The Aconitum Flower

1

ALORA EMBRY

Astley, Eyron, and Capell are the three powerful houses in Dormer Empire. They said that if those three Houses worked together, they can bring down the Imperial Family.

But they don't know that the three families were bound to a spell that we will serve the Imperial Family and the Empire, it was a pledge that cannot break. Honestly, it was utterly annoying. And the fact that the three families had a feud, until now. No one wants to lose, rivalry for money, cleverness, influence, power. And this is the last straw on why we can't work together.

"Alora Embry." I look at my brothers, those piercing blue eyes like they can see your soul. "Are you alright? I already called you five times but you are not responding." I look at the Astley's firstborn Kaden Astley.

"Forgive me, there is nothing wrong brother."

"Is the food not to your liking?" Astley's second-born Kio Astley. "Go and bring my sister another food."

"No, it's fine brother, the food is delicious." They frown and continue eating.

"We will be gone for a week or longer than that, we're going to hunt the magical beasts near the border."

There is a legend that a demon was unleashed in the south, that calamity made the land in the south dead, and magical beasts started to roam there. That is why people leave the south and the Emperor gave us this task to subjugate the beasts there.

"I think we can't make it on your birthday." Said Brother Kaden and I nod.

"It's okay it can't be helped. You have a duty because no one in this manor is as reliable as you two Brother Kaden, Brother Kio that can lead the hunt very well."

"Hmm. I'm done eating I will go first."

"Me too, I need to go to my wife."

"Yes, Good Night Brothers."

"Good night, Alora." I sigh when they leave the room, they are cold and intimidating it's kinda suffocating.

"Pour some wine."

"Yes, My Lady." My Father and Mother are still out of the Empire and my younger brothers they received a punishment they are not allowed to leave their room.

After I ate, I stroll in the garden for a minute. The threatening dark clouds are starting to form, and the harsh and cold blows of wind it's going to rain hard tonight.

I look at our family portrait in the center of two grand staircases. No one dared to smile, stiff expressions, we are all wearing black. This family portrait was commissioned last year, feels like it was just yesterday.

My father is the family head of Astley. Duke Kalen Astley has a black hair with those deep dusk-colored eyes. While our mother has long Auburn hair and has those cold blue eyes.

All of my brothers do have black hair, Brother Kaden and the twins have blue eyes and Brother Kio got father's dusk-colored eyes. While I got Auburn hair from my mother and my left eye was blue while the other one is dusk-colored.

I smirk and touch our family portrait.

Our family looks normal but we are a family of killers. Who gets in our way will be killed, at the age of seven we will start to train how to wield a sword, and how to handle a weapon? We receive lessons and if we fail, we will be punished.

My older brother, Kaden is ridiculously strong that we can't take him down. He Is well known as the Astley among Astley's. Famous to those noble ladies and still unmarried at the age of 24.

"Arlene." In just a second, she immediately gets inside my room and bows her head.

"Yes, My Lady?"

"My pet did you already feed them?"