Aura who had adapted to her new life had stayed home that day, she wanted to understand why her mother had asked her to be present that day yet upon the sound of the bell she stood up lazily and went to fetch the door.
arriving at the door made her wonder who it could have been seeing that her mother was present with her secretary and it is rare for anyone to visit the estate unless it was a gathering or a party or ball held by her mother.
"Hello" a gentle voice said seeing a young pink hair and red eyes young girl before her
"Clair?" Aura said in disbelief after looking at her from head to toe and noticed the birthmark in between her neck and jawline in shape of a heart.
"s...sorry? do i know you?" Clair asked feeling surprised
"....." aura didn't say anything Afterall she was not AURA BLOODFALLEN at the moment but AURA VIDINGO and wasn't someone that could claim to be a friend with someone that probably dont know her
"nevermind" aura quickly brush it off
"ah, i see, please is mrs BLOODFALLEN home?" she asked
"yes, please come in" aura said softly with a smile and welcomed her in after seeing how formal she was dressed
CLIAR had wore a white blouse, black pant, black coat and a unique accessory set of earing, necklace, ring and bracelet while topping it with a sunshade made of gold
"thank you" CLAIR said
AURA saw her off to the living room where she sat in wait for lady BLOODFALLEN
"make yourself comfortable, the servants will have her attend to you soon" she said with a smile
"thank you, and may i know your name?" Clair asked
"She is AURA" BENEDICT said as she walked down the stairs with Elizabeth behind her.
"Lady Bloodfallen" Clair quickly stood up to pay her respect to her
Aura simply stood to look at them both yet she wondered why Clair was so respectful to her mother
"i see you are finally here CLAIR" Benedict said
"Yes, base on what we discussed over the phone i believe it would be fine if we finalize the agreement my parent made at that time" CLAIR said
"although he is not here at this time, and considering how busy you are, i am sure you would barely have time to go over there to see him" benedict said
"it isnt necessary, if we cross path in the future then so be it, but if not then when the time is right i will personally make time to go see him" CLAIR said
"if that is your choice, then it is acceptable, for now how would you like to proceed" Benedict said as she offered CLair to have her seat as she sat opposite her
"my parent decision is unchanged, and i have decided to fulfill my mothers dying wish, so i believe it is right the signage is concluded" clair said while offering a file to benedict who was now offered a cup of coffee at the side table
"i apologise, the signage has to be done by her brother and this topic needs to be well discussed with him as well" benedict said
"what are you two chatting about?" Aura said as she had just stood to watch them both discuss
"it is about your brothers engagement" Benedict said
"what?" AURA exclaimed in disbelief
"what do you mean engagement" AURA said with a furious tone
"are you insane!" Aura yelled
"he may not be faring well, but that doesnt gives you the right to sell him off to a pre-arranged marriage" Aura yelled
"i think you are mistaken" Clair calmly said
"although this was a pre-arrange engagement by my parent to yours, the consent to finalize the engagement were entitled to the children in question" Clair said
"i may not know your brother, but i am willing to fulfill my mothers wish with him and that is why i am here, to finalize the engagement" she said
"yea right" Aura said and slammed the wall before walking away
"Is she always like that?" Clair asked in disbelief at how rebellious she was
"not really" Benedict said softly as if she had a fault in her behaviour
"i hope you understand, this process would be strenuous on you and as well might be something you might end up not agreeing to" Benedict said
"is there a reason to that?" Clair asked
"we may be related by blood, but our relationship as you can see is that bad" benedict said
"so even if you end up meeting with him someday, as long as i am related to this topic and event, you may be forced to go through strenuous process to have that wish fulfilled" she said as she picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip
"i see" she said
"by the way, how have you been lately?" she asked
"although i became an orphan i believe i am coping" she said
"it has been three years and you are already hailed as the ICE QUEEN, and you said that is coping" Benedict said as if mocking her words
"you don't have to phrase it like that" Clair said as she was embarrassed
"you build your empire that is on per with me and that of the royal family, do you think anyone would take your words seriously when you try to make a joke?" Benedict teases
"anyways, i am glad you are safe and alright" she said
"i am always worried for those who had to venture into dungeons and i hope my fears doesnt come true someday" Benedict said with sadness
"if someday you could help that daughter of mine, please do help her" she said as she look into her cup of coffee
"very well" Clair responded, Clair wondered why she sounded sad as if she regretted something and as a role model she wanted to do her best to live up to LADY BLOODFALLEN.
she took LADY BLOODFALLEN as a mother she had lost and respected her, her empire was built in similarity to her zeal and hope someday they are close like relative, although the engagement was something she stumbled upon during her inheritance it was more like an excuse for her to get closer to her idol.
as such she sat and both slowly warmed up to each other as they discussed business and thing that had similarity to them
days went by and AURA as usual was back at the guild, she was task with various things as an intern and to her surprise she met few set of people approaching her direction, at first she wasnt so interested in communicating with anyone as she was lost in thought.
"AURA" A familiar voice called and waved at her
"....." Aura had looked at the direction her name was called and in front of her was CLAIR who was being followed by few people, they were hunters under her care or rather sponsored.
she had come to the guild to seek out interns to sponsor and surprisingly found AURA approaching their direction and decided to reach out first
"You!" Aura said with a straight face as if she was not accepting her friendliness at all
"what do you want?" AURA brushed her off
"c'mon, you dont have to be like that" Clair said
"i understand how you feel, but can we not start out like that" Clair said
"you are the one who wish to start out like that, CLAIR" AURA said
"using the engagement as an excuse to be close with Benedict doesnt justify being close with me" AURA said
"for a delinquent you sure do hit the nail on the head" CLAIR said
"and there you go assuming i am a delinquent" AURA said feeling furious
"you are dressed like one though?" Clair said
"hey!" Aura lashed at her
"c'mon now, stop being childish" Clair giggled just looking at her
"I understand you dont want to have your brother be in a relationship with me, but at the least would you allow me to give it a try and perhaps be your friend while at it" she said with a soft smile
"....." Aura seeing how gentle she was regardless of her hash remarks said nothing, she had investigated CLAIR and knew the basic information that the world wanted her to know or rather what Clair wanted the world to know but deep down AURA knew CLAIR wasnt hostile neither was she having any ulterior motifs.
infact AURA knew very well if anything her brother was the one to benefit a lot from her being that she is the the most richest woman in the world after the imperial family known as the PENDRAGON FAMILY.
"whatever" Aura said
"so can we hang out later today?" Clair asked
"i am busy" AURA replied
"you are quite rough" Clair said
"alright, i will come often as much as i have the time but until then, be a good girl alright" CLAIR said and pat her head
"now you are blatantly treating me like a kid, huh' AURA said yet not disliking it
"you could be honest with yourself you know" Clair teased
"yea, right" AURA said
"see you when next i come around alright" she said and wave at AURA before walking away
AURA could say nothing but watch her leave as if missing a younger sibling
"she does as she wants and then leaves, just like my stupid brother" AUra said and soon walked away after seeing clair walked into the elevator
after that day both got closer thanks to CLAIR pesting, she constantly visited AURA whenever she had the time and brought souvenirs whenever she returned from oversees making her like an elder sister she never had.
AURA quickly warmed up to her regardless of her relationship with her mother, their friendship sparked envy and those who found them too close wasn't pleased.
AURA who was now sheltered by CLAIR present and words no longer got bullied severely and most time she was often feared to be close to due to CLAIRS nature.
and as if they were siblings both became close to the point that it was normalize by those who found them close, and as time passes AURA intern tenue was almost over with just few month left.
"I will be visiting CHINA soon" She said
"is there a reason you are going there?" AURA asked
both had sat in a cafe close to the LAKAN guild and the weather seemed gloomy as if waiting for the sky to tear up with heavy rain.
"Yes, A summit will take place in 2 days and i will be staying over for few months before returning" she said
"does it has to do with you sponsoring fresh bloods?" AURA asked
"yes, and i was thinking of opening a guild as well" she said
"That sounds great, you wouldnt have to be a MECENARY HUNTER any more" AURA teased
"You do realise you are the only one who calls my team and I Mercenary" Clair said while slightly scoffing at her naughtiness
"no matter how you phrase it, as long as you and your team isn't affiliated with any group, organisation or guild that makes you a mercenary" AURA said
"yea...yea...yea" Clair said
"i will miss your graduation" Clair said
"it hurts i have to leave for almost a year" she said
"stop whining, you will be fine and if you are lucky enough you might meet that stupid brother of mine" AURA said
"You keep saying that, is he that famous that i will come into contact with him just like that?" CLAIR asked
"You will know when you see him" AURA said and smiled
"anyways, do bring some souvenirs for me when you are coming back and if possible get me SOLETH CANDY" AURA demanded casually while looking through the windows
"Yea yea you and your sweet tooth" Clair said
"Let me know if Hannah and her team bullies you again" CLair said
"i am not a baby though" AURA said yet CLAIR couldn't refute her, Clair doesn't understand why she was enduring such from those hunter with her unique background, although she understands her relationship with her mother is complicated but she herself was wealthy enough to shut down lakan guild and everyone within if she simply asked her for help yet Clair wondered why She remained silent and endured all of this
"Is vivian coming anytime soon?" Clair asked
"she wouldn't be able to make it she said" AURA replied
"Why does she have your personality!" She said feeling exhausted by how both are a handful
"pfff" AURA laughed at her
"c'mon AURA, you are being mean" clair said
"who would believe you are the so called ICE QUEEN when they see you like this" AURA teased
"I am only like this with you you know" CLAIR said with a pouty cute face
"yea right, i am into males" AURA said
and with a flick of her finger AURA forehead was slammed
"so am i" CLAIR said
"you are just too naughty" She added and felt embarrassed before drinking from her milkshake
"anyways, take care when you are in china, i have a feeling something really bad will happen soon so make sure you don't overexert yourself" she said
"..." Clair froze listening to AURA who looked out the window, she had said it casually yet CLAIR could feel her genuine concern towards her
"shouldn't you be concerned about your brother?" CLAIR asked
"Him? nah, he will be fine regardless" AURA said with a wave of her hands brushing off the idea away
"how can you be that certain!" Clair asked with a surprise look knowing how jovia she had said so
"My brother may be stupid when it comes to loving and caring, but when it matters the most he does his best to his fullest which is why even if this world was to burn into ashes, the only person i would believe to survive such a chaos would be him" AURA said
"you are not an ORACLE are you?" CLAIR said
"I am not, it is just the fact, my brother is a sissy and would find a way to survive, do you think if this world was to brun upside down you would find that lazy ass in-between?" AURA said with a straight face
"he would run for his dear life before the chaos hits " she said as she demonstrated causing CLAIR to spit out her drink from how hilarious she sounded and looked
Clair after spilling her drink coughed instantly from being choked
"hey, take it easy" AURA said and softly pat her back
"you will be the death of me, you silly girl" CLAIR said as she couldn't believe she was making fun of her when she was asking a serious question.
"hehehe" AURA laughed with a big smile and both had the rest of their day with good moment before finally bidding themselves goodbye
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To be continued...