"Ugh, I hate lines," he muttered.
Then, a soft voice called out. "Brother."
They all turned. A woman in a long forest-green dress approached from the side path, followed by two little girls. Her red hair was loosely braided to the side, and her sharp yellow eyes held a kind calmness. Her face was mature and beautiful, even if faint shadows under her eyes hinted at weariness.
"Aunt Martha," Ellory greeted with a polite smile.
"Martha," the Duke nodded once.
Martha is the Duke's younger sister. A widow for years now, she raised her 8 years old twin daughters alone without ever remarrying. The girls stood close to her side, identical except for their hairstyles—one had short bangs while the other's forehead was bare. They both wore matching cream-colored dresses with little red ribbons, their yellow eyes wide with curiosity.
One of the twins waved shyly at Ellory. The other peeked from behind her mother.
