Lulu realized she had been played the moment she reached the inside of the room. It had been years since she last acted this spoiled and she would surely not do so in that situation… After all, she acknowledged she had a temper, yes, but Lulu knew herself enough to be sure she would never, never betray her sisters’ interests just like that.
Her eyes flew to where her older sister was. Gabe had purposely taken them out of the room. Perhaps it was enchanted? She quickly surveyed her surroundings, ignoring the funny looks the staff was giving her (they had been ordered to remain back).
Gods and Fairies above, it was spectacular work. The walls had something in it that was utterly fascinating. When you looked close enough, you could spot a slight bend in its anatomy that should render it impossible to hold its weight considering the sheer size of the Castle, and ever since she got there she was just cracking her brain like crazy to try to think about how it worked. That was another reason why she had decided not to take her pills. How would she notice that if she was sleepwalking?
Focus, Lulu, focus, she reminded herself. There was nothing weird in the room, so maybe it was in the pillars of the hall middle of the room/garden? She searched it's entirety as well, to no avail.
She took a deep breath, realizing she was still not acting like herself. Acting so harshly was for the likes of Samir, she had to think first. When did she start acting unusual? Was it when she entered the carriage? No. The Castle? Not also. Not in the salon either, or when she was seated on the sofa.
Her eyes moved towards Gabe, who was beside him still, calmly strolling down the stone path. She had allowed Lulu to go back rather easily, didn’t she? The truth dawned upon her: She was saving the others from his effect by keeping him away from them.
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Lulu frowned, thinking about what she should do next. Was Gabe safe from his enchantment? Or perhaps she was before when he was focusing on the others? She wanted to go there, to help her stand her ground against him, but Lulu knew she would be a liability to her if she couldn’t manage to shake off whatever he was doing.
“Is there something wrong, Miss Lulu?” the Butler asked.
“Huh?” She turned to his soft expression, “If I’m well?”
“Yes,” he looked forward, a shine in his eyes when he noticed Gabe and The Prince, “You’ve been looking rather worried since you began watching outside.”
Lulu froze. Gabe had warned them about that, the staff. She said that whatever they did in front of them would probably be informed to who they answered, be it the Prince or the Queen. They had to be careful about how they acted and what they said.
“I am okay. I am worried if they will take long,” she said quietly, adjusting her glasses and lowering her head.
“I am sure they will be back in no time, Miss,” he was staring out too, now, and a while later, when she raised her head, Lulu saw that her sister halted in a very uncharacteristic way, and the Prince soon after.
“Let’s go inside while we wait,” she said immediately.
The butler, a tall older man with pristine dressings, gave her an evaluative stare. She absolutely hated this look, and loathed it even more than adventuring outside. The look as if everything she did would be under someone else’s jury. That shouldn’t happen, Alani thought her. The only one to approve and decide what was right for her should be herself.
But her sister needed her. If keeping the eyes of the staff towards herself would allow Gabe to act without consequences (and that meant even more now that the Prince was maybe or maybe not enchanting her to act without restraint), then she would at least do that for her.