THE ROYAL MATE

2. The Sibling

Loris Carson, a thirty-two-year-old bachelor whom the young girls of Winny covet. Handsome, educated, and aspiring Duke. Who doesn't want to be his future wife? Even so, Loris never wanted to ask one of the girls to dance in matchmaking season. No one knows what kind of woman he wants. There was no woman he wanted. Even Clarissa MacLaren. The 'spinster' is the target of the bachelors. Loris is an independent man. Very worthy of being a candidate for the Duke of Winny.

This afternoon at The Duke's residence, in the living room, Loris cleaned the rifle he had just used for hunting—noble activities in Winny town. Sometimes one eye closes. Just to ensure that the part that is wiped with a cloth is clean. If not, he must be prepared for the vomit of his father's anger.

His activities had to stop when Loris heard the sound of a car stopping in his front yard. He looked for a moment. It was reluctant to leave the gun. He was never irresponsible by leaving work unfinished. But curiosity kept pushing him out. He had to know who was coming.

Loris decided to put the rifle down for a moment. Loris's hand placed her favorite thing very carefully. He doesn't forget to smile. As if giving understanding to the item that he would return soon. In a rush, Loris stepped out past the living room. Then open the door. Incidentally, Mr. Shone–the butler, was not nearby. He can open the door himself. He just needs to use his hands for a while.

Loris's face instantly looked like a child who had just gotten candy. He descended the stairs that became a barrier between the terrace and the courtyard of his house. He couldn't wait to run.

"Michael!" Loris screamed with joy when he saw his brother had just arrived. "Oh, my God!"

Michael, who had just exited the car, was forced to look when his brother called. He didn't forget to smile. Michael is also pleased to be reunited with his brother after a long time.

Loris hugged Michael very excitedly. His strong arms made Michael's body not move. Loris does look like the Samsons. Luckily, he's handsome.

"Why are you surprised?" Michael was surprised by his brother's reaction. He was pretty sure that he had sent a letter to his father. He had already informed me of his arrival in the letter he sent a month ago. "I already sent a letter."

"Who cares about letters? You are here. That's more important." Loris had never checked incoming mail, even from his mother or brother. "How are you, Brother?" Loris patted his brother's shoulder. Meanwhile, John takes Michael's bag into the house.

"Thank you, John!"

"Very well, Sir." John smiled as he walked away. Michael was taken back when John called him 'Sir'. Too formal. And Michael was very amused by the call. He didn't feel he had the right to a peerage after he decided to live with his mother.

Michael stopped in his tracks. He chose to enjoy the atmosphere in front of his father's house. Michael stared at the Duke of Winny's luxurious residence. It was very different from where his mother lived.

"I've never stopped feeling strange about this place," Michael muttered.

Loris understood that her brother felt burdened by their father's social status. Moreover, Michael's life in Sorream differed greatly from that in Winny.

"Oh, come on, Brother. This is our home. You can enjoy all the facilities available. Do not hesitate. You're also the Carsons." Loris tried to give a burst of encouragement. He didn't want his brother to feel inferior despite their very different conditions.

"No, I'm okay, Brother." Michael tried not to burden his brother. "Oh, please. I want to eat roast turkey," he said hopefully.

Loris graciously ushered her brother in for a while, ensuring Michael would get some turkey for dinner.

***

At the residence of George MacLaren.

Sharma sits in the foyer of her room. Several times she moved her lips. She hissed. It wasn't clear if he was nervous or thinking about something.

"My Lady…" Odeth, her loyal servant, gave her lady some news.

Sharma, who was sitting with her chin propped up. While occasionally gazing at the scenery through her room, she turned to Odeth. "What's wrong, Odeth?"

"Miss Ruwina has arrived, My Lady." Odeth smiled after that.

Miss Ruwina is the city's leading tailor. She came to measure Sharma and Clarissa's bodies. They have to make new dresses to wear for matchmaking season.

Miss Ruwina's arrival made Sharma excited. She immediately lowered her feet to the floor. Try to stand most gracefully. But a second later, she stepped out very impatiently. Who was standing by the door could feel the wind blowing from Sharma's fast pace.

Odeth smiled, seeing her lady hiding. She has been sad for several months. Her sadness arose because her daughter never got a mate.

Sharma climbed the stairs one by one. She descended gracefully despite her fast pace. Nobles are good at maintaining good manners. As soon as she took the last step, Sharma turned right. She headed to the lounge. Odeth still faithfully followed her.

"Clarissa?" Sharma questions the whereabouts of her daughter to Odeth.

"Miss McLaren is in the lounge, My Lady," Odeth explained easily. Of course, despite their different social status, Lady Clarissa was close friends with Miss Ruwina. Clarissa is easy to get along with. But only for women. It's hard to get along with men.

As soon as Sharma entered the lounge, she saw the girls chatting. Clarissa's laughter was so loud. It's inappropriate for a noble lady to laugh like that.

But Sharma didn't need to warn her daughter. Her arrival had silenced the girls. One glance in her eyes could make Miss Ruwina speechless, and she looks like a mannequin.

"Have you measured my daughter, Miss Ruwina?" Sharma tried to question Miss Ruwina's professional attitude as a leading tailor in Winny. Not as a woman who likes to act without manners. The sound of excessive laughter was unpleasant to hear in Sharma's ears.

"Of Course, Lady MacLaren. It was my first job when I came here." It was very easy for Miss Ruwina to answer Sharma's question. Miss Ruwina held her hands against the soft sofa belonging to the MacLaren family. She knows herself well enough as someone who is not royalty. She does not need to be treated with courtesy. But Ia Sharma didn't comment on that. She just didn't like the girls' laughter, and it does not reflect the beauty of women. And when it's very noisy.

"Then you have to measure me now?" Sharma didn't want to continue the discussion about laughter. She wanted Miss Ruwina to do her job immediately.

Miss Ruwina smiled broadly. Her lips formed an angle. She was very ready to measure the body of the beautiful noble. "Please, Lady MacLaren."

Sharma stood tall in the middle of the room. Miss Ruwina pulled the tape measure that was still in her bag. She lied to have measured Clarissa. She was very familiar with Clarissa's body size. She didn't need to do it again. After she was ready with her tape measure, Miss Ruwina immediately measured Sharma's body.

"Excuse me, My Lady," said Miss Ruwina before touching Sharma's body.

Miss Ruwina did a very good job. She measured every part needed to determine the right shape of the dress. Lady MacLaren is very talkative. Miss Ruwina can't do anything wrong. Once, Miss Ruwina forgot to put a bead on a dress ordered by Sharma. Oh, the world is shaking. She mumbled incessantly, even though Sharma paid it anyway.

"You know what, Lady MacLaren. Loris Carson's brother just arrived at Winny?" Miss Ruwina started the conversation. She doesn't like being silent.

"Michael?" Sharma tries to make a sound.

Meanwhile, Clarissa had just heard this. Even though she had been talking to Miss Ruwina ever since she had just returned from a walk. And she had seen Lord Carson's car. But Clarissa had no idea that Michael was in the car—Clarissa's nemesis since childhood.

It could happen. Michael always made fun of Clarissa. He always commented on whatever Clarissa was doing. Anyone should know. The creatures called women are very sensitive. They don't like comments. They prefer compliments. And also the seductions of the bachelors. But not with Michael. The Duke's second son had been a pain in the ass from the start. Clarissa once swore. If only one man were left in this world, then Clarissa would choose to be single until she died instead of marrying Michael Carson.

Michael Carson is very handsome. Not much different from his older brother–Loris Carson. But their personalities are very different. Loris is very authoritative. He also has great respect for women. His voice is soothing too. Although, Clarissa always ignored him. But Michael was very different. He's sloppy, rebellious, and always mean to Clarissa. Once when I was ten years old. Michael deliberately hid Clarissa's shoes until she had to go home without her shoes on after a day of playing in the wheat fields.

"Why did he come to Winny?" The question left Clarissa's lips. She made her voice firmer because she was always annoyed with Michael.

"Who knows? Nobody knows. Maybe to join this season?" Miss Ruwina replied, who was busy measuring Sharma's body.

Clarrisa's lips hissed. She was not willing to let Michael join the matchmaking season this time. "Isn't his brother married yet? Loris had to find the future Duchess. Why did Michael have to join the matchmaking season? Ridiculous. It would be rude of him not to heed his brother." Clarissa looked so passionate until Miss Ruwina could see the flames in her eyes.

"And you are that candidate for the Duchess," Sharma confirmed her daughter's position in the calculation season later.

"Mama . . ." Clarissa swayed her body. She didn't like what her mother said. She knew many women wanted Loris. And one of them is Miss Ruwina. But their different social status made Miss Ruwina only keep her feelings in her heart.