Side Story 2
"Wells seems to care very much about his younger sister."
Russell observed, reflecting on Wells' heartfelt praise for his sibling.
Without hesitation, Wells nodded in agreement. His adoration for his beloved younger sister was nothing to be ashamed of.
"Absolutely. Perhaps due to the significant age gap, people at the manor often joke that we feel more like father and daughter than siblings."
Russell raised an eyebrow in reply.
"How big is this age difference?"
"Eleven years."
"That's quite a gap. I thought my sister and I had a sizable one, but I guess you trump mine," Russell remarked in wonder.
"Princess Allison? You two have a seven-year age difference, yes?"
Russell nodded to his friend’s inquiry.
"Yes, that's right. But my sister..."
His voice trailed off as he thought of Allison.
She was both caring and mischievous, and while she always looked out for Russell, she also enjoyed playing pranks on him as well.
"...She can be a bit mischievous at times."
Russell admitted, causing his friends to nod in understanding.
"Indeed."
Wells agreed.
"Does your sister ever play pranks on you, Wells?"
Russell asked, curious.
"Occasionally. For my debutante, she gifted me a frog, claiming she found it as a present."
Wells recalled, his voice tinged with both amusement and lingering surprise.
Russell struggled to contain his laughter at the mental image of Wells being startled by the frog.
He bit his lip to stifle his amusement.
"Ah, my sister, how far will she go with her jokes?"
Russell wondered silently, shaking his head to dispel the image.
Breaking the silence, he changed the subject.
"I'm also curious about your younger sister. Perhaps I'll meet her someday."
It seemed like a natural transition from their conversation about Allison's pranks to discussing Wells' family.
However, the negative response caught Russell off guard.
He furrowed his brow as he looked at Wells.
"Why do you say that?"
"Prince, let me clarify... Even you cannot determine our Rose's fate."
Wells stated cryptically, and Russell was taken aback.
"What are you talking about? I'm not interested in anyone!"
"Nevertheless, as the prince, you may one day have to consider a fiancée for the position of Empress of Tristan."
Wells explained calmly.
"That's a concern for much later. I'm only twelve years old!"
Russell protested, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of such considerations at his age.
The young prince's quiet plea went unanswered as Wells persisted.
"Please don’t fall in love at first sight when you see Rose later."
Wells urged, his arms outstretched as if to ward off the other young boy.
Instead of firing back, Russell offered a kind smile, sizing up Wells once more.
The following day, after dinner, Russell made his way to Allison's room, promising to read a book with her.
"Russell, do you have the clothes for your outing?"
Allison inquired as she let him in.
"Yes, I brought them secretly."
Russell replied, pulling out his outfit from the small bag on his shoulder.
"Alright, change into them. Lord Devos will be here soon."
Allison instructed, arranging pillows and clothes on the bed to create the appearance of her sleeping.
Russell quickly changed into his outfit and turned to his sister, who was now cozied up in the bed.
"What are you up to?"
Russell inquired, causing his sister to pause her motions as she explained.
"Just in case someone looks for you, I’m pretending to be asleep."
"You're quite meticulous."
In awe of her extensive planning, Russell remarked.
"I can't risk you being caught. Promise you won't stay out too late."
"Don't worry, I'll just watch the fireworks and come back."
Russell assured her.
"Okay, I'll watch from the terrace."
Allison compromised, pointing to where tables and chairs were set up for viewing the fireworks.
"Smart."
Russell acknowledged it before a knock was heard on the door.
She hurried to answer it without hesitation.
"Come in, Lord Devos."
Allison greeted the gentleman and made way for him.
"I greet the young sun and moon of the Tristan Empire, Prince Russell and Princess Allison. Are you ready?"
Lord Devos inquired.
"We're set to go. But can Russell sneak out without being caught?"
"Yes, I've arranged for a path with no guards until His Highness reaches the horse. Still, as a precaution, the prince’s disguise..."
Devos began, presenting a cape and a wig.
Russell looked puzzled as he examined the wig.
"Why the wig?"
Devos explained patiently.
"The prince's distinctive silver hair could give him away. I brought this wig to change his hair color, just in case."
Though Russell complained about the wig, Allison helped him adjust it.
In an instant, his silver locks transformed into a vibrant blue hue.
Draped in his cloak and with his hat pulled low, Russell was ready for his adventure.
"Okay then, sister. I'll be back soon."
Russell assured Allison before departing.
"Alright, look around carefully and stay close to Sir Devos."
Allison urged, her concern evident.
"Lord Devos, please take good care of Russell."
As an afterthought, she added, directing her request to Devos, who nodded emphatically.
Russell followed Devos out of Allison's room, navigating the hallways cautiously to avoid detection.
Fortunately, they encountered no guards as they made their way to the horse.
Upon reaching their destination, Russell was greeted by four knights.
"Your Highness, while you enjoy the National Foundation Ceremony in the square, we will escort you. You can freely enjoy the festival, but we'll stay close in case of any emergencies. Don't worry, we will protect you for the entire duration."
One of the knights reassured Russell as they fell in line.
"Alright then. I have troubled you."
Russell said this before Devos lifted him onto the horse.
He settled in front of the knight, his anticipation palpable as they began their journey.
As they rode, his excitement grew, and finally, they reached a spot near the square. With Devos' assistance, Russell dismounted and took in his surroundings.
"The square is over there. We had to stop here with the horse."
Devos explained as he urged the horse onward.
"Are you ready? Let's go."
Russell exclaimed eagerly, setting off towards the square with brisk steps.
Upon arriving, he was captivated by the festive atmosphere and the beautifully adorned streets.
As dusk descended, the square began to glow with the illumination of lights, casting a magical aura.
Though the knights who had escorted him were now out of sight, Russell felt their watchful presence.
Nonetheless, he immersed himself in the festivities, enjoying the plays depicting Tristan's founding tale and browsing through handmade jewelry stalls.
As the day progressed, Russell eagerly suggested heading to the fountain for the fireworks display.
"Let’s go quickly! We don't want to miss the best seats."
With a youthful glow, he urged Devos.
"Indeed, we must hurry before the seats fill up."
Devos agreed as they made their way towards the fountain, anticipation bubbling within them.
As people hurried past Russell, their words about the fireworks ignited his excitement.
"The fireworks have finally begun. I have to go quickly too. Can we just follow those people?" Russell suggested, eager to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
Following the crowd that shared news of the fireworks, he noticed a familiar figure in the distance.
"The Duke of Honeywell? And Wells too? Ah, that's right. They mentioned going to see the Konkuk Festival today."
Russell tried to recall if Wells had mentioned a family outing.
However, the expressions on their faces caught his attention. They looked troubled.
Sensing something amiss, he summoned Devos discreetly.
"Lord Devos."
Russell beckoned quietly, gesturing for him to approach.
The knight swiftly made his way to Russell's side.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Yes. Over there is Duke Honeywell. Could you discreetly find out what's happening?"
Devos seamlessly blended into the crowd, eventually returning to Russell with an update.
"It seems that the young lady has disappeared."
"The young Lady Honeywell? Wells' younger sister?"
Russell echoed, concern evident in his voice.
Devos confirmed Russell's suspicion, noting Wells' distressed demeanor.
"I didn't catch the details, but it appears she got lost in the crowd."
Russell pondered his next move, torn between wanting to help and maintaining his cover. "Should I intervene?"
He mused to himself, wary of revealing his presence to Duke Honeywell.
The thought of pretending ignorance unsettled him, prompting him to adjust his disguise nervously.
"Will they recognize me?"
He whispered to himself, unsure of his course of action.
As the crowd began to gather for the fireworks, Russell summoned Devos once more.
"Lord Devos, do you know what she looks like?"
Though Devos hadn't seen her in person, he shared what he knew about her appearance.
"I've never seen her, but she's said to resemble the Duchess of Honeywell in hair and eye color."
"Let's discreetly search the square for the young Lady Honeywell."
Russell decided, determined to assist in the search despite the risks involved.
He interrupted any protest from Devos and began his search.
"Yes, but... Wells is my friend. I should be of some help."
Russell stated it firmly, his determination clear.
He walked in the opposite direction of the crowd, Devos quietly issuing orders to the knights who accompanied them.
"Blond hair... blond hair... Didn't Wells mention his sister was 11 years younger than him? Then she would be younger than me..."
Russell mused aloud as they searched.
Amidst their search, he encountered several lost children.
Taking charge, he instructed Devos to escort them to the guards.
"As there are so many people, there are just as many children who have lost their parents. I too was swept around by the crowds while watching the Founding Festival."
Russell remarked, reflecting on the bustling atmosphere.
As they walked, the distant sound of fireworks filled the air. Russell briefly glanced at the colorful explosions illuminating the sky before refocusing on their mission.
For him, watching fireworks was already a familiar sight.
Continuing down the street, Russell noticed a child crouched in front of a closed store, her face buried in her knees.
Sensing the child might be lost, he approached cautiously.
Seeing no adults nearby, it was evident that the child was either lost or separated from her parents.
As Russell drew nearer, he observed the child's blonde hair.
Could this be the rumored Rose Honeywell?
Curiously, he wondered.
Tapping her shoulder gently, Russell spoke softly.
"Hey, are you lost?"
Slowly, Rose raised her tear-streaked face.
Her eyes, red like rubies, glistened with tears as she glanced up at the boy with sea blue hair.
In that moment, Russell couldn't help but see the resemblance Wells had described.
It was as if he were looking at a living ruby.