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nA few days had already passed, the Founding Festival had officially ended, and so everything is now back to normal. My brother who had been acting like a ghost around the manor for being so busy is also back to his usual routines-- I have not seen him for almost a week already, I swear. Not even his shadow. I wonder what he's been doing all this time?

nHe's always going back and forth in the palace. I'm pretty sure it's got to do with the attack from that night.

nOh, and by usual, I meant bullying the guards during their training sessions. A maid told me that my brother is in the training ground with the others and completely making everyone else cry. I say bully because he really is one! He would pummel them mercilessly in the name of practice and the others can't do anything about it. The guards, especially the secret unit, who had taken a breather for almost a week, are all experiencing hell at the moment.

nKai and Uno were used to Nathan's extremity so they are looking fine, the others? Not so much. Right about now, a good chunk of the Herman guards are panting at the side, collapsed on the ground with their hearts grieving. They looked like they were all raising white flags as a sign of surrender but my brother is blind to those kinds of things..

nWhat surrender? To him, surrendering is a crime. Anyone who would bail out will have an even worse fate. So they have no choice but to swallow their tongue and endure hell.

nI just got there and I could already see some men, laying flat on their stomachs on the ground and crawling away. Some are crying blood on the other side while the current person who's being subjected to Nathan's 'training' is giving his all. He looks like he's ready to lay his life on the line for this.

nThe picture they are giving is comical that even I can't tell if I wanted to pity them or laugh it off.

n'Poor them…'

nMy brother is now back in the mansion, which also meant that I can pester him anytime. Which also meant that I can now ask him about the things that happened at the ball!

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"Brother,

" I called out as soon as I got closer, casting furtive looks at the guards.

nEven though they were all exhausted, they still carried themselves upright to greet me. Their faces were pale, the once majestic Herman guards looked like they had aged for ten more years.

nThis is the Nathaniel effect. Even the knights are not exempted and are surely not immune to it. I heard Eon grumble his sentiments to me every time we meet, asking me to drug my brother or cast a spell on him or something. He even suggested exorcising him because my brother apparently was being possessed by a demon.

nI didn't mention all these to Nathan out of pity for the grieving Eon. If I did, I'm sure, my brother won't let it go…

nIn retrospect, I can use these grievances of him in the future. Another piece for blackmailing people. Fufufufufu~

nNo. I am not purposely gathering dirt on everyone around me, alright? Why would I do that? I am a good person. Mhmm.

nKai grinned when he saw me coming, his free hand waving at me for a brief moment before he went back to his one on one fight with another secret guard. He's being so diligent as usual, how admirable.

nThere was a metallic sound when a sword flew out of the guard's grasps before planting itself on the ground. The person my brother was engaging on hunched down in fatigue, almost collapsing on the ground.

nHe won again. As always.

nSeriously, I would applaud whoever would defeat this brother of mine in a swordfight. He is still undefeated until this day. Not even my dear father, who is a general if I may add, can win against him.

nThe ace of the Herman family!

nAnd then there's me. A useless bum. Heh.

nNathan turned to me as soon as I got to him. His eyes narrowed into slits in disapproval.

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"Nadia. You shouldn't come close when we are training,

" he said.

nYes, brother. You have said that for like a lot of times already.

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"Sorry about that. It's because I haven't seen you for a while,

" I replied, smiling at him with a sheepish look on my face.

nIt was my fault for forgetting the dangers of venturing into a place full of banging swords. My bad...

nNathan took the towel I handed him and wiped away the sweat off of his face and neck. I waited at his side like a good sister I am, carrying a glass of cold water for him to drink as well.

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"Did something happen?

" He inquired, looking at me with expectant eyes.

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"Nope. I just missed you, that's all,

" I uttered as I grinned at him. He snorted upon hearing me, probably not believing what I just said--

"Are you going to take a break?

" I added.

nThe guards who could hear us perked up suddenly and had glanced at us through the sides of their eyes. I saw it and it made me laugh internally.

nNathan accepted the glass and downed it in one gulp. He didn't return it to me and hold onto it instead.

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"Mmm,

" His head then turned to the resting guards--

"Let's continue this tomorrow!

"

nTheir pale faces got their colors back, eyes sparkling in happiness, gone the tension between their brows. They were looking at me in gratitude just because my presence gave them the break they had wanted.

nYou can clearly see how relieved they are, lol.

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"Do you have something to do later?

" I asked him again as I joined him on his walk back to the house.

nNathan also lessened his pace for me so we could walk side by side.

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"I have to report to His Majesty. Why?

"

nHe's leaving again? Oh, man…

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"When is that?

" My eyes turned to him in inquiry.

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"After I take a bath,

" he replied.

nSo, now? Tsk.

nJust when I finally get to see him he's busy again.

nI have a lot of stuff that I wanted to ask him, the things that have been bugging me since the ball and had been withheld because he's not around. I thought I could get my answers to him today but it seems that is not the case at all.

nNathan must have noticed that something was up to me because he was back to inquiring me again.

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"Do you need something?

"

nA pout almost escaped my lips,

"I do but… some other time. You are busy after all.

"

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"If it's urgent then I can spare a bit--

"

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"It's okay, brother!' I exclaimed, cutting him off--

"I won't hold you back because it's not that important anyway,

" I said while shrugging.

nYeah, right. There's still next time. By then, I can maybe ask him to bring me to the Arcane tower.

nNathaniel didn't answer right away and just observed me for a moment. He then raised one of his hands and patted my head once.

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"Okay…

"

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