As they moved forward into the mansion, they entered the grand entrance hall. Entrance hall had pastel walls with floral panaromas. Pillars were adorned with intricate carvings reflecting the rich ancestral history.

Entrance hall lead to the first floor through sweeping staircase. The staircase was made of wood while railings were carved and embellished with gold water.

Corridors had dark walls unlike the entrance hall. The walls had tapestries and murals of the ocean, pearls and other sea creatures. Pillars were embedded with gemstones and beautiful glimmering gold candlesticks rested on them.

There were four rooms on the first floor. They entered the library first.

Cain: "This is the Grandiose Library made since the time of Earl Casper's fore fathers. It contains most of the ancient documents. This is the oldest library of Solarnelle. Therefore, it is protected by the Royals themselves."

Ezra looked around the library full with inquisitiveness. The library was bewitching with towering shelves, dim lamp lights, and the musty scent of aged books that created a different time and place, a whole new dimension to get lost into. The shelves were full of unexpected twists and turns just like the volumes it contained.

Next they went into the gallant and majestic ballroom. The ballroom was monumental with a huge candelabra in the centre and small chiming chandeliers made of sapphires adorned the whole ceiling.

Cain: "This is our Sapphire Ballroom. Its in the memory of our late Countess and master Heinry's grandmother, Countess Seraphina."

Ezra was left stunned at the beauty.

Cain: "Master was very dear to Countess Seraphina, when it was her time to depart from this world, she gave master Heinry a bracelet. It is the family heirloom of the Wellingtons. The pearl on the bracelet is said to glow when it finds its rightful owner. And she would be master Heinry's lady."

Ezra took in the information bitterly. She was a little disappointed to know that the man who her mother said would change her destiny was not her better half.

Thats when she realized something. She turned to Cain and asked him: "Cain! that day, who else was present while Heinry rescued me?"

Cain was perplexed but still chose to answer Ezra's query.

Cain said: "There were alot of men since we were looking out for pirates. But Master Heinry and Crown Prince Alexandro were the ones to save you."

Ezra inquired: "Where can I meet Alexandro, The Crown Prince?"

Cain squinted his eyes and asked: "Are you trying to seduce Master Alexandro?"

Ezra: "Yes, and?"

Cain gasped in utter disbelief. Then said beaming with joy: "If you succeed, you will be our next queen. Don't forget me then! I am your friend afterall. As for master Heinry, he is already destined for someone else. So goodluck Ezra!"

Ezra rolled her eyes and dragged Cain out of the ballroom. They went to another room.

Cain: "This is the Retrato Room, this room has the portraits of all the Wellington Ancestors."

Ezra looked around scanning the room carefully. The room was rich with ancestral history. Paintings that shift, blink or even step out of their frames were hung on the metallic coloured walls. While the pillars were made of marble and carved into inscriptions in native language.

Ezra examined each painting carefully. Thats when she spotted a familiar face. She pointed at the portrait and said: "Cain who is this?"

Cain: "Oh he is Earl Richard De Wellington. He was the one who led the foundation of the Wellingtons."

Ezra looked at the picture for quite sometime and then left with Cain.
They were having fun all the while roaming around the mansion.

Cain : "How about we play a game of hide and seek, you hide I seek." He suggested

Ezra nodded agreeing as she wanted to get more acquainted with the place."

Cain started counting: "10.....9.....,!"

Ezra started running in the opposite direction to find a good place to hide. She turned into a corridor. It was dark with dim lights and Cain hadn't introduced her to that part yet. She fastened her pace as she heard Cain shout that he was coming to find Ezra.

She tripped over something because it was dark. As she was in a hurry, she didn't paid much attention and got up. She was about to walk away when she spotted a lamp glowing. As she went closer to it she discovered a staircase nearby.

Curiosity took the best of her as she tiptoed while climbing the stairs. It led her to the inside of a huge bed chamber. Floor made of marbles. Walls painted in blue hues while pearls and sapphires were ornamented on the pillars. Ceiling was adorned with chandeliers and beautifully crafted lamps. The curtains, bedsheets, pillows everything was in the shades of blue.

She was busy admiring when suddenly, she heard footsteps nearing the main entrance of the room. She heard two voices that were discussing something. Within a fraction of seconds she hid behind the thick silky curtains.

???: "Alexandro, I am not sure if she was speaking the truth."

Alexandro: "Heinry, come on man you might be hallucinating."

Ezra recognized both the voices. One baritone voice that never failed to draw her towards it's owner belonged to Heinry. While other seductively sweet voice which gave chills down her spine belonged to Alexandro. Both men seemed to be discussing about some affairs or more particularly Heinry's affair.

Heinry: "It was a clear hoarse voice, a man's voice."

Alexandro: "You checked everything yourself, there was nothing wrong with the security-"

Alexandro suddenly stopped in between his sentence, turning his attention towards the curtains Ezra used as a refuge.

Alexandro continued his voice turning cold as ice: "Heinry do you believe curtains have ears?"

Ezra's sweat turned cold while dripping from her forehead. She shivered at Alexandro's comment. Her breathing became almost abnormal yet she tried her best to remain calm. She scratched the sides of her thumb nervously.

Heinry: "What! Alexandro have you finally gone insane?"

Alexandro: "By the way, let us go I need to show you some reports regarding pirates and also you have to treat me to dinner, I am returning to the capital tomorrow."

Heinry rolled his eyes and spoke: "Yeah you freeloader." Both men exited the room.

Ezra sighed comforting herself and quickly went back through the staircase she came in from.

She found Cain in the hallway. She quickly bid farewell to him and retired to her room. It was evening when she returned. Feeling tired and drowsy, she slept for what looked like an eternity.

It was midnight when Ezra woke up. Rubbing her eyes she went straight to window. She peeped outside, guards wearing black robes and boots with huge spades were guarding probably each and every entrance. Ezra was confused to see the security being so tight.

She went towards the door. She was startled as soon as she opened the door. Two guards stood there guarding her gate as well.

Guard: "Sorry Miss! We are ordered not to let you out of the room tonight."

Ezra asked: "And why is that, who ordered you?"

Guards ignored her pretending as if she was not there.

Ezra shut the door closed. She held her head pulling her hairs due to frustration. She knew something went really wrong. And she definitely didn't had a slightest hint about it. Her plan was exposed even before she could implement.

She suddenly started checking her robe to find the piece of paper she carried when she was touring the mansion with Cain. She couldn't find it.

She started searching for it frantically in all the places. She almost turned her whole room upside down. All of a sudden she heard a voice which sended a shiver down her spine.

???: "Looking for this?"

Ezra turned to face the owner of the voice. Her eyes grew impossibly wide as she stared at the person infront of her in catatonic stupor. Her heart pounded with a very unstable rhythm inside her chest.

She stuttered: "C-crown Prince Alexandro!"

                °•°•°•°•°♡♡♡•°•°•°•°•

Dear Ezra

04/07/0373 AD

"Darling, dont hesitate! ask for help when required. No one is your enemy, they are with you, for you my dear."
~Queen Harlequin Aqualon