In the back of Dohku's restaurant, Wonku was busy chopping cabbages as Shunrei was taking her break. She was finishing her favorite novel, The Spartan Queen , for the twelfth time.
Wonku could hear her sniffling. Shaking his head, he asked out loud, "What could be so sad?"
"Sagittarius' younger brother Regulus married Queen Helen's sister Princess Phoebe," Shunrei said, grabbing a napkin to wipe her eyes. "Helen rules Sparta by her own rights after the death of her brothers. Sagittarius had sworn to protect her and Sparta. After watching Princess Phoebe and Regulus wed, Sagittarius held Helen's hand and promised to be by her side until the end of his life. Helen knows what he meant. They can't be together physically but their hearts are."
Wonku began to work on the steaks. "I don't know why you girls are so crazy about this book. I've read it, and I say that Helen is a selfish bitch who has her cake and eats it too. Calling herself a queen, and let Sagittarius do all the work. She used him. All take and no give."
"That's not true," Shunrei said. "It was Sagittarius who chose to serve Helen because he respected her bravery, intelligence, and strength. Helen bestowed him the highest position in Sparta. And not to mention, she made Sagittarius' younger brother Regulus the heir to her throne. It will be Sagittarius' blood ruling Sparta after Helen."
Wonku didn't buy it. "But why can't she just marry Sagittarius and make him the King of Sparta? I can never figure out what this author Isabel Athena is getting at with this Sagittarius x Helen thing. I say she needs to grow up and stop dreaming about fairy tale prince charming. A man like Sagittarius – charismatic, righteous, warrior and scholar, handsome, patient, always there for her ill or well without a single complaint or delay – DOES NOT EXIST!"
With his blade, he chopped a rib steak in two.
Standing in front of his dressing mirror, Aiolus was getting ready for court. He tied his tie and put on a gold tie clip.
The tie clip was a birthday gift from Saori. He had worn it like a lucky charm. He would need it today, because it's his first case with his younger brother Aiolia serves as his second chair and co-counsel.
Aiolia was seven years younger than him. Since the day they lost their parents, Aiolus had been a father-figure, a protector, a role-model, and a mentor to Aiolia. The two brothers looked very much alike, except for the color of their hair; Aiolus' was darker and Aiolia's was lighter. When standing side by side, often they were mistaken as twins. Temperament wise, however, the two brothers couldn't be more different. Aiolus was as calm as Aiolia was hot-blooded. While Aiolia was very smart and finished law school in an accelerated program, he needed to keep his cool, especially in front of a judge.
After grabbing his suit jacket, he got a text message from Saori.
She had sent him three pictures.
Long story short, her house was flooded.
Using his wireless bluetooth, he called her.
"Oh I'm so relieved to hear from you," Saori said, sitting in her living room. "This is a total nightmare."
"What happened?"
"What happened ? Like I'm the one who caused the flood. Last night I was dreaming practicing archery by a waterfall. I shot dead a serpent, and the water was getting louder and louder. Only then I realized it wasn't a dream. It was only three in the morning. I called 911 and got firefighters to help me turning the water off."
"You got firefighters in your house?"
"Don't worry. They are middle-aged women."
"That's good to hear."
"It's not funny, Aiolus. Right now, I have no water, which means I can't use the toilet, sink, or the shower. The floor is damaged and the wall too. The flood happened on the third floor so it damaged the second and the first floor."
"You know if your Dad has insurance?" Aiolus asked, putting on his suit jacket.
"No, Tatsumi and Dad would know. They are not here."
"Can you find any information in your Dad's office?"
"No, he has his office locked. I don't know where the key is. I looked everywhere. The only other thing I can do is grab an ax."
"Whoa, don't do that. You are going to hurt yourself."
"Shura might know, right?"
"I'll talk to him later today. Question: which part of the third floor did the flood happen?"
"The bathroom in mother's suite, or it used to be her suite before she and Dad split."
"Oh man, aren't you the luckiest girl," Aiolus said sarcastically.
"Do I need a lawyer?"
"The chances that you don't. Tell you what, I know someone who can fix your house. His name is Aldebaran. He's very talented, looks intimidating but is the gentlest soul. And no, he's not a former client."
"Oh good. Do I have to pay him?"
"Of course, save all your receipts and reports. I'll have him reach out to you today."
"How much would all this cost?"
"I would say you need at least $5,000 at minimum. Aldebaran will give you an estimate."
"Thanks Aiolus."
"Listen to me, don't panic," Aiolus walked out of his house with his brother Aiolia towards his car. "Things happen. You are a strong girl and you can get through this. Take my advice: go get something to eat. You'll feel better with a full stomach."
"You have to use that word, stomach."
"We all have stomachs," Aiolus was about to get to the driver's seat, but then gestured to Aiolia to switch with him. He sat in the passenger's seat and continued, "Go get something to eat. Things will be taken care of."
"And then as soon as I walk out of the house, there's Cassius."
"Keep a log. Each time he threatens you or harasses you, record it."
"I don't get him. Whatever is going on between me and mother has nothing to do with him. Why is he acting like her blood knight? How pathetic!"
"If everyone on planet earth is clear headed then I wouldn't even have my job."
"I hate those people who meddle in others' business."
"I agree with you. I don't know the man Cassius but it'd be a waste of my time anyway."
"I guess I learned something new: insurance, house repair, women can be firefighters, and Cassius is a waste of life."
Aiolus laughed. "Now that's the spirit. Life is a school of its own."
"I feel better."
"Okay, go get something to eat. Aldebaran will text you and you work it out with him. Save all the receipts and papers, all right?"
"I will."
"Good. I'll talk to you later."
Aiolia parked in front of the court house. After they got out of the car, Aiolia went to him and playfully punched him in the stomach. "We are representing someone on the charge of first degree murder and you're the first chair. Someone died."
"I know that," Aiolus said.
"Then put your smiling face away and look solemn," Aiolia said with annoyance. "It's getting from bad to worse, bro."
Saori went to the kitchen and found Seiya there, eating yogurts from the fridge and bananas on the counter.
"Oh hi," Saori said.
"I've waited for hours," Seiya said. "My stomach can't wait. It's almost ten."
"I guess I lost track of time," Saori said apologetically. "I haven't even washed up yet. I can't because water got turned off."
"I know," Seiya began to mimic her. " My castle is all flooded. The ceiling and the wall are damaged. Oh, I don't know what to do? I summoned a bunch of knights but they are women. Oh, Aiolus, save me!"
"Cut it out! First of all, I don't talk like that!" Saori was offended.
"Do you ever listen to yourself when you talk to Aiolus? You sound like you are only three!"
Now Saori was mad. Who is Seiya to judge her? "Do you have a problem with me talking to Aiolus? I have noticed your behavior and facial expression each time I text him or talk to him."
"You call him for everything, like he has a pair of golden wings, flying here to rescue you like Superman."
"For your information," Saori defended herself slowly but meaningfully. "I have been threatened, intimidated, left alone, and now facing this stupid flood! I need to take care of this and if I have the power to do this myself, I would! Dad is not here and I don't know where he is. Aiolus is the only adult I know in this area."
"How old are you? If you are eighteen then you are an adult yourself! I have been taking care of myself since I was three!"
"Aiolus never talks to me like this." She folded her arms and turned away from him.
"I'm sorry that I am not Aiolus."
"I never asked you to be Aiolus."
"Now you sound like an adult."
Saori turned to face him. "Let me make one thing clear: I can talk to Aiolus whenever I want and however I want. Aiolus is someone very special to me. His voice is calm as the wind. His eyes are gentle yet full of strength. His arms are my castle and his heart is my sky. He made me rise when I fall."
Seiya stood in silence for a while. He was staring at her, and then he began to sing, "Cause every time we touch I get this feeling, can't you feel my heart beats fast, I want this to last, I need you by my side… I love Cascada."
Saori was about to strike him, but Seiya caught her wrist.
"You are nothing like Aiolus," Saori said, trying to pull away from him but was no match to his strength.
Seiya chuckled, "Fine, tell you what, why don't you ask Aiolus to be your bodyguard? See you, Princess."
He released her wrist and walked out.