Year 3988, 30th Day of the 9th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

DAMP DRAFT paired with the gloomy clouds was the perfect weather to stay outside. Yet, Elise didn't have the time to do so as she headed out to the Medical Hall to look for more herbs.

She knocked, hoping that Orin was there. It took a couple more taps before the door opened. Elise blinked twice when saw the person who should have left this morning.

"Are you looking for Uncle?" His voice woke her up from her daze. It was Brennan.

"... Yes," came her delayed reply as she scanned the messed strands on his forehead moistened with sweat. The imagery reminded her of last night and heat crept on her cheeks.

"Hey, what's wrong?" His question snapped her back to reality once again.

"Sorry, what was it?"

"I said, Uncle's not here. Is it urgent?"

"Quite. I ran out of wind stems so maybe he has some stocks here," she stated.

"I see. Come inside. I'm sure Uncle won't mind if it's you."

"Oh, thanks!"

Brennan widened the door but she halted on her steps after viewing the clutter inside. Sacks of dirt were on the floor. The corner garden had all the plants uprooted and there were potted stems on the other side.

"What's going on?" She twisted towards him.

"Uncle wanted to change the set of plants here so I'm transferring the old ones to the greenhouse," he replied and squatted down to resume his work.

Her brows crinkled together. "Don't you have gardeners for that?"

In this huge castle, all her toes and fingers would not be enough to count their servants. Besides, they were nobles but it appeared like they were laxer and proved her yet again from the elegant bearings that she imagined those with upper class had.

"I like doing it." The nonchalant response and an earnest expression were exactly the same as Aricson.

Brennan usually had a dangerous demeanor or mischievous behavior but his current appearance tending the plants was something she imagined Aricson would do rather than him.

To add, the more she looked at him in his current state, the more it was harder to identify who was who. 'They're really two peas in a pod.'

"Does anyone mistook you and Aricson before?" She could not prevent her mouth from asking.

"Ah, yeah. That was a great time. I know he must've resent me when I started to lengthen my hair."

Her interest was suddenly piqued. "Why so?"

"We often disguised as each other when we were young. No one can tell us apart as long as he lowered his pitch to match mine and it was a perfect disguise when he wanted to skip his work. It was only that he could not do it after several decades when I started to grow my hair."

"I can't believe Aricson is the type to escape from his duties."

Brennan chuckled, dropped his trowel, and directed his gaze at her. "Because you aren't there. He's the most childish and petty youth to exist but fate has a fvcked up way to forge us to become steel."

The statement that started with humor ended with grimness and Elise hurriedly tried to ease the awkwardness.

"How about now? You almost have the same length of hair. Honestly, I may even confuse you if you two are together."

"Well, he's more responsible now that he even volunteered to mousse his hair so people could tell us apart. By the way, before I forget, are you and Aricson planning to have a child?"

Elise's eyes popped off from his question that came out of nowhere. "Oh my god! What?!"

"A servant had reported that my twin's bedsheet could cause a celebration."

She inadvertently avoided his look with her face resembling a ripened tomato.

"Err... I think I have to go." She scampered to her feet, even forgetting the reason why she came.

Her consciousness was about to die from the shame that she neglected the disarray around her. Footfalls hurried as she squinted her eyes shut to forget what happened.

"Watch out!"

It was too late for Brennan's warning. Stainless steel met the tiled floor and all its content splashed. Her left foot stayed uprooted but her other foot sought balanced, only to land on the puddle she made.

But it was not water from what she expected. 'Oh my god!'

She quickly stepped back from the mushy feeling below her but she lost her footing from all the chaos. Elise surrendered and readied herself to land on the pile of mud.

'Please don't let it be manure. Please don't let it be manure.' She countlessly repeated in a fraction of a second.

However, a strong grip caught her midway.

"What are you doing?"

And in perfect timing, Aricson was suddenly standing in front of them.

Brennan's arms were tightly wrapped around her and with Aricson's presence all of a sudden, the two of them took some time to register before they let go.

She inwardly groaned. For an odd reason, it felt like she was caught by her boyfriend cheating.

"No need to glare like you're gonna kill me. I'm just helping her from slipping," Brennan explained. "Jealousy is not a good trait, Brother."

Aricson did not even bother replying and pulled her away from his twin. One swift move and she was raised from the ground. But it was not the usual princess carry but more like a sack. Next thing she knew she was inside a bathtub with nothing on.

When she thought she had enough humiliation for a day, another one added as she watched him scrub her. How she wanted to speak up but the crimson irises reflected irritation, opposite to the coldness he exuded.

This time, she did not even have the guts to reject him when he dressed her up. She tiptoed behind him as they exited the bath. Aricson sat on the couch with his arms crossed and Elise approached the brooding man. She positioned herself on his lap and locked her arms on his neck.

"You know... It's nothing to overreact, right?"

"Why are you always with Brennan?" he asked instead.

"Always? It's just today though."

Aricson glowered at her answer that she almost could not hold back a smile. With his actions, he appeared like a petulant child but his facial expression hardly shown any of that.

"It was by chance only, okay?" This time, her lips curled as she swayed him on a different subject. "So how was your errand today? Where did you go? You even left without waking me up."

"I visited my grandmother."

She hummed. "Come to think of it, if you're almost a hundred then how old is your grandmother?"

"She stopped counting."

"Then let me guess. A millennium?"

"More."

"Oh my god! Really?! Don't tell me she retained her youth too?"

Aricson only nodded as she gaped. Her eyes, then, traveled while she processed the information when her gaze darted to the window.

"Oh! You're done!" She broke free from him and dashed to the corner where the canvass was.

She failed to notice in the past days since they had been occupied doing other things but now she was bewildered how Aricson had too much time in his hands. From what she recalled, it was miles away from completion weeks ago.

"It's beautiful!"

Her eyes sparkled at the acrylic painting. It was her face portrait surrounded by leaves and flowers on the borders. Even if she was not knowledgeable as her dad, she was confident this was a masterpiece worthy of a museum.

She ogled at it once again and then another. Elise could not seem to stop herself with the corners of her lips stretching from end to end.

The bold brushstrokes complemented the striking pigments. The colors used for the skin were not the contemporary neutrals but vivacious hues one would not expect.

It was almost similar to modern art but there was a rising notion like she had seen it somewhere. She glanced up and inspected the whole room. There were some paintings around her as well.

She tried to summon the images of her room and the hallways she had passed through. Once in a while, there would be paintings that reflected flamboyance among the more traditional art. Even the map on the library was brilliantly made using such vivid colors.

After living with her dad for twenty-one years and listening to his endless talks about art, Elise could learn a thing or two. True artist had their definitive style and it would not take an expert to identify it.

Her feet spun to Aricson who was just standing beside her all this time.

"Don't tell me you're secretly a famous painter and you're deceiving your family to buy your paintings?"

Her mom loved the trope of secret identities and since this was a fantasy world, the idea could not be farfetched.

"Nothing sort of that. It's actually the other way around. When my parents knew I developed the hobby of painting, they coerced me to paint and Father displayed it without my consideration. I truly dislike people seeing my paintings. I planned to keep them here forever and I don't wish for anyone to know it. It's better to hide it from everyone since it's not even that good, " he rambled and she could not help the giggle bursting in her mouth.

"What are you talking about? Your works are perfect!" she exclaimed at his incredulity.

"It just doesn't fit me that's why even my siblings do not know this since it is quite... disconcerting. I hope this stays between us."

"Seriously. If I have half the talent of yours, I would broadcast it all over. I just don't understand how I can't draw no matter how hard I try. Wait, is that why nobody is allowed in your room?"

"Yes, but you're an exception," he said and her fingers immediately reached up to pinch his cheek.

"You've been so good with words lately," she praised before drawing him into a hug. "You're so talented and I absolutely admire your painting."

He bent and whispered, "I can be good in action too."

Her ear tingled from his breath and the mood shifted in an instant. 'Oh my god! My heart can't handle this!'

Aricson pressed her away slightly and looked down. His eyes were full of intensity with a slight lift on the end of his mouth.

"Can I ask for a commission for the painting?" he asked in a huskier voice but only for her answer to be swallowed by his lips.