Dark traced over a canvas with her brush heavily coated in paint, trying to blend the colors to her satisfaction. She was bored out of her mind, as she had been painting for a few hours already.
"I'm so bored!" She whined loudly, but only her mother, Tesla was around to hear her.
"Finish your picture dear." Tesla replied without prying her eyes away from her book.
"But mom!"
"Finish. your. picture. dear." Tesla side glanced to the girl before drifting back to her book.
Dark sighed and pouted but returned to her picture, she knew better than to upset her mother. She heard the sound of a carriage stopping by the entrance, and she grinned mischievously.
"Mom, your carriage is here!"
Tesla nodded and closed her book, picking up her purse and the book, "Rock, Netto!" she called loudly.
Not more than a few seconds after her first call the two girls were in the living room.
"I have to go to the market, I'll be back in a couple of hours. Dark, you're in charge while I'm gone." Tesla opened the door as her daughters said good bye and walked to the carriage.
A blond man smiled politely to her as he opened the door and helped her up, Tesla returned a half hearted smile at him, and nodded as he closed the door.
As soon as the carriage left, Dark closed the door and turned around to grin mischievously at her sisters.
Rock whimpered softly, she knew what was about to come; Dark would do something to trash the house, then force Netto to clean it.
Just as expected, Dark took a pack of flour, some cooking oil and soap and threw fistful of them around the house, being, however, careful to avoid ruining her mother's favorite sofa, as not even her would escape her wrath if that happened.
Netto gritted her teeth and just watched Dark skip around as she threw the flour and oil around. When the spoiled girl was done, she cleaned her hands and smiled in triumph, "Alright Netto, is time for you to clean this mess! Rock, help me to finish my painting!" She cackled and dragged her sister away.
Netto muttered to herself and reached for a bucket and began to fill it with water to clean up the kitchen and the part of the living room that was trashed.
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"Prince Laika?" A servant presented himself at the Prince's office at his request.
"I've decided to organize a Ball to find a suitable wife," He paused for a moment, pondering, "All single ladies in age within the kingdom must receive an invitation. It'll be within three days, so, make sure the invitations are ready and delivered by tomorrow. I'll leave the rest of details to you." He looked up to Search before glancing back to the servant, "You're dismissed."
"Sir!" The servant nodded and left the office hurriedly, anxious to begin the elaboration of the invitations.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to invite all the single girls in the kingdom?" Search asked.
"Better get through with all of them in one night."
Search pondered for a moment, but he still had his doubts, "You know, your feet will be pretty sore the next day."
Laika frowned for a moment but then grinned, "And so will yours!"
Search suddenly wished he hadn't mentioned it.
Netto threw the rag into the bucket with distaste and growled. "Yeah, I got your flour," she hissed.
"Ummm?" a small voice could be heard behind her.
"What?" Netto snapped.
Rock shied away from the door entrance. "Sorry," she said quietly.
Netto sighed and rubbed her forehead, "No, I'm sorry. Is there something you need?"
Rock smiled, "I was thinking we could go back upstairs?" she asked.
"Is Dark bothering you that much?" Netto asked.
Rock nodded, "Please!" she asked.
Netto sighed, "All right, might as well."
"Yay!" Rock cheered and walked out of the room.
Dark was done tormenting her sisters and had taken to her bed for a nap. Netto and Rock sneaked by quietly and made it upstairs. They made it up to the attic where Rock pulled out a piece of pale blue fabric and held it lovingly, "Finally," she sighed.
Netto crossed her arms, "All right, last time we were up here you said something about getting away from Dark but you're seriously going to try to teach me to sew."
Rock looked at her, "Yeup."
Netto gave her an indifferent look, "You really believe that?" she asked.
Rock's smile wavered slightly, "Um, yes?"
"Really?" Netto raised an eyebrow.
Rock's green eyes got big, "Netto-chaaaaan," she said in a whiny voice.
Netto blinked, "Rooooock," she answered. "I don't sew. I'll stab myself to death."
Rock sighed, "But you need a nice dress," she said. "Come on, please?" she asked.
"You're going to trust me, with a sharp and pointy object?" Netto asked.
"I'm going to try, I doubt you can commit genocide with a sewing needle Netto-chan."
"I can try," she muttered.
Rock laughed uneasily, "Ha ha, nice one…" Rock eyed her, "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Netto said.
Rock sighed, "How about, I make the dress and you stay up here to keep me company."
Netto smiled, "That's better."
"And so you're within reach so I can measure you, because you need a dress," Rock said matter of factly.
Netto sighed, "You're not going to give up, are you?"
"No," Rock said.
Netto shrugged, "Fine," she said. "But no more puppy eyes."
"Yay!" Rock hugged Netto tightly much to Netto's discomfort.
"Thank you," Tesla said to Charlie.
He touched his hat then winked at her, drawing a tight smile from her before he rode away. Then she sighed and went into her house, "Dark, Rock, please come here!" she yelled.
She waited for two whole minutes before getting ready to go and get her girls but then she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to a tall man in imperial clothes, "An invitation ma'am," he said handing her the letter. "Please ask all eligible maidens to attend."
Tesla took it silently then the man bowed and walked away leaving Tesla to walk inside while opening the letter. She scanned its contents then yelled out, "DARK, ROCK GET DOWN HERE NOW!"
Rock heard her mother's voice through the numerous air vents and frowned at the beginnings of the dress in her hands. "Aw…" she said.
Netto breathed a sigh of relief and followed her sister out the door.
When they got down stairs Dark was less then pleased that Netto had managed to make the living room spotless so she took to pulling Netto's hair while their mother talked to them.
"There will be a ball in two nights. It's to court the prince of this land, so I'm obliged to take you, however Netto…"
Netto held up her hands, "I don't want to go!" she said.
"That's not fair!" Rock exclaimed.
"No way," Netto said. "I could care less, I don't want to meet some stuffy jerk who thinks he's better then everyone. Sorry, you can go though."
Rock frowned, "Awww, Netto-chan, please!"
Dark grinned, "No, Netto's right, she isn't anywhere near attractive enough to be seen in public."
Netto felt a small ripple of anger but swallowed it down, not letting Dark to have the satisfaction of seeing her loose her temper.
Tesla sighed, "Do what you want girls. But Netto, if you do end up going, you need to wear something decent."
Rock smiled and whispered, "Leave it to me," into Netto's ear before taking off up the stairs.
"Wait…" Netto said then sighed. "Great," she hissed.
Tesla walked out of the room without a word leaving Dark and Netto alone. "Well, well, well, so you fancy yourself a noble?" she sneered.
Netto held up her hand, "I fancy my fist in your mouth if you don't shut up!" she snapped.
Dark gave her a slightly horrified glance before taking off into her room. Netto smirked and walked up the stairs to try and dissuade Rock from her crazy scheme.