Mother insisted on us visiting her favorite café.

At first, I was against it. But she kept insisting.

I could pass another year in that castle and still feel not ready. So, I just have to rip the band off now, I suppose.

After breakfast, my mother and I headed outside as I followed her towards the carriage.

The ride on the carriage was quite peaceful. I enjoyed looking through the window to see the beautiful scenery. There's so many beautiful trees and flowers covered in snow, along the trail that lead to the gates of the castle.

I turned to my mother, "Do you really not have cars here?"

"No cars, phones, not the technology that you are used to. What we use isn't electricity as you know it. The kingdom has energy that runs within it. It is alive. The lanterns and other things are powered by that energy."

I kept quiet.

She smiled, "During Spring and Summer, the snow melts away and the beautiful trees are revealed. The leaves look like ice, but upon touching them, they will feel like any other leaf, just a bit cold." She explained.

A lot I must get used to....

We finally arrived at a café named 'ChocoLair' and stepped out of the carriage.

"Oh dear, I did not expect it to be so busy here today. If you want, you can wait in the carriage." My mother spoke before heading inside.

A few people were already looking at me as if I were an alien.

Well, I actually am...

They all think I was 'studying abroad' in the other dimension and just returned.

I snuggled into my large fluffy coat for comfort, placing the hoodie on my head.

The crowd murmured around me.

"So, that's the princess. I was expecting more. She looks like a scared critter." Someone laughed.

Not me getting bullied on a whole other planet in a different galaxy. Please. Give me a break!

As I tried to drown out the comments, I closed my eyes for a brief moment and continued walking to go inside.

I turned back and saw the small crowd lose interest in me as I continued to walk before accidentally bumping into someone.

It's him...

Now that I could get a good look at him, he is quite tall, taller than me. A breeze brushed his dark wavy hair, styled in a wolf cut.

We meet again.

"Careful." His tone full of annoyance.

Great. The day I decide to come out of that castle, everyone decides to have an attitude.

For a moment, we looked at each other in silence until I spoke up, "Well, if you saw me, then you could have also moved to the side. It's not like you also didn't see me when I'm literally 5'8." I calmy spoke while crossing my arms.

I'm also not in the mood!

He might be good-looking or whatever... But his attitude is another story.

As he got closer to me, a hint of amusement appeared on his face, "It seems that you are still suffering from the fall you took on the stairs," he mocked.

I backed away. "Do you treat everyone with such charm or is this just for me?" I blinked, feigning interest.

Before he could argue with me, someone interrupted him.

"Ehryan!" I turned to look at the man that shouted as he approached us.

"Where have you been? I've been searching for you." He stopped to look at me. "Princess Kazia! Nice to see you again." He slightly bowed his head.

"Jasper?!" I exclaimed as he smiled.

I had briefly met Jasper back home when Esla introduced him as her boyfriend.

"Let me properly introduce myself, I am Prince Jasper Alpín of Sapphinetia. This is Ehryan, my older brother." He smiled as he patted his brother's shoulder.

The books I read spoke of Sapphinetia, it is a very powerful kingdom, next to Frostarya.

The two brothers were a bit alike. Prince Ehryan was taller while Prince Jasper's eyes were a bit lighter and his hair curlier.

Their personalities were very different, too...

"I apologize for not addressing you properly the first time I saw you. As you know, I was studying abroad, so I was not that well informed on other royals at the time. Esla did not mention that about you." I lied and tried to curtsy but almost lost my balance, which made Prince Ehryan scoff as he looked away.

I bit back what I wanted to say. People were already murmuring about me. Fighting with a Prince in public would not do me any good.

Prince Jasper spoke up, "I understand, and please just treat me as you did before. You can call me Jasper, without the title. Esla told me you did not like formalities much."

How convenient, thank you, Esla.

"Um, yes, that's correct. My friends can address me casually. Please just call me Kazia."

"Will do!" He said before looking at his brother and then me, "Do you two know each other?"

Before any of us could answer, my mother came out with our drinks.

"Oh, lovely to see both of you today." She smiled at them as she handed me my drink.

They both greeted her and talked for a bit, as I awkwardly stood there drinking my hot chocolate.

"We must take our leave now, Queen Elyra." Prince Ehryan bid farewell to my mother.

On the way back, my mother seemed strange.

"What is it?" I finally asked.

She hesitated a bit, "Do you know them?"

I explained how I knew Jasper but kept out the part about meeting his brother the day I arrived, it's not important.

She seemed to relax, "Oh, I see."