Chapter 148 - Appreciation and Care (2)

[ A quick re-cap ]

"Are we going to have our tea party here, papa?" Alexandra asked, her tone of voice laced with excitement and joy as she looked at her father. Her eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky, the expression that was plastered on her face was bright. She looked like an excited kid who was brought to a toy shop. "And the next tea parties too. I have heard from Carlos that you want to have our tea parties in the garden," Her father responded in a nonchalant tone of voice.

Alexandra's smile widened and she couldn't help but rush to her father and throw her body at him to hug him which startled him. "Thank you," She said as she hugged him. Her father just hummed as his lips curled up into a smile that Alexandra didn't see. Nobody saw him smiling at her daughter who was hugging him so he was thankful for that. Carlos just smiled as he saw the two. Unlike before, the emperor wasn't comfortable with the young miss hugging her suddenly and would just act cold but now, he was completely relaxed as if he was happy and used to it.

While Christian, he was smiling at the sight in front of him but he could feel something in him. Like his heart was aching in pain and he wished that he was also in the position Alexandra was in. He just let out a sigh. Alexandra broke away from the hug and she smiled at her father. They walked towards the gazebo and Christian followed behind them. Alexandra climbed up and took the seat in the middle or between the two chairs. Christian took the seat on her left while her father took the seat on her right.

The food was already prepared and placed on the table. The sweet aroma each of it emitted wafted to their nose making Alexandra hungry even if she just ate two hours ago. If ever she gets fat, she wouldn't regret it. At least she was able to eat these delicious foods only a few people could eat. But since she has high metabolism as a kid, she doesn't get fat easily which she is very lucky to have.

The atmosphere that surrounded them was more comfortable and relaxing than ever when they were at the courtyard, the garden was filled with flowers and there was a pond near them. It was clear and clean, the water lilies made it more beautiful. Really, I am very thankful for Carlos for telling her father about it, she thought to herself.

"What are you waiting for, you can eat now," Her father said as he took a sip from the cup of tea he was holding. He was sitting with his legs crossed while he leaned back on his chair, he looked elegant and graceful with that position of his, to be honest. No wonder many women fell for him, she thought to herself and her eyes darted at the macaroons. Alexandra's eyes darted at the dessert stand, multiple colorful macaroons were seen and it looked delicious. Alexandra took one, a smile was seen on her face as she did.

She looked at Christian on the corner of her eyes, she saw that he wasn't eating and was just staring at somewhere. "Brother, aren't you going to eat?" Alexandra asked, making him snap out of his daze. "O-Oh, right," He said before he took one cupcake from the dessert stand near the macaroons. Everything here looked delicious and some were new to her. As a person who loves desserts, this was simply like paradise for her. Too bad, Brother Calixander doesn't get to eat these sweets since he doesn't look like the type of person that would join in a tea party and enjoy, she thought to herself.

Does he like macaroons? I remember Christian telling me that he likes macaroons, should I give him one when he returns? What about scones? Those were really delicious, I wonder if he would like it when I give him. It was still completely unbelievable that a scary and cold person like him would love sweets more than me. You really can't judge a book by its cover, eh. Well, Chandler is a Tsundere, so yeah. Somehow, all of her brother's personalities are pretty amusing and unique. Their personalities are quite refreshing and new for her. I think Christian is the only one whose looks are the same as his personality, he looked gentle and calm and his personality was sweet and caring.

As Alexandra was thinking and multiple thoughts were running inside her head as she ate, she heard her father spoke snapping her out of her daze. "Just to inform you, there are newly added books in our library. Christian, I bought a shelf of history books for you," Was what her father said as he looked at Christian who was silently eating. Christian looked quiet and unusual today, I wonder what is running inside his mind right now, she thought to herself as she looked at Christian.

"Hm. Oh, thank you, father. I really appreciate it," He said and smiled at her father. Oh, new books, that makes me more excited to visit the library. I wonder what was added there. Since the library was spacious and big enough, they could add as many books that they want. Well, Christian got a shelf of History books, I think he would spend most of his time reading all of it. I wish I am not that busy, I would probably just spend my time reading and doing the things that I like.

--

Their tea party lasted for an hour as they were talking about some things. Christian didn't participate that much and was quiet most of the time. That made Alexandra worried. But she didn't ask him what he was thinking or if he was okay knowing that his response would just be either of these two: "Nothing." and "I'm fine, you don't have to worry," or something like that.

After their tea party which was held in the garden. Alexandra was delighted and satisfied, she was used and tired of the courtyard since they usually have their tea parties there. Alexandra was already on her way towards the library with Christian walking beside her. Carlos and Gabriel, their personal knights, walked behind them quietly. Alexandra was excited to arrive at the library and read the new books there. I wonder if I will find something interesting there, they told me that I can borrow as many books as I want but I still have to return it, she couldn't help but hum a happy tune as they walked.

This grabbed Christian's attention and made him turn his head in her direction. He asked her, "What are you thinking?" He asked. Alexandra turned her head and looked at her brother's direction, her lips were curled up into a faint and gentle smile but there were joy and happiness tracing it, "I'm just excited at what kind of books were added. I hope that I can find something that I want there," She answered and smiled widely at her brother.

Her brother just hummed and they continued walking quietly. The sound of their light footsteps was the only thing heard and piercing through the silence that surrounded them. But it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, rather it was relaxing and comforting. Sometimes, talking all the time would just tire you out so Alexandra just remained quiet.

Not more than 10 minutes, they finally arrived in front of the door of the library which was opened by Gilbert and they went inside. Alexandra and Carlos went in first before their personal knights followed inside, closing the door behind them as they did. Carlos instead of walking to the stairs to head towards their usual spot, he headed towards the history section and Alexandra followed behind him. "The fiction books aren't here, you know? It's either on the second floor or on the other side of this shelf," Christian said as he noticed Alexandra following behind him.

Their personal knights stood still at a distance and watched the two. As usual, they were just silently standing, not giving a care about each other but only at their masters who are walking together except that Alexandra was behind him. "I know, I just want to check the history books that were added. Who knows, I might find something interesting there," Alexandra responded and continued to follow her brother until they arrived in front of a shelf filled with books. The books looked new and it seems like these were the ones newly added in this library judging by how clean it looked. It seems untouched.

Alexandra stared at the books in front of her and read the words written on its spine. All of the books here are all thick, it would be too heavy for her to carry back to the palace. Well, Carlos is there to help me but looking at how thick it all looked, I am slowly losing my enthusiasm and excitement to read. Alexandra looked at her brother at the corner of her eyes who was standing still in front of the shelf, he looked like he was thinking about something.

Come to think of it, Christian can guess what the person is thinking, not exactly, just by their expressions and such. He could tell almost everything just by some simple observation and analysis. He could read someone just like an open book. He could be a mind reader but no, he isn't. Yet despite of that, he was hard to read. It was hard to tell what he was feeling or thinking. He might look like an open book, a person easy to be read, but he isn't. I wonder what he really is thinking, she thought to herself. Despite his smiles and gentle words, there was something different from him. Curiosity slowly overwhelming her and she gulped.

"Brother, what are you thinking?" Curiosity already takes control of her body. She was curious, it was like Christian is a puzzle she was trying to solve for a long time. When she asked him that, she grabbed his attention making him turn his head in her direction, a confused look plastered on his face. His eyebrows were knitted and he blinked multiple times, "Nothing. Why do you ask?" He said. Almost the whole time while they were having their tea party, he was either spacing out or was just silent. Alexandra was worried for him and at the same time, curious about what he was thinking.

For a long time, this question bugged her. This question was one of those things that she thinks every night. Alexandra gulped and turned her body to face him, "Brother, do you really not hate me?" Alexandra asked him in a curious tone of voice. There was something different from his gaze every time when she is with her father and acting sweet and close with him while he just stands by. Alexandra thought that it was probably just her imagination but earlier while she was hugging her father, she could see what his gaze was. Like there was something in that gaze, she wasn't sure of it but she thinks it was jealousy. Hatred.

Christian still looked confused and he let out a light awkward laugh. "What are you suddenly saying, Alexandra? Are you still hungry?" He asked her as he let out a laugh. It looked like he was trying to avoid the question. Alexandra's expression remained the same, she stared at him with a serious look on her face. Her lips pursed into a thin line. She wants to know, she badly wants to know what he truly feels. "Brother, I am serious. Please answer my question, do you really not hate me?" Alexandra asked him once again. This time, a sad smile on her lips. Her eyebrows were up-turned.

Christian's eyes widened and she stared at Alexandra before he let out a sigh and looked down. Ah, it seems like he does, she thought to herself and couldn't help but feel an aching pain in her chest.