Annette

"I-....."

She started but nothing came out of her mouth. She had heard the conversation between her brothers.

"What happened Annette?"

Arlen frowned.

"I....heard your conversation...."

She looked at her feet , embarrassed that she had eavesdropped their conversation.

Arlen sighed but stepped aside to let her come in.

She came inside the room slowly.

"The king has sent you an invitation, he wants you to have tea with him."

Her father told her as she stepped inside.

"Um....when do I have to go?"

She fiddled with her hands.

"The day after tomorrow."

Aaron came in front of her.

"Are you alright?"

He asked , putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Yes....."

Aaron sighed.

"I swear I can't with this father son duo."

Aaron's forehead creased and he frowned as if expressing his discomfort towards the father and son.

"Watch your words brother , the walls have ears too."

Arlen smirked , returning his words from a few days ago when he told Arlen to watch his mouth.

Annette giggled along with Arlen meanwhile Aaron turned a deep shade of red.

"Alright you both , be serious."

Their father said , stifling a laugh himself.

And soon , everyone in the room was in fits of laughter. Annette smiled seeing everyone like this.

Everyone seemed so carefree right now , like they had nothing to worry about. Deep inside her heart , she wished for this , for everyone to be carefree and do whatever they wished , with no one stopping them.

Instead, everybody had some kind of responsibility they had to fulfill. And their father having the most burden on his shoulders.

Just then someone knocked on the door.

It was Jeremy , their butler.

"Your grace , there's an urgent matter , please meet the vessel waiting in your office."

Her father quickly made his way to his office leaving the three siblings alone in the room.

Jeremy was still standing at the door.

"Come to think of it , you're the same age as Aaron right Jeremy?"

Arlen started.

"Yes."

Jeremy answered.

Annette couldn't control her expressions.

"I never knew that!!!!"

She shouted.

Everybody looked at her face. Her mouth was opened slightly because of how surprised she was.

"Hehe.. sister , please don't make that expression , I can barely stop myself from laughing."

Arlen chuckled , squishing her cheeks.

Jeremy also Chuckled.

"No really!! I didn't even have the slightest clue that you were the same age as brother Aaron , I thought you were older than him."

Annette went closer to Jeremy to look at his face closely.

Arlen pulled her back.

"Gawking at his face isn't gonna change anything sister."

He smirked.

Annette tried to get away from his grip but he didn't budge.

She also stopped getting away after a while.

"But Jeremy really looks really mature.".

She whispered.

"I'm honored my lady."

Jeremy smiled.

"Brother Aaron did you know this?"

She turned towards Aaron.

"Of course I did.".

Aaron came towards her and ruffled her hair playfully.

"You were the only one who didn't know."

Arlen teased her.

"This is not fair!!."

She pouted.

"Now that I recall , my lady don't you have an audience with the king."

"Umm.. yes I do."

"Then you should go shopping."

Jeremy fixed his glasses.

"Why?"

She tilted her head.

"You need to prepare for the audience right?? You need to prepare clothes and other things too. You should go shopping this evening. I'll arrange it."

He went out of the room after that.

"Ugh!! Jeremy!! Always thinking about work."

Arlen sighed.

"I've never seen him do anything except for work."

Annette whispered.

"Oh my god!! Sister!!!"

Arlen suddenly started shaking her excitedly.

"What??!!"

She asked curiously.

"I just had the most fantastic idea!!!!"

His eyes were sparkling. Annette looked at him curiously.

"Take Jeremy with you this evening!!!!."

He excitedly said.

Annette's eyes widened in surprise.

And in less than a second , both of them were jumping up and down like toddlers.

Both holding hands excitedly and barely keeping their voices down.

Annette squealed.

"Oh my god!!! Arlen you're a genius!!!!"

She hugged him tightly.

"I'll accompany you too. I want to see how he acts too."

The duo screamed excitedly.

Aaron shaked his head in defeat when he saw the childish siblings.

He couldn't believe them sometimes. Nonetheless he felt happy to see them lively after a long time.

.......

(Later than evening)

"Jeremy? I need to talk to you."

Annette called him carefully.

"Yes my lady?"

Jeremy followed her and she took him to the library since no one could hear them.

"Um....I- ....uhhh...."

She didn't know what to say. Arlen didn't tell her how she would convince Jeremy.

She sighed.

"You can talk to me freely my lady."

She sighed again after hearing his words.

"Well......can you accompany me to do my shopping today????"

She mustered up all the courage she had and said it.

Her eyes were closed tightly and her face was red because of the embarrassment. She was clenching her fists tightly.

"Pffft."

She opened her eyes to see Jeremy laughing.

She couldn't understand what had just happened.

"Aahh!.. I'm sorry my lady.... I got carried away."

He chuckled.

Annette nodded slowly and he continued.

"Did lord Arlen tell you to do this?"

He smirked.

Annette's breath hitched.

He burst laughing again seeing her bewildered expression.

"Ahaha....I'm sorry."

He wiped the tears in his eyes that had formed because of his laughter.

"Actually , I figured that young master Arlen would do something like this since he's been finding ways to get me to stop working for days."

Jeremy smiled.

"Okay.....so.....do you agree on going with me?"

Annette asked cautiously.

"Of course!! How could I refuse?"

He said.

Annette smiled brightly.

"Okay!! Then I'll go prepare to go right away!!!"

Annette skipped away excitedly.

At the end of the hall , someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into a room.

"How did it go?"

Arlen whispered.

"He agreed."

Annette glared at him.

"Really???!!!"

He couldn't believe his ears.

"Yes!!... But I'm so disappointed in you."

She crossed her arms.

"What???!!! why??!!"

His face fell.

"Well....first of all....you didn't tell me how I would convince him and second....he already knows it was your plan?"

She looked away.

"What?!!"

He shreaked.

"Yes.."

She hissed and then left the room in a hurry.

......

At that time she didn't know who she would encounter in the market. If she had known , she would definitely have cancelled the outing.

....
(TBC)