Ron sneaked out of the castle through his secret route. It was a dark murky pathway underneath his grandfather’s bedroom which led to a cave at a riverside not far from town.
His grandfather had showed it to him before he passed away. They used to go on so many escapades together. Witness festivals, celebrations, annual games and competitions and so much more. But after his grandfather died, his father became more strict on him which left barely any time for him to go out and have fun. He didn't like to be indoors all the time like some housewife. He preferred to go out, interact and see what the world was like. Reading from novels wasn't enough. This time, he took one of his grandfather's disguises. It was a black wig and crappy mustache. After he reached the cave, he took off his royal clothes, folded them neatly then stuffed them in a bag. He then put on the wig and mustache, coupled with a dirty brown robe. He looked like a beggar. Exactly what he was going for. As long as he minded his own business, he wouldn't have trouble with anyone. He also stuffed some gold coins into a pouch and hung it around his waist.To complete the look, he wore a pair of worn out shoes and put a blade of grass between his teeth. He even felt like a beggar. This time, Ron was going to town not to have fun but to gather information. The night was young and the full moon was out, bathing the town in it's silvery light. The streets were packed. People were walking all around, going about their daily business, selling products, some talking, others playing games. Music could be heard from different corners together with clapping sounds and cheers. The people of Ashenmore were more lively in the night.Ron entered a tavern. It was full of men, laughing, drinking and eating with different scantily dressed women on their laps. Ron has never been one to engage in the pleasures of the flesh. His father had sent a teacher, female to be exact, to educate him in such things but he never participated because he didn't swing that way. "A cup of ginger ale please" he said to the bartender, sliding a gold coin on the table then he sat on a stool.The old bartender's eyes gleamed. He picked up the coin, bit it once, smiled and stuffed it into his pocket. He is called Old Jack. He has thinning white hair, yellow skin and tobacco stained teeth."What do you want to know?" he asked in a low voice. Old Jack knew these kinds of people. He had been doing this job since he was 15. No one paid a golden coin for just one cup of ale. He poured Ron some ginger ale and gave it to him.Ron didn't drink. Instead, he asked; "What do you know about the King in the North?" The old bartender gasped and quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching or listening. "King in the North? That's a very tough one" Ron slid another gold coin. "I want to know everything you know"The bartender was very greedy. He thought that this person looks poor but seems to be rich. Why not make information more expensive? "The North is a place not a lot of people visit. It's very hard to get information about it. What I know is very little..."Another gold coin was placed on the table. Ron knew Old Jack was greedy but his information was reliable. He wouldn't have bothered about this but this was about his sister. He needed to know all he could about Netheridge. It wasn't anywhere on any map he had studied and he had those maps memorized. Unknown to poor Ron, a few people had already noticed the exchange. Particularly a man with silver hair wearing a black robe sitting two stools away and a group of dangerous looking men by the side. The bartender was happy. Three golden coins could last him a few months. He leaned close and started to whisper; "Very few people know about the North. No one knows how the King came about. It's like he just appeared out of thin air with a whole Kingdom. The entire thing seems fishy and those who go there never come back so we hardly know anything. We do know that they're very rich in resources. They have many things unknown to man and are believed to be developing faster than our Kingdom which is the biggest and most developed place in all the lands. Rumours also have it that the King is going to marry our princess. I don't know if it's true"'Oh it's true alright' Ron thought. But, without knowing much about the Kingdom, why would his father agree to marry off his daughter? Was he bribed with money? But they have money. What else could his father want and why did the King of the North want to marry his own sister? "What are these resources the North have that we don't?" he asked. "Why is it so mysterious? Is the King a good person?Old Jack shrugged. "I have no idea. I heard they specialize in jewelry trade though. The most expensive and highly demanded type is their ice crystal. Some say it's made of real ice but I think that's just hogwash because ice melts. How can it be used for jewelry?"Ron was getting annoyed. Ice crystals my foot! He paid three gold coins to know nothing! The information he got wasn't concrete. He bet it was just a bunch of rumors.He didn't want to go to some foreign Kingdom without knowing anything about it not to talk of leaving his sister there with a man he hasn't even met. He decided to try another place. Netheridge can't be that well hidden that no one would know anything important. He finished his ginger ale and walked out of the tavern. Unbeknownst to him, he was being followed.Ron entered two more taverns and even an inn but the information they had wasn't even close to Old Jack's. He was already tired so he decided to go back. Besides, someone might notice he was missing which will raise a lot of trouble for him.When he was halfway out of town, a group of goons appeared on the road. They were big and burly, all holding sharp looking daggers.The leader stepped forward, holding a sword which he pointed at Ron. "Hand over your money. Every bit of it and I'll think about you letting you leave this place alive"Fear crept into Ron's heart. He had never been in this kind of situation before. Worst of all, he didn't carry any weapon. He didn't think there would be any reason to.Sweat dropped the side of his face. He decided to use flattery and some sweet words to see if he could escape with everything he had intact. "Good, kind, handsome man, you look very reasonable. Can't we talk about this?"The goons snickered. It seemed like this guy didn't get the severi
Fear made Ron nearly fall to his knees. Nearly, for the silver haired man caught him before his body made contact with the floor.Ron fell into a warm gentle embrace. He raised his head, parting his long lashes to look at the man holding him. Cold violet eyes stared straight at the running man. Ron felt that there such a huge contrast between being in his arms and those beautiful eyes. "Don't chase him" he said, making those plum coloured orbs stare down at him. "He has never killed a person. I could tell, believe me. If he had, he wouldn't have hesitated so much to kill me. I doubt he would even hurt a fly after what he has witnessed today so please, don't go after him"The fear he initially felt disappeared without a trace. Something told him that the man would not hurt him. The man nodded. "You're injured" he said, eyes sweeping down to look at the bleeding wound on Ron's neck. His voice was deep, alluring and magnetic, tugging at Ron's heartstrings. Perfect. Just perfect!Ron wa
Queen Lilian pulled Ron and squished his face into her bosom. Ron struggled and struggled, trying not to get suffocated by the large mounds on her chest but her hold only went tighter and tighter so he gave up and went limp like a wet noodle. "My baby is going so far away" she sobbed, completely shattering her elegance in the face of her family. Ron knew exactly where he got his personality from.His mother might be cool, calm and collected in front of outsiders but with her family, she was just an ordinary person. She behaved exactly the way she wanted to behave. Ron's only problem was that he couldn't act like that. To him, it was like splitting his personality. He'd rather just be himself.King Cain and Princess Rose stood at the side, watching the mother and son. "Mum come on, I'll be back in at least a week or two. You've seen me every single day since I was born. Don't you think you should take a break? Besides, I'm an adult now so stop treating me like a child" Ron complaine
Ron talked and talked. He talked about the novels he read and the wonderful creatures within. He talked about how the brain works and how fun it is to imagine so many things. How amazing it is to just conjure stuff up and make it real in fiction. Everyone felt bored and wished they could just shut him up. It didn't matter if they didn't reply to what he was saying. Prince Ron was very skilled in the arts of talking to oneself. He cracked bad jokes and laughed at them himself. When he felt laughing alone was too boring, he forced the servants to laugh by threatening to punish them by packing horse shit when they return to Ashenmore. Next, he forced them to sing.Poor servants. After two hours, the prince still wasn't done so Leo thought of the only thing that would make him shut up. To put him in the carriage with the princess. If everyone cooperated, the King would not even know. "Prince Ron" he called. "I think you can enter the carriage now. I'll let you come out after a few hour
After a week's journey, Princess Rose, Prince Ron, the guards and the servants that went with them, arrived at the North's main gate. It was very cold so the siblings remained hidden in the carriage while the rest had thick coats on. Their faces were pale. They never knew the North was so cold. How could people survive in such a place?To get to the castle, they had to go through the town. The townspeople all came out to see their soon to be queen but all they saw where half frozen faces and one exquisitely handsome face. It was that of a young man, peeking out of the carriage window. He had soft looking russet curls, brilliant green eyes and a radiant smile. The women who saw this face were swooning. Some men were jealous while others felt it would be nice to have such a beauty to themselves. Prince Ron smiled at every person he made eye contact with. He even winked at some of the women. He felt that Netheridge was full of pretty faces. He hasn't seen a single ugly one. Even the men
Ron nodded and he and Ludiciel started to walk side by side. Ludiciel remained quiet so Ron used the time to look around. His face was straight, devoid of any emotion but his green eyes showed it all. The hidden excitement, the amazement, the joy. He felt like bursting. The Netheridge castle was awesome! It was so large he could hardly see the ceiling but there were lights glowing everywhere, making it look so magical. The walls were painted an icy blue which looked cold to the touch. He wanted to know if it was really cold but that would destroy his princely character so he retracted his hand. He also realized that since they stepped inside, it wasn't cold anymore.Ah pretending was so tiring. He didn't think he could keep up. His back was starting to hurt and his face was feeling a bit stiff. He wondered how his parents could retain such an expression for years. Leo gazed at Ron from time to time. His heart softened at the prince's antics. He knew Ron was a type of person that did
"Do you like him that much, sister?" he asked softly, wanting to make sure.Rose raised her head and looked at Ron right in the eyes. "I've never been so sure about anything in my entire life Ron. I love him and I want to marry him"Ron completely understood what it felt like to love someone even if it's just for a day. His silver haired hero had been on his mind since the day they met. "Don't be sad. I'll go talk to him alright? I'll work something out"The doubt in her eyes were as clear as day. What could Ron do? What had he ever accomplished in his life? Ron didn't like the look. It further strengthened his resolve. "Don't look at me like that sister. You've done so much for me. Let me do something for you too. I'm not saying that I'll succeed but least let me try. You've always told me to never give up without trying haven't you? Do you want to go back on your own words?"Rose shook her head. She couldn't believe Ron remembered such things at a time like this. With that said, al
"I am sorry" King Zedekiel said, standing before Ron. "I didn't want to hurt your sister but I can't go on with this marriage". Every single word spoken was chilling and none of them sounded sincere. As if he was being forced to say it.The hatred he felt was bone deep and he couldn't hide it. He didn't bother trying to sound like he meant what he was saying because he didn't."Why not?" Ron asked. "You asked for her hand yourself and when it was given to you, you want to discard it. Do you think marriage is a joke? Is my sister some toy?" Ron was even more hurt that Zedekiel was right before him but he couldn't recognize him.Then he recalled that he was wearing a disguise that day. That stupid wig and ugly mustache! How he wished he revealed his true identity. Zedekiel shook his head. "I was forced by my Queen mother. The truth is, I do not love your sister. I'll ruin two lives by marrying her. Mine as well as hers. I hope you understand". He talked with a straight face. His words