CHAPTER 23.- NO ONE IS ALLOWED IN MY COURTYARD.

Andrew entered his courtyard looking a bit gloomy. This was the only place he could stay alone in peace. The courtyard was grand, and it exuded opulence and luxury. The ground had been paved with smooth stones having ornate fences, which he didn't like very much.

He had always preferred much simple and very plain stuff, but those decorative fences, hedges, and potted plants were all Anna's work. She had always loved flowers and beautiful scenery. Among all the princesses, she was the only one without a courtyard due to a reason only known to their father. Hence she always stayed in his, planting flowers everywhere. For ten years now, this place seemed dull with no touch of liveliness.

"Nora come out, you don't have to keep hiding. I know you're here..." he said out loud, as he squinted his eyes toward a corner in the courtyard.

"As always, brother's senses are the best..." A beautiful female a little older than Anna showed herself. She had dark brown wavy hair, which included braids in it. The braids had been decorated with hair ornament of the same color as her sea blue gown. Overall she looked elegant with a bit of arrogance on her delicate face.

" Not exactly, your perfume is everywhere... Why are you here? I thought I said no one is allowed here." Andrew said emotionless.

"Yes...as long as that person is not Anna, he or she is not allowed here. We are your sisters too remember. You acted this way when she was here and you still act this way even when she's not around..." Nora said looking like she was being treated unfairly.

"What are you trying to insinuate?... Don't you have a courtyard? Anna doesn't..." Andrew said and finally cast a glance at her, she was wearing blue today...he creased his brows but said nothing further...

Nora saw the look in his eyes after seeing her style and the color of the gown she was wearing and smirked.

" That's enough anyway...I wasn't trying to mean anything...I just felt a little bad that you didn't want us in here..." She said in an attempt to lighten the mood. She wasn't ready to get in Andrews' bad books.

"I heard Father summoned you a few days ago. Is it still about Anna??" she asked, finally going for her actual purpose here.

"Yes," Andrew answered flatly.

" He's still looking for her??? Is it so he could still let her marry that wealthy man?? Why is Father so bent on letting her marry that man...can't he let any of us marry him??... "

Hearing this Andrew furrowed his brows at her...

Realizing she had said too much...she stuttered rephrasing her words " I... I..mean Anna probably run away because...sh..she didn't want the marriage. It would be best if Father let the other princesses marry him...rather than force her right??"

"Whether it's for the marriage or not, she's our sister and we still have to find her..." Andrew said and turned around to leave not casting her a glance. He had too much on his mind to entertain her hypocrisy.

"And you should go to your courtyard, I need my peace here..." he said and was finally out of sight.

Nora scoffed. It has been ten years and they were still looking for that damn sister of theirs. For all she knew, she could have been dead somewhere. Looking at the neat courtyard that had Anna's style everywhere, she huffed and left haughtily.

Nora got out of the courtyard and was unexpectedly stopped by a voice from the garden

" Wow! Nora, is that you?? I almost didn't recognize you. Never thought blue was your color, and this style...tsk. You're not trying to imitate Anna, are you...tsk," The words came from a gentleman whose facial features looked similar to that of Andrew's. Nora turned her head and looked in the direction of the voice. And as she had thought, it was none other than the second prince and her most sarcastic brother, Andy. He wore his usual white raiment matched with his gray boots that had a touch of silver designs on them. He sat crossed-legged on a chair in the garden beside Andrew's courtyard looking insouciant.

His outfit and demeanor made him look elegant and pure, a contrast to what he was.

" What?? I can't decide to put on blue now. Was the color made for her..." Nora said sounding annoyed.

" Well you can't blame me...you have always put on red, as it gave you the wildness and complimented your arrogance so well...the blue, on the other hand, has given you the humble and pure look. Sister, you and I know that is not your true form... " Andy interrupted with a chuckle.

"As if your white clothing every day makes you pure..." Nora shot back with scorn.

Andy smirked..." Ooh wait, you came out of Andrew's courtyard?? Don't tell me you did this Anna camouflage so he will pay attention to you...." He squinted his eyes and continued " Forget it he's not blind...but the fact that you came out alive after entering that courtyard proves he at least acknowledges you as his sister..." he laughed.

Nora looked extremely irked. This was her brother from the same mother, but he was so irritating than Andrew who was her half-brother.

"At least I went to his courtyard, unlike someone who could only hide and mask his aura in the garden spying on his brother as he goes in and out of his courtyard..."

This statement from Nora was enough to wipe the smile off Andy's face...

"Ooh you think I don't know....you regret being the cause of some of his predicament. But your ego is stronger than your guilt...as always..."