I walk down the hallways idly keeping my pace even. It's been ages since I've had peace like this. Every other day has been hectic, filled with either classes, homework, and spending time with friends.

It's not like I don't like spending time with my friends. Irina and Eliza are kind people and if you're around them, they give off a positive aura, which is much stronger now since they also know Coriane might be coming too. It's also been a long time since we've been together as a trio so it's expected of us to make the best of every moment. But even then, everyone needs some time to themselves, to rest and recharge. And the best way for me to do that would be to either go to the library, write in my diary, one of the drawing rooms. I don't sketch as much as I read, but even the amount of time I spend can never compare to Coriane. She's loved drawing since she was a kid. She believes that drawing would be one way to immortalize the living through something as simple as an image. It's a way of marking someone's existence.

Thinking of Coriane makes me anxious. How long is Mother going to take? Does she know that not giving me an answer makes me worried by the day? Hopefully she'll come. I pray every day for the possibility where I can see her finally arrive in Archeon or Summerton once more. It's been over four years. When will my wish be granted?

Thinking is making me feel much more troubled. When this happens, it's time for me to distract myself. Time to drop down to the kitchens to get a bite or two.

I change my direction, going downstairs.

The kitchens are not that far if you take the fast stairwell. The fast stairwell is the one the servants usually take because it's nearer to where they need to go. It's not as furnished or well taken care of compared to the stairs the nobility use but it fits my purpose well enough. To explain further, here's a reason why. Servants need to use the stairs to get to places like the kitchens, the gardens, and sometimes need to go to Silver residencies. They don't usually go to the places like the King's study or the practice rooms unless they're there for cleaning. It's also not appropriate for them to use our staircases and vice versa but I think we can break some rules today. Good thing I'm dressed simply because sneaking around the guards has never been funner.

It's a bad thing sneaking. I could describe how I was feeling on the way here with three words; anxious, a little fearful, but also exciting. Who knew breaking rules could be so fun! It seemed like being bad for once actually felt good. I've always prided myself in being much more disciplined than my two other siblings. I don't do it often compared to Gisa or Shade so I guess it's much more thrilling experience. I just need to build up my experience because a guard almost caught me just when I was about to enter the servants staircase. I'm lucky enough to have moved myself quickly down the steps, just fast enough so he didn't catch me.

I finally complete my mission of arriving to the kitchens. Strangely, the people who are working here are all gone. But it is past lunch hour so I believe they're resting in the servants quarters. I'm probably right since I can feel their minds and hear their thoughts however dull. Their residencies are not far from the kitchen. Some of them are sleeping, others are reading (I can tell after reading some of the excerpts from books so many times), and some are talking about their families back home. We should let them off soon to see their relative as I can sense their sadness from being away for so long. The noise swirls inside my head before I shut it all off. Now, what did I come here for?

Right. For a snack.

I should probably explore the kitchen.

The rest of the counter seems pretty bare. The only thing on it is a basket filled with some bread, cheese, and butter along with some utensils. Not bad. Without thinking, I take a piece of bread and spread some butter on it. Did I ever tell you that eating helps you recharge faster? Before I know it, it's all gone.

"Hah, so you also came down to eat?"

I roll my eyes. I can already tell from the intruder's voice that it's my brother. This is also his favourite place to hang out.

"Hi Shade." I turn around to face him, "Why are you here?"

"Same reason as you." He grins, "Gisa and I were hungry so I came down to get something to eat. He goes through each cupboard, taking things from them. Most of it is just normal day to day food. Soon, he has two sandwiches in one hand and balances the two cupcakes in the other.

"It seems like you know the kitchens well. It's not your first time coming to this place." I say, "Going in and out finding things that I haven't yet found."

"Doesn't seem like you've been here often." He grins, "And I've done this plenty of times. You know, Gisa and I have been doing this since infancy."

"Like you could even walk then." I retort, "Seems very precise. Anyway, where are the candies located?"

"The one on the left." He points to the very last cupboard. I bound over eagerly. As expected the cupboard is filled with sweet candies inside. I wonder how the maids even resist temptation. Just looking at them makes me want them more.

Time to break another rule.

I open the jar and take a handful of them out. These are actually supposed to be used as decorations so I really shouldn't be taking them. Instead, my devil overpowers my angel as I remove the candies from the jar. Some of them are caramels, mints, or chocolate squares. Good enough for me. I haven't had something sweet for about a month and even though people say time passes quickly, it feels like forever before I eat my favourite dessert again.

"Thanks!" I say brightly. My brother smiles sadly as a response and puts the food down on the table. It shocks me.

"Are you okay?" I ask. Shade shakes his head and sighs deeply.

"Now that I realize, I'll be a king soon. I won't have time to sneak around or play with you or Gisa. My carefree days are numbered."

"You're...nervous about the Queenstrial." I say, "You'll have to go through it anyways. Is that the only thing you're nervous about? What about all the other girls who will compete? I personally dislike the Viper girl but then what if she ends up as my sister in law?"

"You read too much sometimes. Less reading, more observing." He taps my forehead, "You should get some friends and stop spending your time being an anti-social royal."

"If I should read less, then you should stop spending so much time outdoors," I retort, "If you aren't at court with Father, you're outside in the gardens or in the arena training. You know, even if you are a temporary ruler, you shouldn't rely on brute strength."

"I'm socializing with others unlike you who's always in her room studying or reading. It's also why I seem to prefer Gisa compared to you, even though you are my twin. You see, Gisa has a sort of easiness around her, while you always seem...so strict with yourself."

"You are very funny." I walk to another cupboard and explore its contents "Besides, you are nervous about the outcome the Queenstrial will bring you. Don't deny it because I can read you like an open book. As you said, I love reading."

My brother's face darkens a little bit but he tries to hide it, "Why should I be? I know Eliza or Irina will win so why should I be nervous when I'm friends with them? I should be comfortable with the outcome anyways. Unlike Father, I don't have a choice on who I should choose."

"Are you really so sure?" I pry further in his lie, "What if the Viper girl I told you about wins? What about those power hungry nobles? And what about Coriane? You don't mention her in your Queenstrial favorites."

"That's because she can't compete." his voice is slightly tinged with sadness as he looks down. I feel a slight pity for my brother. He's only sixteen, the same age as me and yet he's going through more than me.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Maybe you could look a little bit at Father and Mother more often instead of reading." Shade puts a heavy emphasis on the word and glares at me, "Don't you see? Even as a Whisper like you doesn't know anything. I'm less than a minute older than you gifted with a super power that doesn't relate to minds and yet I know more than you. How shocking."

"I've put aside my power!" I almost yell at him but the surrounding minds stop me, "It's an evil curse and if I could, I would gladly trade my power for yours. What's your point anyway?"

"You don't you know?" he looks at me almost laughingly, "Mother never liked Father in the beginning."

"As it is with all arranged marriages. How-"

"What? How I know my information is credible? I stole Mother's diary and although the majority of pages are missing from it, I can piece the life she went though."

"Tell me."

Shade looks at me with a glint in his eye, "You better not tell anyone the information I'm giving you."

I look at him in the eye, "I swear it."

"Good." He takes a big breath before continuing. "Mother wasn't happy in the beginning. Apparently there was a reason why she did it anyway. I know it wasn't for power because Mother isn't like that. She was already a very powerful newblood. But she went through with it and Father shocked the whole court when he married her."

I can't believe my ears. Is this what my parents have kept from me? Do I not know my parents that well?

Why haven't I noticed? I should have.

I force my words out, "Your joking." Something like this is a strong lie. The diary could have been fake. Anything could have happened. Perhaps it was a noble who wanted to create a rift in the royal family to seize power.

"I assure you I am not." Shade looks at me with a strong sense of confidence, "This was all written in Mother's handwriting. In anyway, she never liked Father. That became even stronger when he split ties with the Jacos family, leaving them all on an island. In fact, the only reason why they aren't dead is all because of Mother's pleas and Father's affection for her. I know he doesn't like Coriane's mother, Sara Skonos, in particular. To this day, he doesn't even like mentioning them."

"And this is your reasoning. I've never heard about this." I stare back at him astounded, "You don't think that anything could be done to make Coriane come back because of this."

"Yes."

"Do you think Father has changed from what he was around...two decades ago?" I say counting the years off. I've never been as sharp as my siblings in mathematics but I can manage simple arithmetic.

"How would I know?" He scoffs, "Unlike you, I'm not someone with mind reading capabilities."

I scowl at him, "You don't need to have mind reading capabilities to know. Since when did Father do anything that was harmful to our family?"

"The family that puts the whims and wishes of its children first won't survive. Father has never done anything to harm us, but rather protect us. That also includes distancing us from Coriane and her family. Don't you know see now? You might think that it's perfectly fine for Coriane to come, but there are other reasons why."

"You've never been angry as something like this. There is something you are hiding." I say crossing my arms, "I've been your sister for my entire life. You've been with me for your entire life, save for the twenty six seconds since you were born before me. Doesn't that make you wonder? I know you as you know me, which is still pretty well."

The room is silent. For what seems like minutes, no one speaks and I take this as my chance to continue on.

"Do you love Coriane?" The question is sudden, taking my brother off guard as he looks at me. He quickly recovers his composure.

"What?" Shade's voice is quiet.

"You heard me correctly." I repeat my question, "Do you love Coriane?"

There is a long moment of silence before Shade speaks again, his face softening as he goes through his memories, "I liked her a lot as a child. But whether she reciprocated my feelings was unknown to me. She never told me and I never told her. If that love still exists in her, in between us, then yes. But I highly doubt it after long years and limited contact. She was your friend more than she was mine. I didn't deserve to intrude into your relationship. Plus, if she did compete, she better be good or the courts will have something against us. You should know the risks."

I search for the book as I speak, "I do. From the moment I introduced her to you, it only took a couple months before the answer was written all over your face. I could see right through Coriane too but I wasn't sure whether it would last. Don't let your hopes be dashed down so easily."

"Why?"

"You must keep it a secret. Swear it."

"Fine. I swear it."

"I've asked Mother to convince Father on the matter of Coriane's presence at Summerton."

Shade goggles at me, "You did what?"

"You heard me." I say confidently, turning around to face him. Shade's face is disbelieving, wanting to hope. But his face is replaced by an expression of sadness as he tries to suppress his feelings once more.

"You are playing a prank on me aren't you." He shakes his head quickly as if trying to rid himself of my words.

"I'm not. Believe me, if I were, you would be able to tell." I say smiling, "I am your sister. Surely, you would know me better than anyone. Maybe not as much as Mother, but just enough to tell what I'm feeling or not."

"This seems like a prank for real If it is, you can say that you've lied to me. Plus, are you crazy to request that of Mother?" Shade's voice is hard. He runs a hand through his brown hair. It's another feature that we share.

"Shade. Listen. To. Me." I say forcefully, "Coriane might come to Summerton. Just don't tell Mother I told you this."

Slowly, Shade nods, his face hopeful, "I won't say a thing."

I sigh, "Good. I'll be on my way. And pass me Mother's diary before you go to bed."

"I promise." He nods his head, "Keep it safe."

I walk out of the kitchen, speed walking all the way to my bedroom. When I get there, I close my eyes and sink to the floor. Everything that has happened today is just too much.

Note: Tiffany Ellison (it's a weird name T^T) has a very good memory and brain to store knowledge (later touched on it future chapters). *waggling my eyebrows. Guess why.* (I'm telling you this early to prepare you)

Eliza and Irina are already at Whitefire. The thing is, in order to prevent rumours and gossip, their trip is a secret. They'll be going back home a couple days before Elara leaves for Summerton and the trio will meet back there. I'm going to make a chapter in this but I'll but it before "Letter Correspondence" so there are no errors and it makes sense.

Author's Analysis: - Shade is in love. Obviously. Shade had always preferred Coriane to Irina and Eliza and because he was a young child at the time, a month is suitable for him to be "in love". An adult could assume that because he was a young child, but Shade actually loved Coriane from a very young age that grew with him into adulthood, even though they are far apart. They also didn't think that what they felt was love because they were too young.
Coriane and Shade did keep limited contact through letters too and I will add a chapter for that.

Shade, Gisa, and Elara can read people easily but the reason why Shade thinks that Coriane might not like him is because he is blinded by that possibility. The person can show many signs to lead you on but you will still be very nervous in telling them that you like them (I've had this happen to me way to many times. I'm only confident when I have nothing to lose.) because you are afraid of being rejected. Shade feels the same way. Also, love makes people do strange things.

- Elara is a very quiet child and is very strict with herself (she's not easily sociable. You can take Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice as an example albeit not a very good one. The difference between them is just that Elara has the talent of conversing with people, she just chooses not to). She also doesn't like to regard herself loosely which is why she has a very small circle of friends.

- Although Shade wields electricity like Mare, lightning is "technically" a form of fire. Think about Uncle Iroh trying to teach Zuko how to bend lightning (In Avatar last Airbender). I initially wanted to make Shade a burner, but then he would be super similar to Maven, something I didn't want. So that's what happened.