Chapter 156: Grape Problems
"He has saved my life many times, even at times when I felt I never needed saving." Samantha softly began as she revealed everything that has happened within the past few months to Maurice. Turning her head to look at her brother who gave no emotions away, not even a response, she gently placed her hand atop his as they clenched on the windows edge, and only then did Maurice glance in her direction to meet her green eyes.
"You have every right to hate him, he made them take Father away from us but.... let’s not ignore the fact that he did what he did that night to save us. Yes, I know it didn’t turn out the way the three of us expected it, our lives didn’t get better after he made us flee but even if we stayed at the cottage with Father, we wouldn’t be here right now, talking like this." She explained to Maurice who averted his gaze back to the window, and she could see his cold walls faltering. Of course, it would take a lot of time for Maurice to actually see the truth the way it was, but she was also hoping that with time, he would realize that Ivan isn’t all that horrible as he pictured him to be.
Deep down, she really wanted to see the two of them get along– the same way Ivan’s Father and their Father got along while they were still alive, regardless of their differences.
"I...." He began, "he told me he was going to train me." Maurice admitted, lowering his gaze to the view of the courtyard. "He wants me to show up at the court of celestial Valor to join them in their daily practice. He says there’ll be a match held between the contesting warriors of GreenHollow, it’s an important event that every skilled warrior wouldn’t hesitate to grab, and if I win, he won’t only bless me with an honorable title but I get to be your right-hand man. By that I mean, I get to be your protector."
"An Event?" Samantha blinked in bewilderment, and Maurice took in her perplexity before breaking it down. "Oh yes, it hasn’t been made official yet so there’s a chance you haven’t heard about it, but I’ve seen the paperworks of the event. He showed it to me last night, and it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Right now, nothing matters more to me than your safety, and if I win, there’s a chance I can prove that we humans aren’t as weak as they claim us to be, I want to end that difference, just like Father."
"But Maurice..." Samantha grabbed his arm and turned him around so he could look at her. He was expecting her to be happy for the step he was about to take, but then he had forgotten how much of a worried kitten his elder sister can be. "You don’t have to do any of this, it could be dangerous and haven’t you always wanted to be a scholar? To travel around the world and make something meaningful out of it? Isn’t that why we pushed hard on your studies so you could get picked for that bursary?"
"None of that happened, did it?" He inquired softly, but his expression softened as he held both her hands, and he expressed. "You’ve made sacrifices for me, I appreciate them but now, it’s my turn to do the same. When I was alone, I kept wondering if you were fine, if you were still alive, but standing in front of you, I’m going to do whatever it takes to see you succeed. You’re my sister, and it’s normal for brothers to sacrifice a thing or two. Rather than discouraging me, I want your support."
His brown eyes held pure intentions, it was a look a brother would give their sister whenever they felt the need to pamper them, and Samantha could feel her heart swell that it was starting to bring tears in her eyes. She hated herself for always being pulled by her emotions, but she really couldn’t hold it in sometimes.
Her brother really has changed from what she remembered him to be.