Perhaps it was the cause of a quicker timeline, Aurora found the week staying in the Von Bach household very impossibly fast. The pace of time just shifted away as if it didn't have to walk!

During these seven days, so packed with the sound of joy and laughter, were coloured with a very bright presence of the twin - Hubert and Armond. In fact, they were much closer than any twin in the world. Though they were unconnected with blood, they were best friends connected with an almost identical passionate heart.

Perhaps this was the vital reason why Armond would eventually break his heart for what he was intending to do. Sound vague, right? Well, please beg me a pardon. I shall keep it in this way for the development of the story.

Hubert took a week rest, coincidentally, so did Armond. If he didn't understand the reason that caused Hubert such urge to bring Aurora back to life, these several days of encounters had compensated him the missing piece of logic in this entire incident.

If I say the journey is a pleasant one to the fair princess, I will definitely be telling a lie. However, concerning the uttermost disgust of evil was what our heroine had not yet encountered. Her heart and mind were dreaded with questions unanswered and the longing of a reunion with her beloved family. But one would know how tormenting it would have done to her heart when she found out the true darkness lurking in the realm.

As much as the Superior wanted to veil her from the despicable countenance of this side of the corrupted creation, she was sent to save and not to be saved. She could be the answer to her surroundings, the people, who were specifically displaced around her at such a specific moment.

Thus, it would be inescapable for her to face the wicked. Perhaps my fellow beloved readers may want to ask more questions based on the statements I’ve just made. Well, further explanations shall I say no more but allow me to remind you of the exact way our Highness was sent to the realm. It was by Destiny, the destiny written by the Superior for her.

So, on what place do I have to address more words but to continue to read to you the words on the paper placed on my hands? I am sure, by being patient, you would know the plan of the Superior in her life.

Anyway, the garden outside the castle was still covered with heavy snow, so thick that no one would find out if one buried dead bones inside.

Outside the castle was dead air filled with low whispers of painful moans and shrill cries of humanity. Inside the castle was a grandeur area filled with an air of refinement and glamour. But if you just come closer, closer to the dining room, and just stand closely against the wall next to the fireplace built with fancy marble stones, you would breathe in a smell of blood behind the gold and silver, the warm sharp blood swirling violently as if the lava in an angry volcano, gushed out the scream of innocence and wrath.

All the people they had killed, all the souls they had murdered, their sound was heard, blowing in the wind of December. They continued to haunt the fiend whose conscience still had a quarter remained.

“Of basically what are you reading, Fraulein Aurora?” Armond stepped into the still tranquillity of the library where Aurora was laying in a tiny sofa, comfortably reading a book she recently discovered.

“Andersen’s Classic Fairytales, Herr Armond,” Aurora replied his question without escaping his sight, which, compared with their first encounter, this one seemed much better and less awkward.

“Why, what a taste!”

“Thank you, Herr Armond. I find the stories rather fascinating, something that even cannot be thought of in the Fantastical Realm!” Aurora didn’t have time to regret her careless slip of words nor did she have time to fix her words but allowed him to continue his speech.

“Is it really necessary? I can see why you are so desperate to fill your mind with all the fairy pinky dust and magical sprinkles. During these times, perhaps a piece of candy would bring you back to sense.” He occasionally grabbed a book at a tiny desk by another sofa and handed it to her.

“What is it?” She received it delicately as if it was an infant.

“It’s Pride and Prejudice,” Armond smiled, “I kid you not but it was my favourite when I was ten. Hubert used to tease me for loving such a woman novel. But one can never have too much chocolate and -”

“Well, and, I guess this book is your chocolate?” She tried to finish his sentence which seemed smoother when hearing it than reading it.

“Yes, and far best, it is based on reality. Not some silly foolish tricks you’re reading about now,” he spoke with such a tone that reminded Aurora that she was not scolded but merely receiving a word of old wisdom.

“Why, how can you know it’s false or not? You have never seen magic or fairy?” She asked with an arch expression as a toddler.

“Well, Hubert has. I think he must have had some trauma so tragically happened in his early childhood that he tried to replace it with a fantastical element.”

“What is it about?” Aurora pointed at the cover of the book he just gave her.

“A love story which is immersed with a genteel air of the British society. Far away from war, far away from corruption.”

“Oh, it sounds delightful! I shall give it a try, thank you.” She placed the book on her lap and committed herself to finish the one in her hand before tempting herself to jump through another story and leaving another completely forgotten or half-read. But then, she caught her notice on a word she didn’t know.

“A war, war, you say? What does it mean?” She put her fairytale down on the hardcover of another book and asked sincerely.

“Surely you wouldn’t forget words, do you?” He walked to the sofa opposite of hers and asked, the same, sincerely.

“No, I surely haven’t heard of such a word. Please, do tell me.” She was desperate for new knowledge.

“Well, it means putting an end to human civilisation. It means committing a crime that is rightful in the name of the fatherland. It means people murdering people, rendering our lives to the worthless.” Armond didn’t give her any beam in his reply, but a serious determination and unspeakable grief. All those years of silencing his thoughts and opinions finally gave their way out as a relief.  

“Why? Then why would people allow it to happen?” A voice without any suppression, free and loud. She couldn’t believe something as horrific as it could show its face on the earth.

“Why, because humans are a group of stupid and selfish greasy animals!” He laughed brightly this time, without any sound of anger or seriousness, but one could sense the irony laid within.

“But I am also a human. You are also a human!” This time, his reply confused her even more.

“Well, we are not human. You are a saint. And I am one of the death angels.” He got up and stretched as if spreading his dark feathered wings and unfolding them to haunt her. But you and I would know that he was no angel. His power didn’t come from the supernatural. His power was granted by the government and released as bullets in his gun.

“Then what about Herr Hubert and Fraulein Helen and Herr Friedrich?”

“They -”

“Finally! I’ve been searching everywhere! Let’s go out and get some fresh air. I have a plan for Fraulein Aurora.” Hubert innocently interrupted their fervent discussion and set an unsatisfying ending for their conversation.

***

The snow might give no mercy for his plan but Hubert’s delight in impressing Aurora was not minimised by nature’s cruelty. It had been such a long time that Hubert almost forgot her smile when receiving his gift, as small as an orange and as great as a friendship.

He would never forget her smile when she received his necklace and he simply couldn’t wait for her smile when receiving greater gifts as a dress or even a diamond. How grand that smile would be! But now, when he was trying to search for the potential size of her grin, he found sorrow on her face instead.

“Hubert, shopping in luxurious shops doesn't count as outdoor exercise,” Armond stated without any humourous element coloured.

“Aurora, why do you seem depressed?” Hubert, who was distracted by a sense of blue atmosphere layering over her, allowed Armond’s words to slip through his ears.

“War, Herr Hubert, me and Herr Armond were talking about wars before you came in. I don’t understand.” Aurora frowned and the air was intruded with fogs of gloom.

“Armond, why do you talk such thing with her?” With a light accusing tone, he asked.

Armond, for the first time ever, silent after being asked a question. Usually, he talked a lot. But he couldn’t afford to let his words betrayed him in front of Hubert, not after all these careful years.

And shalt gloom kept on pervading within the three individuals, with all their hidden secrets and regrets, until their vehicle reached their destiny.