*

Athanasia is three years old now. She could talk and walk finely, according to Athanasé's accomplishment.

That evening, Lilian has come to play with them. She brought a golden small ball that immediately made Athanasia's eyes lit up with glee. Because Athanasia is too much of a brat to share, Athanasé search up different entertainment. He then asked Lilian to read them a book about wizards and the history of Obelian Empire.

Lilian gently sat them down on her lap and began with her story until she reach the part about the current Emperor.

Athanasia felt familiar with the man glaring through the photo. She point at him with her small finger. "Who is he?"

"What a smart little lady you are, Princess! To be able to recognize your father right away." Lilian softly spoke and caress Athanasia's platinum blonde hair.

Athanasia laughed and couldn't help the small smile on her lips. She was a sucker for praises.

"This is your father, His Majesty Claude de Alger Obelia."

Shocked, she looked up at Lilian with a bewildered stares while Athansé, for once in a while, looks interested with the matter.

"His Majesty, Claude de Alger Obelia."

Claude. The Emperor. Athanasia. Obelian Empire.

Unaware of anything else, she looked up onto Lilian's face. Then to the Emperor's features of blond hair and jeweled eyes.

"And your name is Princess Athanasia de Alger Obelia. While your name is Prince Athansé de Alger Obelia."

Oh nonononono...

As if sensing it, Athanasé met her eyes with his identical ones. "Athy? Are you okay?" He leaned closer, so close that she can see the reflection of herself from his eyes. His small hands gripping her shaking shoulder with surprising firmness and warmth from a three years old boy.

"I think it is time to retire for the night."

Lilian tucked them in their shared bed. Athanasé not wanting to leave his sister side after sensing something is wrong.

*

"How do I get you to love me?"

"I, until the day I die, will not do such a thing."

"I am your daughter too."

"Oh, poor Princess. She doesn't even get escorted."

"She has poisoned Jennette out of envy!"

"Behead this wench!"

"Jennette! JENNETTE!"

"I thought I worth something."

*

Athanasia couldn't sleep. She reminiscence about what happenned to the Princess Athanasia. Among the two Princesses of the Obelian Empire, the main protagonist is the second Princess—Jennette.

Jennette is a beautiful lady with an angel heart, and she is beloved not only by her nation, but by the whole continent as well. And among those who adore Jennette was her father, Emperor Claude.

To his people, he is praised as a hero and savior of the nation but in truth he is a heartless man who killed his elder brother, the proper heir, and sat himself upon the throne. Jennette was the kind of person who could melt the heart of even a cold-blooded man like him.

Claude only learned of Jennette existence when she aged fourteen. Jennette's mother was Claude's fiancée. After enraging him and losing her place as his bride-to-be, she died while giving birth to Jennette. Jennette's aunt try to protect her niece from Claude... by hiding her away in the care of Alpheus family.

Eventually, Jennette melted the cold icy fort that was Claude and wed to Izekiel Alpheus and lived happily ever after.

While Athanasia was never received those kind of love from Claude. He didn't even do as much as glance at her. She lose the very thing she ever wanted to have, her father's love. But she didn't let herself drown on jealousy, instead she helped Jennette on the way of royalty as to not make Jennette embarras herself. On top of everything,  this poor Princess get killed by her own father. She was being framed for poisoning Jennette, which actually is the doing of Jennette's aunt to secure Jennette's position as the sole heiress.

Athanasia was a poor, foolish Princess.

After an endless amount of pinching and slapping herself. Yes. It seems like she is in a fictional world. Ta-da!

Welcome to the world where you could die by the hand of your father anytime!

But, how about her brother? He is her brother, isn't he? Yet, Athanasia has no brother.

She blinked and stared into nothing while pondering over everything. Athanasé was still snoring in their bed. He looks like the boy version of her and it is a little bit to a lot freaky. Dressed in her white sleeping dress that reached past her knees, her skin stood out as a healty ivory. She pinched her red cheeks again. They felt really sore now that she won't be able to say it was because she sleep on them. Yes. Both of them.

"What are you doing, Athy?"

She turned and found Athanasé rubbing at his eyes. This boy...

"Something wrong, Athy?" He stepped in and stopped so they were face to face. She was about an inch taller than him so he had to look up a little. This boy...

Then, to her surprise, this boy hugged her. "Athy... you don't talk anymore." Athanasia felt a pinch in her stomach when his tiny voice broke. "Athy... please talk now? Did I do something wrong?" Athanasé hugged her tighter. "Are you hurt anywhere? Are you sick? Athy?"

This boy in front of her who has no ties to the book.

He was also sobbing.

Then, she realised, no matter how she thought about the absurdity of the situation, this crying boy was hugging her like she was his life-line as he is hers. He is alive. He is now flesh and blood. Hers. His tears were warm against her dress and the strength in his grip was true.

This boy is her brother and she is his sister. She called him out of this world when in truth she was the one evading the story. But, she was glad she have him. So glad.

This world of Lovely Princess was made for Jennette. Claude's love is for Jennette. Happiness is to be brought only to Jennette. Happy ending is just for Jennette. Wealth, romance, love, family, friends. This world only exist for Jennette. But not her brother. He doesn't exist for Jennette, he exist for Athanasia.

She is being selfish.

She wrapped her arms around Athanasé. He cried even harder and hugged her closer. She reminded him of her little brothers at the orphan. He also had blond hair. Athanasé is just a child. A lonely child. He wants to understand his father so badly. To understand why he left him—them.

"I'm sorry, Nasé... I'm back now."

She need to get ready. The seed has been planted. She know at 18 she would die in the hand of Claude. But, before that, she'll meet him at the age of 9 at the garden. Before they turn 18, they should be ready to flee.

To be continued.