The First Blooming Of Flowers Month, Year ×××5.
Jason's Diary.
Another tedious day at knight school, I had just finished my fencing practice and was hoping for a warm bath when our instructor called out to me.
"Young Lord Danvier, a word with you"
Sir Einrey was a dutiful knight of the first order, other knights aspired to be like him.
"And what is it that requires you of my attention?"
"I have received a letter from your father, atlas he also sent one for you" he passed me a sealed envelope bearing the kingdom's emblem.
The two lions with unicorn horns on their head stood proudly on their hind limbs with their forelimbs on a shield that stood in between them, an eagle was engraved on the shield, and the slogan "For Glory And Honour" was written neatly below it.
I tore the seal open and unfolded the letter. This was indeed written by my father, I could tell his handwriting anywhere as the ink had a slight blotch wherever he dotted his I's and crossed his T's.
"My pleasure to inform you of our upcoming ball to celebrate your coming of age"
I folded the letter and put it back into the envelope, I didn't need to read further to know what my father was going to say.
"What a nuisance" I muttered under my breath.
"Congratulations, Young Lord Jason. Let me be the first to congratulate you on your coming of age, I hope that the woman you see at the ball will be to your liking"
"Are you going to be in attendance, Knight Einrey?" I squeezed the letter and tossed it into the fire.
"Yes my Lord, your Father specifically asked me to be in attendance"
I watched the fire lick the paper turning it to ash.
"Something on your mind?, Lord Jason"
"I find balls a bore, with the fake smiles and mothers pushing their daughters at me and all that fake laughter just to get my attention–"
"Perhaps this year will be different, just you believe"
"I don't think so"
"Simply believe. Now if you'd excuse me, you look like you need a proper bath, my Lord. Your mid-day meal will be served at the usual time" he bowed, turned, and left.
I looked back at the letter that had turned to ash and sighed.
"Another long day of misery"
°°°
I sat at my desk writing a letter to my mother when someone knocked on my door.
"Come in"
Otis poked his head in.
"What do you need that gives you the boldness to disturb my peace" I dipped my quill into the inkpot.
"Sire, I can't find your saddle and I thought perhaps you had taken it to your room"
"Otis?"
"Yes, Sire?"
"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't like people peeping through my door"
"Sorry Sire" he entered through the door and stood close to it.
"You reek of stale dung" I dipped my quill again and continued writing.
"That's why I didn't want to come in"
The saddle was hanging from my open window, and Otis picked it up gently.
"Polish my boots and pack my bags, we leave tomorrow"
"Leave?... Ohh, right! The upcoming ball, I'm looking forward to going back to the capital, I've always fancied hot buns and–"
"Otis?"
"Sorry, Sire. I'll be leaving now"
"Deliver the letter for me when you're done" I passed him the letter.
"Yes, Sire" he left and quietly closed the door.
Few minutes of quietness and two raps on the door.
"Come in"
Two maidservants brought in my mid-day meal and arranged it neatly on my table, they wore short gowns and very strong perfume that overpowered the air I was breathing.
I wondered where they got the money to buy such strong perfume.
"Is there anything else we can do for you, Sir?" The bolder one asked sweetly after they were done setting the table.
"Yes"
"What is it?" They looked at me expectantly.
"Leave, I'll love to breathe in fresh air"
The disappointed look on their faces gave me a refreshing feeling.
They left slowly swinging their nonexistent hips. I sighed when they closed the door and rubbed my aching templates.
Otis appeared minutes later squeaky clean with my polished boots and dried clothes.
"Sire?"
"Otis?"
"Lady Merrill is looking everywhere for you, she even stopped me to ask, I told her I didn't know. She was so persistent I was almost annoyed"
"Otis?"
"I know you're not concerned, I'm just telling you so that you'll be careful around her. The whole kingdom now knows of the ball and some women will try to..."
"Otis?"
"Sire?"
"Stop talking, you're giving me a terrible migraine"
"Shall I get the physician for you, Sire? I heard he–"
He shut up when he understood the look in my eyes and quietly folded my clothes into the chest.
A knock on the door and a woman's voice was heard.
"Your Majesty, it's Lady Merrill, may I have a minute with you"
Otis raised a finger to his lips and whispered to me.
"I'll get it"
He poked his head out and used his body to shield the door.
"Lady Merrill, his Majesty is not in now. Do come back later"
"I know he's in, the guard downstairs told me he hadn't left his room. Let me in, you lowly servant, how dare you to tell a Lady like me I can't see his Majesty" she yelled at Otis.
"Otis" I rubbed my aching templates again.
Otis stepped aside and let her in.
"Your Majesty" she changed from her high-pitched voice to a very sickly sweet voice that I was accustomed to.
"And what pray may I help you with that a Lady such as yourself should go around looking for me?"
"I just came to congratulate you, my Lord"
"And what for?"
"Your coming of age My Lord. It's time to choose a suitable queen, one that would help you with the affairs of your kingdom"
"Not you" Otis coughed into his fists and Lady Merrill glared at him.
"Lady Merrill, the ball is a day from now, we'll see then"
"Of course, I wish a noble man will invite me to go with him" she looked at me expectantly.
"Should I ask Duke James or Count Alexander to accompany you?"
"No of course not, your Majesty... but is his Majesty... busy not to accompany... me?"
"I'm busy Lady Merrill, even now you're disturbing my afternoon nap"
"Rejected!" Otis coughed into his fists again and Lady Merrill flushed red from embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I'll take my leave" she bowed giving Otis a very harsh glare before she turned and left.
"What a nuisance, she's just looking for a fat juicy thigh to ride on. Who does she think she is, asking you to take her to the ball–"
"Otis"
"Right! Out I go. Everything is ready, Sire"
He left and I slumped deeply in my chair enjoying the peace and quiet.
°°°
Otis packed my luggage into the carriage.
"All done Sire" he panted.
"You need to do more work, just a small load makes you pant so"
"They were all...very heavy... Sire"
"The chest or the clothes?"
"Both Sire"
I shook my head.
He held my black stallion and I climbed onto it, then he handed me the reins.
Zeus appeared in a distance riding his chestnut mare, his manservant riding his luggage carriage.
Zeus is my cousin, we've been together since our diaper days.
"Let's go, Otis"
Otis climbed the carriage and whipped the reins, the horses began to move.
A man riding a brown horse moved towards us.
"My Lord, I'm squadron leader one and your mother requested we escort you back to the castle"
"I don't mind" I already had my own set of private guards but trust my mother to be extra cautious about nothing.
He bowed and then whistled, foot guards appeared and began to move beside us.
"So, who's excited?" Zeus asked no one in particular.
We traveled for a long distance before the castle came into view.
"Find a place for us to rest and freshen up" I told the squadron leader.
"Yes my Lord", he turned to the foot guards, "Find a suitable place"
Minutes later, we were enjoying the cool breeze and beautiful view.
"So the ball's today's night huh?"
"Stop reminding me Zeus, I hate to think about the pains I'm about to undergo"
"It's not more painful than loving a woman who rejects any advances, trust me on that" he ate a grape and spat out its seeds.
"I feel sorry for you"
Zeus snorted and threw his seeds at me.
"Wine?" Otis appeared with a jug of grape wine.
He poured us two goblets of wine.
We talked for a while until the birds began to whistle in a distance indicating that the sun was going down.
"Let's go"
Inside the town, girls threw me flirtatious and expectant looks.
"I feel like I'm already being weighed down"
"Bear with it" Zeus tried to cheer me up but to no avail, the closer we got to the castle, the more unwilling I became.
"We part here, see you tonight?"
"Yes" he patted my back then turned and galloped towards his mansion.
"Open the gates" the squadron leader gave the order as we approached, my mother was waiting on the drawbridge.
She opened her arms and I hugged her.
"Where's that she-devil?" I asked as I looked around for my sister.
"Taking her dance lessons"
"Let me take a quick guess, you forced her to, didn't you?"
"I did..."
"Mother?"
"She's also coming of age in two years, she has to take her duties seriously. A man can relax in his duties but a lady cannot. She has to run her family, look after the children and her husband, ensure everyone is satisfied, it's her duty, her responsibility"
She pulled my arm and made me walk beside her, we hadn't gotten far when an egg splattered on my face.
"You're late" my sister leaned on an empty carriage with a crate of eggs in one hand and was tossing one in the air with her other.
"Vivi! Where's your governess?"
"Locked up in my closet?" She said innocently but with mischief in her eyes.
"You this girl" my mother walked quickly into the castle.
Otis handed me a wet napkin.
"And what do we have here? Otis Junior"
"Good evening, My Princess" he bowed to her.
Otis carried my luggage and disappeared into the castle because my sister was more of a bully and she loved to pick on Otis, poor thing.
"Aren't you supposed to be having dance lessons?"
"Aren't you supposed to be preparing for your ball?"
"I don't like balls"
"I don't like dance lessons"
"Fair enough and throwing an egg on your brother is no way to welcome him back"
"You were supposed to be back yesterday, father said so in his letter; except if you..."
"I didn't read it through"
"Only read the first sentence, I presume"
"You know me well" I smiled and ruffled her hair, she swatted my hand away looking annoyed.
"Do you know what I had to endure because of you?"
"I can guess"
"Women were everywhere yesterday awaiting your return, hounding me and asking when you would return. The castle is filled with women that are still waiting"
"Then our secret passage is the place to go"
She smiled and dodged some pillars before stopping at what looked like an ordinary wall, then she leaned on it, and it groaned and opened.
I stepped through and held it for her to enter.
We climbed the stairs and emerged into my room.
"Ahh, I miss this" she plopped on my bed.
Otis was arranging my clothes in my wooden closet, he turned and froze, surprised.
"Where did you two come from? The door didn't open. Are you two real? Ghosts?–"
"Otis?"
"He talks too much, I think we should clip it" Vivi lay on her stomach and swung her legs in the air.
"I'll excuse myself not to disturb you princess" Otis turned and headed for the door.
"Don't be too formal" she flung a pillow straight to his face.
"Sometimes I wonder if you two are a couple" I looked at both of them.
Otis paled.
"She'd kill me before that ever happens"
"You're right snot and you better run before I do so"
Otis opened the door and fled for his safety.
"Do you like him?" I asked my sister, she gurgled something incoherent.
"What?"
"No" she looked away from my eyes.
"Liar"
"I'm not lying" she pinched her fingers.
"When you lie, you pinch your fingers"
"What's the point, that wimp is too scared to do anything about it"
"'That wimp' doesn't even know you like him, I'm pretty sure of that"
She flushed and looked away.
"Since when?"
"I don't know. You won't tell mom, promise me"
"I won't, I have plans of making him a knight once I get on the seat, I know he works very hard, he complains about carrying luggage but he trains every night outside the training square. But if you like him, why are you so mean to him?"
"Because he won't ever look my way twice if I don't, it's frustrating"
"I don't think I'll ever understand women's antics. Go get ready"
The evening passed and night approached steadily.
I looked out of my room window and inhaled the cold air and sighed.
I was dressed in blue and silver royal attire.
My sister entered in a royal blue gown.
"What do you think?" She twirled around.
"Beautiful" I offered her a small smile.
"Still unwilling?"
"Too unwilling"
Otis entered dusting his clean jacket.
He looked at Vivi and raised his hands in surrender.
"You look very lovely tonight, Princess"
"I don't want your praises stable boy and for the record, I know I look lovely, Jason already said so"
Otis looked at me for help, I just watched the show in silence.
"I'm just going to...." he pointed to the door and then fled the room.
"Shouldn't you have just complimented him back and kept the conversation going?"
"And embarrass me? No way"
"Let's go"
I gave her my arm and she clutched it with her two hands.
My heels clicked quietly on the floor, and the guards stood erect and opened the door.
The royal announcer cleared his throat before speaking.
"His Majesty, Lord Danvier the Eighth of Wuveschire and her Lady, Lady Vivi of Wuveschire"
Murmurs arose in the hall.
Ladies crowded around me and cooed pathetically to get my attention.
"My Lord" a woman purred with her red cheeks, she probably slapped herself a little hard, she looked dazed.
Some women giggled and made eye contact with mine over their fans.
Lady Merrill approached us.
"My Lord, no gentleman has asked me out to the floor. I don't understand what's going on today"
"Stick around, the ball's still starting. I'm sure some gentlemen would love to dance with you. Oh, look, Lord Thomas"
Lady Merrill paled and backed away, Vivi chuckled.
"Women are all bonkers"
"And you are? A man?"
"I'm not a lady, I refuse to identify with that gender"
She spotted several ladies talking to Otis and removed her hands from my arm and walked up to them.
I walked up to Zeus that was persuading Adelia of his love for her.
"Zeus" I called to him.
"Jason" he looked at me then back at Adelia.
"My Lord" Adelia did a neat curtsey.
"Pleasure to meet the woman that stole my friend's heart"
"His Majesty is too generous with his words" she maintained her cold outer.
I could see why Zeus would be interested, this woman was hard to read.
"I'll leave you two be" I said as I walked away from them.
After several hours and it was getting stuffy in the ballroom, I decided to get fresh air in the garden.
Otis followed me looking around him with watchful eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Keeping a watchful eye, don't want to bump into your sister"
I stopped and he bumped into me.
"Do you like her?"
His eyes widened as he looked at me.
"What? No, of course not. How could she even like me? As she said, I'm a stable boy and she's a princess"
"What if you were to become a knight?"
"I wouldn't still even dream of it. She should be with someone of her status"
"Is being a knight, not a worthy status, if knight Einrey were to marry a princess, is there any lord that would not agree?"
"I doubt"
"So?"
"I still think I would not fit the description besides I'm hundred and seven percent sure she hates me to the core"
What have you done Vivi?
A light and beautiful humming was coming from the garden, I paused and listened.
It sounded almost ethereal, like the heavens were humming it, the night breeze gently swayed the grass in rhythm to the song.
I rounded the courtyard and stopped, on the swing was a very beautiful woman with long flowing black hair and a white overflowing gown, she had her eyes closed and was humming the song.
"Otis?" I didn't take my eyes off her.
"Sire?"
"Leave"
"Sire?"
I glared at him.
"I'll be leaving" he turned and went back to the castle.
I cautiously approached the woman not wanting to startle her.
She opened her eyes and stopped humming.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Where did you learn that song?"
"I don't know, I can just hum it. Your Majesty" she gently lowered her upper half in a curtsey.
"So you know me but I don't know you" I circled her, inspecting her.
"I'm Selene Orlando"
"The viscount's daughter that studied in Manchester"
"Yes, my Lord"
"Call me Jason"
"I can't, my Lord"
"Call me Jason and I'll call you Selene, it's a fair deal" she hesitated before nodding slowly.
"Why are you out here, isn't inside a good place to socialize" I sat on the other swing and faced her.
"It feels stuffy in there. Men are only there to look for potential ladies to carry their children, not to be their wives"
"Pardon? Not looking for wives?"
"Some men only attend because they want someone to marry so that their family lineage doesn't die out, someone to give birth to children for them. They don't care about the lady, it makes us look like objects rather than people"
"I see"
"So why are you out?"
"I hate the way ladies throw themselves at me shamelessly"
She hummed.
We remained in silence.
"I have to go in at some point, my mother will be angry with me if I don't socialize"
"Perhaps a dance?"
She looked at me.
"Your mother wants you to socialize, my father wants me to try to find a wife. Case settled"
She looked at the patch of grass underneath her foot and then back at me.
"Let's do it"
°°°
It was the last dance of the night and I was the one that opened the dance. The musicians played a slow waltz.
We bowed to each other and then began to move to the music, she was perfect in my arms, her slender frame fit gently into my huge ones like how joints met. She smelt nice and fragrant.
I pulled her deeper into my arms, she didn't protest but placed her head on my chest.
Soon other couples joined in the dance, the dance ended and I pulled her out of the castle again towards the garden.
"That's done" she sat on the swing again and sighed with relief.
We were silent.
"You're different" she broke the silence.
"What?"
"You're not like them" she looked at me with her blue eyes, they looked like where the sea met the sky on a warm sunny morning.
"I'll take that as a compliment"
"It is"
"You're also different. Come, let me show you something"
I took her to a pitch-black maze and opened her eyes.
"It's dark?"
"Wait for the magic"
I set fire to a small rope, and it spread, lighting up the small rose garden.
"It's so beautiful" she went around inhaling the rose scent.
She looked so beautiful under the moonlight.
"Why was that here? The fireworks?"
"It has always been there, nobody set it off"
I walked up to her, she turned and looked at me.
"I know it's absurd to ask of such a thing when we've just met but can...can I... kiss you?"
She didn't say anything for a long time.
"Is his Majesty asking or commanding?" She said after her long silence.
"Asking, you can reject it if you don't feel comfortable with it"
She didn't say anything but moved closer, I grabbed her waist and lowered my body.
I could feel her getting closer, her hot breath fanned my face and then my lips met her soft ones...
I watched her carriage move away from the castle grounds and I knew right away that she had stolen my heart.