"You're mental, aren't you?" Exhaled Helena, dumbfounded by what I just said.

Yeah, I told her the talk that ensued yesterday and George's concession to my idea of the engagement.

"No, I'm not. And like I said, it'll be temporary; we won't even have it written down. So you'll have nothing to worry about, Helena. Relax, okay? Relax..."

"Yeah, keep talking and see how I'll smack that pale shit you call face."

I raised my hand and shrugged, letting her process it and cool down a bit.

"No, I don't want to do it. Forget about it!" She grumbled, annoyed.

'Yea, I don't think the adults will listen to you about this...'

It'd be an excellent chance for them to reach out their hand to the leader of the neutral party, after all. Would a tantrum from a young princess affect the grand scheme of the power struggle in a kingdom? I honestly doubt it.

Still, I knew better than to keep fanning the angry witch further.

"Why don't you think of it as a long vacation where you get to do some fun stuff? You said it yourself. The palace is too boring. Then, isn't here better? At least you'll be less bored here, right?"

Helena squinted slightly, clamping her mouth shut. It was a habit I noticed whenever she was thinking about something serious.

"Am I included in this?" Queried Howard.

"Of course."

"You think you can freaking escape this by yourself?" Sneered Helena.

"I don't see why not. It's getting more suffocating back at home, anyway." Answered Howard, ignoring Helena's glare.

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who's getting tied up." Scoffed Helena.

"But Alex said it will only be temporary, so you won't have anything to worry about."

"Alex, you bastard, if you're lying and try something funny, I swear I'm gonna break your neck like dry twigs."

Ah, for those who were wondering why Helena suddenly called me by my nickname like everyone else, it just happened that day.

Quoting her, 'If Howard calls you that, then I'll also call you that.'

So, that's that.

"Yes, this will be temporary. Three years at best, I think. And, no, I'm not lying. There's no need to. Even if I'm messing with you, it'll be too easy to find out, don't you think?"

She took a deep breath before throwing her gaze away.

'It's good. She bites the bait...'

"So, what does all this mean? Do I have to live here from now on?" Asked Helena.

"You are. The story will be more or less you adapting to life here in Dawson."

"You will have your classes here, and if you need to, you can ask for more specialized courses from my Father. You and the Fourth Prince will dine with our family from now on. And your rooms are being prepared as we speak."

Alyson curtly explained.

"What the hell? Do you think I like this any more than you do?" Barked Helena.

"Why, you seem much more docile regarding this engagement. My brother aside, I honestly thought a mad Princess like you would keep spitting fire or blood until they rescind this nonsense of agreement."

Different than her usual temperament, Alyson examined Helena condescendingly, not even bothering to mask the insults in her tone. I guess she was just that desperate to sabotage this whole thing, and for that, Alyson would even resort to acting like some third-rate egoistical villain lady.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

And that turned out to be a mistake...

"Puf! PUHAHAHA!" Helena broke into frantic laughter instead of giving in to Alyson's taunts.

"This must be bothering you way, way more than it is for me, huh? Know what? Suddenly, I can see why this is not such a bad idea. I get to play around way more and away from the annoying geezers, less annoying bullshits, and then I get to piss her off! This'll be fun!!"

The little witch appeared like she was having the time of her life. Seeing that, Alyson gritted her teeth hard, realizing the cost of her hastiness.

"Okay, that's about enough. We'll be spending a lot of time together from now on. Let's try to live in peace, shall we?"

"Oh, I don't know about peace. According to someone, Alex, I'm just a mad princess who knows nothing but spitting fire and blood." Replied Helena, giddy.

On the other hand, Alyson's face was wincing ugly. My eyes didn't even dare to linger for more in case she caught me staring.

"If both of you can hold on for just a week without fighting each other, then I'll do something for the two of you," I promised the both of them.

"Deal!" Shouted Helena in a heartbeat. "I want you to show me a chant-less magics."

"You mean I have to keep showing you repeatedly? No way, we don't even know how long that will take. That's a no...Instead, I will show you some basic spells and repeat them for an hour, and that's it."

'Bro got some grinding to be done...'

"Cheap bastard...okay, fine." She clicked her tongue and reluctantly accepted my terms in the end.

"Good. And what about you, sister?" I saw the brown-haired lady.

"I want to have ten reading nights, replacing Renata."

Since my parents had been less strict in allowing Renata to visit my room for bedtime stories, I could have more freedom in the night.

Thanks to that, though, Alyson has been hinting relentlessly that I never ask her to read, preferring Renata over her.

I don't know, man...It's hard. She always complained whenever she got homework to read a book, yet she wanted to read to me...

"Ten is too much, sister. Five. Take it or leave it."

I still need my influx of information, especially after the House of Light and Darkness has truly grown in earnest.

"Huu, you are hurting me, my lovely brother. But as your dear sister, what can I do...Fine, you win; five reading nights it is, Alex."

'You make it as if you're doing me a favor or something...'

Well, It is what it is. For this one week, we could expect no conflict between them or see them trying, at the very least.

Look, even Howard was giving a thumb secretly because it was a headache for both of us whenever the girls went nuts.

"Pfft. You're this big and still have someone to read you to sleep? What a freaking baby!" Mocked Helena.

"I do have my maid, Renata, to read for me. It is one of the rare chances I get to learn and hear about the outside world."

Upon my words, Helena's face twistsed strangely.

"He got you there, Helena...Moreover, you, of all people, shouldn't be saying Alex is a baby. I still catch you sleeping with that doll-"

"Yeah, finish it. I dare you. Go on, Howard. Say it and see whether my fist will sink in that stinky mouth of yours or not."

Ignoring the hopeless siblings aside, I was satisfied with the situation for now.

"Ah, yeah. Later on, you'll also meet with our youngest, Adam. My room is like his playroom, so expect his company from now on. And I'm talking about you, Helena."

"What, you're afraid I'm gonna go and bite him or something?"

"Will you bite him?" I somberly asked.

"Are you nuts!?" Shrilled Helena in anger.

"I think you can rest easy on this, Alex. Thankfully, my sister has always been sane when dealing with toddlers. I know what you're thinking, but strangely enough, she's more docile with babies."

"Really?"

"It can't be..."

Mine and Alyson's voices overlapped.

"What's with you? Can't I be good with babies!?" Failing to tolerate our genuine responses, Helena barked yet again.

"Do you honestly ask us that? For someone with your temperament and tongue that spills out bastard this and bastard that every two minutes, you are asking us to believe you're able to play nice with my baby brother? You?"

'Right...You tell her, Alyson.'

"I do play nice with them! Little brats are different than twisted people like you guys. They're not full of so much bullshit that makes me angry all the time."

"You think people are always full of shit?" I had to ask...

"Are you kidding? This bitch-. I mean, Alyson...She's full of it. And then this guy, you can see it from miles away...but he gets a pass since he is my brother. And as for you, Alex...You're full of shit too, but it feels different...I don't know. It's hard to explain...You're complicated."

"Wow, that's the first time my sister has complimented someone so much. Way to go, Alex." Expressed Howard.

'What are you smoking, you punk? In which part was it a compliment? She literally called us full of shit...'

"I don't think she's complimenting me, Howard..."

"That's right. Maybe not as much as you, Howard, but it is still there."

'Yeah, thought so. It's okay, though...Likewise, I also think your tongue is full of shit, Helena...' I cursed the girl pettily in my mind.

"What's with that look? You're mocking me, aren't you, you bastard?"

'Welp. Seeing how sharp she is, she might be accurate in her assessment after all...Wait a fuckin' minute...You're the one who did it first, you little witch!'