7.

 I WOKE UP about four hours later feeling rejuvenated and well rested. I guess the broth really helps then. After stretching like a cat on the bed, and resisting to itch that tempting spot on my lap like a maniac, I turned to the other side of my bed, expecting to see Kellyn but was greeted with the sight of Corey sitting on a stool beside the bed.

Hell even the stool looked like it was worth more than our whole house in earth!

What trickery is this?

However, I was still bothered by the fact that he sat here watching me sleep for hours. Who does that?

"Were you here-"

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm a king with many responsibilities. I just happened to come in at the right time" He then looked away and I felt a twinge of disappointment.

"Calvin is almost here. We shall proceed immediately. Your sister has also asked to be present is that okay with you?"

"More like you've forced yourself to be present and I don't think I'm okay with it" I huffed

"So you're not comfortable with her coming? To think you are twins" He shook his head while sporting an amused expression. He obviously ignored what I said about him being here. There's no way in hell I'd be uncomfortable with Kellyn's presence.

The nerve of this asshole.

A soft knock on the door brought us out of our little glaring competition. Or to be precise, me glaring and him being amused. Whatever. I don't want to talk about it.

Shortly after, Calvin came in with a sobbing Kellyn trudging behind him.

Did the insults hit home this time?

Calvin walked to the other side of the bed, where I laid while Kellyn sat at the edge of the other side,beside the king. I wanted to ask her why she looked so sad but my brain literally stopped working when I felt my top get pulled up suddenly and an audible gasp from my sister told me the bruise was now open to their assessing eyes.

So this is what insecurity feels like. This is awkward. I guess Corey wasn't kidding when he said they'll get down to it 'immediately'. Never joke with the words of a king.

"This looks pretty bad. I've never seen anything like it" Calvin said in astonishment. He was probably amazed and concerned at the same time. The only worrying thing was that I could feel his breath on my bruise due to how close his head was to my tummy. Corey's balled fists told me he didn't like it either.

Dear discomfort, we meet again.

"Just do your magic thingy already" This was Kellyn. Although the politeness in her voice told me they've probably been talking too.

Calvin nodded before bringing up his palms and placing them over the bruise. Tingles danced on the skin there and I've gotta say, this boy,or man, has got some really smooth fingers. Must be all that princy thing he does. I wonder how smooth Corey's would feel.

Calvin started saying some weird sounding words. It started from a purple spark but in a matter of time, he was full on releasing purple magic from his hands. He called this "illumination" and according to the books I've read, there are different colours of illuminations depending on the power level.

It started from yellow, which was the weakest and for beginners. It then proceeded to blue, lemon, green, and then purple. This meant that Calvin had trained, practiced and now released his powers to the fullest. Although, the books also pointed out that people with magic usually attained the purple illumination at the age forty but Calvin was just a twenty year old. It must've been tough.

Those with black illumination are believed to practice dark magic. Such people were banished or imprisoned since dark magic is prohibited.

It was extremely painless while I watched the bruise fade away slowly, three pair of eyes equally staring at the bruise with concentration. Calvin on the other hand, had trembling hands and beads of sweat were on his face. He was beginning to pant at a point and I had to insist he stopped.

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore and you can always complete it tomorrow " I said pulling down my top and my sister supported with a nod.

Calvin fell back to the ground, panting heavily and Corey rushed over to where he lay.

"Is it usually this hard to heal?" Kellyn asked.

"No. He had to remove the curse on it first"

"The magic I felt was intense. This luciana, her magic is overwhelming. I guess she practices dark magic" Calvin panted

"The bruise should heal normally now. I'll take him to his room" Corey stood up and teleported out of the room leaving a gust of wind behind, blowing ferociously.

As soon as he left, Kellyn drew closer to me and inspected me closely.

"You should have told me something.I feel so guilty now"

I figured

"You were busy and I didn't want you to be worried about me"

"I would never be too busy for you. What would I have done if you died or were seriously hurt? I'm the older one here."

"I'm sorry"

"Promise me you won't keep something like this from me again"

"I promise I won't" just as I was about to yank on the stupid rope and order for food, I felt a hard slap on my lap accompanied by an over exaggerated shriek from Kellyn.

"What the fuck kell?"

"You and the king huh? I saw the way he looked at you earlier and since when did you both start telling each other things? Your conversations are so cryptic and confusing "

"Says the person who spends majority of her day throwing and receiving insults to and from supposed crush" I said in a flat tone

"Kira and Corey sitting on a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-" I clamped my hand over her big mouth.

"No such thing will happen Kellyn. Stay sane please"

"Alright. You should take a bath you pig, you stink. I always knew I was the cleaner twin"

"Shut up" I got up from the bed and much to my surprise, I didn't feel any pain whatsoever.

What a relief!

After my bath, I ate some fruits with Kellyn while she told me all about her adventures in the palace.

"It's so big and beautiful. You could get lost in it. There are so many guards around too! And let me not even get started on the garden or zoo of mystical creatures. There's this parrot that can hypnotize people after looking into their eyes and repeating a strange sentence. I almost got hypnotized by a parrot kira. A parrot!" I giggled at this because of the funny look plastered on her face.

"And the horses are so huge and fearless. I named my horse 'callous'. How do you like that?" She looked at me and i put a hand on my chin, pretending to be deep in thought before nodding happily." I chose a horse for you too. He's so bold and smart and guess what i named him"

"What? Tell me. Although, I wanted to name him something like killua or meliodas. Meliodas sounds better"

"You dummy. I named him Cora. This is my shipname for you and Corey. I'm so happy you've seen someone"

"Again Kellyn, no such thing is going to happen. You're so difficult!"

"Whatever ships your boat"

"Say, do you think I'll ever get to watch anime or wrestling again?" I asked solemnly

"You should talk to the king. Freak"

"Don't even start. And I will talk to him. What is the worst that could happen?" My able brain provided me with a one second scene of him saying "no" boldly while sporting his usual emotionless face and I grimaced.

"Have you heard anything about their parents though?"

"You're not the only curious one. I tried asking cal but he ignored me each time. I haven't seen any pictures, albums, nada."

"Maybe something bad happened to them?"

"We shouldn't pry." My sister said while staring at me. We stared at each other for some seconds before bursting into peals of laughter.

Yeah don't pry. As if.

There was a knock on the door and after mouthing a come in, a short plump lady I recognised to be the tailor walked into the room, holding two very large dresses in her two outstretched hands.

"Miss Kira, miss Kellyn" she paused "Your dresses are ready"

Our jaws were hanging open now.

"I said I wanted a knee lenght gown. The fuck is this? Kellyn screamed and the tailor looked down, a frown on her face.

"I only follow orders from the king. He picked out the styles himself " she muttered

"Damn that man"