Some time later, we found ourselves all looking at the sky above while lying in the blanket. Our feets were directed outside the blanket while only our heads are a little close to each other forming a circle, if connected. I was the first one to lie down since I often want to stay in bed; then, one by one, the princes followed.
Right after I lay down, Jihan on my left side followed, gently lifted my head and put his right arm under my head since we didn't bring any pillows, while he used his left hand as his pillow. Seeing this, the princes couldn't do anything since Jihan was a little ahead of them this time. I, on the other hand, was startled and dazed by him. After I got ahold of myself, I slightly lifted my head and turned to him.
"Thank you, Jihan. If it's heavy, I can use my hand--"
He cut me off, "You're not heavy."
"Are you certain? Just tell me if your arms are already getting numb." He nodded at me and I adjusted my head a little bit, so, neither of us would be uncomfortable. Then, I looked at my right side since I felt someone lie down and saw Leo with his eyes closed. Feeling sleepy, I closed my eyes just to rest for awhile but ended up falling asleep.
...
(Princes' POV)
After all of them lay down, Jihan noticed that Princess Laurana stopped moving so he looked at her, not sure whether she's asleep or not. Henri was beside him so he caught sight of Jihan slightly rising up then looking at the princess. He turned to lie down on his stomach to look at the princess.
"Did she fall asleep?" Henri whispered to him. Before Jihan could answer, Henri called out to the princess in a whisper.
"Princess? Laurana?" The princess didn't answer nor move, she's just breathing in a slow and rhythmic pattern; proving that she's sleeping.
The princes heard Henri called the princess so they turned towards her direction and saw her fast asleep. The next thing happened made some of them widen their eyes and all of them sit up. Princess Laurana rolled to her left side, closing in on Jihan; then, resting her head on his chest and hugging him with her right arm. Jihan, on the other hand, didn't dare to move except when placing his hand on her right arm to support her back with his arm.
Henri abruptly stood up and jumped while pointing at them with a frown on his face. Even though Theo wanted to be on Jihan's position, he signaled Henri to keep quiet. Not wanting to disturb her sleep, the princes lie down again and take a rest, also.
It was late afternoon when they all woke up including the princess.
...
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the color burgundy. A man's coat. Jihan's coat. Wait.. Jihan's coat?!! And when I was about to move my right hand, I saw where it is.. I was hugging something, rather, someone!! Did I just fall asleep on someone's chest?! Even if I already knew the possibility, I slowly looked upwards and saw this dark blue haired prince, Jihan! He was about to open his eyes so I immediately shut my eyes and acted like I'm still asleep then tried to roll to my right side.
Just before I succeeded getting away, someone held my right arm. So, I acted like I just woke up and looked at the sky, avoiding to look where Jihan was.
"How's your sleep?" Someone on my right asked me, it was Leo lying sidewards with his arm under his head. To continue my acting, I blinked twice at him sleepily and talked with a sleepy voice.
"I fell asleep? Why didn't you wake me?"
"You're fast asleep, we couldn't bear to disturb you." This ginger haired prince smiled at me.
Thinking how it might have been difficult for Jihan to rest, with me on his arms, I decided to looked at him but he's already looking at me when I turned.
"Did you get to sleep, also, Jihan? Your arm must be numb. My apologies for falling asleep but, really, thank you." Then, showed him an apologetic look. Especially, since I'm not sure if he did get some rest.
"It's my pleasure, Laurana. Yes, I did," he smiled at me. What I didn't know was that in reality, he woke up from time-to-time, worried that I might be uncomfortable or anything.
All of us remained lying in peaceful silence for quite awhile, hearing only the sounds of nature. It's late afternoon when some palace servants arrived with their heads down, waiting at a respectful distance from us, to packed up the things brought here. We left first and rode our horses back to the palace.
At first, we rode with a four-beat pace/walk where the horse puts each foot down one at a time. The princes surrounded me with me riding on the middle, Theo and Egon at my sides, at the front was Jihan and Henri, while at the back was Leo, Romeo and Jung. Not far from us were palace guards. Then, we switched to a two-beat pace/trot where one front foot of the horse and its opposite hind foot come down at the same time.
We arrived at the stables before nightfall. From there, we went to separate directions; I was escorted to my chamber by my personal servants while the princes were headed to the guest wing where the head eunuch of the Emperor awaits them. The princes were greeted immediately as soon as they've arrived.
"Greetings, Princes. I am here to relay a message from His Imperial Majesty. Prince Theo, 2nd Prince Egon and 4th Prince Henri-- you are hereby invited to the Emperor's study room. If you could follow me, after you've changed." The three changed with the help of two eunuchs each; into their semi-formal bright blue court robe that were embroidered with silver- and gold-metallic thread with eight four-clawed dragons and designs of flaming jewels, clouds, waves, fruits and flowers.