Grey Tower, Breezewind Castle, Staflake.
“What kind of person do you think this Prince Andersen is?”
The beautiful Lady Elena leaned against the back of the balcony chair, holding the page in her hand, her eyes fixed on Evelyn, who sat across from her, and the two steaming cups of tea.
"I don't like Prince Andersen very much," Evelyn smiled and shook her head.
"Is that so?", the lady gently took a sip of tea. "So who do you like?"
“I feel that Prince Parough is a very calm man. Though Prince Andersen plots against you five times seven times, I like the way Parough keeps his cool and foils all Andersen's plots… Besides, I like him because his feelings for Princess Adriana are genuine." .
"Prince Parough?", the lady smiled, setting down her teacup, her eyes seeming to see the meaning of Evelyn's words. "Love makes people do things they shouldn't, doesn't it?"
"I won't say that Parough does what he shouldn't, he just does what he has to do," Evelyn said softly.
The lady only smiled lightly, trying to finish her hot cup of tea before this winter wind at Staflake would cool it down. Every early winter wind began to cease to howl like a crow being cut. This winter is going to be a long one, and as many people always say, winter never brings a good sign.
Elena put the teacup and book on the table, smiled and said to Evelyn:
"Well, I won't bother you anymore..."
“Yes, my lady.”
Evelyn, holding two books in one hand, got up and left, leaving Lady Elena alone to watch the little snow fall. It was Lady Elena's daily routine. Evelyn was her book friend. The lady has never changed this habit without being entangled in a force majeure situation. She enjoyed sipping hot tea, reading books with her eyes, talking with her mouth, comment about the content of stories with Evelyn. Elena was extremely pleased with this girl. Her behavior or speech is extremely moderate and full of subtlety. The two daughters born to her did not have that character, one was wild, the other was still childish, or jealous. If she had a son, she would kick him out of Staflake if he didn't marry Evelyn. A gust of wind made her shiver, and she immediately poured herself a cup of hot tea. Only the tea can keep her body warm.
Frankie entered the room with a rather tired look on his face. He took off his fur coat on the bed, then sat down with a wistful expression on his face. A blind person would know something was up through that heavy breathing and sitting down. Elena walked over to him, sat down next to him, ran a hand through his snow-covered head and had faded a little with time, giving him a comforting smile.
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"How are you, my love?"
Frankie couldn't hide anything from the woman he vowed to love for the rest of his life. Her smile always worked. Suddenly Frankie felt lighter than ever. But Frankie didn't answer, instead handing the letter to her, with a look in his eyes that indicated to read it. Elena also somewhat guessed the content of the letter, at least she knew it was not a pleasant story.
"When the spring gets by, Prince Augustus and Prince Abel will come to Staflake?" Elena was surprised.
“And he wants to pair Damiana with Prince Abel,” Frankie said irritably, but deep in her displeasure was a sense of helplessness.
"And you don't want that to happen?" Elena looked at him questioningly.
“The Emperor has long targeted Beatrice,” said Frankie, “if it weren't for the Queen's involvement in Augustus' marriage, Beatrice would probably be Princess by now. I don't want my family to get involved with the Royal Family."
"Don't forget that you are also part of Princess Lysa Everest's blood," Elena said calmly.
"But Princess Lysa was my grandfather's great-grandmother," replied Frankie. “That blood has long since faded.”
"That doesn't make you a normal person either," said Elena, "You know what dragon blood is all about, don't you?"
Frankie sighed. Elena is right. Dragon blood is a privilege that not everyone has. If Damiana marries Prince Abel, his grandson will inherit the sacredness. But… why did he feel that it still didn't convince him. Was the reason not because he was afraid of the royal family, but simply because he did not want to leave his daughter?
"But surely Damiana will want it?", still resisted Frankie.
"Did she tell you she didn't want to?" Elena said as if she had caught his thoughts. “If it was Beatrice, I would think otherwise, but Damiana…how much she wants to be above her sister? Everything.”
"You're right…"
Elena and Frankie have been married for nearly seventeen years, any gesture, attitude, or thought of each other, Elena is delicately captured. Elena lowered her head to meet their foreheads, clasped her hands that were frozen by the winter wind, and said:
“I know you just want to avoid the fact that you will lose her to someone else. I also don't want to see Damiana leave Staflake so soon… But she has the right to decide."
Frankie smiled softly. He gently placed a deep kiss on her lips and said:
"Sometimes I think you've never been on my side."
"Is that so?", Elena was a little surprised.
"You always make me run after you. But I am willing to do so.”
The couple looked at each other and laughed. In the gradually approaching winter cold, two people who have spent so many springs can still happily hug each other and overcome the cold.