Mischievous Aurelia

five years later The Clifton mansion is in the ruckus, the elders of the house have gone on a trip to the west, to the town of Duntown. The servants were busy with their activities until they noticed that one of the Clifton daughters was missing. "Where is Aurelia?" Gaia was panicking, they were playing in the room when she noticed that she was all alone, and Aurelia was nowhere to be seen. "Don't panic, Lady Gaia, we will find her." Gaia had tears in her eyes, she couldn't help but be worried about her kid sister. "Calm down, bring her a glass of water." Gaia didn't even take two sips from the glass, she kept looking at the door. "It is all my fault, what kind of a sister am I? I am thirteen but I can't even look after eight years old." Maxwell came back with a sorry look on his face, he had gone out to take a look outside the compound. "She isn't there, I checked the garden, the stable, and outside the gate but she isn't there." Philip tried to think of the only part of the house they hadn't checked but he couldn't think of any. Meanwhile, Apollo, who had seen and followed the little girl into the forest, flew to the palace to inform the king. Inside his room, Leander took a glass of wine and sipped it, he had a smile on his face. Apollo entered the room with a frown on his face. "What brings you here Apollo?" his blue eyes stare at the boy in front of him with no emotions. "It is about the little Miss, she left the house and entered the forest. She was following a butterfly. The last time I checked, she was on a tree, an apple tree my king." he bowed his head, not daring to look at the king in his eyes. He was crowned king a year ago. The members of the board of council had told the queen after the King died that he would be crowned king only after he reached eighteen. Without saying anything, Leander rushed to Clifton's house, and on his way out he met his brother Atlas. "good day king Leander." Atlas bowed his head, and Leander just waved his hand. "Where are you rushing to?" Atlas asks, walking behind him. Thinking of something, Leander decided to take him along. "I am going to Clifton's, join me." Without saying a word of refusal, he followed him. When they got to the house, Atlas went in and was shocked to see everyone with worried looks on their faces, Gaia was weak because of all the tears she had shed. Meanwhile, deep in the forest on an apple tree was Aurelia. She had an apple in her hand, swinging her legs. "What are you doing up there?" Leander asks, standing under the tree with his hands in his pockets. "Eating apples," she shrugged her little shoulders "There you are birdy, I have been looking for you. Apple?" she asked the blackbird who just stared back at her. Leander frowned, "Won't you offer me an apple?" the eight years old, Aurelia laughed at him, she held a branch and tried to swing. If it were possible, you would see a shin of sweat on the bird's head. "I don't know you," she simply said "I should take some home, Gaia loves apples." she nodded affirming her thoughts. "You don't know me? come down and I will tell you who I am." she shook her head. "I don't want to, I want to stay here some more, it is peaceful." her choice of words intrigued Leander, and he gave a lopsided smile. Without declaring, he grabs her leg and pulls her down, causing her to yell out of fright. "Mummy!" using her little hands, she hit Leander on the shoulder. "It is time to go back home. A little birdy told me your sister is crying her eyes out because she can't find you." That caused her to pause for a while. "I didn't mean to make her worry, I will go to the house now." holding the apples in her gown, she walked out of the forest accompanied by Leander. When she got home, Gaia was the first person to rush to her side. "where were you? you got me worried, I thought someone took you away." She hugged her. "Where did you go?" she asked "I was following a butterfly then I entered the forest and I saw an apple tree so I climbed it." Gaia gasped. "Good day King Leander." Philip bows his head and everyone follows suit. "Lady Aurelia, you know your mother will be very angry if she finds out that you went out all on your own, you entered the forest and climbed a tree." Philip scolded. "What can you say for yourself?" he asked her. "I brought apples" she showed her dress which was packed with apples. Leander chuckled. "Let her be, she is a child," Atlas said, coming to stand in front of the little girl who drowned because she was called a child. "I am not a child, I am eight years old." She huffed "Haha sorry, can I have an apple?" Aurelia shook her head "I brought this for Gaia." Leander didn't like the way Atlas was talking to Aurelia, so he stepped in. "Aurelia, you should go change your clothes." Emily hurriedly took her to her room after giving the apples to someone else. "Gaia I am sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry." Gaia didn't say anything, she was angry at her for leaving home without telling anyone and for climbing a tree. What would have happened if she fell from it and hurt herself? After Emily bathed her, they all went back downstairs. The King and his brother were in the drawing room, Aurelia followed her sister everywhere she went. "Stop following me Auri, it won't change the fact that I am angry with you." She took a turn to the drawing room when she found out that the king and his brother were there. "Gai I won't do that again I promise." she held her hands in front of her chest pleadingly. Gaia entered the drawing room leaving her behind. Thinking of something, Aurelia bursts into tears, screaming just so Gaia will forgive her. "What happened?" Atlas asked, he stood up and rushed outside. "It's just Aurelia trying to gain my attention." With a sigh, she went out and saw her sister sitting down with wet cheeks and a red nose. "It's okay, don't cry, I forgive you." She pulls her up and cleans her face. "Don't do that next time else I will tell mom and dad even your governess will find out about it." She hugs her. A subtle smile tugged on Aurelia's lips no one saw it except the king. He narrowed his eyes, a certain feeling enveloping him but he shrugged it off..