Chapter 28

"How can Jerry tell about us to him, behind our back!" said Nicholas.

"Who is Jerry?" asked David.

"Yes, Jerry! who else? how many Jerry are there in this palace?"

"But, I never thought he could be that open to Jerome!" Richard peeked intently from behind a pillar of the garden so that the whereabouts of those who were eavesdropping could not be identified.

"Jerome has something that allows him to earn someone's trust," said Robin. At least, he felt relieved because finally one of them could approach the guest well.

Even though Claude always said that he didn't care, he still took part in the plans of his brothers. With a calm and ever-cynical expression, Claude leaned against the wall while observing the plants in front of him.

"B-but, Jerome hasn't told me about me, Richard and Mia!" Alexei who has been waiting for his turn, gets impatient. His innocent behavior made him always get special attention from his brothers.

"How much do you want to be told?" asked Richard who sat beside him.

"B-but, I want Prince Zavier to know me too," he said with a sad face. It gave them shocked because he could be sad just because he wasn't told.

"Prince Nathan? why do you call him Prince?" asked Richard, who did not really understand the sensitive side of his brother.

"Father said only the king's descendants have eyes like that, right? that means he is a prince just like us!"

"That is true!"

"Look, looks like your turn has finally come!" said David who was still busy observing the conversation between Nathania and Jerome.

"R-really?" Alexei gets excited again when he finds out that his turn has finally come. He had been waiting for it ever since they were here.

Meanwhile, Jerome and Zavier are still busy talking about many things while waiting for Zavier to finish his work. Patiently, Jerome waited for him to the end.

"Then, tell me the next one!"

"Next there is Alexei, he is a figure who is shy and does not act much. His figure who loves others unconditionally because of his very soft and sincere heart. It makes him easily understand other people's sadness and feel it too. People say, as a 16 years old, Alexei is very whiny and weak. It lowers his self-confidence and always thinks that he can't do anything. He is the younger brother I love the most because we share the same room. If you know him, I'm sure you are will feel the same!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes! he really hates violence and sees other people sad. He will definitely do anything to make that person feel better."

Alexei was crying, he didn't expect that much attention Jerome would give him. The assessment was sincere and straightforward, it made him unable to hold back his tears.

Robin, who saw his younger brother who was the softest and kindest cried, immediately rubbed his back so that his feelings were calmer. Alexei's sensitive side sometimes makes him vulnerable.

"You must very love him,"

"Of course! I love everyone too, they are my precious family!"

"You're very lucky,"

"I think so!"

"Then, who's next? is that all?"

Next up is Richard, the youngest son who is naughty and very brave. We call him a figure who has no fear. He fights wild dogs, catches wild boars alone, challenges Randall to wrestle just to find out how strong he is and fighting with Vincent. I'm so sorry for the wound on your arm because of the arrow, if you don't dodge, it can be very dangerous!"

"I also thought that I would die then! what a shot!"

"If I may know, how old are you, Nathan?"

"I'm 15 years old!"

"Is that so? so, you're the same age as Richard. Be careful!"

"Why?"

"Richard hates it when anyone is superior to him! he is so competitive that anyone who is superior is his rival!"

"Oh, I see! tell me about yourself too! why did you skip your part?"

"Because I think, there's nothing interesting about me. I'm not a prominent figure, so ..."

"Who says it?"

"Hum?"

"I think you are very attractive. When I see you, I feel like I see myself,"

"Is ... is that so?"

"Yes! therefore, you must believe in yourself. You are also attractive, just like the others!"

"Do you believe in yourself too?"

"I don't know ..."

"Then, how can you ask me to believe in myself?"

"It's because you have people who love you!"

"Don't you have people who love you?"

"I don't know!"

"Is that so? I understand, I will try to believe in myself. But, in exchange you must try to believe in yourself. Do you understand?"

Nathania was silent, her eyes wet. She did not know how she could hear that sentence from someone she had just met. However, she couldn't help but feel that right now her feelings were much better than before.

"I'm not sure..."

"You can do it, Nathan! you can come to this island miraculously because you believe that you still have a chance to change everything,"

"Is ... is that so?"

"Yes, so don't waste the opportunities you have!"

Nathania pondered Jerome's advice. She doesn't know whether she survived the storm because she believed in herself. All she knew was that she was eager to meet Nathan and tell him everything.

"Jerome!"

"Yes?"

"Thank you!"

"Thank you for what?"

"Because you said something I really wanted to hear from someone,"

"Is it true!"

"Yes!"

"Thank God."

***