Chapter 799 Brother
Rebecca Nognes was a fifth-level warrior with long brown hair and deep brown eyes. Her facial features were delicate, lacking even the slightest trace of wrinkles. She barely looked in her thirties, but her aura told a different story.
Khan felt a bit surprised. He had heard about Rebecca from his father and Cousins, but most of his a.s.sumptions came from the woman"s status. She was more than a simple Princess. She belonged to the older generation, which wielded higher authority and demanded immense respect.
However, Rebecca"s aura carried nothing but warmth. She was entirely at ease among the staring crowd, and confidence surrounded her figure, but that cozy feeling remained intense.
"He called me Aunt," Rebecca chuckled, stepping forward to reach Khan. "Let me take a look at you."
Khan was the epitome of coldness and detachment. His mere eyes sent death threats, keeping everyone away. Only those close to him felt confident enough to ignore that defensive façade, but Rebecca didn"t hesitate to reach for his chin.
Strangely enough, Khan didn"t dodge Rebecca"s hand. Her warmth was oddly rea.s.suring, and the gesture radiated a loving vibe that made him lower his wariness. He even let her lift his head as she inspected his features.
"You might not know this," Rebecca announced, "But I"ve been the third person to hold you after you were born."
Rebecca seemed not to care about the audience, and Khan didn"t mind it either. He wouldn"t feel ashamed about those personal revelations, but Rebecca"s behavior remained surprising. She wasn"t acting as a Princess at all. Khan saw nothing more than a loving relative during the scene.
"To think such a cute baby would have turned into a little monster," Rebecca smiled. "It"s such a pity."
Khan felt the urge to frown and finally retracted his head. His face didn"t show it, but the statement confused him. Rebecca"s warmth and the words "little monster" didn"t belong to the same field.
"Don"t worry," Rebecca rea.s.sured, seemingly reading Khan"s mind. "Monster is fine. Monster might be what the family needs."
Everything felt so odd to Khan. Rebecca didn"t seem to know which mask to wear. She appeared unable to stick to either Princess or loving Aunt, making her behavior hard to read.
"May we talk in private?" Rebecca eventually requested.
Everyone heard the request, so rejecting it wouldn"t be proper. Khan"s friends would also understand his priorities. However, that night was supposed to be about Monica, and he couldn"t leave her alone after she sacrificed her special day for the greater good of the quadrant.
"Aunt Rebecca," Khan announced. "My fiancée needs me here."
"Oh, I apologize," Rebecca gasped, seemingly realizing where she was. "I was so caught in the reunion I forgot my manners."
Rebecca crossed Khan to dive into the audience. The guests moved aside at her arrival, allowing her to reach Monica. The latter tried to perform an elegant bow, but Rebecca promptly seized her hands.
"Monica Solodrey," Rebecca called. "You are such a beautiful lady. Happy birthday."
Monica almost froze. Her political training couldn"t prepare her for that situation. She knew how to deal with clingy Princesses, but Rebecca"s status and relation to Khan created an internal conflict in her mind.
"Thank you, Princess Nognes," Monica managed to utter.
"It"s Rebecca for you," Rebecca rea.s.sured, grinning. "You can also call me Aunt. You know, I"ve always wanted another daughter."
Monica had to muster the entirety of her self-restraint to prevent her mouth from hanging open. Like Khan, she didn"t get much family love growing up, so Rebecca"s warmth took her completely by surprise.
"We"ll have our girls" talk later," Rebecca said, letting go of Monica to inspect the guests. "I should pay my respects to your parents now."
Anastasia was on the verge of tears. A high-tier n.o.ble had joined her daughter"s birthday party, bringing ma.s.sive honor to her faction and herself. She felt she could die happy, and what followed threatened to make her faint.
Rebecca crossed the guests and stopped before Anastasia and Luther to perform an elegant bow. The married couple promptly imitated her, but she spoke before them.
"Our blood is tied now," Rebecca announced. "I hope you"ll allow me to address you as Luther and Anastasia."
The tables had turned. Usually, it was the lower family"s role to request that friendliness, but Rebecca had stolen the spot, humbling herself before Monica"s parents. Needless to say, Luther and Anastasia felt ecstatic but did their best to stick to polite behaviors.
"You honor us, Princess Nognes," Luther exclaimed, lowering his head in respect.
"We aren"t worthy, Princess," Anastasia added.
"Our children will soon join hands in marriage," Rebecca rea.s.sured. "We"ll all be one big family, so it"s only proper to abandon useless pleasantries."
Anastasia felt her blood pressure tanking at high speed. She truly wanted to faint. That was the happiest day of her life, but the situation demanded a straight face from her.
"I apologize for being sudden," Rebecca continued. "May I ask permission to steal your daughter"s fiancé for a few minutes? If it"s not too much trouble."
"Of course!" Anastasia beamed. "Khan, dear, indulge the Princess. We"ll take care of Monica."
Being called "dear" by Anastasia sent a chill down Khan"s spine, but it was clear the situation had become unavoidable. Besides, he noticed a suppressed smirk when exchanging a look with Monica. She struggled to hold back the laughs seeing her mother like that. Even without him, Monica would find ways to have fun.
"Very well, Aunt Rebecca," Khan conceded, turning toward one of the trapdoors. "If you would follow me."
Rebecca reached Khan and seized his elbow to let him escort her downstairs. The two crossed Princess Felicia and Prince William along the way, and their mother uttered a cheerful order before disappearing. "Socialize."
The structure"s lower floors had various environments. Kitchens, control rooms, bedrooms, and more filled the building to attend to the guests" every need. Rebecca"s request implied a desire for privacy, and Khan quickly fulfilled it.
Khan and Rebecca crossed a few bowing waiters before reaching a small, relatively empty hall. That was intended as a second dance floor in case Baoway"s weather misbehaved, but the two could make it work for their private conversation.
Khan half-expected Rebecca"s behavior to change in private. He didn"t sense that kind of darkness in her mana, but his senses had been wrong before. Nevertheless, Rebecca"s warmth didn"t wane, and her smile remained bright as she let go of Khan and wandered through the hall.
"The Solodrey family sure spent a lot of money," Rebecca commented, checking the hall"s specifics. "I used to be too shy to dance when I was younger. Of course, Elizabeth always forced me."
Rebecca chuckled as her eyes lost focus, looking past the hall"s metal surface to dive into distant memories. Some longing tainted her mana, and a faint sadness spread throughout the symphony.
"She was the reckless one," Rebecca revealed. "Beyond stubborn, resourceful, and driven. Her guts were a sight to behold. Nothing seemed impossible for her."
Khan kept his gaze on Rebecca, studying any change in the symphony. He was curious but remained silent to let her finish her speech.
"I was the soft one," Rebecca continued, turning to smile at Khan. "Admittedly, I was too naïve and insecure for a Princess. Maybe that"s why I took Elizabeth as a role model. Her strength was almost blinding."
Rebecca lowered her head, her smile turning bitter. She loved her memories, but the reality always added a tinge of sadness. She missed her sister far more than she could show.
"Thomas was the practical one," Rebecca explained. "Some would call him cynical, but I know my brother. He always did as he was told, diligently working to become what the faction needed him to be. Honestly, he still is."
Rebecca fell silent for a few seconds before lifting her head. That was the first time Khan didn"t see a smile on her face.
"Please, don"t hate Thomas," Rebecca said. "His actions always had the faction"s interests in mind. He is one of the reasons we still hold some power after everything that happened with Elizabeth."
"Are you asking me not to kill him?" Khan questioned.
"If possible," Rebecca confirmed. "I know why you do what you do. I don"t condemn it. I just-. He"s my brother like your mother was my sister."
Under all that confidence, Rebecca was nothing more than a worried sister who didn"t want to lose her brother. She understood the eventual necessity of the event, but her naivety prompted her to make that request anyway.
"Is that the price for your support?" Khan coldly asked. The scene was moving and even gave him a good impression of Rebecca. Yet, he barely knew her, and his needs came first.
"I"m not so manipulative," Rebecca giggled, seemingly happy Khan"s mind could generate those thoughts. "No matter your decision or future, you have my support."
Khan didn"t know how to take the statement. Rebecca"s unusual behavior kept him guessing. He couldn"t understand how to treat her, especially among all that one-sided affection.
"So much wariness," Rebecca noticed. "I suppose it"s only natural. Don"t worry. I"m not naïve enough to hope in the goodness of your heart."
Rebecca stepped forward, stopping before Khan. She crossed her arms, and her smile gained a confident vibe as she explained herself.
"Spare my brother," Rebecca announced, "And I"ll give you the Nak."