Kaos

AREN

—I see, that sounds interesting —I reply, returning my empty glass—. Well, Duchess, it has been a pleasure to converse with you. I hope we can continue in communication; our kingdoms would receive help from good treaties.

—I think the same, Prince. Enjoy the day —we say goodbye, and she leaves. Camilo approaches with dissimulation when I am alone.

—How did it go? That one seemed to be better than last night.

—... Yes, but it is still not enough. Discard her as promised but write her down as a good alliance.

—but_

—I had good topics of conversation with her, I only see her as someone with whom I could do business, I do not want to waste my life by her side. —I see him—. And I sense that she thinks the same. —I shrug my shoulders—. Her country has things I like, she does not.

He opens his mouth but decides to keep the comment to himself. —Understood, majesty. Have you managed to talk to Princess Milena? She is the last one missing.

—If I don't choose her either, will they stop bothering me with marriage?

—Nope. They will give way to the other princesses you did not choose.

—What if I don't like them either?

—Marriage is a law. If you do not comply, you will simply be dismissed and sent into exile for contempt of duty. And your brother would be in your place.

I would be punished for "rejecting" my duty to be king because I would be breaking a law, I know how this end, I just don't like it.

—If you don't like any of the six, the council might suggest others, but they would offer less. Therefore, I recommend that you choose one of these six, Your Highness.

—Well, I'll see who to vomit with less —I snort and continue with the event that is what I agreed to come to.

Before noon I find the last choice, the Infanta Milena of Kastoria. I chat with her for a while, she is sweet and kind, too cloying for my taste.

Is it that there can be no one worthy? Why do they all talk as if impressing me is the goal? Are they so needy? I recognize that I am a good prospect, but the physique is not what attracts me to someone, although I do not overlook it either.

—Your Highness, it's time to change places —I check my watch, it's noon. It is time for the royalty of the southern zone to come to the northern zone and vice versa, that way we can all take part in all the activities prepared.

—Let's go. And dismiss Milena too.

—Also? In that case, the on_

—Don't talk to me about it for the moment, let me enjoy this, even for a while —I warn, and we continue moving forward, me with my hands in my pockets. In the distance, I can see the royalty of the southern area passing near our side. I pause my walk for a moment when I recognize a couple of people.

—Princess Alyssa of Corfu, would you like me to add her? —He keeps quiet when I glare at him and decides moving forward while I stay in the same place.

Princess Alyssa of Corfu... how not to notice her? It's cute, why deny it? But it looks very fragile, as always, so much that it just makes me want to...

I resent her presence and what she infuses in me. Her nation has what I am looking for and I know her family a little, that would be an advantage, but she is not up to being by my side, she looks very childish.

It is my first time I see her after these years and… nothing has changed.

I detail the guy she talks to; it seems like they've known each other for years and I'm not surprised with how loose she is and how outgoing he is.

He didn't lie when he said he would want her if I didn't choose her. Little crook.

—Hey, Aren. —I look to my left and Seren approaches—. What are you doing standing here hindering people who want to move freely?

I raise an eyebrow and turn my body toward her. —Have you forgotten who you're talking to?

—Oops, excuse me, majesty —she apologizes sarcastically, and I huff—. What were you looking at? ...Ivar? But... —she laughs—. Aww~, what tenderness~, wanting to fall in love with a girl who is much older than him. I feel like I've already seen her… —She sees me—. In a picture? —She points at me—. Is she_

—Don't you have something more interesting to do than going where you don't get called? —I go back on my way and Seren follows me.

—Why are you so grumpy? What happened now? —I don't answer her, I just remember that she's another prospect. They added her because, if I didn't want anyone from outside, I would have to choose from the inside and she was the best there was. She's not a bad girl, I feel comfortable by her side because we've known each other since we were little, but I just can't imagine with her in the kind of relationship they're forcing me to have. I can't and I don't want to, it's perfect for someone else, not me.

Time moves fast and I'm a little relaxed because I've already ruled out my three options and at the moment, I'm not forced to meet anyone. But the good comes to an end and, just as Cinderella's spell ends with the clock striking twelve, my peace ends with the presence of my father.

—Aren, come a moment, please. —He retires, and I leave the children to go behind him who goes into the place where we reach a single part—. Explain the fact that you already discarded your three candidates.

Camilo gossip.

—One weird, one very serious, and one too cloying —I'm honest—. I don't want to be with them nor even obliged.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, sighs, and sees me. —Well, at least, there are three options left.

—I've removed Seren from already, not imagining her as my fiancée.

—You still have Princess Kaira and Princess Alyssa. The rest of the afternoon and the dance of the night are missing. Get to know them there.

—None of them attracted me from the beginning.

—Well, too bad because they're your best and only alternatives. —He smiles—. So, either you meet them and invite them into the kingdom, or you stay with Seren. End of discussion.

—But father… —He raises his hand to keep silent.

—Princess Kaira is on these sides. Princess Alyssa is in the other group of royalty, you can perform at the dance and even dance with her, take advantage of the fact that we have treaties with her nation, and we know her family, your mother and hers were best friends. Keep in mind that you are not the only prince, I have already seen her talking to other royals and I could swear that they have your same intentions.

They would do me a favor if they take them first.

—Even Ivar has managed to talk to Alyssa. The faster you greet them, the faster you'll know if they're worth it and the quicker your annoyance will be over. —Pats my shoulder and leaves first.

—All right? —I hear in the distance and see back, it's Seren coming out of another hallway, I just hope she didn't hear the conversation.

—Yes, all right. Where do you come from?

—Oh, from the kitchen, I was helping a little.

—That explains your dress —She laughs as she notices the flour that soils her clothes.

—Let's go.

—I won't go out with you like that. Go clean or change.

—How delicate.

—someone's presentation says a lot about their roots, don't denigrate Lundy.

—Look who's saying it. —She snorts and leaves.

I go back to where I was and try to find Kaira. It's not too far from me, in fact, we are in the same activity, but with separate groups of children. I watch her for a moment and in the way she treats those around her, she seems to be a good person.

I let things flow and discreetly approach her to greet her. She doesn't react like the others, she looks calm. We introduce ourselves and talk for a while as we develop the activity. She doesn't look childish or sound cloying, she doesn't have an ugly voice or a frustrating laugh, she looks normal. At least for the moment and compared to the others.

We say goodbye when the event is over, and I get to my family's car. Camilo manages to find me and tells me that he saw me talking to Kaira.

—So... shall we add it?

—... Yes, but it's not official, remember that. —He smiles with relief.

—It's a breakthrough, Your Highness. I feel like I've just stepped on the moon. —Wipes the sweat from his forehead and I buff.

Kaira is the only one of the candidates who did not displease me so much, it is tolerable and, if I want, I can take advantage of the dance to get to know her a little more and save myself having to invite her to Lundy.

ALYSSA

I am in Kaos since this morning, I noticed that others arrived last night, although I don't know who. The event is over, and I must admit that I really enjoyed living with the people here, meeting new people who became my friends. With this event my return from my studies is official and with dissimulation I try to talk with some entities about possible agreements with Corfu, so I save myself from getting married so soon.

Not to my joy is the fact that I had to deal with my "suitors" or whatever the royal council calls them. During the day, I ran into three of them and, although I consider myself kind by nature, today I had to fake it so as not to run away while they bragged about the treasures of their kingdoms or the abilities they owned. They told me his entire biography as if they were going to save his life with that, they did not omit details that I had already heard a week ago. It was harassing and I barely managed to speak. The only person who seemed like a good prospect was twelve years old and I had run into him in the exchange of zones. He was such a cute boy that I wanted to steal him and adopt him as a little brother.

I still don't have the chance to meet Einar, the prince of Kastoria. Nor of seeing Aren, but with this one I feel more afraid that he will remember me than fear that he will reject me. I have no desire for either of them and, if I don't talk to them tonight, I don't care.

The night arrives and with it the dance. I wear a long dress with small diamond stones attached to the transparent textile that covers my arms and part of my back; I have also straightened my hair with waves at the end. As an extra item, we all wear masks.

I recognize some that I saw during the day, others that I did not, but I greet as many as I can. Greta comes up and bows to me.

—Any news with the princes that you still don't greet?

—Not yet and I have no eagerness, believe me. I want to enjoy the dance; it's been a while since I attended one of royalty.

—I suppose the college and disco parties helped the princess not to miss them —I get a glass of wine to avoid the topic of conversation.

—I'll go and say hello to the next Duchess, Leah, I haven't had the chance all day. —I retire and approach the high table where my childhood friend is, standing and with her cup resting on the table—. You have saved me, I am grateful.

—Wow, exercising my function since already, do I have powers or something? —Laughs and pats my shoulder. I talk for a long time with her, catching up with everything since I had not had the opportunity to talk to her since I arrived. We are of those friends who write to each other after prolonged periods of time, but you know that they are always for you as well as you for them—. Aly do not be alarmed, but for a while I have been noticing a boy looking at you —My back tenses.

—Why didn't you tell me before?

—I wanted to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I must admit that he has a good appearance, and my intuition would not fail if I said that under that mask hides the eighth wonder of the world.

—Where is he?

—Don't turn around yet, he'll realize we're talking about him if you do. He wears a black outfit.

—There are many in black garments.

—Yes, but not everyone is watching you —she claims in a whisper—. I would point him out, but it would be very obvious because he keeps looking this way.

—Are you sure it's me and not you he sees?

—He's detailing your dress. —She smiles excitedly and remembering that my back is covered by a thin transparent fabric makes me move uncomfortable; We keep disguising as if it is a normal conversation— ok, he has distracted for a moment. It's now or never, he's at six o'clock. —We drink our wine meanwhile and, with dissimulation, I turn to my left to look at the coordinate that throws, but I find him before.

He is at 8.

Our eyes meet and I low my glass; He gives me a smile as I give him a slight bow and turn my eyes to my friend as if nothing had happened.

—He looks handsome even with a mask —I smile looking to my right to disguise.

—Isn't he? That hairstyle was made for him. His blonde hair doesn't seem to be natural.

Blonde?

Out of the corner of my eye I can see his figure approaching. —It can't be real; I think he's coming this way.

She looks in disguise. —Aly, it's not him, but I must admit that he is also handsome… Oh, he's going.

—Isn't it him? Then_

—Duchess Leah, may you allow me a minute of your time? —A guy from the staff of the event arrives; Inconvenient time to take my friend away.

—I'll be back. Take advantage. —She winks, and I take her hand.

—Don't leave me, I'm afraid. You said it wasn't him, what if I saw badly or if he's already married? —She laughs as she releases my grip, and the nerves appear out of nowhere.

—Don't exaggerate, nothing bad will happen. It's a real dance, I don't think he wants to kill you.

—But it can happen.

—It will be faster for him to kill you than trying to flee.

—But I'll be dead by then, what's the joke of it? —She hugs me.

—Don't worry, imagine that he is just another friend —cheers me up and gives me a slight curtsy for me having a higher rank in the royal hierarchy—. We talk later. —She retires; I put the glass on the table with the intention of running away, but my assistant approaches me at the same time as the boy I mistook for the one who saw me,

He has no blond hair, his is black. If it wasn't him, then who saw me?

—Princess —my assistant speaks as she sees the jet-hair prospect who I reach jaw level. By having it close I can distinguish the color of his eyes, it is a green color with slight blue pigmentations. His physiognomy reminds me of someone—, let me introduce him. He is Prince Einar of Kastoria.