Forbidden Love✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 19

As the sun rose over the castle, casting its warm glow on the grand halls, Tad busied himself with his morning chores, dusting and tidying every corner with precision. However, his thoughts were far from his work. He couldn’t shake the memory of what he’d overheard the day before—Prince Santa and Princess Becky sneaking out of the castle with the help of their loyal guards, Est and William. The more he thought about it, the heavier the knowledge felt, like a secret waiting to burst. As he swept the floors, he couldn’t help but wonder, "Should I tell the King and Queen? Or would that only cause trouble for everyone involved?"

He paused, sighing as he leaned on his broom, the decision gnawing at him. He knew the siblings had their wild, adventurous sides, but they were also bound by the rules of royalty. "But maybe… it’s best if I keep it to myself," he thought, nodding to himself. "At least for now." Relieved with his choice for the time being, he went back to his duties, trying to clear his mind and focus on his work.

Meanwhile, in the dining hall, Santa and Becky were enjoying a peaceful breakfast together, chatting and laughing over their shared memories from the lake. As they finished their meal, they made their way to the castle library, where their tutor, Arm, awaited them for their morning lessons.

At the same time, in the quiet village, Perth sat at a wooden table with his mother, Ariya, and his sister, Freen. They were enjoying a simple but hearty breakfast together, filling the room with warmth and the smell of freshly baked bread. As they ate, Ariya looked at her children with a knowing smile.

"So, are you both planning to meet Prince Santa and Princess Becky at the lake again today?" Ariya asked, her eyes twinkling.

Perth nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, Mae. Freen and I thought we’d go this afternoon," he replied.

Freen smiled and nodded in agreement. "That’s right, Mae."

Ariya beamed at their excitement. "Well, in that case, I’ll prepare some food for you all. I’ll make something special and pack it so you can all enjoy it together."

Perth and Freen exchanged happy glances, grateful for their mother’s thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Mae," they said in unison, their smiles matching. With a nod, Perth excused himself to spend some time with his friends at mark's house before their afternoon plans, leaving the house with a light step.

As he walked through the village, Perth exchanged cheerful greetings with the local children who ran up to say hello. He waved and chuckled, their joy infectious, before continuing on his way to Mark’s house. When he arrived, Mark spotted him from the window and immediately grinned.

"Perth! There you are!" Mark called out, opening the door to let him in. Inside, Gemini and Satang were already lounging around, and they greeted Perth with friendly nods.

"Hey, Perth!" Gemini and Satang chimed in together, their faces lighting up.

They settled into a lively conversation, chatting and joking about their recent adventures. Eventually, Satang leaned forward with a smirk. "So, you’re meeting Prince Santa and Princess Becky again, right?" he asked, a knowing look on his face.

Perth nodded, his expression softening at the mention of Santa. "Yeah, Freen and I are planning to go meet them at the lake."

A mischievous glint appeared in Gemini’s eyes. "Can we come along?" he asked eagerly.

Perth raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. "Not a chance," he replied with a playful grin.

Gemini put on his best pleading face. "Oh, come on, Perth! We just met them yesterday! What’s the harm in tagging along again?"