30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVcbnvWPGd
There was only two rooms in the Aeneas tower, and the other one was occupied. Fern and Logan has to sleep beside each other for the rest of the days they will be staying here. Just by having the though of that, Logan was feeling an irritation of being in a single room with Fern.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ676nfdSDhG
The room was four corner, having a wooden floor that every steps make a sound like it was going to break and they'll fall of beneath the tower. The only source of light is from the two lamps above the side table of the bed and the other one was on the small shelf near the entrance of the room.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLXSI5Csb9
"His Majesty can sleep on the bed. I can sleep anywhere." Fern said, thinking that Logan would swear an oath for her to disappear when they sleep on the same soft bed.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIjdtl2Cky
"Yeah. I bet so too." Logan sarcastically said.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP6UgbjB3C
Fern didn't say anything and just take a pillow that's on the bed. The other two pillows was for his Majesty to use. Felicitously, there was a divan at the side of the wooden closet near the window. Fern can sleep there. Her body is comfortable anywhere that's soft on her back.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPrLm6nYhW
Fern laid her body on the divan and hugged the pillow instead of putting it in her head. For her, it's more comfortable.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyXh2nxf7N
She closed her eyes. She has no energy to babble and blurt things she know in the emperor like she always does everytime. For now, she's regaining an energy and saving up the words for tomorrow. Today has been a long day, and her mind was occupied from the thought of worries that she needs to keep up with herself.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeII5F3SexY
Just like that, she fell asleep. Her back was the only sight Logan can see from the bed he was pacing out.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJcexji7e9
It's unusual that she's not babbling things like crazy and just sleep on like that. He thought.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF0uRkBV1K
It's not that Logan minded that. At first, he really doesn't care whenever Fern babbled and he became used to it and he's babbling back because he want to defend his opinions in her statements. But now, he felt disoriented.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4szfHmiUkP
He shake his head and rubbed his forehead and throw himself at the bed, not far from was Fern's back figure sleeping on the divan.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuz751upq5
He closed his eyes, hoping that he would fall asleep, but that doesn't work. He became irritated and glared at the ceiling. An hour and half had passed. His surrounding was quiet. He was tired, but his mind can't let him shut off.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WVDyxJ7LK
Then he heard something like a moan or grunt and he sat down from laying. When he looked to the direction of the sound, he saw Fern cradling herself like a baby and hugging herself. Her right ankle fall on top of her left ankle making the scene appears as if she was cold.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT2ZVNL9P7
Logan found himself uncomfortable from the sight and clicked his tongue. He took off the blanket from the bed and put it over her body. He heard her grunted a moan that seemed to be a relief and comfort. And then he was stunned, hesitating whether to withdrew it back or not. But it was already there.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HBnW2GwOO
Logan's jaw clenched as he can't thing of anything and just said to himself, I must be crazy. He snorted and rubbed his temple. Just right he goes back and throw himself on the bed, his eyes gradually closed and his body and mind rest...as he dreamt of something the past owned that was supposed to be forgotten.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ71peq2feP
☁︎☁︎☁︎
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvXEGpzz0t
It was fourteen years ago.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYcPKPv8En
Logan and his grandfather, the emperor, was inside the carriage to take their journey to the Marquess' place. Logan didn't know what's the news the emperor was going to tell him, and why not here right now? But the emperor just smiled.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKah42Jh6cV
"You'll know when we get there. Patience of the sanity, Logan." The emperor smiled.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAAF9sr7kz
Logan just stared at his grandfather's eyes with his flickering eyes filled with curiousness and frustration.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBoyzVOWzf
Is it important? A surprise for him, but why on the Marquess' place?
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2KlyQHdKL
"I will never understand," Logan exclaimed. "I will never understand what is it that grandfather the emperor is planning or what's on his mind. You always confused me by your words and I ended up taking everything as a puzzle that I needed to solve."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUYZ0IvkMU
The emperor pointed the tip of his finger on Logan's forehead. "What the news that's waiting for you there isn't a puzzle to be solve. It's different. You'll understand the path I laid for you."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFl4J7sPoq
Logan said, "I don't want the path grandfather laid on me."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmxQApNiVI
With his answer, the emperor smiled. "Then this time, a guide beside you when you laid your own path."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtwlz82XBr
He still can't understand. Until they came in the Marquess' place.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr75pkRtgX
The carriage stop by the gate as both of them got out the carriage from the help of the knight. Logan's eyes paced through the residence of the Marquess in front of him.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjz5dOtmY7
A big house, meadows in the both side that seemed to be a garden filled with flower bushes. There's a fountain in the middle of the garden in the right side. The place was beautiful, he won't deny. As they were walking towards the lane of the big house' door, it opened and revealed the people who lived there.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcjaMucPI4
Logan's eyes narrowed as he examine them. There was an old man that seemed to be the same age as his grandfather, it must be the Marquess, whom he knows is his (the emperor's) companion. The other two show signs of being a couple at the other side. A young lady and a man, beside each other and they were smiling.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5dl8H6zAi
"Your majesty, we're glad to have you here, we already prepared everything for a day of your stay," The marquess' voice was hoarse, his old age was seeming to be showing signs.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcra1jKAxld
The emperor smiled. "I'm please, Marquess!" And then he laughed. The two couple's gaze landed on Logan.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezWs6urvg2
"He's...he's his royal highness, your majesty?" The lady asked.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYYVabw0Wd
Emperor Lincoln nod his head and said with pleased expression, "He is,"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIk2GzTFrv
"Oh," The lady expressed, she sighed with amusement.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06bKZAEa2F
The Marquess and the couple bowed their head, "I greet his royal highness,"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnPq3mPEMO
Emperor Lincoln waved his hands at them, signifying that they doesn't need to. "Now, shan't we?" The marquess invited them inside.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUWeKk7uVI
"Hmm," The emperor nodded.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PG0q1ytLg
Logan followed along with the emperor inside, his eyes was pacing through the living room of the third floor as they head there. Logan stopped as he spotted a painting that was being displayed at the middle of the living room attached to the wall. His mind has forgotten to followed them in the other room where they invited them to have a tea, but Logan doesn't care.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tZHYeaa2g
The painting was a family portrait. There were five people in it, he recognized the other three. The Marquess and the couple, who greeted him a while ago. The Marquess was holding unto the other old woman that seemed to be his wife. But Logan didn't see her. The last one was a young girl in the middle of the couple, seemed to be younger than Logan.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHeV4F7tTz
It must be their child, he thought. But where is she?
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1qSW2Q8EB
"Your highness?" Logan recognize a voice from behind and turn around. It was the lady of the house, and she was smiling.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Shg5Tk4G
Logan's mouth was shut, just staring.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YsXFcqK7r
"Uhm," The lady's gaze paced through the familiar room before it came back in his'. "You're looking around???"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9F2K76I8f
Logan nod his head slightly. The lady's lip slowly curved. "Then...I'll tell his Majesty,"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN0XeSEXRo
Logan nodded. The lady turn around. Logan turned his head again. He walks towards the open window and look outside. His heart almost jumped out of his body when he saw someone sitting at the tree branch just two meters away of the outside window.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXR1drA8ya
The young girl must have heard something rustled by the window and look for it, only to see a young boy about a few years older than her. That young girl blinked. Logan lost words to speak.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5tBKdWi0D
He then realize that it was the young girl on the portrait sitting at the middle of the couple.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HgWYeKdYl
Why...is she here??? How can she climbed that tree???
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x8WtKpC0S
The young girl waved her small hands and beamed for him. "Hi!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5761jibVD
Logan just stared at her, failed to find words he could reply.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccaAKUYHv8
The young girl has a light ash blonde hair and it was wavy. Her eyes were green as jade and her skin was fair like she this place seemed to be a cold place for her to live. She seemed to be a cheerful and energetic.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5cf1W7GD1
The young girl must have thought that he was not intending to reply and said, "Uhm, my name is Fern. Why are you here in our house? Uhm, I live there, there inside, I'm just here to play..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0wolarTqQ
That's when Logan replied. "Logan."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsr32nG6sg
"Your name?"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjKiT7l3ON
"..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqOwoWAwIL
"That's a handsome name!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGkxoyD3xo
Logan reddened and his eyes fell on the windowsill before coming back to her again. That's when she repeated blabbering, "Uhm, do you know how to climb a tree? We can play here, we can play the leaves. And look, the horizon! The sunrise in the horizon is amazing. I'm always here to see it rise and set! Look! You can peak by the window!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz0nXw8SN4
Logan did as she told and look at the horizon.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfajn0O2uG5
And it's true. The horizon was mesmerizing. It's a breath-taking view from here.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSbG2R7iV8
Logan gaze back again at her, only to see that she was smiling at him as her eyes flickered with tenderness. Logan breathe, and asked, "How old are you?"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaMiNo1AuF
"I'm ten years old already. What about you, Logan?"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qliZf0Jut
"Twelve. I'm older."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHlDh85gI8
Fern nodded, processing it in her head. The next moment, she said, "I don't really mind. Are you here in our house to play with me? Did grandfather told you to be my playmate? It's been a long time since I had someone to play along with. Mother always pushed my playmates away because she said I always has to just study. Father does it too, he's like mother. But when grandfather is here, he let me play outside. Just like now, he let me play and said to just came back before lunch. But i play alone right now, I can't find other kids. Maybe they're sleeping or eating or playing with other playmates."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSyHwsORXO
"..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO16MSU7zg
"Logan, can you climb a tree?"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ2MSRRtja
"No."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdutHvF6Na6
"Oh, then you just stay there at the window. You'll fall off here, you can't be with me."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMBDxeh9wO
"..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NEG6KtO9D
"Wait a minute, I'll climb down. I'll play with you inside so you won't get sad in there."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhuYy6RHdW
She's talking like her mouth would never get tired.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmN0mHDe52
He saw her climb down the tree carefully, her hand gripping the trunks and branches from time to time. Logan felt a relief when she reached the bottom safely.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqumydkUJZ
Then he saw her running to get inside the house. A few moments later, he heard steps rushing to get here in the upstairs. That's when he saw her sillouhette clearly.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW7ngCKIui
She's just a little short in his height.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJXrk2EntK
"Logan!" Fern shouted, rushing towards him. "Logan, you're taller than me!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cus110Bb0
"...Yeah."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOEmoLVf3F
With that, Logan seen and heard her laugh for the first time. It's all a music to his ears. His young heart thumped for couple of times. He felt dazzled and lost.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxdKPFVDNK
That was a moment of delight before everything turned upside down. Before he's gone to hate all about her. Before he knew the news about the both of them that he loathed to be tied in.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8fwkOx1pe
☁︎☁︎☁︎
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo6EAqMs2f
Fern slowly opened her eyes. She saw a wooden ceiling as she unhurriedly got up from the divan she slept in. She stopped for a moment when she realized one thing.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8BYfAlSF6
A blanket covered in her body.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc13B4qXxIl
She quickly gape at the direction of the bed where the emperor was sleeping in. He's sleeping peacefully...with no blanket.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnUpSwQfG3
"Did he..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4MubuShiX
No, it was impossible. Fern thought. Maybe I took this and didn't notice because I'm so tired and fell asleep right through. She rubbed her temple and got up from the divan. She put the blanket on him and slow down her steps to got outside for him not to wake up.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k2TdJ87Yb
In the Aeneas' tower living room's chesterfield, he saw Caspian sitting and talking to a bird that's on his finger.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpoMr8vQla
She snort-laughed. Caspian turned his head when he heard it.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt3lye5iiJ
"Your majesty! The sun hasn't rise yet!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XzIsn05oD
"I know, I'm just used in waking up before it." Fern laughed and sat to the opposite chesterfield. She gazed at the bird that's also looking at her now. "Hello, green bird! You and my eyes has the same color! Hahahaha!" She waved.q
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPgi10NIf9
Caspian's lips curved. The green little bird's tiny eyes glistened at Fern.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn48yRJkGe
"Oh, he likes you, your majesty!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoA9zx8Voz
"Ha? Oh! He's a he?!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShOc0xiSO4
Caspian laughed. Fern's still at the state of astonishment. "He likes me!" She repeated with a small laugh. "Come here, little bird!"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZXqv9BzMn
The bird made a sound 'twit' before dropping his little feet at Fern's fair pointing finger.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeFHhjzwXo
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1HpcgQwpF
LOGAN woke up from the sound of laughter coming outside the room. He slowly opened and eyes and took a moment to realize everything that he and Fern went through. His eyes glistened in rage as he gaze at the ceiling the moment he heard another laughter.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1bpGS8R73
He snorted and rose from he was laying. He put his coat on and head his way out of the door, leaving a loud *bam* sound, which made Caspian and Fern flinched. The green little bird flew away through the open window.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsET7XBeSk
Fern's eyes widened as her sight caught Logan's eyes flickering with rage. "Your Majesty???"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu1kKz74W4
Logan clicked his tongue. "Aren't you two being too loud?"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXB4j9Fi9V
"..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUuN8esHiy
Just then they both realized what the emperor said was true. Caspian felt shamed while Fern just stand up and replied with a smile and said, "Were sorry to wake you up, your majesty..."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7AvfQH2Bd
Logan has gone silent and hide his clenching fists. "We have to get everything ready in the next fifteen minutes. Move."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA0pYUvVpc
Caspian and Fern looked at each other before panickingly proceeding to take off with Logan.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQxrqwCaXj
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHsp9HT8L6
OUTSIDE the Aeneas tower, the birds were singing. All the animals that surrounds the tower has gone into the other place inside the forest.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFUBusEaMF
Caspian was a little disappointed he didn't saw the big bear he always gave a bucket of fish (that was from the Reloia Lake in the north of the Aeneas Tower). He only saw the remaining Iguana in a twig of the tree that has left.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf71SLmKnz
Logan silently look up the bright sky while keeping a straight face. While Fern, recovering from tripping going downstairs a while ago, glimpse at him as she beamed.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJBIwPWC41
"Well, aren't the sky dazzling, your majesty?"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cxSkLDscL
"The empress thought so too, huh." He said as if she was mocking her.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeJrwV0mj6
Fern grinned. "I always thought so, your majesty."
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe51ajzxJcG
Logan gazed at her. "Then you must also thought of not making any trouble this day, empress. Don't be so youthful you'll forgot the chaos that will come,"
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWqvc8NnYG
Fern never forgot that thing.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhtjiwLVPh
"I'm perfectly aware of everything," She kept smiling, keeping a positive vibe.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYTiIBKsfW
Logan's eyes raised, then he smirked. "Really?" He sarcastically chuckled, mocking her, as he kneeled on one knee and slightly lifted the hem of her dress. Fern's eyes widened, astonished by what he did, but when she noticed the jade anklet she owned on the emperor's hands, she was left stunned.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolvj8TXQtn
Logan placed the jade anklet back on her ankle.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPmZ7LtZzT
When she tripped a while ago while going down the Aeneas Tower, it pop off. The emperor took it when it fell.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlnS0AIC0V
Fern, having to realize it, left speechless. Logan straightened up and said, "Looks like you're imperfectly aware of everything, empress."
ns160.79.110.181da2
