"Your Highness, His Majesty's court meeting has already ended," the servant reminded.
"Just in time, I need to see Father," Eric instructed his attendant to follow.
The entourage descended the winding stairway from the Dragon Nest behind the mountain, mounted the horses waiting at the base—chosen to avoid startling the Flying Dragons—, and hurried back to the Royal Palace.
Entering the inner city of the Royal Court, Eric dismounted and walked toward the main hall where his father resided, passing by the Royal Garden. There, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Seeing a girl leisurely sipping tea under a parasol amongst the flowers by the lake, he was pleasantly surprised.
"Ines!"
Calling out his sister's name, Eric approached her quickly with a smile.
The golden-haired girl under the parasol, hearing the call, looked up with her blue eyes.