Down in the quiet corridor only the light steps of two people can be heard. His hair flutters along the faint wind, illuminating its color as they stride on the corridor.
The young prince stops in his tracks and looks up in the sky, slightly cloudy and sighs. He remembered Wren at the moment and his questions before.
"Theo"
"Yes, your highness?"
Theodore Houten, 3rd Prince personal knight. The emperor chose him after seeing his skills in the tournament last year.
The 3rd Prince didn't bother to look at Theo. He sighed and scratched his ears which made Theo flinch. This kind of acts is sure traumatizing for him. There are some memories of the young prince scratching his ears and then making Theo run errands for him. The kind of errands that everyone will curse. He remembered that is was because of the Young Lady.
'did... she do something again?" He asks, half-laughing.
Theo then had his eyes wide and realizes that Zairon's mood is different than usual for the past month and Zairon had been paying attention to the young lady. Perhaps there is and he didn't know.
Zairon looks at Theo, gesturing him to come close. Theo braced himself for anything as he moved closer, "Your Highness?..."
he prayed sincerely that his next errand would be simpler than the last one since all he did was to keep the young ladies and masters away from the prince whenever they ask for him. He made different excuses for a long time and the letters that were sent to the Prince were handled by him for weeks.
Seeing that he leaned closer, he heaved a sigh and asked, "Theo do you think that my older brother has gone mad?"
The knight sweats heavily as why knows who older brother the young prince mentioned. It is well-known that the first Prince once caused a mischief around the inside and outside the palace.
'is it alright to answer that question...'
he thought of it once more, but was afraid that he might hear it. But he was more afraid of the prince he serves than the one who might hear it, "I think Prince Asterion is special..." He trailed off and said, "It seem his highness has taken a liking..."
He gulped hard before he even finished what he was saying, Zairon is glaring at him. He doesn't have the courage to finish it for his fear of his workload. Both of them knew that the Prince has invited the young lady and even sent designers to their estate under Zairon's name. Theo was surprised about it and asked Prince Zairon. Obviously the young prince was surprised by it.
he glance over Zairon to see his brows knit with anger or confusion. He doesn't understand why the prince dislikes the young lady.
"just say he lost his mind," He sighs like an old man and walks away fast. The knight fastened his pace. Following the prince and his curious mind on the matter. He said, "I can't do that, your highness"
"Why does he have to invite that girl?"
his brows creased once again as he asked himself. Theo followed him patiently, listening to Zairon's rambles.
"... He has plans for his entertainment. I'm sure of it," this made Theo chuckles lightly and suddenly remembered that there are no more Wren appearances in the palace nor letters sent by her. That's what he felt unusual. It is because Wren hasn't visited the prince.
'did the fall also make her lose her mind' says Zairon in his mind while thinking the things Wren did.
"Your Highness, maybe the Young Lady Wren has changed..."
Zairon looked at Theo with disbelief.
"Lately there are no more letters from her..."
Almost everyday, Wren invites the Prince to play and informs him that she will visit the palace. Besides that, the last time he saw Wren, she was totally uninterested in him even while they were having their tea time.
"he could not have been more obvious how she wants to avoid me..." Zairon smirked with the thought.
a figure blocked the sunlight in front of Zairon as well as his path towards her mothers' s palace. He looks up only to bring frown in his face before asking in annoyance, "What are you doing here oldest brother?"
A boy much older than Zairon appears. His face is glowing bright and a placid smile across his face. Unlike Zairon's hair, his bright golden hair was illuminated by the sun. Eyes are like glittering gold much, much different than Zairon who have not an ounce of an Imperial trait. Because of this he has the lowest support among the three princes.
'Which I don't mind since I don't have interest in the throne'
He ignores the 1st prince by walking again. The boy smiled wickedly, following Zairon. At first Zairon is trying to ignore the 1st prince, but seeing that he is persistent in following him throughout the entire day.
"it pisses me off"
Zairon didn't hesitate to show his annoyance towards Prince Asterion, "Where are you going Zairon?"
faking ignorance at what Zairon said, the 1st prince is still smiling at them. Theo who watches the scene just laughs quietly and looks away. The 1st prince is now circling and he is obviously enjoying the reaction he's getting from Zairon.
"Hey, where are you going now?" He asks his little brother, "Away from you," with his blunt answer, Asterion didn't falter, instead his grin widens.
the 1st prince stops, and starts to move away when he hears his question, "Did you like my advance gift, little brother?"
Zairon glares at Asterion. He immediately understood what 'gift' he was referring to.
"I cannot call it a gift brother," he answered, so much annoyance was present at his voice.
"You should be grateful that I invited her." he retorted. Zairon hissed at his brother. It isn't like he wanted to see Wren in the first place. It was obvious to him that Wren would prefer not to come at his birthday banquet.
the 1st prince added, "She is hard to invite. Do you know how much effort I put in in order to persuade her to attend your birthday?"
Zairon looks at him uninterested as he turns his back away. The 1st prince finally snapped as he grabbed Zairon's shoulder and ruffled his hair. Repeatedly, hoping to see the expression he wants to see from his littler brother.
"Listen to me, my adorable little brother," Zairon did not flinch instead he pushed away his hand, "She did not bother to reply to the first letter I sent for the last four days. I even used duplicate magic for those letters"
"why are you using your talent for useless things," he asked his older brother after letting him finish his sentence
"I will not ask what he said in the letter for her not to accept it at first..."
he thought for a moment when he heard the next thing he said, his mind became blank,
"well, you and Wren are partners in the banquet. Treat her nicely, oh, she is going to wear a light blue dress," he's smiling at Zairon which made Theo laugh, but he instantly clapped his mouth and turned away.
Seeing Zairon's dumbfounded look, the first prince left him there with a last cheer. He heard Zairon grunts and frustrations after a couple of minutes and a gleeful smile formed in his lips.
"Hehe, I can't simply miss this after all it is just getting interesting"
The words he said only the wind caught as he left the corridor.
---------------------------------------------------
"My, The Young miss is adorable!"
You can't call me adorable when I can't even eat right now.
"Father can't we just leave Wren?"
My brother is still going on with this issue. He really doesn't want me to come along as he stated that it's the first prince they are talking about who sent me the letter. Tsk, when I had the chance to see the first prince and they are planning to not let me see him.
We arrived at the capital two days ago and everyone was busy as soon as we arrived. The banquet is set to start before the sun sets, not only Zairon I will see there, but also Raelle.
"Hmm... It's fine. You can just cut down whoever approaches her"
Did my Father tell my 7 year old brother to cut down someone? How did they have this conversation?
"Father, you sure realize that you are asking too much from your son."
"Can't you handle it?"
Is this even a proper conversation between a son and a father? And why is he taunting Caesar with those words?
"Father it is hard to deal with pesky things..." It looks like the maids were used to this and they had wry smiles on their faces and by the way why are they even here in my room?
before I could ask them about it, someone knocked on the door. A maid opened it per my fathers's order. The butler of this mansion appeared.
He bowed and said, "Your Grace, The carriage is now ready." My father sighs and looks at us.
The banquet is going to hold up for one night and there will be an activity the next morning. Most of the Imperial Family except Princess Alisa, Emperor and Empress likes to have a long banquet. Their banquets are usually two weeks long.
I heard that at the last birthday banquet of the 1st prince, as soon as it started he disappeared and did not return till the celebration finished. Meanwhile, the 2nd prince always leaves the celebration in the middle or he will not participate in the next day, under the pretext of imperial work.
'it must be the reason why many support and force him to take the position'
"Wah how cute!"
When I came in the foyer, both Yessenia and Aria were waiting there with Anna. Yessenia wearing a yellow knee-length frilly dress with a bow on her hips. Meanwhile, Aria is wearing a sparkling red dress with laces and ribbons on the skirt.
I see that she chose to wear something related to her hair and it suits her perfectly. She looks happy even though it doesn't show in her face. But both of them look pretty that they can be mistaken for a child superstar. I looked around because I don't see the other kids. The other grown-ups can't come with us.
Aunt Mavis has to stay home as Euphy has a cold. While Uncle Royce and Aunt Clara are nowhere to be found before we leave the duchy. When Father learns that Uncle Royce disappeared his expression became grim and cursed, "That bastard..."
My family is something. As I was walking towards Yessenia, I caught a glimpse of something passed to me. It feels like a wind just passes by.
"It suits you"
"Let's play Aria!"
The next thing I knew about Laxus and Lexus is circling Aria. Both of them are talking to Aria which she ignores despite the noise of Laxus.
But.. really, why does Lexus wear a cloak to a banquet?! His face was still covered by a hood. I'm really curious as to how he really looks because till now his eyes are the only thing I can see. Just why does he cover his face so much. I bet they look exactly alike.
"No." Aria rejected Laxus in his suggestions.
Laxus slumped his shoulders and looked at Lexus, "What? Don't look at me I won't comfort you if you're feeling dejected."
Laxus eyes look like he lost his faith in his sibling as he looked away.
"I will kill my siblings for this," My father whispers which I heard.
he sounds annoyed as he looks at us. I grinned seeing my father in this dilemma. I will thank them someday.
"Oh my, you sure are early" Ah, I think my eyes have just been blessed, again. How can a person be this beautiful? all eyes will be on her once we enter the hall.
"Waahh! Auntie that gown suits you!" Yessenia exclaimed and Aria nodded. My mother smiled at them, father escorted her down and we followed them outside.
she's wearing a purple off-shoulder, mermaid dress. Her bump is slightly showing as she is 3 months pregnant Still, she is very pretty in her dress.
"Maybe we shouldn't really go," I look at my Father in surprise that brought Caesar's a grin, "Right, Father?"
both of them are overprotective that sometimes I wonder if they injure their heads while training.
"It is rude to suddenly not attend after Wren said we are going,"
"Nonetheless you also don't want to go, seeing your face twitch Lexus."
yes, why does it look like there are dark clouds on top of his head?
"Hmm?"
we took the carriage along with Jemina, since she is still a noblewoman she can attend with us. Besides Father will not care to watch us.
my heart thumps wildly while we are travelling. Maybe, because of the thought of seeing Zairon who will kill me one day and another factor is that I can finally see the 1st prince.
I heard stories from my brother such as he finds everything fun and he does a lot of mischief. That fact I didn't know since the parts he was shown in the book he's serious and calm. Brother also says that I should be wary of the 1st Prince because I may be his new show.
If that's the case, then what should we do to people expecting something else? That is to destroy it. I also should clear things to the emperor to stop this early on.