"Sophia... When... did you arrive...?"

"I...I... Just a moment ago." replied Sophia, fixing her expression. She couldn't just stare at Leon like an idiot, but what she saw today was something of a rare sight to witness. Still, she felt sad for seeing the man before her crying. Couldn't understand why he was crying...? Was he in pain...? Why...?

"Did you need something from me..?"

"No... I came here to give you this letter..." said Sophia, handing out the letter to Leonhart, which arrived just this morning.

Handing the letter, James closely inspected it from all sides. He had no plans to receive any letters but seeing the insignia of Esper house engraved he knew where this letter came from. So he broke the old-fashioned wax seal, which showed the imprint of a man caring a sword and slaying a mighty dragon, and opened the flap. Inside were a couple of sheets of what appeared to be old-fashioned parchment.

The parchment - which he realized wasn't actually parchment, but just an excellent reproduction - was covered with thin, elegant handwriting. It was the sort of old-world penmanship that's rarely taught and he had only seen that in history museums. His own handwriting was a messy scrawl by comparison.

It read.

...

Hello Brother,

How are you doing...? I know it had not been that long, but still I missed you a little, just a little, not much. The seat where you always sat is empty. Mother also kept calling you during dinner. That's it. Other than that, no one remembers you.

Moving on, I know you are in Esvet learning something which you should have learned long ago, but what can we do? It's you... The king of idiots, so...

Ok ok. I will stop now.

Anyway, this letter is just a reminder from me to you that you have to come back home as soon as possible. I know you will be get angry and whale like " Why...? If I have to go back then why I even came here? What's so important happening?". So the answer is...

Don't look this down, idiot, turn to the next page. (End of the Page)

The answer is.... There is a birthday, and we all have to attend, including father and mother.

Once again, don't look this down, moron, turn to the next page. (End of the Page)

Now you are asking whom birthday is it... Right.

I know you would... So...

Why are you reading this...? Why can't you just go to the next page? (End of the Page)

Yeah so, it's Elizabeth's birthday. Yes, Elizabeth... the princess. No... not that horse (Don't tell anyone about the horse). Ok so it's her birthday and like every year there is a gigantic party at the palace where every major noble family throughout the empire is invited. And like every year, we are going. It's father's strict order that you must attend or, in other words, if you don't, then he will kick your ass.

It's your choice... I am not forcing you. But remember the consequences ok.

So... the party is in 15 days, adjust your schedule and come back. We have a lot of things to do. From buying gifts to new dresses and so many things I can't even count.

Ok. That's it. I have nothing more to add.

Your Sister, who should have born before you.

Adeline.

What in the world you are trying to find in this blank paper? There is nothing here.

Idiot.

(End of the Page)

...

Sophia, who was seeing Leonhart's expression the whole time, did not know what the letter was about. But judging from his facial expression, which was a little soft smile on the first page, then slowly turned into an annoyed expression with each passing page. She knew Adeline had done something to irritate her brother, cause letters from her were not simple. She always had a way to mess with him.

Soon Leonhart dropped the letter and got up from his seat and moved towards the large window, directly overlooking the well-maintained garden. At the same time, Sophia couldn't control her curiosity and asked him about the letter. It was beyond her paygrade to meddle in her master's affairs, but as a childhood friend of both siblings; she knew them pretty well and was confident that they won't mind even if she asked.

"Milord... What's in the letter...?"

"Look for yourself..." said James, without averting his gaze from the window.

She picked up the letter and started reading. And soon her expression also changed into a smile, but didn't change like Leon. She expected something like this to happen.

Leon had always been a short-tempered guy, and Adeline had always been a calm-composed noble lady from outside, but in reality, both siblings were quite similar. Their priorities, humor, messing with each other were always the same. There was never a day went by when something had not happened between them. Thus, their relationship could be best described as a dog and cat, who never got along with each other, but were really close.

Only the people who worked in the duchy or were close to the family knew about this, but no one dared to speak a word outside, fearing the ground shattering reputation of Leonhart.

"So... What did you learn...?" asked James, turning his head to see Sophia's expression.

He had no one else back in his time to talk or ask anything like this, but now this maid, whom she met just a few days ago, was always with him. Wherever he went, she went with him. Neither protested nor got irritated. She did her job and stayed silent. James had thought about asking how they know each other, but never got the right time. But despite everything, he really was grateful to her.

"She always does this... Doesn't she?" said Sophia with a small smile.

"Yea..." said James involuntarily. He had no memories of Adeline but had memories of Jessica, his long gone little sister. She always argued with him, fought with him, but made up after some moment. At that time, he hated those brief arguments, but now, he could only smile remembering those. They really were priceless. Still, he got irritated over repeatedly getting called moron or idiot by Adeline but never once hated it.

"But, Lord, we have to leave now..."

"What do you mean by leave...?"

"Like lady Adeline said, you have to go back to the duchy and attend her highness's birthday. It is utmost important."

"Oh... That..." said James, massaging his eyelids.

"..."

"Can't I just skip that and stay here...?" asked James. He didn't want to attend that gigantic party. First, he hated spotlight and then second Leonhart's father would force him to do something to get the princesse's attention or to impress her, which was practically hopeless. If he tried, he could lift the titanic from the bottom of the sea but this, it was impossible. There was no way in this whole wide country that he would be able to hold a conversation, let alone impress her. It was simply a failed plan from the very beginning.

"You can, but the Duke would seriously get angry." replied the maid in a concerned tone. She knew what the duke could do to him if he didn't attend.

"That's another issue, isn't it?"

"..."

"..."

For a brief period, neither of them spoke. Leon kept massaging his forehead and Sophia kept staring at him. James knew what would happen to him if he won't attend the party, and had to take a decision very soon or that old guy would shout at him again, just for being late. That man named Heinrich really was strict, well otherwise how could he become a duke of that caliber?

"So... What's your decision...?" asked Sophia, breaking the silence.

"We are going." said James with a sigh. He didn't have a choice to begin with and he was just wasting his time, pondering over the matter, which was already decided.

***

Inside an enormous room, which was filled with items which screamed extravagancy, sat a lovely girl wearing a nightgown on her luxurious bed, which was plated with gold and many other beautiful stuff. The moonlight coming from the windows reflected on her black hair, further emphasizing her charm. With obsidian eyes and pale white skin, she was a beauty compared to none in the entire empire.

But a glint of sadness could be seen in her beautiful eyes. Her birthday was in just the corner, but she was not happy. Girls at her age would rejoice just thinking about what they could do on that day, but for her, it was a hassle. It was not a special day, but was a punishment. She would have to deal with hundreds of people and they would treat her like some delicate object which could break at any moment.

She wanted to chat, wanted to laugh, wanted to get involved in a conversation, but whenever she said something, others would just fall silent. She would get priority in every little thing, but was it what she wanted? Yes, some people like to get prioritized in everything, but she wasn't one of them.

She wanted to talk like normal people, laugh like normal people, cry like normal people. But never got what she wanted. Always got prioritized over everything.

Soon she lied down on her bed and closed her eyes, tried to get some sleep, but it was not so quick to come, but those derailed thoughts were. As she turned to her left, a certain painting drawn by her came into view.

It was a drawing of a mermaid, who was swimming deep in the vast blue sea, trying to grasp something with her bare hands. From afar, it would seem that she was just swimming, but if anyone would inspect closely, there was a whole another story to tell. She was no doubt swimming, but to where, to what end? The sea was endless and beautiful, but was also dark and silent. There was only one way the light could come to lighten this world. And the way was up where the light was.

She was trying to grasp the light. She was trying her best to touch the light, which could light up her universe.

Elizabeth's story was eerily same with the mermaid. Her world was vast and beautiful, but was also dark and silent. She always tried to grasp something. Was it normality? Was it freedom? She never knew what it was. But had always tried to grasp it.

"What would... Leon think of this...?" mumbled the princess to herself. After the recent talk where he accurately mentioned what the drawing meant, she wanted to show all her painting to him. She wanted to know what his thoughts were?

Would he be able to tell what she wanted to convey in her paintings or just would say beautiful and move on like how others did.