The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Chapter 49: Cousin

That night, I had a dream. I am not sure I should call it a dream because in my dream, I was in my room, sleeping on the bed. I saw a light orb flying in front of my face. I thought maybe it was some kind of insect, but it wasn't. When I tried to touch the orb, it disappeared, as if it never existed. I don't remember sleeping after that, but it was already morning when I opened my eyes.

"Das.", said my mom.

"What is it, mom?"

"Lier is coming today."

"She is coming today?"

"I told you last week.", my mom said while groaning.

"Yeah...you did."

"So, you have to go pick her up. "

"Huh?"

"You have to go pick her up at the station.", she repeated.

"What, why?"

"What do you mean by why?"

"She isn't coming with uncle Ady?"

"No. Now go to the station and pick her up."

"Fine.", I relented.

I am on my way to the station.

Why is she coming through the train? Couldn't she come in a taxi or something?

"Even though she is a kid."

I reached the station. There are so many people here.

I sighed as I said, "So many adults.",

Where is she? I haven't seen her in a year.

I walked further in.

I still couldn't see her.

I searched in the waiting area, and only one girl was sitting.

I squinted my eyes and tried to look closely as I said, "Nope, she is not Lier, this girl looks the same age as me.

The big hat she is wearing covered her hair, and the sun glasses were covering her eyes. 

I have her phone number.

I dialed the number... it's ringing...huh?

The ringing sounds like it's coming from somewhere near or rather...from that girl.

"Hey Das.", said the girl in the hat.

So it was Lier after all!

"If you were here then say something.",

"You were acting so funny, so I wanted to watch it more. ", she giggled. 

She is just like Elena!

"Let's go.", I said.

"Okay."

We are walking on the sidewalk. I asked her if she wants to take a taxi, but she said she wants to walk.

"Why did you come on the train?"

"Huh?", she said while looking at me.

"Aren't you afraid of adults too?"

"I am, but I can't keep doing that."

"What?"

"I have to overcome that fear."

She is talking like a grown-up person.

"Hey...are you really Lier?"

"What type of question is that?"

"No... It's just you look grown-up."

"I am just a year younger than you!", she shouted.

"What are you talking about? You are only 15."

"I am 17.", she said while pouting.

"You are 15."

"I am 17; wait," She opened her back as she said, "I will show you my ID card."

What is she talking about? She is 3 years younger than me--

"See!" She showed me her ID.

"What are you--huh? 17? Wait, how?!"

"I am a year younger than you! What's wrong with you?"

How is that possible? She should be... my head hurts...

"Das? Are you okay?" Her voice was full of concern. 

"Yeah, I am okay."

"Don't call me 15 now."

"You are 17."

"Yes, I am."

What is she talking about? I know she is 17; why would I call her 15?

"That looks so cool."

"What?"

She pointed her finger at the advertisement on the building.

"That game is LWO, a VR game," said Lier.

"I know."

"Did you read it somewhere?"

"No, I--", I was trying to tell her that I played the game.

"That girl looks so cute."

"What?!"

There was a photo beside that advertisement. Yeah, the same photo, the same embarrassing photo of me and Elena.

"She is cute, right?", asked Lier.

"Yeah...she is."

"That guy looks handsome too."

"Is that.. so?"

"But you look more handsome," she muttered.

"What?", I asked.

"No," She shook her head as she said, "Nothing."

Did she figure out that it's me?

"How is school going?", I asked casually.

"I dropped out."

"What?!"

"I dropped out last year."

"Why?"

"You know that I was being bullied.", she said with an extremely casual expression, almost like she was just talking about something that didn't matter to her.

"I know that, but why didn't you enroll in any other school?"

"Grandpa said there is no need to."

I chuckled as I said, "He sure loves you."

"He loves you too. Mama said that you are the next heir."

"Yeah."

She grinned as she looked at me and said, "Should I call you prince...King Das from now on?"

"If you call me that, then I will call you princess Lier."

"I don't want to be a princess; I want to be a queen."

"Why?"

"You are really an idiot."

"Uhh?"

"I just gave you a hint."

"What?", I asked again.

"You don't understand people's feelings."

"....."

She is right about that. I can't understand people's feelings. I can't even understand my feelings. Yesterday too, when Elena asked me about how I feel about Miss Serah, I couldn't answer honestly.

"I am sorry.", she apologized.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I just called you an idiot."

"It's okay."

"Huh?", she stared at me with shock.

"I said it's okay. "

"You used to get angry when I called you an idiot. What happened to you?", she said with exaggerated shock.

I am now used to being called an idiot!

"Nothing happened."

"Hmm." She looked at me for a while before turning away.

We reached home.

I had the key with me.

When I opened the door, I found my mother dancing in the kitchen while making food.

.

.

.

It's been 3 minutes, and she is still dancing.

It looks like she hasn't noticed us yet. Should I call her?

"Mo--" Lier stopped me.

"Let her dance," she whispered.

"I am worried she might fall."

"She won't."

My mom turned around while dancing and saw us. She stopped dancing, then stopped the music.

"..."

"...."

"....."

"Since when?", she asked with embarrassment.

"I wanted to stop you, but Das said he wants to watch more.", Lier lied through her teeth.

"What the--" She glared at me.

Why are girls so scary?

"I am making lunch. Can you help me, Lier?"

"Yeah, I can."

"You have grown so beautifully in a year.", my mom was showering her with praises.

"Thanks."

"Lirole told me that you can cook too."

"Yes, I am perfect to become a wife."

Why are you looking at me?

"I can cook better than you, aunt Angela."

"Oh? Only Elena has beaten me so far."

"Who is Elena?", Lier asked curiously.

"Das hasn't told you yet?"

"Told me what?"

"Elena is Das' girlfriend."

"Huh? What?!"

"Dad's girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"Of Das?", Lier said with her mouth wide open.

"Yeah."

"What? When did that happen?"

"They are going out for 6 months now."

She turned her gaze at me and asked, "Is that true, Das?"

"Of course it's true."

"No one told me about it!", Lier said with slight anger mingled with sadness and shock.

"You haven't told her, Das?"

"Is that really necessary?"

What am I supposed to say? Hello, I got a girlfriend now or something? It's embarrassing.

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