Hello! This is a short story created for the Tumblr EscaWeek 2021. You can open the illustration that goes with this story at my site quietduna. com


Merle was sad. Van didn't pay her any attention lately. Well, to be honest, Van didn't spend all day with her as before, but instead he rather spend time with that stupid girl from the Mystic Moon. That bothered Merle. A lot. She never had to share Van before. What if that girl took him with her to the Mystic Moon? What if Van decided to leave Fanelia…and her?

Merle sat on the grass and played absently with the grass, lost in her sad thoughts, plagued by loneliness.

'What is going on with you, little kitty?' A familiar voice behind startled her. 'And what are you doing here alone?' Nariya and Eriya looked down at her. They should have recently returned from the latest mission commanded by Lord Folken.

'I'm ok…I was just…making some time. I have to return this stupid makeup bag to the castle, as we have some stupid guests. Now that Van ignores me, I have plenty of free time to make stupid errands', spat Merle and sat down while throwing the bag far from her. The content (some makeup, combs and several sewing stuff) spread through the grass.

Nariya and Eriya exchanged a worried look and, with a graceful and smooth movement that did nothing to improve Merle's mood, sat down by her side. 'Seems like someone needs a bit of girl's talk' Nariya said with a smirk. Merle looked at her with a frown.

'Let's talk. From women to kitty' said Eriya jockingly while picking up a comb that was near her.

'There is nothing to talk about', growled Merle.

'Of course there isn't,' replied Eriya with a soft smile while giving the comb to Nariya.

'You have such a beautiful hair, may I?' asked Nariya carefully while she began combing Merle's hair lovingly.

Merle stiffened when she felt the comb and remained silent. The sisters waited patiently. They were so full of grace and beauty that Merle want to scream.

After some minutes she finally gave up and relaxed: 'Lord Van is in love with Hitomi. And…She loves him too' she said, sadness in her voice. 'I am happy for him. I really am! But…it's painful to realize that I was never an option for him….Not in that way. I don't know what I expected, to be honest. He would never see me as nothing else than her adopted sister'. Merle paused and wiped some tears. Nariya continued combing her hair. Eriya caressed Merle's face.

'I fear being alone again' said Merle in a whisper, audible enough for the sisters.

'We understand' said Eriya. 'We really do. Do you want our advice?"

Merle nodded and looked at Eriya, expectantly.

"Little Merle, you and us…we are alike. We owe us to our saviours, in your case Lord Van, and in our case our Master Folken, isn't this right?'

Merle nodded again.

'As such, is our duty to protect them with our lives and to procure their happiness, little kitty. Our hearts are secondary to that sacred duty', stated Eriya.

'But…in your case Lord Folken loves you. He doesn't have someone like Hitomi by his side. Is easier for you to talk! You don't have someone taking him away from you!' replied Merle, frustrated.

'Our Master doesn't love us the way you think, little Merle,' continued Nariya. She shared a sad look with her sister. 'He cares for us and he really loves us, but not they way we would like. We understood that lesson many years ago. But that doesn't hinder us to fulfill our duty and to be by his side, always.'

'You and us, we can be allowed to be something more than adopted sisters. We can be friends, even lovers for our Masters. But we won't be their wives' finished Eriya and looked at the sky.

'I…don't quite get it' said Merle, confused. 'I always thought that one should grow and get married, have children…Be with someone you love for the rest of your life. Aren't we worthy of all of that?' asked and turned to look at their puzzled faces. She remember too well Queen Varie and King Goau love story. When she was younger she used to dream of living something like that.

'You can be and have whatever you want, little one', answered Nariya, touching Merle's hair. 'We decided to live our lives for our Master. You can decide to live your life apart from Lord Van, start from scratch in any other town or country if that is what you want. Find yourself a handsome boyfriend, start a new life.'

'I…I don't think I could' Merle was horrified by just the though of it. 'But I would like to be as strong as you are".

'We three have went through very hard times in our lives. You are already strong, little one. If you want, we can teach you to fight! You can be his weapon," said Nariya.

"N-no…I really don't like fighting….Lord Van doesn't like fighting neither…but now is the only thing he does" growled.

"Then you can train that sharpened tongue of yours and help your Lord with diplomacy when he will become King. With that temper of his, he will need someone smart by his side, and that could be you", proposed Nariya with a smirk.

"…Or you can learn any other skill that will help Lord Van in the future! Then become his hand, or his eyes. Be by his side, always. Protect him. Protect his future. That is our way to show our Master our love and our devotion', continued Eriya.

'Our Master, and in your case your Lord, they would never leave us, dear Merle. Never doubt of his feelings. Never.' Nariya said absently, while touching sweetly Merle's hair.

Silence fell upon them. Merle reflected over their words. Maybe they were right.

'Look at us, three perfectly functional adults - well, two and a half - ' joked Eriya, 'in love with the Fanel brothers. What do they have to make us fell for them so bad? They don't even know how to tell a joke, it's terrible!'

Nariya laughed merrily and blushed 'Folken-sama is gentle and quiet. I like that'

'Besides, he is tall and muscular, he is so handsome! You know, we've seen him without the uniform' added Eriya with a luscious smile, shared by her sister. Merle gaped at them.

'Lord Van has a kind heart, he is also gentle and…h-he is handsome too. More than Folken! He doesn't know how to dance, but he has such pretty wings!' stated Merle, blushing.

'Master Folken also has beautiful black wings and dances very well' replied Nariya while still combing Merle's hair.

'But they still have the sense of humor of a rock' finished Eriya, laughing openly. Nariya and Merle also laughed.

Suddenly, Merle's world felt again as a beautiful place. She would always be by Van's side, she would do whatever needed to make him happy.


Thank you for reading!

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