Ingrid was reading in a chilly apse, behind the altar when the vicar came.

-I am sorry Sir, but I have to say Mass soon. -He bent down to the little prince. -...and I will need that book too if you please.

-Sigh... Do you have other books?

-I have only this and the Granilana'la, which you have already read twice Sir.

-Sigh...Okay.-Ingrid stood up and gave him his book. -Any news from the Bl...Prince Karakan and Prince Sigfrid?

-I don't know Sir, but I saw a courier running to the fortress.

-Oh! Then I really should go!... Oh thank you for the books!

Ingrid pushed the huge wooden door open, and for a minute she was blind from the sunshine.

Inside the temple was semidarkness and cold, outside is blinding, sweaty summer.

Ingrid was in a used-to-be small country "Onghrina" (now it's part of the Azura Kingdom, Middle-Valury. Valury is the province where they grow the grains and hunt).

Onghrina was very flat, it had no mountains, but had a bunch of rivers, lakes and spring waters.

Unfortunately, the Fortress where Ingrid was currently staying had almost no water connection, just a well, that everybody used in the village.

She was sweating a lot since she and Karakan arrived to the Fortress, and the dust stuck to her white skin all the time.

The way to the shadowy fortress was very long and hot, with no shadow.

The guards stopped the little kid at the gate to see her face.

(Ingrid had to hide herself from the people outside, since they couldn't stop themselves from following her, or pulling her hair, pinching her skin etc. So she was wearing a beat-up coat all the time.)

A lean young man walked out.

-Hey, wait, aren't you the courier?-Ingrid asked him.

-Yes I am, who asks?

-I'm Prince Ingrid. What news did you brought?

-Prince Ingrid? Aren't you Prince Snow?

-Yes, you can call me that.

-Oh, I see. The wedding ceremony's location is transferred to Silvatown, but the coronation festivity is unchanged and will be held in Azura town... Where are Prince Karakan and Prince Sigfrid?

-They went out to the border to solve some rioting for a week.

-Oh I see, then I will head there. I told Lieutenant Havre about the location change and he said he will rearrange his troops to get there early...maybe you should join him. If Prince Karakan hears the news, he will probably head there on a shorter route, so he won't come here.

-Ooh I see. Thank you for your advice!

-Your welcome. Safe travel!

-Safe travel!

...

In an hour, Ingrid was sitting in a raunchy cart, that was made from scratchy wood, no doors and no textile in it.

The so called 'Lieutenant' Havre farted every time his horse stepped on a stone, and he was riding right next to Ingrid.

He was talking.

He was being 'clever'.

The typical "you can't understand what it means war/killing/dying/, because you are still just a kid, and I am almost 45 old".

(Telling to a kid, who was long past fifty years old.)

Ingrid knew from the chatterbox, that Silvatown was the hometown of princess Katica, and Katica was actually Ohngrinian, but somehow she was taken into the 'Sul family.

The circumstances were getting more interesting minute by minute.

-Snow boy! Now if you look ahead, you can see the only mountain in this land.

Ingrid looked out and saw a small mountain covered with spiky pine forest.

The road was straightly pointing there.

Above them, all along the way planted plum trees were blooming.

It was magical. Ingrid was thinking about Karakan from the letters, the southern prince who was writing Adora differently.

Ingrid was about to see the fabled castle of Silvatown and the famous Silvatown lake.

...

Ingrid got one of the best suite, which windows faced to the lake.

There were 2 king-sized beds facing towards each other. Ingrid found this strange for a minute but then she searched a nice dress for the night. Someone knocked.

-Come in!-Said Ingrid and closed her trunk.

A young girl stepped in, and Ingrid knew from her corset and huge golden skirt that she's a noble.

-They said that Sigfrid is young, but I didn't know that you are still a child.

-Miss, you get it wrong.-Started the little prince while standing up. -I am Ingrid, Sigfrid's brother...And if you permit myself to know, what is your name?

-Oh... I am Katica. I will be your brother's fiancée... How about we talk a little bit without the formal titles?

-Very well. Come, sit here to the window.

Ingrid waited until the princess sat down. She had a huge braided bun on her head with red ribbons. Her eyes were green.

-Sorry may I ask your age? You look very young, but your manner...-She said.

-I will tell mine if you tell yours. -Her face grimaced from Ingrid's answer.

-I will turn 15 at Midwinter if you really want to know. And you??

-I will be 7 at New Year's Eve...And? What is it that you wanted to know?

-Everything... But start with the portrayal of your brother.

-Phmm...I don't mind...But first, I want to know a few things too...

-You are irking! Okay, ask anything I'll answer, just hurry I need to bear a lot of preparations.

-I read your family tree, and a few things are wrong in it. The king, who is he? Are you really his daughter?

-This question is way too arrogant!-She stood up huffing, but then she sat back. -What are, playing all matured! He is not my blood-relative, yes.

-I thought so...then how come you are by his side?

-Well you would eventually find this out anyway, so there is no harm in me telling you this: in one way or an other he will have your land. I don't need to say this, but what I'm going to tell you can't leave this room.

-Understood. -Said Ingrid and she thought that the princess gave out information too quickly.

-This land was my parent's kingdom, but Kanuni'Sul conquered it... My father begged for our people's life.

-He accepted it I can see.

-Yes. He accepted, but with one condition. We must obey in every condition, and my dad had to die... My people would not rebel, they are mostly peasants. The king is very paranoiac, I'm afraid he would kill my people too.

-Oh...can it be that this wedding was your idea then?

-Yes...well no. It was my brother's idea. You might have met him, no?

-You mean Prince Karakan?

-Yes. He saved me with this. He was also the one who nominated your brother, and managed to convince Sul, the king to choose Sigfrid instead of Rablo, the "mad king", who killed all of his wifes.

-Well... Sigfrid is not a harmful man that's for sure...but of course he has flaws too.

-Like what? Is he ugly?

-Counting from his women... I don't think so...but he's a womanizer, and he likes older women.

-Oh. How old is he?

-16...or 17 was it?

-You know his types?

-What? You want to fit in? You couldn't have a chance...the beauty is there but you can never be older then him. -Said Ingrid overly confident forgetting her young look.

The princess blushed.

-We will see! -Said the princess embarrassed.- ... and how does he look?

-He looks very similar to me, but more manly...wait...I wanted to ask you something...
-And how does your...
-Karakan! Who is he, is he related by blood to you as a brother?

-No...-Her tongue slipped and she slapped on her lips. She was red. She looked like she's in love with him.

-Actually...He would be the real king of Azura. -She whispered.

-What? What do you mean by this?

-I don't know the details. He is not Sul's, but the used-to-be king, Tistelet's son.

-Tistelet? Why does it sound so familiar?

-Because he is in the chronicles.

-But...that was like... at least a half centuries ago!

-Yes... that's why I wouldn't say that this is true... but something is true between the lines...

-I see...and is he in....

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

The little prince and the princess startled.

-Princess Katica! -Bowed in a soldier. -Prince Snow! -Bowed again as he saw Ingrid too.

-Prince Sigfrid and Prince Karakan have arrived!

The two youngsters jumped up all at once and looked at each other. Katica  smiled at Ingrid, she smiled back.

-Prince Snow. It was a pleasure to meet you. -Said Katica and held her hand up to Ingrid.

Ingrid bowed and kissed the princess' hand.

-It was my pleasure meeting you princess Katica.

-I will prepare myself before I meet with your brother, so please go ahead and greet them first.

-Thank you, I will.-Said Ingrid and walked out slowly from her room, hoping that they won't look into her luggage.