I was woken by a heavy weight on my chest. I slowly opened my eyes to see Aurelio and Ophelia perched on top of me, their faces inches from mine, alight with an infectious excitement.
"Wh-what are you doing?" I asked.
"You need to wake up, Sister Aurelia!" Aurelio said, his voice filled with an urgent energy.
"YES! WAKE UP NOW!" Ophelia added, much louder.
Their small hands began to push and poke at me. Just then, the door opened, and Adel entered, followed by Livia and Martia—the twins' personal maids, and the four children. They rushed forward and lifted their respective charges off of me, much to their grumbling displeasure.
As Adel drew the curtains, flooding the room with morning light, I sat up and looked at the twins. "Why are you two in my room so early?"
"Because today is a very important day!" Ophelia announced. "We woke up early and came straight here to wake you!"
"An important day?"
"Yes! It's the day Father fulfils his promise to take us to the city!" Aurelio said, his face beaming.
"Ah, that's right," I said, a smile touching my lips. "And are you inviting your new friends as well?" I asked, gesturing to the four children who were standing shyly by the door.
"Of course!"
"That's wonderful. But…"
"But what, Sister Aurelia?" Ophelia asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
"You said your father was a cunning man," I said, a mischievous idea forming in my mind. "What if he was lying? What if he doesn't take us to the city today?"
The twins' happy expressions instantly crumpled. Their faces fell, and without another word, they turned and fled the room, their maids and the four children scrambling after them.
"It must be difficult for Livia and Martia to keep up with them," I commented to Adel.
"I believe it is more difficult when you fill their heads with nonsense about His Grace, my lady," she replied, her tone dry.
"I couldn't resist," I admitted with a small laugh. "I think… I think I've missed them."
"Is it because you are lonely, my lady? Now that they have other friends to play with?"
"Hehehe… perhaps."
I was sitting at the vanity table, Adel in the middle of combing my hair, when the twins burst back into the room.
"FATHER SAID HE WILL FULFIL HIS PROMISE!" Aurelio announced. "HE EVEN TOLD LADY LAURA TO PREPARE THE CARRIAGES!"
"That's wonderful," I said, my eyes meeting Adel's in the mirror.
A moment later, Livia and Martia arrived, both looking thoroughly exhausted.
"You two need to learn to control yourselves," I chided the twins gently. "You are running your maids ragged."
"But they are fine," Ophelia said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Even so," I insisted, "you must be more considerate. Now, why don't you wait for me in the dining room?"
"Yes, Sister," they said in unison.
I watched them in the mirror as they walked towards the door. But the moment they were out of my direct line of sight, they broke into a run.
"Don't run!" I called after them, but they were already out of earshot.
"They are children, my lady," Adel said, her voice calm and steady. "It is normal for them to be active."
"I know," I sighed. "But a little decorum wouldn't hurt."
After Adel had finished, we made our way to the dining room. I spent the entire breakfast pointedly ignoring the twins, much to their confusion and distress. After the meal, the entire household seemed to mobilise. My parents, the twins, the four children, and all of their respective maids gathered at the grand entrance of the house. On the way, Aurelio and Ophelia kept trying to get my attention, their small voices a constant stream of "Sister Aurelia, why are you angry?" that I pointedly ignored.
In front of the house, Lady Laura and Lady Octavi were waiting, flanked by five guards in gleaming armour. Two magnificent carriages were prepared. One was for my parents, Lady Laura, and me. The other was for the twins and the four children. Adel took her seat with our coachman, while Livia and Martia rode with the other. Lady Octavi and the guards were on horseback, a formidable escort for a simple trip to the city.
As we settled into the carriage, my mother turned to me, her expression unreadable. "Aurelia, why were you ignoring the twins this morning?"
"They were against my advice," I said simply. "I told them to walk, and they ran."
"They are children, Aurelia," my father said with a chuckle. "They are supposed to be rebellious."
"Apart from that," I said, changing the subject, "why is Lady Laura joining us?"
"I have some business to attend to in the city, on behalf of His Grace," she replied, shooting a pointed look at my father.
"So, Father is shirking his duties again," I said, looking at him.
"You are so mean, Aurelia," he protested. "I am accompanying you. I cannot be in two places at once."
"I would prefer it if you did your job," I said and was rewarded with a look of mock indignation from my father.
"And why are there so many guards?" I asked. "Is it because of the children?"
"No, Aurelia," my mother said, her voice softening. "It is because of what happened to you. It was our neglect that put you in that situation. We will not make the same mistake again."
Her words were a stark reminder of the darkness that lurked just beneath the surface of this beautiful, gilded life. "I will try to remain calm," I said, my voice barely a whisper.
"Just enjoy the day, darling," she said, taking my hand. "Make up with your siblings, and have fun."
"I will try."
The arrival of our entourage in the town square was an event in itself. The two grand carriages, emblazoned with the intimidating coat of arms of the Aurelius family, accompanied by the mounted guards, did not go unnoticed. The usual bustle of the square seemed to pause as heads turned in our direction. It was not a hostile silence, but one of awe and curiosity.
As the carriage door was opened, I saw them. The twins were waiting for us, their small faces etched with a sorrow that seemed too heavy for their years. I tried to look away, but as I stepped out of the carriage, I felt my mother's hand on my shoulder. I turned, and she gave me a small, encouraging smile, a silent command to make amends.
After everyone had disembarked, the twins approached me, their steps slow and hesitant. They stopped a few feet away, their eyes downcast.
"Sigh. Is there anything you two want from me?" I asked, my voice colder than I had intended.
They looked at each other, a silent, panicked debate passing between them.
"We... we want to say something, Sister Aurelia," Aurelio finally managed, his voice barely a whisper.
"What is it?"
"We want to..." They looked at each other again, neither one willing to be the first to speak.
The silence stretched, and I could feel the eyes of the crowd on us. "Can you say it quickly?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "Before we become the main attraction."
They just stood there, their silence a wall I couldn't seem to break through. A hot, unfamiliar frustration began to build inside me.
"You know," I began, my voice low and tight, the words tumbling out before I could stop them, "it was you two who wanted to come to the city. And now that you are here, you waste it, standing in silence because you cannot bring yourselves to speak to your own sister." The anger was a boiling tide, and I felt my composure slipping. I took a step closer, my face inches from theirs. "HEY! Is your sister so terrifying to you? If she is, that would be sad. But it would be even sadder if her sweet little siblings couldn't even speak to her when she is standing right in front of them!"
Suddenly, two strong hands gripped my shoulders. I looked up and saw it was my mother, her face a mask of shock and disapproval. At the same time, I felt my arms being seized from either side. I looked and saw Adel and Lady Octavi, their faces grim, their grips like iron. I turned back to the twins. They were staring at me, their faces pale with a fear that was a mirror of the one I now felt for myself.
My mother spun me around to face her. "Aurelia!" she hissed, her voice low and urgent. "They are your siblings! Control your emotions! I asked you to make up with them, not to terrorise them!"
"Huh?" The anger drained away as quickly as it had come, leaving me feeling hollow and confused.
Livia and Martia quickly whisked the twins away, taking them to our father.
"Can you let go of my head, please?" I asked my mother, my voice a hoarse whisper.
"Not until you are calm," she said.
"I am calm now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She released me, but Adel and Lady Octavi did not. Their hands moved from my arms to my hands, their grips firm and unyielding.
"What I meant was to let go completely," I said, trying to pull my hands free.
"They will hold your hands until we get home," my mother stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"What?" I was horrified. "That's... embarrassing."
"It is necessary."
"Sigh. Right," I said, defeated.