C L O V I S
"It's not what I intend you to do!" Prince Kalmin's loud voice caught our attention. Gunther, Aloisia, Howard, Elbrus, and I are here in the castle to report to him regarding the progress of our expeditions.
We stopped on our track as we watched him run after Aphia. "I don't believe you!" Aphia shouted at him before flying. Prince Kalmin followed him, and they started fighting. They are arguing about a topic that we don't understand.
"Prince Kalmin has changed a lot, hasn't he?" Howard said while we were all looking up to watch their aerial battle.
"What do you mean? I think he shows his true self around the priestess." Gunther blurted out.
"What do you mean around the priestess?" Elbrus asked in confusion.
"Why don't you ask Clovis?" Gunther said, and that made me look at him in annoyance.
Aloisia sighs. "Prince Kalmin laughs a lot lately. He shows different expressions that we haven't seen before. He shows his other side, which happened when Lady Aphia showed up. It's that what you want to say, Gunther?" She stated.
"Everyone around him can see his changes these past few months, Aloisia. It's right in front of us." Gunther answered.
"What's wrong with it? I think he's better that way, right?" Howard asked.
"There is nothing wrong with it. It's just that, don't you find it strange?" Gunther asked, and I looked at him in surprise. Gunther is one of the persons I know that is not easy to fool. He loves studying and analyzing other person's personalities. "Why did he change after meeting the priestess?" He added, and we all looked at him.
"I think Clovis knows the answer." Gunther declared, and he laughed like a psychopath. Aloisia, Elbrus, and Howard look at me, waiting for my answer.
"I don't know the answer," I announced as I started walking again towards the crown prince's office.
"I don't believe you," Gunther whispered at me. "But I believe that you know who was with Lady Aphia last night, am I correct?" I looked at him in surprise, and he smirked at me.
"You really know a lot, Gunther."
"His physique and the ring on his right hand obviously declared his true identity. Only the crown prince has that kind of ring, Clovis. I know you saw it too. Prince Kalmin was with Lady Aphia last night at the tavern." He said, but I did not react or say anything.
Prince Kalmin can do whatever he wants as long as he doesn't put Aphia in any trouble. I know what caused him to change, but I don't want to name it. As long as he doesn't say it, I won't consider him as my rival.
A P H I A
Today, I will be joining Aloisia's Order. Alosia and her knights are already prepared to leave. I will ride my own horse on this journey that will take two days. The whole expedition will last for a week, and we will be back a day before the twins' birthday celebration.
The twins played with me yesterday and reminded me of their birthday celebration. I have to make it in time, and if not, they will get mad at me.
I am wearing a mint green dress that flows down below my knees, knee-high gray boots, and a gray cloak.
"What are you all doing here?" Aloisia asked the four commanders. "You never did this before." She asked in confusion. They diverted their gaze away from Aloisia like they were caught doing something wrong. "You are all sending us off because Lady Aphia is here, am I right?" Aloisia's left brow raised upward.
I chuckle awkwardly at them. I don't think that's the reason, though. I look at Erskine, who is smiling the whole time. "Make me proud, Lady Aphia." He said. "Kill as many monsters as you want! You don't have to hold back!" He shouted, and I laughed at him.
Erskine reminded me of the things I needed to do during the battle. "Aphia," I turned to see Clovis. "You don't have to worry about your safety; Aloisia is strong to protect you." He said while smiling, and I couldn't help but smile back.
"I trust her. I am also here to protect all of them." I said with confidence. I will do everything to make it happen. All of us will return home safe and sound.
"Have a safe journey." He patted my shoulder. "I'll see you next week." He said and I nodded at him. Elbrus and Howard wished me goodluck as well.
I turn my head to Erskine. "Where is Prince Kalmin?" I asked. He told me to wait for him, and we've been waiting for more than half an hour now. "Did he fall asleep or what?" Erskine chuckled.
"Aphia." Shit! I was startled when I heard Prince Kalmin's voice. I slowly turned my head to face him. "Were you saying something about me?" He asked in a straight face.
I chuckle nervously. "What? Me? No! I am patiently waiting for you, your highness." I said, and he sent me a cold stare. "Oh, come on! I did not curse you." I said before chuckling. "Well, almost."
"Aphia!" He warned me, and I straightened up my back. He breathed out before walking towards me. He passes the golden bow, arrow, and quiver to me. My eyes widened in amusement as I noticed the engraving on the quiver. My name APHIA was cursively engraved on the quiver.
"It's beautiful!" I shouted in amusement. "Thank you!" I smiled at him from ear to ear, and a quick smile formed on his lips. Did he just try to hide his smile?
"You better take care of it, Aphia. Don't come back without your weapon." He warned me, and I saluted at him. He shook his head in annoyance, and I chuckled at his reaction.
He helped me wear the quiver on my back. "You should learn how to wear the quiver, Aphia. I am not always by your side to help you wear it." He scolded me, and I just chuckled at him. "What's funny?" He asked in annoyance.
"You talk like my dad," I said.
"Dad?"
"Father, duh." I rolled my eyes at him, and he shook his head.
"I have something for you." He said, and I looked at him excitedly. He grabbed my left hand, and I gasped in shock. "What?" He asked in confusion.
"Are you going to propose?! I am not ready yet." I make a dramatic face, and I earn a flick on my forehead. I wince in pain. "Ouch! It hurts!" I shouted in anger as I caressed my forehead.
"You deserved it for fooling around. I almost think you're drunk." He said in a straight face. I rolled my eyes at him while caressing my forehead. He pulled out something from his coat's pocket and wore it to my wrist.
"Wow!" I exclaimed after seeing a gold bangle bracelet with small blue stones around it. "Is this for me?!" I asked while smiling. "I like it! It's beautiful!" I shouted as I showed him my wrist.
"I can see that. Take care of it, alright?" Prince Kalmin said while smiling genuinely at me. I nodded as I smiled back. "You will run fifty laps if you lost it." He warned me, and I gulped in fear.
Prince Kalmin reminded me of the things I learned from our combat training. We started our journey after a few more minutes. I keep staring at my bangle bracelet while smiling. It's so beautiful that I can't take my eyes off of it.
"May I see it, Lady Aphia?" Aloisia asked, and I gladly showed him the bracelet on my wrist. She looked at it intently for a few minutes, scrutinizing it well, and then she smiled afterward.
"Why?" I asked her.
"Look at each stone." She instructed, and I looked at it. "Each stone has a symbol of the crown prince." She said while chuckling, and that made me look at her in confusion. "Who would have thought that the crown prince has a sweet side?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your bangle bracelet is enchanted with his magic, and you can see inside each stone the symbol of the crown prince." She explained, and I noticed the same symbol engraved on his sword.
"Prince Kalmin owns one of the flags of this kingdom. It's a gold crown with a crescent moon and a sun on the top. Everyone who can see it understands that it is Prince Kalmin's symbol, and no one has the right to use it except him. He engraved his symbol on your bracelet." She explained, and I nodded in amusement.
"What do you think is the meaning of this?" I asked as I stared at my bracelet. I checked the back part of the bangle, and I gasped when I found my name PRIESTESS APHIA engraved on it.
"I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe it means he owns you?"
"What the hell?!"