Reborn is De-aged Once Again

Chapter 22

"You care to much, Alaude. Right now, I am not here as the second prince's wife, I'm here as an aunt to my nephew and as your informant," Arzella spoke.

"Yet you forget that you are now a queen," Alaude replied.

"As if you're not the one who aids the royal family in the shadows despite being a candidate for the throne."

"That would never happen."

"A king's child from a mistress is still a prince."

"No thanks," Alaude turned his heel from the woman and began walking, "The others are already waiting, let's go".

As they walked towards the living room, Arzella stood frozen at the sight of the first Vongola boss.

"Amarro?"

"Um... who's Amarro?" Tsuna stepped away to make way for the guest.

"He's my brother, I guess I mistook him," She pointed at Giotto, "for my little brother. They look... similar."

Alaude discreetly scowled at how his in-law was obviously implying that his boss was her nephew. Not that he didn't knew that already.

"Your highness," Giotto bowed, "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Upon hearing Giotto that Arzella was a queen, they too bowed.

"Oh dear, please raise your heads. I came here not as a queen, but as Arzella the firstborn of the Aizcirst. If I may kindly ask that you leave me, Alaude, Neander, and Vongola's current boss some privacy it would be great."

And with that, they prepared a room for the four of them to talk.

"Ne Enma-kun, what do you think they're going to talk about?" Tsuna leaned at the railings beside his friend.

"I don't really know Tsu-kun, maybe something that involves Neander-san's past," Enma rested his chin on his hands.

"Maybe, I just hope that everything's alright."

Enma placed his hand on Tsuna's shoulder and faced him with a serious look, "Tsu, we both know that the situation we are in is not alright..."

"Can't I at least be a bit optimistic about this?"

"Since when were you optimistic?"

"Yeah you're right..."

A small pause filled the room as the two began to laugh.

Wiping his tear, Enma spoke breathless, "We... have an... unhealthy... coping... mechanism."

"I... know..."

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Inside the room, there was a thick silence that rests among them. Neither of them had the guts to try and break the accumulating tension. That is until Arzella cleared her throat and placed her gaze towards Giotto.

With a soft smile, "Vongola Primo, I heard from my dearest Alaude that you went here to search for the origin of your famiglia's insigna. I came here in hopes that my knowledge will be able to aid you."

"You highness, I am very much thankful for your aid. Is there something our famiglia can do in order to repay your kindness?"

"There is no need to repay such a trivial thing such as an information that is not even a top secret."

"Your highness, such information might lead you or Giotto to death," Neander intercepted.

"Is that so? Maybe there is something that I want in return," Giotto attentively listened to what comes next, "Neander dearest, you will pass the this down to your descendants. And as for you Giotto, it is up to you whether you share this to others or if you will keep this to yourself. Most importantly, Vongola Primo, I would much appreciate a hug coming from you."

Giotto stared at the woman in disbelief, surely if Neander acted with such caution, this information should be not shared so casually. Despite that, he agreed with the queen's condition and gave her a hug.

Holding him tightly like she was catching up with all the years she missed, Arzella, filled with longing, whispered in Giotto's ear, "Mon cher neveu, tu m'as tellement manqué."

And while all of this unfolds, Alaude just wants to throw himself out of the window, not only they are crowding, he feels that the density in the room was going to kill him, especially when Giotto looks so confused despite Arzella obviously showed him the answer. Somebody, he mentally begs, just cause a ruckus already so he can leave.

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Renato was in his temporary quarters when suddenly a man with a checkered mask appeared in front of him. He raised his weapon to defend himself only for it to be thrown away by the man's weapon.

"What do you want?"

Checker face's lips twitched upwards irking Renato by the elder's smug face, "Why don't you calm down, stray, I am the one who should ask you what you want."

"What I want? What do you mean?"

"My, my we are not playing 21 questions, Renato Sinclair. I am only here to remind you that you are dying."

"Dying? How am I dying? I'm perfectly fi--" Renato then began to cough up blood as he notice a clock tattoo with a scythe for hands was etched in his left wrist

"Once the hand returns to its original position, you will cease to exist, that is all." Checker face then gave him a bow.

"Wait! Why am I dying?! Explain this me you shitty bastard!"

"You of all people should know why, Reaper-kun," Kawahira tipped his hat and disappeared.

Staring at his marked wrist, he silently cursed, "That damned memory of mine that is thriving as an Arcobaleno, I hope you are enjoying our separation. Who knew our hardheadedness will be our death," he clicked his tongue, "Looks like instead of keeping your precious fish safe, you'll be the one who will hurt him the most, and with double the pain too."