After I opened my eyes, I was facing the same ceiling I had first seen when I arrived here.

Seanna told me that after I fainted, I was brought back to the mansion. I was out of it for almost two hours.

When Aiden heard the news, he flipped his shit and stormed to the royal palace to hear what the guards were doing when they were supposed to protect his sister.

Father (Archdude, but he was becoming more of a father figure to me each passing day) was rather calm but asked for the person who caused his daughter pain so he could behead him and hang his head on the mansion's gate as a warning to anyone who dares mess with his family (now I understand where Adailia got all those psychotic genes from).

I somehow managed to convince father to not hang his head anywhere.

When Aiden and father calmed down (which took me hours to do so) and everything was back to normal (like 'not so normal' normal), Seanna asked me how I did that awesome move where I pinned that guy down.

I just brushed it off as 'instincts' and taught her that move in case she ever had to use it. She is the female protagonist after all, so I'm pretty sure she'll be kidnapped in the coming months (like, that's a given).

And well that's how that hectic day ended.

Three weeks had passed since then.

I was strolling in the garden in the evening, it was a holiday and I decided to take a walk outside (since I'm inside most of the time).

Soon I heard voices coming closer and I turned a corner to see Aiden merrily talking to a blonde girl near him.

Ugh. Is it one of those gold diggers again?

Aiden's luck seriously sucks. All the girls invited over either turned out to be super bitchy that acted all high and mighty or were overly sweet that it was obviously fake. And what all of them had in common was they loved touring the house, I practically saw a few of them drooling at the sight of this huge mansion.

And I don't want a sister in law like that (yes, I have finally accepted my sad fate as his sister), Aiden's a really sweet guy (though he goes lunatic when his brotherly instincts kick in) and he deserves someone who'll love him for him and not his money.

"Good evening Oppa! What are you doing here?" I asked, smiling brightly as I made my way towards them.

"Adailia, don't spoil this one." He groaned. He actually caught up on the fact that I'm ruining his meetings with his supposedly future wife after the fifth time.

I smiled sweetly at him before turning my gaze to the blonde girl beside him. She wasn't really that pretty but something about her was kind of different.

"Who's this?" I asked Aiden.

"Oh, this is Jasmine Da Villa, daughter of Marquis Rowan Da Villa, one of father's allies. And lady Jasmine, this is my sister Adailia." Aiden introduced.

Jasmine bowed and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Adailia."

I looked at her for a second.

"Can I have a word with you alone?" I asked her, ignoring her greeting. If she isn't worth it for Aiden, I don't really need to act all nice.

"No, you can't!" Aiden protested.

"I'm just looking out for you Oppa, father can't pick a thing right." I said.

"As you wish, Lady Adailia." She said and followed me till we were in a quiet corner of the garden ignoring Aiden's whining.

It was weird that they decided to take a tour of the garden. Most of the women that come here ask for the Mansion's tour.

"Let's get it clear. What do you want?" I asked.

She looked at me quizzically and I continued, "Do you also want to marry him for his house and money?"

She looked surprised but then she frowned, "You got it wrong. I'm not like that."

She's not?

"Then do you like him for his face?"

She sighed, "Lady Adailia, I don't know what kind if the person you think I am but let me clear to you, " she said, looking at me straight in the eyes, "I had no intentions of marrying your brother at the beginning."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"Father told me to meet up with him once and I did, and now I like him. He is really kind and a sweet person."

"So you don't care about the money and stuff?" I asked.

"Of course I do. It is a plus, everyone wants to live lavishly. However, I believe that love is the most important factor. I don't want to live a loveless life full of money. I'd rather spend a life of a commoner, working hard but having someone at the end of the day." She said firmly.

Ooooo. I like the way you're thinking.

"Well, what if my brother doesn't like you?" I countered.

"Oh, then I'll just kidnap you and threaten to kill you if he doesn't marry me ." She said nonchalantly and I gasped.

"Just joking." She added quickly, "Well, I'll try at least a bit before giving up. He is too nice to just walk past by." She said.

"I know right. He is the sweetest." I agreed. I like this girl.

"Absolutely." She said.

"Okay. You've passed the test. Take care of my brother and if I see him crying, I'll leave rats in your room when you're sleeping. Understand?" I warned her.

She chuckled and nodded.

"Now go. Aiden's probably panicking right now, wondering if you're still alive." I said sarcastically.

She chuckled, "Right. Can't have him thinking his sister stabbed his future wife." She smirked and left after that.

Right. She must have heard the rumours, but it's still nice she didn't judge me.

__

____

I was sitting on my bed reading a book before sleeping when Ajhussi suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Am I finally dying? Is that why you're here?" I asked sarcastically.

"Let's go drinking!" He exclaimed, ignoring my question.

I don't know why he is coming here uncalled and asking me to go drinking. He did that last time too.

But I agreed anyway.

Soon after we entered the bar, I saw Platinum Trio coming in.

"Rose!!! It's good to see you again!" Raashid exclaimed, smiling brightly as he made his way towards me, followed by an equally happy looking Caiden and an indifferent Mari.

"Hey Radish! It's good to see you too!!" I said cheerfully. All three of them sat on my table and Ajhussi disappeared. He did that the last time I met these guys. Now that I think about it, the last time (a week ago or so) Ajhussi suddenly appeared in my room and we went drinking, we ran into this trio again. I thought it was coincident but it's obvious that the old guy planned it all.

Then we ordered some beer and our conversation started.

"Hey, you guys know my name but I still don't know yours, except for Radish." I said I wanted to see what these guys come up with.

Caiden thought for a second, "I'm Cinnamon."

Of course, just add roll after that and that's exactly what you are.

I looked at Mari expectantly, "I'm Banana."

I choked on my beer.

It is too funny.

"Rose!! You alright?" Raashid asked and Caiden hit Mari for some reason.

"Yeah, I'm cool." I assured Raashid and he suddenly smiled, "Of course, you're the coolest."

Oh this sweet child!!

"Awww! You're cool too Radish!" I said. He may be drunk but he still complimented me which gave me a nice feeling.

"No no. I'm so uncool." He said, waving his hands.

"No. I'm pretty sure you're cool. Like, look at your hands, I'm pretty sure you wield a sword. Like, wow! How cool is that!" I said and Raashid blushed.

I chuckled.

"You blush really easily, Radish." I said and he blushed more.

Now, maybe because I was a little drunk, I did what I would never do to the Empire's Prince.

"It makes me want to do this!" I said and pinched his cheeks (cheeks on the face, if you're wondering something else).

He stiffened and I gasped, "Radish!! Your cheeks are so soft!!' I exclaimed squashing them more.

Raashid was as red as a tomato.

"Ohhh!! I wanna touch too!" Caiden said and tried to grab Raashid's cheek but he slapped his hand away.

"You don't get to do that." Raashid said firmly.

Caiden sulked in a second and he looked like a sad golden retriever which made me say, "Don't worry, Cinnamon. You can touch my cheeks instead."

He immediately brightened up and moved his hand forward when Raashid grabbed it, "You don't touch a lady like that!" Raashid said.

"What!?! But Rose said it's okay." Caiden protested.

"Yeah, Radish. It's fi-", " Nooooo!!!" Raashid cut me off.

Then the unexpected yet expected happened.

Caiden started crying.

"Uwaaa! You're so mean!! I hate you!!" He shouted and then dashed off out of the bar. Damn, he was super drunk.

"Ma-uh-Peach, go look after him!" Raashid said to Mari.

Mari stood up and glared at Raashid, "It's Banana, you dumb Carrot." He said before dashing off to follow Caiden.

I looked at Raashid, disappointed, "That was mean, Radish!"

I gulped down a glass of beer as Raashid looked sad and shocked.

"Uh...sorry. But he was being too childish." Raashid tried to reason.

"He is a child, Radish! Of course, he will be childish. Let him enjoy his youth!" I said.

Raashid looked dejected, "Sorry."

I huffed and stood up, "I'll go see if Cinnamon's okay, "

But Raashid caught my hand, "M-uh- Banana went after him. They'll come back soon." He said.

I stared at his hand which still hadn't left my wrist, "I'll still go check." I said.

His grip tightened and he looked at me with desperate eyes, "Don't go..."

Oh great. Now he is doing those puppy eyes on me.

I sighed and sat down and we both started conversing. About almost anything.

Speaking with Radish was easy.

But Raashid was a different case.

The past three weeks we couldn't move our conversation past greetings. I could see that even though Raashid was mindful of me, he still tried his best to greet me first and not ignore me. I could understand his feelings.

The person he hated all his life is trying to change and even though he is trying to give her that chance, he still can't bring himself to act all-natural around her.

Even if he tried, he can't forget how miserable she must have made him.

It's going to take a lot of time to progress my friendship with Raashid.

As we talked and talked, I realised Raashid really blushes a lot. Like a 'LOT' lot. Caiden and Mari didn't come till the end.

And as I was almost about to pass out, out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Raashid smiling at me. One of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen.

And that was the last thing I remember before I blacked out.