Violet held me close to her, I was sitting in her lap as Illa played with me, showing me pictures of different animals and monsters in this world. Her choices in the creatures themself were horrifying. She found insects 'cute' and 'adorable'. As she said those words, she showed pictures of horrendous beetles, critters with uncountable feel, weird slug-like bugs and long hairy-legged arachnids.
If she continues, I'll end up vomiting!
There were many things I hated in my past life. One of the bigger factors in my hatred were insects, so this was basically mental torment for me. Being forcefully sat down and being shown pictures of these eldritch creatures referred to as 'insects' by my oblivious sister made me want to run away and never come back.
"Waah!" I let out a small whine as I got off Violet's lap.
"Tori? Where are you heading off to? There's so many more to show!" Illa rambled in an excited tone. I figured she'll grow up to be very studious.
"Looks like Young Master has other plans, Young Lady Illa." Violet giggled to herself as she brought her left hand to her mouth.
I headed towards Grey. He seemed to be gravely invested in some book. I didn't expect such a development in him. Out of curiosity, I waddled closer to him.
Yes, I learnt how to walk, although it's still really hard to keep my body balanced because I got used to being carried around or crawling since I came to this world.
He diverted his attention from the book and looked towards me with a bright grin on his face. He lights up really quick when I'm near.
"You wanna see it too, Tori?" He asked, slightly tilting his head.
"I think he might be interested in swordplay like you too, Young Master Grey." A slightly mature voice commented from beside Grey. It was his exclusive maid, Chixia.
The order went like this:
Violet, my exclusive maid. She's the youngest out of all of them at a budding age of 8.
Chixia, Grey's exclusive maid. She's the second oldest at the growing age of 14.
At last;
Hoshina, Illa's exclusive maid. She's the oldest and the intellectual support of the former two. She's at the edible age of 16, she's seriously beautiful, I start to panic and get nervous around her.
Back to the present.
"Alright, brace yourself, Tori! Be ready to be amazed!" He scooted closer to me as he panned the book towards me.
I saw large pages– the size of my head –in front of me filled with coloured illustrations of well-decorated swordwielders. They held intricately crafted swords in their hands. As Grey slowly flipped the pages for me, I saw many different stances and figures along with layouts of sword parts and accessories on them. There were small patches of texts spread on the page unevenly.
Woah! Is sword-fighting seriously that serious in this world?
"Pretty awesome, right?" Grey spoke with a bright and excited expression. I nodded with the same fervour. He smiled back even brighter.
"Hey, I wanna spend time with Tori too! Don't just steal him away from me!" Illa approached Grey, she was pouting and looked very annoyed. Her pale cheeks were sticking out like big chinese dumplings back from my world.
"It's not my fault Tori likes swords better than your weird obsession with ugly critters." Grey spoke with a confident tone. Both of them fought often over my attention. Such moments made me feel special, I felt proud of myself.
"They're not ugly! They're special and unique in their own way!" Illa yelled in her high-pitched voice. She was clenching her small fists tightly. Her eyebrows furrowed in an angry expression. Her face was slightly red, as if it would start fuming steam out any moment.
"What'd ya say? Your critters are obviously ugly and weird! Just like you! You critter-obsessed weirdo!" Grey shot back with the same fervour as Illa.
Woah, calm down dude.
"Wh-what… y-you.. sniff… I ha-sniff.. I HATE YOU!" Illa started sobbing, tears flowing down her swollen soft cheeks uncontrollably.
You messed up, Grey! How will you deal with this now?
"Oh, Young Master Grey! You shouldn't say such rude words. Young Lady Illa feels hurt." Chizia chimed in. She had a worried tone as she softly patted Grey's back.
Hoshina closed in on Illa and gently hugged her.
"There, there… it's alright… it's alright.. You mustn't cry, Young Lady. In situations like this, you must keep your head up." Hoshina comforted Illa with her motherly care. She was like a second mother to Illa.
Hoshina looked at Grey with assessing eyes.
"Young Master Grey. You should apologize to Young Lady Illa. It was very cowardly and unnoble of you to target her interests and insult her based on them. It's absolutely wrong to do that to anyone." She had a mature, smooth voice that flowed like a small unbothered stream of water in a green calm forest at the edge of the world. She's very protective of Illa. She wouldn't let anyone dare insult Illa.
"Miss Hoshina is absolutely correct. You mustn't do something like this. She is your younger sister.
Did Lord Frayder not tell you to take care of your younger siblings? You're breaking his trust in you, think of what he'll think about you if he finds out. Plus, you're supposed to be a young gentleman. It's very unexpected of you to act this way." Chixia also jumped in. She fidgeted with the braided ends of her brown hair. Her words were carefully picked. She wanted Grey to feel maximum guilt so he would not repeat it again.
"I agree with both Miss Chixia and Hoshina. You should be a gentleman, Young Master Grey. If she likes insects and other uniquely shaped creatures, she shouldn't be slandered on such a basis. You should apologize right away." My maid, Violet also chimed in.
With the statements of all three maids against him and the occasional sobbing of Illa, as she looked at him with distasteful eyes, Grey felt immense pressure on him. He looked frantically at all four of them. His hands were visibly shaking.
"U-uhm… you're right… I-I should say sorry…" Grey spoke weakly. His tone was very dull. Likely crushed under the pressure of the situation. Although, wasn't this a bit too much? He's still five, it's supposed to be seen as a light mistake and forgiven. Maybe it's because we're aristocrats and image really matters.
"Illa.. I-Im sorry.. I apologized for my words before… c-could you forgive me…?" Grey spoke with a doubtful tone. I could sense his fear and regret from here.
Illa looked at him, not crying anymore but still slightly sobbing, shaking a bit. "Stupid big brother.. F-fine…sniff.. I'll forg-sniff.. forgive you… just this once! sniff" She pouted with her damp, red cheeks. Her moist eyes looked at him with a complex expression of relief and irritation.
"I'm going to borrow sniff Tori though!" Illa demanded. Her small hands on her slender waist.
Grey looked devastated. "Aww! Not fairrrrr!" He whined.
"That's what you get for being rude!" Illa scorned.
"Still, not fair!" Grey slightly pouted.
He doesn't even act like the oldest. How do Mother and Father trust him so much?
"How about you both equally take Young Master Artorius' attention in turns? That way it'll be fair." Hoshina suggested with a warm, cute smile. Her warm silver hair swayed as she spoke.
She's the second most beautiful female I've met! Mother is obviously the first.
And with that, Illa and Grey made up. They quickly forgot whatever happened in a flick.
"Hey, Tori! Look at these cool swords! Look at this one, it's so rough and heavy looking! Pretty cool right??" Grey declared with unkept excitement.
"Hey, Tori! Look at these little monsters! Do you think this one's cute?? What about this one? And that one?" Illa shook me up, gaining my attention to her side.
"Hey Tori! Look at this sword! It's so cool!" Grey declared again in a high pitch, garnering my attention of the left.
"Hey Tori! Is this animal scary for you?? I think it looks adorable!" Illa showed a picture of a furry bear-like, ape-like animal. Its fangs were jutting out of its mouth.
"Hey Tori! Look at this!" Grey spoke. I turned my head frantically.
"Hey Tori! Look at this cute one!" Illa spoke. I turned my head to her again.
"Hey Tori!"
"Hey Tori!"
"Tori! This way!"
"Here, Tori!"
I turned my head frantically, building up agitation. I whined out in irritation loudly with a "Wah!" Curling my small nose.
Being the favourite adorable little brother is so hard! I want a drink!