I am not lonely!

The Next Morning in the winter Villa.

I woke up earlier than usual, thanks to a weird dream which I don't even remember now. But I clearly saw Her Highness and his holiness or not?

Anyway since I woke up early today why not go for a walk is what I thought but it was raining outside so I had no other choice but to just stuck inside my room.

As the sun started to rise and everyone in the household started to wake up, my daily routine also started and that was having a nice bath with different types of natural products I can't really name them but yeah they smell great!

After that I had to dress up and since I need to visit the palace the maid's take extra care of my clothing which means extra time too...Ha, it's so tiring...

And after all that battle finally, it's time for breakfast!!!

I went to the dining room mom and dad were already there I looked at Ash Seat and it was empty...."Mother where is Ash?" I asked.

"He said he wants to have his breakfast in his room." Mother said as she ate her food.

"Why, is he sick?" I asked, "I don't think so.." Mother said as she smiled towards me.

"He must be going through puberty!" Father said as he patted my head." PUBERTY!!! Father, he is just 5 now." I said as I shook my head. "Yeah, that right," Father said as he scratched the back of his head.

Weirdly, both mother and father aren't able to concentrate, Is something wrong?

I wanted to ask them but right then the butler came and said that someone is looking for them.

Hearing that mother and father left in a hurry as if they were waiting for that person to appear.

I wonder who that person is? Should I go and take a look...Who knows it may lead me to a clue behind the reason for the fall of winter family. Yeah, let's just take a peek.

Thinking that I went near father's office, The door was locked from inside, it's getting more suspicious since no matter who comes to visit father he never locks the door. So why today? Who in the world is that person, I tried to hear what they were talking about but it was useless because father office was made soundproof.

Just then the door suddenly opened, and a man with grey hair and brown eyes wearing a white coat with golden colour buttons in it, with a pair of white pants and black shoes came out, our eyes meet. "I greet the young lady." He said as he bowed. He seems to know me "Who are you?" I asked.

" I am Leal, My lady." He said, Leal, I remember that name even though it was only mentioned once or twice in the novel because he is the only person who supported the winter family until the end.

Leal was an orphan who used to beg around here and there, But my grandfather who was a generous person took him into the winter family household even though he doesn't share the same surname as the other members of the family he was still treated like one. Even the name Leal was given to him by grandfather which meant

Loyal. But after the death of grandfather everyone went towards separate direction.

There wasn't much info about other members of the winter family but from what I have heard from my parents, Father has 2 older sisters and 1 older brother. And right now the current head of the winter family is my grandmother's younger sister, that is my grandaunt. And the fact that Leal is here means that they have sent us some message but they never came for us all these years so why now??

"Leal you haven't left yet," Father said as he came out of his office. Before father could notice me I quickly ran and hide behind the statue located near the door.

"OH yeah I was just leaving but..." Leal said as he looked towards me, I crossed my hands as I signalled him not to tell father about my presence.

"But?" Father asked confused.

"But...I was wondering if I can visit again, I want to meet the young lady and Young Master." Leal said as he smiled towards father.

"Leal sure you can and don't call them young lady and Young Master, call them your niece and nephew!"Father said.

"But..." Leal said but was cut off by my father as he placed his hands on his shoulders.

"Leal even though we don't share the same last name father still thought of you as his own son and even I think of you as my own younger brother so don't hesitate! We are a family." Father said as he smiled.

"I will..... brother," Leal said in a low voice.

What a warm family reunion, And I feel proud of my father I wonder even the other members nature are like my father? They are all family sharing the same blood so they must be alike right! Will I be able to meet them someday...I wish I could maybe I will have more older and younger siblings too!! How great that must be!

A big happy family something I never had in my past life. Even thinking about it makes my heart beat faster.

After that Leal slowly returned and it was time to visit the empress now and hereafter all those daydreams of having a big family, I am stuck with my younger brother who isn't talking or even looking at me today. The awkwardness didn't resolve even though a whole day has passed.

*Sigh* When will our cold war come to an end!!!

After a few minutes we reached the imperial palace, today the empress told us to meet her at the music room.

"We greet the saintness of the empire, her majesty the empress." both of us said.

"Welcome you both!" Her majesty said cheerfully her complexion looks paler today. "Her majesty why are we here today?" I asked.

"Well because I have a little present for both of you!" Her majesty said.

"Present in the music room?" Ash asked confused.

"Yes...but why does the surrounding feel so heavy? Is it because of the rain or.....well maybe it's truly because of rain." Her majesty said as she looked at us with a smirk on her face.

"Yeah...maybe.."I said with a hollow laugh.

"Then would you like to see your present!!" Her Majesty asked.

"Yes!" both of us said.

"Okay then sit down first." Her majesty said. we sat at the seats present near located at the corner beside the window of the room.

"Here I go!" Saying that her majesty started to play a tune on the piano. That tune was similar to the ones the prince played but this time the feeling was different. It felt as if I was bewitched and my lifetime of both the modern and novel time period was playing infront of my eyes as if It was a movie. And suddenly I felt a sudden rush of pain all over my body, especially my head it felt as if it will burst open right now, I started to cry and scream in pain and in when I wasn't able to withstand it anymore I became unconscious.

Am I dying here like this again?

Did I lose them again even before I could try to find the reason behind their doom?

So Is this the End???

"My Daughter looks so pretty!"

"Now your name will be Irene Winter."

"Your fate is in your hands!"

"Sister!"

"I want to dedicate this song for you lady winter!"

"You too should do what you want, Bedisa!"

All those words said by the are playing in my mind again and again...Now if I give up all of them will die too...My parents, my brother and the Princes...Who would bring a bright smile to their face...

No, I can't let that happen! No matter how much pain I go through I have to wake up!

I have to wake up!!!

I Irene Bedisa Winter will never give up!!

I thought that and suddenly all the darkness that surrounded me disappeared. I opened my eyes slowly only to see Ash crying. I looked at the surrounding it isn't our villa maybe I am still in the palace.

"Sister...Sister Are you awake now!!" Ash said as he hugged me tightly.

"Irene...Are you in pain somewhere?" Mother asked as she ran towards me her face showed true concern.

"My Daughter do you remember me, are you having any problem??" Father said as he touched my forehead. He looks so worried.

" Lady Winter!!" the second prince said as he came inside followed by the crown prince even they look worried.

"Are you okay?" "Are you in pain somewhere?" "Should I call for a doctor?" Everyone kept asking me questions and it was so chaotic. This chaos why does it feels nice...Is it because so many people are worried about me...or is it because for the first time ever since I came here today is the first time I feel as if I am not lonely.

"Lady Winter is fine I can say that just by looking at how many people are worried about her, Right lady Winter?" Her majesty said as she came inside the room. Her Majesty...Does she know something? Maybe she does but right now I want to think about people who have been looking out for me.

"Right!!" I said as I smiled towards her and her majesty smiled back to me.