Choose Me Instead (UNDERGOING RE-PLAN AND REWRITE)

Act 1: Scene 34

" –Tia?" a voice calls out to her and Aristia quickly snaps out of it. "So– sorry about that. What's wrong?" she asks. "You're...crying, are you sure you're alright?" her sister asks, clearly concern. Aristia bit the bottom of her lips and hug her sister tightly, "You won't suffer this time, I'll make sure of it." Aristia mumbles. [Y/N] looks at her confused, but hugs Aristia tightly as well. "I'm sure you will."

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"So, what about Allen that made you so excited? It can't just be about the past I'm sure." [Y/N] chuckles. Aristia's eyes light up and she squeals "Allen had gifts sent to us both during spring!" [Y/N] awkwardly smiles, Allendis giving her a gift? That would only happen when pigs fly. "Wow. I can't wait." she robotically replies and Aristia could only sweatdrop at how [Y/N] was acting. "You think he's gonna give white chocolate again?" Aristia questions, and while [Y/N] could not remember how it went, she do know that whatever that grass-looking ass dweeb had planned would not be something she enjoyed. [Y/N] shrugs at Aristia's question, "Could be, you know how he is. Although...I don't think he'll send the same thing twice. What did he say in the letter?"

Aristia nods at [Y/N] observations, "Hmm...I suppose you're right. All he said was that it's white, warm and sweet just like I like it." Aristia ponders. [Y/N] could already feel the bad omen in that sentence. Something Aristia would like that does not include [Y/N], she could somehow narrow it down. "Maybe Allendis is coming back?" she considers. "You think so? But father hasn't sent anything that looks like he's coming back..." Aristia mumbles. Hearing that, [Y/N] wasn't sure if her theory was right anymore, "I suppose you're right Tia." Unbeknownst to both of them, the maids have already caught wind of rumours that Marquess Keiran will be returning home soon and to keep it a secret from the twins as a surprise.

"Well either way I'm sure the gift will be annoying since it's from him." [Y/N] mutters bitterly. Ever since that one prank, she pulled during Allendis' first birthday with them, he had been getting back at her whenever he could. In turn [Y/N] would pull back another prank and the cycle repeats in a never-ending torture for them both. Aristia giggles at [Y/N]'s behaviour, "I'm sure it's not gonna be anything that bad, this year could be the day you both finally stop this childish war."

"That's if he really decides to stop this year." [Y/N] grumbles.

Suddenly Aristia had a lightbulb moment as she smiled at [Y/N], "Maybe we can make something for the knights whom we dearly miss?" [Y/N] just raised her eyebrows in suspicion "Sure! As long as the gift for Allendis is made by you." Aristia's eyes widen in surprise, "How did you know? That I mainly plan to give Allen?" [Y/N] shrugs giving her a look that says 'I just know'. [Y/N] walks out of the room with Aristia still looking at the back of her head. Despite [Y/N] knowing her best, she wouldn't even be surprised if [Y/N] has memories of the past with how she's been acting. But Aristia knows that she will still be slightly shocked if that were true. After all, [Y/N] has always been someone no one could easily identify. She was hard to read which was why His Highness, the crown prince was always treading on eggshells with her in the past. It was also one of the reasons no one pushed for her to be the fiance of his highness instead, since no one could predict her, unlike Aristia who was slightly easier to read.

Aristia bit the bottom of her lips, as much as she hates to admit it she would never be the better candidate as the head of the House of Monique. She doesn't have the strength nor the leadership to lead the people if cases such as a drought or worse, a war were to happen. Yet she still felt as if she should try, worst comes to worst she could always be engaged to Allen. She likes him enough to be wed to him.