“Go ahead. You used to do that all the time, and I’m used to it now.” The little monster’s eyes and brows curved as he looked at me with a smile, challenging me to take on his advice. His calm demeanor against my boiling anger made me look like the bad guy. That was even more irritating.
I felt like exploding, but before I did, I turned my head away. Besides, I was at loss for words, not knowing how to get back at him. It seemed to me that both my annoyance and competitiveness didn’t get through to him by letting me have my way, which was actually maddening. Yet somehow, there was an inkling of happiness lingering within me. I couldn’t deny the fact that I actually enjoyed his company and felt a sense of closeness even though we argued a lot.
He suddenly pulled two small stools for us to sit on. As he did, his nice-brother persona surfaced. “Beryl, let’s not fight anymore. Would you instead solve the puzzle with me?”
I shook my head without second thoughts. I motioned towards the bandages. “I’m more interested in your appearance. Why are you wearing bandages anyway? Can you take those off and let me have a look?”
He deliberated for a moment before finally saying, “No. Mommy has told me that I can’t do that.”
“But why?” I began to doubt if he was indeed an ugly creature under those wraps. I had always believed that he was one of my family, but now hesitation had found its way inside me through that crack of doubt. Mommy and Daddy were both good-looking, and I was pretty, so to me, it just didn’t sit right with me how they could have a son who was hideous. I couldn’t have a hideous brother!
I caressed my face before extending my arm to touch his. His face was thin under my touch. To me, there was nothing that could possibly scream about us being twins. While I pondered about how we could possibly be twins, he muttered awkwardly, “I really can’t take the bandages off… because I don’t know how to wrap them back.”
I looked at him as if he was the stupidest boy I had ever laid my eyes on. “I can help you wrap them back in the same way. Mommy will definitely not find out. You don’t want me to see your face; is it because you’re lying to me?”
“Of course not!”
“Then is it because you’re really ugly?”
“No, that’s also not it.” The little monster pouted. He turned his back on me and refused to look straight into my eyes. What was it that he was pulling on me right now?
“Then just let me have a look. I really wanna see your face.” I kept pestering him about what was under those bandages. The more that he was being so apprehensive, the more curious I grew. I got close to him and blinked innocently, trying to relay that it was alright and we would never get caught.
He looked at me and thought for a long time before sighing. It meant he agreed! “Well, you can have a look, but you have to help me wrap them back before Mommy catches us.”
“No problem.” I nodded almost too accommodatingly and quickly reached out to take the bandages off his face.
The bandages took their time in falling off one by one; his smooth and fair chin was the first to be exposed. I was nervous yet expectant as I stared at him. I was halfway into taking the bandages when a familiar female voice rang from outside.
It was Mommy, and she was calling out to Arron. That was the little monster’s name!
The sound of her footsteps were getting closer, and she was close to finding us! My heart hammered against my chest, not because I was about to see my twin’s face, but because we’re about to get caught red-handed.
Crystal’s POV
Soon after my video chat with the Beta of my pack ended, I retired to our room to have dinner with Arron.
When I entered, he was frantically trying to rip off the bandage from his head. With a frown, I walked over to him.
“Honey, didn’t I say that you don’t need to bandage yourself when you’re alone here?”
“Mommy, I’m just practicing how to bandage myself. ” A little embarrassed, Arron swiftly removed the bandage from his face.
I looked at him suspiciously, feeling uneasy about this. Arron stammered and seemed guilty, as if he had done something wrong.
I helped him put away the bandage. When I walked to the window, I found small footprints on the window frame.
Taking a glance at Arron, who had been avoiding eye contact with me, I asked, “Did you sneak out today?”
Arron remained silent for a while before lowering his head.
“Sorry, Mommy. I went out for a while, but I didn’t go too far,” he apologized softly.
Suddenly, my heart softened. I wrapped my arms around him and immediately comforted him. “Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blame you. I just think that you shouldn’t climb the window next time you want to go out. It’s dangerous. What if you fall?”
It was all my fault that I had been neglecting Arron these past few days. He had probably been very upset when I didn’t let him go outside the room.
Thinking of this, I felt even guiltier. I caressed his head and said softly, “We can go home after a few more days.”
Hearing my words, Arron smiled again and nodded obediently. “I know, Mommy. Don’t worry. I’ll be a good boy and I won’t climb the window again.”
Arron’s stomach growled as he spoke.
I burst into laughter. “Are you hungry? Come on, let’s go have dinner.”
A servant had already served our dinner. I led Arron to the table and set the plate and utensils for him.
At that moment, an invitation on the table caught my eye. It wasn’t there before, so I asked Arron where it came from.
He frowned again and said nervously, “A servant brought it here just now.”
I raised my eyebrows but didn’t ask any more questions. When I unfolded the card and saw my name written on it-albeit misspelled-I laughed after recognizing it was Beryl’s handwriting.
I asked Arron directly, “Did Beryl come here just now?”
Only Beryl would dare to use Rufus’ seal for something so trivial.
I wasn’t sure what the little girl was thinking. Why did she secretly send me this invitation? Did she know something?
Arron pursed his lips and studied me intently. After determining that I wasn’t upset, he finally said, “Yes, it was Beryl who climbed the window earlier. She told me not to tell you.”
I patted Arron’s head and said, “I know. I didn’t mean to blame you.”
Thinking about it now, I realized that only Beryl would climb a window. Arron had always been obedient and wouldn’t easily do something out of line-except when he was with Beryl.
My son breathed a sigh of relief and started eating.
While sitting on the opposite side of the table, I took a good long look at the invitation. I felt a little amused. Beryl was still the same girl as before. She might seem distant to me, but I could tell that deep down, she still wanted to be close. Despite her wild and unpredictable behavior, she was actually extremely careful and sensitive in most situations.
“Are you going to the ball, Mommy?” Arron finished his bite and asked curiously. “It seems that Beryl really wants you to go to the ball.”
Crystal’s POV
Stunned by my son’s question, I hesitantly rubbed the invitation. Flora’s words then rang in my head. The real purpose of this event was to choose a future queen for Rufus.
Since that was the case, then it would be better if I didn’t attend.
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