The Scoundrel's Daughters

Flower ring

Fin

- Tanya! This is not funny! - Dina shouted while she tried to catch her little sister, who turned herself into a cat.

- Seriously... Tanya, come down! If I have to go and get you, you'll be in trouble! - Tanya licked her paw and scratched her ear. She laid down on a branch of the Duke and Duchess's favorite tree. Dina sighed and rolled up her sleeves. She climbed up the tree and successfully managed to get the cat down.

- Got you! You must attend the tea party with us whether you like it or not! Mom's cousin invited us... I hate it too but that's what we got. - the cat didn't move just stares at Dina.

- Urgh! Come on Tanya! - she shook the cat and sat on the ground defeated.

- Finny! What is Sissy doing? - Tanya asked and I smiled.

-She is trying to convince you to turn back into a human... Wait a sec! Tanya?! - I asked and rubbed my temples.

- What have you done? - I asked and she blinked at me innocently.

- I got prepared for that birch's party. - I smiled at how she copied Dina. I grabbed Tanya under my shoulder and jumped out of the window with her.

- FINLEY EMERALD! - I heard Rene's shouting and I didn't want to imagine the scolding I'll receive. I stopped us from falling next to Dina, who's gorgeous eyes jumped from Tanya to the cat.

- What? How? Who? - she asked.

- Sissy, your dress is dirty. We will be late. - Dina opened and closed her mouth repeatedly as if she wanted to say something or hit someone. I held Tanya's shoulders and pulled her a step further. Dina stood up, took a deep breath calming herself and with a gorgeous smile she asked.

- Could you please help? - I was weak for her. I nodded and with the snap of my finger she wore a new dress. She spun around and jumped happily into my arms.

- Perfect! Thanks Fin! Come on Tanya, we must hurry.

- Bye Finny! - Tanya waved and they hurried away. I felt an ominous presence behind me and pulled my sword out only to meet Rene's eyes.

- Aunt! You are scaring me! Won't you be late? - I asked trying to steal some distance between us. I was already twenty years old, but her eyes could scare the s**t out of me. I still didn't know exactly how powerful Rene was. I had a feeling that she was hiding most of her capabilities in the name of peace.

- I'll be on time. We need to talk. - I swallowed hard and she caught my ear.

- How many freaking times must I repeat myself when I say NO JUMPING OUT OF THE WINDOWS?!

- Auch auch auch! Dina does it all the time and she isn't a mage! - I said but covered my mouth immediately. Rene rolled her eyes.

- It's not enough that you disobey me, but you are giving in Dina to save yourself?

- No.. That's not what I meant... - I said and Rene released my ear. She held my face in her hands and despite the fact that she was a tall woman, she had to tilt her head already to look into my eyes.

- Fin, you know I love you, but for all of our sake, I beg you, please grow up. I see how you are looking at Dina. No need to deny it, but she isn't thinking about you that way.

- I know. I just adore her from afar and give a helping hand whenever she needs me. - Rene caressed my face and smiled.

- Sweetheart, be patient, and be careful. I don't know what would be Dmitry's opinion on this matter.

- On which matter? - the Duke asked approaching us. He hugged Rene and asked.

- Aren't you going to the tea party? - Rene's eyes widened.

- Oh s**t! - she gave a quick kiss to Dmitry and teleported away.

- She just comes and goes like the wind. - he said looking after the direction his wife disappeared.

- I hope they'll be fine. I hate them around the Royals.

- The feeling is mutual. - I said and Dmitry looked at me for a while before he pat my shoulder.

- Let's go to the training grounds, our knights are lacking stamina. We need to show proper example! - I nodded and followed Dmitry, knowing very well that this was just am excuse to get his mind off of the ladies being on enemy grounds. We sparred and Dmitry was even more lost in the fight than usual.

- You know, I actually feel sorry for the ladies at that party.

- What do you mean? - Dmitry asked while he swung his sword to attack my side. I've avoided it and made my counterattack.

- I mean that we just sent three deadly weapons to their party with a smile.

- Are you insisting that my wife and daughters are dangerous? - Dmitry asked with a proud grin. Any other men would order me to get executed on the spot, but what can I say? I got a weird family.

- They are like the flowers in Aunt's garden, gorgeous, alluring, they call your attention but try to touch them... - Dmitry laughed and we stopped. It was time, I couldn't catch my breath anymore.

- I think you are right kiddo! - that moment I heard a lively chatter. Dina was running after the fussing Rene.

- Out of my way gentlemen! - she ordered and everyone ran out of the training grounds. Rene released a few fireballs towards the sky and when she touched the ground it shook. Roots grew out and reached towards the sky catching the fireballs.

- Can you fix that later? - Dmitry asked and I nodded. He walked to Rene and everyone was terrified. No knight was brave enough to approach the raging Rene, apart from the Phoenix of the battlefield.

- My little witch, what happened? - he asked in a really calming voice, just like a husband would ask his crying wife.

- That b***h! - Rene cursed and Dina spot me. She hurried to my side with Tanya.

- What's going on? - I asked and Dina sighed.

- She is just angry because she couldn't burn them alive. - Dina said and I listened to Rene's explanation after she calmed a bit. Dmitry was hugging her from behind. She sighed and the mess she creates was gone.

- That f*****g b***h, Agnes. She made her little followers and their brats to harass MY DAUGHTERS! - she was almost roaring and I saw the happiness in Dina's eyes. Dmitry tried to get more information before Rene goes back and massacres everyone.

- Could you elaborate more? - Dina blushed.

- Just the usual, they were trying to pick on me because I'm not mom's daughter. While their kids of Tanya's age bullied her for being partly barbarian, and because she had such a weird family. - I shared Rene's feelings after hearing this. Tanya probably noticed my murderous aura and said.

- Finny, Sissy, I have a question. - we both looked at her.

- Why do we care about what a bug says? - Tanya wasn't a regular child, not only because of her innate powers, but she also seemed more mature than her peers.

- She is the Princess, I mean the former one. - Dina started to explain but Tanya laughed.

- She? But she looks so dumb! - Rene turned her head towards us hearing Tanya's laughter. She joined us with Dmitry who was still hugging her. I bowed my head out of respect towards him and he thanked with a tiny nod.

- Why are you laughing my dear? - Rene asked and Tanya kept laughing.

- Mommy, why do we care so much about a bug? She is not even pretty like a ladybug.

- Bugs? - Dmitry asked and Rene looked a bit pensive.

- It could be.

- What could be? - Dmitry asked but Rene already got lost in her thoughts. He followed her and I turned to Dina.

- Who was it? - she giggled.

- Why? What would you do?

- From amputation to curse you can choose whatever you want me to do them. - I said totally seriously. Only one word from Dina and I'm willing to do the worse kind of sin if that's what could make her smile.

- That's a really charming offer! But I'd like to have some cake with the two of you tonight just like we used to! - I smiled and kissed her hand.

- Your wish is my command. - Dina giggled and headed inside to change her dress into something more comfortable. Tanya pulled my hand and gave me a tiny ring made of flowers.

- For Dina. - she said and ran away chasing a butterfly like nothing happened. I felt my cheeks burning up as I imagined to pull a ring on Dina's finger one day.