The morning breeze woke the young prince, who blinked his eyes. The servant pushed the curtains aside to let the sunlight inside, bringing a warm smile to the prince's face."Good morning, Your Highness." The servant greets the prince with a bow."Good morning," Elric replied, sitting upright and stretching his arms with a wide smile."Did Your Highness have a good dream?" The servant asked as he brought a towel to the young prince.The brown eyes shine brightly along with the sunlight. With a nod, the prince takes the towel."The water is warm, your highness. Please freshen up fast. I shall prepare your breakfast." The servant said that and kept the royal clothes on the bed, consisting of cotton pants and a outer robe. They were intricately woven or embroidered with zari, a gold and silver thread, and covered in priceless stones. A light-coloured long-sleeved tunic that reaches mid-thighs and a waistband.Elric waits for the servant to step out. As soon as the servant went out, He quickly shut the door and ran to his bed, picking up a letter that he kept under the pillow.Walking around the room, he read it yet again.To,The owner of the most beautiful eyesYour Highness, I regret not meeting you after our second meeting. The morning dew reminds me of your clear brown eyes.I often watch the painting for a long time and wish to see the painter.The curtain still flutters with the wind. Yet, I was not the one who witnessed our meeting.Are you wearing those earrings? I wish to see you with them one day. On the same day, I would love to see your smile along with your beautiful eyes.Joining our hands, I imagine us walking down the market. You are smiling at beautiful things, and I look at your beautiful eyes.I have not heard your voice clearly, as you talk less with me. I imagine us having never-ending conversations while forgetting the sun and the moon.I may not be able to meet you, and someone is restraining you too. Yet, we can send letters to each other, right?I will wait for your reply. You can place the letter in the flower bed of Rose.Do you like lilies, roses, or jasmine? Please let me know your favourite flower.Your to-be friendAaron."You are still reading the letter, your Highness?" The servant's voice tore the soft smile from the prince's complexion.With terror, he spins around and frowns as he recollects closing the door, and the servant is on the other side."I know you are reading it." The servant spoke out with a chuckle.Elric smiles to himself and folds the letter carefully. He strolls towards his dressing table. He took a box filled with ornaments made from pearls and stones. He placed them carefully on the table. He took the letter with a soft smile. He placed it inside the box along with a dried lily."Your Highness, may I open the door?"Elric swiftly takes the box and pushes it under his bed with the hope that the servant will ignore it while cleaning the room."Yes, you may." The prince stood straight. He picks up his towel and runs to the bathroom.As the servant opened the door smiling, A maid walked towards the servant with panicked steps. She whispered to his ears, taking the breath from the servant.When Elric did not see his servant with confused eyes, he walked towards the door, opening it wide. He smiled at the maid who greeted him."Your Highness, may I seek pardon for the day?" The servant paused for a second, and with a quick bow, he continued, "My mother is unwell. She needs my presence. Please—""Please go this instant," Elric spoke and looked at his servant, who was bowing and running at speed."Please wait for a moment." Elric requests and strolls towards his table.He dips the quill in ink and writes.Greetings, respected physician,My friendElric took a breather and considered whether he should write his servant as a friend. This would not be right, as others might bully the male.He crumbled the paper and threw it away. Quickly dipping the quill again, he writesGreetings, respected physician,My servant's mother is ill. It would be helpful if you could go to the patient and provide the medicine.I will be grateful for your kindness.Prince Elric.He swiftly folds the paper while running towards the door. He saw the maid standing there with a nervous grip on her long skirt."Please send this to the physician and say it needs immediate attention, as requested by the second prince."The maid bows and takes the paper."I should follow him too." The prince runs to his bathroom. He swiftly returns to take the towel thrown on the bed. "I cannot be without his help for a moment."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"You are..." The commander paused and heaved a sigh. "You do not know your princess's name yet?"The commander got an urge to slap his forehead. "You have given a letter to the prince with the belief that it will reach her and you may get a reply."Aaron shrugs his shoulders with a nod."I do not understand, your highness. I do not understand the reason behind this decision." The commander sighed while blinking his eyes."Please do as you wish. Let me know if you need my help." The commander let out and remembered, "We have been here for a long time now. It would be better if you could fasten the process, or I would let King Agustus know about this situation.""If you do so, My father shall declare war and command me and you to win this kingdom along with the princess." Aaron snaps while looking at the commander. He is feeling helpless about this thing. Nothing is working in his favour. Something or other is always bothering him."I shall give up." Aaron declared, catching the commander off guard."Your Highness?""If I do not receive any reply from her, The next day, we are leaving. The reason I stayed back was because, at first, Elric's father wanted him to realize his position and make decisions on his own, not under the influence of his brother. Second, for my love.""Brother? As in the crown prince?"Aaron sighed with a nod."Your Highness, please do not mend into these things."Aaron looked at the commander and nodded.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇The young prince walked fast through the hallway. He needs to reach his friend. The boy has stayed with him all the time and always smiled when he smiled. He was consoling when he was upset.Keeping all those moments in mind, he couldn't stop himself from running towards a stable."Please prepare my horse." The prince requested a man who takes care of horses and stables.The man bows and replies, "Your Highness. Your horse is not well."Elric widens his eyes. "Why was I not informed about this?" He steps towards the stable in an attempt to enter. However, he was stopped by the groom, who stretched his right arm."You may get sick too. I have informed the physician, who gave medicine." The groom informs her while glancing inside the stable."Your Highness, by next morning he shall be fine." The groom said, wishing the prince would understand.Elric blinks his eyes and forces a smile. "Please take care of him.""I shall take care of them." The stable boy ensures the prince with a smile. "Perhaps you could take the crown prince's horse with you?"Elric shook his head. "No, my brother might go somewhere, and I do not want to trouble him."The stable boy nodded. "How about taking another horse, Your Highness? King's horse is well and fine. The commander's—""No, I do not feel comfortable with anyone other than my horse."The stable boy nodded and apologized. "I regret not being able to help you."Elric smiled and shook his head. "It is not your mistake. Some things happen, and some situations occur that we cannot change. Perhaps it is written in my destiny to not go."With a dropped heart, he turns his heels. Now, how would he go to the kingdom? Is it okay to visit the next day? Probably going to the training is better.Just then, he got a glimpse of maids stepping out of the back gate of the palace while writing down their names on the provided paper.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Aaron's eyes look at blooming flowers. His gaze focused on their branches and the moist mud. Hands fisted to stop himself from pushing the flowers aside and ease his search."I wished to see you as a trainer." The commander said while kicking pebbles away from his feet, creating a race-course circuit."However, the prince is missing." The commander continues with a shrug.Aaron threw a glare in his direction and continued to scan the area."The prince is missing and the letter too." The commander comments as the man watches Aaron walk around the garden, especially next to the flower beds."I have never seen this version of you." Aaron stopped himself from calling the man by his designation.The commander smiles. "I have never stepped out of the kingdom without the proper reason." The commander gave Aaron a look, which Aaron understood.The proper reason is war."I am always on guard. Staying here made me realize how much I'm missing out on in life." The commander looks at the sky, his eyes locked with those of the crown prince of Elysia."Your Highness." The commander swiftly bowed.Aaron smiled in confusion. "Did you—""I hope you live a long life, crown prince of Elysia." The commander further added and stood straight.Aaron's smile was wiped out. He instantly turns around and looks at the crown prince looking down from the balcony.Aaron forced a smile and bowed slightly. He is fine with following the gesture of bowing to the one superior to or older than you. Yet he always gets the urge not to bow to this man in front of him. He always gives bad vibes.The crown prince looks around the garden with a frown. He looked back at Aaron and asked. "Where is Elric?"Aaron's eyebrows furrowed, taken aback by the question. Wasn't the prince in his room or mostly in the dining room?"We do not know his whereabouts, your highness. Even we are waiting for his presence." The commander replied on his behalf.The crown prince's eyes narrowed with furrowed eyebrows.He is absent at the dining table. He did not eat his breakfast. Where did he go now?"Ask his servant about the young prince." The crown prince commands the guard who is following him.The guard bowed and ran towards the kitchen, knowing a servant could be in the kitchen or with the prince. A servant is never allowed to stay in a private room in the absence of the owner.After a while, the guard returns and informs, "Your Highness, the servant has taken a leave for the reason of his unwell mother. The prince himself has granted the leave."The crown prince looks away and heaves a sigh. "Did he vanish into thin air now?" His voice resonates through the hallway, where the maids flinch as they whisper to themselves that the crown prince is angry."My apologies, your highness." The guard bowed and glanced at his subordinate."Search the young prince. Do not bother him. Just inform me of his whereabouts." The crown prince ordered it and looked down at Aaron, who was looking back at him.Aaron turns away to walk out of the garden.Is he a protective or controlling brother? He would seriously cause trouble in the future.Aaron looks back at the balcony, and to his surprise, the crown prince is looking back at him too.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇The kingdom is surely louder than the silent palace. The shouting of vendors to the people bargaining, Jinkers, Hackney, and Rulley are passing by."It must be this street," Elric whispered to himself while looking around the area.Elric was not convinced by his sense of direction. He looks around to see any faces who could help him. He fixed the veil over his head and face. He walked towards a middle-aged lady.She was bargaining for a basket of fruits. "No, I shall not give you that much. You are randomly asking for money. I will not give the same."The shopkeeper sighed and shook his head. "Madam, you are asking for the impossible. I would be at utter loss. Please understand."Elric stood next to the lady, not to disturb her, and let her finish her shopping. However, the lady sensed his presence."What do you want? I do not have money for beggars." The thick, red-tinted lips spat on Elric's face.Elric looks down at his attire and scratches his head. His clothes are clean. He is not wearing his long outer robe but rather a cream-colored coat. He does not look like a beggar, though.Elric looks at the shopkeeper, who is on the edge of losing his temper. Any moment, he might snap or throw his fruits at the lady until she disappears from his sight. It's better to not disturb the man.If my horse were with me, I wouldn't have faced this trouble. But that would imply that I am a prince and people help me with their will.The prince looks around helplessly. He continues walking through the street in the hope of remembering any of house being familiar.Being a commoner has surely given me insight into how people judge you by your clothes. My royal clothes imply I am a prince. These represent that I am a normal person, just like them.Elric smiles at the kids, who cannot see it. Yet, the parents pulled their kids closer to themselves.Do I look like a thief now? From beggar to thief, what a progress!____________________________