The guard had Shiro follow him all the way to Midnight Castle, where another guard of more seniority asked Shiro to follow him.

The dark halls were stranger and stranger and it looks like life was becoming more of a fairy tale for Shiro.

"Your father, the King wants to see you" The knight gave him a disappointed glare.

The paintings even looked like they were disappointed at Shiro, even if it was Kuro's doing.

Shiro had no clue where the King's study was so he didn't hesitate asking someone.

"Excuse me, do you know where I can find the Ki-I mean my fathers study?"

She was shocked, like she had seen a ghost, the servant responded saying, nothing.

"Is something the matter?" Shiro asked.

"Oh, nothing... you just are never polite like this so it caught me by surprise, it is a little big in here so it is easy to get lost, i'll walk you to your father's study" She said with a wry smile.

She snapped her fingers saying some sort of incantation and the lights flickered back on the candelabras on the walls.

Shiro already recognized this low-level magic, but never seen anyone but his brother practice it.

"That was a luminaris spell, wasn't it" Asked Shiro.

"My, you are studying aren't you? it's good that the King, afforded you such a kind magi as a tutor" She said as if condescending his skills.

But Shiro didn't take that in any which way, in fact he just had an innocent as the fresh melting snow kinda smile.

They followed down the red carpeted lined halls, dark bricked walls and past several statues of different likenesses of the King.

It was obvious this King was more than fond of himself , he had a pride that could not be swayed just by looking at the numerous statues.

She lead him into the study then closed the door behind her.

"Kuro, you've done it this time, trying to escape from this castle and for what!?" He slammed his fist down.

Shiro remained calm, whereas Kuro would be agitated enough to insult his father, Shiro said in a sweet serenity.

"It was an honest mistake, f-father, it's my fault after all"

He was shocked, eyes wide, so shocked that his next sentence didn't make a lick of sense.

"I knew one day you'd admit that you were wrong" Said the King.

"I'll let it go just this once" He said.

Shiro turned away and started walking for the doors handles.

"I'm not done fiinsihed talking with you, Kuro!!" He said with a bellowed shout.

He had a fat belly and a mean temper, bushy eyebrows dark as sin.

"Tomorrow is the day, don't forget it!" He said.

Shiro didn't know what he was talking about.

"Now get out of my sight!" He said.

SO he left the room and the woman was listening in on what was being said.

She startled herself when Shiro opened the door because her ears were right close to the door.

"Did you hear what you were looking for? it must get lonely being a servant" Said Shiro.

"KUro..." She said.

"Thanks for showing me to my father's study" Said Shiro.

And with that Shiro went looking with curious insight around the castle,  he found a lot of people who were hired but none who were like him, Shiro thought he might have had at least a sister or maybe just maybe a brother to make him miss Jiro nii-san a little less.

But that wasn't the case, and so Shiro started to began understanding why Kuro has this loneliness to him, and why he would do something like that.