Sevenz's eyes were gazing at the scenery outside the window which was only filled with everything in the color of white.

Snow was everywhere and covered everything visible before them.

While he had known and heard about the chilling weather of this fief, he did not expect it to be so cold even during summer.

However, he had given his word to his best friend, Yvonne, that he would spend his summer in any place other than the South.

Therefore, he had requested Prince Draco to take him and Ocular's men along with him on this trip to the Roschester fief.

Initially, Sevenz had planned to stay in the fief even when Prince Draco had declared to return to the Capital the first time.

However, that unfortunate incident where the Prince had gone missing for three whole days was a big fright for him.

Sevenz had very few true friends and this Prince was one whom he had cared for, for a very long time.

When he heard of Horace and Sigma's incompetence to protect their Master, he had brought the men who had come along with him to search for the Prince.

After he was found, Prince Draco rested only for one evening before insisting on making his trip to the Capital early the next morning.

Therefore, Sevenz did not wish for something to go wrong this time as well.

To ensure Draco's safety, he had announced that he would accompany them on this journey and made up an excuse of the cold being too much for him to bear.

He could not leave everything in the hands of the two shadow knights and hence had even asked a group of his best men to follow them at a short distance, prepared to protect them if something were to happen.

The rest of Ocular's staff would also return to the Capital but they would begin their journey in the afternoon when the sun was high and it wasn't too cold for them.

Thus, Sevenz was now inside the carriage heading towards the Capital at full speed.

Prince Draco was with him and the etcher too laid on the seat next to his master.

'I still cannot make out which species it belongs to.' Sevenz was confused and disappointed that he could not figure out the identity of his friend's etcher.

Tutu too was of no help in this regard as the fur around its body made it difficult for them to make any assumptions.

However, there was one thing they knew for sure.

'This is not any ordinary etcher.' Sevenz was convinced about this fact as Draco's powers had shot up in just three days after meeting this beast which could indicate that the beast was a special one.

His friend surely deserved the best so he could not help but smile at this thought.

However, the carriage was filled with a stifling silence as they moved along.

The location where Prince Draco had been swept away by the whirlwind was right ahead of them and Sigma's eyes were vigilant, waiting to see if something would pop up.

However, this time to their surprise, there was no sudden blizzard, no freezing winds, and no surprise whirlwinds hindering their journey.

Horace was preparing himself and Sigma was clenching the reins but never did something of that sort happen.

The carriage moved along the path with ease and even after they crossed the border and entered the territory of Amarthea the two guards could not believe what they had just witnessed.

Every time they exited the Roschester fief with their Master, it would be as though the fief was stopping the Prince from leaving.

This time, however, they left with ease, and not once did they face any obstruction.

Even Sevenz and the men following them at a distance had the same reaction but they could only remain silent and grateful for this turn of events.

On the other hand, the one at the center of their worries was seated with no expression on his face.

There was no surprise, no confusion, and most certainly no worries written on his indifferent face.

'I told you that I could solve your problems, Master.' A smug yet stiff voice was heard, making the young prince pat the head of the one who had just spoken.

Astolfo's face looked satisfied with the reward it received in exchange for what it had just done.

Thus, the Young Prince, his friends, his subordinates, and those following them along with their respective etchers, managed to exit the Roschester fief and enter Amarthea without a hitch in their journey.

Their destination was half a day's journey away and at the fast pace the horses were galloping, they might reach their destination before the estimated time.

With confusion swirling in the minds of the others traveling with him, Prince Draco was ecstatic to get another step closer to reuniting with his elder brother.

While this carriage was moving in the direction of the Rosenhyde Royal Palace located in Amarthea, another carriage was traveling at full speed away from the Capital.

___

For the past few days in the summer estate of the St. Claire fief, there was a gloomy aura surrounding them.

Four days ago a letter had arrived from the capital stating that an unknown disease was spreading rapidly in the Southern fiefs of the Kingdom.

One of the fiefs being affected belonged to someone whom the Young Master of this family cared about so once everyone working here heard about it, they felt compassion for the young boy.

Howard St. Claire was worried if something bad would happen to the little boy who followed him around during their stay in the Royal Academy.

The only times he would forget about his gloomy thoughts was when he was sparring with his little sister.

Aware of this fact, the servants pitied the young miss more as she had been dragged along to practice with him early in the morning until the sun was too high and again in the evening until the sun sets.

'I cannot keep this up any longer!' The little girl seated on the ground was huffing in an attempt to catch her breath.

Yvonne St. Claire, the little girl being mentioned, was gritting her teeth as she glared at the one who had caused her to become this way.

It was almost six in the evening yet the sun had not gone down thanks to the long summer days.

She was exhausted and sweating like a little pig but her elder brother showed no intention of stopping their training which had begun around two hours ago.

'I get that he is worried and this helps him relieve his frustrations but I'm getting overworked in this process!' She scowled with her eyes narrowed at the boy before her.

Howard St. Claire was still on his feet however, even his face was dotted with droplets of sweat and his chest rose and fell as he was breathing harder just like the girl before him.

From the first day that he had heard the bad news, he had been training for longer hours, and inevitably, his sister was dragged along during these times.

At times, Jax also fell victim to Howard, becoming his sparring partner, and was even able to keep up pace with the Young Master.

However, Jax had other chores to look after so this task fell on the Young Miss who most certainly was overworked.

"Big Brother, let's end it here for today." Yvonne declared, unwilling to carry on any further.

Even Captain Desmo would not overwork her to such an extent that she had to sit on the ground to catch her breath.

Howard looked over at his baby sister wiping her forehead on the sleeve of her shirt and nodded in approval.

He knew that he was the cause of this but he could not help himself as holding the sword was the only time he could get rid of such troubling thoughts.

He had been waiting for some news from the Capital, assuring them that the boy from the Jorbin family was doing fine but he had not received anything of that sort until now.

This was only heightening his anxiety as he wondered if things would take a bad turn at any time.

Noticing the frown on his face, Yvonne sighed as she rose to her feet.

"Brother, have you not heard of that saying before?" She questioned while dusting her trousers.

Howard raised his brow in question, waiting for her to continue.

"No news is also good news, Brother. So stop fretting about this matter." She patted his shoulder, comforting him in her own little way.

However, Howard tilted his head and his expression proved that he had not understood what she was trying to say here.

"There is no such saying, Vonny." He retorted, making her choke a little.

Thus, on this day, a new saying emerged in this Kingdom as Yvonne explained the meanng of the words she had just revealed to her elder brother.

Standing at a window facing the training area Rutherford had built for the children, Raylene was watching the interaction between the siblings.

Her Vonny was explaining something with much seriousness and Howie was reciprocating by paying attention to her words.

'I wonder when the Duchess will write me a reply...' The concerned mother sighed as she had not heard back from her close friend regarding the letter she had sent to the Tanner fief a few days ago.

The answer to that letter might ease a lot of her worries, making her hope that it reached her sooner than expected.