Partner

Unlike his children, the king had raven hair and equally raven eyes. He stood at his place before granting permission for everyone to be seated.

As soon as everyone sat down, the maids scurried to present the dishes to their king and his children.

Everyone ate in silence with occasional small talks. The king mainly conversed with the prince about politics or the military. To which the prince replied with a few words.

It was the usual royal breakfast.

However, today towards the end, the king suddenly turned to speak to the princess.

"Luna." The king said with the usual light smile on his lips. "You are 17 now, aren't you?" He asked conversely.

"Yes father." Luna replied with a small smile on her face. It always surprised Lancelot as to why her smile never reaches her eyes when she converses with the king or the prince.

It wasn't always like this. But ever since that day that she disappeared many years ago, to be found on the tree, her attitude had completely changed.

It would be an understatement to say that she matured over night. Everything about her changed. The only thing that assures Lancelot that she was still the girl he knew was the behavior she has when she's around him.

"17. My daughter, you have grown to be a talented and beautiful woman." The king praised her.

"Thank you father." Luna bowed her head slightly to accept the praise. She still had the small smile on her face, but the next sentence the king spoke, froze it.

"In a few weeks time, it would be my 50th birthday celebration soon. There would be envoys and many royalties from different countries coming. Luna, it would do you good to find a partner." The king said casually.

Even though the way the king talked about her partner was easy going, Luna knew he meant every word.

As a matter of fact, she knew he wasn't asking her to find her own partner. He probably had a few targets in mind and would introduce her to them.

"I think I'm still young father. Besides, I would like to stay with our family for a while longer." Luna tried her best to refuse her father.

"Nonsense my dear child. Your behavior and mannerism is of utmost perfection, there is nothing to worry about." The king laughed lightly at her refusal.

Luna paled at his sentence but she still forced her smile to remain on her face. She knew her father wasn't going to let her back off.

"If you say so father." She smiled in agreement.

"Good child. You're the pearl of the Rhitol kingdom." Her father nodded in agreement and downed his tea.

'A pearl...that you would find the highest bidder for.' Luna thought silently in her heart as she tried to swallow the bread down her throat, hoping the bile in her stomach would continue to stay down.

Meanwhile Lancelot whom stood behind her, as per protocol, had frozen stiff on his spot as soon as he heard the king's words.

'Luna...will get married soon.' He thought to himself. He thought it was too soon but he didn't have any rights to go against the King's orders.

Had he known of what would happen in the future, he would have given his life to protest with all his might.

Soon the breakfast was done and all the members left to do their duties of the day.

Luna walked quietly to the garden behind the palace with Lance trailing silently behind her. It was a cloudy day with gentle breeze blowing by, making it the perfect day for one to sit by the garden and admire the flowers.

Luna sat down on the bench inside the open pavilion with a book in her hand. She had always loved reading and the pavilion in the garden was one of her favorite places in the palace. She loved that it was located in a secluded place and rarely anyone came by this place.

Lancelot could sense her mood and decided to keep silent instead of apologizing to her about yesterday's events.

After reading for a while, Luna suddenly closed her book.

"So." She said and turned around to look at Lancelot.

"Yes Princess." Lancelot immediately bowed down ready to accept her order.

"If you are going to keep acting this way, I'm going to be really mad." Luna puffed her cheeks, her eyes burning in anger.

Lancelot sighed before raising his head up to look at her. 'Guess she's not that mad anymore.'

"Yes Luna." He said with a smile on his face, instantly transforming the stranger into her beloved childhood friend.