"Careful. Those are poisonous." Viktor warned with his velvety voice before approaching me and taking away the silky flower I was holding. His hands engulfed the petals steering away from the sharp needles on the green stem.
"I could never recognize them as easily." I chuckled as I rose from my crouch, facing the field of white and blue silky flowers. A local plant _mother has mentioned one time during our stroll_ that grows in humid environments. Or was it arid ones? I could barely remember. The memory fleeting, in like any other botany lecture.
The orange light of the sun shone warmly through the tinted glasses of our greenhouse. It was our usual botany lecture afternoon. Walking through this pilgrimage of plants, where our mother had gathered every local species, we tried naming them as well as listing their qualities. Professor Flaurie, made sure to take notes of our answers and adding his sharp, salty remarks. He might be quietly following us from behind with his quill and paper, a face of academic scrutiny, looking as serene as possible, but his mind is a bubbling pot, stirring with the most terrifying insults. Looks like I will be paying for my ignorance with a scornful of syllabus drenched in venom.
My brother, Viktor, however, will be receiving all grandiose adjectives a person can come up with in a short instant. This was his forte and passion, after all. The exact opposite of me.
"Well, half the time our mother or Professor was lecturing us, you were either dwelling on the history lessons, or of the next weapon you'll be swinging at me tomorrow in armory training." Viktor murmured in a low, teasing voice trying to blend it with the light breeze, preventing Mr. Flaurie from hearing. "You don't even have a notebook, as advised."
I opened my mouth to retort my dear teasing brother but Professor Flaurie hummed as a warning, cutting the air and bringing our attention back to his piercing gaze from behind.
"That should be sufficient for today."
Ah. The devil has spoken, alas.
We turned towards the rich, monotone voice coming from behind us in sync and waited for the creative insults he will be throwing towards me this afternoon. Last time, he told me I was as useless as a strand of rail grass in medicine. I thought we used grass in every healing potion. Or was the green color from leaves? My fog was the consequence of dwelling on other matters rather than remembering which flower breathes and which does not.
I cannot comprehend why recognizing every single plant could be any useful. For a common person, steering away from poisonous flowers would be wise. But we aren't common people. We are royalty, and my father has been adding small doses of poison in our water since I was eight. I should be immune by now.
I wonder if he's going to come up with a better insult this time. Or worse.
"Viktor," Flaurie began, his voice rich with pride, "You have once again identified every specimen, with deep knowledge of its shape, habitat and properties. A true son of Lady Freishter." Professor Flaurie beamed, his gray hair shining against the reflection of grass.
Viktor was his pride and joy. And so was the case for other folk.
"As for you-" it's your grace, actually. I silently thought, deeply staring into his eyes and trying to fight the urge to correct him. A shudder ran through me and I couldn't decipher what was the reason. The rage, the anticipation or the fear?
The people have yet to start addressing the rightful heir properly.
I saw him gulp for a moment, and a sweat dropped from his forehead. "…never mind. You may head out now. Class dismissed."
…What was that?
Has he finally realized that taunting me with horrific terms is proving to be useless?
I was still surprised that professor Flaurie couldn't come up with one new insult for me today, when Viktor grabbed me by my shoulder leading me outside.
"You scared the poor guy; you need to ease that look of yours." Viktor said with a soft voice. His tone was always gentle and soothing, like a lullaby.
"I don't know what you mean." I genuinely said. Still confused from the professor's reaction, I glanced up at Viktor. "I can't believe I lived the day to see Flaurie out of nasty remarks. I've yet to see him out of praise for you." I teased that last bit, playfully nudging my brother.
"For the last time Normandie- he does not favor me." Viktor rolled his eyes, trying to convince me that professor Flaurie didn't have a special spot for him and him alone.
Was it because he was skillful at botany, medicine and apothecary? Or simply because he is the only son of the Freishters?
We stepped out of the greenhouse to the golden crop field that stretched for kilometers. This could feed a nation straight out of war. Or two kingdoms with peace yet drought, I thought. Wheat and rye against the color of the sunset was a beautiful canvas. Even to someone who has no proper taste for art and beauty.
I looked at Viktor and his platinum hair has turned golden, matching the crops due to the glimmering sun. He truly belonged to this land.
"Does it bother you?" Viktor broke the silence as he sat down, staring into the far horizon.
I wasn't sure what he meant by that. I had a hunch, but I didn't base my answers on hunches.
"The professor insulting me?" I asked, aiming for indifference.
He turned his gaze to me, deeply looking in my eyes before opening his mouth.
"Your grace," he said quietly. "That is not what I meant to ask."
The title knocked the air from my lungs and left me bewildered for a moment. It didn't sound real coming from him but it sounded right. Though, part of me still didn't want my brother to accept it as easily.
"It sounds awful from you." I lied through a hesitant smile. Whether my ego enjoyed it or not was unimportant to show to my brother. I ran a hand through my black hair, trying to think about anything but his stare burning holes in my face and his answer echoing in my head.
However, after voicing it, I realized there was no point in lying to myself nor to my brother. Better put it in the open and accept it.
"It does bother me." i sighed, accepting my flaw. The thought of a heavy talk made my knees give up and I slid down next to him. Running a hand over the wheat crops that left a dry sensation on my palm.
The sun has set and dinner will soon be served.
"Having your own subjects question your heritage or even deny it, is not something to look forward to, as their future leader." The words surfaced slowly. Suddenly, all the memories that I tried pushing to the back of my head flipped in front of my eyes like a wave. My palms started sweating and I tried blinking away the stingy feeling behind my eyes and itchy throat.
All the times the employers of the castle have addressed me by first name, like I was still a kid. All the times I have heard them through walls, gossip about the king going mad and naming me heir when it should've been Viktor.
How suitors still show no respect to the future queen by taking distance and are actively seeking out my hand.
How nobles at court "jokingly" address my brother as 'your highness' and 'your grace'. Not once, not even twice. But multiple times.
I could have their tongues and heads for that.
By divine law.
By word of the throne.
"Then you should always act like you have done earlier today at the greenhouse." The gentle voice of Viktor pulled me away from my retrospection. "That exact evil look you have plastered on your face right now."
I raised an eyebrow at him, playfully. "You seem to have a problem with my face." I said, fully convinced that my gaze was harmless. It was simply the dark, slim shaped eyes that made me look different from my brother and mother. I have always envied them for having big round eyes, that were filled with warmth and tenderness. They conveyed feelings easily. No need for words. "I simply gazed at him. Exactly like I am doing right now." I tilted my head at him framing my face with my palms.
The wave of emotions from earlier disappeared as quickly as they have emerged. That, is a result of Viktor's charms.
He let out a short snort before shaking his head and laying on his back, fully emerged in the crop field now.
His hair undistinguished from the wheat. Same as mother's, I thought. While their resemblance was uncanny, I looked more like my father. Less welcoming and sweet. Less warm.
More violent. To quote some of the servants, when I was simply practicing my martial arts moves in the halls with the knights.
People held a lot of prejudices on the simple matter of genes.
They even questioned my lineage to my mother. All because i had slightly "darker" features.
I brushed off the thought because I can feel my blood starting to pump fast and hot and diverted my attention back to my brother.
I always know when he will start speaking.
"This is not something I want to openly admit nor would I want to repeat so listen carefully." His tone shifted to a serious one so quickly. And it no longer was lullaby-like. It became sharp, in the sweetest way. Like the edge of a paper.
I stilled.
"You're a natural leader." He started and I can feel my body hair standing up. "Decision making, problem solving, justice…It all comes so easily to you. Like a fish swimming along the stream."
He turned his gaze towards me and I stared down at him. The stingy feeling in my eyes making a comeback this evening.
"The nobles might want someone with a gentle smile who nods at any foolish request they desire. But they need someone to be the rational and reasonable." His voice was clear, steady and confident. He was not bluffing. Not teasing.
"They need you, Normandie."
I shook my head, brushing off the compliments. He made them sound like facts and I was starting to accept them like universal truths.
"The common folk need someone who can stand on their promises and turn them into reality. You are perfectly fit for the role, sister."
"You merely say that because you're my brother. Others clearly argue otherwise." I got up, stretching and ready to head back inside the castle to feast on ducks and cheese.
My father's favorite, and so is mine.
"I swear it. On the name of our family, your grace. And I promise that Iwill vouch for you." He finished with a killing blow and I felt my knees grow weaker again.
He believes in me.
He is loyal to me.
We may look polar opposites from the outside but blood ran thicker than water. And the bond keeps strengthening no matter the circumstances.
Whether we fight or argue, the thread never broke.
No matter what the folk would say, that might divide us and plant a seed of doubt between us, it never worked. All the useless talk would hang in the air above us and we would drink tea while making jokes of it.
He believed I could be a true leader and promised to vouch for me. My shoulders might be heavy from all the expectations I have set upon myself, but only his mattered.
Only his approval of me was enough to tackle my duty.
The cold wind blowing through the now-dark field cooled the flush on my skin. I ran a hand through my hair again, unable to forget the words he just delivered.
A habit of mine whenever I wanted to think or shake off the ideas bothering me. Though today, it never seemed to work.
For once, I felt like I was capable of ruling this Kingdome with only my brother beside me.
A sudden realization hit me that losing Viktor, losing my brother, would be the end of me and I do not wish that.
I could not allow it. Not in a million years.
A smile found it's way to my face and a warm feeling twisted inside of me. Like the weight of a warm blanket in winter.
I have a loyal family. That was all that mattered in the face of a doubtful society.
"We should make our way back to dinner." I stretched an arm for Viktor to take, helping him to rise from his position. It looked oddly comfortable, but I was starving.
"You can't pass on roast duck, can you?" He joked as we descended the hill through a shortcut to the back of the castle.
"They're irresistible."