The Scarlet Phoenix and the Prince of Winter

Chapter Thirty Three

"You mean it's confirmed? The golden bracelet came from my mother just as we guessed?"

Prince Kao nodded. "That's right. Tyroh, the blacksmith from the dungeon prison that I told you about had told me that these bracelets that are made from gold were common back in the day when winter was just one of the four seasons. According to him, everyone in Aure used to own pieces of jewelry made from gold just like bracelets and trinkets. Several groups of people used distinct patterns on their gold jewelries and the Snow Gypsies were no exemption."

"So that's from my mother," I said, repeating what was already clear. "At first, I was thinking that it could be a family heirloom from my father's side of the family since we saw him wearing it in the photograph, but then if it was, Aunt Milca would have already mentioned it to me and my brother. She would also have boasted about such a precious item especially with her co-workers at the bakery. That's when I started to doubt about my first theory."

"Plus, maybe... Pardon me if I have to say this, with your financial condition I bet she would have sold it to collectors to make ends meet, right? I mean, your Aunt would have been rich if she knew where that bracelet was because she would probably sell it. I know I am talking out of my place but that's what I think she would have done."

"You don't need to say sorry because that's pretty accurate," I told him. Actually, I was impressed that he thought about that accurately even if he has yet to meet my aunt in person. I would have thought the same way. I was even imagining of what could have been if my Aunt found out about the secret location of the golden bracelet. Maybe she would have sold it and use the money to buy a better home. Maybe she would not need to work most of her days and maybe I would have not needed to work early either. My brother, Garreth would have not entered the Royal Army in her late teens to just to help us. And most of all, maybe we could have experienced what is it to live in warmth.

But none of that happened, as Aunt Milca was not able to have the bracelet. Maybe she could not get past the crazy scent-induced security of the tapestry too. Or maybe she tried to get it from there but gave up when she could not find a way in. And it's crazy how that little detail in our lives changed the course of our future.

"So what are we going to do next?" I asked the Crown Prince. "We're going to do something, right?"

He was thinking about something as I have to wave my hand in front of his face just to get his attention from possible daydreaming. "I'm sorry... I was just thinking of what I just read a while ago..."

"And what is it?"

"It was about the Scarlet Phoenix. About how her death caused flames to cease to exist and how the volcanoes in Aure to become dormant."

"And?"

"I just thought how that connects to the Snow Gypsies. Now that we have confirmed that your mother was a Snow Gypsy then I wanted to know everything about that tribe. And since they are the Scarlet Phoenix's loyal servants, I know that they can answer our questions regarding on how to bring back the fire in Aure."

Of course. That's what the Crown Prince is thinking. His goal is for him to find a way to bring back the fire in the kingdom. To him, that is the most important thing that he could discover. I don't know why I feel so disappointed when I heard that from him. Maybe because I was blindsided by my own goals and that I have forgotten what the Crown Prince really wanted to achieve in doing this. We may have become friends because of all the things that had happened since we got to know each other, the fact won't change that he is just doing his duty to the kingdom that he will be going to serve one day as the next king. And the best that I can do is to support him all the way.

"Millicent's family is a huge collector of antique items, Rainha. That's also one of the reasons why I entertained her earlier. I wanted to earn their family's favor so that they would allow me to look into their great collection of antique treasures."

"Really? Do they have a collection like that? They must be extremely rich."

"They are," he agreed. "Their family is a direct descendant of the earliest settlers here in Aure. That is why they are in power for quite a long time already and they have amassed such amount of wealth."

"But what are you trying to find out by looking into their collection?" I asked him curiously. "Do they keep something that will lead you to the Snow Gypsy?"

To my surprise, the Crown Prince nodded. To be honest, I was expecting him to shake his head and tell me that he was still clueless and was still trying to find anything that can lead him to the fabled tribe of the Luria or the Snow Gypsies. But again, he surpassed my expectations of him.

"Tyroh told me about a rare item that he knew Millicent's family still has. He told me that their Plumba mansion has a golden shield attached to their wall. And you know what is special about this golden shield that dates back to a hundred years ago?"

"What is it?"

"Tyroh says that the shield has something carved on it. He says that he is not sure, but it looks like a map."

"A map? A map of?" I asked excitedly. "What are you talking about?"

"Tyroh says that it looks like a map that he has never seen before in his entire life. And that could only mean one thing. It could be a map of a place outside of Aure, a map that could lead to the Snow Gypsies."