It was only supposed to have been a final wild joyride to the ends of the galaxy, a last shout-out to freedom.
The Crown Prince Lkhagvasüren had simply wanted to experience what he'd missed growing up.
On the pretense of leaving to check on a far-flung quadrant of Avalia, he had boarded one of his family's warships and had 'accidentally' entered into the computer systems a destination point that took him to the capital world of Erenveil.
The thought of him doing something so wild and crazy filled him with great thrill and excitement. He'd always done what his father told him to do, and he always made the best decisions for his kingdom within the position that had been foisted on him since birth.
But for once, he wanted to do something for himself.
What kind of a Crown Prince was he that he'd never left his sheltered kingdom? He had never even seen the capital city of the Empire that ruled over all the kingdoms of the galaxy!
It had taken three days of dodging space pirates to get to Erenveil, but it was so very worth it!
The thrill of being a targeted chased and then fighting back and winning was still singing in his blood. It was the first warship he'd ever blown out of existence, and the feeling was amazing.
Erenveil was far more magnificent than he could ever imagine. The streets were wide and clean, and the buildings were spacious and reached into the skies.
The people all looked beautiful and well-fed, and everything looked prosperous and shining like a gem. Erenveil truly was a shining jewel of a city and he was glad he'd had the chance to see it.
He had left all his people onboard the warship and had wandered the city with his two trusted warriors by his side, taking in the sights, eating the delicious food, and experiencing the excitement of all the activities that were happening.
It was then that Süren had come across the Grand Recital which was recruiting participants for the chance to win a seat in the prestigious University of Music in Haribou.
He didn't care about the University, having already graduated from all the schooling he was ever going to need to do his job. He just wanted to enter for the chance to play one of his instruments.
Süren was still standing at the billboard reading the requirements to enter the recital competition when, from the corners of his eyes, he could see his two warriors stiffen.
He followed their gaze and looked upon a vision that was so heart-stopping, he forgot to breathe.
A girl with hair so long and black that it cast a deep blue hue in the sunlight was walking alongside her mother.
She was tall and ethereal in her pale blue dress made of some dreamy fabric that made her look so fragile that she looked like a living goddess.
He made a gesture to the two warriors standing beside him to follow, and along with the rest of the hopeful entrants, he had slipped into the recital hall.
Süren was completely unaware that one of his attendants had filled out the paperwork for him to be entered into the competition.
He was completely focused on the vision of beauty that sat in the front row, smiling with excitement at all the contestants who were performing their various pieces.
When his name was called to perform, he clutched his chest and nearly died of fright. He had forgotten that knowing how to play musical instruments didn't meant that he had an instrument to play with.
What was he supposed to do, clap his hands, stomp his feet, and whistle with his mouth?
Seeing his sudden fright, one of his warriors shoved a reed flute into his hand. He had snagged it from some careless contestant who had left it unattended somewhere between the front door and the auditorium.
It was a small brown reedy looking thing that barely looked as if it could make a decent noise, but there was no other choice.
Süren took a deep breath and walked upon the stage. If this flute was anything like the one he played at home, it should at least give him something akin a decent sound.
It didn't matter at all. He wasn't here to win anything, after all. He just wanted a closer look at his vision of loveliness.
He should have known.
No one would bring a cheap instrument to a place like this.
The flute looked like a wooden stick that had somehow managed to survive being broken off its branch. It even looked broken on one end.
But oh my God.
The sound that came out was clean, clear, and filled with overwhelming soul. It was a reed flute that sang like it was made in paradise.
As his fingers pranced along the holes of the flute from pure muscle memory, he blew without thinking.
He was not thinking because his mind had been completely taken over by the vision before him. he was standing onstage and looking directly at the girl sitting at the very front row with her mother.
Süren had been attracted to her long slender legs and the waist-length of her raven hair from afar, but he hadn't really had a chance to even catch a glimpse of her face.
Being directly in front of her would have been the only way he could have seen her eyes—her dazzling bright beautiful blue eyes that were, at that very moment, fixated on him and him alone.
For a moment, Süren's breath wavered as he choked on a single note. It came out as a passionate gasp of rapture, punctuating a deftly played melody.
It caught the attention of everyone in the room.
The flute was played as if the beautiful tall strong male warrior standing before them was falling into a helpless puddle of emotions before the woman of his dreams.
That was actually not wrong.
His heart thundered in his chest so rapidly it was making him almost dizzy. He could barely pull enough air into his lungs to blow into his flute because he kept forgetting to breathe.
He took a ragged drag of precious sweet air and filled his lungs to finish out the song, whatever the song was.
He no longer had a clue what he was playing but he hung on to the very end because he wanted to gift this song to the girl in the front row with the crystal blue eyes and the long raven black hair.
As his song ended, he pulled the flute from his lips and gazed at her with naked longing. It was not lost upon the woman sitting next to her.
As soon as he exited the stage, the woman had cornered him.
She was tall, with the same long black hair as her daughter. Her eyes were just as brilliantly blue and she was absolutely beautiful, but her face was older. She had experienced much more and it showed in her face and her eyes.
"You play well." She spoke up as she cut across his path.
Süren's men surged forward, but he held them back with a single gesture. This was the mother of the girl holding his fluttering heart in her hand.
"Greetings, Milady." He gave a deep bow.
"You look well-bred. From whose family do you hail?" She asked, her eyes warming up.
"My name is Lkhagvasüren. I come from a faraway land, west of the central spires."
"Hmmm." The woman tapped her lips. "The only thing out there at the moment is the wilderness and space pirates. Are you a space pirate?"
Süren laughed gently. "No, Milady. I actually had to fight one of their ships to make it here in one piece."
The woman's eyes widened.
"There is nothing beyond the wild space until you get to…oh my goodness. Are you a dragon?"
"At your service, Milady." He bowed again.
"Hmmm. I've never heard of your name Lkhagvasüren before. But then of course, I've only heard of the reigning monarch of Avalia, King Batsaikhan."
Süren smiled. "King Batsaikhan is my father."
The woman laughed. "Well of course you look well-bred. You're a Prince!"