*

Much to Athanasé's surprise and disappointment, Athanasia started to steal jewels and ornaments from the Ruby Palace. He had asked once but she was relentless. It was a secret, she said.

Two years had passed and she has collected quite a lot goods. She could runaway with it and afford a nice life until she got a job somewhere out there. But then, she can't stop thinking about her twin brother. Wondering would he willing to leave this luxurious life to live poorly on the street. She can't just left him here, she didn't know what would happen to him then.

She can't bear the thought of not being with her brother.

"Athy."

"Yes?"

"I'm bored..." Athanasé said with a downcast expression. A slight tug of frown lingering on his lips.

Athanasia smiled at her adorable brother. She stood up and started leading him outside.

"Lets pick some flowers!" She beamed with a little bounce on her steps.

They then arrived at the garden of the Palace. Near that joyful garden was a pristine whige fountain, though the cravings was unsuitable for children.

Athanasia crouched near a fully bloomed purple magnolia and white chrysanthemum. Her eyes reflecting the purple shade, glowing so prettily. Athansé sat near the fountain while contently watched Athanasia practically bounced around with a small smile on his face.

She then picked up some white chyrsanthemum, she ran towards Athanasé with a proud gleam in her eyes.

"Looks at what I go—AH!" With a thud, she tripped over her own feet and fell flat on the pavement ground. Her tearful eyes looked up and Athanasé was rushing towards her.

He kneel in front of her, his hands were warm and strong on the side of her face, switching to her shoulders, and elbows then back again."Oh goodness. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Tell me!"

"Nasé..." Tears welled up and her rosy cheeks were puffed. Her pitiful appearance has urge a protective feeling inside Athanasé. He immediately wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace.

"Shush now. You'll be alright. I'll patch your wound. It's okay. Brother is here." He kneel and facing his back to her. "Come now."

*

Athanasé had carried her back to the Palace. Lilian found them... or maybe she found them midway. In her horror upon seeing the Princess' state, she covered her mouth and froze for a moment then fussed over Athanasia. Athanasé had insisted that he can carry her to her room.

Aside from the dried droplets of blood covering her knees and elbows and the cuts, scrapes, bruises decorating her legs and arms. She was okay.

The healer said that it would completely heal in a few days but it would sting sometimes while in the process of recovery. She smiled brightly and said it was okay. Lilian peered on to her wounds, shook her head and sighed simultaneously.

"Princess, now you should be more aware to not running around so carelessly." Lilian then said exasperatedly once the healer has packed his things and excused himself. "I will bake you a chocolate cake if you promise to stay in bed tomorrow."

Eyes widening, Athanasia nodded vigorously, grimacing when she felt her cuts sting. "I would love to, please!"

"Do be careful, Princess." Lilian laugh a little then and excused herself for the night.

"Hey sissy, are you feeling better now?" Athanasé appeared at the doorway.

"Yeah." She patted the space next to her. Athanasé walked in and sit down beside her. She can't meet his eyes.

"Hey, you see that brightest star over there?" He pointed to the stars visible through her window. "It would be me."

"Then what about me?"

"You shall be the moon. So that we could always stay together. Isn't that a theory of some kind?" He proudly remarked.

Athanasia giggled. "Silly Nasé! It should be about the sun and the moon."

"Well, it would be boring. We wouldn't be able to meet then. I am sure you would miss your brother a lot."

Athanasé laughed. For Athanasia, he should laugh more. When he laughs, you can't helped but laugh too. Even though you sometimes have no idea why he is laughing. Weird.

Athanasia smiled but she still can't meet his eyes longer than three seconds.

"Is something bothering you, Athanasia?"

Athanasé rarely calls her Athanasia. Only when he is acting older brother. Lilian said before that Athanasé war born 4-5 minutes earlier than her.

"Athanasia..." Athanasé hold her hand.

"Do you believe in after-life, Nasé?" Slowly, she felt her body started to weaken and her eyes started to droop. Athanasé tucked her under the blanket.

"Hmm... yeah, why not?" He entertained his hand with hers.

"Why?"

"Why not?" Athanasia give him a disappointed look.

"Ha!" He poked at her nose. "Everything is possible, right?"

"Do you think, we'll still be together in the after-life?"

He smiled although his gaze tightened. "I sure hope so! I can't imagine live without you, Athy!"

She closed her eyes and letting her smile grew. "Stay?"

He chuckled. "Where else will I go?"

Athanasé leave her side and lied down on the other side—his side of the bed. She curled herself against him.

"I love you, Athy."

"I love you too."

*

That morning, Athanasia was sure she just trail the track like she usually did. But then, when she noticed the unfamiliar surrounding as she happily picked up some flowers, she started to get a little confused with where she was going.

Following the path which hopefully will lead her back, she instead met sight with a luxurious building. It stand tall and exquisite with a touch of European intricate designs, but it was somber. There was no one in sight too. With an astonishment in mind, she stealthily made her way inside.

She tiptoed her way around. Looking through the lonely hallway and the bushes surrounding the building. With a nod, she decided that this clandestine building will conceal her goods.

She thought about making this confidential even to Athanasé, but she thinks it was unfair to do so. Athanasé should know this place. This would be their little sanctuary.

Satisfied and ardent, she trail her track, going back to where she was before she found the place. Fortunately, she manage to make her way towards Ruby Palace.

When she marched her way towards Athanasé's room, she ran onto Lilian. Lilian hastily walked towards Athanasia.

"Princess, where has you been?" She asked with urgency, concern evident in her orbs.

Athanasia grinned cheekily and presented the flowers she had picked. "I picked flowers for Lily and Athanasé!"

Flushed, Lilian accepted the lilies. "That is so sweet, Princess. But please, do not go by yourself."

Athanasia only giggled. "I can't helped it," she added moments later. "Where is Nasé?"

"Prince Athanasé is in his room. He was wondering about the Princess too."

"Then, I will go to him now."

"Lunch will be served in a while."

"Okay."

They go about their way. Athanasia open the door to her brother's bedroom quietly as to not disturb him. She peeked her head through the small opening. He was reading a book, sitting upright on the couch.

Suddenly, his chin jerked. He immediately noticed the shift in the air like she knew he would. He looked around the room, spotting Athanasia. He gestured with his hand for her to come over, she did.

She sat beside him and fluttering her legs that couldn't reach the ground in excitement. Athanasé smiled at her antics and reach for a strand of shimmering platinum blonde hair and tucked it behind her ear.

"Where have you been?"

"Okay, you know how I love picking flowers? So today, I picked some flowers but then I got lost and I found myself in this other side of the garden or something. I walked around, trying to find my way back when I stumbled into this beautiful building. So I get in and no one was in sight. I think the building was abandoned or something, but it was clean and beautiful. And then I—"

"Athy, breath." He said with an amused tone. She took a deep breath.

"Where was I again? Oh, yeah. And I noticed the bushes that surrounded it and think that it could be a good place to hide our goods." She finished with a smile.

Athanasé laughed out of pure amusement. It was genuine and very rare—he rarely smile or laugh if he wasn't with Athanasia. It was the kind of laugh where his eyes gone in a crescent shape and his whole features lit up.

He slid his eyes to her. "And how are you going to hide our goods there."

She clapped her hands once. "I was thinking about tying it around our thigh. How about that?"

He thought for a moment. "It could work."

"Oh my, I'm so smart." She praised herself. "You will help me to hide it, right?"

Staring into her pools of jewel eyes, he nodded. "Of course, anything for my dearest sissy."

She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Athy's kindest brother. Athy love you sooooo much!"

"If you love me that much, then accompany me read this book."

"Only until lunch, okay?"

Athanasé smiled and nodded which Athanasia replied with a small laugh. The little boy slide to the corner of the couch, giving an ample space for his sister to lay down and placed her head on his lap. His fingers played with her hair, while their eyes focused towards the book which Athanasé has considerately lowered.

Having a big brother mean having a guard that could be more ferocious than a beast. But it isn't always that bad. Having a big brother also could mean having a source of laugh that wouldn't fail to make Athanasia feel blissful, and encourage her when she was miserable. Because no matter how terrible he may act, Athanasia is absolutely sure of one thing; her big brother love her more than anything in this world.

To be continued.