Alma 58 Sibling Love And Devotion

The pleasant, soft music played by the performing musicians would have been enjoyable had it not been overshadowed by the deafening sounds of the guests at the party. A cacophony of hushed whispers buzzed around his ears like a fly he couldn't get rid of no matter how hard he tried.

"So that's the boy that the princess's taken for her herself…"

"Who would have thought? It seems like she likes them young and cute…"

"He's the one from that incident, right? The one that was 'covered up' last year. Very interesting, indeed…"

"Her Highness was very quick to react, too. Snatched the boy before anyone else even had a chance. I hear it soured her relationship with…"

Rumors, theories, and gossip were born here, exchanged amongst the upper class like money. Anything was up for sale here, be it a scandalous rumor about the royal family, the movements of certain noble families, or far-fetched stories about events that might or might not have occurred.

Unfortunately, Reed himself had become one of these hot topics that the nobility discussed in these gatherings, for good reason.

A foreign child who had won the favor of the Winter Princess, of all the people in the North.

Someone of questionable talent that caused a certain incident during his contract with the Will of the World.

A figure that had seeming made friends with all of the most important figures in his generational batch, despite his unorthodox origins.

Even his personal records had been wiped clean. The only thing they'd been able to learn about him were the most basic of details.

Naturally, these crumbs of truth only served to heighten the fantasies of the nobility who lived and acted on the whispers they heard in the wind. Things were being hidden from them, which meant only one thing to them.

Someone was making a move upstairs, above even them. Powers greater than the likes of them, who managed the state of affairs in their regions. The boy was a subject of national concern, and that meant something big.

The royal family rarely ever intervened in matters of the state, acting only in times of crisis and international concern. The title of Evergreen had been the last straw for them. It was beyond unprecedented, for the royal family to have given the boy that title.

Everyone in the room felt it their bones. Something was happening. A storm was coming, and a big one at that. And with this storm came an opportunity, a gamble of sorts.

The storm could bring unimaginable benefits to them, or utterly destroy them if they picked the wrong choice. Ride the storm and adapt to the new changes, or fight back and defend against the change.

That was the question. And knowing the answer would dictate the future hierarchy of the noble class for centuries, perhaps even millennia to come.

Reed's cold, stoic face made him stand out even more than normal. His calm, composed facade made some people think that he was not the naive lamb that they had initially pegged him to be. Although he looked a bit cold, he emanated an aura of maturity beyond his years.

Of course, what he felt inside was anything but how he seemed on the outside.

They won't stop looking at me… Do I look weird or do they just not like me? Not that I give a damn what they think of me. Some of their gazes are also a bit… unsettling. T-They look like they want to skin me alive or something!

"That's the greed in their eyes, boy. They see you as delicious prey. It's only natural; people always want what others possess. When you came walking in with that royal wench, everyone recognized that you had some kind of worth. Why else would a princess associate with a nobody like you?" said Lacrima.

Violett and Lu'um had left him to his own devices after they had left to take care of some kind of business. What that meant was unknown to him. Abandoned, Reed had moved across the ballroom to one of the more secluded areas to hide from the persistent gazes of the guests.

Reed sighed and quietly muttered, "This is ridiculous… I really don't belong here at all. Might as well hide somewhere better than here…"

Just as he was about to consider hiding in one of the mansion's bathrooms, a charming voice said, "Why don't you hide in my room instead? It'd be better than hiding out here, behind this pillar, right?"

Startled, Reed turned towards the source of the voice and saw a young girl staring at him curiously behind a large, potted plant. Her long, distinctive silver hair had given her away as it amusingly swayed back and forth like a lure.

Her big, honey-golden eyes caught his attention as they inspected him from top to bottom. It made her seem like a predator — albeit a cute one — like a jaguar or a lion, stalking its prey…

Reed put on the best fake smile he could muster and said, "O-Oh? I didn't see you there, little miss. I hope you can do me a… favor and keep what I said a secret between us." His old-school skills had kicked in from his orphanage days, thinking he could win the young girl over with a couple of sweet words and some gifts.

He pulled a small chocolate bar he'd stashed in his jacket and handed it to the young girl. "Why don't you take this, and we'll call it square, hm?"

Reed had begun carrying the chocolate bars for a perfectly good reason: He loved chocolate. Not that he'd begun using them to subtly bribe and cajole Lu'um. Of course not. He would never exploit something she loved for his own gain because he was a gentleman at heart.

The girl giggled in delight and popped out the plant she'd been hiding with a cute hop and landed in front of Reed. "You're really nice, aren't you? I'm glad that you actually came. We've been all waiting for you to come for the longest!"

She gently grabbed Reed's hands and said, "But now that you're here, it'll all be fine. Come on, big brother, you came to talk to my siblings, right? I can take you to them!"

Siblings? I came for them? That doesn't sound right…

"Sorry, but I'm going to have to meet someone in a bit," said Reed and patted the girl's head in apology. "Your big bro has to meet the person who owns this house to talk about serious, boring stuff. But I promise that I'll come to meet you after, okay?"

Sorry, kid, but that ain't happening. As soon as I'm done with nonsense, I'm out of this dump.

The young girl titled her in confusion and said, "But that's where I want to take you, big brother! My family owns this house and my older brothers and sisters want to meet you! That's why you're here, right?"

Reed paused for a moment and then said, "Can you tell me your name?"

The girl sweetly replied, "Ylva Dragoncrest. It's a pretty name, right? You believe now? Now come on, let's go and meet everyone!"

Well, shit. Guess, I might follow her, then. Better than staying here, that's for sure…

Empty, extravagant corridors passed by as Reed and Ylva walked down the mansion's halls. The walls were filled with portraits and decorations of various scenes that he recognized.

They were all portraits that depicted the tale of a single woman, and her solitary journey.

Wherever she traveled, life bloomed and people gathered to enjoy the fruits of her divine labor.

She was the one who had given everything for the sake of the world, even her own soul. She who had given the world the privilege of Alma.

"Do you like the paintings? I love staring at them and thinking about the holy work that the Goddess did for everyone. Don't you think she's the greatest?" said Ylva with the brightest smile in the universe on her face.

Uhhh... Do they worship her? I thought that she was a myth from a bygone era… Huh.

"Oh. We're here, it's this room. Come on, let's go and meet everyone~" said Ylva and opened a large golden door that had the motif of a sun on it.

"Heeey~ I brought big brother over! Look, look! He's here!" said Ylva, latched on Reed's arm.

The room was warmly lit and soft light shone across, blanketing the people inside with a honey-glow. Six pairs of eyes gazed at Reed with an intensity that put him on high alert the moment he entered the room.

Silver hair, golden eyes. Delicate, refined features that could capture the hearts of men and women. An aura of holiness permeated the room and the Anima that they emitted. It made them feel like children of gods, as if they'd been formed from nature itself rather than by Men.

"So you have, Ylva. Well done, little wolf," said the man with the strongest Anima aura in the room, a young man no older than Reed himself. He, alone, sat at the furthest in the room as he held an open book in his hands titled, The Lone Sunchaser.

"Welcome, Reed — no, brother of mine. We've been waiting for you to arrive. Please, sit. We have much to discuss…"

Chapter end