Story of Season: Winter

Chapter 19's

Frost walked beside Delphy while eating bread, Snow was again led. "Some time before you looked moody, but after smelling the scent of bread you went back to how it was and now your face looks serious."

"Why do I show my sadness in front of people? No one will care, right?"

"Your mask is thick too."

"Only Lilian will be sad if I am sad, but I do not like to see her sad. As Captain, Commander Claude always advised me not to show my pain to the soldiers, even when I was sick and injured as badly as I had to be present at every exercise, standing at the very front unbeknownst to the soldiers of my true condition."

Frost looked at Delphy with a difficult look, implied a sad look was also amazed there. "Honest at least when in front of me."

Delphy held back his mocking laughter, "what's wrong with you? Previously your attitude was really cold and now you are a concern? "

"If anything happens to you, Ailee will finish me off."

"Just calm down, I'll be fine."

+++

They arrived at the Whittaker Royal City Center during the day. Frost rode a horse with Delphy. At first Delphy insisted on going to the Palace alone, but Frost insisted on accompanying him, worried about what would happen.

Just entering the city center alone Delphy can hardly stem his emotions. Seeing how the inhabitants of Ash Shaif Kingdom were free to trade while many Whittaker merchants were out of business especially the merchants of the crops due to the longer summer than usual.

But Delphy believes if not a summer longer than usual cause many traders crop out of business, because however despite the lack of supply at least can still survive although difficult.

"How could you accept a merchant from Ash Shaif just because of the declining supply? Is there really no other beneficial agreement? Impossible, the father was an expert in making cooperation agreements between the Kingdoms" Many questions crossed Delphy's mind.

Frost rode quickly, because he knew Delphy was not calm to see the current situation of the capital. Behind him, Delphy held tightly onto the shirt Frost was wearing.

Until they reached the front gate of the Palace. The two gatekeepers swiftly restrained them with their swords. Delphy came down and Frost.

"Give us a way, this is an order." Delphy said firmly.

"The Crown Princess forbids anyone from entering the Palace other than the nobles and the Royal Family." Obviously the gatekeeper

"What do you mean?" Anyone there can tell if Delphy can't stem his emotions.

"We're just following orders, sir."

"Give me a walk now!" Delphy tried to break through the guards.

Frost held Delphy's arm trying to hold him "Stop, this is just making it harder for you." Frost turned to look at the gatekeeper, "Are you a new soldier until you don't know him?"

"No, I know him, it's just that the Crown Princess revoked the Knight status from him five months ago."

It's Delphy's patience. Without further ado Delphy pushed one of the guards down and took his sword.

Delphy didn't think of anything right now, he just wanted to meet his father and ask for an explanation. His father always listened to him.

"Don't come any closer or I won't hesitate to behead you here right now!!!" Shouted Delphy as many soldiers began to arrive. His eyes radiated anger clearly.

Frost stood by Delphy's side, preparing also with his sword. Some soldiers started attacking them. But easily Delphy gave a counter-attack. Until many soldiers began to hesitate to continue the attack. However, the soldiers know who Delphy really is. The best young soldier who managed to bear the title of the youngest Captain even beheaded King Varsha alone.

The entire soldier quickly stepped aside and bowed respectfully.

"Commander" Delphy muttered softly. The look in his eyes changed, looking even more jaded as he looked at Commander Claude.

Claude stood before Delphy, "come in, your father has been waiting for you for a long time."

Now Delphy is following Claude with Frost. In the palace where he lived since childhood now feels foreign, what makes him not familiar with the atmosphere of the Palace today.

In the hallway of the Palace they cross paths with a man who is very familiar to Delphy, Prince Erd.

"Oh Hai brother-in-law, long time no see" Sapa Erd with a smile on her face.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh yeah I forgot, you don't belong to the royal family." Erd approached then whispered right in Delphy's ear. "Don't worry, I'll still think of you as a sister-in-law."

Then Erd walked away. Delphy stared at Erd's departure sharply.

"How does he know?" inner Delphy.

"It looks like the Crown Princess is already very close to him." Celetul Claude's.

Delphy stared in disbelief

"Where else could Prince Erd know your true identity"

Now Delphy understood, Erd was far more dangerous than he expected.

They arrived in front of the King's room. Delphy entered alone, Claude and Frost chose to step aside, go out for some fresh air while giving Delphy time and having a conversation between men.

Delphy's heart was pounding as he opened the door. Thanks to Claude, the King's room guards allowed Delphy to enter.

With a trembling Delphy pushed the door. His father, who was lying limp on the bed, became the first sight he saw upon entering the room. Instantly Delphy felt his entire body was not powered. His father who looked dashing at all times was now thin with a pale and helpless face.

King Whittaker, who saw Delphy's presence, told the servants and bodyguards in his room to leave, asking for space for both of them. Delphy got closer to his father as the rest of the servants and bodyguards came out of the room.

"Dad." Call Delphy slowly.

King Whittaker tried to sit down, "Where have you been? I really miss you"

Delphy hugged his father tightly. "I'm so sorry dad, I don't intend to betray you at all."

"Dad trusts you, but I'm sorry there's not much you can do in this father's condition." King Whittaker returned Delphy's embrace and then took him off and held Delphy's arms, "Dad please, keep your brother, he really still needs you but is stubborn, he won't listen to anyone including your brother and father."

"I'll take care of it, right now I just want to know what's going on, why can you be like this?"

"It's not just dad like this. We just entered autumn one week ago, the summer was too long to cause a non-communicable outbreak, many children and parents fell ill.

"In addition, we are also running out of crops. Until the outbreak is not preventable, they fall ill not because they are infected but because of hunger and dehydration. I'm not sure when I'll be healed either."