Lucian returned ho, wondering who Arthur was talking about. A cat? He didn’t have one. Or was Arthur suggesting that he should get one and give it to Aaron as a pet?
He entered the drawing room, where Gwen welcod him. Seeing him deep in thought, she couldn’t help but ask, "What’s troubling you, Lucian?"
He snapped out of it and turned to his mother. She always had answers to his questions. "Mother, is there a cat around?"
Gwen chuckled. "A cat? Have you suddenly decided you want a pet?"
Lucian didn’t know how to respond.
Just then, Rina entered the drawing room and ran over to Lucian. "Brother, look at what I’ve prepared!"
Before he could respond, Gwen interrupted, "Young lady, you shouldn’t be running around like that. Learn to act like a proper lady."
Rina, clearly displeased, pouted, looking adorable. "Being a lady is like losing freedom. Legs are ant for walking and running."
Shaking her head at her daughter and sighing, Gwen turned to Lucian. "Why would you need a cat when we have our own?"
Lucian looked at Rina and rembered Arthur’s words: "You have a cute little cat at ho who seems to bring joy everywhere. Might as well leave her free in the neighboring residence, so she can trouble the owner and bring so joy around for him as well."
He suddenly realized what Arthur ant. Aaron had lost his sister, but he might find her again in Rina. She’s so adorable that no one can remain silent around her for long. She will surely bring so change to Aaron.
"Brother, I’m showing you sothing," Rina repeated, shaking his hand.
Lucian snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the beautiful flower bouquet she had made.
"Ela taught this," she said, referring to her maid. "This is for you. Beautiful, isn’t it?"
His gaze shifted from the flowers back to her, his expression serious. "Now you’re going to waste your ti on these useless things?" His voice was devoid of any emotion. "I see you turning into another one of those spoiled young ladies from rich families who waste their ti on such trivial things instead of doing sothing aningful."
"Brother, I was just..."
"When we left the capital, Oriana told you to learn good things."
Her face fell. "I made it for you."
"I’d rather you show so sword skills you’ve learned."
"I will do that as well."
"While wasting ti on these?" He glanced at her hands.
"You’re being an, brother," she said, glaring at him.
"This is how I am. If you don’t like it, you can go find another brother who can put up with a troubleso sister like you."
"Troubleso sister?" Rina’s fists tightened as anger rose within her. "Do you think I can’t find another brother?"
"I doubt anyone would even want you as their sister," he challenged.
"You just wait," she stomped her foot and turned to leave, shouting, "Lady Erin was always right. You’re better when you’re mute!" Her voice echoed in the room as she disappeared from sight.
Gwen, who never ddled between the siblings, was left speechless and confused by what had just happened. It was the first ti Lucian had spoken to Rina in such a way.
Lucian turned to Gwen. "Mother, she’ll be fine."
Seeing him relaxed, she asked, "What are you planning?"
Lucian’s gaze followed the view out of the large window in the drawing room, where he could see Rina angrily heading toward the boundary separating the Rainier and Wynter residences. Just as he had expected from his sister.
"Mother, let our cat wander outside for a while."
Gwen followed his gaze. "She’s going to the Wynters."
Lucian nodded. "She won’t be back for a while."
Gwen felt worried. "You know how she is. She might trouble Aaron."
"That’s what I want," Lucian turned back to Gwen and assured, "He’ll take care of her. Don’t worry."
"Are you doing this because Aaron lost his sister?" she asked.
Lucian nodded. "He needs soone by his side who can distract him from those mories, and Rina won’t even let him breathe peacefully."
Gwen wasn’t sure whether to feel worried for her daughter or happy about her nature. "If you think it’s the right thing to do." Then she asked, "What happened with Elrod and Luis?"
"Elrod received his punishnt, and Luis is waiting for his."
Gwen didn’t ask what the punishnt was, as Lucian seed discreet about it, and simply humd in response.
------
An angry Rina entered the Wynter residence. As she approached the main house, the servants greeted her.
"Where is Brother Aaron?" she asked the butler.
"The Lord is not ho at the mont," the butler replied. "May I know what matter concerns Lady Rina?"
"No, I’ll wait for Brother Aaron and tell him personally. I’ll wait for him to return," she said, walking out of the foyer and sitting on the stairs by the main door, her eyes fixed ahead, waiting for Aaron’s arrival.
"Lady Rina, you might want to sit inside. We don’t know when the Lord will return ho," the butler offered politely.
"I’m fine," she responded stubbornly, continuing to sit outside even in the cold.
The butler instructed the servants to bring a furnace and a warm cover. The servants quickly brought a heating furnace and placed it nearby Rina. The butler also draped a thick winter coat over Rina’s shoulders and offered her warm tea to help her stay comfortable.
"Thank you," Rina replied, and continued her wait.
After about an hour, Aaron finally returned, but by that ti, Rina had almost dozed off, resting her head on her folded arms and knees. Her small body curled up, worrying the butler but she won’t budge.
Aaron and Nathaniel were surprised by the sight and looked at the butler, who was standing attentively nearby.
"What is this little kitten doing at the door in the cold?" Nathaniel comnted. "More like a lost cat waiting for her master."
"What happened?" Aaron asked the butler.
Before the man could answer, the drowsy Rina seed to wake up. "Brother Aaron," she murmured.
Aaron and Nathaniel looked at her as she offered Aaron a sweet, bright smile, her small head lifting above her folded hands. "Finally, you’re back. I was waiting for you."
Seeing her smile despite clearly being cold, Aaron’s heart felt unsettled. He imdiately knelt in front of her. "Why are you sitting here in the cold? Let’s go inside."
"First, answer my question," she said, her lips trembling from the cold.
"What is it?" he asked softly, wondering what could be so important that she would endure such discomfort.
"Will you be my brother?" she asked.
He was surprised by the suddenness of the request. "Aren’t I already?"
"Not just in words. I an a real brother," she repeated, her face a little sad. "You see, I’ve disowned my an brother Lucian, so now I need a new brother for real. He thinks I’m troubleso and that no one would want as their sister. He’s an. I don’t want him anymore."
Aaron didn’t know what had happened between her and Lucian, but he knew Lucian wasn’t the type to hurt his sister like this. However, at this mont, caring for Rina was the priority.
"Alright, I’ll be your brother for real," Aaron assured her. "Now, let’s go inside before you freeze and get sick."
"Will you let change my na from Rainier to Wynter?" she asked.
"I will. Now let’s go inside."
Rina nodded and tried to unfold her legs but realized they were cramped, and she frowned inwardly.
Aaron noticed. "Don’t force it," he said, and gently lifted her small body into his arms.
Rina giggled softly, despite the discomfort in her stiff legs. "You know, Brother, it’s the first ti soone has ever lifted ."
Aaron didn’t know what to say, while Nathaniel couldn’t hold back his smile. This was the first ti he had seen Aaron closely interacting with a woman. Even though she was his sister, it was amusing to see his usually rigid self acting so gently. Well, education starts at ho: first with mother, then sister, and later with wife and daughter—this is how a man learns.
’Sadly, I never had a mother or sister, and there’s no way I’m having a wife and daughter,’ Nathaniel thought as he followed them, at the sa ti feeling happy for his friend to have such a cute little sister.
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