“Oh, hello, little brother! I didn’t know you were here,” she smiled as she closed the door. She was about to approach me when she suddenly stopped. Her gaze landed on the book in my hands. “Am I seeing this clearly? Are you reading?” she asked in disbelief and amazement.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I smiled proudly. “This book has proven me wrong. Everything that I thought about reading was completely washed away by this one,” I explained as she walked towards me.

“Well then, I’m proud of you, young one,” she replied, sitting beside me. “You’ve finally found something better to do when you’re not cooped inside your study, handling reports.”

“And it’s all thanks to you,” I answered as I poked her arm. “Anyways, where have you been?” I asked, putting the book on my bedside table. “When I returned, you weren’t here.

She let out a sigh. The enthusiasm, the happiness on her face was immediately replaced by worry. “I visited Mother… and I didn’t like what I saw. She looked more and more ill with every single day that passed,” she explained. “I don’t think this fever of hers is just a fever. I fear that this might be something else, one that’s fatal for her.”

I put my hand on hers, gently rubbing them with my thumb. I’m carrying the same sentiments as Elizabeth. From the very beginning, I never believed that it was only a fever. And the Medicine King confirmed it to me. I don’t think Mother has disclosed it to Elizabeth yet but I can understand why she wouldn’t want to tell us. She doesn’t want us to worry. I would love to share my thoughts with Elizabeth but if Mother hasn’t told her anything yet then I shouldn’t either.

“Shouldn’t we hope for the best instead of the worst?” I said in an attempt to comfort her. “You’re the one who keeps reminding me that.”

“Oh, Robert, I tried to think of other reasons why Mother is ill but… I couldn’t think of anything but the bad. Ever since she got sick, I already feared for the worst,” she answered, fear now evident in her face.

I sat up and moved closer to her, holding her in my arms. She may be the eldest child but that doesn’t mean I don’t protect her with everything that I have.

“Every single one of us fears the worst for Mother. I may not be showing it but I think about her condition all the time,” I answered, comforting Elizabeth. “I don’t show it because she would worry more and I wouldn’t want that. All we can do is be strong for her - with her - and pray that whatever kind of illness she currently has will end soon.”

“How can I be strong when the person giving me strength is weak?” she asked another, a tear fell from her eye. “Mother has been my source of strength, the rock that has kept me steady. To see her in such a condition where she can’t even sit properly… it’s too much for me. It’s tearing me to pieces,” she continued. “As more days pass by, as I continue to see her like that, I grow weaker with her. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

I understand why Elizabeth has such a strong bond with Mother. As a princess, she has spent most of her time with her, learning her ways and watching Mother do her duties as the queen. I was raised by my tutors but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have any bond with her. On the contrary, Mother was my first teacher. She taught everything before I was taken out of her care and then to my tutors. She has always guided me in everything that I do.

I gently rubbed Elizabeth’s back as she tried to stop her tears. “Hush now, dear sister. Everything will be all right. I can assure you that,” I gave her a comforting smile.

She smiled slightly as we hugged. At this moment, we’re each other’s support and source of comfort. We don’t expect much from James because as king, he already has his hands full.

And even though we’re raised in different environments, we have this strange yet undeniable connection that nobody - not even the two of us - could explain. We would be there for each other no matter what. Most of the nobles in our court are confused because they expect that we won’t have much of a relationship - a deep one, in our case - because of the values we were taught from an early age. But we don’t pay any mind to what other people say. My sister needs me now more than ever and I will always look after her as she does the same for me.

♔♔♔

The time for dinner has arrived and I’ve been sitting here on the balcony as I looked out to the distant mountains, watching every member of our household finish their outdoor chores for the day. The cool evening wind was very gentle when it touched my face. It whistled as it passed me by. A crescent moon smiled from the heavens, together with the stars as its usual companion.

The door creaked open. I quickly turned and it was Elizabeth. “I thought you were going to have dinner,” my brows furrowed, baffled.

“I told Gonzalo to bring our food here to your room,” she said, closing the door behind her. “I didn’t want to join James, Bethilda, and the lords of the court. It’s sickening to join those kinds of people during a meal,” she continued as she walked towards me. “And besides, I knew you wouldn’t want that as well.”

I let out a smile as I agreed with her statement. When she finally reached me, we both looked into the distance then gazed back at the garden. “Our household has done such a good job in making sure our garden is beautifully lit during the night,” I remarked. “A simple garden can be made into something magical.”