Arias and I had quite a long talk before we finally ended with silence between us. We were both staring at the sky, admiring its darkness, shining tiny lights, and the brightness of the moon.
They said it's already winter, but I haven't seen snow since I came here. Only the cold wind and dark clouds sometimes greet me.
I was about to ask who I was before when I first came here, but I sensed someone's evil presence. His footsteps sounded like a death call and his shadow was hiding his demons.
"My, now I see why my darling Princess suddenly disappeared. A prince took her from the crowd to keep his company, right, Prince Arias?" King Sorin's same hideous smile was plastered on his face, "How's the Echo Kingdom?" He added with a sharp smile and sarcastic tone as he swirls his glass of wine.
It was obvious that he doesn't even care about the Echo Kingdom. Arias already told me what he did to their home. King Sorin wants to torture Prince Arias into asking the state of the nation he was destroying.
Prince Arias still managed to bow before my Uncle before flashing a proud smile. He stood straight and stared into King Sorin's eyes with a confident look on his face. He was just insecure about his power earlier, and I thought he'll just remain silent about the question, but here he is, standing tall like what a Prince should do.
"The Echo Kingdom is slowly rising from the dust you caused, Your Highness. I guess you forgot, fires don't exist without air. Maybe next time you try to burn us, remember that we are also controlling your flickering burning little lights," Prince Arias said with a soft-spoken, yet heavy voice.
King Sorin didn't even flinch nor bat his eyes, he was just smiling like a maniac, and staring at Prince Arias.
"And yes, I borrowed Princess Amelia for a while. I just wanted to know who the mysterious royalty is. It turns out, she's way better than you."
Prince Arias smiled at me as he said those words. It sent my heart fluttering from the very first compliment I received since I became a Princess. Flattering words about my beauty, power, or knowledge cannot be equated to being called as 'someone better than King Sorin.'
I smiled back at Prince Arias, almost forgetting about my uncle, but his light chuckle froze my soul. It was like chalk on a chalkboard. It was irritating and unbearable to my ears, yet it sent a frightening call.
He turned away from us but before he goes back inside the hall, he said, "Yes, a better destroyer than I am."
I would be lying if I said Prince Arias and I weren't disturbed by what he said. King Sorin is already a big threat, and I didn't want to get involved with him in any way, yet he said those words.
I know Prince Arias is wary of me, and I didn't want him to think of me as an enemy, but my uncle definitely knows when to make an announcement.
Prince Arias and I went back inside and went on our separate ways. He said he believes in me, and hopes everything will turn out well. He went to talk to some Lords while I went to my family. While I was standing beside my brother who was being bothered by both single and married ladies, I saw Forest standing not very far from me.
He was with his guard while talking to a group of noblemen.
The hunger of wanting to watch his every move was unbearable, but if King Sorin catches me noticing a man I shouldn't know, it'll cause either me or Forest harm. Forest's the reason why King Sorin sent me back to the human world to remove my memories, I'm sure finding out that I somehow remember him will be a great risk.
I don't want to be thrown back to the human world and get my memories erased two times.
I have to be careful.
Mother and Father were busy talking to the guests. I don't want to bother them so I decided to take off my attention from Forest.
"Are there any royalties from the Charlie and Foxtrot Kingdom?" I asked my brother while shifting my gaze away from Forest.
I guess my brother was dying for someone to take his attention away from the ladies so much that when he heard my voice, he turned around quick enough to jolt the ladies.
I looked at the women and smiled, curtsied and excused my brother. It'll be embarrassing for him if he suddenly leaves them.
But isn't it weird for women aged eighteen and older to flirt with my brother who is only thirteen years old? Do they not know that it's not right and it's immoral? I guess I have to put on my armor and raise my sword to protect my baby bro. Even if he's kind of annoying and always calls me stupid, I will still protect him from the women.
He sighed when he noticed the ladies walking away, then he looked at me with that same 'you're-stupid-look,' with his eyes narrowed and staring down at me.
"The King and Queens of both Charlie and Foxtrot Kingdom are here. We were talking to King Chaster and Queen Wendy of Charlie Kingdom earlier," he said while looking at the crowd, his eyes lingering to find someone, then his eyes fixated on a couple, "There," he whispered as he pushes me softly to look at the direction he was pointing at, "That couple is King Ford and Queen Jean of Foxtrot Kingdom."
I looked at the sweet King and Queen.
They were holding each other's waist while talking to people. Both Charlie and Foxtrot's King and Queen looked humble enough to be seen as kind, but of course, I can't bet on their loyalty. If ever they're King Sorin's friends, it'll be a waste.
As I was swaying my gaze on the other guests, Kai suddenly taps my shoulder, which made me turn around. The moment my eyes landed on the person beside Kai, I felt my chest raise up to the sky in excitement. I wanted to jump on him and give him a hug.
"Forest," I softly whispered, but then I remembered what happened earlier.
Of course, I know it was not him, but I just want to be careful. I even told him that I don't trust him that much yet. I have to stick by my words or else, he might think that I'm an easy lady.
I composed myself to curtsy and give this royal highness a graceful greeting, but Kai held my arms, stopping me from pulling my skirt and bending my knee.
"Don't, King Sorin will notice that you're talking to someone if you do that," Kai whispered as he pulls me to stand up, "Go to the library and talk. I'll run to get you if King Sorin starts looking for you. Go."
Kai pushed me to Forest while he has his eyes glued to our Uncle. Mother and Father saw us, but they pretended that they saw nothing or else the guests will also look at us and it will surely spark some attention.
Forest held my hand tightly before we ran to a hidden hallway leading to the library. His guard was following us behind while we all run silently along the dim hallway.
It was surprising at first, to be held by the man who looked like the person who hurt me earlier, but knowing that this is Forest, someone I trust and love, it eased my worries.
It was warm and comforting as I try to hold his hand as well, then we found the library.
No one was inside except the books, tables, and chairs.
"I'll guard the door," his knight said as the man stands tall beside the closed door.
"Call my attention if you hear anything, Regin," replied Forest with a smile.
Somehow, his guard looks familiar, especially that Regin looked at me with his narrowed eyes as Forest pulls me behind a shelf.
"Have I met Regin before?" I asked as Forest stands beside me casually.
"Yes, he was your knight when you were staying in the mansion in the Gathrin Kingdom," Forest answered with a wide smile, "You also had three maids, even the head-maid was looking after you because you were too hard to handle."
I guess he was too excited to tell me about my life before that his smile even got bigger. His stare was slowly trying to devour my sanity. It was full of eagerness, happiness, and love. I felt trapped in his gaze. Even my breathing was slowing. I can't look away from his purple eyes, and I don't want to, never.
"I missed you, so bad..." He whispered as he slowly leans to me.
My heel slowly raised to be able to reach Forest's height as he was getting closer. I don't know what I'm about to do, but I want to be close to him. I want to pull him and fulfill my yearning.
My heart that was beating loudly not to long ago, silenced. Even the whole world felt as if it stopped spinning.
Did the wind stop blowing? Are the stars still shining? Was the ball paused?
Why does it feel like it's only me and Forest in this vast unknown world?
Everything just felt right as I slowly got close to his lips. The soft red lips that I always wanted to feel... Yes, I can remember that moment in the library when I saw him sleeping. Even then, I wanted to kiss him.
His warm and strong hand around my waist supported and pulled me closer to him while my hand slowly found its way to his neck, and right at that moment, I felt what it is to be loved.
My eyes closed slowly as my first kiss was finally taken by my prince.
His lips tasted like apples, my favorite. Did he perhaps eat one before he kissed me?
But wait, this isn't what I should be thinking of. Am I too hungry for him to compare him to a fruit?
I felt his hand around my waist pulled me closer to him which made the kiss me more passionately.
My whole body felt alive as I feel his lips on mine. The questions, worries, and sadness filling up my chest cleared. For a short while, everything just seemed normal again. As if I'm not in a weird place surrounded by weird people with weird powers. All I can see is Forest... and me.
Do you know the feeling you get when you know you can finally rest? That feeling you get when you're at home... this is what it feels like. I never knew that feeling before though, I just know that this is it. He is my home.
I took a deep breath after he pulled away, not because I didn't breathe, but because he's breath-taking. His smile that greeted me after the kiss was the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.
"I guess you missed me too even if you don't quite remember me," he whispered and gave me another quick peck on the lips.
Honestly, it really is weird now that I think of it, with my present memories, I don't know Forest, but I still kissed him.
As I watch him pull something under his shirt, I also remembered something and pulled my necklace from under the gown. When I looked at him, he was also holding a necklace on his hand.
He chuckled and pulled my violet-colored circle pendant. It has a crescent moon shape in the middle which exactly looks like his necklace.
He smiled at me before joining the two necklaces, "The moon missed his galaxy," he said.
"Galaxy?" I asked with my furrowed brows.
"Here," Forest pulled my pendant and let the moonlight hit it, I saw the image of the galaxy on it.
I smiled at him before he gave me a warm long kiss on the forehead. I swear to the apple god, Forest's my new favorite.