On the side, Estella watched the two opponents facing each other. Her eyes took in their every actions. She then turned to side, staring at her fourth sister who also watched them with folded arms. The smile on her fourth sister's face was no more. All that remained was an empty look as if it wasn't her elite slave about to die at the hands of their fourth brother.
''Elder sister, what if father voices his complains?'' Looking at the side of her sister's face, Estella expressed her worries in a whisper.
''….Your worries are certain, Estella.'' Estelle's face immediately changed at the mention of their father. Truly, if their father heard about this, he wouldn't be pleased. Their actions would be seen as a sign of disrespect, rebel and a question to his authority as the Grand duke Langston. He had given his word about the life-and-death battle, yet Edwin came to seek a fight on his own. And the one who pushed him to come to the sixth madam's manor and challenge their fourth sister's elite slave was none other than her.
If she was not careful, her mother might lose favor from her father and her reputation as the fourth madam of the Langston family. That would be disadvantageous to herself and younger sister.
Immediately Estelle understood the consequences, she did not waste time in stopping her fourth brother and the elite slave about to fight. Her voice was a bit loud, but audible for Edwin to hear.
''Fourth brother, withdraw from this battle.''
Just as Edwin was about to start fighting first, he suddenly paused at the Estelle's words. Upon hearing her words, his lips curled down, clearly not agreeing with her and expressing his displeasure.
''Why should I withdraw?'' He asked, hating that someone must suggest that he always needed to withdraw from a battle. During the family dinner, his mother wanted him to revoke the challenge. Now, his second sister was telling to withdraw from this fight as well.
The most annoying fact of all, was that his opponent remained the same.
His weak fourth sister!
''You must give me a clear answer. Why should I withdraw from this battle, Estelle?'' With clenched hands, Edwin asked again. This time, a little louder as his anger was reaching its peak. Was everyone thinking he was weaker than his fourth sister?
How was he weaker than that weakling?
He was a powerful swordsman for his young age. His mother had told him many times that it wouldn't be long before he reaches the rank of a swordmaster. If he worked harder than ever, he could become an auramaster.
His mother had clearly told him that, yet she was the same who forced him to evoke his challenge during the family dinner.
''Haa…'' Estelle sighed, tiredly with her fingers on her forehead. Her head shook lightly in annoyance. Just by looking at Edwin's face, she could already tell his arrogant thoughts. He should be grateful that she stopped him from doing something that he would regret much later.
'If not that he was useful…I wouldn't expend this much energy to manipulate him….' Dark emerald eyes flickered in disdain.
''Fourth brother, if you battle with fourth sister's elite slave, father will not be too pleased. He assured you and fourth sister about the life and death battle. If you fight now, won't it be the same as not giving father face?'' Estelle took her time to explain the consequences of Edwin's actions.
She stood before him. ''If you want to continue, then you can. Don't say that this sister didn't warn you.'' Hearing her words, Edwin's face paled beyond recognition as if her words just poured freezing water on him, cooling the heat from within.
''We must leave now, Estella.'' Ignoring the dazed Edwin, Estelle called her twin sister before turning to side where Raven stood with an apologetic smile. ''Fourth sister, pardon us twin sisters, but we've made some prior engagements.''
Prior engagements?
Then why were you that nosy to still come here if you have some prior engagements?
''You do not need to excuse yourself, second elder sister.'' Raven returned with a sweet appreciative smile. ''Thank you for visiting this younger sister's home.'' Inwardly, she snorted at the obvious lie thrown in her face. If these twin sisters truly had the so-called prior engagements, they wouldn't have bothered to show up in this manor in the first place.
''We are sisters, fourth sister. There's no such thing as visit. When we have free time on our hands, let's have some sisterly chats over tea.'' Estelle suggested. At the same time, she couldn't help closely observe this fourth sisters of hers.
Her weak fourth sister was now staring at her in the eye.
'She's really different from before…' Estelle mentally noted before walking out of the battle grounds. For some reason, her courage to stare at her fourth sister's smiling face seemed to be crumbling bit by bit.
That smile of hers didn't seem right.
''Fourth sister, I wish you luck on your life and death battle.''
''Thank you, third sister.'' Raven smiled sweetly at Estella who returned hers and hastened her steps to Estelle who waited for her at a distance.
''Fourth brother, second sister is right.'' Raven's words snapped Edwin from his fearful daze. Realizing that he did something stupid, Edwin rushed his way out the battle grounds, by stomping his feet angrily with a yell.
''I don't need you to tell me!''
'...How cute.' Raven remarked at the embarrassed Edwin as he disappeared from her sight.
''Jane, see the guests out and visit the family physician about your cheek.'' After a moment, Raven looked over to Jane who stood mutely on the side, probably trying to reduce her presence in order not incur Edwin's wrath.
The fact that her own personal maid was disregarded with this much disrespect says a lot of the original owner's status.
''T-Thank you for concern, young lady.'' Keeping her tears at bay, Jane gave a quick bow before rushing out of the battle grounds. If not for the young master and young ladies, Jane would have given a full-blown smile.
No matter what, her young lady still remained the same, even if her weak character changed a little bit.
****
''Elder sister, what are your thoughts on fourth sister?''
In the moving carriage, the twin sisters sat side by side, on their way to their mother's manor. The person who asked the question was Estella who stared innocently at her elder twin sister.
''She's different. For the first time, the snobbish Edwin was smart to notice that little detail.'' Estelle snorted in disdain.
''Fourth brother did say fourth sister clearly died on that day. However, everyone can see that fourth sister is alive and breathing.'' In contemplation, Estelle murmured to herself.
Recalling that sweet yet uncomfortable smile, the frown on her lips deepened more than ever. That smile really did not give a good feeling. Her instincts were telling her be cautious around her fourth sister, but….why should she cautious around someone clearly weaker than herself?
That was something Estelle could not understand. Nevertheless, she wouldn't fully ignore her instincts. If her fourth sister becomes someone dangerous in the future, then she would have to adjust her plans.
'No matter what…I will stop those eyes and voices looking down on us.' Estelle vowed deeply in her heart.
''Elder sister…..'' Estella's hesitant voice returned Estelle back into reality.
''Yes Estella?'' She turned to her younger sister who parted her lips, seeming as if to say something, but closed them back as though she was nervous and scared.
''You can say what you want, Estella.'' Estelle's gaze softened at the sight of her young sister's cute action.
''W-What if fourth sister has awaken….'' She stuttered, then her voice reduced to nothing at the end of her unfinished sentence, as though she said something wrong.
''...''
It would be a lie if Estelle said to anyone that she had not thought about that. The possibility of her fourth sister's awakening. Apart from her second elder brother, her fourth sister was the only one who took after their father which also meant that she was of pure blood. Her eyes particularly were a sign.
''If she has, then father would have said something.'' Answering with that, Estelle's mood sunken, and she turned her gaze away from her younger twin sister. Her eyes remained on the moving scenery outside of the carriage.
When their second elder brother awakened his, their father announced to the entire Langston grand duchy. If Raven awakened hers, he would do the same.
It was as simple as that.
''...'' Estella quietly watched the back of her elder twin sister. Her eyes then moved down to the fisted hands on her lap. Something as quick as a shooting star flashed in her light emerald eyes as she turned away, acting blind to her elder twin sister's action.