[AURORA WRIGHT. Town of Friendship, Southern Vales, Avalon Sanctuary. Orange Day, 13th Week of Winter, Year 5008 of the Avalon Calendar.]
Aurora sat at attention as her home room teacher conducted a rollcall of students.
"Aurora Wright?" the class teacher finished with her name.
"Present, bright and ready to be awesome!" Aurora exclaimed.
Her answer made the class cheer. They were so happy to have such a wonderful class representative as her.
"I wish I was as popular as you," said the head of the school's cheerleading team. "Everyone in town knows your name."
"Just keep smiling," Aurora encouraged. "One day you too will be able to win friends and influence people as easily as me."
"I wish as I was pretty as you," said the girl who had been voted as most likely to become Miss Universe. "I heard you're now modelling for Victoria Secrets."
"The real secret is not to wear too much make-up," Aurora explained. "Let your natural beauty shine and all the world will be dazzled."
"I wish I was as smart as you," said the president of the school's science club. "You managed to integrate Einstein's theory of relativity with Quantum mechanics, to finally create a Grand unified theory of physics."
"Um, sure…" Aurora hesitatingly nodded her head, not knowing what else to say.
"Alright class," the teacher called everyone to attention. "I know that Aurora is absolutely awesome. To the point that I will be naming my first born child after her… regardless of whether it's a girl or a boy. And while I can think of nothing better than spending the rest of homeroom praising our school's superstar, I do have a very important announcement."
Everyone in the room turned towards Aurora.
"Please Mrs Sue," Aurora smiled. "Feel free to make that important announcement."
"You remembered my name," Mrs Sue squeaked excitedly. "Alright, the important announcement is that we have a new transfer student joining our class. He's a prince from the far-off Kingdom of Laurel. Please give a warm welcome to Tristan."
After the announcement, a handsome youth walked into the room and stared intently at Aurora. The shared gaze from their matching heterochromatic eyes seemed to spark with an intensity to rival a raging storm.
"I came here to find my princess using this," Tristan drew forth a glass slipper. "But after seeing you, Aurora Wright. I realise that I won't need this shoe after all."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the glass slipper away.
"Ow my face," said a girl named Cinderella, as the slipper hit her face. "I was hit by a shoe meant for Aurora. I'll never wash my cheek again!"
"You two are the perfect couple," the teacher announced. "Usually I don't condone fraternisation between students, but I defiantly think you two need to kiss now."
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" the class chanted.
"Well," said Aurora shyly. "If that's what everyone wants…."
Tristan walked over to her desk. Aurora lay her arms atop Tristan's muscular shoulders, closed her eyes, leaned forward and then… woke up.
"Aurora!" Tristan's voice awakened her. "Thank the stars you are alright. I thought for sure you were having breathing difficulties."
"Why does the world hate me?" Aurora complained, after missing out on yet another passionate dream kiss.
"Huh?" the prince's faced scrunched up in concern. "Were you having a bad nightmare?"
"How could she have a nightmare, when she slept next to you?" a feminine voice harshly questioned. "If anyone should have had a nightmare, it should have been you Tristan. I mean… did you see her face? Her lips were pursed together like a fish sucking a straw."
"I was trying to kiss," Aurora paused trying to think of a way to salvage what she had just said.
"Trying to kiss who?" questioned the voice which belonged to a brown haired, blue eyed woman in her early twenties.
"Not kiss," corrected Aurora. "I was about to say… kiss-nom. It means to eat food you really enjoy. I was dreaming of eating food that I really enjoyed."
"I've never heard of that word," the tall woman looked at Aurora with suspicion in her eyes.
"Aurora speaks a language known as Huaxia," said Tristan. "Kiss-nom must be a word from that language."
"Exactly," agreed Aurora, before changing the subject. "Wow, Tristan, you said Huaxia with perfect pronunciation."
"Thank you," the prince's trademark smile lit up his face. "I was practicing how to say it. In case the Adventurers' Guild is unable to find your relatives, I thought I would ask around if anyone had heard of that language you spoke. I didn't want to get the pronunciation wrong."
"You're so thoughtful," said Aurora. "I… don't know how to thank you."
"I know how you can thank him," the woman butted in. "You can thank him by not eating with us. If your eating is as ugly as the expression you made when you slept, then I think it'd turn Tristan off his food."
"Actually," laughed Tristan. "I thought Aurora's expression was cute… in an alarming way. Hee, hee."
There was an awkward silence as neither girl knew how to respond to Tristan's failed attempt at lightning the mood with humour.
"Oh yes, this is Fleur," Tristan made introductions. "And this is Aurora."
"Fleur…." Aurora tried to place the name. "Oh, that's right. You went to the Adventurers' Guild to place a request seeking people who knew me."
"I did," muttered Fleur. "However, if I had known that you would used my absence to take advantage of Tristan, I would instead have made an extermination request. For a fish faced goblin named Aurora!"
Aurora was shocked by the woman's rudeness and could only mutter nonsense. "A Wild Love Rival appeared."
"What?" Fleur growled. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Fleur," Tristan sighed. "Please be nicer to Aurora. She's my guest."
"Guest?" Fleur scoffed. "I thought she was just another stray you brought in."
"That's enough!" commanded Tristan.
"No!" Fleur snapped back. "I'm to watch out for you on this trip. You're too idealistic and gullible. How do we know that Aurora isn't another Isabelle?"
"I…." the young prince suddenly looked downcast. Making Aurora wonder who this Isabelle was. However, she decided that now was not the best time to inquire about the subject.
"Um," Aurora touched Tristan's arm. "I was wondering if there was a chance for me to have breakfast. I'll try not to kiss-nom my food."
"Oh," the young prince gently but surely moved away from her touch. "I'll call one of the servants to show you around."
"Good idea," agreed Fleur. "In fact, I'll show Aurora where the kitchen is. Also return clothes to her. You should focus on your preparations for the summoning. Plus meet with the other Beast Masters from our Kingdom who wish to enter the Beast Master Championship."
Tristan seemed to hesitate but then cast his eyes downwards when he noted Fleur's domineering expression.
"That's a good idea," said Tristan quickly glancing at Aurora. "I have preparations. Perhaps, we will see each other again… that would be nice."
"Yes, that would be nice if we saw each other again," said Aurora with little conviction. She doubted Fleur would allow such an occurrence.
"Wait," said Tristan as Aurora was about to leave the room.
He moved towards the chest of draws and drew forth a plain silver necklace. It held a small charm in the shape of four silver wings.
"This will identify you as a guest of the Royal Family of Laurel," Tristan said as he fastened the necklace's clasp behind Aurora's neck.
"Why are you giving her that necklace?" Fleur fumed.
"Protection," stated Tristan in a matter of fact voice. "Don't forget that Aurora was attacked last night. Who knows if someone else will come after her. So that necklace will show any would be attacker that she's under the Laurel family's protection. That should give them pause for concern."
"Thank you so much for everything you've done," Aurora curtsied. "I am blessed to have your highness as a friend."
"Alright… let's go," Fleur grumbled and led Aurora outside of the room and into a long, two meter wide hallway.
"Thank you for helping with the Adventurers' Guild request," Aurora tried to strike up conversation and improve Fleur's attribute towards her.
However, Fleur merely started walking forward and ordered Aurora to come along.
Realising she wasn't going to win over this woman anytime soon, Aurora quickly followed Fleur. Across the hall, down three levels and into a spacious hall that looked like it could function as a ballroom.
As they arrived at the bottom floor, they were greeted by the sight of a lanky, blonde man chatting up a serving maid. The man smoothly broke off the conversation, leaving the maid with a blush and a smile. Before sauntering towards Aurora and her grumpy companion.
"Oh great," muttered Fleur as the man approached.
The man stopped in front of Aurora and placed his hand in front of him. Offering his palm by gently rolling open his long fingers. Without thinking, Aurora found herself placing her own hand in his.
The man bent from the waste, lowering his hundred and seventy-five centimetre frame to gently kiss Aurora's hand. She felt the hair of his neatly trimmed moustache and V-shaped beard, tickle her skin.
"I am Gabriel Amoureux," the man smiled. "First Heir of the Amoureux family. It would please me to no end to know the name of the beautiful rose that now stands before me."
"Aurora," Aurora blushed.
"She has amnesia," Fleur butted in. "Therefore, she doesn't have a backstory that you can somehow pretend to relate to in order to seduce her. You irresponsible leech."
"Amnesia," Gabriel continued to smile. "So, your background is a mystery even to yourself. Perhaps we can unravel that mystery together?"
"I would appreciate any help," said Aurora. Not quite knowing what to make of this flirtatious yet roguishly handsome man.
"Whatever!" Fleur snapped. "Take your things Aurora and go follow this idiot out."
With that, the tall angry woman shoved some clothes into Aurora's arms and stormed off.
Aurora realised that she had been so focused on the man in front of her, that she hadn't even noticed when Fleur had received these clothes from the maid who had earlier been consorting with Gabriel. Aurora felt a little guilty for having fallen so easily under Gabriel's spell. Especially considering that she had already decided to try her luck with the kind Tristan.
"That Fleur is very rude," stated Gabriel.
"She definitely doesn't like either of use," laughed Aurora.
"Well, she has reason to dislike me," Gabriel explained. "I did stand her up once,"
"You stood her up!" frowned Aurora. "That wasn't very nice of you."
"Please don't misunderstand," soothed Garbiel. "I am a man who will not play with a maiden's heart. However, Fleur made demands for me to change in order to accommodate her own… limited world views. I simply could not do so. One must always be true to themselves. Don't you agree beautiful rose?"
"That's true," Aurora agreed.
Nearly all her previous, short lived relationships had ended because the guy she was dating started making demands for her to change some aspect of herself.
"Enough about me," laughed Gabriel. "Fleur's disregard for me is historical. However, I have no idea why she would dislike you. Hmm… actually, after being in your presence, I think I know why."
"Why do you think she dislikes me?" questioned Aurora.
Even though she knew full well that Fleur's dislike of her came from being overly possessive of Tristan. Aurora was curious as to how Gabriel would answer.
"Isn't it obvious beautiful rose?" asked Gabriel. "She's jealous of your beauty."
"You're too kind," laughed Aurora.
Although Aurora had gained compliments about her looks in the past. She had never been told that her beauty made another woman jealous. Besides, Fleur was quite attractive herself.
Grr…. Suddenly Aurora's stomach rumbled.
"How embarrassing," Aurora blushed.
"You have yet to eat breakfast?" Gabriel queried. "To think that young Prince Tristan would not even feed his guests."
"Fleur interrupted us before Tristan could order breakfast for me," Aurora defended the kind prince. "Tristan has a lot of things that he needs to do. Since he's here to summon a Mystical Beast, for the Beast Master Championships."
"Ah yes," Gabriel lamented. "Young Prince Tristan has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is such a responsible child. A shame that his responsibilities will not allow him any social freedom. Even his future wife will not be of his choosing, but rather arranged by his father."
"Tristan has an arranged marriage?" Aurora felt a heaviness in her heart.
"Not yet," corrected Gabriel. "But he will in time. The children of a royal house are prime commodities, in the game of thrones."
"Game of thrones…." winced Aurora. She was pretty sure that she told the elder lady not to send her a world like Westeros, where backstabbing was a national pastime. She defiantly was not the type to do well in political intrigues.
Grr…. Aurora's stomach complained again at not being fed.
"Come," Gabriel placed his hand on the small of her back. "I will take you to the kitchen. Where I will fill your body with delicious food. Then perhaps I can fill your body with other things."
"Other things," Aurora shook her head in disbelief at the man's overly forward proposition. "Lord Gabriel, I'm not that easy to seduce."
"Beautiful rose, I do not understand your meaning," the handsome lord flashed a devilish smile. "After I fill your body with delicacies from our fine kitchen. I will then fill it with a sense of wonder, as I show you around this grand city. What did you think I planned to fill your body with?"
"My apologies Lord Gabriel," Aurora laughed at Gabriel's faked innocence. "Please lead the way."
Gabriel winked and led Aurora out of the large hall and towards the kitchen. Where the aroma of fruits, cheeses and sweet breads teased her nose.
Aurora felt somewhat guilty for flirting with Gabriel since a few moments ago, she had her mind set on forming a closer relationship with Tristan. However, knowing what she now knew of Prince Tristan's future. She understood that a fairy-tail romance with the kind prince, was not something she could hope for. Even pursuing the kind prince was out of the question. There was undoubtedly a whole line of women, similar to Fleur who'd try to kill Aurora if she showed romantic interest in Tristan.
Thus, Aurora decided to push those girlish thoughts of a fairy-tail romance to the back of her mind. Instead focusing on how she was going to ensure her survival in this dangerous new world.