I spent three days on the bed under the warm and soft blankets, but my wounds still had to be under the bandages a little longer. With arms like this, sword fighting was out of my league, so there was one more picnic hour with Eldrin and Elise added up to Jared's. Philip was extremely busy with his royal works while Fayn was strangely cold. Just the other day, I met him on the corridor and he totally ignored me. At first, I thought he was busy that he did not notice me, but when I tried to make a conversation with him, he shut me off with don't-bother-me kind of side glance. I looked at Ben who was following his master for a clue, but he merely returned the gesture apologetically. I still thought he was angry with some other things so I tried again a few days later while he was talking to a wolf at the forest edge—It was not good to have a King of a neighbor country as your enemy, you see—however; he said nothing and walked away like he did in the last five days. I was beginning to worry whether he got the Beastskin curse as well when I heard he left Coronale and returned to his Kingdom on the next afternoon.
Heck, I must have angered him in someway, I thought and felt guilty. I did not know what I did wrong so I did not know how to fix it. I did not like people to hate me, but maybe this was for the best. It was clearly better for him to hate me than love me, so did Leon's case. When Princess Carla returned, everyone would understand and be good friends again. And hey, isn't this good? Two more princes back to their home in a row. I should celebrate!
Eventually, there was nothing else to do but the Princess work and Magic class. So, I paid more time and attention to the class. I had become really fond of Magic and how great would it be if I could change the teacher.
"What has happened?" Prince Valentine suddenly asked on the third day after Fayn departed. "You've been studying with such unbreakable focus. You start to fancy me?"
I had no mind to joke with him. Staying with this Prince two hours a day, knowing he was plotting something behind my back could seriously tired you. "My magic did not work with Prince Leonhard. I think it's because I'm not good enough."
"Oh—" the Prince drawled. "I disagree. Those beasts have tougher bodies, so you need concentrated magic to be able to hurt them. That's all."
"Concentrated?"
"Observe."
Assembling more magic required greater concentration of the mind too. It took me two more days to achieve only half as much as it was needed to harm a Beastskin. It was not like I wanted to kill one, but I needed this to protect myself—just in case again.
I had been visiting Jes and Shaph's work regularly too. They were still having a hard time using hard spells in untidy Magic environment. I was curious and anxious to get the real Princess back soon. It may have been my over-thinking, but something was itching at the back of my mind—some itchy and nerving premonition. This weird presentiment proved to be true right when all my wounds were cured.
Philip came running in panic on that day. His hair disoriented and his voice was quivered, all his princely manners seemed to have fled him far—far enough to hint me that this...was not going to be pleasant.
"Kara!" Philip said in hoarse voice, went down on his knees. "Princess Kara! Please help our land!"
"Wait, wait, Philip, calm down. What happened?" I tried to think positive. Maybe it was just another flood or draught issue.
"Magic!" Philip coughed prolonging my excitement. "It's out again. Our crystals are almost dark now. People in my country are fearful. I do not understand why this happen, but please help us!"
Help?! How can I help you?! I don't have any power to control Magic! I'm not the real Princess!
"Princess Kara—"
Philip's begging voice fetch me back to his pleading glassy sapphire eyes that were filling with hope and pressuring me. I took a deep breath and feigned a smile. "Of—of course! I—I'll go get—get—get—ready!"
Then I ran with all my might—to Jes and Shaph's base.
The handles slipped under my sweating palms as I kicked the doors hard. It swung banging against the stone walls. "Shaph! Jed!" My announcement and the thunderous crashing noise startled both stewards. "What should I do?!"
"Did you just—" Jes was totally taken aback. "kick the door?"
Swinging the door closed again, I went over to Shaph and Jes not noticing the transparent background of our world map projection, shining colored lines and dots that were dashing all over the surface—it should have been an awing sight, "Philip asks me to go help his Kingdom! He said Magic's on the loose again!" I said voice wavered. "How could I make the Magic Crystal clear? I cannot go with him. They will know the truth!"
"Calm down Princess." Shaph said tenderly. "I'll ask Sharon. She can use magic. She'll know a spell to make that Crystal clear. We'll let her come with us and—"
"No." Jes interrupted. "We don't need that. Let her go with that Prince."
"Master Jes!"
Jes looked at the chart in his hand. "This will buy us a few more days. In the mean time, we will locate the Princess and bring her here as soon as possible."
"What if we couldn't locate the Princess?" Shaph said. "Princess Kara will be exposed!"
"I will find the Princess." Jes spoke with much confidence. "You can go with her if you're worried."
"Of course I will." Shaph said and came out with me. He told me to go gather my things saying sorry for not being able to help like he should. He then was off to find Sharon and prepared a carriage.
Everything was ready in the next ten minutes, everything—except Sharon. Shaph had been hopping about the castle twice, still he could not find her. At last, he came panting in alert. "She's gone home, your Highness! Her son's illness has worsened!"
"I didn't know her son is ill!" I didn't know she has a son!
"It's been many years," Shaph said. "I don't know why suddenly—"
"Then we shall depart." Philip spoke from the tall white horse he was riding. "I am sorry to hear about the head maid's son but the Crystals cannot be waited. A civil war might begin because of it. I'm sorry Kara. I will send for a doctor to her home and shall provide you maids at Witrin."
And if any of them could use magic, I would be so grateful.
There was nothing Shaph and I could say. So I got into the carriage with my steward and be carried away to the doom.
Heaviness descended all over on us inside the carriage. No one, including me, seemed to be in the mood of sight-seeing despite this being the first time leaving the castle ground for me. The city was crowded and alive; Shaph and I were isolated and dead. Children ran along our procession excited by a Prince on a white horse, soldiers in full armors set, beautiful carriage being hauled by four strong, specially-selected horses with a distraught fake princess in it.
I sighed lightly one more time as a girl from the street gave me a flower. I smiled at her feeling like a waste to be sad on such a day. I could be sad later when I tell Philip the truth. I decided to enjoy once in a life time experience. I would never have a chance to visit this world again once I go back.
Houses on both sides had whitewashed brick walls supported with dark wooden beams and poles. They were classic and cute and none rose over two floors. Unlike the iron-slate sky-scrapers in Bangkok which gravely ejected out like a piece of gravestone of natures. Many also had flower pots on the balconies coloring the dull street. People (with light hair colors) were spilling out of the shops to have a look at us. They cheered and shouted my—Princess Carla's name. I was obliged to wave and put on the brightest smile.
"The city's so nice!" I said to Shaph. "I hope I could come out here and walk some time. As a normal tourist and not princess though."
Shaph smiled ruefully. "Princess, are you not—"
"There's no point in worrying Shaph." I told him my think-through thought. "Worry wouldn't solve this problem for us. I'll just enjoy and slowly think of the way. I'll visit Sharon and her son when we come back. Hope her son could get well by then."
My steward reluctantly livened up at my slap on his shoulder. He joined me in greeting the citizens and introduced me various places we passed such as the Corona Square—center of the city, Alice Park where everyone used as a picnic ground, and the Prime King Monument. He said that the bakery shop near Nareeya Fountain was the most popular one and that the most famous poet lived just beyond the corner next to Coronale Botanical Garden.
The sight of Coronale Kingdom, nonetheless; paled compare to Witrin. Eight hours on the road and I began to see houses in different style. I rubbed my eyes thinking that this must be a dream, but it seemed to be real as I put my hand on the cool hard partitions when we rested.
"These are marbles!" I exclaimed and looked up along its length until it met the marble roof. "The whole piece is marble? No, the whole house is made of marbles?!"
Philip smiled. "Yes, this is a very remote area so they can only afford marbles."
As we travelled deeper into the Witrin Kingdom, Philip's remark became clearer. Around the edge of the city, the houses were made of bronze and copper. The second tiers where better income people reside, houses were assembled from slabs of jade, sapphire, rose quartz, amethyst, aquamarine and more that I did not know. The city center was as expected—diamonds.
My words seemed to have lost in the glitters. What kind of people would build their houses out of gemstones?! I had a hard time believing as an emerald house came into sight.
"Magic turned our rocks and soils into gems." Philip walked his horse beside my window and explained. "We have too much just for making accessories."
"The Kingdom's rich with minerals," said Shaph. "but no plants can grow here."
So despite being surrounded by pretty stuff, there was nothing edible. I did not think I want to live in this country as much as the first impression had given me.
"But they have enough precious stones to exchange for food." Shaph topped off.
Similar to Coronale, citizens walked out of their glimmering colorful houses to see our march. Philip fell back to the end of the row as the cheers grew louder.
"It's the Princess of Coronale!"
"She's here to save us!"
"She will bring back our Crystals!"
"Hail to Princess!"
They bowed down like a wave uttering their pressuring—I mean, praise to me.
"Our savior!"
"Princess Carla!" My smiled was masked with concrete.
"Long live the Princess!"
"Go to die, fake Prince!"
"Lovely Princess!"
Wait, what was it just now?
My ears caught on the word 'fake' and it provoked me. Then, in between the sweet flatteries, I heard curses and swears. Prince and Princess sounded so alike that my face went pale for a second there. When I clearly differentiated it, my face was still pale because, looking back, not just the bad words, chunks of gems were thrown at Philip all the way too.
"My god!" I gasped. "What're they doing?!"
"I don't know!" Shaph was looking as flabbergasted as me. He was already white so it was hard to for him to pale anymore.
A piece of red rock—I guessed it was ruby—hit on his head and rivulets of red liquid ran down. Philip took in every stone throwing at him without resistance. Shaph and I began to be alarmed as the size of rocks increased.
"Sh—should we stop them?" I asked anxiously.
"It's—better not to get involved in other Kingdom's problem." Shaph said demurringly.
"But he's bleeding," I said as the soldiers around Philip started to back away from the stone's range. One of them came near my carriage and I opened the window slightly. "Umm, Mr. Soldier?.
"Yes Princess!" The soldier was startled to see me talking to him.
"Do you know what's happening?" I asked. "Why are people throwing rocks at Philip?"
The soldier darted his eyes around nervously and said. "There's a rumor your Highness," There was a catch in his voice. "that Prince Philip—" His voice went even fainter. "killed his step-brother."
"Oh, I remember!" Shaph suddenly said. "The mine incident fifteen years ago?"
"Yes Master Steward." The soldier said and went back to his position.
"The mine incident?" I closed the window and looked at Shaph inquiringly.
"I was only a baby Princess." Shaph said. "But it was a big news. The Queen of Witrin and the High Prince visited Magic Crystal mine. The mine collapsed and both stuck inside. Prince Philip's father, at the time a miner, dug into the mountain and rescued the Queen. In doing so, he was injured and died not long after that. The High Prince was found two days later, already passed away. So the Queen adopted Prince Philip as her own son."
That was quite a complicated story. "What about Philip's mother? She allowed it?"
"I heard his mother died giving birth to him." Shaph said. "So he's naturally an orphan after his father died."
I whistled. "Wow! What a luck!"
Shaph blinked. "But I think it's a badluck for Prince Philip. None of citizens seem to accept him. And he's living in contrite thinking he's not worth as a prince."
"What nonsense!" I declared. "Shaph, this story you said, it's true?"
"Of course!" Shaph was taken aback. "I checked with the stewards club, and my rabbit friends confirmed! It's from a highly trusted source."
It sure sounded like a weird society Shaph was talking about. Butler Club? But it did give me a level of confidence that Philip was not a bad guy. Times I had spent with him also supported that he was just a good ruler who tried so hard for his people. I peeked again at the piteous Prince reaching out for the carriage door's handle with such slowness. It was the Metropolis-sickness taking over me again.
Being raised and living in the big city my whole life, I saw too many—numerous deceits, and learnt how to survive by distrust. When there was an accident, I was taught to ignore and walk away. I thought this was the right thing to do keeping myself safe so as not to worry my parents.
There were no parents here, no responsibility to look after, no relatives or friends to think of, no money or fame to care about. Is this not the time for me to do the good deeds I have always wanted to?
I relented a few more seconds per my old habit. Clenching my lips, I puffed up and pushed the carriage door opened. The coachman jerked with surprise as I jumped down. Shaph was calling me but I ignored him and went on with my acting.
"Wow!" I strode to one of the house with Yellow sapphire walls trying to widen my eyes as much as possible. "This city is goooooorgeous! It looks even nicer out here!" My voice was a bit higher than normal. I skipped to the next house with diamond walls, people parted way for me looking excited and jolly. "I see dazzles everywhere!"
"Your Highness!" A woman drape in shawls made of turquoises stepped up front. "It's such an honor that you like our house!"
"Oh, is this your house?" Tilting my head, I said with cute high voice trying hard—too hard, I hate myself—to act like a girly princess.
People around me cheered and I went to Philip before anyone else talked anymore. It was going to be difficult if I have to act sheepish even in conversation.
"Prince Philip," I called at him. "may I ride with you? I want have a better view of houses here."
The street fell into silence. Philip gawked at me. "But—"
"Help me up please." I put one foot in the stirrup dismissing what he was going to say. Philip could do nothing more but got off the horse and lifted sitting me sideway. Then, he took his seat behind me holding fast the reins as the procession went on in silence. No more jewels rain. He was so close I could even felt his breath but I was more concerned about the eyes that were on us. I dared not stop acting—pointing from one house to the other, uttering stupid shrieks, feeling totally fed up with myself.
We arrived at a big castle made out of Magic Crystals. The walls reflected the light into thousands of colors. It was almost like a disco with lights beams flashed from one piece of crystal, changing its color as it came out of another slab. The air was literally full of glitters and radiant sparks and we glowed in here. How did they manage to sleep in such place was still a question to me. An elegant woman dressing in sparkling gown—or was it sparkles from the air?—was standing at the clear stairsteps. I could not discern her dress from the background and was getting dizzy.
Our horse stopped and Philip helped me down. He went to this lady and bowed deeply, greeting with extreme politeness. "Mother, I have brought to Withrin with me Princess Carla of Coronale."
"Salutation Princess. I am Queen Dia of Witrin." said the lady and I did the curtsy Shaph taught me. "Thank you for helping Philip."
"It is my pleasurable duty, your Majesty." I went stiff in front of a real queen. "Prince Philip has helped me greatly also."
We exchanged a little bit more polite conversation while Philip tended to his wounds. I was begging in my head all the time for it to be over. And was glad when Queen Dia apologized for having to let me go to the Crystal Cave immediately without properly welcomed me first. The matter was urgent, she said and thanked me. I was glad to be back on the horse though.
I fell asleep at some point in the more rural area. Acting took a lot of energy, you know, not to mention meeting with the Queen—real, living, and kicking Queen. It was so intense. When I woke up again, we were still travelling on the horse and I was leaning on Philip.
"Sorry!" I got up in haste and hit my head with his chin. "Sorry! Sorry!"
"It's okay." Philip said. "Stay still or you will fall off." His warn was a bit too late and I was sliding backward. Philip grasped at my waist pulling me up to him. "That was close."
"Thank you." I sighed.
Philip smiled. "It is me who should thank you."
"For what?"
"For protecting me from expensive gems. No matter how valuable they are, they're still hard and hurt." Philip said sardonically.
I did not respond but my chest was brimming with merriment for flaring up my courage and being as reckless as I like for once. "How long until we reach the cave anyway?"
"It's a day trip." Philip said looking out at the sun burning low in the sky. "But we've come near the cave mouth. We will go into the cave tomorrow morning."
One more night to think of a wayout. One more night to get Princess Carla back. I prayed Jes hurry up.
Philip suggested we rested for the night as we entered Gemo Forest. Though called forest, there was not a single tree in here. Clear glittering glass as tall as me spiked from gauzed-like earth everywhere. It was like walking in a crystal labyrinth, a clear-mirror maze. Lights played and sprayed hues on the translucent jagged pillars. Blots of glistering colored light drifted round my body making me felt like I was in a dreamland.
Shaph and soldiers set up a large tent with a very comfortable bed and a bathtub inside. While I wondered how they managed to bring all of these, dinner was served, almost as grand as in the castle. I got a glimpse of a royal cook with his own cooking tent, beginning to think this...was overacting.
I took my time after the meal strolling in between the giant gems exploring various kinds of them. Even in the absence of light, the glassy stalagmites emitted glows as if they stored the ray during daytime so that the forest was never completely dark. I found Philip doing the same thing at a man-size yellow sapphire.
"Kara!" Philip looked surprise. "I thought you're resting."
"I had too much rest this afternoon." I said thinking of the time I slept on him feeling a little embarrassed. "What about you? Aren't you tired? You've been traveling the whole day."
Philip smiled nostalgically and he sat down leaning on a peridot. "This place reminds me of my childhood home."
I tried resting against an aquamarine. It was cool and quite blissful. I stayed quiet for a while, did not really know what to say recalling what Shaph had said about Philip's past. In the end, I thought I would just say something cheerful and positive. "You're lucky to live in such a pretty country."
He chuckled. "It gets pretty tiring after a year or two."
I give it a week. "By the way how's the wound on your head?" I changed the subject craning my neck and saw a cut near the root of his gold hair.
"Nothing serious. Just shallow ones." Philip said smiling ever wider. "You know, I really thought you were admiring the houses for a second there."
"I did," I said. "until I saw you bleed. Why didn't you fight back? Threaten them, whatever, you're a prince after all!" I got carried away and asked questions I was not supposed to.
His smile saddened. "I'm not..." His voice faltered.
"Huh?"
"I'm not a prince." Philip said again, louder this time.
"Why not? I don't understand?"
"Well," Philip seemed reluctant. And before I knew that I was sticking my nose in too deep, he started saying with gloomy mood. "If the High Prince did not die, I wouldn't be here."
If I was to stick my nose in, I was going to stick it until the end. "But the fact is, he died. So the Queen took you in, didn't she?"
"But—" Philip protested reversing to casual speaking fashion. "this isn't right! I'm not supposed to have all of this! I—I—!" He's getting emotional, damn! "I'm just a miner! I have no royal qualification at all! No one accepts me! The citizens...no one accepts me."
How the conversation ended up here I was not sure. Philip was about to cry. I took in a deep breath, calming down, choosing the best thing to say and said it. "I think you're the only one who doesn't accept yourself."
Philip turned to me, paralyzed. My words were a bit harsh but that was to fetch his consciousness back. I turned to him trying to relax my face. "Since I arrived here, you're the most prince-like among other princes I've ever met Philip. You're elegant, knowledgeable, responsible, gentle and kind. You have blue eyes and gold hair. You ride on a white horse." Philip tried to say something here but I dismissed him quickly. "And yes! Those are important for a prince!"
"But most of all," I went back to my prince list. "you care for your people. I remembered when you asked me to help you out here, you looked so concern. You must love this Kingdom a lot."
Philip's face softened. "I do," he admitted. "but there's no use if the citizens hate me. They say I'm fake..." His voice trailed off again.
The word 'fake' tended to have some kind of effect on me recently. I got unnerved and blurted out hard-voiced. "Blast them! They're just jealous Philip! Not everyone got to be a prince! You're born under a golden lucky star you know! If one of those people got to be a prince like you, I bet they wouldn't dare say one of those words! Just enjoy your luck! And be confident! And yea, not everyone was born with such luck! It takes guts. You should be proud of yourself!"
My hands reacted here shutting my mouth, a bit too late since I had said too much already. I piped down feeling a bit guilty. "Sorry, I went overboard. Anyway, Queen Dia chose you. You are the Prince of Witrin by every rights, whatever people say, you're not the least fake. You are very very real." The genuine fake one is here beside you.
Philip bore a shocking face.
"S—sorry." Feeling bad, I got up trying to leave. I had angered him saying too much private stuff. God! This cursed mouth of mine!
"Kara." I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Philip with a big grin. "Thank you."
I waited for what he was going to say next and whether he really was not angry. Maybe that 'thank you' was just sarcasm. "I will try to be a good prince." He said finally.
"Keep trying." I made an encouraging smile, relieved. "I believe—I knowpeople will understand you one day. You've been trying hard all along."
The sky and the ground in this Kingdom were like the mirror image of each other. They glowed and twinkled glamorizing our smiles. In the middle of the gleaming aureole, I seemed to attain one more good friend and clean forget the death sentence awaiting tomorrow.