Bab 13: The Idiot Twin Finally GETS It
"This is not it. This chalice is made out of stone and not wood." Nate sighed as he placed the book that Ren has back into a shelf.
"Prince Nathaniel." PRINCE Ace glared at him the moment he caught Nate shoving a book on a random shelf. "If you do not know where you got that book, then you should just leave it on a desk and let the book keepers handle on returning it."
"I'll..." Nate trailed off and took the book from it's shelf. "I'll go hand it over to the librarian then." He took off rather quickly and quietly.
I decided to look at the other shelves. My mind starring blankly at all the titles before me. It's like I can read but the words don't make sense. It was after my talk with the queen that we decided to do some research about the wooden chalice. No one has heard of it, but they didn't doubt me either. But aside from it, the news of Nagga being alive was more of a news.
"Nagga's alive and so is the chimera?" The queen says with a grim expression. "I can't say if it is a good thing or a bad thing."
"Your majesty, what of the chalice?" Dan asked. "Shouldn't we focus more on that?"
"I agree. We should get a hold of it before king Ferius does. Assuming he doesn't have it already." says Ren.
"I mean no offense, but maybe the wooden chalice is just symbolic? Since it is made out of wood maybe it means the very first magical chalice?" Nate inserted.
"Unlike witches and warlocks, Tamers tend to have clearer prophetic dreams since their spirit bond tends to translate it for them because they share the same dream." PRINCE Ace says. "I may have remembered something about it but I am not sure if I read it in this library or in the library back home. In any case I would send a letter to my brothers about it."
"That would be a big help, but please refrain from saying anything unnecessary. I would like to keep this matter between us. I don't want anyone to know about it or it may cause an uproar." says the queen.
"As you wish, your highness."
"I-" I stuttered. It was the first time I talked since talking about my dream. "I would like to excuse myself and do some reading in the library." I proposed. My voice came out more of a whisper than I intended to. "Since this is basically about me and whatever chance of survival, I would feel more comfortable in knowing more about it."
"I'll go with you." Ren says.
"Actually I am kinda busy-" Dan started to say but was cut off by Nate.
"I would like to come too."
"On second thought, I am not busy at all." The last parts Dan says through gritted teeth.
"I'll head over to my room to write a letter. I'll see you all in the library I suppose."
My train of thoughts was interrupted the moment Ren waved his hands in front of me. "Hey, Rose?"
I snapped out of my thoughts to look up at Ren. "What?"
He grinned and pointed at the book that I was holding. "It's nice that you want to learn how to cook but you are reading it upside down."
I looked down and blushed. I closed the book back and place it into the shelf. "If you tease me, my fist may slip and hit you on the face." I said sweetly.
"Wow, someone is moody. Relax a little. You know all of us are here for you, right? Even demon lord Ace."
I let out a sigh and gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Ren. Who knew you can be sensitive at times."
Ren gave me a loopsided a grin. "Can I take that as a compliment?"
Just as I was about to answer, we heard a small sort of giggle in one of the opposite shelves. I saw Ren gritting his teeth in annoyance and reached out to knock a few books off of the shelf. Two books fell on the ground and I stared at hid with a horrified look.
I sure hope Ace won't show up now.
"Hey chuckles." Ren glared at his brother through the hole he made on the shelf. "What's so funny?"
I peaked through the hole and saw Dan batting his eyelashes at Ren. "Nothing, brother. I am just happy. Am I not allowed to be happy?"
"With a face like that then no."
"True true. I cannot be happy with a face like this. All the ladies keep chasing me. It's like I have no privacy."
"Why you little-" Ren apparently decided that it was a good idea to jump into the small space between the shelves to grab Dan. By doing so, he was knocking all the books from the shelves. He caught Dan's shirt and was pulling him closer, his hands reaching for his neck. Dan started screaming like an idiot.
By now I know what was about to happen, so I slowly backed away from the scene in hope that if he somehow caught us, I would not be involved. My back hit someone and based from the enraged breathing that I felt I already knew.
Curse those twins!
Without looking up, I still tried to clear my name. "I just got here." I said with a blank face.
"Oh really?"
I nodded, "Really. In fact I have never seen them in my entire life."
"Why is there a cook book here? It's in the wrong shelf."
"Hey! It's not wrong. Cooking is not far off from dess-" I immediately bit my tongue as I was caught in the PRINCE'S trap.
"Pfft! I know right? What kind of idiot would mistake putting a cook book in the dessert's aisle."
"You." He said and looks up at the twins, who were now giving Ace a frightened look. "And to the both of you. Get out. Now. Or would you like me to escort you three?"
"But the queen is my aunt. You can't-" I was cut off by his piercing glare.
"Why, princess. I was kindly asking you to leave. I was not kicking you out."
"You call that kind?"
"In my current state of mind? Yes. I did offer to escort you out, right?"
This guy is a lunatic. "What about Nate?" I pointed out. Now that the three of us are doomed, I plan on dragging as much people as I can.
I looked at Nate, who was just standing behind us looking puzzled. "Nate will be staying here." Says PRINCE Ace.
"Actually I-" Nate started to says something but Ace cut him off with a look. "You are more useful than the three of them combined so you will stay here."
Well as long as Nate got into trouble for a different reason, then I have no arguments.
Ren, Dan and I walked out of the library. "Great job guys. Maybe we go can help looking for the chalice by digging up holes in the garden." I said sarcastically.
The twins both gave me an apologetic look before I walked away. The library was starting to get suffocating anyway so I decided he head outside. The twins were still following me, but I gave them no attention. I did not pay attention to where I was headed until I heard a familiar howl.
Custard was running towards me with it's tongue rolled out. Ace kind of kick him out of the library for leaving bite marks on the book's cover page. I kind of feel bad for him. "Hey, Custard." I bent down and picked him up. As soon as he was in my arms, he started to nuzzle my neck as if comforting me.
It was only then that I started to take note of my surroundings. I was headed to the garden pavilion without even noticing it. I decided to take a seat on one of the chairs that was recently placed there for tea time. Ren and Dan followed while continuing their talk, which I just started to become aware of.
"I am telling you, brother. You should trust me more. I will be your wingman." Ren says proudly.
Dan rolled his eyes and scoffed. "And what makes you think you are qualified to be a wingman?" Dan gave his brother a very doubtful look while placing his cheek on top of his hand. "You don't even know relationships. Heck, I bet that even if your wolf bites you in the ass you would still consider your mate as a friend."
"Wow, Dan. Are you speaking from experience?" I said as I stared at him.
"Well at least one of you is less dense." He muttered. He sighed at looked at his brother. "Unlike you, brother, I clearly know my feelings. But do tell me what you know."
"I know that you like Lilliana and you are currently confused of your infatuation with Rose to your bond with Lilliana."
It might be my imagination but I saw Dan's eyebrow twitch. "Oh my, oh my. How could you say that I am infatuated with Rose?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"You seem so happy when you see her and react violently when another guy approaches her." Ren says looking extremely confident. "And do not get me started when you were stalking her earlier in the library."
I wanted to say it was stupid, but the atmosphere here seemed a little dangerous.
Dan's breathing seemed a little heavy right now, but he was still giving his twin a sweet and deadly smile that Ren seemed oblivious of. "Anything else?"
"Just an advice."
"And what kind of advice?"
"Lilliana is your true mate and not Rose. I know you like Lilliana. Stop denying your feelings and just listen to your wolf."
At this point, Dan stood up so quickly that his chair fell. "Listen to your wolf-!" He screamed and immediately stopped himself. Then in a slightly calmer tone he said, "You should be taking your own advice why - " He sighed, still shaking in anger. "Please excuse me for a moment." Dan turned his back to us. He took in a deep breathe and suddenly let out a loud scream that made Ren, Custard and I jump on our seats.
"WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE IN MY PAST LIFE TO BE PUNISHED LIKE THIS!?!?"
He screamed a few more before calming down. Once he was done, he turned back to us with a slightly refreshed look. Ren and I looked at him as if we are looking at a serial killer. At this point I am extremely convinced that Dan is bipolar.
"So," Dan said cheerfully. "I would just like to clear out some things." He said sweetly. Ren and I managed a nod to signal him to carry on. "I am not interested in Rose aside from her being my sister."
"So you being jealous of a guy approaching her is because you are acting like an over protective brother?"
I coughed. "Siscon."
Dan glared at me. "Yes. Rose will be an adorable sister of mine."
"I knew it. Your mother and father plans to adopt me. Aha!"
"Why do you seem so proud as if it is true!?" I could hear the frustration in Dan's voice.
"Brother, is this true?"
"Where did you guys -" Dan slapped a hand to his face in defeat. "Forget it. You guys really are perfect for each other.
Anyway, I know Lilliana is the mate that my wolf chose, because unlike someone in the family, I am not dense."
"Pardon?"
"No need to worry about that. But I do need some help." Dan says. His face looked like he's plotting something. "You see. I need to see for myself how to confess. Oh dear brother of mine. My one and only dear brother, would you please demonstrate on how a confession works?"
"Um...sure?" Ren slowly got up. "First of all you -"
"No no no. I am an idiot who cannot follow easily with mere explanation-"
"Brother, you are a prince you ought to get used to it by now."
"No! I want a demonstration. As in act it out." As Dan said this, our eyes met. I flinched and I swear my whole body was telling me to run.
"I have to feed Custard." Just as I got up, Dan caught my wrist and I started to shiver in fear.
"Oh I know. How about you act like you are confessing to Rose? That would be a really good example." By this time I swear that Dan was starting to lose his mind. "I'll take Custard for you. Now go and show me how to properly confess." Custard let out a small whimper as soon as Dan took him.
Ren and I are now facing each other awkwardly. "Anytime now." Dan says.
Ren sighed and grabbed my hand. Somewhere in the background, I heard Dan gasped. That damn siscon. Is he being jealous again?
"Lilliana-"
"No no. She's Rose and and not Lilliana." Dan corrected.
"Rose, I.....I like-" Ren paused and searched my face. "I like how your hair pales under the sun. How your silver blue eyes becomes alive when you laugh."
Is...this how he thinks confessions are? Because I also don't know, but it makes me want to run. Even though I hate running.
"I-I.....I-I l-l.." He kept stuttering and Dan seems to be constipated just looking at just brother struggle for words. I sighed.
My pulled my hand from his grasp and instead I grabbed his hand in mine. "Prince Renevier Rutledge! I am in love with you with all my heart and soul. Will you accept my love?" I declared dramatically.
Dead silence fell. Then there was a gasp. It wasn't from Dan this time but from a maid carrying a tray filled with tea and snacks.
"Y-your highness, I sincerely apologize! I did not mean to interrupt. I saw your highness here and thought that I should bring some snacks so...." She hurriedly place the tray on the table, bowed and ran. "Congratulation your highness!" She yelled before I could stop her and clear the misunderstanding.
Dan howled in laughter and clapped his hands like a seal While Ren's face was bright red in embarrassment. I fear that it would be a hot gossip in the next few days.
"Oh my what a show."
"I agree. I guess this is the new norm? The girls confess to the guys since the guys are all wimps." It was Lilliana, who was suddenly sitting beside Dan and eating a macaroon. Upon noticing that Lilliana was beside him, Dan chocked on his tea.
Serves him right for drinking tea without putting his pinky out.
Lilliana got surprised by Dan's reaction and immediately hand him a napkin. Dan's face was bright red like Ren's as he looked away to cover his mouth while coughing.
I suddenly had an idea. A brilliant one at that.
As if reading my mind, Dan gave me a disapproving look as I started to drag Ren away, but not before grabbing a few macaroons in a napkin. "Ren and I would like to feed the fished in the pond. And no, you may not follow us. Bye!" I gave Dan a thumbs up before leaving.
Ren seemed to understand what I was doing and followed me without protest. Though he seem a little quiet. I thought he would have said something to his brother to tease him. "Wait." Ren suddenly stopped and pulled me to a another path where we circled until we were behind the pavilion. He were hidden behind the bushes a bit far from the pavilion, but it was enough for us to see them.
"I can't hear anything."
"I can hear. A little." Ren says.
"But if you can hear them doesn't that mean they can hear us too?"
"Lilliana's lynx cant hear us, but my brother might. Fortunately, he is too flustered for him to notice us."
"Not fair! I wanna eavesdrop too."
Ren smirked beside me. "Well too bad you're not a wolf."
A wolf. That reminds me. I have Custard! I started to reach in to our connection and poked Custard to wake up.
'Master?' It was Custard. I could feel him yawn at being woken, but he did not complain.
'Hey. Sorry to wake you. You are still in the pavilion, right?'
'
Yes, Master. I am with the other wolf prince and a female cat. I'll come to you soon.'
'No, no. Stay there. Is there a way for me to listen to what you are hearing right now?'
'Yes, Master. If you wish I can share it to you.'
'Great! I'll be counting on you.'
'Okay, Master.'
I looked at Ren, who was currently giving me a look. I grinned. "It seems that I can hear what Custard hears clearly. I may not be a wolf, but I have a wolf." Ren gave me a look.
"-thought you like Ren since you thought I was him, so it did not matter."
"You honestly think I am stupid enough to mistake you for Ren?" Lilliana says. "It is true that you have given me a false name when you saved me but my lynx bonded with you and not with him. I know the soul that I am bonded to."
"Then why-"
"Because you are too stubborn for your own good. You don't want to admit it and kept ignoring me. So I asked your brother for a favor. I don't want him to tell anyone of my plan. I simply acted that he was the one who saved me back then and pretended to be in love with him. All the while, he would pretend to be ignorant and play along."
"Well that play you and my brother were part of went too far as to get engaged."
"There was a little bit of a misunderstanding." Lilliana laughed nervously. "But I cleared it all up to my parents and your parents before coming here. So Ren is no longer my fiancé. By the way, did you know that your parents agreed immediately? It would seem that Rose is actually-"
Custard suddenly sneezed and temporarily cut off our link.
"What? What?" I looked at Ren. His mouth was hanging open in shock. I nudge him to get his attention. "What did she say?"
"I-I don't know. Your wolf suddenly sneezed and I couldn't hear it clearly."
Suddenly, the link was back.
"-too dense. Both of them. You do not know the pain I have to go through everyday." Dan sighed.
Lilliana simply laughed. "At least they seem to get along in their own way." She let out a sigh. "By the way, I am leaving tomorrow."
They were quiet for a moment, until Dan cleared his throat. "Lilliana I..." He didn't finish.
"It's fine, Dan. If you are not ready to say it. But I will say it first. I-"
"I love you, Lilliana." Dan cut her confession off with his own.
Ren and I both gasped and covered each other's mouth. I have the urge to gather all the flowers around us and sprinkle it at the couple at the pavilion.
I could see their silhouette a little and could make out Dan holding Lilliana's hand to hind chest. "I hope you can feel the sincerity of my words. I love you and I am sorry for being stubborn and hurting you. I am sorry for not telling you this sooner. Truth is, I already made a bond with you a few days before the incident. That is how I found you."
"Well since we are being honest with each other, I guess it is only fair to say that I liked you before our bond was even formed."
"So all this time I was a third wheel? Wow, what a childhood." Ren says. I pinched his cheek. "Ow!"
"All I am saying is that I love you too, Daniel." And with that, the two silhouettes of Lilliana and Daniel's head drew until they were kissing.
"OH MY-" Before I could shout my glee and expose us to the two lovebirds, Ren slapped his hand to my mouth.
The two finally separated, but their foreheads were still touching. "Lilliana, I decided to come with you tomorrow. I would personally want to escort you home and tell both of our parents. I don't want you to bear the burden alone anymore."
"What of the selection for the future king?"
"Do you really think I can be king if you are not my queen?" Dan laughed softly. "I do worry about my brother. How will he react? And there is also the problem about his-"
"I understand, brother!"
Ren suddenly burst out from our hiding spot before I could stop him. He suddenly marched out to where the lovebirds are. I followed behind him.
Well, our cover has been blown. I guess it is futile if I still hide. Might as well go over and congratulate the two.
"I have a hunch that you two were close by." Dan leered at us.
"I am the older brother. I should be the one worrying about you and not the other way around. You go and do what you like. I will support you."
"Brother, it is natural that I worry because-"
"Go home. If you guys decide to get married right away then better send an invitation." Ren smirked as soon as he saw both Dan and Lilliana's face turning red.
"Can you stop it? Worry about yourself and hurry up! You don't even"
Ren placed a hand on top of his brother's head. "I get it. I get it. The wolf really did bite me in the ass and I ignored it. I understand. Thanks."
Dan's mouth was hanging open in shock. "E-Excuse me for a moment." Dan turned his back from us and screamed yet again to no one in particular. But I could tell that it was a happy scream with the "yeeeeeeehooooo" he was shouting.
After he was done screaming he turned to face us with a big smile on his face. It was a very happy moment for everyone. Lilliana suddenly came close to me and grabbed my hands. "Rose, I cannot wait for us to become sisters in the future!"
"Oh! You mean Ren and Dan's parents really are planning to adopt me?"
All smiles faded and replaced with grim expressions. Dan was massaging his temples, Lilliana had a blank look of shock on her face, while Ren was stifling a laugh.
"Now I get how you feel all the time, brother."
"Well it is your problem, so you better hurry up and fix it before it is too late. That vampire has been acting cheeky so you better watch out."
"Am I missing some inside joke or something?" I asked. Ren and Dan did not answer and looked away. Lilliana smiled and place both hands on my shoulder. "Well I do not blame you since you do not have a beast inside of you to bite you in the ass. In due time I guess."
"Well then, I have to go and meet up with the queen and file my resignation. Shall we get going?" Dan offered his hand to Lilliana as they both started to head back.
Watching them both walk away made me sad at the realization. Dan will be leaving, just like Fred. But at least he is doing it for love, so I guess I should be happy. But I can't help but feel sad. Ren is as devious as Dan, but in the end they are a different person. There will be another void starting tomorrow and it makes me sad.
Ren suddenly pinched my cheek. "What's with that face? Cheer up. They haven't left yet."
"Yeah, but I will really miss them."
"I will too. But if you ever miss Dan, then just look at me." He grinned.
"No. You can't be Dan. And Dan can't be you. Just because you're twins doesn't mean that you are the same person."
Ren looked at me softly as a smile slowly found it's way to his lips. He grabbed my hand and kissed it. "How could I have been such an idiot when you are this adorable. And this is exactly why..." He trailed off as his face started to inch closer to mine.
"Ren? P-personal space?" I stuttered and moved back. Upon my reaction he grinned mischievously
"...It's so fun to tease you!" He suddenly rubbed my head and started to run away.
"You dork!" I yelled. "If someone sees-"
"If someone sees that then it would be another issue. Yeah yeah. I'll handle the rumors so don't you worry. I'll beat up anything that gives you worry." He winked before walking back.
'Master?' I felt Custard beside me. He looked up at the curiously.
"Custard, I don't know what is happening, so never leave my side."
Hadiah
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