"Why are you still here, your Highness?"
A teetering pile of yellow papers mounded on a large varnished working table and on my leaden head as Sir Liam, whom Shaph—dragging me out of bed so early in the morning—introduced as the Chancellor and the Royal Advisor, assisted me through the Princess's workloads. Drats! I escaped my salesman works and business responsibility only to face more horrendous royal works and a whole country-kingdom responsibility. Standing smugly in the doorway of this working room was Prince Valentine.
"To teach you magic, of course." He said.
"But what about your princeduty?" I protested, almost forgot the suffix, "Your Highness?"
"That can be done later." He was about to barge into the room but Shaph and Sir Liam slid in protectively stopping the Prince in his track.
"I'm afraid it's not very convenient for Princess at this hour Prince Valentine," Shaph said. "I thank you for your help to our Kingdom and for your generous offer but perhaps we can arrange your magic lesson another time?"
Prince Valentine resisted a little but when he saw that Shaph was not going to back away he gave up. "Fine. Reserve your time this afternoon then." He said and swept out with dissatisfaction.
"Why is he still here?" I asked again when the atmosphere shifted into the non-confronting mode. Shaph replaced my cold tea and said, "It's not just him Princess," he went over to the window, "Look."
Down at the other side of the glass was a palace garden with a glorious fountain spurting crystal water into the air. There were two figures of a man and a woman roaming in between clumps of bushes and flowers. I remembered them. They were the Prince and Princess of Bila.
My mouth fell open and before I could ask 'why are they still here' again, Shaph revealed even more shocking news. "We also still have King Fayn of Azmera, Prince Jared of Cimon, Prince Philip of Witrin, Princess Alette and Prince Ciel of Mithril, and Prince Leonhard of Aeca with us."
"But I thought they would all go back after the party!" I was baffled.
"It seems some of them are more persistent than we've thought." Shaph said plainly.
"Princess," Sir Liam chimed in, "Why don't you think of this as a good opportunity to consider your future partnership."
I was getting better at smiling sweetly. I could feel the true irony and mockery this time with Sir Liam.
That afternoon, right after Sir Liam got me to sign hundreds of thank-you letters, I was transported to a vault high up in the turreted tower for magic lesson with Prince Valentine. It was quite tiring with the steps but Shaph said it was necessary to be high and surrounded by nothing but bared stones.
I had remembered to bring Shaph with me for my own safety. From our previous encounters, I doubted very much about this Prince of Keon.
There were many tiny windows along the stairs and the higher we went, the colder it become. Hairs on my skin raised in one accord and my arms squeezed tight against my body. I should have brought some scarf with me. But—heck, I don't know if there's any scarf in my closet! I hadn't got a proper look since I arrived. Sharon was the one fetching the dress for me every night and day.
The pink hair steward was waiting beside the wooden door. He bowed as I came closer. I tried not to smile for it was very interesting being a boy with pink hair.
"Good day, Pin" (And his name's Pin!) Shaph nodded to him as he nodded back, saying, "Good afternoon Princess Carla." and opened the door that seemed too heavy for his thin arms.
"Good afternoon Princess!" He made a dramatic swirl, that Prince. "I began to think you forgot our appointment."
"Sorry to keep you waiting your Highness." I said and curtsied per Shaph's formula.
"Don't be so polite." Prince Valentine said, "And do call me Val. Are you ready for our lesson?" taking my hand widening his opal eyes in earnest as he did. "Are you cold?"
In Thai ways, we have this culture of 'Kreng-jai' which allows us to tell a little lie, not to disturb other people. But since Prince Valentine was holding my freezing hand tight, it was hard for me to say that I was not cold.
"Ju—just a little."
Prince Valentine immediately took off his coat and put it on me. The warmth lingering inside the coat instantly chased the coldness off my skin. "Thank you." I said silently unsure about this Prince's personality. He seemed so gentleman like this but his previous behavior only suggested otherwise.
"It'll be a lot warmer if you use my body." Prince Valentine smiled mischievously.
Oh well, "That's fine." I raised my heavy lips in an attempt to make an ironic smile. "The coat's warm enough. Thank you."
"Okay," Prince Valentine said. "But do tell me if you change your mind."
I chuckled dryly.
Prince Valentine spun around graciously, stretching both of his arms to indicate the beginning of our class. "Just one question, princess, since you had been resided in that world for such a long time." It must be a very important question from his act, I thought and focused. "Do you have any lover back there?"
I choked—from focusing too much attention on such minor matter. "No, no. Now, can we go on with the class?"
Prince Valentine only smiled but we were back on track at last. "Tell me Princess, what do you know about Magic?"
"Umm," Wounding the coat tighter around me, I tried to think hard. Magic is nonsense, u-la-la, head in the clouds from the world I was from—I supposed I could not tell him that and had to confess. "I know nothing about Magic."
Prince Valentine's lips parted. "No one's ever taught you Magic?"
Shaph twitched his long white ears. I shook my head slowly afraid that I would give out too much to spark a doubt.
"Such ignorance for the Princess of Coronale!" Prince Valentine exclaimed. "Never mind, I will teach you from the beginning."
I glanced at Shaph guiltily.
"Magic," the Prince began. "is not just a cluster of energy, it has life. Magic, same to us human, loves to run around and hates being pinned down. But running-Magic causes chaos to the natures. It already did that when you were not around."
"Now that you've returned," he said, "Magic's supposed to settle down soon. Sorcerers like us capture Magic in the air and use them to fight."
"But how do we capture Magic?" I asked excitedly, more than ready to become a sorcerer. This class was actually getting kind of fun.
"You first have to feel it." He said.
Prince Valentine folded his arms. I gazed back puzzlingly as he curved up his lips saying. "Feel it?"
"Huh?" Feel what?
"It resembles bubbles popping on your skin." said Prince Valentine.
Calming myself down, I tried to think of the popping bubble's feeling. It had been ages since I last played with bubbles.
There was nothing to be felt but cold icy wind for the next few minutes. I closed my eyes and tried savagely to feel. When I almost gave up, ozone-liked smell tapped my face and the air became fizzy as if I was bathing in sparkling water. It pricked on my skin, waking my sleepy souls up from the slumber, bringing liveliness out of me. With an exuberant spirited, I felt like those white puffy clouds in the blue sky beyond the narrow window was inviting me to join them. I could run and jump round and round with such energy. It was exactly the feeling I had when I was a child, when my spirit was still free. This is Magic!
My heart pounded with excitement. It was as if I had found myself that was lost in the labyrinth of boring and struggling adulthood long ago.
"You feel it." Prince Valentine said again and, with Magic covering my eyes, it seemed like he was not a bad guy after all.
"This," I tried to find a word to explain. "—is awesome!"
A waft of wind traveled from outside blowing Prince Valentine's shiny red hair and continued its path to me. It did not feel as cold now that the magic was dense around my body. He, likewise, did not seem to be bothered by the chill. "I gathered more magic around us so you can attune to it without much effort." the Prince said. "It will be hard to detect normally. So try to remember the feeling."
I nodded and, even though there was nothing to be seen, looked around my body in awe.
Glittering red light appeared where Prince Valentine spooned up the air. He played with, I supposed, Magic on his palm while the fizzy feeling dwindled. The surrounding was soon as still as a stagnant pond, liveliness gone with it too.
"It's gone!" I gasped.
Prince Valentine threw a sparkling red light at the wall and it crackled as the air became effervescent again.
"Ooh!"
"You love it, don't you?" Prince Valentine grinned. "Magic."
The on-and-off of Magic went on in a loop. Prince Valentine must be very patient for it took me the whole afternoon to catch the feel of Magic in the normal atmosphere. But I was able to reach out for the fizzy feeling whenever I wanted to at last.
"You're a fast learner." Prince Valentine said and it actually made me proud. I took off his coat giving it back to him preparing to leave.
"We don't need to come up here next time. I can feel Magic is becoming more stable so all heights will be equal in quantity. Princess wouldn't have to feel cold too." Prince Valentine said to Shaph and me, taking the coat from my hand to his face. He narrowed his eyes inching closer to me and said in a low sweet tone. "You smell good."
All the positive thoughts about Prince Valentine collected during the past hours evaporated. I chose not to respond to his remark. Everyone would smell nice being bath with fragranced water five hours a day. In no time, I believed my shit would smell like rose too, matching theme to my suite.
He walked me down the long steps of the stone-cold tower with Pin and Shaph trailing behind us. I thanked him at the last stair step where colorful walls surrounded us once again.
"See you tomorrow Princess." He said, kissing my hand, and departed with Pin.
I shivered, not only because of the chilly weather, but also, finally, the first class had ended and I survived the first Prince. I felt like I had succeeded the whole mission.
Or, not so yet...
King Fayn was pelting from the other direction. He stopped in front of me panting slightly. "Princess Kara!"
I was about to make a formal salutation when King Fayn jerked back. "My god! You reek of that Valentine guy's smell!"
I raised my brows and sniffed at myself. Still the various fragrances from this morning's bath.
"King Fayn has a very sensitive nose, having possessed wolf's trait from ancestors." Shaph explained to me then turned to the King. "Princess Kara was cold so Prince Valentine offered her his coat."
"Is that so?" said King Fayn taking off his military jacket and put it on me. Although, the air here was still consider chilly for me, but I seriously did not need another coat now. He pressed the jacket against my shoulder when I was about to lift it. "I hope you don't mind." He said. "I can't help it, I don't like that guy's smell on you."
He's marking his territory! I dared not protest, at least he did not pee on me.
"Does that mean you have a very good pair of ears too Shaph?" I asked with interest glancing up at his long white rabbit ears. I did not rest my eyes on them for too long, I was afraid I would not be able to hold it in. Those ears were too darn cute!
"Yes." said Shaph. "And we—"
What are you doing with Valentine by the way?" King Fayn broke in, placing a hand on my steward's shoulder.
Shaph explained to King Fayn and upon hearing that he made a really demanding fuss. "I shall have a lesson with Princess too."
What?
The rest were paused by footsteps of a man with, er—bear ears?—racing toward us bearing a bear-like panicking face. "King Fayn!" He called out whispering something hurriedly which made Fayn's brows bunched up together.
"Let's talk more later." King Fayn said and flew off with the bear man. I peered down at my shoulder where his jacket was still draping neatly.
"He seems very busy," I said and shrugged. "A King's always busy. What's that bear-ear guy name?"
"That is Ben." said Shaph. "He's King Fayn's butler. There's a lot of instability in the Kingdom after King Fayn enthroned three years ago. I don't see how His Majesty could manage to stay here after the party, let alone arrange a class with you Princess."
"That's a relief to hear." I said. "What happened? The citizens don't accept him?"
Shaph dipped his heavy head sadly. "Because he's a Beastskin. The discrimination in Azmera is—was very severe."
"Oh," I said. "What's Be—bea—"
"Beast-skin," Shaph pronounced the word slowly lifting his eyes up to his forehead and wiggled his fluffy ears. "—is us, Princess. We are the result of human and animals melded together by Magic thousands of years ago."
Shaph told more about Beastskin history while we walked until we arrived at the suite. "To this day, only the ears and the tail are left marking us out from human. We also have the skills distinguishing to each animal we are descended from—"
Later on, Shaph left me to rest at my suite with a book to read but I dozed off right at the couch waking up again only when he brought in the dinner. It was fried chicken with garlic and assorted vegetables. A very Thai-like dish. And I surprisingly enjoyed it.
No one came to bath me as the night drew on. I decided to take a bath myself, too bad that they did not have a shower here. I was more used to that.
Pure, unperfumed water was excellently refreshing. I was rubbing my back with a flower sponge when Sharon entered the bathroom abruptly, her face painted with surprise.
"Sorry Sharon, I took a head start." I said.
"I'm not here to bath you." Sharon said, "The three-day intensive beauty course has already ended, actually, you shouldn't be taking a bath!"
"Why not?"
"Your skin will rot!" Sharon said. "And all the treatments will be useless. Come out at once Princess!"
"But," Coming from a hot country, I could not stand not taking a shower even if the temperature was below zero. Our routine was morning and evening, once each. I was already trying to compromise by promising myself to take only the evening one. "I won't be able to sleep without a bath." I said.
Sharon put her head in her palm. "Alright, I'll have to do something with your skin."
After the soothing bath, Sharon brought out a jar of thick cream. She mixed some clear pink water in and applied it all over my body. I was left alone again during the night, and it was the first night I did not feel tired and plunged into sleep right away. I leafed through the boring poems book Shaph brought—indulging in the pleasure of reading without glasses—realizing something interesting for the first time. The language of this world was actually not the same as where I was from. It's neither Thai nor English nor Chinese nor Japanese nor French nor Spanish nor any languages I knew of. It's other-worldly.
Weird enough, I seemed to understand the letters and sentences with ease. When I thought about it, people here actually did speak this different language. But I was able to understand them and conversed with this alien dialect naturally.
The boring book did its job and bored me half an hour later. I put it down, never want to pick it up again, and sneaked out my handbag and my phones from the locked drawer. That was the first time I heard that melody.
It went dee-lah-lah-lah-dee-lah..., very close to one of the ringtones on my iPhone that I thought Magic seeped into the device and worked it. The black screen, however; told me otherwise and I realized the lovely tune came from the other side of the window glass. Pulling the curtains apart and a windowpane inward, a gush of distant melody floated in as if singing by the gibbous moon. From the roundish, slightly-high, and small nature of noise, I supposed it was flute.
Whoever was playing was very keen. At this level, it was no wonder if the person turned out to be a royal musician. I poked out to get a glimpse of the player but he or she must be at the other side of the castle. Leaving the window ajar, I receded back onto bed and to my phones.
I turned the devices on. The screens blinked and took a moment to prepare before popping up their top pages. There was not much battery left in both phones now. I went to the name list in my Samsung and pressed on my dad's number.
Only dead silent played in the line.
Doing the same with another phone which gave similar reaction to the first one, I sighed at the absence of signals in this land. No one was going to know I was stuck in this whatever-world.
I turned off the phone hopelessly and rummaged through my bag. A notebook, my name card's box, pens, my bank accounts, my USBs, my purse, everything was still where it was, still reminded me of who I was.
I put everything back together and put the bag away once again. I had to forget everything for now and focus on studying magic, which who knows might come in handy, waiting until the day Shaph could find a way to open the portal again.
Laying down on the soft rosy bed, the melody already dead, I yawned losing myself to the trance where hesitation, doubts, and fear overwhelmed me once my consciousness was not so clear. I was scared of being here, but I also could not say with hundred-percent confidence that I wanted to go back. My world was full of stress, corrupted mind, and responsibilities that were accumulating on me—bah!, as if the Princess' responsibility was any lighter!
I had a really bad dream.