The weather was mild and fresh air drifted in the pavilion carrying the sweet scent of the jasmine planted round the pavilion. Xanxier took a deep breath turning the pages of the book he waa reading, he once again started reading it from the first page.
Jasmine was his mother's favourite flower and she made sure there were flower pots of them in Xanxier's room and she told him the jasmine was a representation of her and whenever he had a nightmare he should see the flower as her.
All the members of the royal family lived separately and it was inappropriate to wake up in the middle of the night and run to his mother's resident when he had a nightmare.
Most times he would not catch a glimpse of his mother's skirt for weeks. He was always in his quarters drilled on the current affairs of the nation and he had a lot of classes and tutors.
Whenever his mother come to visit him, they would not hug and only talk formerly, she wouldn't ruffle his hair and only would praised him for his studies while Vane stares at him clutching to his mother's skirt, it was one thing he wanted but could never ask.
The flower served as an assurance his mother was with him and now it was a flower Xanxier hated and he made sure none grew in the vicinity of the Redroses Villa. He threw all the flower pots out when he moved over when he was ten.
He also ordered the gardeners to uproot all the jasmine in the royal paradise garden when he took over the throne only for him to break down crawling back to the pavilion to plant it and when Daminas found him, his hands were dirty and his robes stained with the soil but he still refused any help and he planted each and every jasmine flower that surrounded the pavilion.
He hated the flower but still comes to water them once in a while, he didn't enjoy watering them but it was the least he could do.
Daminas brought him a lot of books, the one he picked was a myth about a man and his lover which was a snake. Xanxier tried to read it but found himself still on the front page with no idea of what he read just like how it was for the past hour.
He didn't touch the snacks nor the fruits. The wine on the table long forgotten, he wanted to rest but he was doing exactly the opposite of it.
Even with all the powers he wielded his heart was restless and he could point to a lot of things that caused it but he would not admit it.
It was true what his father said that a King was the loneliest man in the world. He couldn't help but feel like he was locked in a gold cage even though he knew the court officials may never turn on him but yet he couldn't help but feel worried but could not pinpoint the reason why.
The royal paradise garden was beautiful but all the flowers were monochrome in his eyes, it had been like that when he turned eleven, all the flowers lost their colours and when he asked Daminas he realised he was the only one seeing it like that and even after all the help rendered to him, it didn't change nor could Bezel find anything wrong with his eyes. He stopped appreciating its beauty, why would he appreciate flowers without colours?
It was only the jasmine he planted that had colours and apart from the jasmine he always have the urge to pull the tulips out and next the orchids. How long would it take if he start now? how long would it take to pull all the monochrome flowers out.
He finally closed the book and walked over to the rail only to see a lone figure in a lighter shade of blue robes carrying a porcelain jug.
The figure seemed to be so engrossed in looking at the flowers as she got closer and right then she looked like a blue light among the flowers, The only colour in the field.
Xanxier noticed she was in a trance appreciating the beauty he can't see, she crossed over the small white bridge and took her time walking gracefully her eyes trailing the flowers.
When she got closer Xanxier could see it was Kamigani looking like a bright light in the dark. Xanxier even forgot to breath as she came closer then she stopped in her path turning to the orchids at her right side and then Xanxier noticed she was crying. Her face wasn't scrunched up, she was just like a porcelain doll as the tears run down her face.
It was a beautiful sight and just like a snap he could see the colourful flowers again. He could see the white tulips and the green leaves, he could see the orchids and he could see the colourful garden and even spoted the red roses from afar.
Right then he wanted his sketchpad he tore and burnt in the fireplace, he wanted his painting brush he broke years ago. He wanted to paint and feel the colours smear his hands just like how it did when he was a boy and right then he felt so engulfed but he refused to shead the tear that threatened to fall.
He was still gazing at Kamigani when she looked at what she was carrying and suddenly turned to him. He forgot to know how to breath at that moment just like when he saw Krista walking over to him five years ago.
Xanxier would appreciate beauty when he sees one and right then one was standing few feet from him.
Her cheeks turned to a deep shade of red from embarrassment. Xanxier didn't say a word and only averted his gaze taking his sit on the couch and he quickly wiped the tears at the corner of his eyes refusing to cry. He heard her climb the steps turning to see her bowed to him.
"Your Majesty I brought wine." She said softly just like how he remembered her voice. It was kind of soothing.
Xanxier could see she had already wiped her face but her eyes were tinted a lighter shade of red too. Seeing the colourful flowers again, he would have love to cry too but he wasn't brought up that way.
Xanxier could see Kamigani doesn't know anything about serving with the way she poured the wine in the goblet almost filled to the brim and placed it in front of him. He was a bit confused. Didn't they teach her how to serve? or was it so important to hide her from view that they didn't even bother to teach her anything about serving. He just watched her as she started fidgeting.
"Sit."
Kamigani quickly took her seat trying to look everywhere but him. Her eyes widen like she just realised something, she almost snatched the goblet taking another one and pouring the wine in it spilling some on the table. she quickly took a napkin and cleaned it biting her lower lip when she was done she stood up and kowtowed. "Forgive me your Majesty I didn't mean to fill the cup so full and also spill it."
It was a little hilarious how she acted but Xanxier only chuckled. "Am I scary?" He asked looking at Kamigani that refused to stand up.
"No your Majesty." She replied.
"Take a seat Kami, am not going to bite you." He said trying to make her comfortable and when she raised her head he could see she was blushing. "Since you served two cups, take a drink." He handed her one before taking the other and took a sip, he turned to the flowers hoping he just imagined the colours but he didn't. They were so bright and colourful even the butterflies fluttering around blended right in creating an amazing view.
Kamigani coughed making Xanxier to turn sharply to her. "Sorry." She muttered as she blushed deeply.
It was not an odd reaction. Xanxier had seen a lot of people reacting like that to him. "Tell me how were you sold to slavery?"
Kamigani eyes widen looking a bit shocked like she never expected that kind of question. "I remember waking up I can't remember if I woke up ashore but I was wandering in the woods when I got caught, I was little then and I can't remember the ocean your Majesty."
It was the most vague explanation he ever heard but looking at her he could see she wasn't lying. She didn't remember and gave him a hazy description.
"You were taken." It wasn't a question but Kamingani nodded. "Eat the fruits and also the snacks." He was a little glad to found someone that would eat a portion of the snacks and fruits which means Daminas would never find out he didn't touch them.
Facing an unusual beautiful lady, drinking wine, looking at the colourful garden and just like that the heavy weight on his chest lifted and he started laughing.