later]

----

Three years have passed. Aderi and Caelias have grown closer as they grew taller. Caelias would often go to Aderi in broad daylight to hang out with her. On the other hand, Aderi and Lucas also grew closer.

Whenever Aderi goes to the manor of Lacita's, she would always meet Lucas, he was easy to find. Often found in the garden or the garden's pavilion.

She always eats in her room and only goes out if necessary, this prevents her from meeting her father.

At the moment Aderi was getting ready to have lunch with her grandparents today. She was looking at the mirror fixing the bow in her hair before going down to leave.

----

"Going somewhere, are we?" Aderi heard a voice from behind her, Aderi smiled happily and looked behind to the opened balcony door.

"Cael!" Aderi said happily, she was greeted with Cael's smiling face.

"So where are you going?" Cael asked as he walked towards Aderi. When he was in front of Aderi he ruffled Aderi's hair.

"HEY! I JUST FIXED IT!" Aderi yelled, Cael took his hand off as he chuckled. Aderi looked at Cael disappointed.

"So where are you going?" Cael asked as Aderi took off her bow that was holding her hair in a high ponytail.

"To my grandparents, they invited me to eat lunch!" Aderi answered without looking at Cael indicating she was still mad.

"Still angry?" Cael asked as he watched Aderi brush her hair. Aderi was looking at the mirror not even sharing a glance at Cael.

"Let me brush your hair to make up for what I did," Cael said as he also looked into the mirror, but he was looking at Aderi's reflection since Aderi's back is facing him.

"You might mess it up even more! you don't know how hard it put your hair in a high ponytail using a ribbon," Aderi said, Cael was still looking at Aderi's reflection and he knew that Aderi is still clearly angry, he cracked a small smile looking at Aderi's angry expression in the mirror.

Cael walks away from the mirror for a moment. He grabbed a chair and placed it behind Aderi.

"Sit down," Cael said as he forcefully made Aderi sit. Aderi on the other hand was stunned by Cael's action.

"I'll take this" Cael said as he took the brush from Aderi's hand.

"The ponytail doesn't suit you," Cael said as he was brushing Aderi's hair. Aderi's jaw dropped and quickly turned to Cael.

"I thought you were making it up to me for what you did!?" Aderi asked as she tried to snatch the hairbrush from Cael's hands, but he lifted it in the air, even if she stood up and tried grabbing it, Cael was much taller than Aderi.

"I am, I'm just giving my honest opinion," Cael said, Aderi glared at Cael before looking back at the mirror. Cael continued brushing Aderi's hair.

"So what hairstyle do you think would suit me then?" Aderi asked as she looked at Cael's reflection in the mirror in front of them.

"I prefer you with your hair down, or a half up and half down hairstyle, maybe even in a bun," Cael replied.

"So what are you gonna do with my hair then?" Aderi asked Cael curiously. Her anger was now completely gone and it was replaced by curiosity.

"Half up and half down," Cael replied as he focused on making the hairstyle perfect.

Cael reached into his pocket, his eyes widen when he felt that nothing is in his pocket.

"Cael? Are you alright?" Aderi asked, Cael turned back to Aderi and nodded.

"Uhm...I need something to tie your hair" Cael said, Aderi then lifted her hand. In her hand is a fancy red ribbon.

"Where did you get this? I saw you wear this before" Cael asked as he took the ribbon on Aderi's hand.

"It's a gift from Lucas" Aderi answered, Cael stopped for a moment. He felt jealousy when he heard where this ribbon came from.

----

Both boys knew about each other's existence due to Aderi's stories about them

----

°

°

"Done," Cael said, Aderi stood up from the chair and turned her back on the mirror. She turned her head slightly to the side to see the hairstyle that Cael did.

"Wow! I didn't know you knew how to tie hair," Aderi said impressed, as she turned to Cael. Cael has a smile on his face.

"Hurry along now you'll be late," Cael said as he patted Aderi's hair gently

"Thank you, Cael!" Aderi smiled happily, and Cael stopped patting Aderi's head.

"I'll come back tonight," Cael said as he put his cloak hood on his head. Aderi nodded.

"I'll wait for you then," Aderi replied with a smile, Cael nodded.

"Stay safe," Cael said with a smile as he walked to the balcony and left. Aderi looked back at the mirror once more.

"Didn't know you have this talent cael" aderi said happily as she gently moved her hair that was in front of her to the back.

Aderi hurriedly went out of her room since the carriage was waiting for quite some time now.

°

°

°

Aderi arrived at the manor of Lacita's and there she was greeted by Luke.

"Welcome, m'lady!" Luke said greeting Aderi after he opened the carriage door.

"Good afternoon sir Luke!" Aderi said smiling, as Luke helped Aderi get out of the carriage.

"The duchess and duke Lacita are waiting for you in the dining room," Luke said as he let go of Aderi's hand.

"Shall I take you there now, m'lady?" Luke asked with a smile, and Aderi nodded with a smile.

"Yes, we shall, I do not intend to make my grandparents wait any longer," Aderi said smiling, Luke nodded.

"Right this way, M'lady," Luke said gesturing to the entrance of the mansion with a slight bow.

°

°

Luke knocked two times on the big dining room door.

"Lady Aderi Callista has arrived," Luke announced. a few seconds later the door was opened by the guards inside.

"Welcome, darling!" Her grandmother greeted who was already sitting on her chair.

"Come in, come in!" Her grandfather said smiling, Aderi smiled and stepped inside the dining room, the door closed behind her.

"Did I make you two wait long?" Aderi asked as she made her way to the dining table. Her grandparents shook their heads.

"Not at all sweetie" her grandmother answered with a smile. A maid then pulled the chair for Aderi to sit.

"Shall we eat now? I'm sure your both hungry after waiting for me" Aderi said smiling, her grandparents both nodded.

"We prepared all of your favorites!" Her grandmother said smiling as the maids put the food down on the table.

"Thank you, grandma, and grandpa!" Aderi thanked her grandparents.

°

"Ah right...Aderi I would like to tell you that I and your grandmother will be going on a trip to meet an investor" her grandfather said changing the topic. Aderi stopped cutting her steak and looked at her grandfather.

"When? And how long?" Aderi asked curiously. Aderi suddenly felt uneasy.

"We will leave tomorrow, that's why we wanted to have one last lunch with you before we leave. We will only be there for one week honey" her grandmother answered with a wide smile, Aderi looked down.

"Aderi...no need to be so sad! Besides you're already turning 18" her grandmother said. Aderi's heart sank even more.

"18...the age when Aderi lost her grandparents," Aderi thought to herself as she grips the utensils in her hands tighter.

"Aderi?" Her grandfather called, Aderi looked up facing them.

"Ah...it's nothing," Aderi said as she took a bite of her steak.

"If I remember correctly the carriage in the novel is white," Aderi said thinking as she kept eating.

"A-ah...may I know what color of the carriage will you both be riding?" Aderi suddenly asked, her grandparents looked at each other.

"It's white, why is that?" Her grandmother answered and asked confused. Aderi nodded.

"Where is the investor from?" Aderi asked trying to get some information out from her grandparents to possibly avoid this accident.

"The investor is from the land of Bisoplain" her grandfather answered. Aderi's eyes lit up.

"Wouldn't it be better if you took your blue carriage instead?" Aderi asked, her grandparents looked at each other confused.

"Cause I think it would make the transaction more successful since the national color of bisoplain is blue...I just think that if you take the blue carriage instead it means your respecting their country" Aderi said making up an excuse, there was a moment of silence. Until her grandfather spoke.

"You do have a point...what do you think, dear?" Her grandfather asked Aderi's grandmother.

"True...I think we should go in the blue carriage" her grandmother agreed, Aderi smiled widely.

"Thank you for the idea dear! I didn't even think about that" her grandmother said giggling, Aderi shook her head with a smile.

"Shall we continue eating then?" Aderi asked, her grandparents nodded.

In Aderi's mind, she wasn't sure that if her grandparents took a different carriage they would avoid the accident, there was only one thing Aderi can do. And it is to hope the outcome would change and to brace herself if things go wrong.

°

°

°

After lunch, she went to the garden to meet Lucas.

"Lucas!" Aderi yelled as she waved upon seeing Lucas's figure in the distance. The boy looked at Aderi as she ran towards him.

"Lady Aderi...did the lunch go well?" Lucas asked, Aderi nodded.

"Shall we go to the pavilion?" Aderi asked, Lucas, shook his head as a no.

"Shall we walk around the garden this time?" Lucas asked, Aderi nodded with a smile.

"Why the sudden change?" Aderi asked as she went on ahead of Lucas. Lucas did not answer so Aderi stopped walking and look back.

When she looked back she was met by Lucas's smiling face, their faces were inches apart.

"L-Lucas?" Aderi asked, she was confused about why Lucas was so near her.

"Your ribbon...I'm glad you're using it" Lucas said smiling, Aderi was too stunned to speak and just nodded.

"You gave it to me after all" Aderi answered as she touched the ribbon in her hair, Lucas took a step back.

"Shall we go on ahead m'lady?" Lucas asked with a smile, Aderi nodded.

"You still didn't answer my question" Aderi replied as they walked together.

"I figured a change of scenery would be refreshing" Lucas replied chuckling.

°

°

°

"CAELIAS!" Ronan yelled at the boy who just arrived.

"What do you want now?" Caelias answered back annoyed by the presence of his older brother Ronan.

"Haven't you heard?" Ronan asked. Caelias raised one of his eyebrows confused.

"What?" Caelias asked annoyed crossing his arms. Ronan on the other hand smirked.

"From today onwards you're not allowed to go out, since it's your 18th birthday tomorrow," Ronan said as he let out a small chuckle.

"Tomorrow morning you and the queen will be sent to jail...since after all, you're not a true Keane," Ronan said smirking as he turned around and walk away laughing.

Caelias bit his lips and clenched his hands out of frustration.

"Tonight...I have to go see her tonight, I will never see her again if I'm being sent to jail- the punishment for betrayal is...death" Caelias said in a bitter tone as he looked at his palm.

"Aderi..." He mumbled as he clenched his heart. He made up his mind that he will sneak out tonight, no matter how tight security is he will see her tonight...for one last time.

°

°

°

Night has fallen again and Aderi was sitting on her bed troubled about what will happen to her grandparents.

"You seemed troubled" Aderi heard when someone whispered from behind her.

"AH! Cael you scared me!" Aderi said as she jolted up from her bed turning to Cael, her back was facing the balcony door so she didn't see Cael coming in.

"Sorry that I scared you," Cael said with a smile. Aderi shook her head with a smile.

"It's alright" Aderi smiled brightly. While on the other hand, Cael smiled sadly.

"Why...why do you seem sad?" Aderi asked Cael as she noticed his smile. Cael walked closer to Aderi.

"I wanna give you something," Cael said as he pulled out a small box. Aderi tilted her head to the side curious.

"What is it?" Aderi asked curiously.

"Open it," Cael said as he gave a small box to Aderi. Aderi took the box and opened it. Inside was a dark blue ribbon, with gold laces. Aderi gasped at the gift.

"I-I...Cael this is so pretty!" Aderi said happily, as she looked at Cael.

"Glad you liked it!" Cael said smiling. Yet his smile is still a sad one.

"Why are you sad?" Aderi asked as she cupped Cael's cheeks.

"Aderi...this might be the last time we see each other" Cael finally broke down the news to Aderi.

"W-what?" Aderi's smile turned into a frown.

"I will be going somewhere far..." Cael said as he held Aderi's hand that was in his cheeks.

"W-why?" Aderi asked as tears fell from Aderi's cheeks.

"I need to do something important...I'm sorry Ade" Cael said apologizing as he wiped Aderi's tears.

"I want to give this gift to you before I leave...Aderi I hope you will always wear it," Cael said, Aderi nodded as she cried.

"W-will you come back?" Aderi asked, Cael nodded. But deep inside he felt guilty for lying to Aderi.

"Please...come back soon, okay?" Aderi asked, Cael nodded.

"Thank you for being my friend Aderi...this is goodbye, remember to wear my gift on special occasions, who knows we will meet each other at an event," Cael said jokingly since he knows he and his mother will be executed, Aderi nodded.

"Well then...thank you for everything Aderi, goodbye," Cael said as he pulled Aderi in a hug. Aderi hugged Cael back as she sobbed. They stayed like that for a couple of seconds before Cael pulled out of the hug and left out on the balcony.

While Cael was running back he felt his heart breaking into millions of pieces. He only can hope for a miracle to happen as his tears fell.

That night he only cried until he fell asleep.

°

°

°

Caelias was sleeping in his chambers when suddenly the door burst open.

"Seize him!" The king yelled, and the guards surrounded Caelias's bed. Two guards forcefully yanked Caelias's hands to make him sit up. Ronan was beside the king along with his mother smirking.

But when the blanket uncovered Caelias's face everyone turned silent.

"Y-your majesty...h-his hair," one of the guards said as he let go of Caelias's hands.

"I-it can't be!" Rachelle who is Ronan's mother said.

"What? Aren't you gonna detain me?" Caelias asked still half asleep not fighting his faith.

"There is no need for that my son!" The king said smiling warmly.

"Why?" Caelias asked confused, the king smiled wider.

"Look in the mirror son!" The king said, Caelias hurried to the mirror, in front of him is himself with white hair that represents the white hair of a Keane.

"I-it can't be! TELL ME WHO IS THE WITCH WHO MADE YOUR HAIR TURN WHITE!?" Rachelle asked Caelias, accusing Caelias of like what she did to caelias's mother.

"Witch? Is there even one? As far as I know, all witches and black magic welders and casters are gone for centuries now" Caelias asked, suddenly Caelias smiled.

"There is one...and it is you," Caelias said smiling at Rachelle.

"YOU- HOW COULD YOU TREAT ME LIKE THAT! I'M GONNA BE THE FUTURE QUEEN YOU BRAT!?" Rachelle said angrily as she was gonna walk toward Caelias but the king grabbed her in the arm.

"First you accused my wife of having an affair to have my son Caelias...you're after the throne after all," the king said glaring at Rachelle.

"L-let goes of me, your majesty, it hurts," Rachelle said. Ronan glared at Caelias before he tried helping his mother.

"F-father...my mother is getting hurt, please let go of her" Ronan said to the king. The king threw Rachelle to the ground.

"MOTHER!" Ronan said as he tried helping his mother.

"You ruined my son and my wife's reputation. Don't worry I won't throw you out since you are the mother of Ronan, be thankful" the king said as he walked to Caelias. Caelias was satisfied with the events especially Rachelle got a scolding from the king.

"I hereby declare that will be moved to the main palace, he will have lessons to be a proper prince. Order everyone in the palace to ready everything for Prince Caelias" The king announced. Caelias smirked at Ronan and Rachelle who was on the ground.

"Father...may I have a request?" Caelias asked. The king looked at Caelias with a smile.

"What is it, son?" The king answered. Caelias smiled widely.

"Can you also raise an order that whoever bad mouths me and my mother should be severely punished starting today?" Caelias asked, his father raised one of his eyebrows.

"What may be the reason, son?" The king asked.

"The rules of the kingdom that 'whoever talks ill about the royal family would be punished' we're never really applied to me and my mother," Caelias said with a sad look, the king nodded.

"That is true...order granted" the king replied. The king looked at the knights.

"You heard him, spread the word!" The king said the knight's salute before going out of the room.

"May I see my mother...father?" Caelias asked, the king nodded.

"Let's go" the king replied.

°

Caelias and the king were walking in the hallway when suddenly they saw a figure running toward them.

"Your majesty! Please don't run!" The maids behind queen Crystal said.

Suddenly Caelias was pulled into a hug.

"My child! I'm sorry for doubting that you were switched! Forgive me!" Crystal said as she cried on Caelias's shoulders. Caelias smiled and hugged her mother back, this was what he wanted all this time.

"I already forgave you, mother," Caelias said smiling happily.

"Crystal" the king called the queen. Crystal looked at the king.

"Yes, your majesty?" Crystal asked. The king cleared his throat.

"Please...accept the apology that I accused you of having an affair...I'm sorry I believed in Rachelle" the king said. The queen's eyes lit up and nodded.

"I forgive you, your highness" Crystal said smiling.

----

After all these years, the queen forgave the king that easily, even if she was accused by the one she truly loved. Her love for the king stayed the same.

----

Caelias smiled happily as he saw his parents making up the relationship that broke because of Rachelle.

He looked out the window.

"I have a chance to see you again Aderi!" He thought to his mind.

"Caelias...from now on you are not allowed to go outside, your hair changed and only us royalty have this hair. We don't want you getting assassinated now" the king said, Caelias was brought back to earth.

"Yes, father" Caelias answered.

"We will announce you as the official crown prince next year...first you will need etiquette classes that are meant for a true royal prince," his father said, Caelias nodded happily.

°

°

°

Now the true main story in the novel begins.