Chapter 158 - Development (1)

Her train of thoughts was cut off and her attention was grabbed by a carriage that stopped on their opposite end. The carriage looked elegant and big. There were two coachmen and 4 horses. In Alexandra's eyes, it was sparkling as if it was made out of gold and it carries this bright aura even though it was just a carriage. One could tell what type of person was inside that just by staring at the carriage, there was also a crest which indicates that they were from the Royal Bloodline, the bloodline which rules over their empire. Goodness, Alexandra couldn't help but stare at the carriage with awe.

Somehow, the carriage looks flashy and glittering like it was covered with gold. That must be expensive, like really expensive but since my family is rich, this would just be cheap for them, Alexandra thought to herself and tried to imagine the cost of the carriage.

Followed by the carriage were three knights riding on each of their horses. That must be their personal knights. Even they held an elegant aura, they were also sparkling like how that carriage sparkled. They looked bright, they are blinding my eyes. Alexandra just realized this, aside from her maids, brothers, and father, she was surrounded by good-looking people like Carlos, Rowan, and Isabella. Aside from that, they are also good people. Isabella may look wild and carefree but she is really beautiful especially her hair. It has such a nice color and it looked vibrant.

Moving on, one of the knights opened the door for them and one by one, each one of them stepped out of the carriage. Prince Chandler was the first one to get out and there was this smug look on his face as he looked around. Well, that's his usual expression so Alexandra doesn't care about it. He waited for his brothers to step out of the carriage before he walked towards their direction. The next one who stepped out was Prince Gilbert and as usual, there was this blank look on his face and he was carrying a book. His hair was messy and it seems like he didn't fix it. Did nobody tell him about how messy his hair is or they just didn't notice it?

Nevertheless, he still looked presentable and he held an elegant aura. The last one who stepped out was their eldest brother, Prince Calixander. He held a serious and cold look on his face. Jeez, he could scare anyone with just that look of his. He held this cold yet elegant aura. Despite that, he still looked handsome. Quite an entrance actually.

Ah, why does it seems brighter than usual? They were being surrounded by sparkles and glitters. Really, the effects of being good-looking, Alexandra thought to herself as she stared at them and watched them walk towards their direction. Their personal knights followed behind them quietly. The one on the right who was behind Chandler had a smile on his face. The one behind Gilbert who was on the left held a gentle look. Right, he was that knight who called Alexandra a witch straight to the face and warned the prince to not get close to her just like what he said when he found out that they were together.

Well, Carlos threatened him and told him what my father told him to do that person in case if they hurt or insult Alexandra. Moving on, the one behind Calixander held a blank look just like his master. The people who were in line bowed as they walked past them and welcomed them.

"Welcome back, your majesty,"

"Welcome back, Prince Chandler, Prince Gilbert, Prince Calixander,"

Their voices conquered the place and Alexandra waited for them to arrive in front of them. Really, their presences are like… overwhelming. They didn't pay attention to the servants who greeted them and just walked towards their direction with either a straight look or a smug look on their faces. Alexandra couldn't help but gulp as they draw near and she felt her heart thumping like crazy. Anxiety started to conquer her whole system and she felt weak but she remained strong, she was just going to greet them and welcome them back then give them their gifts right after. She would visit the library with Christian after that to read books as always.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, think about the books that you will read at the library with Christian later after this, she thought of herself trying to calm herself down.

As she was trying to calm herself down, her gaze met Prince Calixander's. Alexandra didn't avert her gaze and just continued to stare at him, she didn't show any fear or nervousness on her face although her palms were cold. Alexandra stiffened from her position and Prince Calixander was the one who first averted his gaze. Christian noticed how stiff and nervous Alexandra is even though she wasn't showing it, he just knew that she would be nervous at this time. So to help her calm down, he grabbed her hand and held it. Her hand is cold, probably because of the nervousness, he thought to himself and turned his head to look at Alexandra who also looked at him. He smiled at her and gave her hand a squeeze to reassure her that everything will be fine and he is here.

Alexandra couldn't help but smile at Christian's kind gesture. Even when she was going to be introduced to the people working in this palace, he was also there to reassure her and help her in case if she was nervous and she doesn't know what to do. Christian was her life-saver, he would always help her no matter what happens even if she still hasn't known about what his true feelings are. Despite his jealousy towards her, he still helped her. Alexandra squeezed back his hand and she looked ahead of her.

They arrived in front of them. They bowed their heads slightly to greet them, "A pleasant morning, father, brother, and Alexandra," Oh good, it seems like they haven't forgotten about me, she thought to herself and relief washed over her. She felt herself slowly calm down and her posture relaxed as well as her features. Christian still held her hand tightly and looks like he has no intention of letting it go even though she already calmed down. But it's not like she hates it, rather she was glad.

She thought that they will just ignore her and greet them, their father and brother. They lifted their heads as soon as Gilbert's eyes darted at her direction and their eyes met, Alexandra smiled at him, her eyes closing in the process. Gilbert just nodded as a response before he looked ahead of him.

Right, the gifts. How do I give this to them? I want to give them this now since they are all gathered together and if I did it later, it would be really troublesome since we have to look for them, Alexandra thought to herself and she looked at Christian at the corner of her eyes. She saw him in a daze as if he was thinking about something, he must be thinking on how to give them his gifts too, Alexandra let out a sigh and she looked at her brothers.

"Alexandra, Christian, aren't you going to give them something as a welcome back gift?" Her father called out to them as they were thinking about how to give them their gifts now. Oh, a savior, she thought to herself as she turned her head towards the direction of her father who was looking at them. Alexandra smiled at him before she returned her gaze at her brothers. Christian was the first one who gave them their gifts, he gently let go of her hand and he turned around to look at Gabriel, his personal knight, and took the gifts from him as he handed it to him.

"Welcome back, I'm glad that you returned safely. I know that it is quite unusual for me to give you gifts but I want to get close to you and improve our relationship as siblings," Christian said as he smiled at them while giving them their gifts. "It's just simple ones and it would be awkward if I got the same gifts as Alexandra, I just went by with what you might need," Christian said in a gentle tone of voice still smiling at them when they took the gifts. Alexandra doesn't know what was inside so she just stared at it and listened to Christian speak until he finished so that she can give them their gifts already.

Carlos already handed her the gifts that she was going to give. It looks like they were celebrating The Winter Star since they were giving gifts but it's just normal, even for commoners, to give gifts to each other at this kind of event or thing.

"Welcome back. These are mine," Was what Alexandra said as she gave them the gifts. There was a smile on her face as she handed it to them. Chandler was the first one who got his gift and as he stared at it, his eyes sparkled as he guessed what was inside. Judging by the size of the box which is rectangular and how it is light, there must be a necklace inside. It would be better if it was Hermit's Necklace, I have been looking for it for weeks already, he thought to himself, excited. He opened the box and when he saw what was inside, joy rushed over him and he was correct. It was the Hermit's Necklace, he wanted to hug the person who gave this to him at this moment but he restrained himself as he knew who it was.

He has to act cold and serious towards her even when she gave him the one thing that he really wanted to have. Be serious, have a serious look on your face. Act like you didn't care about the gift that you received from her. Ah, I wish I was like brother Calixander who can easily hide his feelings and emotions. I bet he is really happy and he felt celebrating when he receives the sweets from Alexandra, knowing him, he loves sweets. It has been so long since he has eaten one. Well, Brother Gilbert has always been natural. It feels like he has no emotion at all even when he received a book which he would like.

"Hmph! This must be fake," He said and turned his head to the side, acting like an arrogant and spoiled brat in front of his father. Despite that, he can't hide how happy he was. He was preventing his lips from curling up into a smile. He heard his personal knight, Cortez, let out a laugh which he immediately surpassed when he glared at him.

"Then would you like someone to check if that is real, your majesty? I know someone who can do it—" Chandler interrupted him from speaking and he held the box tightly in his arms as if he was protecting it from him, Cortez was about to touch the box. Cortez was just teasing the young prince since he knows that it was real, he was just acting like that to hide what he feels. The way he hides his feelings were completely different from how Christian hides it.

"Don't touch it," He said and glared at Cortez who immediately raised both of his hands as if he surrendered. Alexandra gave her gift to Calixander who just accepted it without saying anything, he just stared at it for a few seconds. Relief washed over her when he didn't say anything although it was weird that he didn't say anything, he must have been expecting it already that's why he did not react at all.

"Lorraine Wester? That's the first time that I heard that name, is she famous?" Gilbert asked Alexandra in his monotonous tone of voice. Gilbert was the last one who received his gift. "Read it. It's a really good book although she isn't as famous as the other writers or authors," Alexandra said as she smiled at him. Gilbert just nodded and Alexandra went back to Christian's side.

Everything went well. She is already done here and she wants to go to the library already. Since her brothers who just arrived still haven't eaten anything, they went to the dining room along with their father while Christian and Alexandra went to the library to read because they already ate.