Chapter 37

After the 4th month of Snow's play dates with the twins, Lennon who was more excited than his son and Leonard, were on their way to Sterling castle.

"Father, I don't understand why we can't just get a private meeting with the princess. Why do I have to share her attention with other visitors?" Leonard asked, slightly annoyed.

"Have you met your uncle Victor? It wasn't the first time he's almost had my head for simply looking at the princess's general direction," Lennon shivered.

"Why does the princess have 'play dates' anyway? They're selfishly taking up the princess's time with whatever childish things they talk about," Leonard complained.

"Like what you're doing right now?" Lennon smirked.

Leonards lion ears perked up in shock.

"N-No, this is a diplomatic meeting between the royals of two kingdoms... It's different," Lennon laughed at his son's cuteness.

"I only have one thing to say to you, Leo. Have fun, enjoy your time, and make friends," Lennon smiled, patting Leonard's head gently.

"What nonsense are you spouting, father?" Leonard asked confused.

"You'll see," Lennon chuckled.

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Dean and Renèe decided to play chess with each other when Reinel and Snow started playing 'Who gets knocked off of Nightmare first'

It still wasn't settled until now whether Snow or Reinel ever won.

Nightmare would always be the one tired out by the two of them.

"I'm done, I need food," Nightmare complained, proofing into his human form, dropping both Snow and Reinel in the process.

"Aww," The two whined.

"Thank you, Nightmare," Snow said tip toeing to stroke Nightmare's hair.

Nightmare lowered his head because he loved getting affection from the young girl and getting jealous glares from her play mates.

"Ah, the princess is truly a healing presence," He said, biting into a cookie.

"Your highness, may I present you, prince Leonard Fantasia," Sierra bowed, announcing him.

Dean looked confused and the twins gave a tight smile.

"Greetings to the princess of Sterling," Leonard bowed.

"Welcome to my garden, prince Leonard," Snow curtsied with a bright smile.

Leonard spotted the tall man with shimmering galaxy like hair and dark blue eyes.

"Who... Is that? I've never seen anyone like him," Leonard asked curiously, taking a few steps towards Nightmare.

"Oh, that's just Nightmare, he's my storm stallion," Snow giggled.

"A storm stallion? How amusing," Leonard smiled almost tauntingly.

"What a brat," Nightmare huffed.

Leonard furrowed his brows and tilted his head.

Feeling the tension rise to an alarming degree Dean, Renèe, Reinel, and Nightmare all suddenly knelt down and bowed their heads to Leonard.

"You..." Nightmare growled angrily.

"What's happening?!" Dean asked in slight alarm.

"He's using Aura, don't move until the tension subsides," Snow explained, being the only person who could stand straight even when Leonard was using Aura.

As if almost instantly the feeling went away and the boys were able to breathe properly.

"I apologize for my behavior, your highness," Leonard bowed to Snow a if there was no one else with him.

But they didn't matter to Leonard.

"I shouldn't have used my power so recklessly," he continued.

Snow nodded slightly then went to her brother.

"Dean? Are you alright?" She asked, putting a hand on his chest to make sure he really was breathing properly.

"Yes, sister," he replied, glancing at Leonard.

"I don't think we've met. I am Dean Harith Sterling, the prince of this kingdom," Dean stated, looking Leonard straight in the eyes.

Leonard got the hint and bowed, "My apologies, I greet the lesser star of the Sterling kingdom,"

Leonard couldn't help but be curious about Dean. Last he heard Snow didn't have a brother and Dean Harith was the name of Count Oberon's youngest son.

Leonard also heard that Dean was already a student in Starlight Academy, popular and top of his class.

"And we, are Renèe and Reinel Ascot, the sons of duke Ascot," The twins said in unison.

They dusted themselves off and shot a small glare at Leonard.

"Leonard, I'll remind you that this is my kingdom. You have no power here. So you can join our little club and treat everyone here as equals, or continue living alone. It would be troubling for me if you were to cross my people," Snow smiled threateningly.

Leonard looked at her shocked as the three boys positioned themselves behind her. They didn't look like pawns to him anymore, instead he felt like the pawn.

Then Leonard smiled, "Alright, looks like I've finally found some fun in this dreary world," he scoffed as the twins smirked smugly.

Leonard was just like the twins and they all knew it.

"Catch the ball or you're out!" Shouted Dean as the ball was thrown at full speed at Leonard.

Leonard was shocked and didn't move a muscle. Suddenly Renèe caught the ball that nearly slammed into Leonard's face.

"Be quick about it, Leo, you wouldn't wanna lose to a shrimp would you?" Renèe asked with a sneer.

"I heard that, snake! Wait until air ball!" Dean screamed.

"Oh god..." Renèe groaned throwing the ball to Reinel.

"Need a winner for this game first, Dean, the game isn't over yet!" Reinel laughed, slamming the ball back to Leonard who caught on and volleyed the ball upwards.

After passing the ball around the loser was Dean.

"Switch! Chase the snake time!" Called Renèe happily.

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"Oh my, their games look so tiring compared to 'save the princess from the dragon' game Bellatrix always made us play," laughed Lennon.

"... Don't remind us..." Liam and Victor said solemnly in unison.

"Ahahahaha! I remember when you couldn't say no and Bellatrix made you all show me and Lilian how it was played!" Laughed Claudia.

"Yes, Liam the noble steed and Victor the damsel in distress," Lilian said, holding in her laughter.

"But I do find it concerning that Snow isn't quite close to any female friends..." Victor commented.

"Hm? Bellatrix only had us and her brothers as close friends, I'm sure it'll be fine," Lennon smiled.

Victor raised a brow and pointed to himself, "I was dumped, you were rejected, and he was the one she chose to marry, what nonsense are you spouting?" Victor glared.

The room fell silent as they all realized the same thing.

The three men suddenly pressed themselves onto the window that over looked the playing children.

"Leonard was dumped..." Lennon said distantly.

"Dean was rejected..." Victor continued as the two kings eyed the father of the twins.

"W-What?" Liam asked, slowly making his way towards the door.

"Oh no, this is getting intresting," Claudia and Lilian laughed, closing the door.

Without Bellatrix to save him he knew he only had one way out.

"Liam... You didn't plan any of this did you?" Lennon asked darkly.

"So you're trying to snatch my daughter too are you?" Victor asked with that very same dark aura.

"I-I don't know what you're talking abo--" before Liam could finish his own sentence he jumped out the window and landed perfectly in front of the children, running for his life.

"Father!?" The twins shouted in surprise.

"LIAM, COME BACK HERE," Victor screamed after also jumping out the window.

"Oh, Liaaaam~" Lennon called in a sing song voice surrounded by a murderous aura.

"Uh..." Leonard looked at Snow in confusion as Snow shrugged her shoulders equally confused.

Then Reinel decided to seize the moment and take Snow's hand.

"Come on guys, let's check it out," Reinel said, dragging Snow behind him.

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Liam doged their vigorous attacks well but he knew he couldn't hold on for long.

"She might not even want to marry either twin-- gah!" Liam said, dodging Lennon's attack by a hair.

"You guys are just assuming things!" Liam said quickly before he got hacked to pieces.

"Hm... Yes, you're right," Victor said, finally calming down.

"Aww is it over?" Claudia and Lilian pouted.

"But that's how he captured Bellatrix's heart, acting like he wasn't interested," Lennon huffed.

"Father? What's going on?" Snow asked sweetly, moving a few branches that blocked her view.

The two kings froze, paled at the sight and nearly fainted as the two mothers were gushing and shipping.

"Yes, father, do explain," Reinel said, still holding onto Snow's hand, tilting his head curiously.

Liam gave a quick thumbs up to Reinel. Liam had taught the twins this trick that they had to be the closest person to the princess so that if something were to happen she would either jump to you first or you could jump to her first, either way it always worked.

"Oh, Rei, you have a leaf in your hair," Snow said as Reinel lowered his head a bit so Snow could reach it.

She brushed it off then smiled as Reinel smiled back with an ever so light pink graced his cheeks. All this while they were still holding hands.

The kings growled in anger as they tackled Liam once more...

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After a few months Snow decided to introduce Sierra to her friends as the child she was and Sierra quickly became friends with them (Despite still thinking of them as vicious wolves) and played very well along side Snow.

Now Snow was 12 turning 13 soon, Dean was 12, Leonard was 13 and a half, Sierra was 13, and the twins were also 13.

This is where the game prologue begins, when the Heroine first comes to Fantasia, adopted by a humble family so that she could study to be enrolled into Starlight Academy when she turned 15.

But this was an important moment for the Heroine. When the 'Catastrophe route' would begin.

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