NORTH LE FRERE

During the two days that Sumire was boarded inside the Davenfords' private plane on their way home cruising a thousand miles across the painted sky with different hues, Dreygur was the only person she could always talk to. Even if the two of them just keep talking, they never run out of topics. They chatter, laughing all day and night. The maiden felt she had told everything and Dreygur was just listening to her intently. The young man never tires of listening to her as Sumire keeps telling stories to him. He had more time to admire the beauty of his niece and he was enjoying every single second with her.

Chadwick, on the other hand, has not come out of his room after leaving them in the lounge area. He stayed inside while working on something crucial on his laptop. Their attendant was around the corner, serving them food. Sumire tried to break into Chadwick's room to serve him food, but Dreygur stopped her.

"Why?" Grabbing her by the hand, Sumire asked suddenly. She could see Dreygur's worried and uncertain smile on his face.

Sumire couldn't figure out what he is trying to imply through his expression. She couldn't read what his eyes were saying, but Sumire sensed Dreygur's strong resistance to her entering Chadwick's room.

"He is working. And when he is working, he cannot be disturbed." Dreygur said in a serious tone.

Her eyebrows were slightly raised and look confused. Sumire can see some of the flight attendants comes in to deliver her Uncle's food at a specific time.

"But the att-" Sumire didn't finish what she had to say when she realized the situation. Her face flushed in embarrassment.

"Right, they call him on the intercom when he allows them to come in." The maiden laughingly said and no longer pursue what she had planned.

Sumire returned the tray of food to the male attendant who was waiting for them. They then returned to their seats.

The scene was kept that way inside the private jet. They never see Chadwick come out until they arrived at NORTH LE FRÈRE, the country that the DAVENFORDS rule today. Twins of the inhabitant country now because of their doing.

After the plane successfully landed at the exclusive airport for the royalties, a bloody red carpet was rolled to saunter for the three of them. Hundreds of white royal knights marched, standing on both sides of the red aisle to escort them to the palace.

When Sumire got out of the plane, her eyes perused the entirety of NORTH LE FRÈRE. Standing on the plane's stairway at the airport royale, a gentle gust of cold wind touches her porcelain skin and plays her hair into a beautiful mess. She was a canvas of sorts, both eye-catching and part of the scenery all at the same time. She was smiling beguilingly at the sight. Dreygur behind her looking tall and big with perfect spec was marveled, eyes locked at the beauty right in front of him.

Sumire felt she has arrived in a different dimension. She felt completely alienated. The world she's in is beyond people's imagination. The world she never knew existed. The ambiance is very different and the scenery is like art that came out from a painting, sharp and smooth with a bit of an abstract feel.

The three of them descended from the plane. With her last step on the stairs, Sumire felt she stepped into the abyss that had a tinge of blood. Even the sky looks surreal. Sumire wondered if she was still on earth or if NORTH LE FRÈRE is a living fantasy.

"Uncle, I wanna live here forever with Mort!" Sumire happily exclaimed and jumped up in felicity.

She was so impressed by what she was seeing that she unknowingly hugged Chadwick's right arm who had a stoic face on. He has been here in this place several times. The beautiful and literally breathtaking scenery is nothing new to him. He understood what Sumire, his niece is feeling right now.

"You can but he can't. You know the rules." Chadwick plainly responded, eyes devoid of emotion and warmth.

Sumire wears a frown face. She found it inexplicably to understand why the Davenfords are too strict to the point that they don't even want to let their blood relatives in. It's a wonder that her uncle Chadwick can get in and out freely of this bizarre country.

"I don't understand," Sumire responded. She knows the rules but she doesn't understand why they have such rules. She is aware that NORTH LE FRÈRE is an independent country and can keep up with war and economy around the world. It's too boring if they don't negotiate with their neighboring countries.

"You need to," Dreygur said, now standing on her right side.

They walked together on the red carpet with the maiden between them. The palace knights bowed after them and can't help but blushed at Sumire's royalty beauty. She walks like a Queen, captivating everyone's attention with her unique aura. They reached the end of the red carpet and a carriage is waiting for them.

Sumire was nailed on the ground. Gaped, she didn't expect to ride it again not only on the set of the drama they were shooting before. Truly, this is a better chariot. Ten huge black stallions pulled the royal charcoal-gold carriage. The chariot is very overwhelming in size and beauty. The ten horses look very dangerous and intimidating. Sumire felt that Death rose from the underworld and picked her up. She liked the feeling.

"Sumire, are you scared?" Dreygur asked worriedly and look closer into her face.

"She's not." Chadwick countered him. He could visibly see the twinkle in his niece's eyes in delight. Dreygur just gave Chadwick a side-eye at what he said. Chadwick seemed to indicate that he knew his niece better than Dreygur.

"Get inside," Chadwick ordered. The two knights open the carriage and Sumire runs happily preceded them.

She seemed to be so much excited to enter the chariot. Dreygur who was just behind her chuckled in amusement and support her from the back like a true gentleman.

When they entered inside, Sumire smelled the unfamiliar scent lingering on her nostrils. She had never smelled that scent even in the scented carriages that she rides on the drama set. Fact, Sumire is a world endorser of expensive perfume brands and she knows that each brand has a unique and signature smell but she has never smelled such a scent that is so soothing and pleasing to her nose.

'Beautifully unique.' She uttered with a smile. Sumire felt relaxed inside even though she was tired. 'Strange.' She added.

"This country feels different, smells different, the sight is strangely pleasing to the eye, and probably the food tastes different here. I'm sure it's palatable. I feel like I'm on another planet." Sumire genuinely complimented making Dreygur chuckle seated opposite her.

"Then stay here forever," Dreygur suggested making her heart flutter in happiness. She smiled beautifully at him.

"Who wouldn't want to stay here? Maybe if you weren't strict with tourism, you would make a lot of money. I'm definitely sure many people will come to visit here and it will be flooded with foreigners if you allow the international media to expose this country to the rest of the world. " Sumire happily exclaimed. The two men inside the carriage went serious and fell silent looking at the innocent niece who had a big smile on her face.

"I love the idea." Said Dreygur and flashed a smile which Chadwick quickly countered.

"It's too risky," Chadwick said with his arms crossed on his chest.

"You are a boring person." Dreygur sneered as Chadwick glared at him. A bolt of lightning clashed into collision through their eyes.

For a few seconds, Sumire didn't speak again because of the tension that was building inside. She just sated her eyes on the beautiful scenarios outside the chariot. She sees houses as manors. Trees dipped their heads on the road as if bowing them with respect and a horde of wildflowers blooming with different colors scattered around. The cold breeze gently stirred inside the carriage blowing her hair. She could smell the natural scent outside entering and it merges the scented carriage. Anyone with depression who comes here will definitely forget the reality and problems for a while.

'Who would have guessed that the DAVENFORDS are one of the most ruthless and twisted monarchs in the world's dark history when the new country they now reign in is such a beauty." Sumire uttered at the back of her mind as her face rested on her palm. She sees no beggar on the street or garbages. Everything around is very neat and clean.

"Uncle, why do I see no buildings around here?" Sumire asked Dreygur and shifted her eyes to him.

"Because this is not the main city. This is the place and residence of the officials and knights of the Davenfords. Those Manors you see belong to them. They are also not allowed to use cars but only black horses. If you want a sci-fi place, you visit the capital of NORTH LE FRÈRE, the DIRGE." Dreygur explained making the young maiden astonished at the country she was in.

This place is truly different from the other countries even for Brethren city where she resides. This is at the top of the pyramid. What's even more admirable, the country's knights have their own manors.

"Does everyone here live in a manor?" Sumire asked. She had never seen anything beautiful but an ordinary house. Purely manor.

"Yes." Dreygur curtly replied.

"Even somewhere else?" Sumire asked again, eyes slightly widen causing Dreygur to burst into laughter.

"Unfortunately, you won't see any small houses here. Everyone lives in a manor. Even in other places. People who don't want to live in big houses are in the condo buildings of DIRGE capital. To put it simply, those who don't like advanced technologies are living in manors and only ride in carriages or horses as a sort of transportation, while the tech-savvy people are residing in the heart of DIRGE. They live in the highest-class lavish condominium or penthouses. Sumire, I can proudly and confidently say no poor individual lives in our country."

Dreygur long replied looking so proud. The pride and arrogance are visibly seen in his face which is put in the right place. Everything he said was true. And Sumire who was just listening couldn't hide her deep astonishment. They really are different from the rest of the world. It was as if they were in a world within the world.

"No wonder Grandma Zèlle likes here better." Sumire kiddingly said and chuckled. She knew her Grandmother could not leave NORTH LE FRÈRE because of her position as the Queen of the country.

"Now, I wanna be like her," Sumire added almost in a whisper as she shifted her outside the chariot with a smile. Dreygur grinned at what she said and caught Chadwick's attention. They looked at the same time at their niece who is peacefully staring at the scenery ahead.

"You can be like her." With a brightened face, Dreygur said with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Sumire asked with a frown and gaze at Dreygur's place.

"If you want to be Queen of NORTH LE FRÈRE then you need to marry the next in line to the throne," Dreygur said in a serious tone making Sumire quickly shift her gaze at Chadwick. A second later, Dreygur chuckled. He seemed to know what was going through Sumire's mind.

"Sumire, even though Chadwick is the firstborn and is the son of the Current Queen, he is not the next in line. Since he is not pure-blooded Davenford." Dreygur said. A deafening silence reigns between them. The maiden was a little surprised by that fact. She thought her Uncle Chadwick would inherit the throne.

"So, who's next on the throne?" Sumire asked, confused as she look at her Uncle Chadwick.

"I am," Dreygur replied with a smile. And for the first time, Sumire felt a sense of dread.

"Isn't there a chance Uncle Chadwick will become King?" Wearing a puzzled look, she innocently asked again.

"He'll have a chance if I die," Dreygur replied with a smiling face. Sumire unbelievably stared at him with a slight frown. Dreygur was about to add when Chadwick spoke.

"But you can't kill a family." Chadwick meaningfully said. Even though he was smiling properly this time, the cold expression on his face is still noticeable.

"So, you are showing your fangs right now right in front of your niece." Dreygur laughed as Chadwick chuckled a bit. He didn't expect Dreygur to say that, but who cares?

"I mean, who doesn't want the throne?" Chadwick asked, causing Dreygur to laugh even more.

"I don't want the throne, honestly. I just want to be an ordinary citizen but I don't want to die." Dreygur revealed a bitter smile.

"You can tell-" Sumire was stopped when she realized what Dreygur said again. She felt the cold crawl all over her body. Sumire felt scared when she thought about it, especially since she was close to both of them. They are dear to her.

"You're right, Sweetheart. When the heir refuses the throne he has to be hanged so that the one who comes after him has a chance," said Dreygur who just voice out what was in the maiden's mind.

Sumire glanced at Chadwick who was just listening quietly to them.

"How about Grandma?" She asked who prayed that what she had in mind was wrong.

"When she dies, I can replace her on the throne. But if she doesn't die at the age of 70, she must be hanged. You can only sit on the throne till you are 70 years old." Dreygur casually said. Her ethereal white skin raised other hues to greater brightness. Sumire paled at what she heard.

"Can't you just ban Grandma Zèlle when she turns 70 or can't you just ditch such awful rules? It's like guidelines anyway." Sumire asked as Dreygur shook his head.

"I am so sorry but rules are rules." He said.

Sumire gritted her teeth. She wants to take her grandmother out of this country and never return. Now, it seems she doesn't want to live here anymore and wants to go back home.

"No matter how beautiful and perfect something is, it still hides some twisted poison. Damn, I want to take back everything I said."