Aurora Heroux

8 | Aura's Secrets

AURORA'S POV

"Put down that book and look at this view." She said while covering the book with her hands. "I've seen that view for thousands of times. You should enjoy it." I said politely before she removed her hand. "I'm sorry, my lady." She apologized.

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked through the headset. "I invaded your personal space like this." I heard her static voice before I noticed her shoulder brushed against mine. "It's fine." I kinda like how close we are.

"Lady Aurora, are we stopping at the chateaux?" Asked the pilot.

"Yes," I replied to her. "What's a chateau?" I smiled at my soeur and pointed outside of the windows. "That's a chateau. My sister lives there. We're going to meet her." Her jaw dropped to the floor. "She lived alone in that massive house? How crazy is she?" I chuckled.

"No silly. She lives with a maid and a driver. As much as she wants the peaceful living arrangement, she's not that fond of living alone." As we landed the familiar maid went to open the door and lead us towards the front entrance.

"Lady Aurora, it's been months since we last met each other. How are you?" She greeted me. She looks kinda pale than usual.

"Good. Meet Maya, my soeur." They smiled at each other. "Please come in. Like you said earlier, I didn't inform Lady Aura that you're coming to see her. She's in her room getting ready." She opened the front door and as I walked in, I noticed something that wasn't supposed to be here at all.

"Umm... why.." I referring to the diapers and some other baby stuff on the foyer table.

"It's part of her new project. She 'borrowed' one of her friends baby for that. That explains the diaper and all." She looks like she's lying to me when she's not even looking into my eyes when she spoke.

But, I can't believe what I'm hearing right now. My freak of a sister actually brought back a loud human into her domain?! That's just wrong! "Impossible. She hates kids." I said without thinking.

"Is that you Aurora?" I heard my sister's voice echoing around the house. When I turned to face her, I froze when she actually carrying an infant in her arms!

"Here. I think he needs to be fed." Something is not right.

If only Maya's jaw could drop even wider than it already has. "I take it, you love kids?" Maya nodded.

"Who's that person Aurora?" My sister asked. "My soeur, Maya. I bought some students to our vacation house in the mountains. I guess it's only polite for me to be here, visiting you, sister." Aura lead is to the kitchen counter.

Both Maya and I went to the stool and sit while Aura went to the counter and prepared the refreshment for us.

"Aren't I suppose to be doing that?" Maya asked me. "No. You don't have to. Sit." She nodded. "I'm sure you came here for some other reason than visiting me. Tell the truth." Aura said when she pours a glass of carbonated drink for us. Ugh. I can't lie to her.

"I want you to teach Maya how to be a high society woman." That gained her attention. "She's your soeur. She should know how to do that on the first day of elementary school." I sighed. "Not every school has the same education plan as us in Monarch, sister." She turned to Maya.

"You're not from Monarch? Where are you from before coming to Monarch?" She asked. "The local public school. I just transferred to Monarch this year." She suddenly laughed.

"Good choice Aurora. With you choosing her as your soeur, Harriet and the principal's plan to introduce the elites to the world they never knew will be piece of cake."

She's right. "Is that why you're in the mountains?" She added. "Yea. I'm trying to lower the social issues that were reported. So what say you? Will you or will you not teach her? I'm sure your own masterpiece is finished by now if you decided to hold the baby?" Aura nodded.

"I don't mind. Will she be staying here?" I turned to Maya. "Well, If she's okay with it." She suddenly gasped. "Me staying here?! I don't even bring my stuff." I should tell her before we go here in in the first place.

"Also I was hoping that since you took the head maid with you, she could teach Maya the etiquette of being the future Scion." Both of them face me with wide eyes.

"What? Me? Scion?! No way!" Maya suddenly burst. She realized what she had done and apologized to us. "Are you sure? Not even your president wanted to be one?" Aura asked.

Ophelia as a Scion? I doubt she even wanted to be the center of attention that much. "It's only fair to teach my soeur to be one because I am one and I'm her grande soeur. You taught yours the last time your a Scion correct?" Aura nodded.

"But to choose a Scion is according to the votes you receive. But it's only wise if you rethink it. Sure. The head maid will teach her that." Aura agreeing to my plan.

"That settled it then. So, Maya, will you be okay to stay here for a week and come back to Monarch as a new person?" I asked my soeur. "If that's your wish, I'll oblige." I like the sound of that. She's loyal.

"Alright, now that's in the past, follow me. I'll show you what I do for a living." Aura suddenly said.

She walked away from the counter and we both followed her to where she placed her art piece.

"As you can see, the artwork on the walls along this hallway, they all made by Aura," I said to my soeur. "For real? I can't even draw a stick man properly." Maya said while admiring the art. Aura chuckled. "By the end of the week, you will be as good as me." Aura said before opening an old double door.

"Welcome to my studio." She invited us both into her studio. It's messy as ever but when I saw her freshly painted masterpiece on the easel, I was mesmerized.

"I almost forgot how good of an artist you are, sister. This is amazing." I can see the baby's contribution to her painting. "Every single one of them will be shown in the exhibition. What do you think?" She asked for my opinion.

"Amazing as always." I smiled. "So, Maya, how is it?" She asked my soeur. "I don't understand art that much but I can feel the sadness in this one." I turned to them and looked into the painting.

"Oh yes. For this particular piece, I stayed in the local hospital for weeks to get the emotion right." What? Don't tell me she just sit in the middle of a busy hospital and paint her hearts out.

"This painting should show grieving parents after they lost their child. I manage to capture their sadness as I hear them cry. Beautiful isn't it?" I went next to Maya.

"Soon you'll be able to do this much. Exciting isn't it?" Maya nodded. "Oh, Aurora. Remind me of the day you take Maya home. I have something to give our brother, Hezner."

Oh...

"What is it? I thought you both are sworn enemy." I joked. "Yea But we're still siblings."

Something is off. I wonder what's going on in her life now. "Something wrong?" I asked my older sister. "No. Why would you even think that?" She asked me back.

"Because I never saw you like this before." She seems confused. "Like what?" I sighed. "You, taking a kid in your care. You hate kids. And I'm sure your lying to me about that kid." I went straight to the point.

"The baby's parents will not come and you didn't 'borrowed' him. Am I right?" I crossed my hands in front of her. Finally, sense of defeat.

She took a seat not far from where she's standing and sigh heavily. "Fine. It's the maid and the driver's kid, okay? They told me they don't want the main household to know about their little secret." Little?!

"Aura, they had a child together? That's not little. Beside our employee policy, they need to register for the childcare service. If they do, their expenses for raising the child will be on us while they still serving our family. Don't they want that privilege?" I asked my sister.

It seems she forgot about that. I sighed.

"Oh yes. I totally forgot about that. But, if they do register to that service, wouldn't that mean they have to present their marriage certificate?" I nodded.

She gave me her nervous laugh. "The thing is, they haven't had the proper wedding nor register as husband and wife. Plus the driver, he can't do that. They just simply had a child together." She's hiding something.

"You mean to say they have a child out of wedlock? Still, the mother is working full time as your servant. She shall pass that bunch." I stated.

"The child doesn't have any official document regarding his birth yet." I can't believe this.

"Who delivered the baby then?" She looks away from me. "You did?! Oh, Aura what's going on here?! Why do they want to cover the child's birth this bad?" I asked my sister.

"Because I don't want his wife to know." All of us turn to the maid who's carrying the little infant in her arms.

"I'm sorry lady Aura. I'm sorry for making you lying to your sister like this." She kneels in front of us. "That's okay. Don't apologize. Please, you'll wake him up if that continues." Aura said with a smile on her face.

I finally took a seat and think about this situation for a little bit. "So you actually used your medical study in helping a life. I can praise you for that." Aura smirked. "You have the qualification in the medical field, my lady?" Maya asked.

"I was a medical student before becoming a full-time artist." She proudly said.

Maya helped the maid up from kneeling on the floor. "He's such a cute baby. Maybe you can register him without his father. I mean it's possible, right? Just say his father is unknown." Maya suggested. "Sooner or later this kid needs to have his check-up in a hospital." She added.

I was about to say something when I received a text. I reached for my phone and read it.

"Damn it Yume," I said under my breath. I can't believe she ransacking my room like this.

"Aurora. Are you listening to me?" Aura called out for me.

"I'm sorry what?" I lock my phone and listened to what my sister has to say. "You have people you know in the registration office correct? Can't you do something to help them? She's been working for our family since she was 16. There's probably something we can do right?" Aura literally begged!

Maybe there's something I can do. Maybe.

"You do realize our country's policy is tight. I'm not sure how but I will try. Maybe if come to worse, we could consult our Uncle, the king." Aura froze up when I mentioned that.

"Him?! Seriously? He's been trying to marry me off for years now. I really want to avoid meeting him." Aura said while looking away.

"The king is your uncle?" Maya asked us. I nodded.

"Our mother's last name used to be Esnaria as in the crown princess of this country. My mother was the second in line for the throne after her brother, our Uncle, King August. Didn't I mention that part before?" She slowly shook her head.

"You're a f*****g royalty?!" I was applauded by her language but I'm not mad.

She suddenly bows her head and apologizes for her rudeness towards me. "Hey Sis, you should inform your own soeur about this thing you know." I have no need to listen to this woman. "Shut it Aura."

For the very first time in my life, I actually glad when I heard the most annoying voice ever calling for my name.

"Aurora, babe! I was right when I said I feel that you at Aura's place. Oh hey, Aura." Aura was not happy at all! "What are you doing in my house! Get out, you filthy human!" Aura was chasing Thea out of her home.

"Hey, that's rude!" Thea said while she's pushing her out.

"No! The rude one of you. You called my artwork crap and p***s in a coat!" Aura yelled. Thea laughed at her.

"But it is crap and p***s in a coat. It won first prize, isn't it? Let it go." Aura suddenly scream! I don't know if I should laugh or help my sister chasing Thea away.

"Hey! I'm here for a reason okay. I'm here to pick my Aurora back." Thea used her legs to stopped Aura from pushing her out. Aura was having a hard time pushing her away and she finally gave up.

"I'm going home later this evening. Why would you need to pick me up?" I asked while Maya standing beside me.

"Yume problem. The presidents thought she might try to harm you in any way. That's why I volunteer to come to this home where that award-winning p***s is a coat painter live." Aura had enough when she stomped her feet away from Thea.

"I can't wait for Aurora to marry Hector instead of you." Aura smirked when the words she said seems to affected Thea in so many ways.

"You said you won't be marrying him." Thea suddenly said.

I was almost sure she's about to cry but she didn't. "If you're ready to go, I'll be waiting outside." She said before walking away. Ugh, now she's done it.

"Aura ... you shouldn't say that in front of her. She's sensitive when it comes to the arranged marriage thing." Aura shrugged.

"I don't know why you still dating her. She's rude, Aurora. You should find someone better than her. Maybe Hector is the best for you." I can't believe her.

"She might be rude but she still has feelings. Not even once she tried to cheat on me. Everything she did she told me even when she's flirting with some other girl. She never lied to me. Maybe you should be with Hector." I said before walking out from the studio and try to find Thea.

I walked through the hallways and calling her name. When I finally out at the garden, I saw her sitting alone on the stone bench.

"Hey." I took the open seat next to her. "Hey. You're going now?" She was about to stand up but I held her hands. "No, not yet. Are you okay? Don't take what Aura said seriously." She didn't say anything.

I took her hand and rest my head on her shoulder. I intertwine my hand with hers and kiss the back of her palm. "You know I love you. Right?" Again she didn't say anything.

"Thea.." I softly called her name. "A Scion should marry someone from a prestigious family. What's better than to marry Hector, correct? He's the president and all and I'm just a girl with the bad rep."

She finally snapped.

"Remember what you said on my last birthday after you played the song Hallelujah?" I asked her. I can feel her head nodding.

"You said you will always be there with me. Even when everything seems out of place, you will keep being by my side, remember?" She finally returned the gesture by resting her head on mine.

"Yea. I remembered. Always and forever." I smiled. "I was happy when someone manages to keep up with my bossy attitude like you did. There's no one better for me than you, Thea. Hector and my parents can marry each other but not with me because I already have someone I want to live my life forever with." I heard Thea chuckled.

"Don't you want to make Maya into our life?" She asked.

"I saw how you look at her Aurora. That's the same look you gave me when you have fallen for me." Seriously? I removed my head and face her.. "Seriously? You think so? You really saw me like that?" She nodded. "What? You didn't notice it yourself?" I shake my head no.

"In my mind, I only thought of her as my soeur. Nothing more, nothing less." Thea laughed.

"Oh Honey you have a crush on Maya and you don't even know it." How can she laugh about this! "Aren't you mad? Or something?" I asked the woman.

"Why should I be mad? I told you about my crushes before. Did you get mad at me for being flirty? Nope. Not even once. Why should I be mad now?" Thea said truthfully.

Now that I think about it, I have a feeling we have such an open relationship, to begin with. We trust each other so much that we didn't mind at all. When I heard a baby cry not far from us, it reminds me of something.

"Hey Thea, I have a new job for you." I pointed at the maid and her baby.

"Do me a favor and settle that problem. Since he was born, he hasn't had any medical checkup and even for the mother. Can you handle that?" I explained everything to Thea who's listening to me tentatively. "Yikes... that's hard but there's nothing the Covert Squad can't do."

That's assuring. I know she can handle this much. "The father is the driver but they don't want the wife to know? Why would they cheat if the wife is not fond of polygamous relationship? That's just stupid." Thea shaking her head.

"Not everyone having such an open relationship like us, Thea." Thea leaned into me.

"Just don't marry Hector. I will kill him if he ever touches you." I don't know if that's a warning or just a simple threat. She stood up and stand in front of me.

"I'm not even joking. I will kill him. No filthy creature like him will touch you. They will have to kill me first." She stated. I smiled.

She's damn serious when it comes to this things.

Even though I've sent her to therapy because of what she went through, she still has a deep hatred towards men.

I took both of her hands and sighed. "Isn't it time for you to forgive your father for what he did to you?" She didn't say anything back.

"Thea?"

"I will never forgive someone who scars me for life." I kissed her cheek.

"I hereby release you from the feeling of hatred towards your own living family," I whispered into her ears. "How about we have some little time alone together before going back to the mountains." I winked before pulling her towards the shed.

I need to do something to let her steam off.