The Ancient Genes

"Did you hear that?" Aria said as a frown appeared on her face.

"What?" Janet asked in confusion.

"It sounded like an explosion…"

"Why will there be an explosion here…" Janet asked with an amused look.

"It's her turn so she is making excuses…." Lisa said with a smile as she looked at the draw. Aria had drawn the short stick out.

"I am lucky, what do you want me to do cutie…" Aria smiled as she looked at Lilly who had the longest stick in her hand.

The rest of the girls seemed a bit displeased that Aria didn't fall in their hands.

"I…" Lilly looked at her. She was still sitting on Elly's lap and glanced at her.

Elly didn't know why the girl was so attracted to her but she liked it too and nodded her head.

"I want to see Sis dance..." Lilly said with a tiny spark in her eyes. She couldn't help it. Aria's silver hair and eyes with her outfit indeed made her seem like a fairy from a kid's show.

When Aria heard Lilly's words the smile on her face disappeared as her face slowly turned dark.

"Perfect!!! Common Aria, show us your moves…" Lisa said as she let out muffled noises while covering her mouth. She was having a hard time controlling her laughter.

Janet too was laughing. Unknowingly, this little cousin had hit the bull's eyes.

"Aria, what are you waiting for?"

Aria looked at Elly who held her phone as if recording everything.

"Elly!!" Aria looked at her in anger. Even she was teasing her with them.

"You don't want to Sis?" Lilly suddenly spoke as she looked at Aria with a hint of nervousness. She didn't want to trouble anyone. She was afraid of any more people leaving her, even if it was just these strangers whom she met….

"Ah..no...I will...I will.." Aria couldn't bear to say no to her. The little girl finally seemed to be speaking out and opening up to them. She couldn't bear to make her upset.

Children were like that...she was having a bit of fun now. But only because she seemed to have been distracted...the moment she remembers it….she would again be like that….so she wanted to let her have some fun as long as they were there.

Aria stood up as she moved away from the couch and toward the door which had the most of the empty space in the room.

"Uhm…" She cleared her throat as she glared at Elly who finally put her phone down.

Aria then raised her hand in the air and took an awkward step to the side as she tried to recall the movement that she had once learned as a child.

Noble's obviously should have knowledge about such things. But Aria had already decided her path early and hence didn't have much knowledge about it. She was kind of a barbarian.

On the other side, Janet and Lisa were snickering looking at her awkward movements while she tried to appear elegant. Even Elly couldn't stop her smile.

This was a thing about Aria, she tried to give it her all no matter what she did.

As Aria made a turn, her gaze swept past her audience when she saw the mocking and teasing smile on their faces, her focus immediately broke as her face turned red in embarrassment.

'Ah!'

Aria stumbled as her the knee collided into the back of her other leg and she tripped.

It was obviously not going to hurt her but, it was going to be a great humiliation for her. She could imagine them teasing her for a long period.

As she held her hands out, readying herself for the fall, a hand suddenly wrapped around her belly and held her back.

"Hmmn…..now this is something you don't get to see it everyday…."

A voice entered Aria's ears as she turned her head to see Max smiling at him.

"Y-You!!!" Aria was shocked. It was as if she had seen a ghost. Max had just appeared out of nowhere, she couldn't even have sensed him until she saw him.

"Tsk...you are back at it. You looked cuter earlier….." Max said with a smile. She really looked good when she was trying to make a child happy but now she was back to that strong-headed personality of hers.

Aria froze on Max's comment. She even forgot to get out of his hand.

Max turned his head to look at a particular girl with affection and a bit of guilt in his eyes.

"Did you forget me so soon?" Max said with a heartwarming smile as she raised his other hand.

Elly looked at Max not knowing what was going on. What was he saying to her? She just couldn't make anything out of it. But his face said he was being serious….

At this moment, Elly suddenly felt a struggle from the little girl sitting on her lap and the next instant, she escaped from her grasp and ran towards Max with her fastest speed.

Max knelt on his one leg and Lilly immediately jumped into his arms as others looked at the scene with dumbfounded gazes.

Max felt his heartache as he heard Lilly's cries and felt his chest becoming wet with her tears. He unconsciously wrapped his arms around and hugged her. But Aria who hadn't yet escaped from Max's grasp was pulled along as well and brought into Max's embrace.

Aria immediately became flustered as she felt the warmth and a sweet smell coming from Max's chest. Since Max wasn't putting much strength into it, she knew she could break free but the next instant Lilly's loud cries enveloped the room.

"Brother….Sob!...Brother….Sniff! ….where were you…..Mommy and Daddy are not here too…sniff….I was scared ….sob!...sniff!..."

When Aria heard that, she couldn't bear to intervene and break this reunion. Even though she couldn't understand the situation well, she could feel their emotions clearly. She just kept quiet and remained still in Max's embrace.