35 The Question

As we near the castle, I can see other flying carriages arriving. They all slowly went down along with us, and reached the ground and followed a line of carriages that are sending their passengers towards the entrance of the castle.

"Woah," I gasped as I watch how fancy the attendees are wearing.

Regin watched everyone who goes out of the carriage, alert on who will be with us in the ball.

"Miss, tell me if you see something suspicious," he whispered as we move slowly towards the entrance.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Only the invited individuals are allowed in the hall, no knights, or maids, or butlers. Even the king's alone with everyone. Other people will be waiting in a room, that's why when you see someone other than the attendees, please call me."

"How?"

He pointed at my pocket where the gem is, "Break the gem."

I nodded as I feel the gemstone below my layered skirt, then we exactly stop by the entrance and Regin helped me to step out of the carriage.

The moment we step inside the castle dozens of knights, maids, and butlers are waiting for us.

They all bowed as we pass by them, and they line up like a road sign telling us where to go.

I looked at Regin, he's still on high alert, every movement, every face we see, every conversation we get to hear, he takes note of it all.

"Miss, I'm only allowed to stay with you until this point," he stopped and faced me while a knight held his hand to halt Regin.

I saw a room with a sign hanging which says 'Attendants'.

Then, this is where they'll get to stay. I hope the ball hall is not far from here.

"Alright," I took a deep breath and sighed, this is making me nervous.

I haven't spent time with any of the other candidates before, and there will be other people in the ball too.

I don't know anyone aside from the Prince and Princess Telussia in that place.

I felt my hands started to shake in nervousness as my body shivered. The temperature really changes when I feel a sudden panic.

"They'll take your cloak if you wear it, so better use the shawl Madam has prepared," Regin handed me the red laced shawl while I take off my cloak.

"I don't know anyone," I whispered to Regin while other attendees pass by us.

"I heard Mister Unzter will be coming," Regin folded the cloak as he looks at every person who passes by.

"Aiven's coming? Really? Can I wait for him here?" I smiled excitedly.

I haven't seen them for days, I hope he's bringing the kids. At least there's someone I can stick around with in the ball.

"Please go in, we're not sure if he has arrived. Just go around, eat, talk, do what you want, but never touch someone's nerve."

Regin bowed before me and entered the room, while I stare at the door, wanting him to go out and stay with me.

"Miss, please proceed to the hall," the knight who stopped Regin pointed at the sign that points to where the hall is.

I followed the other attendees, with my shawl over my shoulder, I tried to look for Aiven.

But, the ball has already started, and I still can't see a beautiful long white-haired man with ears and tails.

I was standing in the corner with grape juice on my hand, while my eyes are glued on the ground.

I don't want anyone noticing that a human lonely girl is here.

I'm the only one who seems to have no other friends other than the plant beside me. But, my imagination is too wide for me to think about other people.

My thoughts began to wander into another anime series, but hearing the Prince's name made me come back to my sad reality of loneliness.

"Prince Forest Myler Lorcan of the Gathrin Kingdom, and Princess Tellusia Nara Teree of our mother Kingdom."

I raised my head and saw the Prince and the Princess Tellusia standing on the stage.

The gown designer was right, the gown doesn't suit her.

It makes her look like a clothing hanger with her dress.

I swirled my cup of juice when I heard someone talking beside me.

Is it the plant? This is an earth powered kingdom, right? Does that mean that the plant can talk?

I hesitated to look, and I continued to listen to what he's saying.

"She looks diminishing in that dress, don't you think?"

I furrowed my brows with the comment, I didn't know plants also have opinions about fashion.

"Yeah, they should just let her wear a regular ball gown," I nodded, but the sudden silence made me turn my head.

And it was not a plant who spoke, it's a person.

He has scales on his temples and forehead, gills on his neck, and blueish skin tone.

Yet, his golden round eyes and black as the night hair was majestic! His tall stance even makes me think that he's a perfect character reference for any merman-related anime series.

He was staring at me as if I joined a conversation I was not included in and noticed that she was with a lady.

I took a deep breath and looked away, gosh, he wasn't talking to me! There's clearly a plant that separates us, there's a division, Amy!

"And you're just going to pretend you didn't jump in our conversation, Miss?" He asked with a mocking chuckle.

I turned to him and lowered my head, "Sorry," I whispered.

"And you don't seem to know who I am," he added.

I wrinkled my brows, this boy looks like he's a teen, but he's acting so highly.

I wanted to throw obvious statement that I don't know him, but Regin already warned me not to get in trouble.

"I apologize," I did a curtsy with my head bowed down, "I am just a mere human who doesn't have enough knowledge to recognize you, Sir."

"Sir?" His tone was full of shock, then I heard the lady crack a soft chuckle.

Gosh, I hate fake laughter just to impress others! She's obviously just second-demotions this kid's comments.

"I am Prince Marin Oscar Oseian, the heir to the throne of Beta Kingdom. I never imagined I'll have to introduce myself," he clicked his tongue while tapping his shoes in irritation.

Well, kid, first of all, I don't care who you are, and show respect to your elders! But of course, I wouldn't say that. Manners matter to me.

"I am dreadfully ashamed that I do not know who I am talking to, your highness," I spoke as I stand up again.

This brat really is annoying, I want to fry him now! He's enough to make me full after not eating lunch.

"It's fine, what you said earlier was right," he tilted his head in agreement then he gestured the lady he was with to shoo away, "Go, I don't need someone who doesn't have their own opinion," he said.

The lady blushed in embarrassment, then she turned away and left. That's rude, but who is she anyway? She looks like those who try to get near a Prince just to get his attention. You know, the typical lady they have here.

"Who are you?" Prince Marin asked as he stares at me from head to toe, "I haven't seen a human before, but I guess you look just like some of the mix breeds."

He stepped a bit near to me and just stood there, with his eyes fixed in the stage.

"You're from what?" He asked.

"Gathrin Kingdom."

"You're a noble?"

"No."

"What then? Some kind of village captain? A daughter of a---"

"A bride candidate, your highness."

I don't want this conversation to grow any longer. He'll just keep on guessing if I don't give him the answer.

"Oh," he went silent, and let out a long deep heavy sigh.

"Do you know how old the Princess Tellusia is? You two are both the bride candidates of Prince Forest, right?"

I had my eyes fixed in his face, he's staring at the stage with a frown while asking me with a soft but cold voice.

Another bipolar here! He was just a brat earlier, and now he's being emotional.

"She's fourteen, isn't she? And yes, we're the Prince's candidate."

The classical music playing, the chit-chat of the people, the cluttering utensils, the drinks being poured, and the sight of Prince Marin made me feel weird.

I'm in a ball, a real one, with people wearing fancy dresses, listening to soft breath-taking music, and talking to another Prince.

I never expected to meet another royalty here. I thought they would shy away from normies like me and will stick with other people with crowns on their heads.

"Do you know how old Prince Forest is?" He asked as he turned his head towards me with creased brow full of annoyance.

I shook my head, I never thought about his age. He looks old enough though.

But why is this brat looking irritated when he asked about that?

"He's twenty-two, human. He's eight years older than Princess Tellusia! What sort of idiocy do they have to make her a bride candidate of someone that age? They should let her marry someone who's only two years older than her."

Oh...

Now, I get it. Why he was frowning, why he's irritated, and why he's not with another girl.

I smirked while wiggling my brows at him, "Then, I guess you're sixteen, Your highness?" I asked as I lean towards him to tease him even more.

"What? How'd you know?" His eyes widened.

Of course, he already said it himself.

I shrugged my shoulders and curled my lip, "I dunno. Someone told me she's supposed to be married to someone who's only two years older than her."

"That doesn't make any sense. What does it have to do with my age? Maybe your---" he stopped in the middle of his sentence and gave me a surprised and embarrassed face.

I nodded to make him understand that I got the message he was trying to hide from his rants.

"I get you," I whispered, "You like the Princess, don't you?"

Prince Marin shook his head as his face turn even brighter in red.

I can't believe he didn't want me to know that he likes the Princess. He was clearly stating that she should get married to him instead of the Prince by pertaining to their ages.

He looked at me, and without any other word, he left looking so troubled.

"I won't tell anyone!" I yelled and waved my hand as he takes glances at me with an irritated face.

Ha! I can't believe I just found out a royal secret about a Prince I just met.

But, does he know what she did?

And if he does, then, he doesn't care that she caused the banishment of her the ex-residencia?

I don't know if I can call that true love or stupidity.

Well, she's still a kid, she can change her attitude if she wants. But, it won't change that she killed someone.

I decided to look around the hall while staring at paintings hanged along the walls.

Each of them has a caption, telling what event was portrayed, who painted it and when the paintings were made.

It was similar to the renaissance painting we used to study, except that these paintings are publicly showing the mature content. And when I saw mature, it's the dark sense.

Just like this one, a gladiator is holding his dead opponent's head and arms that he cut as a sign of victory.

And another one, a woman is being torn to half by a group of people because they are calling her a witch who cursed the people, just like someone I know.

I wonder was this supposed to happen to the Princess Tellusia if her knight didn't get to ask for help in time?

As my steps began to travel to the next painting, I noticed familiar ears and tails.

"Aiven!" I called and I happily hopped beside him.

The others that were staring the same painting as him, moved on to the next piece, and that was when he saw me.

"Good evening, Amy," he smiled and bowed.

Oh, yeah, we're in the public, I should also show the same respect as he did.

I bent my knee while holding my skirt on both my hands, "Good evening, Aiven," I tried to suppress my laughter since we never got to do this type of greetings before.

"Well, I think you're learning from the book I gave you. You now know to bow to your superiors," he commented as I stand straight.

"Uh-uh," I shook my head, "I just don't want other people to see that the Gathrin Kingdom's village captain is being treated poorly by a human."

He scoffed and turned his head back to the painting he was looking at, "It will surely look bad on my behalf, thank you for your concern."

I giggled while I move closer to him.

Ah! Finally, someone I know!

Since he looked like he was serious about the painting, I decided to take a look at the caption.

"I always wanted to meet that knight. He was the best in supporting the kingdom," I heard Aiven commented with wonder and admiration in his tone.

I just nodded while reading the words inscribed in the metal.

'The Gathrin Kingdom's King Ludovic Eliazer Lorcan, and Queen Elena Hester Lorcan, with their Royal knight, Sir Atticus Hast Snow.'

"Hey, isn't your last name Snow?" Aiven asked as I saw his shadow turn his head towards me.

I felt my chest tighten, and the chills that I had earlier came back.

The music playing in the background came to silence in my head, while the whole place started spinning, and all I can see is the knight's name... my father's name.

I took a deep breath as my legs slowly felt like a thin stick, ready to break from the heavy reality.

I can hear Aiven calling me, but my feet moved on its own.

"I need air," I said as I walk away from Aiven, and I was sure he already noticed what the problem is.

He ran towards me and held my arm, "Let's go here," he said as he leads the way.

I don't even know where we're going, I can't even see the ground or hear anything other than my breathing.

The darkness suddenly arose from the shadows and covered my whole mind. It made my thoughts go blank, and my senses numb.

Aiven made me sit down on a bench outside the castle. We seem to be in the garden now, but only the dark starry sky made sense to me aside from the red roses that seemed to be spilling blood from the shadows.

I closed my eyes with my hand clenching my skirt and took a couple of deep breaths.

And the moment I opened my eyes, the words that came out of my mouth was a question.

"Who am I?"