37: Nothing Ladylike

Nothing Ladylike

Arlan hugged his sister and patted her head. "You are no longer alone. You have us and your family."1

"I know," she said and continued to cry for a while and then looked at him. "I just don't want you to lose yourself, Arlan. Seeing you wallow like this breaks my heart. I feel like...like the more I see you, the faster I am losing my brother. Do not let anger control you. You are more than the revenge you seek. I don't want to lose you."

"I will always be your younger brother."

Alvera reached up to rub his head, the same way she did when they were younger. 

"I remember when you were a little boy, you had a terrible temper. After meeting Dray, you changed for the better, but only slightly. You became playful and naughty, but at least you could control your bloodlust behind your smile and schemes.

"Lately…you do not even hide your actions anymore, openly relishing in killing wantonly. You are slowly losing yourself to cruelty and hatred, and it's as if you do not see people as people anymore. 

"Judging sinners and punishing criminals accordingly are skills one must hone to become a wise king. Do not be a murderous tyrant. Don't lose your humanity."

Arlan didn't promise her anything. He was not sure about himself. The only thing he knew was those who endangered his family and his kingdom deserved to die.

"You are not answering."

"You know the answer already."

Knowing how stubborn he was, she said, "Alright, but you have to listen to me at least once when I ask you to show mercy."

"I will."

"I hope I am not disturbing you brother and sister," they heard a voice say after a cough. It was Rhys. "Go ahead. Ignore me. I just came to give my son a morning kiss."

Alvera looked at her husband after she wiped her eyes. "I keep telling you not to kiss Ryan with a scruffy beard."

"I shaved before I came. Touch it," the man said as he walked towards his wife. He could clearly see she had cried. "Were you two gossiping about me? I hope you are not complaining about me to your brother."

"I was just telling her to take a break from producing kids," Arlan said, "I hope the Duke of Wimark will spare my poor sister."

"If I spare your sister, Your Highness, then I am sure she will think I have lost interest in her," the handsome duke replied as he gently caressed his wife's face, drying the rest of her tears.

"It is just my sister's luck to end up marrying a breeding bull—"

"Breeding bull?" a girl exclaimed and everyone looked at the doorway. 

"Young Lady, please don't say that bad word!" her nanny chastised, before bowing to the people inside the chamber. 

"How come this girl always comes at the wrong time?" Alvera mumbled to which her husband responded with a shrug. 

"Do not blame our daughter. Your brothers are at fault for speaking such crude words in front of an impressionable child."

Rayjin stormed inside towards her father, hugging his leg while glaring at her uncle. "Nanny said it's a bad word. Uncle, you should not say it!"

Arlan smiled indulgently at her. "I was just praising your father's prowess."

"But last time, my father also said it is a bad word."

"There are times we can praise a person using bad words as well," he replied.

"Is it? So can I call my father a breeding bull as well—-"

"No!" Alvera exclaimed and interrupted their conversation. "You cannot say that word ever again, Rayjin!" She reached out to her brother to pinch him in the waist. "And you, do not teach her bad things. It took me a long time to make her forget the same word when you said it the last time and yet you reminded her again. Girls need to be raised well and be careful with words—"

"What is wrong if a girl uses bad words and curses as well?" Arlan asked, only to get a strong reaction from his sister. Alvera was about to pinch his waist once more, but he nimbly dodged. 

"It is not lady-like!" she said.

"And that's wrong because?"

"Your niece should grow up a proper young lady with good manners, you rogue—"

Arlan simply smiled as it reminded him about a certain someone who had no boundaries when it came to cursing. There was nothing lady-like about her, but surprisingly, she was more interesting than those well-behaved noblewomen. 

Soon, it was time for Arlan to leave. The horses were ready along with all knights that came with Arlan. 

"I have arranged everything that is needed, Your Highness," Rhys informed him. "I have told Sir Imbert about my sources in Selve Port which should come handy in your investigation."

Arlan thanked him, before hugging his sister for the last time. The Duke and Duchess of Wimark watched the Crown Prince leave their residence. 

Rhys looked at the frown lines on his wife's forehead. He tenderly kissed her head. "Do not worry about him."

She leaned her head against her husband's shoulder. "I worry about the people who come under his wrath."

The Duke cleared his throat. "Well, I cannot deny that as well."

"I should send a letter to Dray. Arlan only listens to him."

"They are friends precisely because they are similar, my dear."

"Though his reputation precedes him, Dray is in fact not as cruel as Arlan."

Rhys put his arm over her shoulder. "You know it better."

Alvera simply sighed and turned to return inside with her husband. Before going their separate ways, the Duke cleared his throat.

"Dear, can you help me pen a letter to the capital?"

"About?"

"We got a strong lead about the Verner Family," Rhys said. 

Alvera stared at her husband in shock. "Truly? Where are they? I must tell Father!"

"Someone suspected to be Philip Verner is seen in one of the towns around Jerusha." 

"Have you told Arlan?"

"I received this report mere minutes ago. I must inform His Majesty the King first." Rhys shook his head. "The way your brother is going these days, I fear the unnecessary bloodshed this news will bring. I will tell him once I confirm the lead we found. Maybe if your father intervenes, your brother will react in a calmer manner."

"Let me know once you find the Verner girl first. I would like to see what kind of person is betrothed to my brother."

"I surely will, before your brother beheads her."

"I will try to stop him."

"You say it even after knowing how much he hates traitors."

"Don't call her that. Not you too." She sighed once more. "You did well by not telling him."

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