Chapter 6

"That's it for todays class" Teacher Clerivan said everyone stood up excited "but there's an assignment" the twins groaned "don't worry it's very easy depending on the people that is"

silence  ...

"What is a merchants most important possession? You have a week to think about this question" Teacher said happy

"Isn't it money?" Gilliu asked "Then that will be the answer from Gilly"

The class ended as I got up talking with the brothers "so what do you think about the question?" I asked "I think money as well" Mayron sighed "but maybe there's more to it"

"Tia what's your favourite colour" Big sister Larane asked Big brother's instantly seemed interested "Huh my favourite colour red" Sister Tia said "I see so Tia's favourite colour is red" Mayron said playing with her hair I didn't even notice him leave my side.

'oh right it's big sister Tia's birthday soon that must be why!' I remembered with a sigh 'but still since when did Gilliu and Mayron get so close to her?'

From class I decided to play with big brothers a bit "OK OK I count you two hide!" Mayron exclaimed i nodded "count to one hundred!" Gilliu exclaimed "sure! Hide well though!" Mayron called as we ran off

"where are you going to hide?" I asked

"in the library what about you?" Gilliu asked as we ran through the hall way

"you know in the garden there's a large bush big enough for me to hide behind it's also near the gate so no one would expect me to be there!" I exclaimed

"good idea I've seen it before then who ever gets found last wins" Gilliu took a turn heading to the library.

While I headed outside making my way to the gate and hiding behind the bush I could just make out a few streets over the gate since I was going to be here a while no one came around this side of the mansion Belsach said why would he surround himself with a bunch of people lower than him while the others were simply not interested.

But I was really interested even though no one could reach the gate nor see much I could see them.

Just then there was a faint rustle from a bush on the path on the other side of the gate.

The guards standing far off didn't seem to notice as some kid wearing poor like cloths poked his head out.

Ragged brown clothes and a dark brown hat that seemed dirty and had a leaf atom pure black hair and wide blue eyes the boy sneezed looking up and down the grass path the guards were well off by now so he stood up dusting himself off.

His blue gaze met my red ones he was my age around maybe a year older

"Ick-" he was taken aback as he fell back to the floor

"shhh the guards will hear!" I whispered the boy came closer curiosity just have gotten the better of me because I did to till the gate was the only thing in the way after making sure the guards weren't looking he spoke.

"Who are you?" He asked

"me do you not know where you are?" I whispered

"no I got lost while sneaking out of the house with my older brothers" the boy muttered

"what your name?" I asked he bit his lip

"uhhh my names Arthur" the boy said after a while his blue eyes wide with curiosity

"and you?"

"Me I'm... Rossetti but people call me Rossi or Rosi"

"some people call me Arth"the boy smiled. I smiled back "so what are you doing here?" I asked

"well I wanted to see town so brothers took me out to see the Spring festival while we were at it but I got lost in the crowd what about you?" "I'm playing hide and seek with my older brothers and I'm hiding here so they can't find me" I smiled "cool sound fun!" The boy grinned

"I play with my brothers all the time! Sometimes we spar with swords or play tag and hide and seek they even take me out to try new foods like this sandwich" He smiled his black hair shining in the sunlight he seemed happy.

"Same here I play with them all types of stuff big brothers can be a crybaby like me sometimes like when they lose to me in a race or when we play hide and seek like now" I grin back then sigh "but we can't go out till we're eleven that's the rules of my family I wish we could though it gets boring I really wan't to see the festival"

Arthur looks thoughtful for a second. He breaks his sandwich in half

"here do you want this half of the sandwich we got it from a really nice shop from around here it only open during the spring festival my dad used to take me all the time but he's very busy right now so my brothers took me this year here it's really nice!" he handed me half his sandwich.

I looked at it remembering how Nobles don't take things from the poor but the sandwich looked yum and I had missed lunch.

I took a bite as the savoury taste filled my mouth

"this is delicious!" I said mouthful I looked at Arthur with wide eyes how could I commoners have such delicious food?

he smiled just then I heard some masculin voices "ARTHUR WHERE ARE YOU!?" The boy turned back with a smile

"we live not far from here maybe two streets down it's easy to sneak out maybe I can see you again" he smiled "yea I live here so maybe we can" I nodded

And so he was gone and the sandwich in my hand seemed to disappear after a few bites.

I stayed hidden not until half an hour later did Gilliu find me Mayron was with him "found you! Finally!" He exclaimed i smiled giggling

"about time my legs were beginning to hurt" I said getting up and and dusting my dress off "no fair you hid to well!" Gilliu huffed I smiled "well what are we doing now?" I asked the twins looked at each other and grin.

A sense of forbidding aura filled the place "w-what are you planning" I muttered "well you see Rosi" Mayron says with a sly smirk bending down to my height "todays the spring festival" Gilliu explained

I could see where this was going just like that boy at the gate said.

"we want to sneak out!" They exclaimed at the same time "b-but how!?" I stuttered as they already began to walk off "you'll see!" Mayron calls as I struggled to follow after them.

"We're never going to get there in time if you keep up at this pace quick get on!" Gilliu bent down for me to get on his back I hesitated last time I had a piggy back was when I tripped and twisted my leg while playing.

I shook the thoughts I heard the spring festival was really nice from the maids gossip I really wanted to see it!

But I wasn't aloud out till I was eleven and my birthday was in summer after spring I'd have to wait a hole year to see it again!

I got on Gilliu's back "why do we have to go quick?" I asked "I was spying on the guards yesterday this is the time they change shifts so they have to march down the path switch then march back up there a dog hole near the middle of the gate if we make it up in time before they march back up we can sneak out and run for it" Mayron explained.

The tall towering wall that kept people from coming in or going out Gilliu let me of his back a mischievous grin on his face as he looked left and right and nodded to Mayron who pushed leaves out of the way.

I looked around nervously as Gilliu bent down to crawl through "Hurry!" Mayron exclaimed "yea quick!" I agreed with Mayron "I'm out quick quick quick!" Gilliu exclaimed Mayron nodded to me as I bent down crawling through.

It's funny squeezing through the small hole but i wanted to see the spring festival pretty bad plus it would be my first time out of the mansion as I crawled through reaching the other end.

Mums going to be mad... but! I got up wide eyes it wasn't much different but I could make out bustling crowds just down the street plus people were marching down the street with costumes on Mayron gasped standing up "we're out" Gilliu said after a moment of silence we all stood dumbfounded.

I heard footsteps turning to see a gaurd "quick!" Mayron grasped me and Gilliu's hand dragging us off quickly down the path as he steered us further away from home. The streets were well kept and clean with lots of shops on those sides  "we'll come back at the second switch which should be sundown!"" Gilliu said when we were well away "ok then we won't wander far because we could get lost" i said panting Mayron and Gilliu nodded in agreement.

"Where should we go first?" Mayron asked we all looked at each other silence before bursting out into laughter "we're going to be in so much trouble" i said "not if we don't get caught" Gilliu says "which is unlikely so let's not be long before mum realises" Mayron says dragging us through the crowed as we stopped near the front watching as people dressed in cloths marched down "look it's the royal carriage!" Someone exclaimed pointing to a rich looking a carriage.

Royal family... I thought remembering the first prince Gilliu and Mayron frowned as it went past throwing coins in the air as people jumped around to pick it up

'Tsk' I clicked my tongue "so shameless" "let's get out of here I don't want to see the royal family let's get something nice to eat I got some gold coins with me" Gilliu said turning away I nodded as we walked off.

We took a turn to a path full of bustling people and shops "do you want any jewellery Rosi?" Mayron asked stopping a small stall with many necklaces I looked at my red dress with flowers patterned on it and at the Ruby flower shaped hair pin.

Gilliu saw it picking it out "how much for this?" He asked "two gold" the man replied as Gilly put the coins down. "Here it matches your dress" he smiled putting the ing on the two side of my head. "Is it good?" I asked "yea it looks great!" Mayron smiled I took there hands marching them down the street "where are we going?" Gilliu exclaimed as I stopped at a dessert store Gilliu and Mayron loved sweets especially chocolate.

Few seconds later we entered the rich looking dessert shop ordering something random since we've never been here the sun was starting to go down

"should we head back after this?" Mayron asked "yea but we didn't see much yet let's go watch that puppet parade before we go!" Gilliu exclaimed "ooo you mean the one that was just outside the shop!" I told him "yea" Mayron nodded "ok let's finish up quickly and go the second shift will start soon!" I exclaimed just finishing my cake as I stood up Gilliu and Mayron put a gold coin down on the counter as we exited to desert shop.

The puppet show was starting as we sat down next to each other watching with wide eyes as the prince from the story defeated the dragon "I'm going to get so strong and do that when I'm older!" Gilliu said proudly "what slay a dragon?" I tilted my head In question just as the puppet show came to and end he nodded "then I'll be a mage who can help set the barrier to protect people" I smiled "nooo your the princess that the knights save!" Mayron exclaimed "no! I want to be the mage!" I argued we began to bicker "your a girl so you have to be the princess" "a girl can be a mage to!" I declared as we made it past crowds just then everyone began to yell 'LOOK!' Someone pointed out to the sky the three of us looked up gasping.

Sparkles were in the sky making fire flowers that seemed to light up the dark night we didn't say anything just watched

But the sun fully set and we still hadn't reached back "ughhhh are you sure it's this way" I said  both the twice stayed silent  "we're lost arnt we Mayron!" Gilliu exclaimed "n-no!" Mayron huffed.

"Oh no how are we going to get back!?" I exclaimed "calm down" Mayron muttered "panicking isn't a good thing"

Gilliu glared at him "I thought you could remember the path well?" He demanded "I don't remember everything looks strange in the dark!" Mayron exclaimed pointedly "plus it's my first time out as well!"

I looked at them both "so we're lost" i said again silence they both looked at me "were never going to find our way back" i sniffled "n-no we just have to figure it out!" Gilliu tried to calm me down "y-yea no! Stop crying!!"

I broke out into sobs.

"Ack- WHAT DO WE DO!?" Mayron exclaimed "th-there looks it's a nice tree and it has nice lamps look fire flys let's go sit over there and figure out where we are!" Gilliu exclaimed tugging my arm he was panicked as well so we did we sat on the bench.

I was still hiccuping from the tears 'what if we never found our way back what if I never saw mother again!? Who's going to feed the birds!' Which made tears well in my eyes again "we're lossst!" I burst out again making Mayron jump he turned to Gilliu "what do we do!?" He said tears in his eye's "not you to!" Gilliu exclaimed

"What if we never see mama again!" I hiccuped "noooo!" Mayron burst out "stop crying or else I'll start!" Gilliu sniffled

We cried... for five minutes

"w-we have to c-calm down" I said between hiccups and tears "y-yea mama's gonna k-kill us" Gilliu wiped his tears

"It's a-all your f-fault y-you crybaby!" Mayron shouted through tears pointing at me  "m-my fa-fault y-your crying as well!" I pointed out wiping my eyes we eventually all calmed down look at each other and bursting out into laughter.

"your eyes are red!" Gilliu hiccuped and pointed to me I laughed and cried "your eyes are like a ballon!" Mayron snickered "he's gonna fly away!" We all calmed down looking at the fire flies and the night sky after twenty minutes of panicking we all finally calmed down.

That didn't change the fact we were lost though.

*Mayron's pov*

'We're lost I'm scared I want mama! Sister Rossetti fell asleep on my arm!'

"Mayron..." Gilliu said breaking the silence "yea?" I turned to Gilliu

"Where in front of the mansion idiot!" He exclaimed

"Huh-" I looked up up to see the Lombardy symbol on the large gate.

"Are you serious twenty minutes of crying and where here!" I exclaimed jolting up making Rossetti snap awake "huh wha-" "ugh let's go!" Gilliu sighed "Rossetti get on" I told her as she wrapped her arms on my neck falling back asleep on as I gave her a piggy back ride she cried more than everyone.

'Sheesh such a cry baby' I thought acting like I hadn't cried with her.

We reached the dog hole thankfully the third switch was happening so we just snuck back in waking Rossetti who tiredly crawled through the hole the minute I reached the other side the raised her hands up for me.

"Tired" she muttered through puffy eyes I smiled holding back a laugh.

So she was once again sleeping on my back while we made our way through the familiar forest.

"Where were you!" Mother had demanded "Rossetti fell asleep while playing hide and seek we had to find her before coming back" Gilliu lied "honestly call the guards back" she told a nearby maid "do you know how worried I was!" She exclaimed "sorry" I muttered "never mind" mother sighed "everyone off you off to bed-" she tried to take Rossetti off my back but she clutch in tighter "yay sleep over!" I exclaimed to Gilliu we were only aloud that once a week this would be our second time.

Mum sighed "very well"

*Shannets pov*

I walked into the room setting a sleepy Gilliu down next to his younger sister who was hugging Mayron in her sleep Gilliu turned instantly. Hugging his little sister as well I smiled such perfect children how did I get so lucky?

I gently moved hair out of Rossetti's face the child was now squashed between her two brothers but she was still snoring soundly.

'I hope I can raise them well'

I left the room swiftly heading to my own.