From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Sienna had already dried her own hair and was leaning back against the headboard, her expression unreadable as she stared out the window.
When Vivian emerged from the bathroom, Sienna's gaze softened. She patted the spot beside her. "Come here. Let me dry your hair."
Vivian's first instinct was to refuse. Sienna had just returned; she shouldn't be a burden.
But Sienna's voice was gentle and mesmerizing, and it pulled her forward against her will.
In the end, she found herself sitting on the floor, then lying back, her head in her sister's lap, as the warm air from the hairdryer washed over her.
It felt... so safe. Thought Vivian. Her eyes fluttered closed in contentment, then shot open again.
She was terrified this was all a dream, a beautiful, fragile fantasy she would wake from at any moment. She drank in the sight of her sister's perfect face, her heart aching with a desperate question.
"Are you... " she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Are you going to leave again?"
The motion of Sienna's hands paused for a fraction of a second. "No," she said, her voice soft but absolute. "I'm not leaving."
'From now on, wherever I go, my sisters go with me,' she told herself.
Joy, pure and overwhelming, bloomed in Vivian's chest. A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek, dropping on Sienna's dress.
Sienna didn't say a word, simply reaching down to wipe the tear away.
She knew Vivian must have suffered unimaginable pain in the years she was gone. She wouldn't press her for details. Not yet.
The rest of her life would be free of suffering, Sienna vowed silently. Because she was here now.
"Alright, go get the hand cream from my suitcase," she gently patted on Vivian's shoulder.
"Okay!" Vivian bounced up, retrieving a pink and white tube.
Sienna uncapped it. "Hands."
Vivian obediently held them out. The cool touch of the white lotion on her skin was like a jolt to her heart.
"You have to take care of yourself," Sienna said gently. "And of course, your hands too."
Vivian's eyes welled up again. Don't cry, she told herself fiercely. You'll annoy her.
She just nodded, her throat tight. The scent of the cream was divine, a delicate blend of fruit and flowers, with a hint of tea—refreshing and not at all cloying.
"This smells amazing!" Vivian exclaimed.
Sienna smiled. "Just something I whip up myself. If you like it, it's yours. Use it every morning and night."
Vivian's face flushed. She shook her head quickly. "No, I couldn't, it's yours—"
Before she could finish, Sienna pinched her cheek again. "What's mine is yours. Now, put it away and get some sleep."
Vivian nodded obediently, slipping under the covers and immediately plastering herself to Sienna's side, clinging to her arm.
Just like when they were children, Sienna held her, patting her back gently until her breathing evened out.
It was the most peaceful night's sleep Vivian had had in ten years, wrapped in her sister's arms, just like old times.
Her sister was home.
In her sleep, Vivian murmured, "Sienna... "
Sienna, her own eyes wide open in the darkness, gazed down at her. The carefully constructed dam around her own emotions finally broke, and a single, hot tear traced a path down her cheek.
Later that night, once she was sure Vivian was sound asleep, Sienna carefully slipped out of bed. She stepped over to the window and dialed a number.
"It's me," she said, her voice low and sharp. "Lana. I need you to look into something for me. And pack a bag. You're coming to Solara. I might be here for a while. Hand the company's affairs over to the board."
The next day, Vivian woke in a haze, a pleasant dream fading from her mind. Then reality crashed in, and she shot upright.
The other side of the bed was empty.
She's gone. It was a dream. She thought, disappointingly. My sister didn't come back.
But then she caught the lingering floral scent on her hands, and her heart leaped with frantic hope.
She scrambled out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. The clatter of cookware grew louder as she neared the kitchen.
She rounded the corner just in time to see Sienna, wearing an apron, carrying two steaming plates out of the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Sienna asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's only six. Why aren't you sleeping in?"
The sight of her, real and solid and here, calmed the frantic beating of Vivian's heart.
"How many times have I told you? Don't run around without shoes, you'll catch a cold," Sienna noticed her bare feet and immediately went into big-sister mode. "You're not a child anymore. Go put on some socks and shoes, now."
The familiar nagging was the warmest sound Vivian had ever heard. She sniffled, nodding vigorously. "Okay. I'll go put on shoes right now."
"Shoes and socks, then wash up," Sienna added. "Breakfast is almost ready."
"Okay!" Vivian replied.
While abroad, Sienna's adoptive parents had hired a renowned chef from Solara to cater to her tastes.
She had learned a few breakfast recipes herself, dishes that were both delicious and nourishing. Watching Vivian devour the food, she figured it must have turned out okay.
"Slow down," she said with a smile. "No one's going to steal it from you."
Vivian took a huge bite of the eggs. "Sister, this is so good!"
Sienna passed her a napkin. "Wipe your mouth. So, Vivian, are you working now?"
The light in Vivian's eyes dimmed instantly. Her gaze shifted, a flicker of shame crossing her face, but she answered truthfully. "Yes. I work at a company called Dynastis."
Sienna just ruffled her hair. "I'll drive you to work later."
She didn't ask why she was working. As the second daughter of the Hart family, she could have lived a life of leisure, coasting on the inheritance their mother had left them.
There were so many questions, but Sienna held them back. She had already sent people to find the answers.
By the end of the day, she would know everything. Her sisters didn't have to say a word, but that didn't mean she, as their older sister, would remain in the dark.
And if she found out anyone had laid a hand on them, she would make them pray for a quick death.
"No, Sienna, you don't have to!" Vivian protested. "You should rest. I can take the bus, it's really fast."
Sienna gave a wry smile. "What? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"
Vivian's eyes went wide. She shook her head frantically. "No! Not at all! I would never think that! I just... I don't want to trouble you."
She looked down, ashamed. The truth is, she was afraid she would embarrass Sienna. At Dynastis, she was just... a nobody.
"I'm your sister. It's never a trouble," replied Sienna. As she spoke, her phone rang. She picked it up and stepped aside. "Speak." A pause. "Good. Understood."
When they went downstairs, the portly landlord was waiting, his face split in a sycophantic grin. He greeted them with an enthusiasm that was a world away from his venomous tirade the day before. His eyes, however, lingered disgustingly where they shouldn't.
Sienna shot him a look so sharp and cold it could have cut glass. The man's smile froze, and a flicker of fear entered his eyes. He quickly looked away.
I'll deal with you later, Sienna thought, her eyes turning to ice.
Parked beside the shabby apartment building was a crimson Rolls-Royce. Vivian couldn't help but stare.
She didn't know much about cars, but she knew this one was custom, and its price tag would have more commas than she could count. What was it doing here? She wondered. It was so out of place it was almost comical.
"Come on," Sienna said, walking towards it. "Get in."
Vivian blinked. "Huh?" Get in? The only other vehicle around was a shared bicycle. Was her sister planning to bike her to work?
Confused but obedient, she started walking toward the bike. Sienna sighed, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the luxury car.
"This way. Get in," said Sienna. "Or you'll be late."