Unexpected Encounter.

Woahhh...

I roamed my eyes around this garden with my mouth wide open. This is my first time seeing this kind of beautiful place. I mean, I remember being here based on Alina's memories, but this is my first time stepping inside this kind of place with my own foot and consciousness. 

Everywhere you look at, there are flowers. As if this whole place is a sea of flowers! There aren't even a pathway leading to the pavilion and greenhouse. It's like they were built there purposely to be surrounded by these beautiful flowers. These flowers are all unfamiliar to me, but I'll do my best to learn about it. 

"It's still beautiful as ever..." I mumbled, as if I already came here once. Well, Alina did, but not me. 

But, where are we going to hold our picnic here? I can't just sit on those beautiful flowers!

"Let's go, Princess," Themis stretched her arms to me, offering her hand, so I accepted it and we started walking again. I wonder where we are going? The only reason why Alina wandered here before was because she was looking for a way to see her family, and then she accidentally saw her brothers---not knowing they were her brothers. Based on her memories, they had black hair and blue eyes when Alina saw them, so she didn't recognize them, because she knew that the eyes of her brothers were like hers. Not knowing that black hair is a distinct trait of Ciera.

I gasped when I saw a small pavilion not far from the one I saw a while ago. The other one has a table and four chairs within, while this other one has nothing at all. There's only the wooden floor, and the interior design...there are crawling vines on the wooden fences and posts, with beautiful flowers on it. So, this is where we're gonna picnic, huh?

"Please be patient as we lay the blanket, Your Highness," one of the maids spoke. If I'm not mistaken, her name is Shairah. I smiled at her and nod my head. 

"Thank you, Shai," she looked at me with those widened eyes when I mentioned her name and she seems happy about it when she smiled at me. 

"I am merely doing what I should do, Your Highness," I giggled. 

Anyway, I really prefer it if all of them would just all me 'Princess', because in my world, Princess can be a name for a person, and so I won't be reminded over and over again that I became Alina. 

After the maids clean the surroundings, Lianne, one of the maids, placed the picnic blanket carefully on the wooden floor, she even made sure that it's perfectly placed. She also put the picnic basket on it and then they started bringing out all the snacks they placed into the basket. There are cupcakes, cookies, candies, sandwiches, and a tea set...? Inside a picnic basket? But, well...there is only one tea cup?

"We brought a teapot and tea cup here but there's only a honey milk inside, Your Highness," Why is there only one tea cup?

"Ohh...well, it's only for the Princess," Hmm? I turned my head to Ryna. 

Wait, did I just said those words out loud? Dang it, that was embarrassing. But...

"Why? There's a lot of us here, I can't just drink this alone...and, please don't tell me that all the snacks here are just for me? It's a bit...uhm, too much, don't you think?" I asked. Because, there's no way I'd be able to eat all these! That's just impossible. 

"It's alright, Princess. You don't really need to eat it all, those are just choices for the Princess which food she'd like to eat," Themis answered. Huh...and what is going to happen to the food I didn't consume? Are they going to throw it away?

I creased my forehead and look around this pavilion. It's spacious and wide enough for all of us, so maybe I can ask them to have a small tea party with me. Haha. 

"Okay, I've decided!" I spoke. All of them are looking at me with confusion all over their faces. 

"Let's have a tea party! But just us, please get more tea cups for everyone!" Look at them exchanging looks with each other as if they are so surprised to hear what I just said. And why does it seems like they were also moved from it? 

"It's alright, Princess, you don't have to worry about us. And please...with all due respect, stop speaking to us politely sometimes," hmm...? Am I speaking politely to them? I speak like how Alina does though? Oh, was it because I keep saying 'please' every time I ask them for something? But, isn't that normal? It's not being polite, but humane...? I think.

"Hmm, nope. You said this is a picnic, so I don't want to be the only one enjoying it..." I stood up and look at the other maids. 

"Please, can one of you get enough tea cups for everyone?" I asked again, looking at the other maids that are outside the pavilion. 

"This area is wide enough for all of us, so...let's have a small tea party!" 

--

I closed my eyes as I feel the breeze brushing through my skin. I asked Themis if I can look around the garden alone, but she refused. Still, I was able to force her and she couldn't do anything about it when I was about to kneel down in front of her just so she will let me wander alone around this beautiful garden. She reminded me that I shouldn't go too far though, and I reassured her by giving her a kiss on her cheek, which surprised everyone because that was the first time that Alina did something like that. 

"Still...this place really is beautiful, huh?" I mumbled as I roam my eyes around. And right when I turned my head to my right side, I saw a huge fountain. Wow...that looks amazing. 

I glanced at the pavilion where Themis and the others are staying. They are all watching, so I gave them a smile that made them giggle to each other and starts talking--probably about me. 

I turned my head to the fountain again and started walking towards it. It's near the pavilion, so Themis won't get mad or worried if I go there, right? I chuckled as I continue to walk towards the fountain. I don't remember seeing a fountain in this garden. Maybe Alina did not encounter this fountain yet and this is the very first time I'm seeing it

Wow, it's getting really sparkly as I approach the fountain. 

Because of my impatience, I decided to run towards the fountain. I don't know why it feels so far even though it looks really close a while ago when I first saw it. Is it because of my short legs? Or is it because my perspective is low? Either way, I'm getting really close now. 

A few more run, and finally...I reached it!

I can't help but gasp when I realized how huge this fountain is. I can't even see the very top of this fountain because of how high and huge it is. There are even four statues of angels surrounding it, and because of how high the water is falling, the drops of it are creating those sparkles after it gets hit by the sunlight. How amazing...

"Wow...so pretty," I mumbled as I stare at it. 

First was the sea of flower garden, now this...this empire never cease to amaze me. I wonder what other amazing things are outside this palace where I've been living? I'm so curious now that I suddenly had this urge to ask Themis if we can go to the Central Plaza sometimes. 

I took a deep breath and roam my eyes again, only to found a...

Person? He's got black hair...hmm, strangely familiar. Black hair? A Ciera?!

He's under a huge tree, sitting and leaning on its trunk with his eyes closed. Looks like he's asleep, but who is he? Why is he in this palace? The palace where Alina live is secluded and is within a forest...so, who is this guy? I can't see his eyes...but, he's got no moles! Could it be the First Prince? Or the Emperor? Please not the Emperor! No, not the First Prince either!

I carefully walk towards the guy who's sleeping under the tree and made sure that I am walking quietly. 

I wonder who this guy is? He looks so young...maybe the First Prince then.

I kneel down on the grass and take a peek on his face. He's beautiful. Look at that fair skin and long eyelashes, even his nose is perfect! His lips are so red, as if there's a lipstick on it. Did he actually put a lipstick on? Plus, his hair is so silky and it looks soft, it's straight too. I wanna try touching it but I should avoid actions that could cause him to wake up.

He's really gorgeous---oh, wait, I shouldn't get too close to him. What if he wakes up and slice my head off?! That would ruin all my plans!

I stood up and carefully turn around as I tip toe away from the guy. I hope I didn't wake him up. 

I sighed in relief when I noticed that I'm a bit far from him now. Themis and the others must be worried, I should go back now. 

I was about to continue walking, when suddenly...a gust of wind passed by me. I closed my eyes and raised my arms to cover my face. What the heck was that? It's as if a vehicle running super fast just passed by me. 

"Who are you?" my eyes widened as I hear an unfamiliar voice speaking, right in front of me. Yes, in front of me. 

I slowly remove my arms that's covering my face and looked at the person who spoke in front of me. My eye widens as I saw his golden eyes with five-pointed petals design, a trait that only a descendant of Odilia possess. And...what exactly is this Odilia I am talking about? That's Alina's mother's maiden surname!

In short...this person in front of me is...

Really one of Alina's brothers! His face has no moles anywhere, so it is confirmed that this person in front of me is the First Prince of the Ciera Empire, Helios Rishi de Ciera. The second brother has a mole under the right side of his lips, while the third brother got mole on top of his left eye, just under the brow, while me...I also got a mole, right exactly where my mom's mole is. Under my right eye, on the side. 

Anyways, what is he doing here? How did he got here? I mean, is their palace really close to where I currently live that he ended up here within the palace's garden? 

I gulped as I stare at his scary gold eyes that are looking down upon me. As if he's looking at a bug that disturb his peaceful sleep. My heart starts to race really fast, and even though I want to look away from him, I can't take my eyes off! What the heck?! And of course, he now know about my identity right away because of my eyes!

"I asked you, miss," his voice is so serious and so cold. Do you really expect a kid to answer your questions when you're looking at her like that?!

Dang it, my heart is going to explode because of nervousness.

"Silver hair and emerald eyes...from which noble family do you belong?" Thanks to his words, the nervousness I was feeling slowly fades away and switches to confusion. What did he just say? Emerald eyes...?

I looked at the fountain and run towards it, leaning my small body on it as I look at my reflection on the water.

He's right, my eyes are different in color. But, why...?

The first time I saw Alina's face, I was surprised and amazed. She has silver hair and golden eyes, traits that she got from her mother. Her eyes even has this unique design rooted from her pupils. So...how?

"I..." I face the Prince again, and it felt like a huge thorn was removed from my throat when I saw my face's reflection on the water. That means, he still doesn't know my identity. But, I'm still scared! What if he suddenly grab me by the neck and then throw me to the fountain because I disturbed his sleep?

"You woke me up from my sweet slumber, die,"

And what if he slice my head off?! I'm nervous...!

"I'm sorry, mister! I just thought that the fountain looks really beautiful and I ended up coming here, hehe..." I scratched the back of my head as I force a laugh. He just stared down at me without saying anything, and that made my nervousness to come back! Dang it, this is nerve-wracking...

"I asked, 'who are you', not 'what are you doing here'," I gulped again as I clear my throat. I smiled at him and held the sides of my dress before bowing in front of him, crossing my right ankle behind my left foot. 

"My name is Alina Devi, it's nice to meet you, good sir!" I stood straight and clasp my hands together. 

"I'm sorry for disturbing mister's sleep, I will go back now!" I spoke, running pass by him after waving my hands at him. 

Dang it, darn it! Was it mentioned in the book about this encounter with Helios this early? I don't remember reading about that at all! But, it's understandable since it wasn't Alina's story to begin with. 

I look straight ahead without looking back at his direction. I'm just so sure that if I did, he'll end up trapping me here until Themis arrived looking for me. 

I gulped and closed my eyes for a while as I run, praying that he don't try to chase me and slap my cute face for disturbing his sleep. 

I tried to look for the pavilion where we are planning to host our picnic, and when I finally saw it, I felt a relief within my chest. But, I saw all the maids scattered around the area, and they look so small. That just mean that the fountain was far from our picnic area, and I only thought it was close because it's huge!

Dang it, biggest mistake in my life!

***