" Please don't judge her too quickly, eldest brother. I genuinely believe that if you take the time to get to know her you will find her quite likable."
Prince Issas, the eldest brother, was not in the mood to listen to his younger brother rambling on. Still grieving for the loss of his servant, he suspected his younger sister to be the reason behind it. In a moment of anger, he swiped the papers out of his brother's hand, causing them to scatter all over."If that thing were the cause of Mila's passing, would she still be regarded as the same beloved sister?"
The little girl winced while laying on the hard concrete ground with her hands over her stomach aching from not eating in days. Her beautiful skin was not adorned with multiple deep shade of purple bruises that throb with each passing moment.
Despite enduring painful strikes, the young child found solace and comfort in thoughts of the noble prince. His image became a guiding light of hope during her darkest times, offering the strength and resilience required to withstand the challenging ordeal.
She firmly believed in the boy's ability to break the curse and free her from the fate that bound her to the Kingdom. In her eyes, he was her knight in shining armor, much like the characters from the bedtime stories he read to her. Ready to save her from destiny's grasp and bring forth a new era filled with hope and liberation.
Intense emotions overwhelmed her as she longed to be reunited with her mother. The persistent desire to escape from the dismal castle, a source of great suffering for her, occupied her every thought.
Upon the sound of the doorknob, Tulle's heart raced with anticipation. And then, the door opened, revealing the majestic presence of the young prince. She rose to her feet and embraced him early, tears of joy and relief brimming in her eyes.
As he embraced her, a blend of love and emotion overtook him. With the lingering pain, her devotion to him eclipsed everything else." It feels like ages since our last encounter. I was afraid that you might have forgotten about me," she exclaimed, her voice quivering.
" I apologize for my delay in returning." He uttered as he tenderly wrapped his around her, his eyes scanning her skin and detecting the marks left by bruises. The unexpecting tenderness of his younger sibling caught Noel off guard, and all the disparaging comments his older brother had made about her were instantly forgotten.
"How can anyone not love someone so sweet and adorable?" he amuses himself.
As time progressed, he noticed that her speech had become more lucid and easier to understand. He withdrew from the embrace and placed his hands on her shoulders in astonishment." Tuile, your words are not slow and difficult to comprehend this time." He remarked.
The countenance of the youthful girl radiated with a sense. The young girl's face beamed with pride and contentment as her brother lovingly stroked her head and praised her hard work. She stood tall, hands confidently on her hips, sporting a radiant smile that lit up her entire face. Bursting with excitement and a deep sense of accomplishment, she exclaimed." I practiced a lot while you were gone."
His heartwarming smile was irresistible in response to her delightful and contagious laughter, radiating charm and warmth wherever it echoed.
The young lad ignited a small candle, it is flickering flame emitting a cozy radiance that encompassed the entire room. He eagerly flipped through the pages of the brand-new book, his curiosity piqued by the prospect of delving into a new tale.
Tuille leaned her head onto her brother's shoulder, her eyelids drooping with drowsiness as she listened to the comforting timbre of his voice. The gentle sound of his reading lulled her into a peaceful slumber, and before long, her breathing had slowed and deepened. Observing his younger sibling's tranquil state, he moves slowly and carefully, lifting her up from the ground and nestling her into his embrace. As he tucked a warm blanket around her chilled form, he couldn't help but feel a surge of love and protectiveness toward his dear sister.
He leaned down and kissed Tuille's forehead tenderly as he whispered," Goodnight." As he turned to leave, he heard a faint murmur escape his sister's lips, a soft one that resonated with deep sadness. He paused, taking a deep breath, before closing the door behind him.
The young prince was meandering down the dimly lit hallway, his candle casting shadows on the walls. His mind was preoccupied with deep thoughts. Suddenly, his servant Mila appeared by the door and inquired, "My lord, may I ask why you are wandering the halls at such a late hour?"
Noel felt scared and anxious as he resorted to crafting a story to justify his actions. "I couldn't sleep and had to go for a walk to relax," he explained, hoping she would trust his explanation despite his lack of skill in deception.
Mila, being an astute observer, could not help but sense that there was something amiss with the young lad. Although she was not privy to the reason behind the prince's unexpected and stealthy departure of the middle of the night, she was determined to uncover the truth. She had been instrumental in nurturing and caring for the prince since his birth and had attended to all of the queen's needs during her pregnancy. Despite her discerning nature, Mila could not pinpoint the exact cause of the prince's apparent dishonesty. Nevertheless, she remained resolute in her quest for answers.
" I'm feeling quite tired now. Time to turn in for the night, Mila." With a quick closing of the door, the young boy found himself standing on the other side, feeling a bit uneasy and apprehensive.
He was quite puzzled and confused upon hearing his younger sister, Tuile, muttering a name in her sleep and desperately calling out for their mother's aid. This occurrence sparked his curiosity, especially since they were both siblings with identical parents or so he thought.
" Why does she address Mother as Mama, such a weird girl--Isn't it strange how they keep her locked away? As royalty, she deserves the same treatment as the rest of us, yet they treat her like garbage. I shall get to the bottom of this!"
" It seems that Tuile has limited exposure to the outside world and lacks knowledge about many things. However, I am curious as to why her identity as our mother's daughter was concealed for a considerable amount of time. Thinking about this is causing me so much confusion and a headache.
The candle was blown out by the little boy.
A foul odor emanated from the young girl, prompting the prince to fetch a bucket of water, soap, and cloth to assist in cleaning the dirt mixed with blood off of her skin. As he cleaned her face, he couldn't help but notice his sister's beauty. While washing behind her ears, he couldn't help but observe their long and pointed shape.
"How interesting."
The young prince found himself taken aback when he applied the condition and poured water over his sister's dark hair; all the dirt washed out, causing it to lose its color. He was astounded to discover that the texture of her hair was even softer than silk. And then revealed her stunningly long hair is naturally white, and the boy's eyes widened in disbelief. He washed her hair many times, but it still remained the same. "Did Mother allow you to dye your hair at such a young age? You are spoiled rotten." He chuckled as he gently dried her hair.
Tuille lifted her head and fixed her gaze on her brother, her brown furrowed with confusion." I am sorry, I do not understand what you are getting at," she asked politely," As far as I know, my mother and I look exactly the same."
He raised his head, trying to recall Tuille and their mother, but couldn't find a single resemblance between them and himself.
A heavy feeling washed over her as she stared at the blank wall. She glances towards the doorknob, longing for her mother's presence and feeling a deep ache in her chest." It's been so long since I've seen her."