Brothers

This was a problem, a big, big problem. How could this have happened? I had discovered that I had actually been transported into another world, and inside some princess of some shady kingdom. It was ridiculous. This was a pain.

After hitting my head on the pole, it would seem my brain jumpstarted and refreshed or something. As the memories came all at once, I still had to sort things up. Everything was a jumbled mess. But at least I figured out some of it.

I was the second princess of the Moonveil Kingdom. The same age as I was on Earth. Although I have to say, this body here was more beautiful. Not that it mattered much, but at least I wasn’t put into someone ugly. That would have been a downgrade. I’m quite conscious of how I look…

Anyway, my plan of escaping from this place was basically thrown out the window the moment I realized who I was. Given that I was a princess, there was no way I could just casually get away. Besides, being a royal might not be too bad. Royal equals rich, and rich equals an easier life.

At the moment, I was trailing behind my red-haired older brother, Alaric. I kept a bit of distance between us. I was not particularly comfortable being close to anyone right now. Alaric glanced behind, towards me.

“Why are you all the way back there, little sister?”

“Uh, um… My head still hurts a little.”

He narrowed his eyes and suddenly pulled up close to me. “As if a little hit in the head would be enough to actually hurt you.”

He was right. Somehow, the hit on the head didn’t do much damage at all. A moment after I was hit, everything went fine, it didn’t hurt anymore. It was strange. Like my body was a bit more durable than normal.

“... Never mind, Alaric.”

“What is this?” He chuckled and placed his hand over my shoulder. “Want your older brother to dote on you, hm? Don’t forget you hit me, and I still haven't had my payback.” He narrowed his eyes.

I frowned. “You already caused me pain on my cheek with your sword. Isn’t that enough? And please be more of a gentleman.” I pushed off his arm with an annoyed expression.

He casually shrugged. “Fine. But I didn’t think you’d be one to strike your brother like that. Are you okay?”

Crap, the real Avenelle had never and would never hit any of her siblings like that. I mulled hard about how to get his suspicions off me. This man here may seem casual, but he was actually quite a competent individual. Avenelle may express her displeasure, but there was no way she would actually slap a family member.

“... Apologies, dear brother.” I formed a regretful look. “I’m so tired, and I got annoyed. I couldn’t help it.”

“Still, that was pretty mean of you, little sister.”

Still, as if the pain would actually last for longer than a moment. If we were both royals, then our bodies should be a bit more durable than normal.

“I’ve been working on a new set of puppets, and it would seem I overdid it.”

“Your puppets, huh? Hey, can you make a hot woman?”

I winced. “I will not conform my designs to fit yours.”

“Oh, come on, it would be a nice change. And not those creepy stuff that you call dolls or something.”

This was not the first time that he had asked something like this. Alaric, you could say, loves beautiful women. Or to put it in ‌simpler terms, he was a womanizer.

“Don’t call them creepy!”

Actually, I agreed they were creepy. Like, why would she design it that way? But I had to defend them, as what the real Avenelle would have done.

He shook his hand, dismissing my defense. “I care not for your tastes and how you make them. But you could at least make something a little different.”

“No way.”

He frowned. “Fine then, whatever.”

I sighed in relief inside. At least he didn’t press further on the matter. Perhaps he was just used to his request being rejected.

On the way to the dining hall, there was a maid passing by. She was kind of cute. So, of course, she was noticed by my brother. He smoothly approached the young woman with a charming smile.

“Oh, hello there. Never seen you here before. Are you new?”

The maid’s eyes widened. “P-Prince A-Alaric…!” Instantly, she felt nervous. Being suddenly approached by a royal up close would surely freak a servant out.

Alaric grasped her hands. “Tell me, would you like to come with me later?”

“F-For what?”

“For a drink, and spend a pleasant time together.”

The maid blushed, and she started stammering around, caught off guard. “I-I can’t. I’m only a maid.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He cupped her chin. “You’re beautiful.”

“Eeeh…?! B-But…”

I frowned as I watched. I knew for a fact that Alaric held no love whatsoever for any woman. He just wants to consume her for the night. To seduce her, to play around. And the truth about him was that if you were not even pretty, good luck getting his attention.

I pulled Alaric by the arm and directed a stern look. “Don’t play the maids. We have rules for this already. Because of you, by the way.”

“W-What? Avenelle, no one has to know.”

There was a rule: it was not to lie with the servants. It was not a normal rule, but rather, it was a rule made because of Alaric. He caused too much chaos and disrupted everything in the palace because he would always sleep with the maids. The family deemed it an unfit action for a royal. One or two would have been tolerable, but several, and constant, that would just be terrible. It damages the dignity of the palace.

“I will know.” I turned towards the maid. “Don’t just give your chastity to anyone, especially to my brother. He will only break your heart.”

“Huh…?” The maid seemed baffled.

I’m saving you here…

“Leave now,” I ordered.

“Y-Yes. Thank you, Princess.”

With that, the maid left at a quick pace. Once she was out of sight, I let go of my brother.

“Why’d you do that, little sister?” He scowled.

“She looks so innocent. I don’t want you to defile any new maids. If you have the urge, call those courtesans from the city again.”

“My little sister, a protector of the pure.” He briefly laughed before he cupped my chin. “You’re so adorable. As expected from among the most beautiful in the kingdom.”

I let out a sigh. “Any chance I could be the number one on that?”

“Heh.” He let go of me. “Then I would risk offending our older sister.”

“A shame. Let’s go, brother. We’re going to be late.”

He was a bit annoying to deal with. But he was a cool guy most of the time. Well, at least towards me. And that was fine. Our interaction now was not uncommon between him and Avenelle. So, I was doing fine. It was actually surprising that I was doing quite well.

We continued on our way.

“By the way, Avenelle.”

“Yes?”

“The Moon Blessing Ritual, it’s your turn to conduct it, right?”

“Ah…” I did my best to remember what it was. That thing was so specific that I had to search through the pile of memories. “... Yes, it is.”

“It would seem I’d be accompanying you on that.”

“Is that so? Guess it’s fine, so I can keep a close watch over you. To prevent you from flirting with the folks.”

“You would seriously bar me from doing that?!” He was shocked.

I just knew he was feeling excited about the occasion. He knew there would be many beautiful ladies who would come.

“I have to make you keep up the dignity as a prince.”

“But commoners have the best… you know.”

“No, you will not do such a thing. I will not have you defile my ritual because you cannot behave for one day.”

He clicked his tongue. “You’re starting to get annoying, little sister.”

“Just do what you want to be sated before my day of the ritual.”

“... Whatever…”

It would seem I annoyed him a bit too much that he started brooding.

And then, we arrived in front of a room with massive double doors. As Alaric was about to open it, we noticed another man coming towards us.

He was a tall, handsome young man, with a fair complexion, twenty-one years old. He had a stoic expression, and the way he moved was smooth and straight. His long dark hair waved in his motion, his deep dark eyes directed at the two of us. He wore a dark formal outfit, nothing too fancy or too eye-catching.

He was my older brother, older than Alaric — Saviel Onorio Nightingale.

“Good evening to you both.” His voice was deep and gentle.

“Hey brother.” Alaric waved his hand once, greeting him with a wide grin. “Nice of you to join us tonight.”

“Did you expect me not to join? I was present last night.”

“Well, you weren’t the other night.”

“Unlike you, Alaric, I have important business to attend to. Perhaps if you find the time to help, you’ll understand.”

“No thanks. Not interested in sneaking business through other nations. If I fight, I fight head-on!”

“Hm, whatever you say.” He then shifted his dark gaze to me. “Hello, little sister.”

I smiled a bit. “Hi, brother.”

He suddenly approached me and patted me on the head gently. “You look tired. You shouldn’t sleep late.”

“... I-I’m fine.”

I was not tired because of sleeping late. I was tired because of the sudden and risky situation I found myself in. And I was to enter a dinner where the rest of the family would be present. How much I would rather be elsewhere. But alas, there was no way I could flee. Avenelle wouldn’t miss it without a good reason. She loved her family, despite their flaws.

“If you say so.” He seemed so caring, but he still had that stoic face. “At any rate, take care of yourself more.”

“R-Right.” Honestly, the caring stuff surprised me. I have to say, my original family has not treated me this way. Although I never had a brother…

“Oh, look at you two, so sweet.” Alaric grinned teasingly.

I directed a scowl at him and conjured my strings around his body, and made him do a ridiculous pose.

“Maybe dote on your little sister sometimes, Alaric,” I said. “And not just sneak up behind her and flirt with maids in front of her.” Casting my puppeting magic now felt natural after getting the memories back. Which was nice.

“Stop that now.” He pulled in his limbs, snapping my strings. “Don’t I dote on you enough?”

“You call that doting?” I pouted.

“Well, what else do you want?” He crossed his arms.

Saviel turned a suspicious look at Alaric. “Flirting with the maids again?”

Alaric merely shrugged. “Be proud. Avenelle was there to stop me.”

“How fortunate then. If you wish to flirt with the maids, at least have commitment.”

“Yeah, no way.”

Saviel briefly sighed. “Anyhow, let’s get inside.” And he opened the door.

The vast dining hall was revealed. And inside were the royal family — my parents, and the eldest sister.