"Greetings to his majesty, the King and her majesty, the Queen. My name is Asha Silvers, headmaster of the Mage Academy."- Asha introduces herself as she curtsy.
"We have heard a great deal of you Lady Silvers. I hope you and your companions are enjoying the party."- the King said as he smiles at her.
"Thank you, your majesty."- Headmaster Asha answers politely.
"Lady Asha, it's been a while. How have you been?"- the Queen greeted Asha with a warm smile.
Asha's mother has been a close friend of the Queen, they were often summoned to the castle to spend time with her. The queen has been fond of Asha since the first time they've met. She is also the one that suggests Asha, participate as one of the contestants for the trial, to earn the title of being the headmaster of the mage school.
"I've been well, thanks to your majesty."- Asha simply answers with a smile.
"That's good to hear. Right! I heard the news that you've adopted two of your students. Will it be alright to learn their name?"- the Queen inquires with a smile.
Asha flinched slightly, she looks up to the Queen and saw her smiling gently at her.
She doesn't know why but she has a weird feeling about the Queen's intention.
"That's right your majesty... I've officially adopted them as my daughters. Clara Silvers is a brunette-haired lady with round dark brown eyes. And Shaelyn Silvers... she is the one with long shiny blonde hair and round crystal blue eyes."- Asha answers as calmly as she could.
She still can't believe that Shaelyn has caught the Crown Prince's interest. She knew that Shaelyn has beautiful features with an aura much more unique than a noble. Now that she thinks about it... her intense aura can be compared to the royal family.
Could she have royal blood flowing through her? Is that the reason why she has such pure and high mana? But that would be impossible since Shaelyn has already told her she was raised by mercenaries.
Unless... she should probably try to investigate Shaelyn's past more
thoroughly.
"I'm sure they are as pretty as you dear~. By any chance... is Lady Shaelyn, the one that my son has asked to dance with him?"- the Queen asks, while the King simply listens to their conversation while still holding the Queen's hand.
Asha tightens her grip with the small bag she's holding. She took a deep breath before answering,
"Yes.. she is the one, your majesty."- Asha replied with a small nod.
The King and the Queen glanced at one another before turning back their attention to Lady Asha.
"Then... Lady Asha, there is something we would like to discuss with you. It's something that concerns both our son, the Crown Prince, and your daughter, Lady Shaelyn."- this time, the King is the one to talk as he rises from his throne.
Asha looks up confused, but as the Queen also stands up she didn't have a choice but to nod.
"Yes, your majesty."- she replied politely and proceed to follow both the King and Queen exited the party hall.
—————
"Where do you think they are going?"- Simon, the current rank nine among the student body, asks as he stares at the disappearing figures of the King and Queen along with their headmaster, Lady Asha.
Lawrence, Simon, Cyphyl, and Heronia are all watching when the King and Queen are conversing with their headmaster, Asha.
Simon Citewell, have greyish blue hair, downturned blue eyes, a long and narrow nose, and bow-shaped lips. He is about 6'2 in height and three years older than Shaelyn. He is wearing a white clean suit with black cuffs. Among the current top ten students, he is the most troublesome.
He has been receiving detention at least three times a week. But since he can pass all his tests with flying colors, he has managed to also pass the ranking exam.
Cyphil Rosa is the current rank four among the student body. She has long scarlet hair that reached above her waist. She has almond-shaped agate-colored eyes, a droopy nose, and full red lips. She is about 6'3 in height and one of the tallest girls in the academy. She is a year older than Shaelyn. She is wearing a dark green mermaid gown pair with silver high heels.
Heronia Sears is the current rank eight among the student body. She has medium-dark green hair, upturned amber-colored eyes, a cute buttoned nose, and pouty pink lips. She is about 5'3 in height and a year younger than Shaelyn. She is wearing a classic black dress paired with black high heels.
"They are probably going to discuss something important."- Cyphil answers while taking a sip of the red wine she's holding.
"Do you think it's about our school?"- Heronia asks while clinging her arms with Cyphil's left arm.
"Probably. Just focus on socializing, gain as much connection as you can. It will help when we finally graduated from the academy."- Lawrence suggested as he glanced around.
Clara is busy dancing with a nobleman, who has asked her to dance after the first song finishes.
It was a tradition in the kingdom, that the first song of the party can only be dance by a member of the royal family. During these past years, the Crown Prince only asked either the queen or his little sister, the young princess for the first dance.
The young Princess at the age of fourteen, Princess Sierra Lucille Caswell. The young Princess has medium white silky hair same as her mother, she also has the same features as her but she has black eyes just like her father.
The young Princess was born with a frail body that often stays on her bed. The times that she can walk and move properly in a year, can be counted easily by someone's ten fingers.
Still, there are times that she requested to attend the royal ball and dance with her older brother. She knew the condition of her older brother, that's why she wanted to at least be his partner for the first dance.
She often wishes, from the bright blue moon that often appeared once a month, to take away his brother's curse.
The young Princess also likes collecting fairy tales' story, because of the similarity of their contents to her brother's situation. She is hoping that one day, a Princess will come and save her brother from the curse.
—
Lawrence eyebrow's twitch in annoyance as he continues to observe the noblemen that are asking for Clara to dance with them. He knew this is a perfect opportunity for Clara to form more connections to secure her future. And if she's lucky, she can find her future husband in one of them.
Lawrence's left hand twitch at that thought, for some reason he is itching to hold his sword and point it towards the nobleman, who is currently dancing with her.
He tried to calm down but, he finds himself walking in their direction and only a few feet away.
"Clara.."- he announced his present once their dance is finished.
Clara faced him, her eyes sparkles in delight that she will be saved from not being able to reject the noblemen that surrounded her. Lawrence's heart began thumping hard with just a look from her. He clears his throat to calm himself and began offering his hand.
"Can I have this dance?"- he asks staring directly at Clara's eyes.
"Yes!"- Clara excitedly accepts his hand and lets him lead the way.
Unknown to her, Lawrence's heart is beating so fast that he is afraid that Clara will be able to hear it.
——
"Pardon?"- Asha asks, her face paled in shock the moment she heard what the Queen have told her.
"I apologize if you only have found out about this now, Asha. We have been helping them to search for her since the first time we have heard about her disappearance. But, to think that she is just under our noses this whole time... it is quite shocking."- the Queen explains to the paled-looking Asha. Asha's hands are shaking slightly as she placed the teacup she's holding back on the table.
The information she received, has shocked her down to her core.
"Your.. majesty, is it true? T-that she is.."- Asha can't find herself to finish the question she's asking.
"I'm afraid she is. We are not banning you from seeing or treating her again as your daughter. But we are only informing you of this, to prepare yourself for their union."- the King answers.
Asha's eyes widen in surprise, she hasn't fully processed the information they have told her, yet there is a more shocking announcement they've made.
"U-union?! You mean... the Crown Prince and Shaelyn are..?"- she tried to deny the truth but seeing the King and Queen's face, she knew that they are far from making fun of her.
"Yes.. they have been arranged for marriage since the very beginning."- the Queen answered.
——
"Do you want to head back to the party?"- Atlas asks Shae, the two have been in each other's company for who knows how long.
They even almost forgotten about the party if it weren't for Atlas's aide Jasper, intruding on their space.
Jasper Howell is only three years older than Shaelyn and the same age as the Crown Prince. He is the second son of the Howell family, one of the four prestigious families. the kingdom. He has been the Crown Prince's aide since their childhood days.
Jasper has come to fetch them by the order of the King.
"Yes, we should head back. You are needed there, your highness."- Shaelyn answers, she can feel Jasper staring at her.
"I told you to just call me Atlas, you never listen."- Prince Atlas said while poking Shaelyn playfully on her forehead.
Shaelyn's face redden once again as she looks away from the prince.
"And like I said your highness, I can't do that."- Shaelyn answers ignoring the glare Jasper throws at her.
"Then should I order you to call me Prince Alas instead?"- Atlas playfully winks at her, as he helped her stand up.
Jasper coughs loudly interrupting their moment.
"Your highness, we need to get going. His Majesty the King has an announcement to make."- Jasper said ignoring the deadly glare he received from the Prince.
"Fine, I heard you the first time... Jasper. Let me escort you, Lady Shaelyn."- the Prince hold Shaelyn's right hand and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.
"T-thank you... Crown Prince Atlas."- Shaelyn answers, her face still flushing red.
Even though he is not satisfied that Shaelyn has still called him with so much formality, he smiles at her and gently escorts her back to the party hall.
——
Their reappearance has caused a lot of whispers as all eyes are placed on them.
Prince Atlas gently pat her right arm to reassure her, as he glares at them.
The crowd immediately looked away and parted to give way to them.
"Now that the Crown Prince is here, I have an announcement to make."- The King started gaining everyone's attention.
"I wonder what is he up to this time."- the Prince murmurs, Shae glanced at him curiously before looking back at the King.
"We thank everyone here for coming to celebrate with us tonight. Tonight we are finally pleased to announce our son, the Crown Prince's future Crown Princess! "- the King continued eyeing everyone's reaction.
Murmurs and whispers broke in the crowd as they all look at one another confused.
They haven't heard any rumors regarding who will be the Crown Princess.
Many have been chosen as a candidate by the social circles but no one was accepted. Some of the candidates even beg to be removed from the lists afraid that they will lose their life by being with the crown prince.
Even the daughters of the four families are all afraid of being chosen as the crown princess candidate, that they have agreed to rarely show their face from the high society.
Crown Prince Atlas raised his left eyebrow in curiosity. He knows nothing about the announcement his father made. Although he knows about the agreement he made with the Kingdom of Lockser, the Princess has been long lost and no one has found her yet.
He glanced at Shaelyn's reaction to the announcement. He can see the shock written on her face, her hands are slightly shaking. Atlas can't help but feel conflicted about this situation. He doesn't care who will be his future wife as long as she is the one that the fairy had told him about. The one who can help cure the curse the fairy itself placed on him.
But... why does he feel irritated to see the reaction from Shaelyn's face?
He suddenly has this urge to cancel the engagement or even try to hunt down the fairy to forcefully make her removed the curse.
"The future Queen and future wife of the Crown Prince... the Crown Princess is Lady Shaelyn Silvers!"- the King's announcement made everyone stare at the lady beside the crown prince.
The nobilities are all thinking the same thing, 'no wonder the Crown Prince has asked her to dance'.
The noble ladies are all feeling relieved but at the same time, they can't help but feel jealous, that someone can stand next to their unapproachable but handsome prince.
The students and even the professors from the mage academy are all shocked while staring wide eyes at Shaelyn. No one saw this coming, especially the person herself... Shaelyn.
Shaelyn stands there frozen in shock and confusion, she didn't believe everything she has heard from the King. Not until the crown prince started walking and escorting her towards the King.
"W-wait!.. I-I — what's happening?!"- she asks still confused.
"Don't worry I'll handle everything later. For now, just stay beside me."- the Prince whispers to her ears, she decided to put her trust in him and process everything later.
Atlas also didn't expect things to happen this way. But if she was chosen as his fiancée... that means that she is the lost princess they were looking for.
———