Chapter 11 - Family And Friends

After all the chaos everyone finally calmed down, so I tried to leave the bed but my legs gave out, "Ouch why do my legs feel so numb and lifeless.." I said.

"That's probably because you have been sleeping for a whole day." Mother said. "A WHOLE DAY!!" I said shocked because that dream or whatever it was it felt like some minutes but here a whole day passed. No wonder they were so worried for me. But why am I still here? I mean my parents could have taken me back home? Staying in the imperial palace for long can create some nonsensical rumours. It would be harmful to both the royal and winter family.

I want to ask them but I am afraid it would offend the royal family...first I should return home and then *Rumble* that sound came from my stomach.

Right, I haven't eaten for a whole day but *Rumble Rumble* why now out of all time!! It's so embarrassing!!! That too infront of the royal family.

I looked towards the others and as excepted both the princes, Ash and father were trying to keep in their laughter. Whereas, mother the empress were smiling while looking towards me.

I want to disappear right now!!!!!

Wait! Why don't I try this chance to act cute!! Just like the protagonist and see if it works or not.

"I...I am hungry.." I said as I looked towards them with puppy eyes. And to my surprise, all of them froze for a while they are probably flustered. Hehe, that's what you get for laughing at me.

"Ahem Ahem, it's understandable Lady winter woke up just now that too without eating anything for a whole day." The second prince said.

"Yeah His Highness is right, Irene let's go home and have some delicious food okay!" Father said.

"Yeah," I said with a smile.

I took a glance at the crown prince face he looked at me with his flustered and shy eyes and for some reason, my heart started to beat faster.

"Pardon me but it might take you a while to reach the winter Villa, so how about having dinner with us here. And I believe the emperor must have a lot to catch up with the lord." The empress said with a smile.

"But will it be okay?" My mother asked.

"Yes please don't worry." The empress said as she looked towards my mother, she had the same expression as back then when O meet her majesty for the time. She even said that I look just like my mother.

We're both of then friends before? But mother never told me about her majesty or any other member of the royal family. Am I missing something here? Or is there something I don't know about them?

"Then Irene would you like to have dinner here?" Mother asked as she patted my head. I want to go home back but I believe nothing good will come by refusing the royal family, so let's just give it a shot.

"I would love it!" I said joyfully. "Okay, then I will tell the maid's to serve the food." Her majesty said as she clapped her hands and suddenly she started coughing, "Excuse me it's time for my medicine." Her majesty said, "Her majesty let me take you towards your room." Mother said.

"But what about lady winter.." Her majesty said as she looked towards me.

"I am fine now, and let me tell you my mother is a great caretaker!!" I said as I smiled towards her.

"Really I must see it then." Her majesty said as she laughed along with mother who was giving me a "What are you saying?" look. "Her majesty let's go." saying that mother took her majesty towards her room.

Soon after that father was called by the emperor for some chit chat and I was left alone with these three kids.

I don't know why but at times like this I feel as if I was a babysitter. Before the air between us gets awkward I must break the ice.

"What would you guys like to do?" I said as I smiled towards them but they didn't react at all.

This... did I babble something stupid in my sleep why aren't they saying anything!!!

"Umm, it might take some time for the food to be served so how about playing some games??" I asked but no reaction again.

"Umm, Is something wrong?" I asked again but they seemed to just listen but no reply,

"Since you guys have nothing to say I am going to sleep again," I said trying to lay down. "No!" The three is them said in unison. Ash who was beside me hugged me tightly as he started to weep,

"Sister I am sorry...I will never behave like that again and I will never give a cold shoulder...I will listen to everything you say...So please don't sleep like that again." Ash said as he cried his heart out.

"There There Ash don't cry please..." I said as I patted his back.

"Sister Promise me that you will never leave me!" Ash said as he looked at me his eyes that have turned red and puffy now. His eyes were serious and determined, Is this really how a 5 years old boy's eyes look like...

"I promise," I said while hugging him.

"I need a hug too!!" the second prince said with teary eyes as he was coming forward towards us, but the crown prince stopped him.

"Mind your manners." The crown prince said as he glared at the second prince who now has turned into a scaredy-cat. As excepted of the future emperor his aura is indeed intimidating.

But I wonder why the way he looks at me has changed....it feels as if his cold gaze is getting softer day by day.

Both of our eyes meet, the red ruby and the blue sapphire what would the outcome of both the gems be like? It must be pretty right!!

I smiled towards him and he turned towards the other side. From here I was able to see his ears turn red...Is he blushing?? No, maybe not??

It's weird but this change is making me happy.

After a while, Ash stopped crying and we were called for dinner. And of course, the dinner was lavish as expected of the royals, there were some courses that I haven't ever seen before. But they all tasted great!

The emperor asked about my health and said that he felt sorry for the fact that he wasn't able to come for me earlier since he had some important affairs to handle. I just told him not to worry, of course, we understand and don't blame Afterall he is the emperor we all know how much hard work he does for the empire.

After the dinner ended we bit goodbye to the royal family as we returned to our villa, Ash slept soundlessly throughout the road, even though he is a light sleeper....it must have been a hard day for me.

I can't even imagine how he must have felt if something happened to me....he would have surely blamed himself...just like me back then.

But not anymore instead of regretting and blaming myself I will try to make my present better and enjoy this lifetime with my family my friends and all my well-wishers.

Right, I must ask them now, "Mother, Father why didn't you take me earlier when I was unconscious....staying at the imperial palace for such a long time might have created some strange rumours." I said looking at them.

"Well we wanted to take you back but..." Mother said as she looked at father.

"But what?" I asked losing my patience.

"But the Crown prince stopped us," Father said as he crossed his arms. He looks a bit angry.

"The Crown Prince Stopped you?? But why??" I asked as now I was even more confused than before.

"Well, what happened was, as soon as we heard about your condition we directly went to the imperial palace. There we saw you lying in the bed unconscious and ash who was beside you was crying rivers, Your father called for a physician but they didn't find anything wrong with you we tried to wake you up but you didn't even budge.

After that, the emperor sent for priest's and they said that it was nothing worrisome you are probably dreaming. It sounded weird but still, we were able to take a sigh of relief, so seeing that you aren't in danger we thought of taking you back home. But right then both the princes entered the room, they looked at you with worried eyes. "What's wrong with her?" The second prince asked us, so explained to him that you are just dreaming except that there is nothing wrong with you, so we will be taking you back home. "Let her stay here until she wakes up." Said the crown prince as he looked towards you, "But crown prince she will be fine so..." Your father said but the crown Prince glared towards him.

"Lord Winter Are you trying to decline the crown prince Order." The crown prince said angrily to your father. So we had no other choice but to stay there." Mother explained.

"That brat is so tiny but look at his attitude! He must have taken it from the emperor." Father said angrily. I couldn't help but laugh.

"But seriously after you didn't wake even though 12 hours passed we started to get worried and anxious. For a minute we even felt as if....as if we might never see you again." Mother said as she held my hand. She was shaking.

"Mother I am here only so please don't worry," I said as I smiled towards her. "Yeah, my daughter is a strong girl, these things cannot do anything to her," Father said as he consoled mother.

"Father is right! So please don't worry mother." I said as I dramatically flipped my hair.

Making both of them laugh.

That night passed just like that as we giggled through the road, and finally, everyone had a good night sleep.

But to think that the crown prince stopped mother and father that too angrily.. How uncanny.