Memory lane

Maynard, Duke Whitman's eldest son but also crown prince Dario's study partner stood waiting beside the wall with a scroll in his left hand, behind him was the huge gates leading out to the outer court where the king held meetings with his officials and hosted banquettes.

In-front of him was the inner court with two roads leading in opposite direction, the road to his right led to the harem while the one to the left led to the study hall and library where all the princess and princesses are taught.

He looked at the sky where a small gathering of clouds had started to appear and couldn't help the nostalgia he felt for that year. It was summer, half a year had passed since the death of Her Majesty the Queen, the sky was completely blanketed in thick grey clouds as a sense of gloom enveloped the whole palace.

He took refuge from the sudden rain under his umbrella. As he was on his way to the study hall, he came across the princess dressed in a bright yellow dress, the only splash of colour on that gloomy day, but she gave off a depressed and lonely atmosphere.

The girl was completely drenched but kept walking on as though it wasn't raining outside. He covered her with his umbrella upon reaching her side. She looked up at the white umbrella above her head then looked at him, the white in her eyes had turned red and her eyes where slightly swollen.

No words were exchanged between them. He just silently followed her with the umbrella while she walked on completely ignoring his existence.

He saw a slender lonely shadow stretching out on the tiled ground bringing him out of memory lane.

He spread out his scroll and turned into a hard working scholar as he walked out of the path way.