Chapter 160 - The Clouded Sky

"Is there anything werid?" Alan asked as he saw a frown on Alfred forhead.

"Well, not yet but I think there is something indeed weird." He said as his eyes landed on the sliver clip on her hair which seemed a little crooked.

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"This--" He said as he took it off her hair and as expected by him there was something beneath them.

"Thats!" A shocked Irene said as she covered her mouth with her hands.

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That sliver hair clip had a pin underneath it placed very carefully with a little bit of blood in its tip.

"I knew it, this pin is the reason she feel asleep so suddenly." Alfred said as he shook his head while clenching the hairclip in his hands and looking at Alan who seemed to be thinking of something.

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"Brother, what I think someone intentionally placed this pin under the clip so that when time comes this pin will fo its work and we all will never get to know about the truth." Alfred said as he stood form his place.

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"But that's not what I am thinking about, I mean just think about how did that clip ended up with her...because every thing they are wearing is provided by the palace and they are always checked..so how come no one informed us about his one?" Alan asked as he took the clip form his hand and looked at it closely.

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"....That clip...wasn't given by the palace...it was her own." Irene said as she placed Violets head on her lap as she looked at her face with a sad face.

"Then that means that either someone implanted it without her knowing or--"

"She did it herself..." Alan said as Irene completed his sentence as she gulped.

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"Lady Winter...." Alan murmered as he tried to reach towards her shoulders but hesitated.

"Your Highness, please take her back to her room...before she wakes up." Irene said as she looked at Alfred who nodded his head and with a click he dissapered with Violet leaving Irene's arms empty.

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"Lady Winter are you okay?" 

"....I am not...okay..." Irene said as she looked at Alan with teary eyes which were able to break out at any moment.

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"Lady Winter..." Alan said as he kneeled down while placing his hand on hers.

"Your Highness...Am I that bad..." She also as a tear rolled her left eye followed by the other eye and then infinity tears fall down her eyes as she slowly broke infornt of him.

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"Lady Witner, please don't cry, you are not bad! Please don't listen to them as Alfred said they aren't in their right mind right now." Alan said as he tired to console her although everything he was saying was a total fail and it wasn't that surprising what else could one accept from someone who seldom talks.

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" Even if they are muddled head right now but still those words were true although mixed up and the look they had in their eyes while dying all that were more than true." She answered back as she covered her face to hide the rainfall.

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Alan who sat there helplessly remembered something the empress once said to him,

"Alan, remmber that actions speak greater then words and since you are not good with words. You must always remmber this." 

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"Actions speak grater then words." He thought to himself as he looked at Irene and then took a deep breath.

"Its okay.." He said as he took her into a warm hug which surprised Irene and and immediately stopped crying.

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"Its okay, don't cry for those who don't value you and look at those who are standing beside you." Alan said as he patted her bag and like a good child Irene nodded her head as she felt comfortable in his arms which were both stribg and gentle to the point that she didn't want to stray away from it at any cost.

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"Lady Winter, I know whatever you heard and saw today has raised lots of questions in your heart and I know its painful...but please never see yourself as weak or bad...And if time gets too hard for you then I am here to lend you my shoulders." Alan said as he kept on patting her back not realizing that she has long stopped crying.

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"Your Highness, what if my negative energy infects you?" Irene asked as she sniffed.

"It will never happen and if it does happen I wouldn't care as long as Lady winter is comfortable." Alan answered as he shrugged.

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"Your Highness, you know what?"

"What?" 

"You are very much like the Emperor." Sje said while cracking into a giggle as Alan broke forth hug and looked at herbface which no longer had tears but a smile.

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"And why does Lady winter think so?" He asked with a smile as he felt his mood getting better with hers.

"Thats because expect for the Empress Features, you are very cold, not social and a natural flirt like the Emperor." Irene said as she cracked at the last part whereas Alan just played with his tongue inside his mouth.

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"Lady Winter, you know you change very quickly. Just a few seconds ago you were crying on hard that I almost got worried to death and now you are laughing at me." Alan said as he stood up soon followed by Irene who felt a bit disappointed by the sudden break in the hug and the warmth.

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"Are you angry with that?" Irene still ignoring her feelings asked as she tried to go along the mood.

"I wish I could but whatever the case is I am happy to see you back to your normal self." Alan said as he forwarded his hands to pull her up.

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*sigh* " I guess Your Highness is too much used to my happy self that you can't handle my sad side." Irene said as she joked while taking his hand and stranding up and that was when she lost her balance like any female lead would and like a perfect Male lead Alan held her with their faces just a little away form each other.

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"Thats true....I really can't handle you being sad, is that weird that I can't accept the sad and depressed side of yours. I just alaus want to see you smiling...I can't handle your tears they are too heavy that eveb my heart feels breathless." Alan said as he made her stand in her feets and the patted her head a she stoof there all frozen by the sudden attack of his awkward yet sweet words.

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"Your Highness....That you are really a carbon copy of His Majesty." She said while taking in some amount of air as she was getting breathless every moment and the level of heat kept increasing for her.

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"Its so hot.." She said while fanning herself.

"Hot? But I think it's quite chilly and even your are shivering." Alan said as she looked over at Irene who has not yet looked straight at her.

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"Well then maybe it's because I am warm blooded." Irene thinking of a excuse said as she took the scarf in her hand and then looked at Alan.

"Then your highness, I think we should leave now it's vey late and I need to return back tomorrow....not to mention there are lot of things left to do." Irene indicated to all the thing including both the officials and unofficial works which must be understood by Alan as he nodded his head.

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"Lady Winter is right, then how about I walk you to your room?" Alan asked as he forward his ads which Irene took without any hesitation and a sweet smile appeared on Alan's face who felt quite satisfied by her reaction.

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"You are very kind." She said while taking his hand and soon they both left the room along with a pack of sadness and laughter in their bag called heart which they hide quite well that they were left unnoticed since a long period of time.

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"I know that, please be careful." Alfred said as he answered her question and then looked at the broken glass the floor which was being cleaned by the maids swiftly.

"Oh thank you, but who broke it? And why here?" Irene said as she looked straight form that direction and noticed the pedestal where Violet stood was crystal clear form there.

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"Looks like someone was here and aiming for Violet." Irene said as she looked over Alan who was busy checking onto the surroundings made that was when he saw something else there and that was a small pin which was as thin as paper not easy to see through naked eyes but still visible for the ones with powers.

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"Looks like there is a lot Lady Carot need to ear up or else she might really get into some serious trouble.." Alan said as he put that pin inside his pocket not being unseen by Irene who nodded her head as she looked at the sky which once clear was now clouded.