Serene’s POV

We soon came back to Zeph’s home. Dinner was ready so we washed up and helped Ana with setting up the food. Ralph and his brothers had gone to their home because their father had returned.

The dinner was as tasty as lunch with meatballs and rice as the main dish. I helped Ana with putting away the dishes, although she insisted I shouldn’t be doing it.

After dinner, we decided to head over to Ralph’s house. I still had to meet his father. Kilamin decided to stay home this time around. Zeph had arranged a mattress for him in his room.

Upon getting near Ralph’s residence I could hear shouting from inside. Angry noises grew louder and then we heard something crack like glass breaking. Ralph was yelling at someone, I had never heard him yell before and his voice was quivering with anger.

Zeph stopped me a few feet away from their door. I glanced at him with questionable eyes. "It’s not a good time, Serene. Let’s go back, we will meet him some other time." I nodded and followed him back.

We came back to his house and I sat down on the swing, while Zeph began to give it small pushes while having his back to the tree. "I have never heard Ralph shout like that before." Ralph was always easygoing with his flamboyant attitude and his everlasting smile. It was impossible to perceive him as someone who would ever get angry.

"He and his father don’t get along. After the passing of his wife and my father within two years. His father turned to alcohol to find solace. He neglected his sons, Ralph took care of them. And now that Ralph is not here anymore he feels his brothers are not getting the attention and care they deserve. So they fight every day and Ralph blames him." Zeph explained, his voice indicating that it hurts him.

"I am so sorry to hear that, I never had a clue that Ralph’s life was so tough. He provides solace to everyone, it’s sad to see him suffering."

"Serene, don’t tell him any of this. He will be hurt because he would never burden you with his problems. I will make some excuse that we got late last night so couldn’t come." Zeph kept pushing the swing at a slow pace as I went up and down on it.

"I won’t but it hurts me to see him go through all that," I replied sadly, my heart had begun to ache. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Ups and downs are part of life, we can’t always be happy. Sadness, anger, hurt, and pain are also part of life and we need to learn to embrace them." He stopped the swing and hugged me from behind and I placed my head on his arm. We were finally alone, I wanted to give him the present I had brought for him.

"Zeph, I brought something for you." I took out the small golden box I was carrying in my pocket and handed it to him.

"You had already given me my gift. Why another one?"

"Just open it," I smiled at him. He tugged at the golden ribbon, untying it and then opened the box and took out the custom-made bracelet. It was a thin platinum bracelet made with chain fragments clasped together and a thin metallic plate in front with "Through every storm" inscribed on it. A small circular golden crystal was embedded at the end of the inscription. His eyes flew wide open at its sight.

"This is so elegant, Serene. Is that the rare golden crystal?" He asked me dumbfounded. "Yes," I smiled at his expression.

"You didn’t have to, where did you find it?" He was still bewildered as he stared at the bracelet.

"We own two crystal trees, remember?" I lightly smacked his head, jolting him back to reality.

"Oh! yes. Thanks, Serene." He hugged me tightly unable to contain his happiness. Golden crystals were the second rarest after black. They only grew after a decade and possessed the essence of physical strength. They could sense the changes in the wearer’s body and would amplify his or her strength to double in the time of battle or a faceoff. The wearer of the crystal doesn’t have to rely on potions anymore and would always be ready to face a surprise attack from the enemy.

He handed me the bracelet and I placed it on his sturdy wrist, buckling it. It was a perfect fit as he twisted his wrist to get the hang of it on his arm. My heart swelled at his smile and he looked like a dark handsome prince standing under the moonlights.

It was getting late so we decided to head in and sleep. He kissed me goodnight and went upstairs to his room while I knocked on his mother’s door.

"Come in, dear! you don’t need to knock." Ava smiled at me as I went and sat by her side.

"Will you be able to sleep comfortably on the floor? I am sorry we don’t have beds here." Her tone was apologetic.

"Please, don’t worry about it. This will be something new for me and I love gathering different experiences."

"How does Zeph treat you? I know he is not big on words but he has a soft heart. His father’s death took a toll on him and he hasn’t been the same after that. He was very close to his father." Ana showed composure but there was deep concern in her voice for her son.

"I realize that and it was not easy in the beginning but I didn’t give up on him and I never will." I tried to reassure her.

"You know he almost gave up on his dream of attending The Institute after his father’s death. He was worried about who would take care of me and Zavrian, finances were another issue that troubled him. But I encouraged him to pursue his dream and not worry about finances."

I was shocked to learn this but then it made sense. Being the elder son and brother he must feel so much pressure and responsibility. "I can feel the predicament he must have gone through. I lost my mother too and it feels like losing a part of you that will never come back. That feeling of hollowness in your heart stays forever." Ana patted my back lovingly.

"But I am glad I found him and he is gradually opening up to me."

"Serene, I know you two have strong feelings for each other but remember you are a Princess and we can by no means match you in status. I know my son will leave no leaf unturned to provide you with every comfort but he is not a prince and he is not of Fae kind. In the end, he might not be good enough for you because we have very different lifestyles." Ana’s words gave me a bit of a shock but I realised she spoke like a mother who didn’t want to see her son get heartbroken because of social status.

"Ana, I understand your grievances but Fae kind doesn’t really believe in social status. Love is very important to us and we cherish it above everything else. And I might be a Princess but I don’t care that much about luxuries and I would never demand them from Zeph. I want love, not richness for I have plenty of them for both of us." I tried to reassure her that I wasn’t some spoiled Princess who was would ditch her son over worldly possessions.

She smiled at my answer and nodded at me in approval. "I can see why he chose you, Serene." Her words made me blush. We carried out some light conversation after that and then went to sleep because tomorrow was going to be a big day.