Akhile had come to learn that the Redcliffs did not eat casually.
Breakfast, lunch or supper was an event. One had to be prompt and dressed appropriately.
She did not feel well-rested on that day. Her dream or premonition still weighed heavily on her mind.
Tobias had informed her that the theme dress code for their supper was formal yet contemporary.
"Whatever that means," Akhile said to herself.
That evening, her wardrobe had already made a selection of outfit choices for her. Each outfit was laid out with a space in between, which had a screen that depicted a model wearing the clothes and how they would look on her.
She arrived exactly on time. Supper was at 18:00. After the criticism she had received from Nathaniel about oversleeping, while they were still in the Meadowlands, Akhile had strong doubts that she'd ever be late for anything again, not even for her funeral.
The dining room was quieter than she had expected. The only people inside were the servants setting up the table and placing the selection of wines on a cart next to the window. The room was grand, with the highest ceilings in the estate, although the walls were not made of glass. The drapes were a pale neutral colour and made of silk, and there were fresh white roses in every square meter of the room.
Akhile's eyes wandered off, admiring the intricate details of this room, when suddenly she spotted Nathaniel doing the same at the far end of the hall. He was standing at the entrance facing the west wing, where his apartment was located.
"Princess Cora," he shouted, his voice slightly echoing from the distance between them.
The servants suddenly stopped their preparations and dispersed to the sides, waiting on command from the master of the house.
"Mr Nathaniel Redcliff," she replied, almost annoyed at the sound of his voice.
"You're early, good!" He grinned and walked hastily towards her, bypassing the dinner table and his seat.
"Is everything okay?" asked Akhile, confused by this grand entrance he was making.
"Everything's good." A waiter walked towards him with a gin and some ice. He waved no, and he retreated. "By now, I'm sure you're aware that Norman will be joining us."
"Yes…" Akhile stopped there. She had not wanted to reveal that they were actually together the previous night. Although it was not entirely a secret.
Before long, Norman walked in, hastily brushing away some lint particles that were on his dinner jacket. Akhile's eyes lit up with joy, she couldn't even hide it from Nathaniel. She admired how handsome he looked in a suit. Nathaniel was in one everyday but Norman was always in casual jeans and khaki shirts.
Norman had a slightly similar build to Nathaniel, except Nathaniel had a more athletic upper body, as if someone who played rugby. The only other way to tell them apart was that Nathaniel had a scar on his forehead.
"Princess Cora," said Norman. "I am so glad to see you again." His smile exposed his crooked bottom teeth, and as usual, his eyes were pinned shut from glee.
"Norman, it's good to see you."
He bowed. "You look beautiful, Princess. Come on, let's have a seat…"
He placed his hand on her back and led her to the table. Akhile felt his touch once again, a sensation spreading all over her body. It was all she was looking forward to all day, if not since the day she was born. Norman pulled out a chair for her.
"Brother," said Norman once more, "You may join us when you're ready."
Nathaniel frowned. He had to restrain himself from saying what was on his mind, out of respect for the princess.
Dinner began quietly.
Akhile answered Norman's question about her childhood.
"In the Meadowlands?" she asked.
"Where else?" he smiled
She blinked.
"I liked to climb things I wasn't supposed to," she said. "And I used to sneak out of the house at night, because I wanted to feed the Owls..." Akhile paused. "We didn't have any."
Norman erupted with laughter. "That explains a lot."
"What does it explain?" she asked.
"You don't look like someone who was raised with a lot of glass walls."
Nathaniel lifted his wine glass calmly. "She was raised to be responsible by being considerate to the starving owls."
The correction was subtle. Norman didn't miss it.
"Responsibility doesn't exclude curiosity," he said lightly.
Nathaniel didn't look at him. He sipped some of his red wine again and said, "No. But it shapes it."
Finally, the dessert arrived. They were served a delicate baked cinnamon peach with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
Norman raised an eyebrow. "Whoa! What a coincidence."
Akhile smirked. "Are you claiming ownership of all peaches now?"
"I think might...Indeed, I should."
Nathaniel finally allowed a subtle smile.
"You'll discover," he said to her, "that my brother believes he owns anything he cultivates."
"And you?" she asked.
"I believe in management," he replied.
Norman leaned back. "He means control."
Nathaniel's gaze flickered toward him.
Akhile felt a shift in the mood. There was a build-up of tension. They weren't talking to each other.
"And you?" she asked, quickly interrupting them. "What were you both like as children?"
Norman answered first.
"I built things I wasn't supposed to," he said. "Modified drones. I took apart irrigation systems. I nearly flooded the west wing once."
Akhile laughed. "That sounds reckless."
"It was creative," Norman corrected.
Nathaniel set his cutlery down with precision after taking a bite from his dessert.
"He ignored instructions, our parents were constantly in disdain over his lack of manners," he said calmly.
Norman smirked. "I questioned the instructions...I felt they were too rigid."
"Is there a difference?" Nathaniel asked.
"Yes," Norman agreed. "Results. Which is why only one of us became a scientist."
There they were, the jabs. Akhile watched them carefully, imagining herself disappearing under the table until they were all done.
"And you?" she asked Nathaniel.
He didn't hesitate. "I followed instructions. And our father approved."
Norman laughed under his breath. "Of course you did."
Nathaniel's eyes shifted toward him. "I learned early that control always prevents collapse."
Norman leaned back in his chair. "Or it prevents evolution."
Akhile glanced at her wine glass. It was empty. We need more wine. Her gaze shot at a waitress, and she quickly hurried over with a refill. She grabbed her hand quickly, before she went back to the drinks cart and took a huge gulp of the wine. Akhile looked back at the waitress, who poured some more. The alcohol made her numb, and she was able to handle sibling rivalry.
They weren't arguing, though. Akhile folded her hands in front of her.
"So, one of you takes things apart and explores them," she said, glancing at Norman, "and the other puts the pieces back together."
Nathaniel's gaze returned to her. "I optimise things. Everyone has a chance to be great, and I make sure of that."
Norman smiled, a lot of restraint contained in his smile. "Well, I am glad I don't have a stick up my-."
Akhile interjected with a cough, cutting Norman short.
Nathaniel's jaw tightened, his gaze rather deathly.
"Humanising things without structure leads to instability."
"Structure without humanity leads to resistance," Norman replied.
Akhile realised something in that moment. They were not debating about philosophies rather, they were presenting versions of themselves to her. This was an audition. For what?
Norman leaned slightly toward her. "Tell me, Princess," he said casually, "if you had to choose between control and curiosity, which would you raise a kingdom in?"
Nathaniel's gaze sharpened even more. Akhile did not rush her answer.
"I wouldn't choose," she said calmly. "A kingdom without discipline collapses. A kingdom without curiosity stagnates."
Norman's lips curved slowly.
"So you'd attempt balance," Nathaniel said.
"Yes."
"You'd attempt both of us?" he asked again for clarity.
"Princess Cora, you don't have to answer that. My little brother can sometimes forget his manners," Nathaniel returned smoothly.
Norman let out a quiet laugh.
"So tell me, Cora," he said lightly, "which one of us would you have liked more as a child?"
Nathaniel didn't interrupt. He waited. Akhile leaned back slightly.
"You were probably the kind that would let me climb up a tree," she said to Norman.
"And him?" Norman asked.
"You," she said, turning to Nathaniel, "would have told me not to climb it in the first place."
Norman grinned. Nathaniel didn't.
"And which one do you prefer now?" Norman pressed.
The silence that followed was deliberate. Akhile shot from her chair.
"What I prefer is something neither one of you could ever understand! Excuse me."
That ended it. Akhile got up from her chair, her legs were jelly-like from all the wine she had. She hobbled for the door while Tobais rushed up to her to help her out.
As she exited into the corridor, she felt it clearly now. Behind her, the temperatures had shifted.
Nathaniel sat at the head of the table while Norman leaned back two seats to his left, one ankle resting over his knee, both looking like they were in deep regret.
Akhile had left them to tend to their… childhoods.
That night, as she returned to her wing, the estate lights dimmed automatically.She paused in thought.
"Good evening, Princess Cora," the intercom whispered as usual.
She thought.
Structure is power, Nathaniel had said.
Curiosity is power, Norman had implied.
Akhile pulled her duvet down and slipped into her bed.
She would have to learn both.