"Is it true?"

"What?" I looked down at my siblings. They're both eight. Twins. Dressed in matching outfits.

"You know." Aiden continued for his sister. "Are we going to be a big brother and sister now?"

I sighed. How did these two hear about this already?

"And where's our new big sister?" Evelyn pulled on my pant leg, eyes sparkling. "I heard she's really beautiful. Is she really beautiful?"

"Look-"

"Luc-oh, am I interrupting anything?" Kathrine appeared from down the hall. 

Great. I was hoping they wouldn't meet each other so soon.

Two sets of eyes sparkled as I felt them both tugging on my pants.

"Brother, brother!"

"She really is beautiful!"

I sighed as I took both of their hands and walked up to meet Kathrine halfway. 

"Rin, meet my brother and sister, Aiden and Evelyn. Aiden, Evelyn meet Kathrine." I introduced them.

"Please, call me Rin." Kathrine bent down to meet their eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you two. Luc never told me he had two adorable little siblings."

"Hehe." The two giggled as they ran up to her.

"You're really as beautiful as I've heard."

"How did you and big brother meet?"

"Where's our younger sister?"

"Sister? Who said it was a girl? I say we're having a brother."

The two started to argue as Kathrine laughed and tried to calm the two down.

"Guys..." I placed a hand on each head. "You're stressing Rin out."

The two gasped and quickly retreated behind me, sticking their heads out to the side. "Sorry."

Kathrine laughed once more as she reassured them.

"No, it's ok. I wasn't stressed or anything, but if you do want to make it up to me, let's go out. Do you want cake? My treat." Kathrine stretched out her hands and the two immediately grabbed on.

"Yeah! Let's go!"

"Can I get two?"

***

"I apologize for those two." I gave a tired sigh and plopped on my bed. The sun had set and the four of us just arrived back at the manor after a long day out.

Kathrine sat at the edge of the bed and turned to look at me with a wide smile on her face. 

"There's no need to apologize. I had fun." She slowly leaned back, head laying on my stomach. "It was the most fun I've ever had."

"What?" Normally, I would have gently eased her off me but her melancholic voice stopped me. She didn't say anything else as I stared at her. Seems like she's deep in thought. I wonder what she meant by that. What is she thinking now? What is making her sad? I know this was all contractual but I can't help but wonder. Should I try to get to know her a bit more? I tilted my head to look out the big window that led to the balcony. The moon was now high in the sky, stars twinkled on a clear bright spring night.

Tomorrow was the big day. It was finally time to meet Sharinne and break off our engagement. The marquess and marchioness still didn't approve of my fake relationship with Kathrine, but that didn't matter. As long as Sharinne breaks off our engagement, nothing else matters.

"Hey," I looked down at Katherine. She fell asleep.

"..."

I sighed as I gently moved her up on the bed in a more comfortable position. Placing her head on the massive pile of pillows, I tucked her in.

"I guess you can sleep here for the night."

I got out of bed and walked up to the nightstand. Blowing out the candle, I grabbed a bottle of wine and a wine glass and walked onto the balcony. I sat at the table and poured myself a glass of wine. 

"I don't know how it'll go tomorrow, but the end result should be as expected." After all, Sharinne's family, the Eclair Duchy, are a prideful bunch. They wouldn't proceed with the marriage after finding out what I did. With a commoner no less. They were a bunch who preached how commoners were nothing but insects, and how they were blessed by a god with their distinct white hair and sky blue eyes.

Swirling the wine in my cup, I toasted to the night sky.

"It will be my victory tomorrow. I will finally be free."