The old castle stood in silence amidst a thick forest that seemed to swallow everything around it. Wild tree branches stretched out, nearly touching the outer walls. The paint on the stone ramparts had long faded, leaving behind dull stains and fine cracks worn by time.
Wild grass grew tall in the courtyard. Creeping vines climbed pillars and walls until some windows were almost completely covered. From a distance, the castle looked like a haunted building long abandoned by humanity. Yet, behind that silence, two souls were living there.
The interior of the castle was no less bleak. Marble floors were covered in thick dust, and high ceilings were draped in cobwebs. Many rooms stood empty, devoid of any decoration or furniture. Fortunately, Elowen and Ashveil had purchased some basic furniture for their use; a simple bed was placed in the master bedroom, while a wooden table and a few chairs were set in the central hall to make the castle feel, at least somewhat, like a home.
That night, a gentle breeze blew through the wide-open balcony window. Elowen stood alone on the upper floor balcony, her long hair caught in the night wind. Her hands rested on the stone ledge as her eyes gazed far into the dark forest ahead. Her face was calm, but the exhaustion in her eyes was unmistakable. She hadn't slept soundly in a long time. Many things weighed on her mind: Celestia, the people, the cold war between them, and what would happen next.
"Elowen."
Ashveil's voice broke the silence of the night. Elowen turned slightly as she saw Ashveil approaching her with slow steps.
"Yes?" Elowen replied briefly.
Ashveil stood beside her, watching her face for a few moments. "Are you alright?" he asked in a soft tone.
Elowen shifted her gaze back toward the forest. "I'm okay... just a bit preoccupied."
Ashveil understood. Naturally, Elowen wouldn't be truly at peace after everything that had transpired. "Want to take a walk around the castle?" Ashveil asked, trying to change the mood. "I'm curious to see the state of this place."
Elowen glanced at him. "Why don't you go look by yourself?" she asked.
"I want you to accompany me," Ashveil answered with a small smile. "Besides, I want to know what your initial plans are after this."
Elowen was silent for a moment. "Plans?" she repeated softly. She then pushed herself away from the balcony ledge and walked slowly toward him.
"Of course..." Elowen said, stopping right in front of him. A small smile played on her lips. "Let's explore this castle while we talk."
Ashveil smiled with relief. The two of them walked away from the balcony, their footsteps echoing softly in the long, silent, and dusty corridors. They passed through various spaces: large empty rooms, an old hall with a broken chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and faded old paintings hanging crookedly on the walls. Occasionally, Ashveil opened long-locked doors, sending dust swirling into the air.
Despite the eerie atmosphere, Ashveil felt at peace because Elowen was by his side. As they walked, Elowen began to talk. She told him about her plans after leaving the palace, what she wanted to do, and the things she had yet to resolve. Ashveil listened intently without interrupting. He hadn't expected Elowen to trust him enough to share so many secrets.
"I didn't expect that..." Ashveil said softly after Elowen finished speaking. He still looked surprised.
Elowen looked at him. "Yes. That's right," she replied calmly. "You're not the only one."
Ashveil was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "How did you feel when you found out about all of that?"
Elowen's steps halted in the middle of the corridor. The moonlight from a long window illuminated her face. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "But I am confident in my plan."
Ashveil looked directly into Elowen's eyes, his expression turning serious.
"Elowen."
"Yes?"
"I love you."
The atmosphere immediately fell silent. There was no sound except the night wind whistling through the window. Ashveil clenched his fists slightly; he was truly serious this time.
"I'm not forcing you to accept me," Ashveil continued softly. "But I am here by your side. I am willing to wait for you, Elowen."
Elowen remained silent. She didn't know how to respond to those feelings. It wasn't because she hated Ashveil, but her mind was far too cluttered at the moment. There were too many things to settle. She didn't want to give an answer based purely on emotion.
A few seconds later, Elowen finally spoke. "I will answer your feelings after all of this is over." Her eyes met Ashveil's directly. "I hope you understand, Ashveil."
Ashveil offered a small smile. "Of course." There was no disappointment on his face; he had expected that answer. To him, as long as he could remain by Elowen's side, it was enough for now.
The two of them then continued their walk through the old castle corridors together, accompanied by the moonlight and the long silence of the night.
........
The atmosphere inside the Palace of Wonderveil remained somber ever since the relationship between Princess Celestia and Elowen collapsed entirely. The workers walked with caution, their voices hushed as if afraid of making a mistake.
Silas, Nyx, and Liy remained at the palace to ensure Celestia was doing well. Axe and Aver also stayed with them, deeply concerned about the princess's state. However, as the days passed, Celestia distanced herself further from everyone. She no longer spoke as she used to; her face was cold and unreadable. Sometimes, she would simply stare out the window in silence for hours without saying a word.
This behavior worried them all. In the palace library, the five of them gathered near a large bookshelf. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating the silent space.
Axe sat in a chair, holding his forehead. "What should we do?" he asked. "I have no idea how to even talk to Celestia right now."
Liy, standing near a table, sighed in frustration. "I don't know either," she said. "Celestia truly doesn't want to share anything with us. It's been three days and she's barely spoken a word."
Aver leaned against a bookshelf. "I think she wants to handle all of this on her own."
Silas, who had been quiet until then, looked out the window before speaking calmly. "I can sense that she wants to face this without anyone's help," he said. "But I believe she can do it."
Nyx, perched on a table, groomed his fur slowly. "I don't know much about royal affairs," he said. "But Celestia has to deal with the nobles and the people now. I just hope she's okay."
While they were talking, Silas noticed something move quickly between the bookshelves. A small brown squirrel was running before hiding behind a pile of books. Silas's eyes narrowed.
"I see another animal here," he remarked.
"Another animal?" Aver asked, surprised.
Without wasting any time, they all began to search. Silas squeezed between small shelves, Nyx climbed the library ladder to look from above, while Liy, Axe, and Aver searched every corner of the library.
"There he is!" Nyx shouted, pointing toward a high shelf.
A small squirrel was standing on the shelf, clutching a small book. Startled, the squirrel immediately jumped down to the floor. The five of them surrounded it.
"Hey, who are you?" Liy asked.
The squirrel looked at them for a moment before offering a small smile. "My name is Fin. I came in here because the palace workers allowed me to stay."
Nyx looked at Fin suspiciously. "Do Princess Elowen and Princess Celestia know you're here?"
Fin shook his head. "No, because I'm small. Besides, why would they care about me compared to all of you who are close to the royals?"
"You must have overheard our conversation just now?" Aver guessed.
Fin smiled shyly. "Yes. I've overheard many conversations in the palace. I'm small, so humans don't notice when I'm near them."
Axe sighed. "That's not right. Eavesdropping on others isn't a good thing."
"I'm sorry," Fin said, bowing his head slightly. "I just happened to hear it. I didn't do anything."
Nyx climbed down from the ladder and approached Fin. "Do you know what Charles said to Celestia the other day?"
"I didn't hear that," Fin answered. "They were speaking very softly. I tried to follow them, but they were only talking about ordinary things."
Liy smiled gently at the little squirrel. "Fin, you can stay here."
Fin lifted his head. "Really?"
"Yes," Liy replied cheerfully. "You seem kind."
"That is indeed my intention," Fin said with a smile.
"Alright," Axe added. "As long as you don't cause any trouble."
"Of course," Fin replied.
Silas merely observed the squirrel in silence. He showed no reaction, but his eyes lingered on Fin for a moment longer, as if he were deep in thought.
None of them knew that the small squirrel in front of them was actually a spy sent by Alice.
The flower gardens of Wonderveil Palace remained beautiful despite the increasingly somber atmosphere within the palace walls. Multi-colored flowers bloomed along the small stone paths, and the gentle sound of the fountain was accompanied by a cool breeze rustling the leaves.
In the center of the garden, Princess Celestia sat with Charles at a small table near the white roses. They were speaking softly to one another. Charles seemed to be trying to help Celestia feel more at ease. Although her face remained cold, she was at least still willing to talk to him compared to the others.
Not far off, Nyx, Silas, Liy, Axe, and Aver arrived accompanied by a small brown squirrel. Fin looked around the garden in total awe. "Wow... this place is beautiful," he whispered.
Nyx walked ahead before greeting Celestia. "Princess Celestia."
Celestia lifted her head and looked toward them. But as usual, she did not offer a smile. "Hey, Nyx."
Nyx pushed Fin's small body forward slightly. "There is an animal wandering around your palace. I'm sure the palace workers kept this animal because it's cute."
Celestia looked toward the little squirrel. "I don't mind," she replied calmly. "As long as the squirrel doesn't cause any trouble."
Fin immediately stepped forward before bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, how are you?"
Celestia looked at the squirrel for a few seconds before answering briefly, "Yes, I am fine." She then shifted her gaze to Silas, Nyx, Liy, Axe, and Aver. "Silas, Nyx, Liy, Axe, and Aver... I'm sorry that for the time being, I am acting coldly toward you all. I have duties that must be carried out."
Liy immediately shook her head. "It doesn't matter, Your Highness."
Silas offered a small smile before speaking in a soft tone. "We understand. Just don't carry everything alone. We are always here for you."
Celestia was silent for a moment before exhaling a slow breath. "Thank you... but I need humans to assist with my tasks."
Nyx furrowed his brow slightly.
"I don't mean to look down on any of you," Celestia continued. "Except for Axe and Aver... I simply need humans to receive my views."
Axe and Aver merely looked at each other. "Yes... we understand," Aver said softly.
But Nyx was still dissatisfied. "If that's the case... then why Charles?" he asked, looking sharply at the man.
Charles flinched slightly when his name was mentioned. Celestia, however, answered without hesitation. "Nyx, there is a specific reason I am speaking with Charles. I'm sorry... I cannot reveal this to all of you."
Nyx fell silent, though his face clearly showed his displeasure. Liy tried to change the mood. "Princess Celestia, if there is any problem, tell us. We are ready to help, no matter how small it may be."
Celestia looked at them all before nodding slowly. "Yes... I know that." She then stood up from her chair. "I must go now. I believe I have a meeting with the nobility." Celestia looked toward Charles. "Let's go, Charles."
Charles stood up immediately. "Very well."
The two of them walked out of the flower garden together. Fin watched them until their figures disappeared behind the palace doors. The atmosphere became quiet for a moment.
"It's strange..." Fin said suddenly.
"What's strange?" Axe asked.
Fin rubbed his tiny chin. "Usually, humans get excited when they see me because I'm cute." He lowered his ears slightly. "Why didn't Princess Celestia stroke me at all?"
Aver chuckled. "Maybe because it's the first time she's met you."
"And she has too many things to think about," Axe added.
"Yes, that's true," Fin said softly.
Nyx snorted while looking in the direction Celestia had gone. "I still don't understand why she's so close to that clown."
"Nyx..." Liy warned softly. "It's not right to talk like that."
"What?" Nyx replied. "I'm just telling the truth." He groomed his fur before continuing. "Charles needs to know his place. He's just a commoner, while Princess Celestia is the daughter of a king. Their statuses are too far apart. It would be different if he were a duke or a crown prince."
Liy let out a long sigh. "Nyx..."
But Nyx cut Liy off. "I will find a suitable partner for Princess Celestia. I'm sure there are noblemen who are more worthy of her." After saying that, Nyx walked out of the garden with an arrogant stride.
Liy could only shake her head. "He's so stubborn..."
Silas, who had been silent the entire time, looked toward Fin. His eyes narrowed slightly. And for the first time... he began to feel that the presence of this little squirrel might bring something interesting into the palace.