7 Finding Ashton's Cure

The Next Morning

I went to meet the empress again today and to my surprise both the prince were there too, we had a little tea and a little chat about this and that. It was relieving to see that both the prince were back to normal even though the crown prince didn't talk much and kept staring at me the whole time, there were a few times when our eyes meet so I just smiled at him and every time I did that he would turn his face the other side. Is my smile that bad?? But then the empress did look a little pale today, I asked her if she was fine or not? But she just smiled weakly and said that she was fine, even both the prince looked worried.

"Sister you are back!!" Ashton said as he ran towards me. "Yeah I am but you shouldn't run like that," I said while stroking his hair. "Hehe okay!" He said as we entered the house, "Ash, are you feeling unwell recently." I asked him, but he shook his head and munched down the cookies I bought from the palace. it's a good thing that he is fine but still, it's weird.

According to the novel Ash had his first attack during his 5th birthday, after that, he had it continuously for 6 years which was followed by paralysis and finally, on his 13th birthday, he died miserably. I wonder what caused this change.

"Sister can you take me to the palace," Ashton asked. "Maybe I can...but why do you want to visit the Palace suddenly?" I asked, "For the first reason I want to thank the princes personally for their help and secondly I want to spend time with my dear sister!" He said with a cute smile.

That cute bastard knows I can't deny his request if he smiles that cutely.

Wait a second, The Princes helped Ashton that day maybe that's the reason why he is doing well till now. Did they cure his disease?? or was it just slowed down for the time being?? "Sister can I come along or not..." ash asked as he pouted.

"You can, okay...so stop pouting!!" I said as turned around, His cuteness is becoming more deadly.

Okay so let's not think about it and Ask the Princes tomorrow!!

The next day,

"Ash Remember to greet the empress and the princes, once we reach the palace okay!" I said.

"Okay, I know it!!" He said as he looked outside the carriage window, he looked really excited.

"Right! Ash, it's your first time going outside isn't it?" I asked him. "Yes, it is," Ash said sounding a little sad. Poor Ash has always been weak because of which he was restricted from going outside, even today I had to beg mother and father to let him go with me. They didn't allow it at first but when I told them that it's related to Ash health they finally permitted us to visit the palace but with a condition that we must return before dusk.

I looked at Ash who was smiling just a moment ago looked dishearted suddenly, "What wrong?" I asked him, "It's nothing." That is what he said but his face told a different story. I looked outside the window and saw a bunch of kids playing together.

How can I forget the fact that Ash never had friends, maybe that's why he is so clingy when it comes to me...and during the past months he didn't even have me by his side, no wonder he wanted to join me today...Ha, my brother how lonely you must have felt...I thought as I stroked his hair. Ash kept looking outside and his face brightened up and glommed again. I looked outside and saw a big carnival poster hanged on a wooden board.

"Ash do you want to join the carnival?" I asked him looking outside, "Huh!! I....I don't.." he said in a low voice. He is hiding his true thoughts again but I know how to bring them outside! "Okay then!" I said with a smile. Ash looked at me with a confused face.

After few minutes we entered the Palace,

"Welcome lady Winter and Young Master Winter, the Empress and Princes are waiting for you waiting in the Graden." A maid said and escorted us towards the imperial garden.

The garden was full of green grass and different types of flowers, it was also called the immortal because the flowers and grass here never die.

We entered the garden, the empress along with princes were already seated in their spots.

"We greet the saintness of the empire her majesty the empress and the rising sun of the empire his highness the crown prince and second prince." both I and ash said as we bowed. "OH Lady winter and Young Master Winter are here!" The empress said as she signalled us to sit beside her. "I thank her majesty for allowing me to join this gathering," Ash said as he bowed towards the empress.

"It's nothing big but I must say both the winter siblings are quite special." The empress said as she touched Ash's head. Ash looked surprised from the sudden touch, he must have felt the sudden sensation too just like me.

"BTW Are you okay now?" The second prince asked as he looked at Ashton faced. "Yeah, thanks to the Princes I am doing well now," Ashton said. "But that won't last for long." The crown prince said as he sipped his tea.

Hearing that Ashton's face turned blue as his eyes widened.

"Pardon! What does his highness mean?" I asked him, but he didn't answer. "His Highness what does it mean?" I asked him again, his silence was making me more worried I could feel my hands and legs becoming cold out of fear.

Ashton too looked panicked...he was almost on the verge of crying.

"Both of you please don't panic, what brother means is that the effect of my magic is temporary. But that doesn't mean that he can't be cured!!" Prince Alfred said as he patted Ashton back.

"But How...after that incident mother and father looked for every physician but no one was able to find out what the problem was.." Ashton said in a low voice.

"It was because the problem lies in your soul, not in your body." The empress said as she patted Ashton's head.

"His Soul...." I said not able to understand anything.

"Everyone born in the solar empire has a certain amount of divinity in them, though only a few people can use them which include the royal family, the temple and some mages. But in the case of Ashton His soul is weaker than others because of which his soul tries to intake the divinity from his body, but since the divinity present in his body isn't enough for both the soul and body to work together. His body gets pressurized which comes out in front of coughing of blood and other types of life hazards." The second prince explained. No wonder in the original story he never got cured.

"So how can he be cured?" I asked. "He has to take divinity from outside." The crown prince said.

"How?" I asked, "Like now." The crown prince said. "Like now?" I asked him.

He looked at me and sighed, " The soul takes divinity not only from the body but also from the surrounding, for example, the royal palace is full of divinity since the royal family has divine power. So the longer he stays in contact with divine power the stronger his soul will get." The crown prince explained. "He needs to stay near-divine powers but the only place with divine power is the palace and the temple. Ashton can't stay in the palace and the temple won't allow him to stay there for long..." I murmured to myself as I bite my lower lip.

"That's not the only place with divine power, there is one more there and he can stay there for a long period of time but for that, he must work hard." The second prince said with a smile.

"And where is that?" I asked him enthusiastically.

"It's The Royal Academy!" The second prince said.

"The Royal Academy!!" Both me and Ash said shocked.