Two days had passed since Alex had taken the written exam, and now he was waiting for the results to be posted.
Currently, he was at his training ground. It was smaller compared to Drakethorne Palace's, but still large enough for him to train. It was twice as small.
Alex was shirtless, wearing stretchable shorts, and practicing with his sword.
The sun was nearing its zenith, and soon he would have to return for lunch.
A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he slashed his sword down diagonally.
Alex let go of his sword and sat on the ground, bending his knees and resting his head on them. He was extremely tired today, having woken up two hours earlier than usual. He normally woke up at 7 a.m., but since tomorrow was another exam, he wanted to train harder than before. He didn't want to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.
Alex feared that if he didn't get into the academy, he would have to return to the palace and remain hidden behind its four walls.
Suddenly, Alex heard footsteps running from his right. The training ground was outside, located at the back of the estate.
Alex turned his head to see a small figure running toward him from the estate's back exit door.
Ariana was running toward him. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she was huffing as she approached, clearly excited for some reason.
Ariana stopped in front of him, looking down at him, her shadow falling over his head as he sat on the ground.
"Eugh! You smell, brother," she said, wrinkling her nose. She was out of breath.
Alex stood up, his tall figure looming over Ariana. He enjoyed seeing that he was still taller than her, as she always compared her height to his and celebrated whenever she grew. He was getting taller too, but she was catching up faster than he liked.
Alex liked being the tall brother who could pat his sister's head. He brushed some dust off his shorts with his right hand and then patted her head.
Ariana froze and backed away, brushing nonexistent dust from her hair. "I-I just took a bath! Why do you always have to do that?" Her eyes grew watery, and she looked like she would cry anytime soon.
"Sorry, but there is no dust on my hand. Look, I just had cleaned it beforehand as I was about to exit the ground, but decided to swing my sword for some time more." Alex apologized and put his right hand forward to show there was no dirt.
"Really? You're not lying, are you?" she asked, her voice doubtful as her teary eyes began to clear.
Was she faking those tears?
"Yup, you can check my hand. See? It's clean—no dirt at all." Alex replied, showing his hand again. He approached Ariana, and she took his right hand, turning it over to check if he was telling the truth.
"Hmph! I'll believe you this time," Ariana grumbled, crossing her arms and glaring at him with her black eyes.
"You're going to kill me with those eyes, my lovely sister," Alex said, pretending to be wounded as he put his hand over his heart.
"Stop teasing me. I have some good news for you," Ariana said coolly, a broad smile spreading across her face. Her crying demeanor vanished as if it had been an act. Alex suspected she was faking it, but didn't point it out, thinking she was getting better at acting.
"What's the good news?" Alex bent forward, hands on his knees, and met his sister's gaze with his azure eyes.
Ariana took a few steps back. "I would have told you, but since you teased me, you have to apologize by singing a song," she said smugly, lifting her chin high.
"Oh, sure," Alex said, playing along with his sister.
"My lovely sister, Ariana, is beautiful.
She is kind sometimes,
She hurts me some-" Alex started singing, his lips curled up in a smile as his eyes fixed on Ariana.
"S-stop! Stop!" Ariana cried out, her cheeks turning pink in embarrassment.
"Ariana, my lovely sister, loves me a lot,
She tries to hide it, but fails.
..." Alex kept on singing. He enjoyed seeing her flustered.
Ariana turned and fled back to the estate.
Alex laughed out loud. This was his way of getting back at his sister, since she would always jump out at him in the hallway, throwing reptiles, skulls, or sometimes wearing a ghost costume. No matter what he did, she always managed to startle him, waiting patiently and appearing from places he never anticipated, making him shriek in fear.
***
After Ariana fled back to the estate, Alex trained a bit more, then took a bath and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
As Alex walked down the hallway toward the dining room, he passed servants and maids who seemed to be smiling and happy for some reason.
Alex regretted teasing his sister, realizing she must have had some reason for coming to him, and that reason was probably why the servants and maids were smiling.
No matter how many times he asked, the servants said they couldn't reveal it, since Ariana had made them promise her that they would not tell him.
Unable to hold in and wanting to know what was going on, Alex dashed ahead and soon reached the dining room door. There were no guards guarding the dining room, unlike at his palace, since very few knights had come with them to Silverine State's Drakethorne Estate.
The knights who had come with them were busy guarding the gates and the entrance to the estate.
Alex opened the dining room door. He found his father and mother smiling, and his little sister Ariana grumpily eating her food, picking only the meat and leaving the vegetables.
He strode into the room. "Why are you all so happy? This suspense is killing me," he said, looking at his father.
"You've passed the written exam. In fact, you got first place," Alex's father, Shane Drakethorne, answered, smiling with pride at Alex's achievement.
"Really?" Alex asked, freezing in place.
"Yes, you got first place, big brother," Ariana answered. She looked up from her plate and smiled smugly at his shocked expression, clearly pleased to see him so surprised.
***
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