"Louise," I say to catch his attention from where he was scrubbing my back. It was in the early mornings of the day after I found out the news about Felix Carter. Last night had been rough, with my mind trying to come to terms with the fact that one of our old palace workers tried to kill my brother. That alone was enough reason to not mindlessly trust those in your vicinity. I fell asleep well after midnight and woke up too tired to even bathe myself, and so here I was, being bathed by Louise.

Louise didn't stop his hands from washing my back as he responded, "Yes, My Prince?"

"What form did it take for you? The aura?"

This time his hands did stop. I've faced away from him so I could only guess to what expression he had on. For a second he didn't speak before his hand went back to work, saying, "My aura took the shape of weightlessness." 

"Weightlessness?" I repeated questionably. 

"It's nothing flashy unless I make it so, however. Are you growing curious?" The humor in his voice had me smiling somewhat.

I shrug, ignoring the rhetorical question. "Does that imply control of gravity?"

"It's not exact, but somewhat true. It's more of how I am able to lessen the force of gravity being put upon me. The highest I can jump is a bit over a hundred feet."

My head whipped around to him in surprise, water splashing onto his face and clothes. "A hundred- Are you serious?!" Looking at his assertive expression, I calmed myself down as I turned back around. "Has brother Elias's aura taken from?"

"He's only thirteen, my prince."

"But he did say there are rare times when the aura takes place earlier."

"Prince Elias opened his gates at the right age of 5. It's expected to release in the general age of 15 as well."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Same with Brother Avery?"

"Yes."

I finished with my bath and planned to spend the rest of the day till lunch reading. This was how mundane my life should be - Or as much mundane as it could be. For the last few days after my sister's coming of age, I still haven't asked about the attack. No one seemed to make a big deal of it, though that itself could be a front. However, I could tell what the event had influenced, from Louise especially. Louise was more constant than he had already been. He no longer tasked himself with bringing me tea himself, instead, he asks a passing maid to make and bring it over to my bedroom. He wouldn't leave my side for anything except when he is demanded of a separate task, not pertaining to me, to be done. However, just like those who open their gates before or after the most common age of five, it is rare to happen. 

"Loves A Lost?" I read out loud a title of a book I had found on my personal bookshelf. 

"Ah, Miranda had read this one, my prince. She had stated it was a very emotional book." Louise told me.

"That would be expected from a title like this." I showed him the cover. Books were still my most favorite no matter what other fascinating existence there is. I made books my career before for that reason alone. 

I opened the book to its dedication page.

"To the one I love. Forever in my heart."

That... Why did it sound familiar?...

I took the book with me to my bed and began to read. The story was a common romantic tale; A poor maiden falls for a handsome noble of Earl status: "His brown eyes were captivating. His cherry lips seducing. His dark hair pulling my hand to touch it. Every part of him took away my sense of awareness." - Is how she describes him.

Ah... How relatable. I understood her feelings on such a close level, it was almost endearing. 

Daniel Knox was my Earl. He had me in the palm of his hands without ever realizing. He made me make him my entire world.

"My Prince?" Louise's voice snapped me out of my daze. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I looked over to him. My eyes seemed to blur at the edges and I realize I was tearing up. "What's wrong?" Louise comes closer to me, taking out a handkerchief from his breast pocket to wipe the droplets falling from my eyes.

"No," I shake my head and softly pull his hand away. "This books, just..." I can't say it's relatable out loud. 

"I didn't take you for such a sensitive person, My Prince." Louise starts to tease, an obvious play to lift my mood.

I chuckle sincerely, but my heart still stings from remembering the person I loved with my whole heart. I had given him everything; my heart and body - things to which he had taken for granted. I could never forget it.