There was a broken fountain at the back of the garden. It was an old rusty water fountain which was discarded since the new fountain was last built. It was secluded and few people came here.

Beotis sat by the water fountain and looked up at the wide blue sky; Even if her stoic father hardly ever held her hand, he always had her back. Even if she fought with her brother on a daily basis, he still cared for her miserably. Even if her mother scolded her for being lazy all the time, she still held her in the palm of her hands. Where would she be willing to face so many grievances where no one cared for her?

In a place where no one could find her, Beotis broke down, for she was really not as strong as she seemed. She could wear an iron mask in front of strangers, but she was also a princess who was held in the palm of her parents hands. Never suffering any hardships or never letting anyone look down upon her; nor had she ever faced such bare hostility. And thus, she missed home so very miserably. Here, she did not matter, neither was she needed.

Beotis, to be precise was not a strong-willed person. She only seemed unfaltering. She had a thin-face and was afraid of entanglement or conflict with people. She was very peace-loving and had always hated trouble.

Easy-going was the word she lived by.

She got nervous about every little thing in life and well, she was not a vindictive person to begin with. So, if she did not like someone, she would stay away. In this way, she created a hard comfortable protective shell around her where no one could hurt her and she ran away at the very sight of trouble.

However now, she didn't have the privilege to steer clear from trouble. She did not have the backing of her parents, she did not have anyone to rely on and she felt miserable when she thought of home.

As such, all she could do was vent her emotions where no one could see her.

After what seemed like a long time, she slowly walked out of the discarded ruins of the rose garden but suddenly came face to face with the figure of Thoren, who seemed to be standing tall at one of the shadowy factions of the garden, hidden from plain sight.

"Ah! Brother, why are you here?" Beotis was taken aback. She didn't expect Thoren to be here during a busy day.

".... Your eyes are red." Beotis could not see Thoren's face, but she could feel the heaviness in his tone.

"Ah!? Something must have gotten in my eyes. Haha!" Even though she knew Thoren cared about her, she was not in a position to share her woes with him. So, she straight up made up a white lie.

Thoren was silent for a moment, and then slowly asked, "Do you want to talk?"

"..... Not really? .... (Sigh!) Should we take a walk?"

"Alright." Thoren didn't push her. He was like an understanding big brother who did not probe about his sister's secrets but only worried about her silently as he guarded her without any complaints.

Beotis thought, 'The original Beotis Lagraine was really a fool.'

"Someone had once said, 'All is not lost. Because things will get better one day. It might be stormy now, but it can't rain forever.'" Thoren's way of soothing his sister was really straightforward, which was a nice change of pace for Beotis.

"Haha... someone had once said to me too, 'My presence is warm and strong, it will hold you up high. And my absence will teach you how to miss, how to be without, and survive anyway.'" There was a soft warm smile on Beotis's face, serene and pure. Her eyes and nose, which were red from weeping too much just now, gave out a strange glow under the sun, making her look lovelier than usual. And also, a little melancholic.

".... Who said that?" Thoren asked, wondering who his sister was close enough to hear something so deep-seatedly intimate from.

"Oh! It was just someone in the passing. I don't remember them anymore." Beotis stared into space, a little dazed, a little misty-eyed.

Thoren suddenly felt uncomfortable, he really wanted to know who the person who could bring tears to his baby sister's eyes was, but he also didn't want to pry. So, he just muttered awkwardly, "No matter who that person was, it seems.... he cared deeply about you."

"... Mmm." Was all she could whisper as they ended their short stroll around the garden for that day.

~•~

NEXT CHAPTER UPDATE - 10 PM TOMORROW