After dinner, even though the sky had darkened a lot, the mansion still felt alive.

None of the adults felt like going to sleep. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Now that Evelyn was back, her room when she was a child had been rearranged. The bed linens were changed, the curtains were replaced, and the toys, blankets and baby for had been put away in the mansion’s store room.

It was already late, so Aristia and her family would sleep over in the Anton mansion.

While the adults went to the mansion’s tea room, the children went to the parlour.

Allen sat down quietly on one of the couches.

He didn’t really want to leave his mother, but he knew that she and her new family needed privacy to discuss some things.

He knew that he was going to live here from now on.

He had even heard the old madam telling the butler to arrange for someone to get his and his mother’s measurements the next day to make clothes for them.

The servants were also arranging a room for him.

He turned to his cousins, watching them communicate easily and amicably.

He didn’t dislike it here. They didn’t scorn him or make fun of him just because he didn’t have a father. Instead, they spoke to him like they did each other, even trying to learn more about him.

"... Allen? Allen?"

His attention was brought back when someone called him.

He saw that it was the third princess. "Yes, princess? Tia?" He corrected himself.

"Do you have any other... relatives?" Aristia asked cautiously.

She was curious to know if he had any other relatives from his adoptive grandparents’ side who were close to him or who would want to use the opportunity to associate themselves with the Antons or demand compensation for their relatives, Adam and Samantha, raising Evelyn and her son.

[Some people can be unreasonable and opportunistic like that.]

Allen shook his head. "No. I’ve never met anyone from Grandpa or grandma’s family."

[Oh. He’s never met any other relative or family member?]

"You don’t know this, but we have an older brother." Lauren said, turning Allen’s attention to her.

"An older brother?" Allen asked. He thought that were complete.

"Yes. His name is Liam. But he’s in the Royal Academy." Alaric said.

"Have you heard of the Royal Academy?" Lilith asked.

Allen nodded slowly.

He had heard of the royal academy, even though there wasn’t much.

The people just talked about the prestigious academy attended by royal, noble and Mana using children from different kingdoms in the world. The commoners couldn’t dream of attending the academy unless they had magic.

"Good for you." Alaric said. "Because you’ll attend it in three years. Boys attend the academy once they turn eight."

Allen gulped.

"Don’t be scared." Aristia said. "You’ll enter the academy the same time as Al. So you’ll see a familiar face. Liam will be back from the Academy for the Kingdom’s anniversary, so you’ll get to see him then."

She continued. "Our grandparents, our uncle, or your auntie aka my mom, will arrange a tutor for your mother and you."

Allen’s brows furrowed in confusion, "aka? Mom?"

"It means also known as, and mother." Alaric explained.

"Oh." Allen nodded. The third princess was so strange, but his other cousins seemed to be used to it.

Suddenly, something occured to him. His head shot up.

"Tutor?"

"Yes. A tutor is someone who will teach you." Lilith explained.

Allen shook his head. He knew what a tutor was. What he wanted to know was why he and his mother needed one?

Aristia understood this. "Your mother is the third child and second daughter of the Antons; one of the two Ducal families in this kingdom. As her son, you are a part of the aristocracy and nobility. Your mother has to learn noble etiquette and subjects. You need to learn the same. It’s important for the family and the kingdom’s name because as a noble, the way you act shows the Kingdom’s prestige and also reflects on your family." She finished her explanation.

Allen finally grasped what this meant. Being part of nobillity wasn’t light. There was a weight of expectations that they had to bear.

But Aristia suddenly waved her hand with a slight smirk. "Don’t think too much. We haven’t died as noble children. No one said you can’t have fun."

"Fun?" Allen asked with confusion, his eyes trailing to the others for an explanation.

"You’ll see." Lauren said, mirroring Aristia’s expression.

***

The next day, Madam Grace arrived to take the measurements of Evelyn and Allen.

Her expression showed surprise for a second before she masked it.

Was this the missing second daughter of the Antons? She looked just like Imperial Princess Catherine to not be. And she had a son?

But she stayed silent, keeping her mouth shut.

She didn’t want to create trouble for herself with a loose tongue.

Before taking the measurements, she turned to Catherine who was standing at the side.

"Does any of the designs suit your taste, your highness?"

"Let her see." Catherine said, going to hand the designs to Evelyn.

Evelyn went through the designs before looking back up at Catherine.

"I-I don’t know."

Catherine’s expression didn’t change. "Should I choose for you?"

Evelyn’s eyes lit up. "Can you?"

"Of course," Catherine smiled, then turned to Madam Grace. "Make dresses with each of the designs."

Evelyn was stunned, before calming down. Her mother had said that she wouldn’t need any of her old clothes. That meant she would need fresh clothes.

Just one design of clothes wouldn’t be good. But...there were about twenty designs.

Catherine turned to her. "You will have to make do with these few designs. But don’t worry. Madam Grace will make more for you."

Evelyn was even more speechless. She had been thinking that the twenty was much, only for her older sister to say that there would be more.

She could only nod her head.

Madam Grace’s assistants also got Allen measured.

Finally, madam Grace bowed towards Catherine and Evelyn. "We will be leaving, your highness, my lady. All the dresses will be ready in a few weeks."

Catherine nodded and Madam Grace left.

Catherine turned to Allen.

"Allen."

Allen’s face snapped up. "Yes, a-aunt?"

"You can leave. Tia and your other cousins are in the garden."

Allen nodded. "Oh, okay." He bowed lightly, turned around and left.

It was only Catherine and Evelyn in the room now.

Evelyn’s gaze moved from Allen who just left the room, to Catherine, catching her gaze.

"Your Highness." She said.

Catherine shook her head, a smile appearing on her face.

"He’s adjusting quickly. But it looks like you’re still be struggling to."

Evelyn was stunned for a bit before she smiled wryly.

"I... Yes. I just found out yesterday that I’m a part of nobillity, and that... my real family also cares about me." Evelyn said. "It’s quite a lot to take in."

Catherine reached out and held a strand of her hair that covered her face. "You’ll get used to it."

She sighed, releasing the lock of hair.

"I don’t remember much about you, if at all, just as you don’t remember me, but mother and father have always told us, Max and I, about you. There were also paintings of yourself, or you and I, or our whole family together. I didn’t fully understand. Maxim was the one hurt because he remembered you more than I did."

"But what happened?" Evelyn asked, confused.

Catherine shook her head. "It’s not up to me to say. I was a baby too. Mother and father would tell you."

"But why are you telling me this?" Evelyn asked, even more confused.

"Because you are very much a part of this family, Eve, as much as I am. I see you. You seem to want to be close to me, but at the same time, not. You tread carefully around me, and I know why. You think I will feel bad that the attention I receive will be divided or reduced."

Evelyn’s eyes widened.

"But that’s not true." Catherine said. "I know I grew up as the only young lady, and no one mentioned you since that incident. But I’ve received all the love, care and affection. I’ve sometimes wondered if you were still alive, and how you were faring if you were, wherever you were. I’ve watched Alistair and her sister, and I would never admit it to them, but I’ve always wondered how it would be like if you were here. A little sister to take care of the way Maxim does. You’re my sister, Evelyn. And nothing will ever change that."

After saying this, there was a round of silence between them.

Evelyn was too stunned to speak.

Catherine herself had just spoken the truth. She also knew that her parents and brother loved her. Evelyn’s presence wouldn’t change that. She knew too that her parents and brother loved Evelyn too.

They were trying to make up for the lost time with her.

She was a bit offended, knowing that Evelyn thought that she would be jealous and dislike her.

She knew that Evelyn wanted to be close to her, and she wanted the same too. They couldn’t be close as children, but it wasn’t too late.

Evelyn finally reacted.