The day after Sophie and Tsabinu’s arrival, we finally went to one of the places Sophie had most looked forward to—Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. She’d kept saying she wanted to go ice skating there.
Long before her departure, I’d asked her to list everything she wanted to do while in the UK. Among the top items were learning to ice skate and visiting Winter Wonderland.
I watched her getting ready with Mum, and she looked utterly adorable. She wore a warm hat, gloves, and a thick rose-pink coat, a gift from Dad. When Sophie couldn’t stop herself from gushing about skating and going to the UK, Dad bought new coats for all four of us.
Her rose-pink coat framed her perfectly, highlighting the flush of her round cheeks in the biting cold. My heart raced. I was rooted to the spot, captivated by her.
“Not fair!” Zeraiah’s loud grumble snapped me out of my thoughts. Even Tsabinu, who was busy with his gloves, glanced up. The three of us stood to the side, waiting for Sophie to finish getting ready.
I sighed. Here we go again, another damn battle. “Dad gave Biba special ones!” he complained, pointing at Sophie and Mum. “Look! She’s the only one in pink, while the three of us—” His gaze darted to each of us in turn—“Black! And we look like clones! It’s embarrassing! I don’t like matching stuff!”
I rolled my eyes. “So what? You wanted the dark pink one?” I shot back. Zeraiah was always jealous of the most minor things, and it grated on me.
He pulled a face. “Tsk, as if! Dad gave Biba two new coats! One in light blue, Frozen, blah blah themed, and that!” He pointed at Sophie again and glared at me. “Obviously, I’ve got a damn right to complain!”
I sighed and straightened up, walking a few steps forward. “Spoiled brat,” I muttered under my breath.
Apparently, he heard me. “What I mean is, I don’t wanna look like damn bloody twins with you!” he barked. “We look more like fucking triplets than Biba and Bibu ever do!”
“Zeraiah. Language.” Mum’s sharp tone cut across the air. She always had an ear for these things.
Zeraiah huffed, glaring first at me, then nudging Tsabinu. “You’re on my side, right, Highness?”
Tsabinu, calm as ever, finally looked up. His face was flat. “If you say so.” Then he went back to fastening his gloves.
I chuckled under my breath, especially at Zeraiah’s frustrated glare. “This is why I prefer Biba!” he shouted, storming off. “Biba will always have my back! Not like you lot, you bloody blokes!”
I shook my head and went to join Sophie and Mum, who were already heading towards the rink. Sophie stood with a hesitant face at the entrance, wobbling a little on her skates. Her hazel eyes trembled as she glanced at me.
Slipping to her side, I gripped her arm. “Come on,” I whispered, steadying her. “I’ll hold you.”
Her eyes darted up to me, frightened. “What if I fall?”
I tightened my grip, gazing into her eyes with certainty. “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” I reassured her, because I meant my words. “I won’t let you fall.” I brushed her arm. “You said you wanted to learn ice skating, right?”
She nodded, fear giving way to determination. I bent close, murmuring in her ear. “Well, aren’t you lucky? Your private tutor is an expert in this field, too.” I curved a smile at her. “And he’ll teach it, only for you.”
Her eyes widened. “Only for me?”
“Only for you.”
Her smile bloomed, and her eyes sparkled, which made me so addicted. She gripped my hand back, her fears dissolving, whispering. “Don’t let me fall.”
I caressed her cheek. “Never.”
We stepped onto the rink, hand in hand.
She stumbled and sulked for the first few minutes, her lips jutting in the cutest pout. I couldn’t help but laugh. She glared at me, her cheeks puffed, and I stroked those warm cheeks, soothing her. “It’s all part of learning, Sophie. You’ll get there.”
She muttered. “You’re good at it.”She is so precious.
I smiled, shrugging. “I’ve just had more practice.”
Of course, Zeraiah zipped past us, laughing and throwing taunts at Sophie, which deepened her frustrated expression. Tsabinu, further ahead, was already skating smoothly, without support. Sophie huffed and furrowed her brows even more.
“Come on, slowly,” I coaxed her. “I’ll hold you.”
Suddenly, she tried to glide further forward and wiggled my hand in hers. “I think I can do it,” she tried to sound confident. “Can you let go of me?”
