Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 207: Brother’s request

Chapter 207: Brother’s request

The day before the tournament, Henry had sent a letter saying he’d come to visit Ara in person before the day of the tournament. And while her injuries weren’t yet fully healed, she was able to move more comfortably than the time she’d heard Anne came to visit her. Moreover, she hadn’t seen her brother ever since she’d been married, she missed him dearly.

Thus, Ara tried her best to hide her injuries from him as she eagerly waited for his arrival in the parlour room. Soon she heard footsteps outside the door, followed by the door opening, then Emma came in to inform her first,

"My lady, Lord Henry has arrived, should I let him in here?"

"Yes, please."

Emma knew that Ara had been anxiously waiting for her brother, and she hurriedly bowed her head and stepped back out again. Ara’s heart raced in anticipation as she smoothed out her dress. She hoped her brother had come with Anne so they’d sit and have lunch together again.

The door of the parlour room opened once more, but this time it was Henry who entered. He had his military uniform on, his broad shoulders and tall, muscular body were evidence of his training as a soldier. Ara quickly stood up from her seat and beamed happily when she saw his usual stony face, she’d missed even his indifferent expression so much,

"Brother Henry." She rushed to him, but Henry was fast to bow his head instead. She was now a crown princess not just his younger sister, he had to show her respect, "Hail Her Highness."

Ara pursed her lips, "Brother, you don’t have to give me such formality when it’s just us here." She mused, then motioned to the chair opposite from where she sat earlier, "Please come, sit down."

He gave her a curt nod and made to sit down while also muttering a, "Thank you." He was distantly polite to her because she was the crown princess now, but the warmth in those pair of blue eyes of his couldn’t be missed. Even with his quiet and reserved personality, she was able to read the affection in his mood without him saying it in words.

She then asked, "How have you been, Brother?"

"I’ve been doing well...what about you? I hope the life in the palace isn’t difficult, is the crown Prince treating you well?" Ara could sense the concern in his tone, which brought another smile to her face, "Don’t worry about me at all, Brother. The crown Prince has been taking care of me."

He nodded again, "Very well then...I came here to check on your well-being in the palace. I’m glad to know you’ve been taken cared of."

Ara beamed at her brother’s concern for her well-being, but then her smile slowly fell when she just noticed Anne hadn’t come along, "Brother, why did you not come along with Anne?"

"Well, about that, Anne has been acting really strange nowadays, she..." He paused as he recalled his youngest sister’s current state. Anne had refused to eat nor drink anything unless...He agrees to bring back the servant, Merek back to her. She’d cried and begged him to bring him back, but Henry was aware their father had sent the servant away from the Boxton mansion the other time Anne went out alone with him.

_’Brother, please bring him back to me. Or else I won’t eat nor drink until I starve to dea_’

_’Annette! He’s just a mere servant, why are you being like this for a person you barely even know. Now eat your food before I shove it down your throat myself.’

Anne had never disobeyed him in all the years he’d known her, she’d always listen to him, but this time, she smacked the plate of food he handed her away from his hand,

_’Go ahead, Brother. I won’t eat! I will only eat when I see Merek...please Brother, look for him and bring him back. I’ve never asked you for anything before, but please do this much for me and I promise I won’t complain ever again.’ She’d pleaded desperately her eyes wet with tears.

He couldn’t bear to see his sister in such state, and had sent his men to look for the man, but not a shadow of Merek could be traced in the entire kingdom. He couldn’t believe all his best troops of spies were unable to find a mere servant. He couldn’t help but sense something was out of the ordinary about it.

Moreover, his sister was hellbent on finding him or else she wouldn’t eat. But he’d somehow managed to make her eat by saying, ’I will find this man named Merek, but only if you eat your food. If you don’t, then you can forget about me finding him.’

Today before he came to the palace, he’d told her he was going to visit Ara, but she just sat on her swing in the garden with a blank look staring at the flowers, she didn’t even spare him a glance. She had become completely different from the Anne he knew. And he hated the fact that she was being this way for a mere servant.

What would happened if he was unable to find this man for his sister? A touch of worry crossed his mind, but then he smiled and spoke to Ara as if there was nothing to worry about, "Anne, has been busy managing the household. I’ll make sure to bring her to you the next time I come to visit or even ask the guards to escort her here."

"Oh..." Ara’s mood turned somber. She regretted not being able to meet Anne the last time she visited, and she’d hoped she would come along with Henry, but sadly she didn’t.

Despite Ara’s disappointment, she forced a smile on her face, "Alright, tell her I said hello and I missed her so much."

Henry nodded, "Very well, I will relay your message to her once I get home, am sure she misses you too."

After saying that, silence fell in the parlour room. Ara then decided to break it by asking, "Brother, the tournament is tomorrow. Aren’t you nervous about it?" She knew that he’d long been preparing for the competition, especially since it was his first time participating. However, she still couldn’t help the dreadful feeling building up in her after knowing Kane would also be part of it, and had bet on it.

But then, she was confident in her brother’s abilities to use various weapons. In her past life, she couldn’t determine how good he actually was, but after joining the army herself, she realized he was incredible.

"Don’t worry about me, I’ve trained for this my whole life." He assured.

"I am glad you are this confident enough then..." a faint smile graced her lips as she expressed her sincere support to her brother.

"Um...Ara, I have a request to make from you, if you don’t mind..." He seemed to hesitate for a moment, she then prompted him to say it, "What is it, Brother?"

Henry stretched the back of his head before saying, "May I have any piece of cloth from you or even a handkerchief?"

Ara’s eyes widened, "Brother..." She immediately understood what he meant. The men participating at the tournament, would ask the lady they fancy or liked for any piece of their clothing or handkerchief. Though, it wasn’t a requirement, but many men considered it as a token of good luck from their lover. And it was a chance for the men to prove themselves to their ladies at the finale, and was often a romantic scene for the women.

It was said that; the man who won the championship and the lady who had given him her piece of clothing would fall in love and live harmoniously together with the blessings of the elders on them.

But her brother wanted her piece of clothing? She couldn’t conceal her embarrassment at his unexpected request, which he was supposed to request from the woman he liked.

Ara cleared her throat, "Um...Brother, I don’t mind giving you mine, but I think it would be best you ask any woman you fancy or even...love instead of your sister..." She noticed the tip of his ears flushed at her comment. He then said,

"I don’t have anyone like that. And I am not ready to have a woman in my life, when I can barely even handle my sister at home. My biggest goal now is to see our family safe, and your husband take the throne without any war."

Ara was taken aback for a moment, she was grateful that she wasn’t the only one fighting to keep their family safe, but she wouldn’t want to ruin Henry’s opportunity to get matched with a woman by giving him her piece of clothing.

Sensing his sister’s hesitation, he spoke, "It’s fine if you don’t feel comfortable giving me your piece of clothing. I’ll take no offense if you refuse."

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