“For now, we will rely on chamomile tea’s properties while we look for a more reliable medicine for chickenpox.” Brother Lothario said. “I already talked to the temple but the High Oracle is currently traveling the continent so they could only send an Oracle. However, the vassals are asking for your source of information. This type of illness occurs almost every year and they couldn’t believe how a three-year-old can solve it.”
‘Perfect. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that.’ I pouted, “I can’t say it…”
“Why not? We need to know where you took the idea from so that we can record this case properly.”
“But I can’t.”
“Iris.” Brother Azraq held my hand. “Is there something bothering you? Did someone tell you not to tell us?”
I shook my head.
“Then tell us. Please, Iris.”
“... Pwomish me not to do bad things…” I baby-talked. When the two nodded, I told them what Mariana instructed me to say. “It’s fwom the book Cashadana.”
They two looked at each other, “Can you tell me how you got a hold of that book?”
“I don’t have it!” I said, going back to my normal voice. “When I was young, I heard Nanny Fida tell me about Casadana and her journey to look for medicines so…”
“Heh, you sound like a grown person just now. ‘When I was young…’ you are still young, Iris.” Brother Azraq laughed out loud.
I pouted again, “But I was really young back then…”
My first brother, still laughing from the other’s remark, waved his hand. “You’re so cute, Saridayang.” He pinched my cheeks.
“Ouchie!” I rubbed my reddened cheek. “I’m serious, Brother! Please be serious, too.”
“Oh, our sister is now throwing a cute tantrum.”
“HAHAHAHA!” We all laughed. During our assignment, I could say that the three of us had gotten close with one another. I thought that they would be hostile at first because of how I approached the situation back then but thankfully there’s no bad blood between us. We all just want to help the citizens and no one cares if others steal their thunder.
“Anyways, I’ll inform Father where you got the information about chamomile tea. I’ll soon travel outside the capital to assist with the epidemic while Brother Lothario will handle the capital. I want you, Iris, to help with the development of the cure.”
“If someone says that you’re too young to participate in this matter, tell them that with all the years they’ve been alive, they weren’t able to do what you’ve done. You’re better than them.”
“How could I tell them that?”
“What? I was telling the truth. How many cases of chickenpox did they witness and handle through their years? And all they could come up with is to imprison the nobles and burn the commoners.” Brother Lothario scoffed.
We went back to the matter at hand after that. We were so focused that we forgot to eat nor drink but thankfully, Nanny, together with Ash, came to the Royal Library to deliver food. “Ash!” I stood up on my chair and spread my arms.
He smiled, greeted me, and put my favorite red velvet cake in front of me. “You’ve been working hard-ey. Don’t stress yourself, Dayang.”
“Ehem.” Both my brothers cleared their throats almost simultaneously. “It seems that you’ve forgotten to greet us.”
“Muda Lothario, Muda Azraq.” Ash greeted.
The two only nodded. Brother Lothario picked up my cake and stabbed the fork into it; while looking at the Aryelan prince, he mockingly licked the fork. ‘What is wrong with this person?’
I saw Ash’s hand clenched into a fist but he didn’t do anything. Annoyed by what my brother did, I told him how rude he was being. “He’s a prince, a guest! You can’t treat a royal guest that way, Ash is not my servant… and you can’t treat a servant that way, too.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I just told him to greet us because he knew we are here but didn’t even look in our direction. And I only took this cake because I could clearly see how much effort was put in to make it, I just want to have a taste.” He defended himself. “Tasty, by the way.”
“Of course, the chef made the cake specifically tailored to Iris’ taste’s buds.”
“Dayang-dayang.” Brother Azraq corrected.
“I apologize,” Ash answered. “Saridayang.” Although subtle, I could see the smirk on his face as the two older guys' lips twitched. [1. Saridayang = it can also be used as a term of endearment when a person is close to the princess in replacement of addressing her as Dayang-dayang or Dayang which is the formal way of addressing a monarch's daughter.]
Both my brothers stood up, “Vhar!”
“Stop it! Brother Lothario, Brother Azraq, apologize to Ash. Both of you are older than him and you’re acting like a kid. Ash is my friend, don’t bully him, or else I’ll tell Father on you.”
“As if Father will take his side.”
“Brother Lothario!”
“Fine. I, Muda Lothario, apologize for my behavior. And as an act of atonement, I will personally report this incident to Hwan Adrian and I vow not to omit or add anything so rest assured.” He sarcastically said.
“No need for that, Muda.”
Sparks. I could see sparks. I had no idea that sparks can go three ways, whenever I read tensions in comics, sparks only appear when there are two people involved. As soon as I figured out why the three bufons acted the way they did, I immediately contacted Mariana in my mind: “Mariana, we need to talk.”
Comments (0)
See all