As November drew to a close, Ethan seemed to have regained his inner peace. Following his intense emotional conversation with Emris, Ethan was now determined to uncover the truth and build a bond with his brother. By the time December arrived, noticeable changes could be observed in Ethan's emotional and social environment.
Ethan decided to share the truth about Emris with his friends Harry, Pamela, and Lydia. One weekend evening, the four friends gathered at an old café.
"I want to tell you something I've learned about Emris," Ethan said, looking at his quietly attentive friends. "What you've heard about him isn't true. Emris is actually a good person. He was falsely accused."
His friends stared at Ethan in shock. Harry, Pamela, and Lydia looked at Ethan with concern, seeing the determination and seriousness on his face.
"How can that be?" Harry asked. "If Emris is innocent, why was he banished from Ravenna?"
Ethan explained, "There's a man named Derek. He was my father's most trusted person, but he had other plans. To prevent Emris from inheriting the kingdom, Derek pinned his own crime on him. Derek was the one leaking Ravenna's secrets. Now, Emris and I are working together to set things right."
After listening to Ethan, Pamela spoke thoughtfully. "If what you're saying is true, then we need to help Emris. If he's innocent, he needs our support."
Lydia agreed. "If you say Emris is innocent, then we believe you. But we need more information."
Ethan was relieved to have his friends' support. "Thank you. I'm grateful you're hearing this. Emris and I will spend time together, making up for all these years."
Ethan's friends accepted this new situation and agreed to support him. Until the last week of December, there were no issues between Ethan and Emris; even the heirs of Hugo and Draconis remained silent towards Ethan.
When the final day of the third week of December arrived, Ethan decided to correspond with Emris through letters. When he shared this idea with Emris, a smile appeared on Emris's face.
"Do you really want to do this?" Emris asked, surprised but pleased. "Writing letters is an old tradition. Please address me as 'La Edri' when writing to me. It means 'the unknown'."
Ethan smiled. "Alright, I'll call you 'La Edri'. I promise to write about everything happening in the kingdom."
Emris was pleased with Ethan's response. "Thank you. Don't forget to include the latest gossip from Ravenna," he said, smiling.
Ethan nodded with a grin. "Then, I'll start writing to you tomorrow evening."
The next day, like all the other heirs, Ethan packed his belongings and boarded his private royal carriage. Along the way, he wondered about his friends in Ravenna and what they had experienced without him. Rowena was the first to come to mind. Had she changed much? "I wonder if she missed me?" he thought, feeling excited. Then he scolded himself, "Of course, she did. We're best friends!" he murmured. Thoughts of the friendship houses brought a smile to his face.
He then wondered about Willy and John. Had they adapted to their new lives? Was Raidne happy in Shadowbrook? And what about Wenona and the Native American village—had it changed much?
Lost in these thoughts, they arrived at the palace. Rowena, John, and Willy were waiting for him in front of the palace. Ethan got off the carriage and hugged Willy and John. Then, as he turned to hug Rowena, his heart raced for a moment. Rowena's appearance had changed significantly. Her bright yellow hair had grown, reaching her waist. Her facial features were no longer childish. Like Ethan, she had grown into a young adult. The only thing that hadn't changed was her clear blue eyes.
When Ethan and Rowena embraced, his heart began to beat faster. He silently prayed, "I hope she doesn't hear my heartbeat."
After they let go, Ethan asked, "Why didn't Raidne and Wenona come?"
Rowena replied, "Raidne had to help her family. Wenona is taking care of her newborn sister, Mitena. But don't worry, we'll visit them tomorrow."
Ethan nodded in agreement. Rowena suddenly mentioned having an important task and left Ethan, John, and Willy alone. Once Rowena was out of earshot, John and Willy started laughing.
Ethan, curious, asked, "Why are you laughing?"
John said, "I think you like Rowena, Ethan," giving him a friendly punch on the shoulder.
Feeling his cheeks flush, Ethan denied it, "No, I don't!"
"Then why were you staring at her with starry eyes, as if mesmerized?" Willy asked.
"Rowena is my friend!" Ethan said firmly.
But a voice inside Ethan whispered, "What if you feel more than friendship?" Feeling uneasy with this thought, Ethan quickly retreated to his room.