"Hot on Sale!! Antiques and ancient artifacts all from the legendary ruins of Oliveira!"

"Get the freshest produce here! Sweet juicy apples, just plucked from the orchards!" A young man called out from his store, attracting a crowd of customers when they noticed the gleam of the bright red fruits looking like gems.

Snow was chatting with a shopkeeper that was handling delicate jewelry that were set out on the booth. It just so happened that the shopkeeper had been a good craftsman and decided to make an extra living other than his job for his family by selling jewelry that he'd made.

"Ya 'now, sonny? My boy's just a little older than you, and he's got a talent for sewing, just like my wife," The man chuckled when Snow admitted that he preferred books over dueling or other activities.

"So it's not surprising if a boy likes reading or sewing, nor a girl likes fighting an' crafting. Even if it's a young Royal like you."

"Agreed," Snow nodded and beamed, surprised to find someone who understood him so easily even though they were complete strangers.

"Oh yeah, there's a bookshop somewhere 'round that part there," The shopkeeper pointed out the place and he smiled at Snow's glittering eyes.

"Thank you so much!" Snow bowed gratefully to the man and waved to him as he headed to the bookshop eagerly.

"Welcome," A bespectacled young man with mystical blue eyes called out when he heard the bells on the door ringing when someone came in.

"Oh? A new customer? I've never seen you here before," The brown haired man looked surprised when he saw Snow stepping into the store.

"Yes..." Snow nodded at the man, but his gaze wandered off to the books behind him. Shelves and shelves of books filled the whole room from the top to the bottom and there was even a moving ladder built for people to reach the top most books. It was just a wondrous scene and Snow longed to just spend the whole time flipping though all these books.

"You seem really young. How old are you?"

"Oh, I'm five," Snow answered, bringing his focus back to the bookkeeper and he nodded with a large smile.

"Five?! That kid's younger than me!" A small voice from the room behind the counter exclaimed and other voices quickly hushed him.

"Shhh!"

Snow blinked at the room, feeling a mixture of surprise and curiosity as the bookkeeper laughed.

"Children, come on out. You've already revealed where you are anyway," The man said and a group of young children came out of the room behind the curtain.

"Hi!" A boy with light teal hair waved at Snow and Snow recognised his voice as the one who was surprised that Snow was five.

"Don't mind him, he's just a little surprised that you're like us," A young girl piped up, folding her arms. Her white hair shone even in the lamp light and her turquoise eyes seemed to be looking though Snow, the same colour as his own eyes.

"Now, now. We can't just stand here to chat and block the entrance!" The bookkeeper clapped his hands, getting the children's attention, seeing how Snow was a little overwhelmed when they started shooting him dozens of questions at a time.

"Someone gave me some tarts made from a recipe in one of my books, so shall we have a break?"

"Tarts!"

"Is it apple tarts? They're really good!~" The children cheered and rushed to the room behind the counter, leaving Snow who's a little unsure whether he should follow them.

"Here. Hold my hand," The white haired girl turned around, realising that Snow was still standing there and held out her hand to Snow.

"Thanks," Snow couldn't help feel embarrassed and shy all of a sudden, but he accepted her hand, following her closely into the room.

The children all gathered around the table, chatting happily as they tuck into the rich pastry.

"It's good." Snow widened his eyes as he took a bite out of the tart, the sweet juices filling his mouth.

"It certainly is, isn't it?" The bookkeeper smiled, nodding at Snow in agreement.
Snow watched as the man passed another tart to a cyan haired boy and Snow smiled when he noticed the white haired girl giving her share to a pink haired boy when the boy had accidentally dropped his.

"Alec? Thank you for lending me the song book," The white haired girl suddenly stood up and handed a pretty grey book to the bookkeeper.

"No, it's my pleasure to lend it to you," Alec smiled, shaking his head as he took the book back.
"You have a talent, and I'm sure you'll become an excellent singer, Tesarah."

Tesarah? Snow blinked in surprise as he turned to stare at the white haired girl.

Does that mean..?

"What's wrong?" Tesarah noticed Snow staring at her, and looked worriedly at him.

"N-nothing! I-It's a nice name," Snow stammered. She caught him staring at her! How embarrassing.

"Thank you!~ What's your name?" Tesarah asked, beaming at him.

"Snow. I'm called Snow."

"Snow... Your parents gave you a really beautiful name!" Tesarah said, smiling.

"Hey, are you part of the royal family?" The boy with the light teal hair asked suddenly, standing up and ruffling Snow's hair.

"Your hair's the same colour after all. So maybe are your parents from the Royal Family too?"

"My parents..?" Snow glanced at Tesarah, hesitating to answer. He couldn't just say that she was his mother, nor could he admit that he was from the future.

"Ah, you don't not remember them?" The teal haired boy tilted his head, before putting a reassuring hand on Snow's shoulder. "Don't worry! Tesarah's really reliable, she's always look out for us after all!"

"As for your hair... The Royal Family's gonna come today, so let's check it out!"   Hearing this idea, the other children nod in agreement excitedly, wanting to help Snow out.

"I think some of us hide Snow from the Royals, else they might steal him!" The teal haired boy announced and removed his cape and placed it over Snow's head, covering his hair with the large hood.

"There! Now you look cool!"

"That's not the point of the hood, right?" Tesarah laughed, before walking around Snow, observing him.

"I think I want Snow to stay by my side first."
Snow looked surprised, looking up at Tesarah with bright turquoise eyes gleaming under the grey cloak.

"I want to protect him somehow. And I don't want anything to happen to Snow," Tesarah announced confidently, smiling warmly at the younger boy.

"Alright, then let's go!" The teal haired boy nodded at the other children and they rushed out of the store (not before thanking Alec).
This left Snow with Tesarah and most of the younger kids as well as the only adult being the bookkeeper.

"Thank you for giving us the tarts and for letting us stay here again, Alec," Tesarah turned to the man and bowed politely.

"We'll be going off now."

"No worries. Take care!" Alec nodded as he watched the children leave, with Tesarah leading them. He then smiled as he turned to a portrait of a young woman with snow white hair that was standing beside a younger version of Alec.

"Did you see that, Helena?" Alec took down the frame and gently caressed the young girl's head in the image.

"Watch over them, alright dear? Let them always be safe and happy."

At that moment, the smile on Helena's face in that picture was beautiful and full of bliss as she stood beside her lover, holding his hand.

-To be continued-

Bonus! -

Imagine if Helena is actually Tesarah's mother.

If Helena really was Tesarah's mama...

What happened to them that got them separated?

Perhaps... Helena left Tesarah and hid her, telling her that she'll be back.

But then. She just couldn't.

So Alec came back only to find that he lost his wife and child, and he grieved for them.

This resulted in Alec forcing himself and immersing himself in his work so that he would be distracted from his loss.

Until one day, Alec bumped into Tesarah, who was taking care of the street children when he was carrying a stack of thick books. The books dropped on the floor and Tesarah and the other children helped to pick up the books for him.

Seeing how kind and loving Tesarah was reminded Alec of Helena, and eventually he ended up caring and helping the children out whenever they visited the bookstore, making sure they feel welcome and at home.

Not knowing Tesarah's true identity, nor realising that her white hair was a gift from Helena and her turquoise eyes from him...

(On that note: This means that Snow's Grandpa is Alec...

//Mind blown// XD)