After reaching a safe distance, they slowed and covered the rest of the journey. The horses steadily galloped on the road. The sun was slowly rising, and a light, cold breeze blew. A lot has happened in the past few hours. And Felmer was still lost in thought.
Melfer looked at Felmer and understood what he was thinking. He thought about something and remembered the thing which would elevate the mood.
"Felmer…" He called him.
"Hmm…" Felmer was still lost in thought.
"If I remember correctly. Russin and Solvo was the kingdom where you were born and spent the first eight years of your life, right?"
"Ugh…Yes…What brought that?" Felmer was confused.
"And also the kingdom where our little prince was at the age of eight, the day before he left the kingdom forever, confessed to a little girl." Mefler was smiling.
Felmer's eyes opened widely and looked at Melfer in shock.
"Ohh…Yeah!" Elna replied as she remembered the moment.
"Oh, her?" Flexin responded.
The captain smirked at Felmer as well. They all knew, and Melfer had remembered them all.
"How do you know that?" Felmer asked Melfer. "You became our brother when I was 13."
"How do I know? You forgot the letter?" Melfer responded.
"Huh? Letter? What Letter?" Elna and the rest responded.
The letter was the thing which only Melfer, Felmer, and their parent knew about. The rest were totally unaware.
Felmer thought and suddenly remembered it all. Now, he wanted Melfer to shut his mouth.
"The golden…" Melfer said and stopped intentionally.
"Melfer, NO!" Felmer shot back.
"The ring…" Melfer teased him again.
"Ring? What ring?" Elna exclaimed.
"Melfer, I am telling you to stop!"
"Of…"
"Melfer, no…I am telling you!"
"The ring of what?" Elna asked again.
Melfer smiled at Felmer and said it. "Engagement."
Felmer exhaled and looked down. It was embarrassing for him.
"What!?!? When did that happen!?!" Flexin was stunned.
"Until now, only we two and mother and father knew," Melfer replied. "Three years ago, mother and he agreed on it, and then we sent the letter with the ring to the lady."
Felmer stared at Melfer. He wanted to punch him, but he couldn't.
"Damn, boy. You have grown up pretty fast." Elna complimented.
"You have surpassed us adults." The captain followed.
"I told my feelings," Felmer replied.
"My feelings!" Elna said sarcastically.
"Well, now, as we are going there. I would like to see her." Melfer said.
"Do you want to see Deris Hasflin?" Felmer asked.
"No…But I would like to see Lelis Mifi." Melfer replied.
Felmer's smile faded away.
"Oh…So that's her name." The captain nodded. "Good name."
Felmer looked away and murmured abuses for Melfer. He couldn't do anything now. His secret has been revealed. He covered the rest of the journey with that embarrassed face, and soon they reached the northern kingdom.
They crossed the border and were in the kingdom of Russin and Solvo. As they entered the mountainous terrain, they took out their jackets and warm cloaks and put them on. Along the way, they went through many villages and saw the soldiers and civilians doing their everyday work. The soldiers wore dark grey uniforms and red caps. The tower guards had rifles, and the rest had swords. The people, covered in warm clothes, were ploughing the fields and pulling the carts.
Travelling through the cold region and the steep roads, they arrived at their destination.
"Here we are," Felmer said as he looked at the vast city.
They stood in front of the gate of the capital, Maska, and looked at the snow-covered city in awe.