Episode 17

I jumped out of bed, I had to return to the duchy, I had a lot to do today.

"Adi vi na… Meanwhile, look," I showed him the basket I brought and took out the jars.

"They're all numbered, go through them one by one. If there's any problem during the four weeks that I'm gone, stop taking it and we'll resume when I come back."

"Where are you going?"

"You didn't know everything?"

"That's in the past…"

"I'm going on a trip with my sister, through the duchy to help the sick."

"Is it safe?"

"Do you worry?"

"I have to keep my personal doctor alive."

"It's safe, my sister and Jim are going too, they'll take care of me."

"Do you want one of my personal guards?"

"It would be strange if an emperor's guard came with me…"

"You're right…"

"Before I go… Do you know who Anabela is?"

He immediately had a displeased expression on his face.

"By your expression, yes… Do I have competition?"

"Wasn't it that you didn't want to marry me?"

"I said I don't want to be empress, since it's a lot of work…"

As I approached him, taking advantage of him standing up, I touched his bare chest and slid my hand down to his abdomen.

"But I also said that I had to prove my own achievements, right?"

Before I could continue teasing him, Lila knocked on the door.

"Sir, your breakfast."

"Come in, Lila."

I stepped away from him, curtsied.

"I take my leave, my emperor."

"Hey, girl."

When I looked up to see him.

"You have no competition."

After saying that, he turned around, buttoning up the shirt that had come undone a bit, while I, content with his words, left.

I arrived at the duchy and sneaked into my room. When I entered, I got ready to go downstairs. It was already lunchtime when a carriage arrived at the duchy's door.

It's my brother, he finally arrived. It's been so long since I last saw him. I ran out of my room, with him, even though we didn't have a close relationship, he always brought me gifts and tried to talk to me. I think he made more effort than my own parents.

As I was about to go down the stairs, I ran into my sister.

"Hey, why are you running?"

"Marcos arrived."

I ran out of the duchy, while my brother got off the carriage. He's a younger version of my father, he must have broken a few hearts. When I reached him, I jumped into his arms.

"Brother, you're here."

"Wow, what's going on?"

I buried my face in his chest, waiting for him to pat my head, like a puppy. Now that the five of us are together again.

"This younger sister has missed you."

My sister was coming behind and threw herself on both of us, causing my brother to lose his balance, ending up with the three of us on the ground and both of them on top of my brother.

"I should leave more often to receive this show of affection."

My mother was coming along laughing with my father.

"Come on, girls, leave your brother alone, he must be tired from the journey."

"Let them, mother, before they realize they've grown up and don't want their older brother to hug them."

My sister gave him a sharp look in response.

"Only older because you were born before me."

"But older nonetheless."

I looked at them with tears in my eyes, I finally relaxed a bit.

"I will never complain about your hugs again."

"What happened while I was gone?"

My father spoke up.

"Well, kids, let's go eat something and talk a bit."

We entered the dining room, I finally let go of my brother there, we sat down and the maidservants served us. We went through all emotions, from laughter to tears. My brother even wanted to take matters into his own hands and execute Paula on my behalf.

My father calmed him down, saying that the emperor himself took care of punishing the woman. It's better not to ask why the emperor took care of it personally. My sister gave me an accusing look. I simply avoided her gaze and continued teasing my brother.

During the afternoon, I would go shopping for clothes, finally comfortable clothes. My siblings insisted on going with me, so I will go shopping for the first time with both of them.

We left in a single carriage, my siblings talked about everything, while I seemed like an old lady listening to their conversation, smiling at both of them, until my sister looked at me intently.

"I have to ask."

"What's going on?"

"What's your relationship with the emperor?"

My brother was startled.

"Wait, what happened? From liking the idiot, do you like that sadistic person?"

Everyone knew he was an idiot, except me... Am I even more of an idiot than that brat?

My sister responds, laughing.

"That brat is bigger than you, but the emperor, he's no brat."

"Hey, don't say those things to our little sister."

"But brother, you saw the emperor. Between the two, I vote for the emperor without hesitation. He deserves to be my brother-in-law."

"Yeah, between the two, I als... wait, we're not discussing which one of us is a better candidate. The prince is an idiot and the emperor is a sadist."

"But imagine the things that sadist can do."

"Oh sister, stop dreaming. You know the rumors... Wait a second, maybe he's the perfect man for our little sister. He'll never do anything to her."

"What a boring brother we have."

As I listened to their argument, I laughed. I never imagined they would be like this. I found myself becoming more at ease, but I knew I wouldn't get out of this unscathed. My sister continued to insist.

"Come on, tell us. We won't tell our parents. Do you have something going on with that sadist?"

"Let's just say we have an agreement of words."

"An agreement?"

"I have to heal him first."

"Is he really sick?"

"Yes, but it's a secret."

"And what will he give you in return?"

"That's another secret, between the emperor and me."

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