Luren and Craige woke up early; it was still dark outside, the cold air creeping through
the cracks of the windows.
"It's my first time going around town here in the North," Luren said cheerfully, a spark
of excitement in his voice as they changed clothes.
"Sorry, baby… I haven't had the chance to show you around the Northern domain," Craige said apologetically while pulling on his winter coat.
"It's okay," Luren smiled gently, "I know you've been really busy since we arrived.
I've been busy too." He was already dressed in a warm, proper winter outfit, the fur-lined cloak brushing his boots. "I'll go wake up Clara…"
"Wai—t…" Craige reached out instinctively, but Luren had already slipped out of the room with soft footsteps and a quiet determination.
Luren was now standing at Clara's door. He knew she never locked her bedroom, so he
gently pushed it open.
"Clara, wake up! We have to—" he called out loudly to rouse her.
But then—
"Oh my!! What the hell is this?!" Luren gasped, quickly covering his mouth, though his voice still rang through the room.
"LUREN?!!" Clara shrieked, utterly mortified as she scrambled to cover herself.
"Oh—sorry!" Craige appeared behind him "Come here, baby," Craige said quickly, chuckling as he pulled Luren away and covered his eyes with one hand, guiding him out of the room.
"Both of you...get dressed!" Craige called back, laughing heartily.
"What the hell! You know about Keith… and my sister??" Luren exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief, his voice rising.
"No, baby, just a hint," Craige said softly as he carried Luren into their room and gently
set him down.
"That damn viper sneaking into Clara's room?" Luren hissed, pacing slightly before turning to Craige, his face a mix of anger and hurt. "Why didn't they tell me? I'm her
brother…"
Craige reached out and pulled him close. "We can ask them later, okay?" he said in a
calming tone, trying to soothe him.
"Come here." He guided Luren to sit on the bed beside him.
"Doesn't Keith already have a girlfriend?" Luren asked, his voice cracking with
disbelief, still clearly upset.
Craige cupped Luren's face tenderly and leaned in to kiss him gently, hoping to ease
his distress. Luren paused for a heartbeat, then slowly wrapped his arms around
Craige's neck, kissing him back. The warmth of Craige's lips made him forget his anger for a moment, his heart still confused, but beginning to calm.
Knock knock.
Luren quickly stood up, startled, as they broke their kiss. He rushed to open the
door, his cheeks still flushed.
"Let's talk downstairs," Luren said, trying to compose himself as he headed down.
Keith and Clara followed, both looking awkward and guilty, avoiding eye contact.
Craige trailed behind them, a small amused smile tugging at his lips. He couldn't help
but chuckle quietly, those two had clearly been caught red-handed doing
something naughty
"I'm sorry, Luren..." Clara said softly, her voice trembling as she knelt down in front of the sofa.
She tugged Keith's sleeve, and he followed her lead, dropping to his knees beside her.
"S-Sorry..." she repeated, her eyes glistening with guilt.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you first," Keith added, his voice low but sincere.
Craige leaned against the wall, watching the scene unfold with an amused expression,
arms crossed as if enjoying the drama.
Luren's brows furrowed deeply, his tone sharp with concern.
"How did this even start? Keith, you had a girlfriend, did you break up with her?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief and frustration, eyes darting between the two.
"I kissed him," Clara admitted, her voice bold. "And… he kissed me back. Then, you know what happened." She ended with a mischievous grin.
"You crazy girl!" Luren exclaimed, half in disbelief, half amused, shaking his head as he turned to Keith.
"I don't have a girlfriend," Keith said firmly, meeting Luren's eyes. "We broke up when
I came back to the North… and I like Clara." He reached for her arm and gently raised it, as if claiming her with quiet confidence.
"I like him too," Clara added with a soft pout, looking at her brother with pleading eyes.
Luren groaned and rubbed his temples, clearly torn between being the protective
brother and accepting the truth. "Alright… do what you want," he said with a resigned sigh. "Just… don't you dare hurt my sister, Keith."
"Yes, Duchess," Keith replied with a respectful but serious tone, his expression
sincere and determined.
"Alright, let's all eat breakfast and head to town," Craige said with a calm smile,
his voice filled with light anticipation.
Butler Serio and the other servants were setting the table, their expressions warm and
amused as they quietly exchanged glances, clearly delighted by the earlier scene they had witnessed.
---
The town was vibrant and bustling with life. People strolled through the snowy streets, some riding horses while others admired the
surroundings. Carriages moved back and forth along the cobblestone roads. Snowflakes gently fell from the sky, but the townsfolk didn't seem to mind the cold, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
They were wearing cloaks that covered their faces, leaving their horses at a nearby inn.
"Come, let's look around," Craige said warmly, reaching for Luren's hand as they walked along the lively, snow-dusted street.
Behind them, Keith and Clara followed closely, their fingers entwined as they smiled and took in the winter sights.
"What are those?" Luren asked curiously, pointing toward large blocks of ice being carved in different corners of the town.
"That's going to be an ice statue," Craige explained with a soft smile. "Rolen is helping them, you'll see him later."
"Welcome, everyone! The circus will be opening this evening, please come visit us later!" the boy cheerfully announced while handing out flyers.
"Wow! Let's come back later with the others," Luren said excitedly as he took a flyer from the boy.
"Keith will be one of the judges at the ice statue competition," Clara added, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Really? I want to watch that too!" Luren said, his curiosity piqued.
"That would be perfect," Keith replied with a smile. "His Grace was supposed to be a judge as well, but he wasn't interested. You could take his place, Luren."
"But… the people don't know me yet," Luren said hesitantly, his voice a little unsure.
"Don't worry," Craige said softly, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "They will know you soon enough."
"Greetings, Your Grace," Roan appeared out of nowhere and bowed respectfully to them.
"Is everything ready?" Craige asked, his tone calm but expectant.
"Yes, Your Grace. Please, this way," Roan replied, gesturing ahead with a small nod.
"Roan, you're here," Luren said with a warm smile.
Roan scratched the back of his head shyly and returned the smile.
They continued walking until they reached the centre of town, where a massive stage had been set up. At its heart stood a tall,
mysterious figure draped in an elegant gold cloth that shimmered in the falling snow. A hushed excitement lingered in the air, and even Luren's eyes widened slightly with curiosity.
"What could it be?" he whispered to Craige.
Craige smiled warmly at Luren.
"WHooootttt!"
Roan blew a horn loudly, the sound echoing through the streets and catching everyone's attention. The knights under his command moved in perfect unison, their armor glinting in the light as they formed a precise
formation.
Curious murmurs spread through the crowd as people began to gather, excitement growing in the air. They could feel it, someone important was about to arrive, and the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.