Chapter 105: The Main Culprit
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After having a warm lunch both the winter siblings returned to their room to rest. As for Raymond, he went to the palace for some work.
.
*Yawn* "I feel so sleepy right after having lunch." Irene said as she stretched her arms.
"Miss you have been working too much, so it's quite normal that you feel sleepy and tired. And now you are free only, so how about a nap?" Hana asked as she opened the windows.
.
"Hmm, sounds good but...( Ashton wanted to talk...what if he comes looking for me while I am asleep).
"But what my lady?"
.
"But I don't wanna sleep~ How about you get me some cold drink? They might help me to freshen up." Irene said as she smiled cheesily.
"Okay, as you wish my lady," Hana said as she smiled.
.
"Now what should I do?" Irene thought as she lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling which has always been the same since the day she was born.
With the same drawing of kids dancing around bonfire.
.
("This drawing always reminds me of the carnival...we were so happy together...I wish I could go there again with everyone...but will my wishes come true? Especially when the princes are so busy, Violet is yet to return and Ashton...")
.
"Hah, is this perhaps a melodrama instead of romance?" ( A/N Referring to the genre of the
novel) Irene said as she scoffed.
.
And right then the door opened, "Hana are you back with the drink___? Umm, Ashton?" Irene said as she looked at Ashton who stood there not sure if he should enter the room or not.
.
"Come inside," Irene said as she rose from her bed.
"Okay," Ashton said as he carefully entered the room without making any eye contact.
.
(Why is he acting as if I bullied him or something? Or Am I scary?) Irene thought as she looked at her younger brother who stood there like a scolded little puppy.
.
"Why do you look so nervous?" Irene asked Ashton as she patted his head.
Surprised by the sudden touch, Ashton looked over at Irene and in an instant, all his nervousness disappeared in the air.
.
" I am not nervous...at least not now!" Ashton said with a smile on his face as he looked at Irene.
" I see then tell me, what do you want to talk about?" Irene asked straightforwardly as she sat down on the couch facing him.
.
"Sister that I wanted....to talk about my sudden leave from the house..." Ash said in a low voice as he could feel the sudden coldness in the surroundings.
.
"...Then talk...I too am curious about your sudden leave..." Irene said as she looked at Ashton her sapphire eyes met with green orbs.
.
"...Then Sister, do you remember 3 years ago the empress died while saving me and how the nobles blamed me for her death...and at that time you as well others tried your best to cheer me up and stand for me. But I wasn't able to come out of it and the guilt of empress death lingered in my heart and the only thing that ran in my mind was that if I was strong....she could have been saved. Not only her but everyone who died in that fight...everyone could have been safe and sound...." Ashton said as he smiled with a guilty look on his thin face.
.
"What about now? So you still think that if not for you...The empress would have been alive?" Irene asked in a calm posture making sure she doesn't hurt his feelings.
.
"I do....I know that it isn't like that and I am not the one to be blamed but....Sister if I lose even this guilt in me there is no way I could forward. So, please don't tell me to let go of it....( Until I am strong enough to protect you all, so strong that even the fate must bend before me.) Ashton said as she looked at his sister who was listening to him without a complaint.
.
"I understand your views and I am not going to stop you...feel guilty or responsible it's on you. But still, it doesn't explain as to why did you leave all of a sudden? How does your guilt have anything to do with living together?" Irene asked as she looked at Ashton's eye.
.
"Sister is right....my guilt has nothing to do with living together but the reason I left home was to punish myself. Even though such a tragedy happened, no one punished me instead everyone treated me so kindly as if nothing happened and that was painful....it suffocated me so hard that I wasn't able to withstand all this happiness. Which is why I decided to leave home and train and live like a commoner." Ashton explained as he hide his face behind his cap as his ears turned red.
.
(Did I sound childish right now? Will Sister laugh at me or will she get mad?) Ashton thought as he slightly peeked at Irene and his eyes widened.
.
"Sister!!" Ashton said in a panic mode as he saw Irene in tears.
"Sister, did my words hurt you? Or did I say something wrong? Sister, why are you crying? Please don't cry..." Ashton said as he picked up some tissues and wiped her tears.
.
"It's not your words that hurt me...I am crying because of my own actions...( To think that the reason he left was that for the suffocation he felt...How thoughtless of me...I only thought from my side but not his and in the process of protecting him, I instead made him more insecure. It's my fault...I am not a good sister....) Irene thought as she clenched her fists.
.
"Stop it...stop everything that's going through your mind and don't think bad of yourself. Sister, you probably know this but still, let me tell you this again...Sister I love you the most and if not for you I would never have the courage to talk aloud. You are the best sister believe me." Ashton said as he slightly touched her hands and then smiled at him.
.
"...Won't you regret your words afterwards..." Irene asked as she looked at him.
"I never will," Ashton said as he smiled at his sister who looked a bit taken back from his words.
.
"Please do what you said and welcome back home Ash," Irene said as a smile appeared on her face.
"(Ash....She finally called me Ash...) thank you for such a warm welcome, Sister!" Ashton said as he smiled at her.
.
Meanwhile, in the mansion, everyone was celebrating their emotional reunion in their own ways. Some were praying to God, some were giggling together, the chef started making one of his delicious dishes,
.
as for Hana, she looked at the two winter siblings through the small opening of the door. And a smile crept on her face, " Lady Mellisa, both the Lady and Young Master have finally reunited. Please give them your blessings so that they never get separated ever again.) Hana thought as she closed the door and went back to her work.
.
"Ash, I know it's late but do you know...why those magicians kidnapped you?" Irene asked as she and Ash went to the garden for an evening walk.
.
"No idea....but they did say that...*right when he said that something came to his mind all of sudden which made him stop right on his tracks* Right!!! Sister the main Culprit is still not captured!" Ashton said as he held on to his sister's hand tightly his eyes showing 100% seriousness.
.
"Ash what do you mean by the main culprit is still not captured? Didn't that black magicians and his sidekicks die on the empress hands?" Confused Irene said as she tried to calm Ash down.
.
"No Sister that's not it! That night I heard them talking and I am sure that lady was just another sidekick whereas the main villain didn't even show up." Ashton said with full confidence
.
"....Ashton do you know the meaning of what you are saying.....It will mean that we are still not out of his grasp and the fight is still going on...." Irene said as she held onto his shoulders and looked at him.
.
"I know what it means Sister and I know how risky it is but....I want to avenge The empress and for that, I can do anything. ( Furthermore, I also want to know the reason they kidnapped me...because they for sure weren't after money so there must be something else but I can't say that to my sister since she worries a lot.) So Let's inform this to the royalty." Ashton said as he let go of his breath.
.
"...Ash if you really want to avenge the empress then I will help you but we must make sure that what happened three years doesn't happen again. As for informing the royalty, we need some solid proof....and that might take some time, so till then keep low.." Irene said as patted his head whereas Ash nodded in response.
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After having a warm lunch both the winter siblings returned to their room to rest. As for Raymond, he went to the palace for some work.
.
*Yawn* "I feel so sleepy right after having lunch." Irene said as she stretched her arms.
"Miss you have been working too much, so it's quite normal that you feel sleepy and tired. And now you are free only, so how about a nap?" Hana asked as she opened the windows.
.
"Hmm, sounds good but...( Ashton wanted to talk...what if he comes looking for me while I am asleep).
"But what my lady?"
.
"But I don't wanna sleep~ How about you get me some cold drink? They might help me to freshen up." Irene said as she smiled cheesily.
"Okay, as you wish my lady," Hana said as she smiled.
.
"Now what should I do?" Irene thought as she lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling which has always been the same since the day she was born.
With the same drawing of kids dancing around bonfire.
.
("This drawing always reminds me of the carnival...we were so happy together...I wish I could go there again with everyone...but will my wishes come true? Especially when the princes are so busy, Violet is yet to return and Ashton...")
.
"Hah, is this perhaps a melodrama instead of romance?" ( A/N Referring to the genre of the
novel) Irene said as she scoffed.
.
And right then the door opened, "Hana are you back with the drink___? Umm, Ashton?" Irene said as she looked at Ashton who stood there not sure if he should enter the room or not.
.
"Come inside," Irene said as she rose from her bed.
"Okay," Ashton said as he carefully entered the room without making any eye contact.
.
(Why is he acting as if I bullied him or something? Or Am I scary?) Irene thought as she looked at her younger brother who stood there like a scolded little puppy.
.
"Why do you look so nervous?" Irene asked Ashton as she patted his head.
Surprised by the sudden touch, Ashton looked over at Irene and in an instant, all his nervousness disappeared in the air.
.
" I am not nervous...at least not now!" Ashton said with a smile on his face as he looked at Irene.
" I see then tell me, what do you want to talk about?" Irene asked straightforwardly as she sat down on the couch facing him.
.
"Sister that I wanted....to talk about my sudden leave from the house..." Ash said in a low voice as he could feel the sudden coldness in the surroundings.
.
"...Then talk...I too am curious about your sudden leave..." Irene said as she looked at Ashton her sapphire eyes met with green orbs.
.
"...Then Sister, do you remember 3 years ago the empress died while saving me and how the nobles blamed me for her death...and at that time you as well others tried your best to cheer me up and stand for me. But I wasn't able to come out of it and the guilt of empress death lingered in my heart and the only thing that ran in my mind was that if I was strong....she could have been saved. Not only her but everyone who died in that fight...everyone could have been safe and sound...." Ashton said as he smiled with a guilty look on his thin face.
.
"What about now? So you still think that if not for you...The empress would have been alive?" Irene asked in a calm posture making sure she doesn't hurt his feelings.
.
"I do....I know that it isn't like that and I am not the one to be blamed but....Sister if I lose even this guilt in me there is no way I could forward. So, please don't tell me to let go of it....( Until I am strong enough to protect you all, so strong that even the fate must bend before me.) Ashton said as she looked at his sister who was listening to him without a complaint.
.
"I understand your views and I am not going to stop you...feel guilty or responsible it's on you. But still, it doesn't explain as to why did you leave all of a sudden? How does your guilt have anything to do with living together?" Irene asked as she looked at Ashton's eye.
.
"Sister is right....my guilt has nothing to do with living together but the reason I left home was to punish myself. Even though such a tragedy happened, no one punished me instead everyone treated me so kindly as if nothing happened and that was painful....it suffocated me so hard that I wasn't able to withstand all this happiness. Which is why I decided to leave home and train and live like a commoner." Ashton explained as he hide his face behind his cap as his ears turned red.
.
(Did I sound childish right now? Will Sister laugh at me or will she get mad?) Ashton thought as he slightly peeked at Irene and his eyes widened.
.
"Sister!!" Ashton said in a panic mode as he saw Irene in tears.
"Sister, did my words hurt you? Or did I say something wrong? Sister, why are you crying? Please don't cry..." Ashton said as he picked up some tissues and wiped her tears.
.
"It's not your words that hurt me...I am crying because of my own actions...( To think that the reason he left was that for the suffocation he felt...How thoughtless of me...I only thought from my side but not his and in the process of protecting him, I instead made him more insecure. It's my fault...I am not a good sister....) Irene thought as she clenched her fists.
.
"Stop it...stop everything that's going through your mind and don't think bad of yourself. Sister, you probably know this but still, let me tell you this again...Sister I love you the most and if not for you I would never have the courage to talk aloud. You are the best sister believe me." Ashton said as he slightly touched her hands and then smiled at him.
.
"...Won't you regret your words afterwards..." Irene asked as she looked at him.
"I never will," Ashton said as he smiled at his sister who looked a bit taken back from his words.
.
"Please do what you said and welcome back home Ash," Irene said as a smile appeared on her face.
"(Ash....She finally called me Ash...) thank you for such a warm welcome, Sister!" Ashton said as he smiled at her.
.
Meanwhile, in the mansion, everyone was celebrating their emotional reunion in their own ways. Some were praying to God, some were giggling together, the chef started making one of his delicious dishes,
.
as for Hana, she looked at the two winter siblings through the small opening of the door. And a smile crept on her face, " Lady Mellisa, both the Lady and Young Master have finally reunited. Please give them your blessings so that they never get separated ever again.) Hana thought as she closed the door and went back to her work.
.
"Ash, I know it's late but do you know...why those magicians kidnapped you?" Irene asked as she and Ash went to the garden for an evening walk.
.
"No idea....but they did say that...*right when he said that something came to his mind all of sudden which made him stop right on his tracks* Right!!! Sister the main Culprit is still not captured!" Ashton said as he held on to his sister's hand tightly his eyes showing 100% seriousness.
.
"Ash what do you mean by the main culprit is still not captured? Didn't that black magicians and his sidekicks die on the empress hands?" Confused Irene said as she tried to calm Ash down.
.
"No Sister that's not it! That night I heard them talking and I am sure that lady was just another sidekick whereas the main villain didn't even show up." Ashton said with full confidence
.
"....Ashton do you know the meaning of what you are saying.....It will mean that we are still not out of his grasp and the fight is still going on...." Irene said as she held onto his shoulders and looked at him.
.
"I know what it means Sister and I know how risky it is but....I want to avenge The empress and for that, I can do anything. ( Furthermore, I also want to know the reason they kidnapped me...because they for sure weren't after money so there must be something else but I can't say that to my sister since she worries a lot.) So Let's inform this to the royalty." Ashton said as he let go of his breath.
.
"...Ash if you really want to avenge the empress then I will help you but we must make sure that what happened three years doesn't happen again. As for informing the royalty, we need some solid proof....and that might take some time, so till then keep low.." Irene said as patted his head whereas Ash nodded in response.
After having a warm lunch both the winter siblings returned to their room to rest. As for Raymond, he went to the palace for some work..*Yawn* "I feel so sleepy right after having lunch."Irene said as she stretched her arms."Miss you have been working too much, so it's quite normal that you feel sleepy and tired. And now you are free only, so how about a nap?" Hana asked as she opened the windows.."Hmm, sounds good but... Ashton wanted to talk...what if he comes looking for me while I am asleep."But what my lady?"."But I don't wanna sleep~ How about you get me some cold drink? They might help me to freshen up."Irene said as she smiled cheesily."Okay, as you wish my lady,"Hana said as she smiled.."Now what should I do?"Irene thought as she lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling which has always been the same since the day she was born.With the same drawing of kids dancing around bonfire.."This drawing always reminds me of the carnival...we were so happy together...I wish I could go there again with everyone...but will my wishes come true? Especially when the princes are so busy, Violet is yet to return and Ashton..."."Hah, is this perhaps a melodrama instead of romance?" A/N Referring to the genre of thenovel Irene said as she scoffed..And right then the door opened,"Hana are you back with the drink___? Umm, Ashton?"Irene said as she looked at Ashton who stood there not sure if he should enter the room or not.."Come inside,"Irene said as she rose from her bed."Okay,"Ashton said as he carefully entered the room without making any eye contact..Why is he acting as if I bullied him or something? Or Am I scary?Irene thought as she looked at her younger brother who stood there like a scolded little puppy.."Why do you look so nervous?"Irene asked Ashton as she patted his head.Surprised by the sudden touch, Ashton looked over at Irene and in an instant, all his nervousness disappeared in the air.." I am not nervous...at least not now!"Ashton said with a smile on his face as he looked at Irene." I see then tell me, what do you want to talk about?"Irene asked straightforwardly as she sat down on the couch facing him.."Sister that I wanted....to talk about my sudden leave from the house..."Ash said in a low voice as he could feel the sudden coldness in the surroundings.."...Then talk...I too am curious about your sudden leave..."Irene said as she looked at Ashton her sapphire eyes met with green orbs.."...Then Sister, do you remember 3 years ago the empress died while saving me and how the nobles blamed me for her death...and at that time you as well others tried your best to cheer me up and stand for me. But I wasn't able to come out of it and the guilt of empress death lingered in my heart and the only thing that ran in my mind was that if I was strong....she could have been saved. Not only her but everyone who died in that fight...everyone could have been safe and sound...."Ashton said as he smiled with a guilty look on his thin face.."What about now? So you still think that if not for you...The empress would have been alive?"Irene asked in a calm posture making sure she doesn't hurt his feelings.."I do....I know that it isn't like that and I am not the one to be blamed but....Sister if I lose even this guilt in me there is no way I could forward. So, please don't tell me to let go of it.... Until I am strong enough to protect you all, so strong that even the fate must bend before me. Ashton said as she looked at his sister who was listening to him without a complaint.."I understand your views and I am not going to stop you...feel guilty or responsible it's on you. But still, it doesn't explain as to why did you leave all of a sudden? How does your guilt have anything to do with living together?"Irene asked as she looked at Ashton's eye.."Sister is right....my guilt has nothing to do with living together but the reason I left home was to punish myself. Even though such a tragedy happened, no one punished me instead everyone treated me so kindly as if nothing happened and that was painful....it suffocated me so hard that I wasn't able to withstand all this happiness. Which is why I decided to leave home and train and live like a commoner."Ashton explained as he hide his face behind his cap as his ears turned red..Did I sound childish right now? Will Sister laugh at me or will she get mad?Ashton thought as he slightly peeked at Irene and his eyes widened.."Sister!!"Ashton said in a panic mode as he saw Irene in tears."Sister, did my words hurt you? Or did I say something wrong? Sister, why are you crying? Please don't cry..."Ashton said as he picked up some tissues and wiped her tears.."It's not your words that hurt me...I am crying because of my own actions... To think that the reason he left was that for the suffocation he felt...How thoughtless of me...I only thought from my side but not his and in the process of protecting him, I instead made him more insecure. It's my fault...I am not a good sister....Irene thought as she clenched her fists.."Stop it...stop everything that's going through your mind and don't think bad of yourself. Sister, you probably know this but still, let me tell you this again...Sister I love you the most and if not for you I would never have the courage to talk aloud. You are the best sister believe me."Ashton said as he slightly touched her hands and then smiled at him.."...Won'tyou regret your words afterwards..."Irene asked as she looked at him."I never will,"Ashton said as he smiled at his sister who looked a bit taken back from his words.."Please do what you said and welcome back home Ash,"Irene said as a smile appeared on her face."Ash....She finally called me Ash... thank you for such a warm welcome, Sister!" Ashton said as he smiled at her..Meanwhile, in the mansion, everyone was celebrating their emotional reunion in their own ways. Some were praying to God, some were giggling together, the chef started making one of his delicious dishes,.as for Hana, she looked at the two winter siblings through the small opening of the door. And a smile crept on her face, " Lady Mellisa, both the Lady and Young Master have finally reunited. Please give them your blessings so that they never get separated ever again.Hana thought as she closed the door and went back to her work.."Ash, I know it's late but do you know...why those magicians kidnapped you?"Irene asked as she and Ash went to the garden for an evening walk.."No idea....but they did say that...*right when he said that something came to his mind all of sudden which made him stop right on his tracks* Right!!! Sister the main Culprit is still not captured!"Ashton said as he held on to his sister's hand tightly his eyes showing 100% seriousness.."Ash what do you mean by the main culprit is still not captured? Didn't that black magicians and his sidekicks die on the empress hands?"Confused Irene said as she tried to calm Ash down.."No Sister that's not it! That night I heard them talking and I am sure that lady was just another sidekick whereas the main villain didn't even show up."Ashton said with full confidence."....Ashton do you know the meaning of what you are saying.....It will mean that we are still not out of his grasp and the fight is still going on...." Irene said as she held onto his shoulders and looked at him.."I know what it means Sister and I know how risky it is but....I want to avenge The empress and for that, I can do anything. Furthermore, I also want to know the reason they kidnapped me...because they for sure weren't after money so there must be something else but I can't say that to my sister since she worries a lot.So Let's inform this to the royalty." Ashton said as he let go of his breath.."...Ash if you really want to avenge the empress then I will help you but we must make sure that what happened three years doesn't happen again. As for informing the royalty, we need some solid proof....and that might take some time, so till then keep low.." Irene said as patted his head whereas Ash nodded in response.
