Chapter 208 - Summer Ball (Part 2)

"What are you doing here?" Ash asked as he walked towards Sam who was sitting on a bench near the water fountain.

"...Ashton..it was too noisy inside...." She said making some space for him to sit down.

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"Oh..." He said while sitting next to her and silence filled the atmosphere, the only thing g they could hear was circkets sounds and the water flowing down the fountain.

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"Ashton, what's your favorite season?" She asked out of blue as she faced him with a smile.

"My favorite season....would probably be winter, but why do you ask?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows.

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" Well, you know what's my favorite season?" Sje didn't answer him bit instead kept on alsong whatever she wanted to and Ash thinking it as a payback for his rude behavior towards her didn't said anything and kept on moving along with her.

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"Yeah, you said it to me once....your favorite season is summer." 

"You remmber it...I am so touched...but do you know the reason behind my liking towards summer season?" She asked as she smiled.

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"I...I don't know...you never mentioned it to me before." Ash said as he looked to other direction.

"Right...then shall I tell you the reason today...since the atmosphere makes me feel to do so." She said while looking at the sky where the stars were twinkling.

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Ashton ready to hear her answer turned his face towards her,

"...The reason I like summer is simple because it has longer days as compared to other seasons...and since it had longer days...I get to spend more time with you...playing, bickering, and running around the mansion. Which makes me like this season even more." She said with a smile her eyes still looking at stars.

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Whereas Ashton looked at her as he felt this conservation was going to another way and he was not yet ready for it.

"Sam...why are acting this way?" He asked while coming down form the bench and kneeling before her.

"Ashton....I was happy to meet you..." She said with teary eyes and as Ashton's heart beat stopped right there.

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"Sam..."

"Ashton...I will be returning back home tomorrow." With those words Sam could no longer hold her tears and she started crying like a kid searching for warmth.

Ashton didn't knew what should be done in such situations but still he couldn't let her cry by herself so he gave her his shoulder to lean on and cry as much as she wanted.

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"Sam...if you don't want to go then why don't you just stay with us?" Ash said as he played with his fingers while holding tight his wry heart.

"I can't do that...and you know it." She said awhile holding onto his sleeves.

"And even if I stay...you will soon leave for the academy..." She added and Ash just sighed while wiping off her tears.

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"Sam, since we have come to this...there is no going back. And even if we depart here who says we can't reunite in the future when we both are a better version of ourself?" Ash said as he patted her head and explained everything properly to her. And Sam who couldn't help but agree with him just stayed there silently enjoying the few moments they have together.

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Whereas on the other hand,

Violet is on her way toward the garden away from the music and crowd and is at a totally opposite direction as compared to where Ashton and Sam were.

"Where are walking to? And that too in such a dark night without anyone around. Are you thinking of something stupid here." Ethan who has been following her since the time she left the palace said as he scolded her for not paying attention to her surrounding.

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"Why should I care when you are here? Haven't you been following me." She said as she stopped on her tracks and turned back to 

face him.

"Are you trying to give me a scare? why suddenly turn around like that." Ethan said as he kept his hands on his heart.

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"Why are you here instead of being with His Highness? Why follow a no one like me...are you a fool?" She said with her voice slowly cracking at the end.

"You---I am not a fool and I know what I am doing." He said as he took a few steps towards her while she rubbed her eyes which were about to cry.

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"Don't come near me...go back!" She said as she pushed him aside but her body condition wasn't good enough and the amount of pwoer she used in its one day exhausted her body to the extent that she got a nosebleed.

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"Ahh! Not this again." She groaned as she sighed and looked at Ethan but she couldn't see his face clearly and slowly slowly everything got blurry and within a second her words became dark and silent. Thankfully she fell unconscious on Ethan's arms.

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"Violet! Violet open your eyes what's wrong? Violet!" He said her names multiple of times but nothing reached her ears.

Thought her subconscious mind had this one thought going inside her mind.

"....Irene I told you the day...I walk on thr wrong way eveb if you don't keep yourself away form me I will walk way form you....I full-filled my promise...Now it's time to say goodbye...Sorry and Thank You...Irene..." 

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"Violet!" Irene said out if sudden while getting ready for the main dance.

"Lady Winter are you okay? If you are having any problem just tell me...or maybe you are feeling nervous. If you want we can postpone the dance time--"

"Your Highness there is no need to do so. I was just thinking of something...but I am ready to go now." Irene said as she stood up wearing those specially costimised heels for today's ball.

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"So, can I?" He asked while forwarding his hand.

"Sure." Irene said and with the music both of them started dancing before those judgemental eyes and evil smiles.

But despite all the negativity for them the only thing visible was them and thr only they could hear was their raising heartbeats.

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"Your Highness, don't you regret having your first dance with me instead of Rose...you know no matter how much I try...I can't reach to her level." She asked as a joke.

"Really but honestly this dance didn't really matter to me." 

"But your highness this is your first dance--"

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"It isn't, if it was my first dance then there is noway I would have let take this palce....but this isn't." He said as he smiled at her and Irene couldn't understand his point.

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"Don't act so confused. You might have not realized but...for me my first dance was the day we danced in the summer festival 3 years ago." He said and with that magically enough their first dance ended and many people surrounded the Prince. 

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And Irene who was flustered by his sudden statement just stood there completely frozen. But weridly enough she was now laughing alone in a corner with a blushing face.

"Your Highness, we think alike...for me too my first dance was the time we danced together at the summer Ball and that wouldn't change." 

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"Look how happy she is." Alfred said as he stood next to Rose who was looking at everyone dancing.

"She should be happy." She replied while walking towards the seat.

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"Rose! You...do you want to dance...with me?" He asked with a racing heart and red ears.

"Your Highness...my legs are hurt, so how could I dance?" 

"Don't ask me all that just answer me...will you dance with me? Yes or no?" He asked while forwarding his hand.

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"...I can't refuse you.." She said while holding his hands and suddenly he pulled her closer to him and made her stand on his foots.

"Your Highness, I can't do this. It will be disrespectful towards you and the royal family!" Rose said as she tried to move her legs but his grip was tight so she couldn't leave.

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"Please, let me do this atleast...because today is the first full moon my powers are weak so O can't heal you...so atleast let me do this." 

"If your highness insist so much then...please look after me." She said and both of them started dancing under the slow music with the moon being thier spotlight.

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With that despite difficulties and obstacles, ups and downs. The crown Prince Debut Ball started and ended up well and along with that many new relations and feelings opened their doors for each of them. While some ended up being bad and complicated, but things are not always as they seem.

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With this sweet meeting and , a bitter longing was waiting for them at the next page of their life and with this their childhood days ended along with the long and loved summer days.

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SEASON 2 END