

Just then, they heard their father speak before the crowd. "Your attention, everyone! Thank you all for coming tonight!" He said. He continued addressing the crowd, voice dripping with charisma and effortless charm. Anyone outside of the Nightshade family would think that this man was the perfect choice to be their chief and maybe even a good father. Blumiere and Erik knew that he was putting on an act, however.

Even so, Blumiere felt the dread from earlier come creeping back. "Oh no...Father will announce us soon."

"Hey. Don't worry. Just smile and look like you're having a good time. It works for me," Erik said with a shrug.

Blumiere looked at his younger brother and thought of the times when they came to similar parties as children. Ben and Roselyn were always more extroverted and had no problem relaxing and having fun at events like these. However, Blumiere would usually complain as a small child. Around the time he turned 12 or 13, his father would scold him right there in front of everyone for not being "pleasant" around guests. (He even got a few new bruises in private.)

Erik was similar as a child, but unlike Blumiere, he quickly learned to smile and nod along at parties, keeping any grievances to himself.

Knowing this, Blumiere sighed, "Perhaps I should learn to be more like you then."

Erik grinned. "Perhaps." With that, he took his brother's hand, leading him back into the crowd. He made sure that their father could see them so that he wouldn't get angry later. "Give me that drink, 'kay? Father will scold you after this if he thinks you're even a little tipsy!"

"Right. Good idea." He handed the glass to Erik and dusted off his suit before glancing at his father, who was standing at the top of the staircase, projecting effortlessly to the rest of the room.

"I'm sure you lovely ladies are eager to speak with my son, Lord Blumiere," Father said. "It seems that it was only yesterday when he was just a babe...And now he's becoming an adult! I could not be more proud of him tonight!"

The crowd clapped while Blumiere resisted the urge to roll his eyes. On the outside, he smiled vaguely. He's always been more proud of me in front of a crowd.

"So, it only makes sense for him to start the night with my youngest child...my only daughter and one of the brightest lights of my life. At my son's suggestion, the first dance of the night shall be between him and his sister, Lady Roselyn."

This caught Blumiere off guard. He knew that he suggested it, however, he never mentioned it to Father. It seemed that his sister had already approached Father with the idea. He looked across the room and watched Roselyn hug their mother before walking towards him. They met halfway at the dance floor. He bowed. She curtsied.

As the music began, Blumiere led Roselyn in the simple dance. In a low voice, however, he began to talk to her informally. "The night has just begun and you've already told Father about my idea?"

Roselyn whispered back, "Why not? He was bound to find out eventually, Blue."

He couldn't help but smile at that. "True...Still, I just know that your inner gossip will get me in trouble one day. Most likely my future fiance too!"

Roselyn smirked. "The bookworm in you will do the same for me!"

He laughed and gave her a quick twirl. "So, it has been about half an hour, I believe. Have you met any handsome boys, Lady Roselyn?"

She frowned, even as he addressed her title in a playful way. "No, Lord Blumiere...Most of the boys my age are kinda funny looking. I like older boys more."

"Then, let's hope that you will find a husband that is older than you one day…"

"Or a wife. There are some pretty girls here too!"

Blumiere laughed. "Yes...or a wife." It was still somewhat taboo to be attracted to the same sex in the tribe, so one could only imagine Mother and Father's bewilderment when Roselyn came to them saying that she was attracted to both sexes. Still, this changed little in the tribe or even the household that matter. The next day, life continued as normal.

"I still find it funny, Blue," She went on.

"What do you mean?"

"This," She said, gesturing to the crowd for a brief moment. "All those fairytales you and the boys read to me before bed about princes and princesses, yet you can't imagine a fairytale for yourself!"

Blumiere smirked. "Right. I completely agree. All those magic lessons and you're still struggling to control fire. Those were the first elements that Erik and Ben mastered as children…"

Roselyn blushed and shouted, "SHUT UP!"

His eyes widened and he looked to the crowd, who was muttering in confusion, before looking back to her. She noticed the crowd's reaction even more and put on a smile quickly. "I-I mean…" She laughed. "Oh, shut up, Blue! You're too good!"

Blumiere laughed nervously before leaning closer to her. "Be careful…Remember, we have guests…"

"Sorry...But you know that I don't like it when you tease me like that!"

"Alright. I'm sorry too."

Both focused on the dance for a while longer, making sure to get their movements right. Roselyn smiled sadly. "The dance is ending, Blue. Father will want you to talk to girls soon."

Blumiere sighed. "I know…" He listened to the music before leaning forward. "Alright, in a few moments, I'm going to lower you in a dip. Are you ready?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I got it. Mother made us practice this song a million times, remember?"

Blumiere lowered his sister in a dip. With that, the song ended and the crowd applauded. The brother and sister stood back upright and both gave a bow and curtsy. As the orchestra began to play a different song, Roselyn gasped before turning to Blumiere and tapping his shoulder. He bent his knees to lower himself to her height and she whispered to him. "I just saw a really cute boy...I gotta go. Good luck, Blue!"

He grinned before whispering, "Thank you. Good luck to you too, dear sister."

Roselyn smiled, then walked off into the crowd. Within a matter of seconds, she was gone. Blumiere looked around and wondered if he could stall by talking with his family for just a bit longer.

Erik was sipping wine and speaking to Mother. Ben was talking with a small group of girls now, who were laughing at a story he was telling. (Blumiere would always envy his younger, extroverted brother for that effortless charisma of his…) Father and Grandfather were both speaking quietly in serious, hushed tones. He couldn't tell if they were speaking about political matters, the ball, or him.

Blumiere knew his best chance would be to speak with Mother and Erik for a bit so he began to head towards them; however, he didn't even make it five steps before hearing a voice from behind him. "Excuse me, Lord Blumiere."

He turned and noticed a girl in a golden dress standing behind him. Her dark hair was in an intricate, braided updo and she had a bit too much makeup on her face. The young woman walked closer to him, making sure to sway her hips from side to side. Smiling too widely, she said, "That was so adorable to share a dance with your sister like that. Was it her idea?"

Blumiere had to keep from sighing. No, it was mine. Weren't you listening? That was what he wanted to say, but he wouldn't dare risk making his father angry by being rude to a guest. True, it was their private ballroom, but Blumiere knew that he was still expected to be friendly with all of the potential suitors.

The lord put on a fake grin. "It was mine, actually. Roselyn has always enjoyed all of the attention, ever since she was small."

The girl's smile faltered. "Yes," She said flatly. Even so, her smile was back in an instant. In a sultry voice, "So, how about I have this next dance with you instead of your sister?"

One of us is clearly trying too hard. Instead of speaking his mind, however, Blumiere nodded. "Of course, milady." When she told him that her name was Lady Stella, he nodded and told her that it was a pleasure to meet her. When the girl offered her hand, he kissed it. When the familiar, dreaded rhythm of the orchestra began, he offered his arm and she linked hers with his before they approached the dance floor together. He bowed. She curtsied.

Now, the night had truly begun.

As the night went on, Blumiere tried not to pay attention to the clock as he spent time with the young women who were in line for his hand. He tried to charm them and act nice, but he lost energy within a couple of hours. Still, he knew that the night would continue as long as his father wanted it, so he went outside to get a breath of fresh air.

Blumiere walked outside and stopped at a nearby balcony. He looked at the fake flowers all around him, decorating the area. He grabbed one of the false plants and took a sniff of it. Nothing. He sighed and turned to go back in.

That was when another young woman stepped outside. She shut the door behind her and took a few steps forward before seeing Blumiere. There was an awkward silence.

He examined her quickly. The woman had purple skin and velvet hair kept in a neat braided bun. She wore an evening green dress and black gloves that reached her elbow. Finally, she had golden eyes that shone in the darkness, reminding him of a streetlight. Simply put, she was beautiful in her own quiet way.

Softly, the woman began to laugh. "Hello…"

Blumiere blinked. "Good evening, miss. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"

She curtised. "Lady Arianna, sir. Arianna Darkmoon."

The lord thought for a moment, trying to remember where he heard that name. Then, it came to him. Her father was Alexander Darkmoon, a valued merchant in the tribe. His father and hers had worked together in the past, although it had been many years ago. "I've heard of your family. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I can say the same for you…"

There was a moment of silence. She looked down at the ground and bit her lip. He furrowed his brows. "Are you alright?"

She gave a gentle laugh. "Just a bit nervous is all."

"Why?"

"I don't know...I always feel nervous at big events like these…"

Blumiere nodded. "I understand. I often feel the same way."

"You do?" He nodded. She hesitated for a moment before looking up at him. "Is it alright if I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

Arianna went to the edge of the balcony and looked at the stars, allowing the cold wind to pass her by. "How do you feel about this whole marriage ball?"

It's dull and frivolous…"It's nice to meet different people. How do you feel about it?"

The lady frowned. "I'm having a decent time, but...That's not what I mean."

Blumiere turned to her, surprised. "Well, then...What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about the very concept of making a nobleman marry before he's ready...just for tradition. Don't tell the nobles I said this, but I personally don't think it's right."

His eyes widened. "You don't?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't seem fair to make a man choose a woman to be his bride, only because he gets along with her for one night. There is so much about a person that you can't learn in such a short amount of time, even if you tried."

He thought for a moment. "Yes, I agree completely…"

Arianna turned to him, smiling. "At least I still have plenty of time before I will get married. Of course, my family wants me to be the person that the young man from the Nightshade family will pick, but I myself am uncertain about it all."

Blumiere stepped back. "Excuse me?"

Again, she hesitated. "What if Lord Blumiere is not as nice as people say he is? What if he actually treats his servants poorly? Or if he only pretends to get along with his younger siblings for show? What if he is a...cruel man?"

As Arianna looked back to the night sky, Blumiere stood there in disbelief. She doesn't know me...Should I tell her who I am or leave her in the dark for now?

Arianna sighed. "Forgive me, sir. I shouldn't say these things about the oldest heir. He is our future, after all."

He thought for a moment. She is bound to discover the truth eventually. For now, though, I'd rather have a conversation with her. An honest one, without her bowing before me.

"No, it's alright. You should be skeptical. Lord Blumiere has been taught about the importance of having good leadership skills every day, but there is still a lot he has to learn about ruling and taking care of others."

She smirked. "Is that so? Do you know him personally?"

Blumiere nodded. "Yes. I know him well…You could say that I have known him for my entire life."

Arianna smiled. "It's very nice of you to come and support your friend, then. Forgive me for arriving a bit late. My older sister and even her friend, Stella, have a habit of taking eons to get ready."

"Yes. I understand." He muttered under his breath, "The same can be said of my youngest brother…" The young woman laughed. He did the same before continuing. "And yet even so, he is one of the most sociable of my siblings and me. The middle brother in my family seems like the type of man to prefer to be alone."

She furrowed her brows. "Alone? But why? Doesn't he ever get tired of being all by himself?"

"Hardly. And if he does, he has his siblings to call on. Besides, Lady Arianna, it is better to be alone than with unpleasant company…"

"Hmm...You make a good point." She became nervous again for a brief moment. "Do you think...the young lord would be upset if I told him I arrived late to his own party? I heard he shared a dance with his little sister, but I missed it unfortunately. Even worse, I heard he was so excited for this…"

He shook his head. "He wasn't. This whole thing was his father's idea. Besides, even if he was looking forward to this, I don't think he would mind any late arrivals."

"That's good to know...This whole situation would be awkward if he was. Actually, do you mind telling me more about him?"

"Yes, gladly…"

For a good 10 to 15 minutes, the two walked and chatted informally, sharing information about the other. Arianna tried to ask personal information about him as a break from learning about 'Lord Blumiere', but whenever she did this, he laughed and continued to share more information about himself. He said that he wasn't important. He was just a man who needed some fresh air.

When they returned to the balcony, Arianna gave a curtsy. "Well, it's been a pleasure, but I have to go back inside now…"

"Oh? And why is that? It's a beautiful evening."

"Because you are very nice, but I'm supposed to spend time with Lord Blumiere himself!" She said with stress in her voice. "Oh. By the way, I don't believe I've learned your name. Real quickly, what is it?"

"Well...You will find out soon. I must go back in myself. It was a pleasure, Lady Arianna."

She still hadn't put the pieces together, but she nodded with a furrowed brow. With a small smile, Lord Blumiere bowed before leaving the woman alone on the balcony.

Aside from his enjoyable encounter with Arianna, the rest of the night was quite forgettable. Thankfully, it ended quickly. However, when Blumiere was getting ready for bed, Mother and Father started arguing. He sighed. Father must have done something to upset Mother. In instances like these, she would bottle up her emotions and then snap at him. One little comment was enough to get him yelling and the two would argue. There were even nights when he would beat her.

Of course, there was nothing Blumiere could do but escape the castle for a short period, usually by going on walks and reading in the garden. If his mood was severe enough that he couldn't leave his bed, then he would simply stare at the ceiling and think of something else until they would quiet down, sometimes covering his ears.

There were also times where he had to take care of his siblings. When Erik was a child, Blumiere would tell him stories of them as adventures, traveling the world together. When Ben came along, he would include him in these tales, making it a point to talk about a future without the restriction of their family name. Finally, when Roselyn was born, Blumiere reached out of his comfort zone and told her princess stories, borrowing books from their library.

Roselyn needed comfort tonight as well. A short while after the arguing started, she walked into his room. Blumiere sat up and looked at her. "Are you alright, Roselyn?" He asked, even while knowing the answer.

The nine-year-old shook her head. "They're fighting again…"

Blumiere frowned and moved on the bed, allowing her to join him. "Do you want me to get Erik and Ben?"

As if on cue, Erik and Ben entered the room on their own. The second oldest brother approached her. "Having trouble, Rose?"

She nodded. "Y-Yeah…"

"Well, um…"

Ben spoke up. "Oh, I know! Let's read a story!"

Roselyn began to breathe quickly, panicking and tearing up. "Y-You've...read...them all…"

"Whoa, whoa…" The youngest brother held her close. "Breathe, Roselyn…"

She pulled away. "Don't touch me!"

"Alright, alright. No touch," Erik said. "But you need to breathe."

After calming down for a moment, Roselyn muttered, "Okay...I'm alright…"

"Are you sure?" Ben asked.

"Yes, but...I don't want to be alone…"

The brothers were silent for a moment. As Erik and Ben watched over their sister, Blumiere thought hard. Finally, he asked, "Do you still want that story?" She nodded. He patted down on the surface of the bed. "Then, sit down. I have a new story for you."

Roselyn nodded and sat on the bed. Blumiere wrapped an arm around her and she laid her head against his side. Erik and Ben joined, sitting on the other side of their sister.

"Once upon a time, there was a magnificent Count who lived in a beautiful castle. He had numerous servants and strong ties with all of his family members, who resided in the castle with him. However, there was something missing in his life. It was…" Blumiere trailed off. He couldn't think of what someone like the Count might be missing. He looked to his brothers for ideas.

"Love," Ben said.

Blumiere blinked. "Erm...love? That sounds a bit cliche, don't you think?"

"Love," He repeated. He said it in a serious tone, but they could all see him trying to hide a smile.

"Okay, fine. He was missing love."

Roselyn giggled. "Was this Count a member of the chief's family, like us?"

"Of course! But…" He thought for a moment. "...against his father's wishes, he fell in love with a beautiful peasant and she felt the same way about him!" They all gasped dramatically, going along with his over-the-top tone.

"The two made a plan to run away together and marry in secrecy…" Blumiere began.

Father grew louder as he shouted florid insults at his wife. Whore. Bitch. Useless. Blumiere turned, watching his siblings' reactions. Erik and Ben frowned. Roselyn bit her lip, trembling.

The oldest brother sighed and raised his voice a bit in response. "One day, however, the peasant went missing. The Count suspected that his evil father had something to do with this, so he left his home to try and find her. Along the way, he met…" He turned to one of his brothers. "Who, Erik?"

Erik thought for a moment. "One of his most loyal servants, who knew the Count for all of his life. The servant came to help him look for his girlfriend."

Blumiere nodded. "Very well. So, he and the servant…"

"But it was a female servant," He added.

The oldest brother blinked. "A...A female servant?"

Erik smiled and put on a high falsetto, placing his hand over his forehead. "Lord Blumiere! I shall never leave you! I shall serve you for all of my days! After all, I made an oath! Oh, Blumiere!~"

The other siblings laughed. "Alright, Erik," Blumiere said.

"Wait, wait. This is about Blue now?" Roselyn asked.

He shrugged. "I suppose so."

Ben frowned. "Blumiere, I'm surprised at you! You've been meeting girls and courting them behind our backs?" He shook his head. "For shame."

The oldest brother laughed. "I wouldn't do something like that, Ben. Let's just say that the magnificent count was a completely different person who happened to share my name."

"So, then, the servant fell in love with the count," Erik continued. "Suddenly, he had to choose between the peasant he fell in love with, or the loyal servant who was beautiful in her own right…"

"In the end, the count thought she was more beautiful than the peasant!" Ben interrupted. "So, he married her instead and they all lived happily ever after! The end!"

Roselyn blinked. "Um...That ended abruptly."

Blumiere listened for a moment. They were quieter now, but he could still hear their parents arguing. He gave his brothers a look. "I agree…"

Their sister didn't appear to notice, too enmeshed in the story. "Why...Why would Count Blue fall in love with someone else? That...makes no sense. The whole reason he left in the first place was to search for the peasant that he initially fell in love with. Why would he just forget about her?"

The oldest brother thought for a moment. "He didn't…" He sighed. "Let us back up a bit...The servant fell in love with the Count, but he didn't love her back."

Erik pretended to cry in a dramatic way. "Why, Count Blue?"

Blumiere glared in false anger. "Because! That's why!"

The second oldest brother huffed and crossed his arms, looking away. "Fine! But I'm still loyal to you!"

"If that's what you wish..." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, Count Blue and the servant searched and searched for many years, but they could not find the peasant. And there was no one, not even the beautiful and loyal servant, that the Count could love as much as her…"

Roselyn looked up at Blumiere. "So, what did he do? Give up?"

He paused to think, running his fingers in his sister's long purple hair. "He had to eventually. However, in a moment of despair, he-"

Ben interrupted him again. "He decided his father sucked for not letting him marry whoever he wanted! So, he went back home and killed him with magic!" He turned to Erik and shoved him down onto his side of the bed.

Blumiere tried to keep himself from laughing. "B-Ben-"

As the father, Erik cried out. "AHH! GOODBYE, CRUEL WORLD!" He withered until he fell back on the bed, even going as far as to stick his tongue out. "Bleh! I'm dead!"

Roselyn doubled over, laughing. "No! Stop!"

Blumiere chuckled a bit. "I thought this story would have a happy ending!"

"No happy endings this time!" Ben replied.

The four of them laughed before the oldest of them calmed down a bit. "Settle down, you three!" Once his younger siblings were done laughing, Blumiere continued. "So, Count Blue had murdered his father in cold blood and as a result, he was banished from his home. It was sad and hard for both him and the servant…"

"Blumiere…" Erik said, more of that fake crying from earlier back. "How could you kill a member of your own family!? I'M LEAVING YOU NOW!"

"Count Blue was devastated. He had just lost everyone important to him in life. However, he would not let himself grieve in front of this woman. Instead, his heart had hardened. BEGONE, WOMAN! COUNT BLUE CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU!"

"Then the servant came back the next day," Ben said.

"Bleh…" Blumiere muttered.

"I'M SO LOYAL! I'M BACK!"

Flatly, Blumiere said, "Count Blue was elated…"

Roselyn laughed. This made all three of her brothers smile.

"As the years went on, Count Blue and his servant met more friends, such as…" Blumiere trailed off. He turned to the youngest of his brothers. "Who, Ben?"

"I don't know," Ben said with a shrug.

Erik shoved him with his elbow. "Ben, think of someone."

He was silent for a few moments before his eyes widened. "OH! IT'S MY TURN!"

Erik sighed. "Yes, Ben."

Ben thought for a moment. "He found...A clever thief, who begged to join their group!"

As the servant, Erik said, "I don't trust him, Blue. Let's kick him out!"

"No, it's okay! Because the thief is actually...Count Blue's LONG LOST BROTHER!" Upon hearing this, the three siblings laughed. Ben frowned. "What? The story needed a plot twist."

Erik patted him on the back. "I love you, Ben, but that is not a good twist."

Ben pouted. "Fine. He's his long lost cousin."

"That's not much better…" Blumiere said.

Quietly, Erik said to his older brother, "Oh, let him have his fun."

Blumiere shook his head. "On second thought, they can be cousins. Count Blue was shocked to discover he was related to the thief. Now, he had family that he never knew…"

"AND THEN HE MET A WARRIOR!" Ben interrupted yet again. "WITH MUSCLES!"

Erik shoved him playfully. "Yes, muscles...but he was lacking brains!"

"Hey! Leave the warrior alone! He can be smart at times too. For example, he's quite empathetic and sees the good in everyone!"

He blinked. "Are you getting defensive over a character you made up literally seconds ago?"

"Hold on a moment," Blumiere said, fighting to hide a smile. "I wasn't finished!"

Raising her hand, Roselyn chimed in. "Oooh! Oooh! And then he met a pretty princess who had a magic wand and she could change herself to look however she wanted!"

He smiled. "Ah, yes. How could I forget?" Blumiere ran a hand through his sister's hair. "A sweet little princess with pigtails and the most beautiful green eyes." She giggled.

"She could be a brat though," Ben muttered.

Roselyn frowned. "Hey!"

"Be nice, Ben," Blumiere said. He cleared his throat. "Count Blue's birth family may have been gone, but he found a new family. With them, he finally found the love that he had always wanted. But he was still missing someone: the beautiful peasant that he fell for all those years ago…"

"That was when the peasant came back!" Roselyn said. "It turned out that she had been looking for him too. They were married and they all lived happily ever after! The end!"

Blumiere laughed. "Yes. The end. How did you like that story?"

Roselyn hugged all three of them. "It was the best story ever…"

Just then, the four siblings noticed that their parents had grown quiet. They must have decided that they could only shout so long, especially so close to bedtime. Ben smiled upon realizing this. "Hey, they stopped! "

"Yes, it's quiet now…" Blumiere said. "That means it's time for bed. Good night, you three."

Roselyn hugged him. "Good night, Blue. I love you."

He hugged back. "I love you too, dear sister."

With that, he kissed her on the forehead, making her giggle.

"Group hug!" Ben cried. He joined the embrace, even pulling Erik over to join them.

Blumiere laughed. "I love you two as well…"

After his younger siblings returned to bed, Blumiere stood and thought for a moment. He sighed, showing a small smile, then left his room and even the castle as well, leaving through a door that led to their mother's garden. Once he stayed out long enough to know that the coast was clear, Blumiere snuck off quietly into the night.

Fun fact: I wrote Blumiere and his siblings making up the story while I had insomnia that night. It was like they were experiencing it with me, in a way.

-Free