Prelude(Part 2):
It's been three days since I arrived here in Kroniel. The palace servants serves me well and they treat like an important guest. Also, I haven't seen my fiancée, the Crown Prince, yet. According to the Empress, Prince Atticus is still in the Empire's delegation at the Holy Temple and that he'll be returning tomorrow before the day of the Royal Banquet prepared for me.
I don't mind actually. But I'm bored here in my chamber. The Emperor didn't allow me to go out because there might be a threat coming for me. I heard that the rebellion already knows about the alliance between Elolerin Empire and Kroniel Empire. They probably making their move now to stop me, the Elolerin's First Princess, from being the Crown Princess of Kroniel.
Guess this people isn't tired being villains.
Sasha run abruptly towards me. She is catching her breathe and she is holding a basket full of laundry. She asked with caution, "Where are you going, Your Royal Highness?"
"I'm just strolling around, Sasha. Besides I'm bored. The Emperor forbids from going out the palace."
Sasha instantly opposed. "But, Princess. The Imperial Majesty just want you to be safe. So I suggest you should go back to your chamber and read books."
I suppressed a sigh. I feel like a bird who was imprison in a golden cage. At the end, I went back to my room with a frown. Just like in Elolerin, I have a limited amount of freedom. They always reason out that I might be in danger if I go out or there might be assassins who'll harm me.
Bitterness crept inside my heart whenever I remember the children running freely at the street. Unlike me, they had no Royal duties. They were a like a stray cats yet much better than an esteemed bird like me— Wait a minute. An idea popped in my mind.
One of the secret abilities of Elolerin's Royal family is we inherited a special magic from our great ancestor. It's been a while since I use that magic. Only a member of a Royal Family knows the secret. I smiled mischievously.
I went into the window and open it. Hot breezy air brushes at my skin. The feeling of being free excites me. But I know it won't last long. Raising both of my arms, I uttered an ancient language that is only used by our family.
"உனக்காக, என்னை வானத்தில் பறக்கும் பறவையாக மாற்றவும்."
My body was enveloped by a blue light. I feel an electrifying energy running through my veins. I close my eyes and feel the pressure of mana coming from my body. After seconds, I slowly opened my eyes. My vision blurry a bit before turning into a bird's eyesight. The surrounding became sensitive into my eyes. My arms transforms into a feathered blue wings. My body felt light and my feet feels small. Before I could flap my wings, my clothes are already scattered at the floor.
The day before the Royal Banquet, there is a hunting competition that is lead by the Second Prince of Kroniel. Cassius Edward Del Phebus Kroniel. Emperor Aurelian and Queen Casandra's only son. Though he is a Prince of Kroniel, he holds no title. Like his mother, the Second Prince has no authority over Kroniel Empire. And he has no interest for the throne either. He rarely appears in Royal Banquets and always avoided the public.
For the Empire, the Second Prince is a very mysterious person.
Cassius pulled his bow and aims his arrow to a flying bird. He mentally counted before releasing the arrow. The bird instantly falls down the ground. Struggling for its life while drowning to its blood.
"That was a nice shot, My Prince. No doubt you're Prince Atticus' younger brother," a nobleman from a Count's family complimented the Prince.
"It's pointless to compare the two Prince, Sir Melbourne." Another guy from noble family, a Duke's son, approached the Prince.
Sir Melbourne's face grimace. "Why were you so formal, Alec. And on the contrary, I wasn't comparing them. I just complimented, my Prince." His eyes instantly sparkles again looking back at the Prince.
The two nobleman is the closest friend of Prince Cassius. They came from an Elite family who is loyal to the Royal Family of Kroniel. Alec Benjamin Pertz, is the only son of Duke Pertz who own a diamond mine and oil company. Alec is the only heir of Duke Pertz. The other man, Jonason Allan Melbourne, is Count Melbourne's first son. His father works under the Emperor Aurelian Faction and is the Chancellor of Kroniel Empire.
Cassius rested his bow and arrow at the table. He unconsciously made an eye contact to a noble lady whose face turned bright red. The location of the Prince and his subordinates is far from the crowd. The Prince wanted to have a peaceful hunting. Knowing that many nobles have joined. It is expected there were also loud noble ladies who is going to cheer either their lovers or acquaintance. As much as he hated the public's attention, he can't stop the curiosity of those people eager to get to know him.
Alec who saw the Prince made an eye contact with a noble lady smiled boyishly. "That was Lady Ingrid of House Castillo."
The Prince furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"
"The Lady that you made an eye contact is Lady Ingrid Castillo. She's a Marquess' daugter and she's the same age with us." He repeated more concise. Alec's eye is full of malicious.
"..."
Having no response from the Prince, Alec assumed that Prince Cassius is too shy too ask him more about Lady Ingrid. Meanwhile, the Prince took his bow and arrow again and scanned his eyes around the place to look for a new prey.
The hunting competition is quite lively this year. Many nobleman who wishes to become a knight have joined. It is already well-known that when the Crown Prince returned, there will be a Grand Tournament and later an Oath taking for the newly Knights. Only a skilled swordsman with brave soul will become a knight that will serve the Kroniel Empire.
"My Prince, may I ask how old are you again?" Alec asked bluntly.
"Pardon?"
The future Duke suppressed a heavy sigh. 'The Prince is a hopeless romantic.' He thought.
Prince Cassius continued looking for his prey. Alec watched him with a scowled face. They were both sixteen years old and there were many marriage proposal offered to each of them. Yet, Alec wondered why Prince Cassius rejected it all. 'It looks like the Crown Prince will have an early marriage than the Second Prince.'
"By the way, did you already encounter your future sister in law? I mean, the First Princess of Elolerin Empire is engaged with your older brother right, My Prince?"
Cassius ignored Alec's question. He is more focused on finding his prey and he can't afford to have failed arrow. Archery is the Prince's hobby. Because the Empress forbids him from holding a sword, instead he choose to master archery so that the Empress will not be threatened by him. He knows the Empress intention. She want his older brother, Prince Atticus, to be the Emperor in the future and that Empress Leila will do everything for it to happen.
Alec followed the Prince's gaze. The sky is crystal blue and the whole place is solace. From afar is the loud conversation of many nobles and some clashing of swords coming from a friendly duel of some knights. Alec is happy that the hunting competition is all too well. What makes him more joyful is that the Emperor never neglected his friend, the Second Prince, and allowed the Prince to lead this glorious moment.
"Prince Atticus is lucky to have the Princess of Elolerin. I heard she is the Empire's most beautiful lady and the only person who surpassed the Elolerin's Empress." Alec said with full of admiration. On his mind is the image of Princess Rosalia during her first arrival at Kroniel. 'She is indeed beautiful and a royalty.'
But to Prince Cassius mind, he thought of someone else. He is worried about his brother. He knew that this would happen. His older brother is the Crown Prince of this Empire. And as the Crown Prince, his brother holds a big responsibilities that must carry on. 'Now, what would possibly happened to them?' The Prince worries.
Suddenly, Alec jolted and point his finger over the sky. "Wow! That was beautiful bird! I never seen it before..."
Prince Cassius squinted his eyes to see the bird clearly. The small bird has a majestic blue feathered wings and a scarlet tail that has the same color of ruby. 'It was an enchanting bird.' He raised his bow and aimed his arrow at the small creature. He is hesitant for a moment. Alec, his friend, is right. Never once they saw a bird like that. It maybe a rare bird, and it was pitiful if he'll kill it. But then, this is still a hunting competition. And he wasn't the only person who's going to hunt that bird.
"W-What are you doing, My Prince—"
"To hunt?" The Prince answered the obvious.
"B-But aren't it wasted to kill a beautiful bird in this hunt?" Alec protested, eager to stop the Prince from killing the innocent prey.
Cassius did not lower his weapon. He followed the trail of the blue bird like a lion hunting his prey. There is something about the bird. Its unique color and size. More importantly, it feels like he made an eye contact with the bird and the bird make a terrified expression. 'Or it was just an imagination?'
'What's with this blue bird?' The Prince wondered.
"You shouldn't point your arrow to that bird, Prince Cassius." Someone interfered the Prince and the Future Duke of Pertz.
Alec who is already sweating with cold became more nervous when he saw the person. He suddenly stop breathing and his mouth dropped. When the person glance at him, Alec cleared his throat incredulously.
"G-Greetings to the Young King of Qelia!" Alec greeted and bowed his head.
Qelia is a small kingdom from the Eastern Continent but they are part of the Union. And the person infront of them is an important guest of Kroniel. Lucien Valdemor Qelia.
Still, Prince Cassius only showed a blank face. He isn't interested to the Young King of Qelia but he must show his good side for the sake of Kroniel Empire. The Prince slightly bowed his head and talk to the Young King.
Meanwhile, King Lucien of Qelia catched the blue bird escape desperately. He then smirked but immediately bite his lips. 'She's still stubborn like before,' he said in his mind.
T-THAT WAS CLOSE!
I landed at the balcony and uttered some ancient language to bring me back to my human form. My body is still shaking from what happened earlier. I almost become a roasted turkey! I know it's my fault for being careless, but still...
I pulled my legs and burried my face. My heart is beating wildly. I was thinking of many what if's. When the cold wind passed by, I shuddered. My whole body is expose right now and I don't know where is this place. I'm slowly losing hope. I should've be careful next time. I can imagine the horrifying face of Sasha if she found out that I sneak out at my chamber. Worst, she'll probably fainted if I tell her that I turned into a bird and almost killed at the hunting competition.
I heaved a breathe.
Suddenly I flinched when I felt the warmth of fabric on my skin. I raised my head. Only to see someone I didn't expect to be here. I pulled the jacket to cover my body. He examined my current state before meeting my eyes.
"Lucien, what in the world are you here?" I asked him bluntly.
"You probably should start addressing me in a proper way, My Princess. I am no longer a prince." He pointed out.
Furrowing my eyebrows, I stood up while pulling his jacket to cover the my body and face him with my chin up. I face him shamelessly and said, "Of course. The Lucien here is now a King of Qelia. Am I right, Your Majesty?"