During the first day of the festival, Little Drayce was prohibited from stepping out of his chamber as punishment for the incident he caused.

However, the little prince didn’t mind staying inside since he was making lanterns with his mother. Even after she left to prepare for the first night of the royal ball, he remained unaffected and simply read a book to help pass time.

What he truly minded was being prohibited from sleeping with his mother at night. For as long as he could remember, he would sleep in her warm embrace. The longest he’d been separated from her was two nights due to work matters.

Now, he had to sleep all by himself in his chamber for seven nights…

After having his evening meal and changing out of his day clothes, Drayce went to the huge window of his chamber and stared at the large tree in front of it. The tall tree had Dusk’s nest kept on its branches. It was so close that he could always see Dusk and talk to him the moment he stared out of his window.

“Dusk, I cannot go to my mother tonight,” he said with a pout, “but I cannot sleep without her bedtime stories and until she holds me close. What should I do?”

Dusk merely flapped his wings. He could not help the young boy with this situation as he was punished by Esther herself.

Drayce pulled a chair close to the window and sat with his arms resting on the window sill. After venting out about the incident to Dusk, he changed the topic.

“What do you think about that prince from Griven. Do you like him?”

To this, the eagle had a response. Dusk nodded lightly and heard Drayce continue, “I like him too. He is my first friend and he doesn’t think I am a monster…”

While talking to Dusk, telling him his thoughts, Drayce gradually dozed off while sitting, his chubby face resting over his hand on top of the window sill.

After a while, Lady Saira entered the chamber to check on her ward and found him asleep by the window.

She carefully lifted him in her arms and placed him on the bed. The little guy looked peaceful and innocent in his sleep.

With a smile, she covered him with a blanket, closed the windows and left.

—–

The next day was the second day of the festival.

With the doors of the royal palace open, the grounds were pretty lively as nobles and people with importance convened together.

Aside from the royal ball, several events were arranged inside the palace at various places to entertain not only the guests, but also everyone residing within the palace. Since there were many children among the guests, the Queen held a gathering for the young ones while the adults socialized.

After what happened yesterday, Arlan was excited to meet Drayce, and Drayce was the same.

The two princes met inside the garden of the Queen’s residence. Arlan came running to Drayce the moment he stepped out of the carriage and saw his new friend, forgetting his manners as he dashed with his nanny hurrying to follow him.

Both smiled happily at each other.

“Did you get punished?” Arlan asked the obvious. He was worried that it was a big punishment.

Drayce nodded.

“What is it?” Arlan was curious to know the kind of punishment his friend got.

“I cannot go to my mother’s chamber for a whole week.”

For children their age, it was a really bad thing. Arlan groaned, “Oh, no. Then how will you sleep? Even my mother punishes me like this.” His face turned sad at the memories of his own punishments.

“Last night, I fell asleep while talking to Dusk,” Drayce replied.

“Ah, good that you have a pet.”

Meanwhile, their nannies who could hear their conversation found it amusing how the two little princes looked like they were having the most serious discussion of their lives.

Arlan remembered something, “Yesterday, we did not finish making lanterns. I wonder if it’s alright to buy instead…?”

“Don’t worry, Mother and I made lanterns for both of us,” Drayce replied.

“Really?”

“Hmm. Yours is still the same as the Gold Dragon you made.”

“Really, really? Amazing! Can I see it?” Arlan asked and Drayce agreed.

The two walked inside the Queen’s residence and went towards Drayce’s chamber with their nannies following them.

Entering that huge chamber, Drayce took Arlan towards the wooden table where he had kept those lanterns.

“They are so good,” Arlan said excitedly. They weren’t large, only slightly larger than two handspans, but they were delicately crafted. “The red dragon and the gold one look good together just like us.”

Drayce nodded. “When you light up this lantern tomorrow, you can wish for anything you want.”

“Will it come true?” Arlan asked.

“Mother says so,” Drayce replied.

“I know what I want to ask for.”

“What?” Drayce asked.

“I will tell you tomorrow, but you have to tell me your wish as well,” Arlan replied.

“Fine.”

The two young princes decided to spend their entire day together. After asking Lady Saira what they could do, they learned that there was a special gathering for the children of the nobles and important guests. Thinking it would be fun, they got on a carriage and went to the place where the special gathering was arranged.

The gathering was held at the meadow outside the Grand Palace, and they could see not only children but their parents and guardians milling around. It seemed more like an outdoor party with entertainment at the sides.

Eyeing the luxurious building nearby, Drayce asked his nanny. “Is Father attending?”

“His Majesty won’t be here. The King does not enjoy socializing. Even in other royal gatherings, he will simply make his presence briefly known and leave afterwards.”

“Even though it’s the festival, he’s not having fun?”

Lady Saira smiled. “From what I heard from Her Majesty, the King prefers to work in his study rather than socialize. That’s what he enjoys doing the most.”

Drayce looked at the quiet distant place where he knew his father’s study was located. In the past, he would sometimes catch a glimpse of King Theron passing by the windows whenever he walked along the hallway outside the study.

“Well, who knows, perhaps His Majesty will drop by if he gets tired of paperwork,” Lady Saira added.

Drayce was aware the possibility of that was small. He simply nodded to what his nanny said and walked forward towards the table where sweets were located. His gaze didn’t fail to notice a certain group composed of three bullies.

“It’s those guys.” Arlan saw them too and asked, “Are you going to let them be without punishing them?”

Drayce shook his head. “Today, they will get what they deserve.”

Arlan’s eyes brightened up. “Tell me. Tell me!” He turned excited. “Do you need my help?”

Without a moment’s delay, Drayce nodded.

“Tell me what to do.”

“First, you have to stay away from me and befriend those kids.”

“That is not a difficult thing.”

“When I signal you, you have to bring them there.” Drayce pointed towards the hallway of the royal office building attached to the Grand Palace as an annex. It was the place of work of the ministers and members of the royal court.

Arlan nodded and Drayce whispered something in his ears. Once he separated, he asked, “Understood?”

Arlan smiled. “Piece of cake. Don’t worry.”

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