Having had the satisfaction of watching the workers in the pearl production area, Avery turned his horse away from the coastal area. The cold grows on the skin and makes a deep, steamy breath.
"Are you cold, Alice?" Said Avery.
"Not too cold. Your coat is thick enough for me, prince." Said Alice with a smile.
"Well, tell me if you're cold."
"Yes. Where are we going again?"
Avery chuckled. "I was hoping to return to the palace. But do you still want to be outside?"
"I want to be outside more." Said Alice. That girl deliberately said it like iti as her wish to Avery. Alice was starting to take it easy on Avery. Alice wants to see if Avery will grant her request as a friend?
"Where else do you want to go? Ah, you're not afraid your mother will scold you anymore?"
"Aren't you going to tell queen berenice that I'm going with you? That's what you said, prince. Don't lie to me."
Avery smiled. "No. I'm not gonna lie to you. All right, where do you want us to go?"
"Did I not trouble you, prince?"
"No.. Think of it as my thanks to you for being so good to me." Avery said. The man then steered back around green lake.
Alice's hands remained perfectly still clinging to the center of the rope. If I had, Alice would have had the courage to hold Avery's hand firmly. But Alice couldn't, she had to keep her love to Avery a secret.
"It's gonna snow tonight. Since it's still early, will you accompany me to the diamond kingdom village?"
Alice looked a little bit. "Why go there, prince?"
"To see something. There's something I haven't seen in a long time. I never visited. And I miss seeing it."
Alice furrowed her brow. What makes Avery so homesick? Will Avery take her to see princess Ariadne? Oh, no! Alice shook her head quickly.
"Prince, will you take me to the diamond kingdom? You miss princess Ariadne? Ah, better send me back to the palace. I don't want to intrude on your time." Said Alice hastily.
Avery chuckled. "No. I didn't go to a diamond kingdom. I just want to go to the diamond village. My goal is not to see Ariadne much less miss her. Alice, you know I don't like Ariadne."
"Then why go there?"
"To see the things I miss. You'll find out soon enough."
After arriving at the border between pearl village and diamond village, Avery gave Alice a scarf. The red knitted scarf Avery had taken along and placed on the leather bag hanging from his horse's stomach.
"Wear this scarf Alice. Cover half your face. The wind is a bit stiff."
"But, what about you?"
"Half my face is covered in your head. No one will notice that I'm passing by in this village. It was cold anyway. Just some people who left the house."
Alice just nodded. Got a scarf from Avery and put it on his neck. Alice smiled happily. Her body feels even warmer now.
The white horse Avery mounted already entered the diamond village area. And Avery's goal was about five hundred meters away. The kingdom of diamonds was clearly seen from there.
"I'm curious, you actually brought me to see what prince?"
Avery smiled. "Never mind, soon you'll understand."
"You won't be stopping by to see princess Ariadne, will you?"
"No Alice, just relax. But next time I'll take you to Ariadne. I think he'd like it very much if I introduced him to you."
Alice only smiled slightly when she heard Avery talking like that. Though Alice is very uninterested in meeting or knowing Ariadne. Alice is just afraid of being rivaled by a noblewoman like Ariadne. Ah, Ariadne is not only a lady. Ariadne is a princess. If Alice meets Ariadne, it is clear that Alice is defeated by Ariadne.
Avery's white horse now stops in front of a closed bakery. Alice looked around. The girl was looking for something to make Avery miss. What is that thing? For Alice, around here nothing caught her eye.
"Have you reached your destination? What do you miss, prince?" Ask Alice.
Avery smiled. "Look across the house. A house with a large yard with flowers and a horse with a light brown in it."
Alice followed Avery's orders. The girl turned to the right to see a modest, comfortable house. The courtyard was quite spacious and there was a light brown stallion.
A girl was seen busy in the yard. Alice still couldn't figure out what Avery was talking about. But before Alice asked again, Avery said first.
"The girl's name was Diona. She's very pretty, isn't she? She's the thing I miss to see. I haven't been here in a long time." Avery said. The man was overjoyed to see Diona from a far.
Alice froze. It seems the answer to his feelings is answered. Avery turned out to like another girl. A mere girl and that girl is not a lady. Is this what a broken heart is?
"Diona once rode with me. Because a few months ago I came here very often. Actually I like to ride in the green fields near the apple field. Diona also rode there. I met her there. She doesn't know that I'm a prince. Whether she doesn't know or pretend she doesn't. I definitely like diona." Said Avery with a happy smile.
Avery's view had hardly moved from Diona. Alice who saw Avery staring at Diona without pause felt her disappointment. Alice's love for Avery was clearly unrequited.
"What do you think Alice? Was Diona pretty? Why don't you speak up? I'd like to hear your opinion."
Alice blinked twice. She tried to control her feelings and self first. "Ah, I'm sorry. I just can't believe that you like another girl."
"Yes. I keep this stuff to myself. I plan on approaching diona next week."
"And what of princess Ariadne?"
"Ariadne knows my true feelings. I've been honest with Ariadne. About the wedding my father planned wouldn't have happened if Ariadne and I had refused to do it."
Alice looked at diona again. "And was the king of Eden not angry when he found out you loved another girl?"
"My father was angry. I told him yesterday. And of course my father still wants me to marry Ariadne though there is no love between me and Ariadne."
Heard it was Alice's grip on the reins. She's jealous.
"I'll dare to marry Diona even if I have to be expelled from the kingdom." Said Avery confidently. And Alice was speechless from Avery's words.
***