The king and Edmond were given a quick tour of the estate. They were then given rooms to rest in and servants to fulfill any of their needs.
Only tomorrow would the king actually speak to the Baron regarding his territory and its management.
Today, they were given the day to rest from their long journey.
Once Edmond was led to his room, he told a maid to bring him some commoner clothing right away. He was planning to go out and "explore" the town without attracting unnecessary attention.
What he actually meant was that he was going to go find Hyreona and meet her.
Changing his clothes quickly, he informed his father that he would go to the town and explore.
When he received permission from the the king, Edmond immediately ran out of the Baron's mansion and into the town streets.
Using simple illusion spells, he changed his hair color from blonde to a deep brown. He also made his eye color change from blue to green. With these changes, no one would be able to recognize that he was actually the Crown Prince.
Edmond proceeded to wander around town. Though he was able to change the color of his hair and eyes, he couldn't hide the fact that his face was truly handsome.
Countless young girls in the town instantly became attracted to Edmond.
Some of them even tried to go up and speak to him.
What they got in reply was an annoyed look and the words "Go away. I'm not interested."
This happened to every girl that would trying to approach him, including Clarissa.
She was the clingiest out of all of them. Clarissa would constantly try to speak to him regardless of being ignored, try to grab onto his arm, and she didn't forget to drop hints that she was the so called prettiest.
Out of sheer annoyance at how much Clarissa was hanging on to him, he began to pick up his pace, eventually breaking into a run as she didn't give up.
It wasn't until he was in the field between the forest and town did he look behind him to see if she followed. Luckily, he outran her and she lost him in the crowds.
Edmond laid down in the grass, closing his eyes and breathing heavily. He furrowed his eyebrows when he thought about what he has just experienced.
'That girl was more troublesome than all the other fake nobles in the capital.'
Hyreona had just walked out of the forest when she spotted a figure lying down in the field. She escaped from the town after the king's parade to the forest to cool down.
Walking closer to the figure, she saw that he was breathing a little hard and he was sweating. She then went back into the forest to grab some of the snow, making it into a cold towel-like shape.
Afterwards, she came back out and silently made her way towards the boy. Sitting down next to him, she placed the snow on his forehead to help him cool down.
Feeling something cool touch his forehead and a nice scent waft into his nose, Edmond slowly opened his eyes.
What first greeted his sight was a small milky pale hand and some white hair.
Seeing that, his eyes widened and he suddenly sat up, surprising Hyreona who was next to him.
"Woah!" Hyreona let out before accidentally falling on her bottom with a thud.
Edmond turned his head in Hyreona's direction when he heard her and saw the person he was been looking for. She was even more enchanting up close.
He nervously helped her sit back up.
"I-I'm sorry for scaring you..." Edmond apologized while scratching his head in embarrassment.
Hyreona gave him a small smile. "No, no it's fine. I was just surprised."
Hearing her talk, the tip of his ears became slightly red. Although she spoke fluently, her pleasant voice still carried an unique accent.
Hyreona's smile made his heart beat madly.
'How is she so pretty?'
Hyreona peeked at his face.
'Hmm, he's kind of handsome...' Inwardly she nodded, approving his looks.
Though he was attractive, it did not affect the way she treated him at all.
Not recognizing his face she asked, "Are you new here? Where did you come from? Oh! And what's your name?"
Edmond was feeling happy and nervous at the same time. He was extremely happy that he got to meet Hyreona.
"I- uh... I'm new... I'm from the capital and I came down here with my dad because we heard the King was coming."
He debated whether or not he should tell her his real name.
'No, I should just tell her my nickname.'
"My name's Eddie by the way. What's yours?" He said after pausing for a few seconds.
"I figured that you weren't from here. You don't sound like the townsfolk. Well neither do I, but that's because I'm from the forest." Hyreona pointed at the snowy forest.
"I'm Hyreona."
Learning her name, Edmond engraved it into his mind.
'Hyreona. Hyreona... Hyreona...'
He curiously asked her, "You came from the forest?"
Hyreona nodded. "Yes. I lived there all my life up until a few months ago when I decided to visit the town."
Edmond kept asking Hyreona questions and she did the same. They talked to each other until sunset and became friends.
"One least question. So how long are you planning to stay?" She asked.
"Hmm... I'm only going to stay for about two weeks before I return home." He answered.
Mustering up some courage, he said, "Oh! How about we hang out everyday until I have to go?"
"Sure! I don't have many friends in this town so I'd like that." Hyreona gave him a big smile.
"I should start heading home now. I'll see you tomorrow Eddie." She got up, waved at him and walked into the forest.
Edmond nodded and waved back. "See you tomorrow then."
Afterwards, the prince came back to the estate. He changed back into his normal clothes before going to the dining room and having dinner with his father and the Baron's family.
When he finished, he told the king about what he saw and what went on in the town, excluding the part where he met Hyreona.
Edmond then headed toward his room, closed the door, and took a bath. Hyreona kept popping up in and mind and he couldn't stop himself from feeling ecstatic that he was able to meet with her.
Reminding himself that they just met today, he took a deep breath in and out.
'I have to take things slow. I'll make her realize that I'm the one for her.'
The next two weeks passed by quickly and eventually Edmond and Hyreona were able to become close friends.
They had gone out together everyday while Edmond was staying at the town. By the time he had to leave, Hyreona felt a little sad.
Seeing that she was, he became happy as this meant he was one step closer to his goal.
"I'll be leaving the town today. I don't know when I'll be coming back." Edmond said in a down tone.
Hyreona gave a sad smile. "Well it's alright. I'll miss you though. I'll try to visit the capital sometime. Maybe then you can take me around there."
This made Edmond's face beam. "I'll definitely show you around."
"Well then that's a promise then." Hyreona chuckled. She then handed him an ice flower she had made not long before.
"Here, have this. It doesn't melt so don't worry."
Edmond felt the cold sensation when she placed the flower into his palm. He looked at the flower lovingly. The flower would be come one of his most important treasures.
"Thank you... I'll miss you too Hyreona..."
She pretended to shiver. "Ew, don't be so sentimental. We'll see each other eventually."
"Haha. Yes, you're right." He bursted out laughing.
"Well, I guess I'll see you if I visit the capital. Thanks for being my friend." She playfully punched his arm.
"Yeah. I'll see you then." Edmond pinched her cheek.
When they were done saying their goodbyes, the two headed off in their separate directions.
Hyreona went back home to the forest, and Edmond walked to the Baron's estate to get ready for the farewell parade tomorrow.
The flower that Hyreona had given him was carefully put into a box so that no one would find it. Getting into his bed, Edmond began to daydream about when he would meet Hyreona again.
He fell asleep sometime during his daydream.
The next day, the parade was even more festive than when the king and crown prince were first welcomed.
Everyone was cheering for them as they rode in their carriage out of the city. Edmond was trying to find Hyreona in the ground, but he wasn't successful.
There were too many people and so many bright colors. Her usual white color would've been drowned out by all the others.
Actually, Hyreona wasn't even in the crowd at all. She was with Damien again somewhere in a more secluded part of the town.
Damien didn't want Hyreona to attract everyone's eyes and she thought that all the crowds were troublesome.
The king and his entourage made it back to the capital nearly a week later. While in the palace training grounds practicing his swordsmanship, Edmond called upon one of the Shade Legion knights.
"Aldwin. I want you to go back to that town and look after a white-haired girl named Hyreona. Report back to me every two weeks once this insulation rune I give you runs out. We will replace it whenever you report." Edmond commanded.
Aldwin, who was kneeled down on one leg in front of Edmond accepted his command.
"Yes your highness. I will do as you say." He took the rune and disappeared immediately after. Sinking into the shadow and heading towards the town.
The prince's advisor who was standing next to him was twitching his mouth.
"My Prince, why would you send the Shade Legion commander to personally watch over this girl?"
Edmond gave a huge sigh and looked towards his advisor as if he was the biggest idiot.
"I've taken a liking to her. Plus she lives in that snow covered forest. Not just anyone would be able to survive there for two weeks at a time."
"I see, my Prince..." The advisor began to rub his temples.
'But isn't sending the commander still too much?!? Isn't that girl only 8 years old too?!!'
He silently lit a candle for Aldwin in his heart. 'You're only 13 yourself and have to deal with the field work for this person...'
The advisor sighed. 'I swear this prince is going to give me an aneurysm.'