Chapter 17 – The White Rabbit
Ever since Lidan and Siaphyl ran into each other in Levisia palace, their visits to her place have been frequent. They often co at the sa ti as though they had planned it, and whenever that happened, they would frequently quarrel. Just like right now.
“Baby brother, you shouldn’t be neglecting your studies.”
“What do you an neglect, brother? I am a very diligent student.”
“Then how is it that you co here every day, hm?”
“The class ends early because I am very diligent in studies, brother.”
“I didn’t know our Siaphyl was so brilliant! You’re going to make your big brother cry!”
Lidan teased Siaphyl that he was neglecting his studies. Siaphyl, while kindly responding, teased Lidan as well.
“Brother, have you replaced the seedling by the way? You pulled out a seedling mistaking it for a weed, rember?”
“You keep bringing it up when I told you I already have the day before yesterday, baby brother.”
“Ah, did you? I seem to forget often.”
“Isn’t it bad to be that forgetful at your age, baby brother?”
Indeed, on that day when Lidan plucked the weeds out, he mistakenly plucked out a seedling. Levisia was shocked to find out after not keeping her eyes on him. He profusely apologized for his ignorance and planted a new seedling in its place himself. That was two days ago…
‘Looks like he’s going to tease about it forever.’
Siaphyl kept smiling as Lidan appeared to be embarrassed. He was such a little rascal. Because of this, the longer Levisia got to see them, the more distant they seed from the image of the Kraidens she had in her head. In the book, the Kraidens were a broken family with no chance of restoration… Watching them quarrel over little things made them seem like a real family.
As the days went by with them visiting so often, Levisia began to have more intimate conversations with them. She found out that Siaphyl, who acted diligent, sotis skipped his studies, and how Lidan ca to take his naps in the library.
“Mother used to read there all the ti.” Lidan shrugged his shoulders as he spoke of his childhood. “I’d go with my mother to the library, but instead of reading books, I’d fall asleep on her.”
Indeed just what he’d do. As she thought about this, Levisia caught Siaphyl’s eyes. He seed to be thinking the sa thing. Just as Siaphyl put his finger over his lips to say it was a secret, Lidan continued.
“That then beca a habit. I can fall asleep very well in the library.”
Levisia nodded but soon stopped when she heard Lidan’s question.
“Sis, your middle na was given to you by your mother, right?”
Lidan was right. When Levisia beca part of the royalty, she gave up her original surna and instead kept her first na along with the middle na given by her mother as others had as well.
“White. How did you co to receive that na?”
“I’m curious too, sister.”
They both asked, marveling. She opened her mouth, wondering how they reached this point of conversation. “Because of the color of my hair.”
“Color of your hair?”
Two pairs of eyes imdiately focused on her hair.
Levisia was given the rather ridiculous middle na White, because her hair was white. They can guess her mother’s ability to co up with nas here. She was indeed a very unique person…
Their reaction to her story was hard to pin down. More precisely, they both revealed a subtle smile.
“It’s still pretty, sister.”
‘Why is it ‘still’?’
Lidan nodded to Siaphyl’s response and said, “How about Rabbit for a nickna?”
“You know, like a white rabbit.”
Levisia imdiately detested the na. But Lidan liked it more when she showed her disdain. “Rabbit, rabbit. Isn’t it cute?” He even teased Levisia that the na he decided on his own was her nickna. “You don’t like it, sis?”
“Well, it’s just…” She gave up answering and nodded her head instead. Levisia decided not to care anymore. Then she noticed Siaphyl watching them, sullen. “What is the matter?” she asked.
Siaphyl looked much more serious when she asked him the question.
“Why was I born after you that I cannot call you by your na?”
As Levisia looked at him wondering if he was being serious, his eyebrows drooped down, making him look even sadder. For a mont, even knowing his future and his true nature, he seed rather adorable.
“That’s the privilege of the elder ones, baby brother.”
Lidan did not miss the chance to boast and teased Siaphyl. But when Siaphyl appeared to get sadder, Lidan seemingly changed his attitude.
“Then in that case, why don’t you call her sister Levisia?”
Siaphyl looked up at Levisia when he heard this.
“Can I?”
“Uh… um…”
It was simply having her na being spoken and yet for so reason, she cringed a little at the thought of it. Levisia reluctantly nodded her head after pointlessly considering it. There was soone who gave her a nickna and was already calling her by that na, so having her na called wouldn’t be any worse.
“I am okay with it.”
“I’m so happy, sister Levisia.”
Siaphyl imdiately called her na and smiled genuinely. Watching this, Lidan muttered to himself. “It feels like sothing was taken away from , but I guess what’s good is good.”
‘I’m the one whose na is being spoken and yet, why does Lidan feel like sothing has been taken away from him…?’ Despite allowing him to call her na lightheartedly, Levisia felt her heart sinking heavily. ‘Now that they are calling by my na, it seems like the plan to stay hidden and unnoticed until leaving this place has been rendered moot… But it can’t be that bad? It’s just the two of them, right? It will be okay… it has to be okay.’
Despite trying to reassure herself, she wasn’t feeling very confident.
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