Temporary Crown

26 | the prepared letter

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Nesta felt the headache coming in the moment she woke up. Not only that she also felt her stomach grumbling and her eyes looked puffy and a little blurry as she was adjusting from the light. Still on the bed, she turned to her right wanting bury her face on the pillow.

“Lucien!” Nesta uttered in deep shock as she almost fall out of her bed. Her sleepiness washing away as she tried hard to calm herself down.

“Am I that scary sister?” Lucien asked as he was seating on the same chair he was seating earlier. His legs were crossed and he was holding a letter.

Nesta pursed her lips wanting to answer yes but she held back. She chuckled nervously trying hard to see something that can divert the topic and Lucien’s attention.

“I am just a little surprise,” she said glancing at the clock. The hand was already point at the number six and there was no sun outside the window. Her eyes widen with such realization that she slept almost half a day without even eating. Furthermore, what about the duke? There were still many things she needed to do right away.

“Oh god,” Nesta mumbled. Her expression looked horrified as she tried to scrambled out of the bed but Lucien did not let her. His hands immediately found her shoulders pushing her down.

“Calm down sister. There was nothing major that happened when you were sleeping.”

“But-”

“You need to eat.”

The moment Lucien said, only then Nesta noticed the table inside her room to be filled with snacks and foods she can’t even all finished. She swallowed hard. “Lucien, I think it would be better to stop wasting food like this as I cannot eat that much.”

“That food is for both of us, Sister. I will also be eating here.” Lucien stood up this time. He offered his hand to assist Nesta. Although there were certain amount of confusion on Nesta’s face. She gladly accepted the hands of her little brother.

As they went to the table, only then Nesta remembered what happened yesterday and this morning.

As they arrived on the table, Lucien pulled the chair and let Nesta sit first. Nesta did not stand in ceremony and accepted the kind gestures of Lucien. “Thank you,” she said shyly.

Lucien only nod.

Nesta expected him to sit down on the opposite direction but he turned and grabbed a coat. Nesta was about to ask if he was cold but his fast actions rendered her speechless when he gave the coat to her.

“It’s quite cold, sister. I do not want you to get sick in such days to.”

“I understand.” Nesta answered.

“It’s a good thing you understand sister. Please take care of your health from now on now that there were only the two of us here.”

“Hush, now.” Nesta’s shy expression changed hear such words. “Your father will overcome this.”

Lucien did not say any words as he walked towards the chair and sat down in front of Nesta. He grabbed the tea and poured the tea on the tea cup before giving it to her. Nesta who was still trying to come up with different excuses to start a conversation with them can’t help but feel a little odd on how Lucien was getting all work up all of a sudden.

He was a kind child and he cried for her but never in her previous life that he had served her like this. Is there something she need to be concern about?

“Lucien?” Nesta started, gratefully accepting the tea that Lucien poured. Her eyes traveled all over her room. She noticed that there were no servants around and they were the only ones present. The Fire place seemed to be burning for a little while now as the ashes seemed to piled up inside.

“Yes sister?” Lucien answered as he started to cup a piece of his food.

Nesta doesn’t know where to being. She could think of hundreds of reason and excuses but she wanted to tell the truth. Only then can she establish a connection full of trust between them.

“Is there any questions you wanted to ask me?”

Lucien shook his head. Nesta observed carefully especially on how his eyes flickered from time to time and how his expression changed. Nesta never mastered the art of reading faces but when it comes to Lucien she felt like she had become a professional on knowing his thoughts just by his actions and expression. Perhaps it was because she was always on guard back in her precious life.

She lived quite selfishly back then. Now, she was trying to change that.

“I already know everything sister. From Father’s condition last night, the doctor’s diagnose and even the reason why you asked the butler to hide such news to me.” Lucien looked down and put his sliced food on his mouth.

He chew slowly as he speak. “You think of me as a child when we are just three years apart, sister. You told me myself that I have potential. Now that father is bedridden like that, I think it’s time for you to trust and put your faith in me.” Lucien’s eyes turned serious. “I know we have the same goals and that is to save father. We are only hasting our plans.”

Hearing all of his words, Nesta looked down and grabbed the sandwich. She wanted to tell him stories and words where her life was before and the reason why she cared for him deeply but she doesn’t want to be labeled as insane.

“Lucien, I was never your biological sister but I do think of you as someone I can protect. The family I always longed for. We have our short comings and the things we still can’t trust each other however, I know that we will overcome this.”

Nesta smiled gently. “I am sorry for thinking of you as a child. I am not good with people you see and I only wanted what’s best for you. I hope you understand.”

“I am trying sister. I also am not good with people caring for me but with father’s situation now, I think I understand it a bit.”

“If that so I am glad.”

Both of them stayed silent for a while after their exchange of words. However, there were no awkward atmosphere between them. It was rather comfortable and peaceful. After they eat, Lucien asked the servants to come in and cleaned the whole mess.

After they were alone again, Lucien was the one to initiate a conversation. “Earlier I want to father’s office.”

“ the duke?” Nesta asked, confirming.

“Yes.” Lucien then pulled a piece of paper. Nesta’s eyes landed there. She saw a letter with a seal wax in it with her name written by the duke.

“Have you read it?” She asked.

Lucien shook his head. “It’s not address to me but to you sister. If you want to tell me the I am okay. But if it’s not, then, I should leave now.”

“No.” Nesta instantly answered. “Stay,” she said grabbing the envelop. “It would be best if I don’t keep any secrets from you from now on. Just like you said, we are in this together now.”

Lucien fell silent feeling the gentle determination of his sister. He pursed his lips returning back to his seat. “If that’s what my sister wants.”