Darling Soul

Chapter Seven

I know my brother like I know my own mind.

"What is this and who are you?", Crown Prince Kallias asked furious when he saw the pair arriving with the princess holding Eiran's folded arm. They were in matching outfits, even if it wasn't coordinated, and they were holding each other, he noticed the way she grabbed onto him.

"I'm sorry about the sudden news, Your Highness, but my parents made a mistake so I must apologise for them.", she bowed her head while Eiran simply watched. He wouldn't intervene, Astra was a strong woman and she could hold herself in an argument.

"Mistake? You're the one making a mistake by grabbing to someone else while being engaged to me. Let's go, they are waiting for us.", he motioned towards the grand door that gave way to the Ballroom where the event took place. The servant looked between all of them in a state of panic, he didn't know what could happen or what he would do.

"I'm engaged, but not to you. I am sorry once again about this confusion and I hope you can respect this turn of events."

"You embarrass me.", he came close to her and she was pulled back by Eiran who stood now in front of her, shielding her.

"Good thing she isn't yours to worry about. I promised myself I wouldn't intervene but your voice was starting to annoy me and then you made the mistake of attempting to come close to my fiancée and well... I can't have that.", Eiran stared him down and Kallias attempted to return the glare. "Leave without making more scandal, please."

"You have no idea who I am."

"I do, I just don't care."

"You're pissing me off.", Kallis replied as his hand went to the hilt of his sword.

"Let's just go.", Astra pulled Eiran and left a furious Kallis behind. Hopefully not one of her reckless decisions whose consequences would pray on her later.

The pair opened the doors and entered, Astra gave a piece of paper to the servant and he gasped, the whole room was waiting for the announcement while her parents were already off their chairs staring angrily at their daughter. One, for her poor choice of clothing, as her mother would say, and two, she was holding a man they don't know about.

"Your Royal Highness, Twin Princess Astra Laeger and her fiancée Eiran Dracnar, the King of Dragneeds.", the room went cold, everyone froze and the few brave enough were whispering to their company.

"I greet you, my guests, and I apologise for my lateness, I had some matters to attend to. But I hope this party has been to your liking, the food has been as tasteful as I have dreamed of and the music as joyful as ever. I present to you my fiancée, Eiran, the King of Dragneeds, a most charming kingdom.", the King and Queen crossed the room in hurried steps, they pulled her hand from his folded arm and squeezed it.

"What is this?", the King asked in a whisper.

"My engagement party?"

"Don't act coy with us, child.", her mother replied.

"You ordered me to get a husband, I don't see what the problem is."

"We meant the husband we chose.", the Queen lashed out.

"Oh. I didn't like him enough."

"We don't care about what you want and what you like or don't like."

"Was that supposed to be a secret?", Eiran chuckled next to her. Her parents disapproval made this whole situation even better in his eyes.

"Stop this.", the King ordered, but she pushed them away and stepped in between of them, Eiran following her. He would follow her always.

"You don't own me anymore.", she added.

The crowd parted for her to pass and someone started to clap from the back of the room. She stopped. She stopped because her heart was beating like it was about to come out, because her mind connected to another and it kept screaming "I'm home!", because she saw a man with strawberry blonde hair and the greenest of eyes, because she saw her half, and she never thought she would get another chance at goodbye. A male and familiar voice inside her head kept saying "I'm home.", "I missed you so much.", and asking "Are you hurt?", "Are you okay?".

"His Royal Highness, Twin Prince Atlas Laeger.", a servant announced him and Astra simply took off. She forgot people were watching, she forgot everything because her brother was there and she never thought the stars would make her wish come true. The stars made her wish come true.

Astra is used to running in heels but she still found it in her mess of emotions to be careful with the slit on her dress. Eiran stared at her from the spot she previously stood, it was a moment she needed, he knew how much her brother meant to her, after all he was the one who called for him.

"You really know how to make an entrance.", her twin said as soon as she jumped to hug him. He held onto her, his arms snaking around her smaller body and she grabbed onto his neck.

"How are you here?"

"A mutual friend told me I was needed.", he let her down and she had the biggest smile on her face when she turned around to see Eiran standing there proud.

"He was my plan B!", he called out and she laughed. Astra has been hidden a big part of her life, their people only found out there was a twin daughter merely five years ago so they never had many chances to see the princess, and the nobles weren't exception. With that being said, when the princess tilted her head to the left and laughed, the dimples forming in her rosy cheeks and her eyes closing, her ponytail swaying with the movement, they were mesmerised by the sight. There have been rumours, of course, that the princess was the most beautiful woman in the whole kingdom, that she possessed the kindest heart and that her laugh could light up a room, but seeing it with their own eyes? The crowd was stunned by her beauty.

There were still many things unsaid, some secrets Eiran hadn't told her about but something in her just... didn't care about that. She was falling for every small gesture, and they only met a few days ago! She couldn't wrap her mind around the time line, how could she be this obsessed? She just knew she felt safe by his side, the rest she would figure it out later.

"Atlas", she turned to her brother, clasped her hands in front of her and bowed, "welcome home.". When she looked back at him, he had a sad smile on his face, probably thinking of what came next, but instead of letting his emotions get the best of him, he kissed her forehead, held her hand and together they walked to Eiran.

"So we meet again.", Atlas said smiling.

"We are even now."

"You're calling in for the favor with this?"

"You were my Plan B, after all.", Eiran winked and Atlas chuckled.

"I'm home and arrived in time for the ball...", Atlas turned to the crowd who still waited for a reaction from the monarchs, but the pair chose to stay quiet and not let the party know that nothing is going according with their plan, "Let the party officially start!"

The crowd took that chance and quickly music was playing and people were dancing, while the monarchs kept staring at their children from afar. This is why the twins had to be constantly separated, because if they weren't Atlas would support Astra in every little decision and something this important for the kingdom? He shouldn't intervene. Not only that, but they were scared of Dragneeds, it was an unknown kingdom and rumoured to be the most powerful one. If Eiran was truly serious about their daughter, the monarchs were scared of what would happen when he learned about what they did to Astra.