hts but still. It's just too dangerous! Especially as a villainess.

I can't become one of those comedic idiots who announces all their plans out loud at the last second, now can I?

"People are weird and lots of times make no sense. Even you guys. When you say one thing, the meaning is this. But what you really mean is another thing. It's even harder than learning languages or speaking. Gable does it lots, and other adults even more! It's like a game I don't know how to play." Lukas complains quite well, his frustrations honest and very straight to the heart.

It tickles. Or more like...he hit the nail very much on the head. Jackhammered it really.

It's only simple and naive people, or actual children, who can just say what they mean.

"That's why you need to read the entire situation you dumb brat. If someone says, 'I'm not gonna hurt you' but they're radiating bad shit and a weapon in hand, you smash their balls and brains. Yes in that order. " Yuna, the bad babysitter, schools the child.

"Balls?!" Lukas makes to motion. Curving his hands around his flat chest in....ah....he's misunderstanding very very very far off again.

"Not those balls!? How did you even get to that- Oh never mind, just punch their shit out. You're more a battering ram type anyway. Don't think too hard about it and just hit bad guys. " Yuna folds away the things.

Maybe even folding my own sister into a little burrito roll, much to her amusement. It sure keeps her occupied enough to stop climbing him.

"See! You and Rosa are the same. Gable too. " Lukas points out, making no sense.

"Yep. Just a little. " Amar nods again.

"...What?" Yuna deadpans, already back to wacking the child off his neck and around his shoulders. Something to which Lukas settles to clinging on his back.

"It means we're beautiful, " I preen from being in the same sentence comparison with my beloved. though I am not worthy. Gable oh Gable, is anyone worthy? I think not. But if there's anything I'm confident in it's my absolute beauty!

"Nope." Amar shakes his little head dully.

That cute thing is broken, leaking and empty anyway. So ignore him!

"You all yell lots. And nag too. But you still cut me fruit or feed me and play with me and if you didn't care you wouldn't do that. So what you say don't always match up. Same as the other way, when people say nice things but they're meaning mean stuff about you. And I don't always get it and I don't think I ever really will even when I'm older than Gable and Cap put in one. People are weird that way. But it's not always bad. Just confusing. I like people and everyone, even when they say or don't say funny things at all the wrong times. "

To say that was unexpected is an understatement.

Surely people are strange, all humans are. It might be easier to never have to deal with any of them at all. Run away, because the game of people and humanity may be too hard to take in so many times.

But we're lonely creatures, who can't really do without.

Even if we can run off and cut ourselves from society, we can't do without that need for connection. We can't shut off that instinct inside of us.

I don't know what to make of Lukas's babbling. Only that it makes me strangely uncomfortable, in the way something does when it gets too close to you.

But then again...who would take into consideration the words of a child?

It's nothing, I would like to say. Rambling nonsense, maybe on par with something blameworthy to grampa. The words of a small dumb child.

But aren't I one of those children now?

"Yeah yeah, don't think too hard about it. You know better. You'll get a headache again." Yuna rubs the birthday boy's little head in a dismissive but familiar action.

Something Lukas happily rubs his own head back at, much like an animal.

Though I must have known in the capacity of common sense, the same reason you take for granted, that this boy has known my minions for a good time longer than I have. Is far more familiar with them.

I think a part of me regressed with my age. Not just my physical body.

While I can think of myself as older, know so, I lack the position and ability to treat them as such. But I seem to have also lost some of the capability. I realize, quite belatedly, this grumpy cat-like boy is much kinder than I am.

Given his life, his history, he is far kinder and more patient than I would be. Harsh words, beyond scolding yes. But still taking the time to explain a spoiled little girl's wrongs.

A normal grown-up wouldn't even bother.

"Yeah like that!" Lukas says in delight, practically purring.

"...You can tell? That all people, especially grown-ups, don't mean what they say? Or when someone promises to be your friend, but they're not a very good one. Quite the opposite really." I speak up, a strangely sour taste in the back of my throat.

It tastes like every time I've seen or passed the original Lukas. That mob character beyond all. That lost boy from before, dirtied under someone else's cruel thumb.

It tastes a little like me. Because I'm not much better myself. I'm only good at using people.

But still....I'd like to hope for the best for these children. Silly and strange as they are. They deserve in if nothing but for the sake of being children. No one deserves the chaos of the world they're born into.

"Tell smell I don't know but cap says actions hurt way louder than words!" Lukas sounds quite sure of himself. No room for doubt or anxiety.

Ah to be so young and dumb.

"....speak Lukas. Speak. The phrase is, actions speak louder than words." I attempt to rectify his....misheard terminology. Again.

He does this quite often as well.

"Nooooo, sticks and stones and monster storms can smash all my bones but words don't do anything or hurt me. " the fair little boy looks up to recite another of those.

I facepalm into the fur rug on the floor.

"That's...that sure is something Lukas. Yeah sure, words will never hurt you. Just stay that way. " who knows, he might even turn out better for it. Honestly, I think the bar is already pretty low. Anything is better than what Philippe did to him.

Not that I'm much better myself, not with my intents. All I'm good for is using others. Snap them to do my bidding. Roll out either the payroll or the blackmail. Strictly business, merely paying for my overcompensation.

That's why when the stars aligned and the worst of times came, I was utterly alone. I died so....easily. Weak.

How laughable. I must have gone down as a laughing stock to those in the know and a wicked witch to the rest. How pathetic. My pride wouldn't be able to stand it if it didn't already happen.

I mean her? Her pride? Me? Her? I'm her, but not really? I hold her feelings and memory but...

"Don't think too hard about it. " Yuna shrugs, leaning back to look up at the marble ceiling.

I'm taken aback at him. But it's a false alarm, my mouth silent and still. In the inside of my lips still lingering in the slightly tart cinnamon punch.

The roof and walls are cold, tinged in oxygen blue, but you almost can't feel it.

"Never trusts words, in fact never trust anything ever. Children. Adults. Yourself. Doesn't matter. You fight to your surroundings. Different place, different methods, and weapons. Whether that's in the fields or in a be-...a room. Whether that's in a field or a... room. You can build walls thicker than this, or melt to escape. So don't think about it too hard, don't stay so set. " the eldest one says as if speaking to someone who is not me specifically in this little igloo.

I fall on my back with my limbs spread out, much like Yuna. It's not very much when I can't possibly take up much space. The soft fur rugs catch me easily, and I look up to where he does.

A snowball curves and packs us in it. The world quiet but for this little globe.

Lukas tips over into another child.

"You too, Amar." Lukas knocks the side of their heads together.

Thankfully not too hard, otherwise there would be more hollow empty sounds and more brain damage for the minions.

"???" Amar makes cute little noise, tilting his head in dumb confusion.

When my sister parrots that, it's somehow not nearly as adorable. Meh, you either got it or you don't. No worries, the heroine is still a main character in the end. Not like the rest of us lot.

"Your tricks! They come in lots of shapes and stuff. Milk, cream, butter, snow, or ice. But most of all what you don't say!" Lukas nuzzles and declares.

Yuna snorts to that but I feel an almost tingle of fear.

Just how much does this child understand? Fluidity. Between the clouds of empty air in his lovely little head, how much does he strike to the heart of things?

It's an oddly sobering gap between the Lukas of every day and the rare moments like this.

Children are strangely magical like that.

Or haunted. Like a creepy horror movie? Meh, same thing.

"You used to not talk to me at all! The others would and together they say lots of things, some nice some confusing and some really really really confusing. Because it smells weird or the meanings don't match up. But you're the nicest even when you're all quiet and look like you're ignoring me but you're not but others are so-" Lukas's little mouth goes.

"Lily's ears hurt from chicken cawcaw bruder." my sister comments, perhaps a bit in need of her daily nap.

That gets her a series of burrito kick from Lukas. Rolling her up in an even more muffled roll.

Thankfully, though Yuna does it with a great grump groan, he sits up to rescue the toddler from sure suffocation. Good babysitter, plus 5 points for preventing Lilyanne's death by carpeting.

"That one talks too much!" Lukas pouts, wiggling his way into Amar's side.

"...?" Amar tilts his head in confusion, but pats Lukas on the head anyway. Which is apparently just what the other boy wanted.

"See?! Just like always. You don't say anything but you're the nicest. You were the only one." Lukas smiles, looking dare I say it, cuddly and cute. Very much like an adorable little puppy dog, or even a small white bear.

"...pfft" Amar holds back a shaking laugh. As if finding putting up with this nonsense very amusing.

That's right. Those two knew each other long before me, despite the short years we've all lived on this earth. Sometimes there's bound to be an inside joke, a moment, that passes me right by.

"But not anymore!" Lukas cheers, rolling off Amar.

Rolling rolling, oh no.

I can't get away fast enough.

"Aaaaahhhhh!!!" I scream as the wrecking ball of a birthday boy crashes into me. Even louder when he dares put me in a wrestling hold!?

I am not meant to bend that way? Human spines are not!!!

"Ahhh you're warm and nice and bright and fun too, Rosa! Even when you're all yelly. Like a big cackle of firewood when they go snap snap in the hot fire. Snap snap crack! A real fireplace."

"That's my spine you fool!!!"

"So warm and toasty! Rosalia, you're really soft and you don't smell as stinky. Amar, you gotta eat more to be as fat as Rosa, ok?!"

"Excuse me?! Who did you call fat!?" I screech in response.

For the first time in this life, someone has called me fat to my face. For the first time?! How dare?! I am small, adorable, and growing!?

I don't need to count my calories yet. Nooooooooo. I don't wanna. Let my childish metabolism and innocent need for nutrients work in peace. I'm not fat!

"Fat fat fat!" Lukas plays the drums on my struggling belly.

Kill. I will offer this minion as a pork roast for Mother. I will stuff an apple in his mouth and serve him like a pig roast. Lukas has been moved up the kill list to the top. Even beating out Amar.

The other boy is currently losing that futile battle with self-control. His laughter spilling like snowflakes in an artificial globe. Amar laughs full force at the awful wrestling match in front of him.

"Ahhhhh meanie big fattie!" Lilyanne charges after catching her breath, rescued by the babysitter that is looking more and more like a disgruntled animal shelter employee.

"...I don't even get paid for this. " Yuna ties back up his hair, rolling his eyes at the counter-productivity of it when it goes loose again so soon dealing with children.

At least he's not shivering with cold anymore.

"Fat! Get fatter!" Lukas slaps again, and I actually cry at that one.

Oh, the shame! A young lady's little belly is sensitive!

"Rooooosa! Lily savies you! Hmmmpf'' my sister attempts to push off the human ice cube.

"Lilyanne!" I cry out, whimpering.

"Rooooosa!" She war cries into a new puppy pile.

"You're fat too! Like cheese!" Lukas squishies at the new opponent.

"Ooooh tank you~" Lilyanne's stupid little toddler brain takes it as a compliment.

I am still dying and crying down here.

"Alright you brat, knock it off. Your party ain't in here and I'm actually in more need of whatever this is." Yuna packs away things with Amar's snickering help, shaking his empty punch cup.

"You'll like Gable's cooking, it's simple but very warm. " Amar smiles cheekily. Flushed from all the exercise that was laughing at my expense.

"That's just because Lord Commander and his prized mage can afford actual stuff. I'd eat it even if it was crap. No way am I offending anyone and anything around here. " Yuna actually bemoans honestly.

Which is a fair reaction to somehow being poofed and stuck as the babysitter to the most powerful man and the most mysterious man behind the troops. Ah, this poor teenaged employee.

There there. We pay you in baked beans, potatoes, and some punch.

"I don't want to be paid in potatoes?! What the- this cheap princess?! " Yuna grumbles, snappily motioning for us to put our cloaks and fall accessories back on.

Then we're marched back out of the igloo as soon as we put things back in place. Yuna's biting scolding only softens when Amar pats him 'there there'. Dragging the loot bag of Yuna's new winter wardrobe with him.

I don't think it's very fair. He's only nice to Amar. But hey, what the hell do I know?

I'm just a fat cheap princess now!!!

"There there, don't be mad Rosa. We can have potatoes? " Amar tries, comforting.

"I don't want potatoes!" I stomp through the snow.

Perhaps it's my short little steps and angrily hurt pride, but my imagination seems to melt the snow as I trudge along.

"Yep! They're really alike." Lukas speaks his nonsense.

When we march our little distance, our jaws drop with surprise and awe.

The igloo? It's an ice castle!

One big fat snowglobe, that definitely wasn't made without magic. The oldies did it!

I mean, of course, Gable did. Once Gable arrives, everything is just so much better. How wonderful!

"Gaaaaable~" I cry making a running start.

"Whoooooo it's so cool!!!!" Lukas passes me quickly, hopping over and through the snow like a jackrabbit.

"Oi! Order!" Yuna barks, only successful in stopping Lilyanne. And that's just because she fell flat on her face through a snowbank.

Yeah, uh...babysitting that one is a full-time job.

"Come on! Hurry up you slow poke sidekicks!" Lukas U-turns back, somehow still bouncing as he drags Amar and I.

Eventually, it seems he gives up on waiting for us to move our own feet and carries me through the air as Amar is dragged along like a toy. It's a strange and reasonably humiliating position, yes. But that's Lukas alright.

It's not so bad to let it go today. It's definitely not bad, that this little fool laughs and smiles a lot more than what I remember of him,

Here's to another year older. Grow up well my silly minion in training.

Oh?! It looks wonderful in here?! A true ice castle! Even professionally made events in another world can't compare. As expected of Gable! All hail Gable, everything that is good and beautiful!

"Something smells sweet and... uh oh. " Amar remarks, dragging his feet. The motion slowing down even Lukas as he barrages through to the snow dome.

"Uh oh what?" I ask, turning over to him.

"Ummm...they're eating sweets without us that way." Amar points.

"What?! Gable was hiding sweets from me!?" Lukas cries in revolt, quickly turning.

"I think it's your birthday sweets," I deadpan, feeling my tummy rumble.

It's been slapped and exercised too much today. Especially in this cold.

Let's have some warm filling snacks. Snack beans with some olive oil and salt. Hot baked potatoes, steaming with a generous spread of decadent butter. Huh, funny, are we going the wrong way? I swore.,,

"Or is it that way? My nose is cold. " Amar wiggles said little nose in an even colder direction from that delicious fireplace scent.

"Waaaaaah, don't eat without me!" Lukas sharply turns again, taking us for a ride.

After what feels like getting run around the snowglobe thrice, we finally crash into the main room of this igloo. Lilyanne already puffing into her hot buttered potato with Yuna chomping down unfairly, steam blowing out both their mouths.

The potatoes are out. More food is baking and grilling away. Sparkling ice doesn't melt even as the warm fire roars. A center stand scatters little pistachio decorated cream-filled cakes, perfect for grabbing and snacking.

Gable smiles down at us so beautifully.

Too beamingly gorgeous, like nothing is wrong. I don't even notice Grampa on the floor! The cream cakes stuffed in his mouth as if choking him silent. Pitifully rubbing both his head and butt from some fresh painful injuries.

Meh, must be igloo related ones.

But how dare he eat dessert first!? I don't know how Gable lets him get away with anything? Oh and there goes Gable even hand feeding him more? Our sweets?!

"MMmmmmpf" my Grandpa cries.

"Behave. Understand me. Behave for the children." Gable not at all threatens.

It's a strange and oddly intimate kind of party, but I like it very much nonetheless. Not just for the magic.

Now, someone hand me a hot potato. And smother it with butter yes.

"I thought you said you didn't want a potato? I like mine crispier. Like those 'fries'?" Amar answers stupidly.

"Can I have mine with bacon and molasses?!" Lukas asks.

"Just feed me already!" I wave.

Eat and grow up strong and healthy everyone.