Alec looked at the palace taking in its appearance. The last time he had been to Xavier was before the war. The tributes given every year was by Marcuse, but having important matters to attend to and their weird accent, he was told to go.
The guards opened the gate as they came in , the men brought in the goods; gold, diamond...
As he stood at the entrance of the queen's throne room, the guards announced. "The king of Novio pays tribute to the great alpha of Cilia!"
The large doors were opened and Alec came in bowing. "Greetings to the rising sun of Cilia, to the alpha of Cilia".
" I thought it was Marcuse that would be here, surprisingly I heard a clear understandable voice", she said ignoring his greetings. "Where's Marcuse?" She asked, not that she was concerned, but the object if laughter wasn't here.
" I come on behalf of my great king, I apologize for my inconsistance, I am Alec of Novio ", he said bowing.
The crown prince Alexandro looked at him carefully. Alec? Wasn't he the person Seth always talked about?
"You can't just pay tribute and leave. I'm having a feast today, so be glad to join us?" She asked as her and her officials stared at him waiting for a response.
If she ask you to dine with her, do well to accept.
"It's my pleasure to dine with such great light", he said and the queen smiled. "Why don't my guards show you around ", she said.
If she request that you look around the palace, do good to accept... But, be on guard. She's not the snake, she's the venom.
"It's an honour, your majesty ", he said and bowed. The guards led him out, showing the important or less important places.
***
Celine watched the soldiers practice. Sometimes she practiced archery, other times, she just sat and watched. This time she sat.
Just then, guards entered with a certain man. Celine looked at him, he was the description of a Greek god. Eyes as brown as the Sahara, big like that of a doe. And his lips, they had a look like that of heaven's chosen descendant.
His body was the fortress of heaven, and those edges, smooth like a chisel. The soldiers bowed.
"Greetings great king of Novio"
King of Novio alright.
"I represent the king of Novio", he said.
No wonder his accent is as smooth as fresh water.
Alec looked at her, he wore a questioning look, why was a woman here? Did the Xavians begin to recruit women. Celine stood and went to him. " I am lady Celine of Garcia", she said smiling.
" Lady Celine? You look more like a..." He bent to her ear and whispered the word. "Fake". She looked at him in surprise. He was right but she couldn't let him get away with it.
"How dare you? I come from a noble family in Garcia. If the queen hears of this you..."
"It's Alec, lady Celine", he said.
"Tell me what you're doing here?" She asked not aware of the tribute. " I am here to pay tribute to the alpha of Cilia", he said turning to leave.
" Maybe I can get know you", she said chasing after him. "My lady mist becareful, she might fall",he said.
The crown prince Alexandro came and went to Celine. " You should go inside, lady Celine ", he said.
Oh now he calls me lady Celine.
"No, I'm good here", she said and he smirked. "It's an order"
"Look, your highness, he's so cute, it's not like I'll find love at last, let me take in the sights", she said shamelessly. " If he's cute, then what am I?"
"Handsome ", she said not the bit ashamed. Alec grinned. This lady had guts. Too much guts.
The crown prince Alexandro held her hands, " go inside ", he said and Celine used his hands as a block, she flew hitting a soldier in the chest.
"I'm good", she said. He was impressed.
They were impressed.
" Okay", he said and she smiled.
They were fast. She had to catch up with them. "Tell me, lord Alec, why did you come, instead?" She asked.
"The lord Marcuse is busy with some business ", he said.
"What do you like?"
"Silence ", he said and for once, the crown prince Alexandro agreed.
Celine rolled her eyes, "I love Xavier. I've also been to Novio, quite cold", she said and crown prince Alexandro stopped. "You've been to Novio? For what?" He asked.
Alec stopped too. She couldn't tell them that she and her gangs made to steal gold. Of course they succeeded. If they didn't they'd remove the gold from their name.
"I went to see a friend", she said and they continued. "Lord Alec, you're not from Novio, right?" She asked and he said nothing. His heart was as pure as that of the devil's. He didn't talk much, he acted more.
As the saying goes, action speaks louder than words. Instead of begging her to stop speaking, he would've cut her throat. But... This was Xavier and not Novio.
"I am not", he said as they reached the throne room. " I'll see you again, if that's possible, lord Alec", she said and left.
He needed to look into this girl, she could pretend real good, but he knew she wasn't from Garcia. She was a Segovian. Those people had an invisible trait.
They were all snakes and foxes all at once.
" So, I finally meet the Alec. You look better in real life", he said.
"Did you see me in the world if the dead?" He asked and crown prince Alexandro scoffed. "As if. I once painted you, Seth told me how you looked, so Ive seen you before. In my painting I mean", he said.
" That's a irony, but true. I don't have any intention of being friends with you "
"You mentioned friend first. I do my things alone, Alec"
"Forgive me for being rash, your highness. I think Xavier would be better with someone like you ", he said.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I mean, your mother, the queen, is not fit for the throne..." He gasped. "That's blasphemy, your highness, please don't behead me" he mocked him.
" I'll let it slide,Alec, go fix Novio, it looks like the Roman ruins ", he said and entered the room.
The tea wasn't all that bad, the conversation was mild because they were dealing with someone else.
It went well.
***
Alec watched the guards inspect the goods and off load it. Celine came calling him. "Lord Alec"
"Lord Alec ", she called and he looked at her. "Lady Celine, you're such a good athlete ", he commended. "You know, I checked the history and the stories I heard about Xavier and Novio. I think it's best you guys have a voice... And..."
"... Don't call me fake ", she said and he grinned. He bent to her ear and whispered.
"You're Segovian. You might be from Garcia, but I can tell you this. If you plan on betraying Segovia or Xavier, you won't survive ". And he entered his carriage and left.
" What did he tell you?" The crown prince Alexandro asked. He was by her side. She was lost before she said, " Nothing serious, your highness ".
And she left.
Celine thought she could get away with this. Just do her job and get out, but, she then realized what she was into... She was in the middle of a war that was secretly going on and would soon,in less than a year, escalate...