New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 117: NEVER LEAVE HIM BEHIND AGAIN

Chapter 117: NEVER LEAVE HIM BEHIND AGAIN

"Lucas." Aristia called.

"Yes, princess." A figure came out from the darkness behind them.

Lucas had been following them all along, since they left the carriage. He wasn’t very noticeable as he could hide his presence. He was a shadow guard and was very good at stealth.

He held open the carriage door for them and assisted Aristia in climbing into the carriage. Then, he took his seat on the Coachman’s position and started the carriage, heading for the Grand Duke Mansion.

The carriage ride was very quiet. The only sound that could be heard was the hooves of the horses and the wheels of the carriage as they made contact with the ground.

Finally, the carriage entered the gates of the Grand Duke’s Mansion and stopped in front of the mansion’s doors.

The three occupants got down from the carriage and walked into the mansion.

Aristia paused on seeing Alaric awake in the foyer. The only source of light coming from one lit candle that was almost burned out.

[How long has he been there?] She thought, startled.

Cassandra was standing beside him while he sat on a chair with his chin leaning on his left and a golden pocket watch in his right hand.

He looked up slowly when he heard movement at the door.

"Al, what are you doing? Why aren’t you asleep?" Aristia asked, walking toward him quickly.

The box she was holding in her hand fell down but she ignored it. She saw Adeline pick it up from the corner of her eyes.

Alaric looked up at her and Aristia was stunned when the dim light from the candle allowed her to see his red rimmed eyes.

"Al..." Her voice caught in her throat.

[Has he been crying?]

She looked up at Cassandra in question, her eyes silently demanding an answer.

Cassandra sighed. "Prince Alaric had wanted to go with you to the festival, but since he wasn’t allowed, he’s upset. He refused to listen to the Master and Madam. He’s been waiting here since you left."

At Cassandra’s words, Aristia looked back at Alaric whose gaze was still stuck on her face.

[He’s been waiting since we left? It’s been six hours!]

"Oh, Al." She said, going to hug him. She hugged him tightly.

Alaric hugged her back to her relief.

Aristia sighed in relief before releasing him from her hold. She held his cheeks with both hands and wiped off a tear at a corner of his eyes.

"I’m never leaving you behind again, I promise."

"You promise?" Alaric asked for confirmation, his voice slightly cracked.

"Yes, I promise."

It hurt her to see him like this. It was the first time she’d seen him so sad. Her heart ached.

She hadn’t known he’d be so affected when she left, so much that he waited for hours and even cried.

She looked up at Cassandra.

"Has he eaten?"

Cassandra sighed again and shook her head. "No, princess."

Aristia turned to Alaric. "Would you like to eat with me, Al? I got something for you."

Hearing that Aristia had got him something seemed to make Alaric feel better. He nodded in answer.

"Then, let’s go eat it. I don’t want my only favorite, most loved brother in the world to go hungry." Aristia said, bringing her hand forward to help him come down the chair.

Alaric smiled widely at her words, then little giggles escaped his mouth. Obviously, he was very happy with the title.

Once Alaric had come down from the chair, they went up the stairs and towards her room, hand in hand, while Owen entered the room opposite hers. It had been his room since he started to stay in the mansion as Aristia’s aide.

Aristia took a seat on the bed and led Alaric to do the same. Then Adeline handed the box to her before standing off to the side.

Aristia opened the box, bringing out a plate covered with a cloth and putting it on the bed between herself and Alaric.

Steam escaped from the top when she took away the cloth and she looked up at Alaric.

"Should I feed you?" She asked.

Alaric’s eyes lit up and he nodded.

"Please get me a glass of water, Linny."

Adeline moved quickly, filling a glass with water from a jug and handing it to Aristia.

"Drink, Al." Aristia cooed, bringing the glass to his lips.

After Alaric drank a little, Aristia began feeding him the rice Mrs Lambert had specially prepared for her.

The restaurant closed late today because of the festival and Dahlia had brought this to her, telling her it was a little gift from Mrs. Lambert.

She scooped some rice and tasted it after blowing on the hot rice. It was delicious.

She began feeding Alaric and herself spoon by spoon, though she ate only a little.

"I also got you meat skewers." She said while Alaric took the last bite. She took out the skewers of meat and also began feeding Alaric, giving him premium baby treatment.

When the food was finished, Adeline packed the box and placed it aside, then she moved to help Aristia take her bath.

After Adeline helped Aristia and Alaric to take their bath, they returned to her room after getting dressed and ready for bed.

"Goodnight, my princess. Goodnight, prince." Adeline wished and left the room, leaving the little princess and her little brother alone in the room.

"Goodnight, Linny." Aristia yawned. She was tired after all that excitement and walking around. Her body would not exceed its limit.

She laid on the bed, holding Alaric’s hand.

"Al?" Aristia called.

"Hm?" Alaric answered.

"I don’t like it when you’re sad. I’m sorry I didn’t try to bring you with me, but please don’t be sad if it happens again. I want you to know that I’ll always keep you in mind no matter where I go. I love you so much."

If she ever returned to earth, she’d never ever forget him no matter how much time passed. He’d always be her baby brother in her heart.

Alaric shifted so he was facing her. "Okay. I love you too, Tia." He finally replied.

It went quiet after that, but Aristia was still awake.

Most of the mansion’s residents had already gone to sleep as it was already late and even Alaric’s breath had evened out, coming out in slow steady breaths. Aristia’s heavy eyes slowly closed shut.

***

The next day, Aristia woke up surprisingly earlier than usual even though she slept late.

Suddenly, she let out a groan.

She just remembered that they were supposed to attend a banquet today.

"Ugh...!" She groaned again, rolling over so she was facing the ceiling.

She sat up, looking down at Alaric’s sleeping form. He had been awake for a long time waiting for her the previous night and slept late, so he wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.

"I don’t want to wake him up."

She stood up and quietly put on her training clothes, not bothering to wait for Adeline.

Just as she was done buttoning up the last few buttons of her shirt, Adeline entered the room.

From the grandfather clock on the wall— the clock Aristia had seen the first time she entered this world— the time was ten minutes after five, just twenty more minutes until the training began.

Adeline paused on seeing her all dressed up. She glanced at Alaric on the bed and lowered her voice.

"Good morning, princess."

"Good morning, Linny." Aristia replied.

"The captain has just arrived and is with His Imperial Highness." Adeline said, going to adjust Aristia’s clothing.

They moved to leave the room, and Aristia took one glance at Alaric. The latter was still sleeping peacefully and snoring lightly.

[He must be tired.]

The servants had begun moving around the mansion. They passed by a few servants on their way to the training grounds.

Aristia saw the captain coming over just as she reached the training ground. Adeline brought out her equipment for the training and stood off to the side.

"Good morning, captain." She greeted once she stood in front of him.

"Morning, princess." Hugh reciprocated. "Ready for our training this year?"

"Ready as ever," Aristia replied, nodding.

Captain Hugh gave instructions for the warm-up before the training, feeling surprised and impressed.

When he had first begun training the third princess, he hadn’t expected that their class would continue for so long, but they had actually been training for months now and he was becoming more and more satisfied with her determination.

Remembering that his brother had begun training the first and second princesses some time after he began training the third princess, he didn’t need to be told to know that she was the reason the other princesses had begun training too.

Captain Hugh gave out the next instructions, and while Aristia moved to take her bow after running a lap around the field, she caught sight of a small figure coming towards them.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.