"Put that branch at the right side."
"Like this, Max?"
"Yeah!" replied Max. "It's done. Brielle, our snowman is done!"
"Pfft...more like layered shit," Papa chuckled. Max heard what Papa said and started to argue with him to defend our snowman. Even though Papa acted like that, I know he was now more comfortable with Max, and I was glad for that.
Snowman. According to Max, everyone builds one whenever wintertime. From the looks of it, I can say that it was cute. It had a round head and body made from snow, a carrot nose, arms made from dried branches, and eyes molded with coal. From head to toe, it resembled a human.
"Let's make another one!" Max proposed. He began to roll another snow for the body. As for me, I collected the pieces of dried branches on the ground. The soft sand on the beach blanked with white snow. Not a single sand could be seen. Even though the trees and sand were covered with white winter snow, the sea was still blue, and the waves were pounding as ever.
I shifted my gaze in the direction of the noise. Whoa, seriously! There was not a single day when they did not quarrel. Seeing how energetic Max was, I couldn't help but be relieved. It seemed like yesterday when Max was full of despair. After Aunt Fio recovered, Max returned to his usual self and resumed playing with me again. He was beaming with happiness and kept thanking me. Uncle Albert, his father, wanted to express his thanks in person, but Max explained that I couldn't meet so many people. Because of that, Aunt Fio and Uncle Albert just send their gratitude by lavishing us with food. The amount of food was too much for us that it can last for a month! Humans were excessive in giving!
"Your body will freeze if we stay here for long." Papa was behind me and took a glance at what I'm picking. "Stop it, Brielle. Let's go back to the cave, and taste the food Max's brought."
"Okay, Papa," I agreed.
"Mister! We are still making a snowman," Max refuted.
"Don't teach her to make a layered shit!"
"It's called a snowman! Snowman!" Max blushed from embarrassment and annoyance.
Uh oh, it will begin again. I need to stop this! "Papa, Max, Hurry up! I'm hungry," I said as I held both of their hands. Papa was on my right side and Max on the left side and I was the center. They kept their mouths shut as we walked to the cave. Pfft… I think I won against them. I can't wait to reach home.
***
Ronian Empire Sol Palace
The Sol Palace, the home of the Imperial Family, stood in the center of the wide, beautiful field of flowers that was warmed by the sun. Elegant windows were scattered on the tall walls of the palace, and every corner was decorated with expensive gemstones. The fountain in the middle of the garden created an endless water flow and stood there the golden lion statue that symbolizes the Imperial lineage. Few knights were guarding the entrance of the Sol Palace, while the Imperial Knights were being trained by the Commander of the Knights, Sir Helden Rustichello. Included in the sword training was the first prince- Prince Ethan Abelard Callis.
Clang! Clang!
Slash!
Clang!
"You are getting better every day, Your Highness," said Helden.
"It doesn't erase the fact that I lost again to you, Helden," replied the first prince, putting back the sword to its sheath.
"Hah! Your Highness and His Majesty are similar in every aspect-from the face to the attitude," Helden confessed, comparing the two in his head.
"Stop talking nonsense," Ethan glared at Helden. "Is there something that happened in the capital that I'm not aware of?"
"There's nothing, Your Hi… Oh, That's right Brielle!" Helden remembered.
"Brielle? Who's that? Don't tell me Father has another woman!" the first Prince exclaimed.
"No, Your Highness! Brielle is a child. For sure when you meet her, you will like her. In the end you are just like His Majesty," Helden giggled.
"Nonsense," Ethan said, leaving Helden in the training ground.
Prince Ethan, dripping in sweat, walked along the corridor of the palace deep in thought. He couldn't erase into his head the name of the girl Helden mentioned. Troubled. Right, it brought trouble to his heart.
"Brielle, Brielle..." Ethan brushed his hair back with his hand making his forehead visible. "I look forward to meeting you."
***
Bubble.Bubble.Bubble.
"It's cooked!" Max removed the sweet potatoes from the boiling water using a fork then placed them on a plate. "Try it, Brielle, it's tasty. Mother always cooks it for us." I took the plate and got a piece of sweet potato using a fork. Slowly, I had a taste of it.
"Delicious!" It was so delicious that I felt a flush of happiness. I shouldn't be the only one who eats this; Papa should try it too. "Papa, open your mouth." He drew close to me and opened his mouth. Before I fed him, I blew the food to make sure it was not hot. One. Two. Three. Foo! Okay! It is ready. I fed Papa with sweet potato. Patiently, I waited for Papa to comment on the food. How does it taste? Hmm. How is it?!
Papa grinned as he saw me waiting for his reply. "Yeah, it tastes great."
Max and I glanced at each other and happily had a high five. Together we exclaimed with joy, "Success!"