The young prince was plagued by restless nights and tormented by screams. He couldn't sleep without properly checking on her condition. He quietly slips out of his room with a sheet and a children's book to ease his anxiety. As he strolled through the empty corridors, the rhythmic tapping of his shoes resounded throughout the tiled flooring, creating an eerie atmosphere. Yet, despite the stillness, he remained unphased by the possibility of encountering spooky entities in the dead of the night. Instead, his mind was consumed by thoughts of Tuille, his dear little sister.
Unlocking the door without a key proved to be a challenge, but he knew one way. He resorted to breaking the doorknob and forcefully hitting the lock with a hard-covered book he had on hand.
Clank…. Click.
A wave of relief washed over him when the door opened, revealing her delicate figure. Her voice was calming, akin to a soft melody. He settled beside her, selecting a book at random from the library's shelf to read.
'As a child, the little boy found himself without any friends and had to learn to fend for himself when his parents were called to war. However, he persevered through adversity and eventually grew up to become a formidable knight. His incredible strength and heroism earned him the admiration and adoration of many, who hailed him for his bravery in defeating the demons.'
With a sparkle of anticipation in her eyes, the Tuilles's gaze was fixed on the picture book before her. She longed to explore the vast world beyond the castle walls, and her face was lit with a beaming smile stretching from ear to ear. Her heart was filled with wonder and curiosity, and she could hardly contain her excitement as she pored over the vivid illustrations that brought the far-off lands to life on the pages before her.
As he journeyed, he formed numerous friendships. And after many years had gone by, the young man was able to reunite with his parents. He had since gotten married and had two children, and together they all lived happily ever after.
As Tuille surveyed the scene before her, her eyes fell upon a solitary figure standing apart from the rest of the family. A sense of melancholy washed over her as the image of the family brought to mind memories of her dear mother, whom she so dearly longed for.
The woman seemed overjoyed in the book, although it's possible that her happiness stemmed from her close relationship with the boy and her understanding of his struggles. As she turned to the next page, she read about the mother enthusiastically greeting her in-laws with a beaming smile and introducing herself.
Each evening, he would quietly enter the room and select a new tale to share with her. Sometimes, he would retrieve volumes from his personal library to impart proper language skills. Then, his fingers would delicately turn each page as he read, displaying a deep reverence for the printed word.
As he rummaged through the chest, searching for papers from his youth, he heard footsteps behind him, and the door opened. Startled at first, he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was only his servant, Mila.
"Here are the documents you asked for," said the woman, placing the stack of files on the desk. She then looked up at the young man and asked, "If you don't mind me asking, what do you need these documents from at such a young age?"
As the sudden sound of footsteps approached his room, the young boy's heart began to race with fear. Then, acting instinctually, he swiftly pushed the servant out of his room and tightly shut the door behind him, hoping to avoid getting caught in whatever trouble he had found himself in. Then, taking a deep breath, he tried to steady his nerves and calm himself down before making any further moves.
He remains in his room for most of the day, dedicatedly revising a stack of papers. As the hours' pass, he eventually glances up and realizes it's already midnight.
"I cannot wait to witness Tuille's expression when I present her with these gifts. However, before that, I must complete this final sentence," he murmured, feeling his eyelids grow heavy. His head eventually slumped onto the desk, and the pen slipped from his grasp as he descended into a restful slumber.
The boy was gently awoken by the tapping of his servant as the birds outside chirped happily.
" Young Prince…" With a gentle call of his name, she roused him from his peaceful slumber in mere moments.
He expressed his need for more rest in a soft and polite tone, kindly taking Mila's hand off his and laying his head down again. As he reflected on the previous night's events, he realized that he had drifted off to sleep and failed to fulfill his plan of visiting the princess.
As his eyelids lifted, the boy revealed a pair of stunning emerald green eyes.
"The bath is ready for you, sir," the woman announced as she brought a pair of clean clothes to hand to the boy. However, to her surprise, he was no longer in the room. She looked around, feeling confused, and wondered, "Where could the prince have gone?"
At that moment, the gentleman hastened down the corridor with an unwavering hold on the bundle of documents clutched against his chest. The servant warmly greeted him as he hurriedly passed by, perhaps sensing the urgency of his demeanor.
As he approached the door where Tuille was held captive, he stopped a few meters away. His heart ached at the thought of her loneliness. Then, as he took another step forward, he suddenly collided with his elder brother, Issac
Isaac was frustrated, "Hey, watch where you're going!" He immediately turned his head towards his younger brother, hoping he wasn't going to the place he dreaded. "Please don't tell me you're heading towards that place where that thing is," he pleaded concernedly.
"I'm sorry, but that's our little sister you're talking about. It's not fair to be so rude to her. Our parents taught us to be kind and respectful to one another."
It's interesting because neither of us was actually taught by anyone - not even our servants. – Noel, you are so stupid and naïve. Do you not notice that theat person is replacing us? He cast his gaze downward and examined the papers held by his sibling."May I ask what you're holding? Please don't tell me you're attempting to help her. Are you insane?"