Chapter 19

"So," Chris started, thumb and forefinger massaging the space between his brows. "You stalk—," "Followed, big bro. Followed." "Yes, alright, you followed us because you... were worried that spies from another kingdom," "Igni—," "do not say that, Leo. Spies from another kingdom will... ambush us??"

Leo stared at the space over his brother's shoulder, trying his best to look like he wasn't lying. Chris sighed exasperatedly, wondering just what was he to do with this baby brother of his.

There is a fine line between truth and lies. Unfortunately, that line was made of chalk and was easily blurred.

Chris sighed and accepted the reason. It would be the actual reason in the eyes of everyone else, so why should he hold on to the horribly embarrassing truth?

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Maybe, just maybe, stalking his friend when he was on a date to make sure of the suspiciously familiar guy's intentions was wrong.

Alex furrowed his brows and quietly reflected on what he did, finding absolutely nothing wrong with it, even after the lecture Rey had given him. Lily, the useless brat sister of his best friend, was sniffing and giving him haughty looks from where she was writing whatever.

He had effectively been put in the time out corner, which is the worst thing ever because the time out corner just so happened to be Lily's room.

It was nothing that you would expect of a young girl's room.

Messy, so messy that Alex had almost physically itched just by looking at it. Then there was not mentioning how she had practically broken everything at least once and anything he did made a grating creaking noise because even the floor was complaining about Lily.

She was just that bad, in Alex's opinion. He didn't know how Rey managed to tolerate her, much less love her as a younger sister!

Hmph, how annoying!

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Rey sighed, putting the tray of pastries down with a clink on the table. Chris looked as if he had been hit by exhaustion in the face several times and that brother of his—Leo, was it?—was lost definitely the cause.

Little siblings, for all they are cute and nice, are exhausting and annoying. No matter how much of a saintly patience you have, siblings will always be the one to break that patience.

Alex was not Rey's sibling by blood, but it definitelt felt like it.

Honestly.

Rey was a little more than twice all their ages mentally, no matter how young he looked and he—

He still couldn't be anywhere near lakes or big and deep bodies of water without trembling and running off. Because—he was Reyham Lovell but, but was he not also Suzuki Ieshige?

If he were never Suzuki, would he still be the same Rey?

His musing was interrupted by a beam, Chris looked at him with such warm eyes and Rey couldn't help but smile back.

Better not to think of such things. He had made a choice and regretting it won't solve anything.

"Hey, Rey?" Chris absentmindedly asked, "If you loved someone but culture and society says you shouldn't love them, what would you do?"

"I," did Chris love someone? That..., "I would love them regardless and tell them," if he did then, "tell them that I love them because...if you try, then there's a chance no matter how small, if you don't try then there's no chance at all."

If Chris did love someone, what would Rey do?

Who was it? Lily? She was the protagonist after all...

...ah, it hurt.

So this is what heartache feels like.

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That night, a major trading county to the south of the Aqua Kingdom was attacked and brutally destroyed, the people living there enslaved and the place conquered.

That night, war was waged.

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"Treachery! You dare?!" The queen of Aqua, Gabriela Asturias glared at the king of Aqua, Gregory Asturias who was steadily starting to cower under his wife's gaze. "What has my Terra ever done to make you assume such lies?!"

Christian Asturias, the crown prince of Aqua stared steadily at his parents, the line of his mouth conveying to anyone who could read expressions one thing, mockery. Leonard Asturias, the second prince of Aqua, was also unusually serious suddenly quirked up. "I agree, it was probably Ign—,"

"You will not talk of Ignis like that!" Gregory bellowed.

The duke of Aqua, Corliss Valenrett raised a brow at that, the army commander of the same kingdom, Kennard Estcard outright frowning. Corliss, with as much composure as he could, "Your majesty the king, the woman your highness has brought to the castle might not be all she seems..." implying that, she was either a spy or someone Ignis sent to kill or manipulate the king of Aqua.

"Not mentioning, your majesty," Kennard started, "Terra has been a reliable ally for so long, they would not have any reasonable motives to attack us like this."

Gregory snorted, an undignified sound for a king that the citizens loved so much. "Of course they do! Has that Arcas Torres not been lusting after Gabriela for so long?"

"YOU—!!" The ground started shaking, as if an earthquake was about to swallow all of them whole. "HOW DARE YOU! He's my cousin!"

One of the "advisors", a voluptous woman with flaming red hair and orange eyes that were so completely Ignis it could not be refuted, stepped up and shouted at the queen as if unafraid of any consequences, "When has that ever stopped you?!"

Christian spoke up, the first time since the beggining of everything and everyone turned to see what their crown prince had to say. "How about," he gestured at everyone to sit, but directly stared at the advisor and his father, "we all calm down and talk like adults?"

Gabriela sneered and did not pay heed to what was said, kicking the advisor's chair hard enough that it broke and sent her falling into a humiliating position, the rags she called clothes not helping her. Instead, ignoring tradition, she took seat beside her children and muttered, "Just a wh*re that can't even think, why should I care?"

The advisor froze and instead stomped out of the room, the king following her like a lost puppy.

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This is the end of the first arc of this story! I don't plan to make it very long, but how I write makes me feel like it will take a long time to convey the proper story I want to write.

The next chapter is the start of a new arc and I am excited.

Ooh; wha's this? So many new characters! Hopefully it won't be too confusing, haha

I would like to thank all of you for reading and voting, your comments give me motivation to continue!

I love you all and thank you!

Words: 1142