Guardian's Atonement

FIVE | BROTHER

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There was a long silence. Like the world had stopped moving for a moment as Celestine looked at the gorgeous person in front of her who wears high quality of fabrics that indicates he was one of the sons’ of the duke and one of the heir to become the Lord of this household.

His eyes mirrored Celestine’s eyes. It was gold and he also has black hair. This was the Von Reinsworths signature appearance: Gold eyes and black hair.  Celestine immediately realized that this person was one of Celestine’s brother.

She froze for a moment. Celestine knew  she looked ridiculous right now but there was a fact that she can’t deny nor find any explanation to.

 He clearly looks like my second brother in my first life!

Celestine said in her mind trying to find any reason and explanation to this moment.  I don’t understand anything that is happening! First was she looks exactly like herself in the past and now even his half brother.

 As they looked at each others eyes for a moment, Celestine felt that her hands started to tremble and to sweat. Celestine knew that she was not afraid but seemed like her body, the body whom she took possession to, the former Celestine, was familiar to the presence of her second brother.  

The clock was ticking and seconds were passing. She needed to give her greetings first. She moved her dress and unconsciously flinched as she felt her legs stinging. She wanted to rolled her eyes but clearly if she had done that, a larger issue would play. Even though her brother was years older than her, he was childish.

As the second passed by, Celestine tried her best to move even her body refuses too. She knew she needed to be obedient at least. Celestine knew how to survive and being obedient and calm were one of the tricks she hides under her sleeve.

 As she ready herself, Her thoughts flew through the plot of the book.

 Her second brother doesn’t really like to call Celestine Sister and he doesn’t want Celestine to call him brother so, as Celestine lifted her dress lightly and bow, she said, “A wonderful afternoon, young master,” Her voice was soft and delicate. Right now, she looked like a white bunny afraid of a lion predator in front of her.

Jonas Idris Von Reinsworth was in daze for a moment. Not only he burst in his half sister’s room but the mere fact that his sister who is such a big headache for the duchy gave her greetings. He honestly didn’t want to come and meet her right now but his father demanded to ask the reason why Celesitine whom who always act like a clingy slug refused the invitation of the duke.

It was merely Two days ago when she was reported missing and was found on the forest with her dress drenched and torn. Jonas and his brother, Atticus was in panic that time not because they were worried but they are both thinking what trouble this woman had cause again.

But after hours of searching there were no news of their sister. The duke got involved and send hundreds of knights just to search for her  and after merely half a day they found her. She was being carried by a knight from the palace.

As soon as the news arrived, Jonas, who didn’t even realize that he was worried ran towards her and his first brother doing the same. As soon as her sight came to view, both brothers were horrified. Not only her lips and complexion looked pale but her dress were torn and there were a big cut on her legs and wrist.

The duke demanded the full report of what happened but was calm about the matter however, it was the opposite for both brothers.  It was their first time seeing their half sister looking pale and like she was about to die.

An imperial doctor was immediately sent to the house of Reinsworth and according to the physician, the lady lost blood and was having a fever. Several medicines and drug were prescribed and the servants were talking if ever the lady will wake up again.

After the commotion on the banquet hall, the brothers and the duke was perfectly calm about her situation and like their worrying never happened. So, their initial responses to what had happened was to ask Celestine what really happened that day yet as soon as Jonas entered her room, she was acting docile and polite it was giving him creeps.

He frowned and subconsciously glared at her. Celestine felt the glare but her mind was already somewhere thinking how she would clean her wound and start her plans.

“Young master?” She said which made Jonas came back from reality. “What business you’re doing here?” She asked in a polite manner however Jonas felt like she was dismissing his presence. It sounded odd to him.

“Ehem.” He faked coughed before regaining his composure. “Father wants to know what happened before you were find inside the forest.”

Celestine frowned yet she remained calm. “Young master, I am sorry but I really can’t remember everything that happened that day. The moment I knew, I saw already inside the lake drenched and had those wounds.”

Jonas can’t believe the words that came out of her mouth. “Are you planning anything that would disgrace the family?” He asked in a serious voice. Celestine flinched not because of His voice but the wound was starting to hurt even more. She needed to dismissed this bastard son of a b***h in front of him who just came out to ask such useless things.

“Young master, I promise, in my name that I won’t cause anymore trouble nor disgrace the family.”

Jonas gaped at her and was planning to say something but his eyes caught the blood stains on Celestine’s dress. “What--?”He wasn’t able to finished his words and grabbed her dress harshly and lift it up a little bit. His eyes turn wide as the sight of blood came to view.

“You!” He raised his voice as he can’t believe that his half sister was enduring all of this. His worried expression came to view but that made Celestine uncomfortable so she decided to step back and grabbed her dress back.

“I’m sorry young master,” her voice was calm and Jonas can’t believe what he was seeing. “Seems like the wound reopened itself. If you excuse me, I need to dress it up properly this time.”

Jonas was lost and seemed like he can’t find his voice. He was beyond shocked and he can’t keep up of what was happening. His heart was pounding so loud that it was ringing in his ears. At the same time, Celestine was feeling annoyed.

When will this end?

Her patience was getting thin so she gestured the maid that was attending her to come closer. The maid was tense on what was happening. She seemed like she doesn’t know what she needed to do and was torn between the young master and the young lady.

“Go and bring me some bandages and medicines.” The voice that came out of Celestine was calm that both of the maid and Jonas can’t believe it.

Despite of being confused, the maid moved with efficiency and hurriedly get the things Celestine ordered her to bring.

Celestine then looked her gaze to her elder brother. “Brother Jonas, as you can see  I can’t visit the duke today and I am not in good health please leave.” She said politely and that made Jonas flinched even more. There are many thoughts running in his head right now, however, none of those were important for he was clearly panicking inside. His sister was clearly in pain but she was not showing any expression on her face. She was rather cold and distant.

“I see,” that was the only words he had said before leaving. As the door closed Celestine flopped her body on the sofa as she felt her energy leaving her body. She can’t endure such bullshits anymore.

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At the same time, Jonas who left Celestine’s room seemed in a complicated situation. He doesn’t understand the sudden change of his half sister’s attitude and why she was calm after all the blood that was coming out of her wound.

He sighed once again and walked to the Duke’s study. He needed to report what just happened but as he walked, he was thinking of the different medicines he needed to send to his half sister.

--

 Celestine who was now wearing a different clothes and her wounds was clean was leaning on her bed and was reading the books she found and aimlessly spending her time. She needed to plan everything accurately if she was going to run away.

She doesn’t have any money right now and she doesn’t have any villa to spend her time aimlessly. In her mind she was still debating if she needed to learn the art of the sword for her protection or just used her knowledge she have when she was in earth.

Back there I don’t use swords.  

She sighed and looked a the sunset as she realized that it was time for dinner. A maid knocked on her door.

“Young lady, your dinner is here.” Celestine closed the book.

“Come in.” The maid opened the door and rolled the tray that has her food. Her gaze made its way to the food. She felt her stomach grumbled as she realized that she was indeed hungry. The maid prepared her food as she stand up to eat. As she sit and was about to eat, the maid gave her some bottles.

She frowned. “What are these?” she asked.

The maid bowed before answering her. “It was the medicine the young master Jonas asked to be send to you.”

“Funny.” she mumbled and the maid heard it. “Leave It here” she said ignoring the fact that her second brother was the one who send the medicine and continue to eat. At the same time the maid was curious about the young lady’s reaction.

The servants knew how thirsty the young lady for affection that she was literally begging for it but now, all the maid can see was the indifference reaction Celestine while eating the steak.

While the maid was ransacking her brain of Celestine’s change, Celestine was happy how juicy the steak was.

Her mind wonders to those days where she needed to save a big amount of money just to eat some luxurious stake but now, it was just her dinner. She was happy about it but her emotions was not visible on her face that was why the maid was panicking.

Celestine noticed it and glanced over the maid. “If you are done you may leave.”

“But young lady,”

“Ah wait,” Suddenly Celestine remembered something. The maid’s curious eyes studied her master waiting for her next words. “What year is it?”

“It is year 1390 my lady.” The maid answered out of reflex

“I see you may leave now.”

“But--”

“I will call you if I need something. Eat something for yourself.” The maid flinched on her words but she left obeying the command of her master.

It was year 1390 it was three years before the heroine appeared in the story. Meaning, the story did not happen yet and she had two more years to prepare before her death. She glanced at window and watched the night scenery as it snows while thinking how would she spend the three years that was given to her.

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