Chapter 70 - Boys Talk

In the palace,

The crown Prince along with the second prince is practising swordsmanship with Ethan and there is also a new member between them today and that member is no other than Ashton winter.

"Second prince please move your sword with more strength," Ethan said for the 99th time but Alfred kept making the same mistake over and over again.

"Like this?" The second prince said as he moved his sword once more but this time it flew away and almost hit Ash but luckily he backed off in time.

"Second Prince!!! Are you trying to rebel against me~" Ethan asked him with a smile on his face.

"No, it's not like that....it just happened that way....Ashton, I am really sorry but I swear I didn't do it on purpose. I just suck at the strength thing." Alfred said as he signed and picked up his wooden sword.

"Luckily it's a wooden sword or else....." Alfred said as he looked at the sword with sad and disappointed eyes.

"Someone could have gotten hurt very badly." He continued as he went back to his position. 

"Don't be dejected so fast, once you get the grip everything will be fine." The crown prince said as he tried to lift up his mood.

"Hmm, anyway Ashton welcome to our class!" Alfred said as he smiled at him.

"Hope that we have a great time together." The crown Prince said as je forwarded his hands for a handshake.

" The feelings are mutual," Ashton said as he looked at both the princes, who smiled at his cute reply.

"*Ahem* *Ahem*, excuse me aren't you forgetting something?" Ethan said with a scary smile m his face.

After that three of them had to train till their bones felt like breaking.

"Ouch, seriously is he going through puberty or something? Why is he being a tsundere?" Alfred asked as he lied down on the bench.

"Maybe the reason behind all this is that person." The crown prince said as he pointed towards Daniel who was now bothering Ethan.

"What's their relationship?" Ash asked as he looked at them with confusion.

"Well, they are brothers...no actually stepbrothers," Alfred said as he looked at them.

"Hmm, they seem close....(Ethan kicks Daniel balls)...well pretty close," Ash said as he faces palmed himself.

"Haha, they have always been like that since young, even though it looks like they are always bickering, they care about each other a lot," Alan said as he wiped off the sweat from his forehead.

"I see perhaps all the siblings are all like this," Ash said as he stretched his arms and legs.

"Anyway, how is lady winter doing?" Alfred asked as he looked at Ash.

"Not good..." Ash said in a worried tone, "For some reason, she has been freaking out now and then....also, she keeps vomiting, yesterday even her nose was bleeding." Ash continued as he ruffled his hair in frustration.

Both the princes were shocked to hear all this but more than that something else was running in their head.

"When did this start happening?" Alan asked in a nervous voice.

"A day after we came to visit your highness," Ash said as he looked at both the prince's nervous faces.

"But why are you two so nervous?" Ash asked as he smiled towards them.

"Ashton....please forgive us!!" Alfred said as he bowed towards Ash making him freak out.

"Why! are your highness doing this all of a sudden?" Ash said in a panicked voice.

"The lady must have become pregnant because of brother alan holding into her for long," Alfred said on the verge of tears.

"I have nothing to say....but I promise to take full responsibility for whatever happens next," Alan said with a serious face.

Ash who was listening to them didn't understand anything they were saying but he knew that there is a big misunderstanding among them that needs to be cleared up.

"Umm, your highness can you please tell me clearly of what happened?" Ash asked as he patted their shoulders.

Both the prince looked at each other and then they started explaining everything that happened that day, like how crown promce got drunk and ended up in winter residence and how he held into Irene's hands until he went to sleep. So, they are sure of the fact that Irene got pregnant because of holding hands for long.

"Your highness got drunk and held into my SISTER until you fall asleep....no wonder she looked so tired the next day," Ash said with an angelic smile on his face.

"Yes, I am extremely sorry for that day....but I am serious when I said about taking responsibility..." Alan said as he looked at Ash with his deep red eyes.

"No need to take responsibility and all...and please keep in mind people don't get pregnant just because of holding hands," Ash said in a calm voice.

"Huh? Really?" Alfred asked with a relieved look on his face. Ash nodded his head as he sighed.

"Then if not being preg---, why else would she be vomiting and all?" Alan asked as his cheeks turned red due to embarrassment.

"No idea, maybe it's because of the food or maybe overwork...I am not too sure too." Ash said as he lay down on the bench.

"Hmm, she is very weak..." Alfred said in a low voice.

"Right~," both the crown prince and Ash said as they nodded their head.

"She can't even take care of herself and yet she is always looking after lady carot..." Ash said as he sighed.

" Lady Carot?" Both the prince said as they looked at Ash.

"Oh your Highness might not know but lady carot has been living with us for the last 2 weeks," Ash said as he scratches the back of his neck.

"But why is she living there?" The crown Prince asked in a serious tone.

"Well because the Viscount had to urgently leave for business towards the southern kingdom and lady carot is not good with travelling stuff furthermore she doesn't have any relatives who can look after her so....the viscount requested father to take her in for a month."

Ash explained to them, "I see I did hear some rumours around but I didn't think it was true." Alfred said as he crossed his arms.

"Honestly, I didn't think of it before but it's it weird how lady carot always finds some way to be near lady winter and also how she switches her position in an instant," Alan said as he stood up from his seat.

"We know that too but it's Lady Winter who doesn't understand it remember what she said at mother's birthday banquet~," Alfred said as he side hugged Ash.

Thinking of that day three of them sighed, "Why does she believe her so blindly....when she won't even let me off the hook." Ash said with a depressed look on his face.

"Poor soul...." Alfred said as he patted his head.

Whereas the crown chuckled looking at them, even though deep inside he is worried a lot too but he knows that Irene won't like it if they interfere in her work, which is why he does everything silently just like the way he took care of Laney (the green head with foxy eyes! Remember her?)

"Lady winter must have her reasons and if anything happens, we are always there to help her out....right?" Alan said as he patted both of their heads.

"Yes!" Both of them said in sync as they nodded their heads.

"But brother I am still not used to your kind words and gestures," Alfred said with a smirk.

"Then get used to it~," Alan said as he shrugged.

*Growl* *Growl* A voice came from Ash's stomach.

"Hehe, I am a little hungry..." Ash said as his face turned deep red in colour.

"...Oh...then let's go inside and have something to eat.." Alan said calmly. Where as Alfred was already laughing his heart out, and didn't stop until he received a glare from the crown prince.

"Sorry...I didn't laugh because it was funny and all but his face looked so cute that's I wasn't able to hold myself back." Alfred said as he pinched Ash's cheeks.

"Y...Your highness...please don't do that I am not a kid," Ash said as he covered both of his cheeks.

"Really then who is the kid?" Alfred asked him in a teasing gesture.

"It's you~~," A voice behind Alfred said, "Who is it?" Alfred said as he turned around and saw a boy around his age with striking red hair and orange eyes with sharp features and a piercing in his left ear. He was wearing black long pants with a shirt underneath a red vest coat which had the rose symbol entitled in it. One look and people could recognise him anywhere. 

"Harries!!" Said both the princes in surprise.