"Piss off, you frail-looking bastard!"

'Damn, she ain't cutting no corners with her tongue, that's for sure.' I was a bit taken aback by the amount of hostility she dished out from the get-go.

"Why not? You look like someone who doesn't have any friends. Besides, calling me frail is a bit...Can't you see me in a wheelchair?" I asked back, ignoring the annoying look that lingered on Helena's face.

"So am I supposed to play nice with you just because you can't walk? Why don't you save the tears play for someone who actually gives a damn? And are you deaf, or are you too dumb to understand me? I told you to piss off! I don't want to be your friend. I don't need any, so go bother somebody else."

"You don't need any, or you can't have any-?"

Her face twisted even further. My words must've hit that a sore spot, I believe.

"Excuse me...Alexander Von Dawson, is it? I am Howard Demeria Boreas, Helena's twin brother and the Fourth Prince of Boreas." Howard intervened in between us, noticing the mood around his sister that only turned murkier by the second.

I mean, look at it; the lass was fuming...

"Howard? Nice to meet you...Does she have a problem? Why can't she have friends?" Even I knew that question was a bit too much, but I needed their attention, and if clashing would get me that, I'd take it.

"I told you I don't need one!!" Helena finally broke free from her facade. Her screeching pierced throughout the venue. The surroundings gasped in cold breath simultaneously like they had practiced it beforehand.

Obvious whispers of her explosive behavior spread like wildfire, spurring the girl further to spit venom through her eyes at me.

It felt like I was bullying her. Nah, I think I was...But as I said, I need their attention.

Still, I need to pace my approach somehow. Pushing Helena too much might be bad instead. She was the key to making Howard a powerful asset to my plan after all.

"Why don't you need one?" A simple question.

And the question that I was ever so familiar with.

One that I couldn't quite answer well without lying in my first life. Long story short, yeah, I think the salty lass, Helena, was quite similar to how I was to some degree.

"I just don't need one! I have my brother with me." So she said.

'Ooh, you might have to work more on your repertoire, girl...' Hell, even I sympathized with her poor answer.

"Is that so? Are you her friend, Howard?" I turned toward the poor boy who, right now, was receiving his sister's deathly glare.

"Wha-...Uhum! Well, you might put it that way...Yes, it is true..." He answered awkwardly, poorly imitating the gestures of the adult.

He might be known as the Blood Crazed Prince in my memory, but right now, Howard was just a young boy who was easily scared by his twin sister.

"But you are her brother. That doesn't count." I refuted.

"Alex..." A soft call.

I didn't have to turn to know who it was. Alyson, blooming with the sweetest smile, entered the fray.

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"Sister Alyson."

"What are you doing here?" She questioned, slowly inching closer forward, trying to subtly put herself in between us.

"I am trying to make some friends. This is Howard, and she is Helena." But I cut her off before she could do that.

"It is an honor to be in the presence of both the Fourth Prince and Fifth Princess. My name is Alyson Von Dawson. Do pardon my little brother in case he conducted himself in unruly behavior. He has to spend most of his time recuperating and rarely has the chance to be out; therefore I believe he might be a little too excited about meeting the Prince and Princess for the first time." Left with no choice, Alyson was forced to address the two.

"Tch." Helena clicked her tongue softly in displeasure.

"Likewise, it feels great to finally be able to meet Dawson's rose. And banish such thoughts, my lady. Alexander has not slighted us in any way. He was a bit forward, but there's no ill will so far." Explained Howard eloquently.

"Then I am truly glad that if that is the case...Excuse us, but I think Alexander needs to rest for now. He still can't force himself too much since it'll be bad for his body." Her gaze then landed slowly on me.

"No, I am fine, Sister. I want to talk more with them." I refused.

"...You will have your chance more later. For now, let's go and rest, okay?" She seemed surprised at my firm rejection.

'Oh, I doubt I will see them again if I back down now. You can't trick me like that, Sister.'

I shook my head gently and looked her right in the eyes.

"No. Father said I can be here as long as I don't have an episode. And I want to be here and talk to them." I hinted at the twins.

"Are you really going to be like this, Alex?" Gone was the amicable color in Alyson's voice.

"I really want to be friends with Howard and Helena."

'With all my heart, I need them both for the future.'

I expressed sincerely.

Seeing such a stubborn and unyielding display from me, Alyson finally relented and the frown on her face melted within seconds.

"Then do so as you wish, but I will stay here beside you because we can't have Grandpa and Grandma joining the kids."

She gave us his approval and condition, leaving the droves of people who followed her at a loss. They wanted to talk with her, but they couldn't with Howard, and the scary-ass-looking Helena standing in front of them.

"Great. Now where were we?" A hurdle passed.

"I've had it! I can't do this anymore. I'm out of here, brother!" And another one came right after.

Helena tried to storm off while looking like she had swallowed a bug or something. Luckily, Howard's excellence reflex was there to prevent her from doing so.

"Sister, it's bad manners...Besides...It really isn't that bad if you can have a friend..." The last part was so quiet you almost couldn't hear it, but I think Howard meant what he said.

"What did you say?" Questioned Helena sharply.

'Oh boy, he's in a deep shit.'

Beads of sweat trickled down poor Howard's neck at his sister's chilling voice.

'Um...'

I sneaked a peek at Alyson, hoping for some kind of wisdom from someone who's rightfully known as the belle of the party.

'Damn it, I'm on my own here.'

"Did you just say that? You? What's that again...It isn't that bad, you say?"

While I was drowning in my own thoughts, Helena was cooking up some really scary vibes.

"You say that to me? My own brother? You, who knows why...Of all people, you're the one who tells me that!?" She snapped.

"H-Helena, you know what I mean."

"No, I don't think I do, Howard."

"Wh...No-, I..." It was brutal, I tell you. He couldn't even say shit. None of his eloquent speaking from moments ago was of any use at this point.

"What's with all the stutter? Why? Cat got your tongue?"

And then Howard turned toward the one person who started all of this.

Me...

He looked like he was blaming me for dragging him through the mud while also hoping that I could get him out of there alive.

'Ah, damn it! Here goes nothing...'

"Helena! Come with me; I'll show you a magic trick! Renata, push me to the balcony right now."

If there was something I could always count on, it was my overpowered blessing.

So, I dragged the befuddled Helena by the hand towards the balcony.