"Hmm, bed is much more comfortable than the one I slept on in the cottage" Maya said in a sleepy voice amidst this yawning and stretching her body "Riley is so considerate to have brought me to the empyrean cloud palace" she said and rubbed her eyes with both her eyes before wrinkling her nose. She got out of bed and looked round the bedchamber, because she didn't see it well the previous night due to the dim lights from the candles and her feeling sleepy.
"This bedchamber is really wide and beautiful, I feel like I'm the Flower Queen's bedchamber" she said to herself admiring the floral paintings and ornaments, then she went to the balcony and the morning sun shone against her black hair while she closed her eyes to feel the morning breeze, making her look like the goddess of sun. She opened her eyes to look at the makeshift peace garden Riley had arranged for her, she crouched down to look at the flowers which were planted there and inhaled their scents to feel at home.
"I love this place" she said with a wide smile, then remembered Ava and her smile faded away "I already miss Ava, though" she said and stood up then left the balcony to take a bath. After her bath, she checked the closet which was filled with clothes befitting royalty which Riley had said were all for her and her jaw dropped, she picked a pink dress with an outer robe and matching hairpins and shoes. She stood in front o the mirror, staring at herself until her stomach growled and she held it with a slight frown "I need to get something to eat" she said and headed towards the door.
"Good morning ma'am, your morning meal is in the dining hall of this chamber" Justin said respectfully with a slight bow the moment Maya opened the door to the bedchamber and stepped out of it "good morning" she replied his greeting and looked around seemingly searching for Riley but frowned when she didn't see him, "his highness has gone out for some work, he said he would be joining you later" Justin said when he noticed her looking and her mouth formed an 'o' "you may come with me, ma'am" he said and she nodded then he led her to the dining hall.
....
DEMON REALM
Riley swung his sword with agility and accuracy making Stephanie look at him in awe during their spar, causing her to lose focus and Riley's attack hit her "Arrgh, my shoulder" she cried out, wincing in pain as she held her bleeding arm. Riley saw his attack had hurt her and he quickly returned his sword into its scabbard and went to check her bleeding shoulders "I'm sorry, I'll heal you" he said and started healing her wound while she stared at him with dreamy eyes 'this man is so handsome and caring, I honestly have fallen in love with him' she said in her mind and smiled 'I'm going to make you mine Riley, I promise' she added and was about to touch his face when Riley completed healing her wound and stepped back from her.
"Thank you, Riley" Stephanie said sweetly "it's okay, it was my mistake" he said and she smiled, "Riley, I wanted to ask you something since the moment you arrived here" she said and he nodded for her to ask "you said you don't know the heavenly crown prince which means you're not related" she said and he nodded for her to go on "you're from the heaven realm and you came here in a royal attire, are you by any chance royalty?" she asked him "your doubt is correct, I am royalty" he said and she looked surprised "the Heavenly Emperor happens to be my birth father and Dylan, my twin brother" he added and her jaw dropped at the revelation.
"We were separated at birth and we both found out the truths about ourselves" he explained further and she nodded slowly as she was starting to understand the picture. 'This man is the son of my sworn enemy and the twin of that annoying crown prince, and I'm in love with him' she said to her mind with a sad smile 'but he's not his father or brother so I'll stick to my feelings and make sure I win him over' she thought and smiled to herself.
Riley was wiping off the blood on his sword with his back turned to Stephanie when she suddenly hugged him from behind, Riley froze in confusion then gently remove her hands from his waist then turned to face her, he had to leave this place, he had had enough of all these, from hugging him when he arrived to wanting to touch his face and now, hugging him from behind. "I have to leave now princess, I have so much work to do" he said and her shoulders dropped "I came here because I already promised you; I hope you would excuse me, princess" he added and she sighed deeply, not ready to let him go.
"It's alright, but if you would please stop calling me Princess, you can just call me Stephanie" she said, hurt that he addresses her so politely "okay Stephanie, I'll leave now" he said and she nodded sadly, then he teleported back to the heaven realm.
....
FLOWER REALM
"What do you mean Maya has withered away?" the Flower Queen asked confused after hearing Ava's narration "Maya's gone mother, she's gone" Elena said to her mother sobbing quietly "I'm so sorry for the loss Ava, I think you might need some time off to grieve about your friend" Rachel said to Ava and Elena hurriedly spoke up "she'll be staying in my chambers mother, we both need to console each other for the loss of Maya" she said and sniffed then continued "Maya and Ava has become very good friends of mine, so it would be okay if Ava and I stay in each other's company" she added and Rachael nodded in agreement.
Just then, Sophia who walked in when Ava was narrating her story and had been quiet all along scoffed then spoke up "my condolences little sister, but I still wonder why you become good friends with your maids" she said and eyed Ava "if you would please stop insulting my maids and stop looking at Ava like that, I think it would be better for both of us" Elena replied her sister angrily "what is the meaning of this in my presence" Rachael asked with authority in a loud tone "I'm sorry mother, but sister has been going against my decision of befriending Ava and Maya and she has been trying to talk me out of it by saying things about maids" Elena explained to the Queen who looked at the first princess unbelievably.
"Is that so, Sophia" Rachael asked her first daughter who just looked away, confirming Elena's claim "I can't believe you can stoop so low, Sophia" the Queen said disappointed and Sophia rolled her eyes "you both can go, I'll call for all the chiefs so we can hold a burial ceremony for Maya" Rachael said to Ava and Elena and they bowed in appreciation "thank you, mother" Elena said smiling to her mother and then to Ava "thank you, your majesty" the latter said and the queen smiled at her before she left for Elena's chamber together with the princess.
...…
HEAVEN REALM
Dylan arrived back in his bedchamber and smiled satisfactorily when he remembered how Sarah had preferred to make Richard happy than to eat with him "I'm glad mother is still in love with father even if she doesn't realize it yet" he said to himself still smiling "talking about love, I have to go visit Maya" he said "but I don't know where or how to find her" he said and slapped his own forehead "I would just simply trace her scent and aura" he said then smiled when her remembered her cute dimple smile.
He ordered for his morning meal to be brought to his bedchamber. After eating, he got dressed in one of his best clothes and tied his hair in a ponytail; he smiled satisfactorily when he saw his reflection in his floor to ceiling mirror "I'm sure Maya wouldn't be able to resist me" he said to himself then took a deep breath. He was about to pick up his sword when he felt someone entered the bedchamber, he turned back only for him to see Celia; his favorite concubine walking towards him and he sighed deeply.
The lady walked towards him smiling seductively then placed one hand on his chest, and the other on his face "it's been a while since your highness has been pleasured, I'm here to take you on an adventure" she said in a seductive tone and tried to kiss him but he pushed her away with a disgusting look "who gave you the right to come in here without my permission" he asked her yelling "you did" she replied not understanding why he pushed her away when he had never resisted her. "Get out, now" he yelled and she flinched then left the bedchamber when she noticed his blue flames already burning in his originally brown eyes, which only happens when he's madly angry.
He calmed himself and his eyes turned normal after she left and he sighed deeply "could my love for Maya have caused me to become so mad and disgusted at Celia; the concubine I've never resisted?" he asked himself "I now understand why father insisted on mother moving here, love is really funny" he added and smiled before picking up his sword then teleported to the flower realm.