The Winter Paradise.
Another reason for its name apart from the kingdom's geography and weather is the family that rules it. Shimmering silver locks, freezing blue eyes, and an aura that exudes brutality. Only a few members of the Halsin royal family that has these famous traits remains today. One of them is the beloved princess Ramiya Arvina Halsin.
"Is something on your mind, Leo?" Ramiya signaled her horse to go faster, catching up to the Marquis. "I don't understand the sudden change of plans." It was in the middle of winter and they had planned for a simple reading session, where a new book of Leonard's favorite author will be read and warm chrysanthemum tea will be served.
The Marquis slowed down, his face guilty and down, "I've been frustrated and needed an outlet to release it. I'm sorry, Mia. Let's head back before your feeble self gets sick." Leonard jokingly said, he took off his scarf to put on Ramiya's neck.
She laughed lowly, "You must be quite frustrated indeed." The princess stared at the scarf that she only noticed to be colored bright green. "Work must not be treating you well considering you decided to add color in your all-black closet. Did you finally have an epiphany that one must not live under the shadow?"
He gulped and had a stranged expression that was unnoticed by the princess as he sped up.
"Leo!" Ramiya sped up too. Not expecting the sudden strong wind, Felecia, Ramiya's horse that rarely went out was startled by the debris that hit her head. "Fel, it's okay girl... Fel..." She tried to reassure the horse but neither her calm voice and gentle pats could do the job. Felecia neighed loudly, shook her head violently and raised her hind legs.
"Mia!"
Ramiya tried her best to stay sitted, holding the reigns tightly, but Felecia's stubborn strength made her hand slip.
'Thud!'
"How is she, father?" The first prince, Richard asked as soon as he arrived.
The king caressed his daughter's hair, his gestures were gentle yet no affection could be seen in his eyes. "The physicians have concluded that she will wake up soon."
"When is 'soon' exactly?" A hint of annoyance rung in the third prince's voice. "Who's the people that examined sister? Their inability to pinpoint the time she'll wake up is a testament to their inadequacy."
"Oh please, Devon, you're just looking for a reason to kill somebody today." Richard said. "Would you like for me to get the pope, father?"
The king shook his head, "There is no need. Marquis Nayif is already on his way."
Devon had something to say but he stopped when he heard the careful and anxious steps of an unwelcomed prince approach Ramiya's bedroom door. It was the second prince, Rehan, whose hair was unkept and long, with a disposition that is even more pathetic.
King Maron's superficial gentleness was completely gone, he glared at his second son. "Leave."
Devon chirped, "Hear that? Shoo! Shoo!"
Rehan couldn't do anything but reluctantly leave. He didn't utter a word and bowed instead, his eyes, however showed a different kind of determination.
Richard tsked, "unlucky thing."
"I don't understand why we keep him here, anyways. He's just a useless commodity in this kingdom. Even our loving sister avoids him. Can't we just kill him?"
Richard observed his father's face that contorted into something ugly. He smacked his younger brother's head. "Do not run your mouth about something you know nothing about."
Soon enough, the pope arrived with Leonard who blessed the princess and left, only saying the same answer as the physicians, that the princess will soon wake up. The sun set and Ramiya's family left, leaving Leonard and her maids to look after her.
While everyone was worrying about Ramiya, she also had something to worry about, more specifically, the unfamiliar scene she's seeing in her unconscious state.
Floating around she saw four faces, uniforms, and a room she has never seen before.
"Have you read Orange-nim's new work, Casey?"
"Experienced Lady Avoids Obstacles?"
"Yeah!"
"Are you guys talking about Experienced Lady?"
"Oh you've read it too, Lila?"
"Duh, if it's Orange-nim, I'm definitely reading it!"
"Wait, wait, wait, so who's your man, right now? I'm claiming Gino!"
"Who the hell... God, the old man?!"
"Hey! Put some respect on my man's name! He's not just an old man. He's an intellectual and distinguished butler of the Servan barony."
"You can't use distinguished for an old man that works on an almost bankrupt family because their master is stupid."
"Don't nod Casey! And Jas, don't you dare insult my cutie patootie himbo baby."
"You're a Carin fan, Lila?"
"Uh huh! Buff men forever!!! Ughhhhh, have you seen his thighs? His pecs too! Oh and don't forget his biceps! Omg omg omg! The way he can carry Saria with one arm is... Ack!"
"...You should tone it down, your boyfriend is right there, I feel bad for him and his skinny body."
"Well, mine's the princess' husband."
"Oh! Marquis Nayif? Yeah, I get it, he's hot. What about you, Casey?"
"I guess I like the duke."
"Ew, the home wrecker?"
"Hmmm, he can provide for Saria better and he matches her intelligence."
"Not you too, Casey! Stop calling my baby stupid! Please!"
The four laughed, Ramiya, however couldn't help but furrow her brows. She heard names that she knew, even herself was mentioned, but they talk just as she and Leonard would after reading a book. Ramiya glanced at the unusual device that Casey was scrolling on, and with a blink, she was transported to somewhere Ramiya knew too well.
The Halsin capital.
Except it was somewhat different. Because instead of snow covering the roof and pavement, it was fire and dead bodies. She frantically checked the people's breathing before stopping as she saw a man standing in the middle of the street, his whole body was covered in run down armor, his head covered in a heavy helmet, a dignified stance yet one that carries a heavy burden. She floated closer to him, intrigued. With a peek on his face, a sudden blinding light pierced her eyes. All the 'memories' flooded in, she could finally remember the world's future... Or perhaps, 'plot'.
That's when she awoken.
Princess Ramiya sipped her tea, occasionally taking a bite of the scones, calmly staring through the window, men and women of the imperial office were on their way to the palace, leaving trails of footprints on the snow. She recalled their names one by one as she await for Leonard to arrive.
As she was about to put the scones in her mouth, her hand stopped, for beneath her windows was the man who's the talk of the town for his intelligence and his delightful face. Most recently, however, his name has come up in tea tables for his incomprehensible action of publicly courting a married woman.
Ramiya met the man before, he was always beside her father during meetings and balls, she never had a good impression of him though. He wore a cheeky smile and often looked down on people, sleeping with women from left to right, most deviously, however, was his eyes that contained nothing but greed.
The princess was quickly cut off from her thinking as she heard a knock. "Come in, Leo."
Leonard came in a relaxed manner, he sat down and carefully examined Ramiya. "Are you feeling well? It hasn't been a day since you fell, you should be resting instead of working. Many have wanted to visit you but the third prince have threatened them."
"I am well and feel no pain, quite miraculously. News really do travel fast in Halsin."
"Well... That might've been a fault of mine. I panicked and called for the pope to come. I... I should have stuck with our reading session, I'm sorry."
Ramiya nodded and understood. She poured Leonard a cup of tea and leaned back on her seat. "I didn't make you come so I could blame you. Horse riding is a Halsin citizen's most essential skill and yet here I am. The king's only daughter, unable to control her horse properly. A shame, really."
"No." The princess took a another sip, "I came here to talk about something of importance." Her demeanor changed and Leonard quickly shivered.
"What's wrong?" Hundreds of thoughts rushed through Leonards head. Worries of war, rebellion, exploitation came.
She brushed her hair back, whispering to herself, "oh dear, this sounds ridiculous." She sighed before finally straightening herself up, "My fall have made me remember the forgotten memories of my former life. I am from a land far away and have read how this story will end, I know how Halsin will suffer because of the greed of one man."
To be continued.