Bryson moved across the streets back toward the direction of the limousine when a small commotion attracted his attention. Heading toward it he witnessed a small crowd of kids, all a bit older than he was gathered about. To Bryson’s surprise, or perhaps lack thereof, the one causing the commotion was his ten-year-old brother Gilles.

Gilles was surrounded by from what Bryson could see were other children whose parents were nobles. However, these kids seemed to have lower rank noble children, in comparison to the upper noble children that Gareth surrounds himself with.

Two other children standing next to Gilles seemed to be receiving his ire.

“So, you two commoners think that you are more important than me? Gilles Coldwater?” Gilles sneered with his shrill, grating voice.

“We didn’t nuthin.” One of the boys muttered.

“Can it with your lies. You aren’t leaving. Not without paying first.” Gilles taunted them.

Bryson stood there in confusion, wondering what exactly happened and where were Gilles’ guards.

“We don’t have any money.” The taller boy said.

“Hah! You think I need your money?” Gilles mocked. The other kids around him laughed along him.

The boy reddened with embarrassment. Staring at Gilles in anger he remained silent, but Gilles noticed his face. Gilles approached the boy and stared him down.

“I don’t like that look of yours.” Gilles sneered at him.

Look away. Don’t take the bait. Bryson thought. Unfortunately, Bryson was not psychic, and the boy did not think that way and kept staring. At the very least the boy kept himself silent.

A nasty grin appeared on the face of Gilles, as he stood face to face with the boy. “Do you have anything to say to me? If you do, speak up or be a good commoner and apologize.”

“Why should I, we didn’t do nuthin.” The boy blurted.

Oh great. Bryson thought. Now the commoner boy was going to get in trouble.

“Why shouldn’t you? Really? You dare look me in the face and say that? You a commoner, not only disrespected me in front of a crowd and now you won’t apologize?” Gilles challenged.

Apparently, the taller commoner boy now realized that he was challenging the son of a noble and he was making a huge mistake. He looked down at Gilles feet, no longer facing him.

“Sorry.” He muttered.

“What was that?” Gilles asked.

Looking up to Gilles the boy spoke again, “I’m-”

Gilles smacked the boy. The sound of the slap echoed through the street. The other commoner yelped in panic.

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“Don’t look at me in the eye.” Gilles snarled, smacking the boy once more.

“Kneel.” Gilles commanded with malice.

The boy simply clutched his face, saying nothing not reacting. This earned him another slap.

“I said kneel.” Gilles repeated.

The boy dropped to his knees, head cast low. Gilles looked over to the other commoner and repeated the word, “Kneel.”

Scared the boy did not move until the already kneeling boy gently tugged him down. As both commoners were kneeling down Gilles smile widened even more.

“Now, you will- gahh!” Gilles was cut off as a foreign object smacked Gilles right in the face.

Bryson quickly identified that it was a cupcake. Huh? Where did that come from? Bryson turned toward the direction where the cupcake came from. The source turns out to be from a tiny girl with coffee-coloured hair, holding a small basket of cupcakes.

“What do you think you are doing!” Gilles shrieked. Only to have another cupcake be lobbed onto his face. Hair completely messed up by icing Gilles was shaking with rage. The nobles around him weren’t sure whether to laugh at the Coldwater or not, mainly because they would be laughing at a Coldwater.

Using this distraction, the two other commoner boys ran off, everyone completely forgetting them. Gilles stared at the girl with rage, eyes brimming with dangerous magic.

The commoner girl then did the smartest thing possible, and that was turn and run. Unfortunately, Gilles was not going to let her run, he lifted his hand and was about to cast a spell. It looked to Bryson that Gilles was intending to kill.

Someone should do something. Bryson thought, looking around he saw no one doing anything except gawk. Oh, I have do something. Or do I? I’m pretty sure that Gilles could get away with attacking her. But she was just protecting them… hmm. Bryson continued to ponder this as a small casting circle appeared on Gilles’s hand.

“Hey Gilles! What are you doing?” Bryson called out.

“Huh?!” Gilles turned toward Bryson, spell now fully cast and facing Bryson. Accidently, Gilles then shot the spell out, and it hurled straight at Bryson.

Oh. Was all Bryson thought as this ball of volatile energy hurtled toward him. Thankfully one of the guards jumped forward, drawing out his weapon and blocking the blast. After defending Bryson, the guard put his weapon away once more and went back to position.

“What are you doing Gilles!? Did you just try to hurt me?” Bryson cried out.

“Oh! Uh- no! I was-” Gilles sputtered out completely flustered. He ran over to Bryson.

“Why did you cast that spell? Is that cake on you?” Bryson asked quizzically.

“Well-” Gilles began, but then decided it would have been embarrassing to explain things to his brother. He glanced back to see the girl had run off by now.

“Nothing, nothing at all. I was just fooling around, got messy.” Gilles said.

“Where are your guards? Father said to keep them close to us at all times.” Bryson asked innocently. At this point the crowd began to dissipate.

“Uh, I told them to head off for a bit.” Gilles said awkwardly.

“I thought father didn’t like that.” Bryson said.

“Please don’t tell father.” Gilles begged.

“Okay… I guess.”

Gilles gave a sigh of relief, “Thanks, I’m going go get my guards and clean up, I’ll meet you back at the limousine.” Gilles hurriedly left.

Bryson watched as Gilles left. Well, that was easy.

***

Bryson and the rest of his family arrived back at the mansion; the servants helped carried their things in. Bryson walked himself up the stairs and toward his room. As he turned a hallway he saw his youngest sister Sable, with raven black hair and walking by.

As their eyes met Sable stopped moving, looking at him with a cool gaze she gave a polite curtsey.

“Brother.” She said formally.

“Oh, hey Sable, we just went out on a trip with father.” Bryson said plainly.

“I noticed.” She replied.

“What were you doing?” He asked trying to be polite.

“Nothing. I didn’t do anything the entire time.” She said with a slight edge to her voice.

“Okay.” Bryson said with a shrug, “I’m going to my room.”

“You are free to do so.” She said, before slinking off.

As Bryson opened the door to his room he thought. She seemed upset… oh well. He said as he shut his door behind him and helped himself to one of his cookies that were brought to his room.