Rain

The Next Day,

The weather felt, even more, colder than the day before. The sky seemed cloudy as if it could rain any moment.

"The weather seems quite bad, Doesn't it? Your Highness." Ethan said as he looked towards the sky.

"Yeah, it looks so," I said as I tied the black bow around my collar with a white crystal in between.

A black velvet shirt with black cufflinks, a black warm coat with golden strings and the royal family symbol in it and a pair of brown long trousers, and black woollen socks and a pair of black boots to complete my look.

"Let's leave," I said as I wore the black scarf around my neck,

"Wait! Your Highness, you forgot your gloves." Ethan said as he gave me the pair of black gloves which looked thin but were very warm.

"OH, thanks!" I said as I wore them quickly. "No worries," Ethan said and both of us headed towards the door.

"By the way, Did you sent the letter to Lady Carot?" I asked him as I looked at the weather outside and it looked really bad and somehow it makes anxious.

"Yes I did, it must have reached to her by now," Ethan said.

"I see, then let's head to the dining room," I said.

"Sure, behind you." He said as he gestured me to walk infront. I smiled at his acts and started walking towards the dining room.

"But Did you receive any news about Prince Brazen?" I asked him.

"Not yet maybe he is still in the northern kingdom," Ethan said.

"Hmm, maybe.." I said thou I was quite unsure about it. After all, it's Prince Brazen, he always does things people least think about.

"What are you guys talking about?" Alfred suddenly said from behind which almost gave scared me.

"Alfred Don't pop out from nowhere like this! I almost got a heart attack!" I said jokingly.

"Hehe, I am sorry." He said as he smiled sheepishly.

"It's fine as long as you repent," I said as I patted his head.

"Yes but anyway Good Morning Brother, Good Morning Ethan, "Alfred said as he smiled brightly.

"Good Morning." I said as I smiled towards him, "Good Morning, Your Highness." Ethan said as they exchanged smiles.

"But can't you tell me about the topic you were discussing earlier..." Alfred asked as he looked at us.

"Well it's not like we can't, it's more like it's nothing big...." I said as I looked into his face and right then I knew, I should tell him the truth

".... It's just that Crown Prince Brazen of the Gilad Kingdom would be Visiting us soon, but we have no idea when~," I said as I frowned.

"OH, it was about him," Alfred said as his excitement disappeared from his face, well he doesn't really like Brazen since he always teases him.

"You still don't like him?" I asked him as we started to move forward.

"Well, to be honest, I don't!" Alfred said angrily.

"But why is that so?" Ethan asked."Because he annoys me and makes fun of me. I know he is the crown prince which makes him the next king of the Gelid kingdom. But still, it doesn't give him the right to make fun of me, I too am a prince and I have my limits and dignity." Alfred said making both of us speechless.

It wasn't weird when I heard Ashton talking maturely but when my own brother is doing the same thing it feels kinda weird as if the person infront of me is someone unknown.

But then again, Alfred has always been intelligent and gifted when it comes to magic. Even though he is just 9, people still call him the next greatest mage of the solar empire. Even I feel proud of you Alfred.

"Don't worry, He won't say anything to you anymore," I said as I smiled towards him.

"Yes, like a knight I promise to give him a nice lesson if he tries to bully you again," Ethan said as he bowed towards him.

Alfred seeing that smiled emotionally "Thank you!" He said as he grinned.

"By the way Brother I heard you are going out today," Alfred asked.

"Yes, I am..." I said as I tried to avoid his gaze.

"And where are you going?" Ash asked as he looked at me.

"I just thought of paying a visit to the winter residence," I said as I smiled towards him.

"Winter Residence...Hmm, I see. I wish I could visit her too but my schedule is full today...." Alfred said as he sighed.

I knew he would feel dishearted after knowing about this, so I intentionally didn't inform him about my plans today.

"I know about that...if you want I can cancel my plan." I said as I looked at him, though I feel a bit bad but still...I can't make him sad..can I.

"Hahaha!!!" Alfred busted out laughing suddenly.

I looked at him with a confused face, "What's with the sudden laugh?" I asked him as I raised one of my eyebrows.

"I. I am so sorry but..Brother you should have looked at your face right now!!" Alfred said in between his laughter.

"Huh?" I said in a confused tone.

"Brother your face clearly showed how much you want to visit the winter residence yet just because you don't want me to be sad. You said all that. So, it felt very funny to me." Alfred said as he laughed.

"...Thou I was delighted by your care but still I don't want anyone to give up their happiness for me," Alfred said as he smiled towards me.

I smiled as I heard his words, " I guess there is no need to hide anything from you then since my brother is really thoughtful." I said as I ruffled his hair.

"Hehe, I learnt it from you only brother," Alfred said as he giggled.

And just like that both of us talked and joked around until we reached the dining hall.

"Ethan just waits here okay," I said to Ethan who looked distracted for some reason.

"Ethan?Ethan?" I said, "Uh, yes what were you saying?" He asked as he looked at me.

"Where is your mind Ethan, I just told you to wait here," I said as I crossed my arms.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. I shall wait for you." He said as he bowed.

"Okay," I said as I entered the hall but from the corner of my eyes, I could see Ethan face, which looked gloomy for some reason.

"Is he okay?" I murmured to myself.

"We greet the rising sun of the empire his highnesses the crown prince and the second prince." The maid's in the room said.

I looked at the table and no one was there, "Looks like it's just us today." Alfred said as he went towards his seat.

"Hmm.." I said as I walked towards my seat.

"Father must be busy with his work and mother is not in the condition to leave her room..." Alfred said as he took a bite of his muffins.

"Yes I think so too but don't eat sweets as the first thing in the morning, you will get a cavity," I said as I took a sip of the soup I was served.

"Okay~," He said as he munched the vegetables he was served. "Good boy," I said as I smiled towards him.

"Hehe, but brother when will you..." *Boom* Ash was about to say something but the sudden thunder surprised us as well as the maid's present in the room.

"That scared the hell out of me!!" Alfred said as he stood up from his seat and put his hand on his left-hand side chest.

"Yeah mine too, it was so sudden..." I said as I calmed myself down.

"My heart is beating like crazy now!" Alfred whined as he sat down on his seat and drank some water.

And after that thunder sudden rain started to pour nonstop, I was in my room looking at the book Lady Carot gifted me.

But still, my focus was outside, "Hah I wanted to meet Lady Winter today but this sudden rain poured water all over my plan." I said as I closed the book and lied on my bed.

"Even Ethan isn't present here...Ha, I am so bored~," I said as I closed my eyes, hoping for the rain to stop.

"I wonder what she must be doing right now..." I said as I walked towards my window. The wind was chilly and the rain was as cold as ice.

"If I could I would run to her right now....but I can't.." I murmured as I looked at the pot of peace lilies in my room.

"But again rain is good for you thou," I said to the Liles as I gently touched its petal and smiled.

"I guess it must be fine if it rains for a while..." I said as I kissed one of the fallen petals.

Meanwhile at the winter residence,

Two ladies were sitting in the drawing-room, as they enjoyed the rain and the cup of warm hot chocolate.

"This is good!" Molly said as she smiled ear to ear after taking a sip of the hot chocolate.

"I know right! My maid Hana bought me that from the western kingdom." Irene said as she smiled towards Molly.

"Western kingdom, you mean the Altan kingdom," Molly said.

"Yes!" Irene said happily.

"No wonder it's so delicious!! The cocoa from the Altan kingdom is very famous all over the world." Molly said as he had another sip of the hot chocolate.

"I know that too but it's surprising how come I have never seen people having hot chocolate here even though it's so famous," Irene asked.

"That's because even though cocoa is in an infinite amount in the western kingdom, they still don't trade it frequently among the other kingdom and our empire," Molly said.

"Hmm, why is that so?" I Irene asked.

"Probably because of the distance temperature difference, you know cocoa is very sensitive so it must be handled with great care. Which Costs a lot of money as well as manpower. So not many people can afford even in our empire only the Dukedom and the royal family consume it." Molly explained.

"I see~," Irene said as she looked into her cup, the smell of chocolate made her smile a bit.

"Well, I must thank Hana for giving you such a precious gift. Thanks to her, your complexion looks better." Molly said as she smiled towards Irene.

"Hehe, Does it?" Irene said as she giggled.

"Yeah, the last time I visited you looked so gloomy and tired but now you seem stable. And maybe she grew an inch or two. I guess." Molly said as she looked at Irene.

"Really! Well, Growing is a good thing." Irene said as she smiled.

"Yeah, But where is Ash? This day I don't really see him around?" Molly asked.

"OH yeah, he is either practising swordsmanship or studying for the Royal Academy entrance examination," Irene said as she scratched the back of her neck.

"OH seems like he is working very hard lately," Molly said as she smiled.

"Yes, he indeed is..." Irene said with a small smile on her face.

"Hah, Don't make that face and don't disconnect yourself from the world. You have no idea how worried I was! All this tragedy happened to you suddenly and yet I wasn't able to help you....made me feel miserable. So please don't keep anything inside you.

Even if I won't be much of a help, I will at least listen to you, so, please...Don't think you are alone." Molly said as she looked at Irene.

Irene sat there within shock and slowly a smile crept on her thin cherry-like lips.

"I Promise I will, and thank you for being here," Irene said as she smiled towards Molly, and a tear rolled down her right eye.