Kaa couldn't stop thinking about Maya after yesterday's encounter. He hasn't felt that way for anyone before . He wondered how such a beautiful could be considered as a cursed girl. is mind drifted to the banquet he was going to attend in the palace for the marriage alliance between the two kingdoms. Being the crown prince in the grasslands, he knew he had responsibilities to carry out but he wished he wasn't going to get married to Ooka the second princess of Casto.
"Maro.....Maro" Kaa called out to Maro who came into the room.
"My Lord" he answered while bowing down
"Get the carriage ready, we are going for the banquet"
"Why the sudden change of mind? you were reluctant to go before, all of a sudden you want to go " Maro said looking at Kaa closely. "Is someone special there?"
"Can't I just decide to go for the banquet?.... and what does that have to do with you?" Kaa asked Maro while feeling flustered
"Ah ha....I'm right, there is indeed someone, The carriage will be ready in five minutes" Maro said as he left the room.
In ten minutes, Kaa was ready to attend the banquet. Kaa was dreesed in a white thwab with a ghutra on his head. He came out, got into the carriage and off they went to the palace. Kaa had come to Casto on an invitation but had chosen to stay an inn to be able to leave and come back as he pleases, not that anyone in the palace can hinder him from going out but they'd constantly be monitoring his movements.
They got to the palace and was welcomed by some maids. They were entertained by some beautiful and breathtaking dancers, acrobatics and magicians. The Emperor entered with Ooka, Bauka and Queen Alma.
"Long live the Emperor" Everyone got up, chorused and bowed as they saw the Emperor enter the scene.
"You may get seated" He said as everyone took their respective seats. "I can see you all are making yourselves comfortable and happy, that is nice. No one's leaving here until we enjoy ourselves. I got the best dancers and anything you could think of. The wines are from the best wine makers in our Empire and I assure you, just a sip would make you forget every other wines you had taken until now. The foods?, those were prepared by the best chefs we have, I guarantee you that you won't regret eating it. As you can see everything is in order and of great things so I order you to enjoy yourselves". With this being said, everyone digged in. They watched the dancers and the singers play a harp and other instruments. Kaa wasn't himself as he hadn't seen Maya. He looked around but didn't see her, as he wondered why he would come to this banquet for her and wouldn't see her as it'd be a waste, as he got up and faced the Emperor.
"Why am I seeing only two princesses? if I recall correctly, you have three daughters. I heard the missing one is whom everyone calls the cursed princess, why don't I see her here?" He asked. There were whispers from every corners.
"And why do you wish to see her?" The Emperor asked surprisingly
"Nothing. To be honest, I'm quite a curious person, my curiosity always gets the best of me" Kaa replied while looking at the Emperor into his eyes
"You just said people addressed her as the cursed princess, since people said that, why then should I let her attend?" He asked Kaa while smirking
"Like I said, I'm just curious. I heard about her in the streets a few days ago. I don't think it's just a hearsay as most people say it is a fantasy" Kaa said
"Seems like I made the best choice for my daughter to get married to you. Seeing you in person, you truly are as they said you are" His Majesty spoke as he beamed with delight.
"I'd like see her myself too....I mean who wouldn't want to see the so called Cursed princess everyone talks about?" One of the distinguished guests spoke from the crowd. This caused an uproar amongst them as some were in opposition to the request. This argument got worse until His Majesty decided to please those with greater requests which was to bring Maya to the banquet.
"Since Prince kaa is adamant on meeting her, it wouldn't do any harm to show her to you all". He said and signaled Ott who was among the guards on duty to get Maya to the hall.
"But father, this is meant to be solely for my marriage arrangement and not for some cursed Princess show. She's always stealing the spotlight, who does she think she is? I wonder the spell she cast on you all" Ooka murmured in way that it can be heard from a distance.
"She's always the talk of the Town....What good comes out from being cursed?" Bauka added
"Shut up you two!!" His Majesty shouted angrily as he turned his gaze to the princesses who held the Queen's hands for protection against their father. "You don't have the right to interfere in matters of the court .....do you think your opinions matters? " He asked as they kept quiet.
"You're scaring them, just stop. This shouldn't have involved Maya, she's stealing the spotlight here. She doesn't fit here, why are you showing her what she can't have?" The queen said as she held her daughter's hands tightly to calm them down.
"Maya is also my blood....so mind you" His Majesty replied as his face bacame dull when he realized what he had just said.
Maya had arrived at the banquet dressed in a gown, adorned with floras which Nanny Mari had sewed for her before but she hadn't gotten a chance to put it on. She walked graciously and elegantly to the hall as each step she took seemed ethereal , filling the atmosphere with the fragrance of Jasmine, which made them somewhat relaxed. Everyone couldn't take their eyes off her, as she seemed like a fairy from fairytales. Some said she looked nothing as they described her to be; she was more. Murmurs were heard in the background as everyone spoke their minds.
Kaa was lost in thoughts once again at the beauty in front of him. Ooka noticed Kaa's attention has been on Maya and got furious. On reaching His Majesty, she bowed.
"You sent for me your Majesty"
"I didn't, Prince Kaa here and some members of the court did" He replied not looking Maya in the eyes. "Hope this has cleared your curiosity?" He asked Kaa
"Absolutely" he replied blushing."You are indeed the most prettiest woman that had graced my sight" He spoke once more as Maya turned crimson at his words. Ooka and Bauka couldn't take it anymore as they stormed out of the hall angrily while murmuring.
Some hours later, the banquet came to an end. Everyone retired to their Nobel abodes. This has to be a memorable day for Kaa for he got to see the girl who made his heart skip a beat once more.