To The Castle

"Of course, we have to go to the castle. I mean what else are we supposed to do after what happened yesterday." Daisy muttered as watched her maids holding up the many blue dresses against Abidemi.

"I don't know about you, I'd rather be home making sure everything is sorted out besides going to see the king." Abidemi muttered while one of the maids gave her a look. "What? It's the truth."

"This is a royal decree." The maid said to the girls. "I know that this is not something you girls would rather do but what happened yesterday afternoon was a big deal."

"Oh yeah. The reveal of our magic status. What joy?"Daisy muttered. The maid gave Daisy a look. "Sorry Stella."

"Honestly, the both of you are so unladylike behind closed doors. It's hard to believe that both of you are so elegant and refined in public." Stella said with a smile.

"Should we act more refined?" Abidemi asked. Daisy started to make a face.

"That's right. I might be there one day. I'll probably act that way all the time." Daisy said while making a face. Abidemi giggled as Daisy glared at her. "Laughing at my misery."

"I'm just gonna miss you."Abidemi whispered while she thought about it. She lowered her eyes. "Is it really a good idea for me to leave?"

"Yes, it's a good idea" Daisy said while she crossed her arms. Abidemi blinked and looked at Daisy. "You're almost out of here. Just one more day, Demi. One more day. Tell me. Do you think you could stand to be in Valtis another year?"

Abidemi blinked. "But…well."

Daisy sighed as she looked at her maids. "Can you girls leave me and Demi alone?" Daisy asked them. The maids nodded their heads before leaving, Stella was going to follow but Daisy called out. "Stella, please stay."

Stella nodded her head before returning to fix up Abidemi's hair. Abidemi sat down by the vanity table as Daisy sighed. "What's with the cold feet all of a sudden?"

Abidemi frowned. "It's not cold feet. I just don't think it's a good idea to go when everything is going crazy."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "But it is not like before when my fiance broke up with me. I'm not heartbroken now." Abidemi frowned deeply. "If anything I'm more annoyed because I might have to see Mila every day of my life. It's nothing I can't handle."

Abidemi frowned as she looked at her lap. "But if I leave."

"Then you wouldn't just be Abidemi of the House of Sealen anymore. You'll be, Abidemi Crown Princess Candidate of Elov."Daisy remarked, which made Abidemi groan. "Then again, those priests think it's a sure thing for some reason."

"But to be Princess Candidate?!" Abidemi said in a quiet voice. She looked at Daisy who was watching her. "Me! A person that was born and raised here."

"Half raised." Daisy corrected. Abidemi gave Daisy a frown as the blond shrugged. "You're more used to Elov customs than Valtis. Even if you're the 'perfect' Valtis woman to a few nobles and a 'Vicious' woman to rest. Heck, it took you a whole month to refine your Valtis face after your visit from Elov."

Abidemi frowned. "How do you know I won't have the same problem when I return to Elov?"

"Because I know you. You'll go right back to Elov etiquette in a second." Daisy said to Abidemi as she sat next to the girl. Both of them share a seat. "Because I could see it on your face that you were at your limit and that was two years ago. Nowadays you don't even bother dealing with polite conversation. Your fan has been making more and more of an appearance at social gatherings and at parties."

Abidemi sighed. "I hate that you know me so well."

"I've only been by your side since we were five years old. Not like I won't notice when you're just getting tired of everything." Daisy said while she closed her eyes. "Hell, I'm surprised you lasted this long as you did. I would've thought that you got on a boat and headed to Elov months ago."

"Actually, I wanted to leave the day after I told you but Kanene and Shyla talked me out of it. They remind me that I still have things to do." Abidemi said with a sigh. Abidemi could hear Stella let out a sigh of relief which only made Abidemi smile.

Daisy smiled as well, shaking her head. She looked over at Stella. "Stella, can you get the present, please." Stella blinked before nodding her head and went somewhere.

Abidemi blinked before looking at Daisy. "A present."

"I was supposed to give it to you yesterday but things came up. The whole magical stats, Auntie being well horrible and all." Daisy said while waving her hand around. She gave Abidemi a warm smile. " I figured you might need something new when you head to Elov. I told the designer your favorite color, your skin tone and your hair. The Household that your mother came from.."

"What did you do?" Abidemi asked with a laugh.

Daisy laughed too. "I have no idea. I'm hoping that it's good enough." Daisy said while Stella came back with a huge white box with a blue ribbon. "Then again it could be too much."

"The more you speak, Daisy the more I get worried." Abidemi laughed as she opened the present.

"Well, the designer was from Elov and they know a lot about The House of Obi. So I just went with it." Daisy explained as Abidemi shook her head. Abidemi paused when she saw the present. Daisy noticed the shocked look on Abidemi's face. "Demi."

Abidemi laughed as tears ran down her cheeks. She looked over to Daisy as she tackled her friend in a hug. Daisy gasped as she hugged her back. Daisy was going to ask what was wrong. "Thanks, Daisy. You're my best friend."

Daisy smiled before hugging Abidemi back. "You're welcome."

"It's good enough to wear to see the king." Abidemi said as she pulled away from the hug. Abidemi smiled at Daisy before looking at her gift. "I wanna wear it."

Daisy's eyes brighten up. "Really?! Abidemi nodded her head. Daisy looked at Stella with a big smile. "Stella. Could you call the maids back in?"

Stella nodded her head while she left the room. Leaving Abidemi and Daisy alone.

"Thanks Daisy." Abidemi whispered.

Daisy laughed. "You're welcome, Demi." she whispered.

--------------

Akeem yawned as he leaned his head against the window of the carriage as he looked out of it. He watched the many buildings go by as he wrinkled his nose. He tugged on his red collared jacket that many emblems and badges, he had a matching sash and dark pants."So exhausted."

"That's what happens when you stay up all night." Eden said as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. Akeem only groaned. Eden looked out the window. "What was so important that you stayed up all night?"

"Kanene and Shyla need to talk to me. Then Ten had come in with a report along with some other shadows." Akeem muttered while he closed his eyes. "It's report after report after report. Then finally. A message from my parents."

Eden cocked his head. As he was watched by an exhausted Akeem. "What did they say?"

"Come home right away and bring your bride to meet the family." Akeem said with a sigh. Eden shook his head. " I swear I would've broken my communication badge if it wasn't so tiring."

Eden arched an eyebrow. " I thought you liked your parents."

"Oh I do. I love them but they can be overbearing sometimes." Akeem said with a sigh. "I have to tell them multiple times that I didn't tell Demi that I was the crown prince. My father understood but not my mother."

"Why is that?" Eden asked him. Akeem smiled sadly.

"Nini, Abidemi's mother, was one of my mother's very best friends."

Akeem hummed. He placed his head in his hands as he looked out the window. " Ommi had always been so close to her in every way. Yet she did not like the Duke of Sealen. She didn't get to meet Demi yet despite that Demi comes to Elov every year."

"Yet you got to meet Demi." Eden mentioned.

Akeem laughed. "Yeah, but she was really happy about that. She nearly screamed until my father told her that we had company." Akeem said with a sigh.

Eden shook his head while he looked out the window. "It's great that you're so close to your family. It will be a good thing for Demi."

Akeem looked at Eden before saying. "I could find you a good wife."

Eden blinked and looked at Akeem. "What?"

Akeem crossed his arms and smiled. "I could help find you a good wife. You'll need one since you're going to be Duke Of Sealen."

"True but I have Shadow training for goddess knows how long." Eden said with a smile."I don't think I have time to find a wife."

Akeem hummed. "Maybe but you'll never know."

Eden narrowed his eyes at Akeem, wondering what the hell he could possibly mean until the carriage stopped. Akeem sighed as he looked out the carriage window. The horseman opened the door and both men got out. In front of them was a huge white castle with a dark green rooftop covered in vines of lovely flowers.

Akeem crossed his arms as he sighed. Eden only fixed up his cuff. "Ah. The Emerald Castle, I keep forgetting how big this place is."

"Isn't your palace big?" Eden asked him.

"Yeah but not like this place." Akeem explained.

"Prince Akeem of Elov. Eden Of The House Of Sealen." a voice called out causing Akeem and Eden to look forward.

Walking towards them was a young man with warm ivory skin, dark green eyes, and greenish-black hair that was combed into a slick back style with side bangs. He wore a green uniform jacket with many badges on it. He wore a thin pair of glasses over his eyes as he walked over to them.

Behind him was a group of guards, looking down. Awaiting their orders.

The man bowed at them as he spoke. "It's nice to meet you. I am Sebastian, the Second Prince of Valtis." He stood up and gave them his best smile. "It's nice to meet you."

Akeem blinked at the man in front of him before smirking. Eden blinked before shaking his head. 'Of course.' Eden sighed inwardly. 'I should've known.'

Akeem and Eden did their greetings as they followed after the second prince.

This was going to be a long day.