“Happy birthday dear sister.” A twelve-year-old boy with black hair and black wings said to Auna. Everyone in the room seemed a bit nervous. Seth had spent the last two years ignoring Auna. Almost pretending they were not related.

“Thank you, Seth. However, I don’t consider you to be my brother.” Auna gave a slight bow. “Please enjoy the party young Jade lord.”

Auna walked to Jensen and triplets. “Are you enjoying the party?”

“Of course, we are, are you?” Bruno handed her a drink, blue apple juice.

“I think I am. I didn’t think so many people would show up. Everyone seems to be enjoying it though.” She drank the juice as she watched Seth mingle for a bit.

“Why do you think he is here?” Jensen was also eyeing him.

“I have no idea. I heard he is near the bottom in grades for his year. He might want me to tutor him like the other kids that have asked recently.”

“Somehow I don’t think so.”

“Dear sister can I talk with you for a moment?” Seth had come over; a few teachers were watching the exchange.

“Sure, what would you like young lord Jade?”

“In private.”

“I don’t wish to excuse myself from my own party.”

“Don’t be stubborn. I want to talk to my little sister in private.”

“You never visited me. I was locked in a small servants’ storage room for six years. The only time I saw you was when my uncle forced me to have dinner with you and our cousins. Why would I go anywhere with a stranger alone?”

“I am not a stranger; we are share blood. Stop making a fuss. It is unbecoming of a counts’ daughter.”

“I’m not a counts’ daughter. I am an orphan of the king. Didn’t you hear?”

“Our father has petitioned the court to allow him to readd you to the family registry. The king said it was your decision if you wanted to give father custody over you again.”

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“Well, I don’t. You had to of heard about the deal the king has with the church about my custody.” By this time everyone was watching them listening closely. Seth was looking upset with having this conversation in public.

“Sister, father wants you home. Isn’t that enough?” Seth looked more anxious by the second.

“It’s the why that worries me. Why now? Don’t think I didn’t notice that you are below your peers in grades. I also noticed our cousins didn’t make it into this school.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Seths’ face was turning red.

“What doesn’t it have to do with this? Do you think I am stupid? With your grades below average, and my cousins not even getting into the school for royalty. The only reason he could want me is to use me. He can’t name an heir because no noble has ever had an heir that didn’t graduate this school in this kingdom. He wants me as a tool. Nothing more.”

“Even if that was true, I am in this school. He wouldn’t need you. He just hasn’t named an heir because it is obvious it will be me. I am his only boy, one of two children.”

“Then there is no reason to go back. I have nothing to gain. And don’t tell me I shouldn’t be thinking about what I could gain. Father removed me from the registry as soon as he assumed there was nothing to be gained from me.”

“You’re just a kid what would you know?”

“You are also just a child. If he really wants me to believe he has had a change of heart. Shouldn’t he come to me himself? Shouldn’t he come rushing with open arms saying how sorry he is about what happened? Even if he is a noble if he truly loved me, he would say so, not send a proxy. Don’t you understand that?”

“Why do you have to be so stubborn all the time? This is your chance to be a part of a family, a lineage. Why are you snubbing that?”

“I’m not. I just don’t want to be a part of a lineage that removed me once already.” Auna leaned in closely to him, whispering so only he could hear. “Why don’t you ask our mother why we both had slave jobs, and if she is happy to be a part of this lineage you are so proud to be one of.”

She backed up to look at his face which was twisted with anger and confusion. “Will you please leave or stop making my birthday party upsetting.”

“I’ll leave for now. I still want to talk to you more about this.” Seth left the classroom.

Auna was given a few presents, had cake then went back to her room. She didn’t want to talk about the conversation with Seth. Her friends and the teachers had understood that leaving her alone.

Auna had used her true friend skill, which had evolved. It would now show a slight aura around a person and change their dot colour on her mini-map. Seth had a white aura, which meant he was not lying and felt no ill will to her. Green would show lying, and no ill will. Orange would show truthful and ill will. Red would show lying and ill will. There was a soft yellow colour for lying and no ill or goodwill. When people were not lying, and indifferent to Auna there would be no colour, and the dot on the map would remain blue for friendly.

“He felt no ill will to me and was being truthful.” I lean close to Jensen to let him know; I don’t want Seth to be hated for no reason. He is still my brother.

“He actually thinks it is in your best interest to go back?” Jensen looks shocked.

“Probably, I don’t know what Count Jade tells him.” I turn back to my party shrugging.