Chapter 2: My Big Sister

The early afternoon sun filters through the windows as I peek into the kitchen. Mom and some maids are chopping vegetables, hands moving with practiced ease. Finnley stands on a stool beside mom, trying her best to "help" by stacking carrots into a wobbly tower. She hums happily, utterly absorbed in her masterpiece.
"Mom?" I step into the room, putting on my best grin. "Can I take the rest of the day off today? Please? I've been really good, haven't I?"
Mom glances up, one eyebrow raised. "You have been a good boy for quite some time. No trouble at all. What's going on, Leon? Are you feeling alright?"
"Nothing's wrong! I'm just being good, that's all. So… can I, please?"

Her lips curl into a small smile. "Alright, Leon. You've earned it. But what do you want to do?"
"Play outside!... Oh, and, uh… could you ask Jenna to come with me too?" I need an opening to talk to her without her facade.
Mom pauses, blinking at me in surprise. "Jenna? You want your sister to play with you?"
"Yeah," I nod, trying to look as innocent as possible. "It's more fun with her." And after the fall of the matriarchy we got along much better. So maybe we can get along now, if we try.
Finnley looks over from her stool, clutching a carrot in her little hands. "Jenna's fun! She's the best! But... why not me? I'm fun too!" Yeah and I'll try keeping it that way unlike last time.
"You are, Finnley," I say, ruffling her hair. "But you're busy helping Mom, right?"
She puffs up her chest proudly. "Yup! I'm Mom's best helper!" Then she tilts her head, her expression suddenly serious. "But if Jenna goes, you have to be nice to her, okay, Leon?"
"I am nice!"

Mom laughs softly, setting down her knife. "Let's see if Jenna wants to come. Jenna!" she calls toward the stairs. A moment later, light footsteps echo, and Jenna appears in the doorway, wearing a scowl. "What is it? I was doing something."
"Leon wants to play outside and asked if you'd join him,"
Jenna's nose wrinkles as she looks at me skeptically. "Play with him? Why? He's just a little farm boy. What am I supposed to do with him?"
I wince. Not the warmest reception and a bad choice of words. I glance at Mom, whose expression is no longer amused. "Jenna," she says, her voice sharp. "That 'farm boy' is your brother. And if you have time to stand here arguing, you have time to go outside with him. I don't want to hear another word. Go."
Jenna groans loudly. "But Mom—"
"No buts!" Mom snaps. "And if I hear another complaint, you'll be helping Finnley in the kitchen instead." Finnley beams up at Jenna. "Ooh, help me, Jenna!"
Jenna huffs and mutters, "I suppose it's better than peeling carrots."
Finnley giggles. "Jenna's the best, huh, Leon?" I roll my eyes but smile anyway. "Sure, Finnley. She's great."

Jenna huffs, stomping toward the door. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."
"Behave, you two!" Mom calls after us. "Jenna, take care of your brother, and Leon, don't start anything!"
As we head outside, Finnley waves enthusiastically from her stool. "Have fun, Jenna! Be nice to Leon!" Jenna mutters something under her breath, but I can't hear it. I just smirk to myself. Now onto the main part.

Once we're outside, the warm sun and soft breeze make everything feel a little less tense. We pass the training area as I glance at Jenna.
"I've got an offer for you," I say, twirling the wooden sword I'd snagged on the way out. "Let's fight. If you win, you can decide what we do today. But if I win, I get to pick."
She gives me a smug look, crossing her arms. "Try it, farm boy."

The moment we start, it's clear she's stronger than me—but I'm quicker. She swings hard, her strikes making my arms ache every time I block, but her frustration grows as I dodge and feint.
The fight is harder than I expected. Her height gives her an advantage, but I've been practicing when no one's looking. My strikes get sharper, more confident. It's close, but in the end, I manage to disarm her with a quick feint and a low sweep.

Breathing hard, I grin. "I win. So, we're playing adventurers in the woods. No complaints."
Jenna glares at me, rubbing her sore hand, but doesn't argue.

We wander in the direction of the woods, wooden swords in hand. I wonder what she thinks of me. Would she answer honestly if I ask?... Let´s try it out.
"You call me a farm boy all the time," I say after a moment of silence. "Does that mean you don't like me?" She stumbles over her words, flustered. "No, it's… noblewomen are worth more than men. So, it's fine for you to be a farm boy, but that's beneath me."
I stop in my tracks, frowning. there it is, the matriarchy bullshit. "So, Mom and Dad are beneath you too? Since Dad works the fields and Mom takes care of the house?" My voice cracks, and I hate how it sounds like I'm about to cry. Why aren't I over 60 on the inside? That thought shouldn't hurt me.
Jenna freezes. Her face twists uncomfortably, and for a moment, I think she's going to say something kind. Instead, she stiffens. "No, but… they shouldn't do that. They should be… more noble, like Lady Zola."
I clench my fists. "I don't think anyone should be like Zola. She—"

"Lady Zola," Jenna interrupts. "That's why she has a problem with you. You don't have manners." WHAT'S WiTH THAT REVERENCE? SHE— stop, I need to calm down…
"Lady Zola is the reason Nicks and I can't stay in our home when she visits! She doesn't do anything a noble should—no work, no care for her subjects, nothing. She isn't even here most of the time. All she does is take money, and that's why Mom and Dad have to work so hard just so we have enough to eat! No one should be like that!" My voice rises, and tears sting my eyes. I hate this.

Jenna's lips press into a thin line. She doesn't look at me. After a long silence, I ask, "Do you want to be like that?" She hesitates, then deflects. "No… So, uh, what did you want to play again?"

In the woods, we pretend it's a dungeon. The trees become walls, the bushes monsters, and the scattered stones hidden treasures. A group of town kids joins us, playing knights protecting Jenna, the "maiden." She quickly took to bossing the other kids around, directing their attacks with dramatic flair.

At the end, I take on the role of the monster knight, guarding the greatest treasure. The kids try valiantly to beat me, but it's Jenna who lands the final blow. I fall dramatically, lying on the ground.
Jenna's laugh rings out, soft and genuine. "So now I get to decide what we play next."

"Why?" I protest.
"Because I won the sword fight," she says with a wide grin. "Wasn't that your rule?"
"But I wasn't fighting for real. The monster shouldn't win."
"No buts." The town kids laugh. "She's right! A knight keeps his promises!" a girl chimes in.
"Fine," I grumble, smiling despite myself. That was fun even if Jean got the last laugh today.

"Thanks for playing, everyone. We'll head home now. See you later!" "Goodbye, young master! Young mistress!" "Just call me Leon!" I call after them.
"Can't do!" the girl says with a playful grin before running off.

As we head back, I glance at Jenna. Her expression is thoughtful, something I don't see often.
"Was that really your first time playing with commoners? Not even the maids' kids?" "Yeah. Why?" "No wonder you don't play outside much. Before I was old enough, Nicks was your only playmate." I guess It's fine to be with her when it's not about Zola.

"Shut it," she growls, cheeks turning red. "Lady Zola taught me not to associate with commoners. But it was fun. I guess." I sigh, anger swelling inside me instantly. "Guess Lady Zola isn't always right."
"You can't say that," she snaps. "Her advice is about behaving like a noble. For all your complaints, she's the only one in the family who acts like one."
"Maybe. But I never want to be like her." Behaving like a noble—like an evil noble, maybe.
Jenna doesn't seem to be affected by my mood like earlier, just muses something about noble, adventures, commoners and knights, to quit for me to make out. Maybe I masked it better this time.

When we return, Finnley comes running, begging us to play with her. We spend the rest of the evening playing hide-and-seek, tag, and other games until dinner. It even looks like Jenna is having fun.
To make up for breaking my promise about letting Jenna pick the next game, I even endured playing dolls and board games with her after the meal. Honestly, it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected.

The next day, three families came to apologize for their kids' behavior toward us during the game. To my surprise—and my parents'—Jenna dismissed their apologies with grace. The way she carried herself, calm and considerate, was such a sharp contrast to Zola that it dragged yesterday's frustration back to the surface. Now those memories burned fresh in my mind. Just thinking about it made my chest tighten all over again.

Still, for a fleeting moment, I saw the noblewoman Jenna could become—someone who cared for people, not just status or power. It felt like progress. Maybe I should keep talking to her about Zola, even if it leaves me seething every time. After all, the rest of yesterday was fun.

I should have at least tried to bridge the gap in my past life, even with Zola standing between us.

A/N

22.12.24 - Added more of Leons thought showing his motivations to interact with Jenna and the big problem standing between them.

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