Chapter 2.09: Sibling Hatred

The coldness that wrapped around and clenched her heart was sudden. The girl's gemstone eyes became wet with tears and she closed them. She knew that meeting Cale would be hard. But she didn't think that Cleo's body would react this way. She couldn't face that bastard crying. The bastard hated her so strongly that he'd revel at the sight. This wasn't some childish sibling rivalry. Or the classic golden child versus scapegoat child scenario. No, what they had was simply a fractured relationship. One that was that way before Cleo even left the womb, in the teen's opinion. It was the type of contempt a sibling too young to remember gave a dead child.

A withering connection hung between the two. One had tried with all her might to fix it. While the other couldn't care less and cut her off early on. Cleo had hoped with all her might that her heart, her good deeds, would change that. The assassin had dreamed that her brothers could see her pain and realize she needed them. In that regard, Leila truly believed the heiress had lost all hope. Because, as the book described, Cale and the others felt nothing for their sister. They didn't even consider her that. So, to think they'd care about her execution was insane. The woman opened her eyes, and they were empty. She put all her things down, turning to get up.

"Unlock the carriage. I'm getting out."

The driver gulped and did as she said. He looked like he was seconds away from passing out. Leila couldn't blame the poor man. The air was nice and cool compared to its earlier humidity. This was because they sat at a crossroads. It wasn't too close to night or too early for the sunny day. The teenager stood under the orange, melting sky as she sighed. From where she was, it wasn't too hard to make the man out. The novels described him as being tall in build and having a moderately fit body. He wasn't smoldering in muscles or lanky like a bishonen. She didn't find herself appealed to by his looks. Instead, she was sickened by the emotions that sat on his face.

The dry earth crunched her feet as she came closer. Cale was just standing there with a blank face. Anyone else would think they lost him in thought or were possibly nervous about the incoming conversation. However, Leila knew better. She had all of Cleo's memories at her disposal and her feelings. The dead woman's instincts laid bare to her, screaming to run. To run as far away as she could or to simply get away from the man. His jade eyes narrowed at her own. The two looked like they were related. It was clear that their blood couldn't be denied. Even if both wanted to desperately. She stopped inches away from his feet and gave back that same stare.

"I expected you to still be in mourning," Cale said in a fake, friendly tone.

Leila gave him a response, free of the bitterness that was on her tongue. "There's nothing to mourn. My relationship was built on lies and I know that now."

He frowned. "Was it? You seemed to think that it was true love the last time we spoke. You wrote to me that the prince believed only you could be queen."

The man was dead set on dragging up old trauma. Cleo had written that, but only in a fit of emotion when the harem was created. The letter was full of the distress that was swimming in her heart. The assassin was trying to reassure herself that a one-sided, open relationship wouldn't ruin things.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I did. And I was wrong. He believes any woman that catches his eye can be. Our love was artificial on both sides, so nothing was lost." The comment was taken from the chambers of Cleo's broken mind.

A low chuckle left his lips. His hand reached out to touch her shoulder as he leaned down. She shook it off and gave him a look. This was a move she made without taking time to think. To wonder how the older, more brutal of the two would see it. All Leila could focus on was moving away from the bastard. To move back and to keep her true feelings guarded.

"When did you get so depressingly poetic?" Eyes that reminded her of all the bad things in the world glared back in insult. "What happened to the girl who dreamed of a fairytale wedding?"

"I'm not being poetic, I'm realistic. And I still will have my wedding. Just with someone who feels love for me. Isn't that how you feel when it comes to your relationship with Liliko'i?" It was a low blow to mention his wife. But she wanted to see if Cale would be truthful or a cruel bastard.

She gestured for him to answer after a moment of silence. The heiress wanted to know if he was being truthful about his feelings. It was hard for her to believe someone so cruel could love her. It just couldn't be reality. They were opposites in background, personality, and moral standards. Lili was naïve to the point it was worrying. While Cale was cunning due to being trained by the best from all over the continent. He acted like a manipulative bastard sometimes and a tone-deaf brute for the rest. Liliko'i was being swept up into a life of politics, dirty money, and bloodshed. He was taking her out of her comfort zone and didn't even really love her.

"I care for her. Like you care about Alek." And there it was. A dig at her to avoid truly answering the question and to instead burn her deep. "I have heard rumors about the love affair you've started."

The air was getting warmer as the sunlight fully peaked out. From afar, Leila could see some servants arriving for work. Others had opened the windows to let in light and walked outside. There could easily be someone who overhears her. And then more gossip would spread. It was all her plan for people to believe she was dating Alek. But with Cale, she knew he knew the truth. Or was going to paint her as some manipulative temptress? Which the jade-eyed woman was, but hearing such words from him would drive her mad. Meaning she had to play it safe, take a moment and be a dumbass.

"I love Alek as any little sister would love their older brother. I feel more but, at the moment neither of us desires to pursue those urges. They aren't sexual or perverted, but merely a feeling." She spoke softly, this time with a wistful look in her eyes. To convey a longing that she knew only from romance novels.

Leila was playing a role. Like an actress starring in a play, she pretended to be madly in love with Alek. She spoke of him like a giddy schoolgirl would talk about her newest crush. The look in Cale's eyes told her that her act worked. That he thought she was that dumb and love-struck. After she had been mistreated by the one man she believed loved her. This left a sour taste on the tip of her tongue.

The heiress stretched her arms above her head and yawned softly. "We can talk later. I'm tired." He raised an eyebrow, wanting to talk, but stayed silent.

The teenager hurried inside, waving at the servants who greeted her. A pit had grown in her stomach and she wanted to be far away from the man. Her bedroom door swung open and thankfully Jisu was gone for the day. Leila’s bed sunk under her body as she lay down and curled up. Behind the girl was a trail of muddy footprints that mimicked her messy turmoil of a mind. Her hands covered her mouth to silence a tiny scream that left it. Everything was so convoluted in her brain. Part of her was afraid Cale had already seen Alek and berated him. Another part worried that he was going to make her life a living hell. Either way, Leila knew that until the wedding, she would be walking on eggshells.