A P H I A
I sigh for the nth time while looking at my reflection in the mirror. The twins' birthday celebration will start in about half an hour, yet I haven't prepared anything for them.
My attendant helped me wear my gown and arranged my hair decently. She made me wear a white and blue Victorian square neck dress with a ¾ length sleeve and floor-length ball gown. The sleeve has white lace around it. The blue part of the gown has a printed gold design. She wanted me to wear a weird feathery hat, but I refused.
She let my brown curly long hair loose and put a silver floral vine headband crown on my head. She told me I looked plain without the hair accessory, so I let her place it on my head instead of a weird hat.
The door suddenly opens, and Prince Kalmin enters my room. I look at him from head to toe before smirking. "You just turned human today," I said, and I noticed him looking strangely at me. "What?" I smiled at him. "I know, Gin. Don't say it. I know I'm gorgeous." I teased him.
His strange look at me changes in an instant. He looked like he realized what he was doing, and I laughed at him. I'm sure he finds me gorgeous. I'm sure of it. Let me claim it just this once. "Are you drunk?" He said as he avoided my gaze.
I laugh at him, and I walk towards him. "You look like a prince today." He is wearing a blue tuxedo tailcoat pant with a gold design on each sleeve, white trousers, a white cape, and navy blue knee-high boots.
"First, I am human. Second, I am a prince. I am a crown prince to be exact." He said in a straight face.
"Well, if it's what you believe." I teased him, and he looked at me in annoyance. "Wait, what's with your clothes? Aren't we matching colors?" I asked in annoyance.
"It's because you are my companion." He said, making my one eyebrow raised upward. "No turning back, Aphia." He offered his arm to me, and I groaned while hooking my arm on his. He drags me out of my room, and we start walking towards the castle's great hall.
"Just how many guests will attend?" I started to get nervous. I'm not fond of big crowds.
"Not more than 200 guests."
"What?! You told me that the twins invited just a few of your relatives."
"Yes. Those are just a few guests, Aphia. Just how many are you expecting?"
I chuckle awkwardly. "Less than 50 people. Those are just your relatives?!"
"They are half the number of our relatives from king and queen's side." My mouth gaped open in shock, and he chuckled at me. "The king and queen's siblings and cousins love to acquire consorts as many as they want, making our family the biggest in the kingdom."
"Wow! How many cousins do you have?" I asked in curiosity.
He shrugs his shoulder. "I don't know. I am interested to know, and I know just a few of them."
"How about your father? How many consorts does he have?"
"The king doesn't have consorts, Aphia. According to the law, he can have as many consorts as he wants, but he refuses to follow the custom." I wonder why the king decided not to get consorts. "The king wants to remain faithful to the queen." I smiled when Prince Kalmin smiled genuinely. "It's his reason."
I sigh while smiling. "A loyal and faithful man like him is one of kind. How about you, do you prefer to stay faithful or acquire as many consorts as you want?" I looked intently at his face while waiting for his answer.
He smirks at me before focusing his blue eyes on my light emerald green eyes. "Let me ask you, Aphia. Do you prefer me to stay faithful or share me with other women?" My eyes widened in shock before diverting my eyes away from him.
I swallow the lump in my throat before speaking again. "W-Why are you asking me? It's your decision to make." I said, and I heard him laugh at me. "Why are you laughing?!" I yelled at him in annoyance. He is teasing me! This jerk is really something!
"Oh, nothing. I just find you adorable, that's all." He laughed like crazy, and I punched him lightly on his arm in annoyance. Gosh! He's freaking me out! My heart went wild for a few seconds there. I breathed out to calm my heart down. Prince Kalmin is not good for my heart.
We reached the great hall before the celebration started. The huge wooden double doors of the great hall are closed, and someone behind the doors spoke before opening it. "Crown Prince Kalmin De Arcovia and Priestess Aphia Gray!" He announced, and my eyes widened in shock as the doors opened.
"What the hell is this?" I asked Prince Kalmin as I prepared myself for what was waiting for us inside the great hall.
"Calm down, Aphia." He said as he squeezed my cold hand. I gulped as I looked around the great hall. All eyes are looking at us in amusement while clapping their hands. We started walking down the aisle like in a wedding ceremony, and I was freaking out deep inside me. I heard Prince Kalmin chuckle, and that knocked some sense in me. "Breathe, Aphia. They won't eat you alive."
I breathe out and flash a smile at the people watching us. "Their eyes are scrutinizing me," I whispered to myself. "Just how long this aisle is? Aren't we there yet?" I asked impatiently, and he chuckled. "Why do we have to walk at the center of this crowd?" I asked, more like complaining.
"We are just following the protocol, alright? Please be patient with me." He whispered, and I was startled at his words.
"Wow! Did I just hear you say please?" I asked while chuckling.
"Now you are back to your usual self. You are such a simpleton."
"Tss. I am just trying to act normal, okay? I might embarrass myself if I keep being nervous." I looked around the great hall to check if Clovis was already here.
"Good thing you thought about it because I am about to introduce you to the king and queen." I froze on my track after hearing it. I felt nervous again.
"C-Can we skip this part?" I asked him. I looked in front of us, and I gasped as I stared at the king and queen sitting on their throne. They are both wearing their crowns filled with different colors of gems. Their clothes are incomparable with what I am wearing.
The king is wearing a black tuxedo coat pant with a gold design on each sleeve, black trousers, a red cape, and black knee-high boots.
The queen is wearing a gold Victorian ball gown with a lot of diamonds attached to it. Her beautiful face is comparable to a goddess. They still look young. Perhaps they are in their early 40s.
Prince Kalmin bows in front of them, and I curtsy while bowing my head. I hear the twins' laughter from the side, and I turn my head to look at them. I wink at them, and they giggle. Prince Kalmin clears his throat, making me look at him. I chuckle awkwardly at him. "Your majesties, I am presenting Priestess Aphia Gray from the other world." I glance at Prince Kalmin with my eyebrows knitting together, and he winks at me. I shake my head in disbelief. Winking doesn't suit him.
The king and queen stand up. "Raise your head, Prince Kalmin, and Priestess Aphia." The king said, and I straightened up my back. Prince Kalmin moves beside me, and I cling to his arm. I won't let him leave me alone in just one second. I don't want to be alone in the middle of this crowd.
"Aren't we being clingy?" He whispered while smirking.
I smirk back at him. "Dream on, Gin. I just don't want you to leave me alone in this crowd. I will kill you first if you do that."
He chuckles. "Did you just threaten the crown prince?" He asked unbelievably.
"So, what if I did?"
The king catches our attention when he clears his throat. Like father like son. "We have finally met, Priestess Aphia." He said while smiling at me.
I smile back at him. "It's my pleasure to finally meet you, your majesty," I said as I bowed my head again.
"Didn't you just ask if you can skip meeting them—Ouch!" I elbowed the jerk prince on his belly to stop him from talking. The king and queen got shocked at what they witnessed, and I couldn't do anything but laugh awkwardly at them while glaring at their annoying son.
The king clears his throat again. "I've heard what you have done for my kingdom, and I would like to take this chance to thank you for helping my people." He stated while smiling. "Please continue helping our kingdom, Priestess Aphia."
"I will use the power bestowed on me in helping the people of this kingdom, your majesty." The king nod in satisfaction.
"Priestess…" I was shocked when the queen held my hands. Her hands are soft and warm. "I've heard a lot of amazing things about you." She said while smiling, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. "We greatly appreciate your miraculous deeds for our people. We are looking forward to your unending assistance with our kingdom."
"It's my pleasure to serve the kingdom, your majesty. I won't disappoint you." I said while bowing my head. She looks kind and gentle. I thought she was a strict, snob, and wicked queen. She's the opposite of what I imagine.