Welcome to Gaia! ::

Smiling? Was Tsume smiling? "I've never seen you so excited to work." The hare said, grabbing the plates and placing them in a window before returning to Tsume's side. "we're going to need to do the entry hall first since that's the first place people see. It must be spotless." he said with a smile as they exited the servants' dining hall. Cleaning really was the only thing Kashi took pride in because he was so good at it. Though the only thing he could aspire to become was the head butler. he was certainly qualified for it.

"Boo Reta." Martha said, blowing a raspberry. "They make everything harder. I don't like Reta."

"Flying would be nice. We don't house many people with wings." and frowned. "Demons? Why demons?"

"I think it's brilliant! The demons come over, trade the stuff and then go back!"

"It's not that quite that simple." The prince explained. "They would need a drop off point and then if they were to go back to Falia they would need to hold a heavy faith that the cargo would not be pocketed. In the case they can't they would need to be the ones doing trade all over the country. Not that I mind, we do house some people from Alfand in the northeast for trading purposes, then there's Pathera in the south whom we've been getting exotic fruits from. But they are a caravan so they need to travel through the countries of Bon and Teif. Considering they're down by the hottest part of the planet and we're up by the coldest keeping their fruit fresh is a necessity." he paused his work to look at Nix. "Though that's about this world. I'm not sure how life works in the shadows."

"I thought you and Elliot were going to keep Falia a secret though? Even Daddy and the Prime Minister, I mean Uncle Lewis, don't talk much of it." That's what she thought, anyway. Not a lot of the maids knew where Leo was from surprisingly, and Ipo was keeping it a secret as well.

He had trust in them. So much trust for Falia and for this child. Slowly, grunting, he moved back to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Emily asked.

Time was passing, it was time to leave. He could hear the rolling of wheels and tired horses. A loving nuzzle to the child and the one with life, turning away and forcing himself to move forward for the winter. Oh the winter. Leaves and twigs snapped under the heavy weight, spirit pausing to give a shake of his fur before continuing. A small gift for being so kind, giving him some faith in the creatures of today's world.

Emily frowned, picking up the empty platter much more easily then before. "he seemed really quick to run off. he must be busy." and paused, focusing on something falling past her face before looking up. "It's snowing!" she exclaimed, pointing to the sky with a bright smile. "He made it snow! e really does carry the winter on his back!"

"Oh, well then." He said, unsure really how to respond to that. Instead he opened a hidden door, pulling out the brooms and closing the door again. "Majority of the carpets and rugs were swept yesterday so that helps us out a lot." he said, handing Tsume his broom. "We'll split this area in half. You get the leftside of the doorway and I'll take the right. And be sure to sweep everything." Though he had no doubt Tsume would do his job. Tsume hadn't disappointed him yet.

Elliot nodded. "Many are displeased with Falia, though it is more to keep safe from Reta out of the rest of the countries. They seem to show the most hostility toward your country and I've no idea why. Savages and brutes their king called your people. Despite never entering I knew he was incredibly biased for some reason." he shook his head. "If Reta were to know we housed two members of the royal family I can only imagine what they'd do."

"Can't you tell them they're nice?" Annabelle asked. "Nix isn't a savage or a brute at all."

"And Mr. Tsume is just mean because he was born that way." Martha said, getting a snort from her brother.

"You three are too young to understand. Get back to your trading, and think of which cities they will be deposited."

"Loslith! Because it's close to the border and always busy!" Annabelle exclaimed.

Emily looked up, grin still on her face. "I didn't notice, but it did get pretty cold." and giggled, walking back to the castle with Lily. "That's fine. But shouldn't they meet him to believe in him?" She asked. "I don't know, we can trust brother though, right? Just within the family?" She asked softly. "Wait, he said he heard horses and wheels. Is there a carriage coming?"

"I wish Ipo knew how to use a stick other then his own." and blushed before laughing. "Oh my, I'm sorry, it slipped." and continued to laugh behind his hand, face turning more and more red as tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. "Oh, oh dear." he was holding onto the broomstick as leverage, quickly silencing himself as a knock entered from the doorway. it took a moment to recompose himself, biting his lip hard but after resting the broomstick against the wall he walked forward and opened the door. "Yes, hello?"

The footman looked up at him, giving a nervous nod. His cheek was red, the hare noticed. A slap? "I am here to announce that Miss Nayiin von Sier is here from Monin."

"Oh. Oh! Oh dear you've arrived awfully early." Kashi said, looking at a nearby grandfather clock. "Yes, um, Tsume, um, yes she can come in. Let me get the bags." and exited the door only to find them all sitting there with the noble on top of them. "Hello, Miss."

"Hello." She stated simply. "I thought the prince was going to greet me."

"He is dining, but if you follow my friend here he can lead you to them."

Elliot nodded, finishing his plate and sliding it to the side. "Exactly. Keeping you and Lily safe is the top priority." but at the mention of destroying Reta his eyes flashed a warning at her. War was not a topic to be joked upon, but for the most part he let it slide. "They'll destroy themselves with all of their industrialization and drinking."

"Why did we become allies with them, anyway?" Martha asked. "If you hate them so much shouldn't we destroy them?"

"No one wants a war, Martha. We do all we can to avoid it and in this case they settled on a diplomatic alliance."

"What does that even mean?" Annabelle asked.

"It means that we are friends and if someone goes to war with them we in turn shall aid Reta in the war. However no country is stupid to go to war with Reta just like no country is so stupid to go to war with us."

"except Reta."

Elliot smiled at Martha. "Except Reta. However we have no open borders with them, and we sort of tricked them into thinking we were preparing for a war." and paused, letting that sink into their heads while he placed more ham on his plate and ate.

"is it like love then?" Emily asked. "because I love my brother and sisters very much even if I don't say it or show it." Was faith and belief like that? How weird. "Do we? I don't remember, but okay. I need to eat something real quick. I forgot about lessons."

The woman stood, following the hare instead before pausing and taking a step back. "A wolf."

"Oh, this is Tsume." Kashi said. "I can assure you he's very friendly. I've come to terms with the fact he won't eat me alive." Maybe Ipo, but then again Ipo was really bad for digestion.

"It's a wolf."

"He's a wolf, yes. But friendly." and turned to the other servant, grabbing some of the bags.

Nayiin hesitated but slowly walked forward, staying far away from the wolf. And it talked. This wolf was able to speak. Was the prince aware of this abomination? Was he one of the servants? She'd prefer the bandage one leading her but they'd given her no choice.

"I don't want to talk bout war anymore!" Annabelle exclaimed, finishing her eggs. "War is too dramatic. Let's instead talk about Lily! She's getting fat!"

"Annabelle!" Elliot scolded, pausing his sudden flare of anger as Leo walked in. he heard Martha giggling and glanced over, the princess using both of her hands to cover her mouth. "Lily, good morning."

"What's so funny? Emily asked, quickly filling her plate before sitting next to Nix. "Did I miss a joke?" And looked at Leo. "I'm going to write a book about the winter spirit!"

The woman paused, frightened as he shifted to become a human. Absurb, horrifying, frightening, impossible. Why was this thing in the prince's castle?! She couldn't judge, not openy, but it was wrong. This wolf's kind attacked the livestock and town constantly.

Martha looked away, face guilty. "sorry, Miss Lily."

"I agree with Nix. All that food is good for you. You look ten times prettier then when you first came!"

"A thick woman is a sign of a healthy house." Emily pointed out after her sister.

Elliot looked up as a knock echoed in the dining hall. he heard Nix's explanation and turned his gaze to her, child very quick to defend herself. "Loud minds equal loud mouths." he muttered.

The triplets turned around from their chairs to look at the door, or two of them did. Annabelle stayed face forward and resumed eating.

As Tsume introduced the noble she stepped forwrd, looking at the group at the table. Elliot, check, triplets, only two, one really white girl and a really, really beautiful woman sitting beside the prince. But she had a large plate of food, that had to be very unattractive. "Hello, it is an honor to be in your company, my prince."

Elliot stared before sighing, lights flickering for the first time in days before silencing to white once more and the prince standing, giving a political smile. "Noble von Sier, it is a pleasure that you have finally arrive. Had we known you would be early we would have taken extra steps to make sure we were prepared for your arrival."

"I wanted to surprise the prince with my company."

"Harlot." Annabelle murmured, Emily gasping at the vulgarity and Elliot sending a very scolding glare towards her. "Tsume, could you please escort Annabelle to the king and tell him what she's muttered under her breath. Miss von Sier,"

"Nayiin, please."

"Noble Nayiin, please, allow me to escort you to the drawing room." and looked at Leo, bending down to whisper in his ear. "Remember, you and your sister are princesses. If you'd like you're welcome to visit and save me. That or visit the Prime Minister." and nuzzled the ear quickly and subtly before walking around the table, Annabelle following rather sulkily behind him.

The two other triplets slid from their chairs.

"Don't worry," Emily said. "I'll come by between lessons to write the story, okay? Be strong."

"I'll talk to some of the boys and get frogs in her bed." Martha assured leo, following Emily and walking behind Tsume.

"Did you see her?" Annabelle asked the other girls from her spot in the wolf's arms. "She was practically all over him! She didn't even greet the rest of us and we're as royal as him!"

"I'll be honest it was rude."

"Emily it wasn't rude, it was mean." Martha said. "Right Nix? She was just mean. If she thinsk she's marrying brother then she has to deal with us. We're part of the fan club we can't allow this to happen!"

"Allow what?" Ipo asked, suddenly walking behind them.

"Ah so it was a woman instead of a man that showed up from Monin! Well then I suppose it can't he helped. We can't send her back." the hare mused "The prince is twenty, he should have found a fiance long ago, you can't blame her for dripping all over him like sweet cream."

"I'd consider her like sour milk." Annabelle huffed.

"Sister you can't be so rude." Emily tried to reason. "We've only just met her you know. Maybe she's really nice."

"But Leo is pregnant with brother's child!" Martha exclaimed. "He has to end up with him!"

"Oh I hate you to, Ludwig, but don't worry. I have a fool-proof plan that will kick this tart out and Leo shall keep his stead! Leo's pregnant, you say? Magic?" He hummed in thought at this. "That's what I saw then. it's much blurrier in my head then Kashi's. I suppose he was right then and it wasn't a dream."

"Kashi?" Emily asked.

"I have work to be done! I'll see you all at dinner! Or quite possibly at lunch when it should be hitting its peak. Good bye!" and turned to the way they came and ran off, arms stretched out and mouth making the oddest noise.

"is he supposed to be a bird?" Annabelle asked.

"Doesn't sound at all like one. Maybe a carriage?" Martha suggested.

The hare continued this noise all the way up the stairs and turning into the hallway that held Elliot's room, quickly finding Leo directing a servant where to place the bags. While waiting the hare just spun in a circle making the same stupid noise, entering after the servant left and hugging Leo. "Oh you're pregnant congratulations!" He whispered, bending down to look at the stomach and nuzzling it. "I love children, really. I can't have any so that makes me love them twice as much. None of them are mine." He grinned, linking arms. "Anyways something is going to happen soon and we must secretly be witness. It involves your Princey-Poo and my dearest older brother." and smiled, dragging the Falian along regardless.

"The girls told me." Ipo explained. "Well, Martha let it slip and whats with your dog's sudden fascination with calling me slut? I'm a man who aims to please is all." he opened the door to a grandfather clock and moved the pendalum to the side, taking out the backing and entering. "C'mon, we haven't got much time. It should be starting soon. Oh this is so exciting. This is for my brother's own good. I had this already planned in Falia but I didn't want it to happen so soon, y'know with him knowing you're pregnant. Poor brother cried for hours." the clock was returned back to it's original appearance and the hare lead Leo around the servant's hallways. "But this money-grubbing whore came to visit and I thought 'what's a better time then now' y'know? Oh I'm so excited." and turned into a new hallway, pausing and feeling along the wall before smiling, taking out a small piece of the wall and motioning. "Have a look. Don't worry I don't spy for bad purposes."

Kashi sat on a chair nervously, biting the second knuckle of his index finger in worry and in thought. He first bit the knuckle as a whole before turning it and nibbling on the skin covering the tip, worried. Ipo had wanted him to come, but glancing back at the door before looking at the nearby clock, Ipo was late. What was taking him so long, what did he want to talk about? Looking forward he sighed, sliding the heel of his shoe across the ground before the handle behind him turned.

"Oh, Kashi," Elliot spoke, entering the room. He scanned the entirety of it before looking back at the timid hare. "I was expecting your brother. He said he had something important to tell me. Not that I'm complaining I'm glad to be away from Nayiir, I'd forgotten how selfish Monin was. I suppose I could wait for him." and closed the door behind him.

The other stared, embarrassed and shocked before his eyes got glassy. His brother was cruel, so very cruel. Why had he done this? Why would he even plan this? The prince walked forward and Kashi stood suddenly. "I, I have something important to tell you!"

Inside the wall Ipo had scuttled downwards and opened a new peephole, grinning the entire time. "That's a good brother."

Elliot stood, staring at the younger man before nodding. "All right, what is it?"

His words died in his throat, looking downwards, the stress and the cruelty of his twin ready to make him cry. "I... I..." he bit his bottom lip, hands clenching into fists before loosening and then clasping them together. He could do this, just take a breath and do it. Look at the prince, waiting there so patiently. He wasn't interrupting, he didn't look bored, he was just waiting. He took a breath, holding it in before closing his eye. "I really really love you and I'm very very sorry for what I did that time when I was your servant and I'm sorry for sleeping with your father and I don't mean to love you but you're so kind," it started and he couldn't stop, and behind the wall Ipo's grin seemed to grow bigger at the twin's overhwelming sadness and even depression. "And I know I'm not as pretty as Miss Lily or as smart and I'm not even royalty! And I'm too tall and I'm a man and I thought you liked men but you love Miss Lily and I don't know I'm so sorry but I can't help but really love you." he bawled, falling to the floor and crying. "But you don't love me back and I'm sorry, I'm sorry I hate Miss Lily because she has your heart and I have absolutely nothing here in this castle! I slept with your father and the Prime Minister because they're the closest I can get to love but it makes me feel like a filthy whore!"

"Kashi, Kashi calm down!' Elliot exclaimed, watching this fragile person break down before his very eyes. That was a lot to take in at once, but first thing was first he had to calm him down. "Let's get you to the chair."

"I don't want to go to the chair!" he yelled through his tears, hitting the prince much like he'd hit Tsume, but unlike Tsume the prince actually grabbed the hands to stop him. "I just want to be loved. Why couldn't it be me instead of Miss Lily?"

"Kashi, Kashi listen to me." Elliot said softly, the teen's hands tightly gripping his own as he sobbed. That really was a lot to take in, where did he begin? "Kashi, I can assure you there is nothing wrong with you. I have been a terrible friend to you like I promised you when you first came. You are not to tall, you are incredibly intelligent and you're handsome." he explained. "Much moreso then Ipo, he's just daft." he heard the smallest of chuckles between the tears. "Secondly, what you did is the past, I understood why you did it and you've long since been forgiven, Kashi. it was, embarrassing, to say the least. Especially since,

"I'm sorry!"

"No no no, it's fine, really. I don't mind at all and I had gotten out of that meeting early. It was bad timing on my part. Third,"

"WHy do you love Miss Lily?" He asked, wiping his face best he could. "Why? Why? What does she have that I don't? is it because she's royalty? She's pretty, she's exotic? I want to know! I thought you only liked men and that makes it hurt so much worse!"

Elliot stared at the hare before finally looking away. "I fell in love with Lily long before she fell in love with me, Kashi. Please understand when you're in love the gender of that person is irrelevant, and I had fallen in love with her when she was still a servant. She is just so beautiful, Kashi; mind, spirit and soul she is absolutely gorgeous and I fear she will be the one to reject me." he looked back at the hare. "I am sorry that I cannot return your feelings Kashi, I truly am. However I don't think I'll be getting my heart back anytime soon."

The tears had stopped, watching his prince talk about a person whose gender even Kashi wasn't sure of. He loved her, he loved her so much didn't he? Yet Kashi couldn't take it as a slap to the face or even a low blow. He jst covered his face, wanting to recompose himself, wanting to curl away and hide. "Why won't you punish me?"

"For what?"

"For sleeping with your father and the Prime Minister?"

Elliot stared for a moment, thinking on it. "It means they trust you, especially Uncle Lewis. That's his way of showing it I suppose, trust and acceptance. I suggest you ask him though. I cannot punish you for something that brings no offense toward me." he stood from his spot on the ground and placing a hand on Kashi's head. "I do not hate you, Kashi, and I would very much like to be the friend I promised you I would be, but it will take time. I'm sorry."

"Kiss me."

"I cannot."

Kashi gave a weak chuckle. "It was worth a try."

"I am going to leave you now, all right?"

The hazel eye looked up at the prince, smiling sadly. "I cannot hate you, Prince Elliot. How can I hate someone who is so happy?"