“What are you doing?”

“Wah!!” 

Aeliana screamed in shock when she heard a voice behind her. She whipped her head behind to see her first brother standing there with one eyebrow up.

“Brother Leon—”

“Don’t call me that,” he cut her off, “What are you doing?”

“I’m playing hide and seek with the servants.” she politely answered.

He stared at her and then sighed before walking away. Aeliana looked at him in confusion. She couldn’t understand what was going through his head every time he spoke to her.

“Whatever I need to find them fast.” she shook her head and began the search.

The only rule was not to leave the mansion since she wasn’t allowed to leave. Aeliana carefully searched every area she thought of.

“Found you, Mary!”

“Rufus! Jane! Found you!!”

“Mark, I found you!”

Not long later, she found everyone except one. She had looked everywhere but she still couldn’t find them. 

She asked for hints but none of them knew either, shaking their heads. She tapped her chin, holding a thinking pose before hitting her tiny fist against her palm.

"I haven’t checked one more place!”

Aeliana hurriedly went over to that section where she haven’t been yet and began searching everywhere. She searched high and low, even pushing things away just to be sure but she still couldn’t find the last person.

Her shoulders were slumped down and she was about to head back to where everyone was waiting at when from the corner of her right eye, she noticed a door was slightly opened. She faced towards the door and inched closer to the opening gap.

Aeliana pushed the door a bit more, and creaking sounds echoed inside the dark room. She walked inside and glanced around. It was hard to see as there was no light source but she carefully made her way through until her foot lightly bumped into something.

Her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, allowing her to see what she had bumped into. It was a large square object with a cover draped over it. She pulled the cover off and dust particles flew around her.

Accidentally inhaling it, she began to cough. She waved her hand, hoping it would move the dust away from her. Fluttering her eyes open, she stared at the painting that was covered previously.

Her father stood beside a young beautiful woman that was sitting gracefully on the chair. She had long wavy white-silver hair and pink eyes. In the painting, she had a sweet yet gentle smile on her face. Her father looked extremely happy inside the painting as well.

Aeliana reached out, touching the painting softly. Her fingers stroked the woman’s face. The woman inside the painting was her mother. She knew as she resembled extremely close to the woman.

“...Mother..” she muttered before a loud bang startled her greatly.

Goosebumps crawled up her skin as she flinched. She turned towards the door, seeing Leon standing there with a furious look. He strutted his way over to her. 

“Brother—” 

Aeliana couldn’t finish her sentence as Leon grabbed her arm roughly and dragged her out of the room. She winced in pain but kept her mouth shut, trying her best not to stumble on her feet as he pulled her out of the room.

Leon slammed the door to the room shut and glared at her. His eyes were filled with anger as he looked down at her. Aeliana gulped down her nervousness and carefully looked at him.

“I—it hurts..” she weakly voiced out.

“You aren’t allowed to go in there!” Leon shouted at her, his grip on her arm tightening.

Aeliana swallowed down her cries of pain and shook her head, “I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed—”

“If I ever catch you going inside the room ever again, I will not let you go easily.” he cut her off, glaring harshly at her.

She shrunk under his gaze, his presence was beginning to suffocate her. He turned around and walked away. Aeliana glared as hard as she could at his back.

‘It wasn’t like I knew what was inside!’ 

Wanting to take her anger out, she stomped her foot on the carpet before heading back. In the end, she couldn’t find the last servant who hid too well and returned to her room as she lost her energy to play.

She sat down on her bed, exhausted. Slowly, she lifted her sleeve. There were red finger marks that were painted on her pale skin. Aeliana rubbed her pained wrist hoping it would somewhat soothe the pain.

'That really hurt…'

Aeliana stared at her wrist before she had an evil grin on her face. She left her room and ran through the hallways, reaching a certain large door.

"Daddy!!!" Aeliana cried out, bursting into the office, big watery tears filling her pink eyes.

Cassian hurriedly stood out making his way over to her. He bent down, at the same eye level as her as he spoke in a worried tone.

"What's wrong Eli?"

Aeliana sniffled, her tears threatening to fall as she lifted her sleeve. Cassian's eyes widened in horror before anger filled them.

"Who did this to you!?" he yelled, holding her arm, touching the red marks.

"...Huhu..brother Leon did….it hurts daddy.." she cried out.

Cassian wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground. He called their doctor who worked in their mansion and Leon as well.

As the doctor rubbed an ointment on the red marks, Leon knocked on the door before walking inside the office. She and Leon made eye contact. He looked at her with disgust and a frown settled between his brows.

Aeliana knew that he had already guessed why he was suddenly called here. Cassian stood before Leon, a cold look plastered on his face as he looked down at his first son.

"Do you know why you were called in here, Leon?" Cassian spoke, his voice so cold it sent shivers down Aeliana’s spine.

Leon cast a side glance at Aeliana before sighing. He nodded. 

"Yes." 

"Then do you know what you did wrong?"

"Yes."

'So honest.' Aeliana thought to herself as she watched on the sidelines.

The doctor wrapped her wrist before quietly leaving the room in order not to disturb the situation.

Cassian rested his hand on his hip and sighed. He shook his head before saying,

"I can't let you go especially after injuring your sibling, Leon. As punishment, you will be whipped on the hand."

Leon grimaced at the punishment but nodded in agreement.

"You will also be teaching Aeliana the imperial language for a month."

"What?" both Leon and Aeliana spoke in surprise.

Cassian smiled as he looked at his two kids, "You both need to reconcile and what better way than this."

‘...Daddy..are you punishing me as well..’

Leon turned to her. He pressed his lips into a thin line before looking back at their father, "Okay."

'He agreed!? That’s even more shocking!'

Cassian dismissed Leon after he received a few whips on the hand. He carried Aeliana in his arms and pressed a kiss on her forehead. He brought her back to her room and patted her on the head.

"Daddy is sorry that you have to see that." 

Aeliana shook her head, "It's okay daddy,"

She was then left alone in her room. She glanced at her wrist. She only wanted to get an act of small revenge on her brother, she didn’t expect her father would use this chance to try bringing them closer.

Aeliana shrugged her shoulders. It's not like she minded it plus she was gonna be taught by him. She heard that her first brother was extremely smart, acing every test his tutors gave him. 

'Well...now I can properly learn the language at least'