With a sigh Celesti wrapped her fur cloak tighter around her body. It had been hours since she had left her home. A cold dry chill feeling the air around her once they stepped out Celestia's main grounds. With the grace of the silver doe's blessing the surrounding areas of Celestia were kept in protection from the harsh cold. Even with them experiencing winter almost all year round the temperature inside the silver doe's blessing was comforting. Outside its reaches by the border of the lands the lands were much more harsher. The cold wasn't comforting at all just empty and dry, almost like a cruel beast.
Gazing out the window of her carriage she spotted the soldiers riding ahead. The men's faces were stern, some grinding on their teeth as they rode on their horses. Stubborn as they tried to fight the cold.
It was clear to Celesti that they were not at all used to the cold weather. Soleil was known more for its warm heat, most citizens never experiencing colder weathers. Except for the occasional light rain.
It was no wonder why the chill was hitting them harder. Her attention moved to Juvel who had slowed his horse to walk besides the carriage. She noticed instantly how much calmer he appeared, he didn't seem as bothered by the cold as the others. Still carrying that smile on his face as if the cold was nothing more than an old friend. Sensing her gaze he turned to Celesti with a closed eyed smile moving to walk besides her window.
"Is there something on the princess's mind?"
"You don't seem as bothered by the cold."
Celesti remarked not even seeing the slightest tremble in his body. With a chuckle he nodded his head.
"Well unlike the other Soleil knights, I always traveled with his highness. Adapting to any kind of weather out there. My mother's own home land is by the ocean. During half of the year the weather did become rather chilly. Sometimes the waters would even freeze over." Juvel chuckled as he thought of his homeland.
"You were raised in the Amethyst kingdom? I thought princess Juvella remained in the Soleil empire?" Celesti questioned Juvel in slight confusion. With a smile Juvel shook his head gazing ahead as he thought of his mother.
"No, after my birth my father at times allowed my mom to travel back to Amethyst kingdom with myself. He carried for her deeply and married her after our grandfather passed. Sometimes my cousin would travel with us. After his mother's seclusion my mother became his caregiver as well. I was jealous at first if i had to be honest. Not liking the idea of sharing my mother. That is until I met him in person. We grew up pretty much like brothers after that." Juvel chuckled shaking his head slightly at some childhood memories that came to mind.
"We lived in the Amethyst kingdom for a few years after his father's passing. Until the past emperor demanded him to be brought back to Soleil. I came back with him not wanting to let him enter the lion's den on his own. And my poor mother stayed behind to raise my little brother."
"You have a little brother?" Celesti asked in almost awe not having heard of the second prince having had a second son. Smiling Juvel nodded his head. The last time having seen his brother was when he was just a baby.
" Yes, he was born shortly after the emperor's father passed. My mother feared the previous emperor would try to used him as another pawn like my cousin . So when she had him in the Amethyst kingdom she had my grandfather name him an Amethyst prince. My younger brother luckily inherited my mother's genes." Juvel chuckled lightly closing his eyes briefly. Staring at him in silence a question lingered in the tip of her tongue before she muttered it out.
" And what happened to the emperor's mother?"