4. Name of the Prince

"Good morning." Luna Barbara entered her elder daughter's chamber, trying not to step on the fabrics scattered on the floor.

"Good morning, Mother."

"Good morning, Luna."

Persephone and Mary greeted and returned back to inspecting the fabrics. Seamstresses present in the room bowed and stood still. Luna motioned to continue whatever they were doing before her arrival.

Persephone walked through bundles of fabrics, held both hands of her mother and made her sit on the bed beside Mary. She picked two pieces of gorgeous and expensive looking fabrics. "Which one will look better on me, mother?"

Luna inspected for a while before answering. "The blue one, dear."

"I told you." said Mary with a smug look on her face.

"Blue, it is then." Persephone put aside the other one and started lecturing seamstresses about how the design of the gown must be and threatening them with their lives if anything shall go wrong.

Meanwhile Luna sent a maid to fetch Ariana.

Ariana was singing and swaying on her feet. Her movements came to a halt when she heard a knock at the door. She composed herself before speaking. "Come in."

The maid entered and bowed slightly. "Luna has requested your presence at Lady Persephone's chamber, m'lady."

Ariana nodded and led the way to her sister's chamber followed by the maid.

"You called for me. mother?"

"Yes, dear. We are preparing dresses for the ceremony. Have you given any thought about the dress you would wear?"

"I haven't."

"You do not have to worry at all. You have your mother and sister at your aid. Come, take a seat."

Persephone rolled her eyes. "Yes, of course."

While she and Luna busied themselves, a cool gust of wind entered from the windows directed towards the bed. Accordingly, Ariana wrapped a shawl around her. Mary couldn't find another so she snatched Ariana's shawl. Ariana didn't let go off the shawl either. Tug of war started between them. It terminated when Ariana let go of the shawl abruptly making Mary loose balance and the upper half of her body crashed on the bed.

Alpha Edward and Anwar entered the chamber at the same time, witnessing all of it. Ariana and Anwar's eyes met, then they both let out a chuckle.

This infuriated Alpha even more.

"Ariana, apologize to Mary. Right now!" His voice boomed.

"What happened?" Luna inquired.

"Oh it is a trivial matter, mother. I am sorry, Mary."

"You are?"Anwar, who was behind Alpha, silently mouthed. Ariana shook her head and gave him a toothy grin.

"Ariana, Anwar. Your father would like to have a talk."

"We shall be leaving for the capital at the end of this week - " Alpha started.

"- We already know that." Persephone interrrupted.

"Persephone!" Luna scolded.

"It's alright." Alpha dismissed.

"As I was saying we all shall be leaving for the capital soon. Now your Luna and I have been there several times before. But, this will be the first visit for you children."

"See? You're a child too." Ariana whispered. Anwar rolled his eyes.

"All of you will be representing our pack and I want all of you to be on your best behavior."

"But father, we always do."

"Some of you always do." Alpha commented, eyeing Ariana and Mary.

"Personnel of high ranks will be present there. You all will be scrutinized by them. The way you walk, the way you talk, the way you deal with whatever questions thrown at your direction will make a lasting impression on them."

Everyone was hanging onto the wise words of Alpha Edward. A knock at the door broke the trance.

"Come in." Luna answered.

Person at the door bowed before speaking. "Beta Richard has been looking for you, Alpha."

"You may go." Alpha nodded before walking out of the chamber himself.

Mary waited for him to reach far enough before closing the door herself. She let out the breath she was holding. She then sat down next to Persephone.

"Luna, could you tell us about the capital and our future King?"

"Sure, my child." Then she went on explaining about the magnificent structures and statues built during the reign of former King and how civilized the people of Wicrelf were.

"Why do you and father talk like we're savages?" Anwar huffed.

Luna smiled. "It was not our intention, son. But in the city of Wicrelf, the nobles and courtiers reside. Once you reach there, you will see for yourself."

Meanwhile Mary and Persephone gave each other a look which suggested that when Mary has insisted Luna to tell about Wicrelf and the King, they wanted to hear about the former less and the latter more.

"What about out Crown Prince, mother?" Persephone immediately diverted the conversation.

"Your father and I had been there at the funeral. He was devastated. We only saw him when he came out of his chamber to perform the rituals."

"He was very young then, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he was." Luna answered looking at Ariana.

"Rumor has it that he has these mesmerizing emerald green eyes." said Mary dreamily. Persephone too seem to be intrigued.

"Yes, he does." Luna chuckled.

"Over these years, he had been training as well as pursuing his formal education-

"-Formal education? From where?"

"I am not sure. But from the human world."

"Oh! So the precious little Prince is allowed to complete his education there, but suddenly the human world is too dangerous for me." Ariana rolled her eyes.

"What is wrong with your sister? Here we are talking about the Prince and all she could think of was her ridiculous obsession for studying." Mary whispered to Persephone. She nodded.

"Now let us talk about something less trivial, shall we?" she said with a smug look on her face.

"Yes, because color of the Prince's eyes is a matter of utmost importance." Ariana fired back.

Dismissing the whole ordeal, Luna continued.

"He came back three years ago and started fraternizing with Alphas of all the seven packs. Now, he is highly revered by all of them."

"Mother, I know all about that. Could you tell us how he is in person?" Anwar asked.

"He is a man of few words."

"As a king should be." Ariana added.

"Our poor Prince has been affected by the death of his parents so much that he doesn't even talk and that is what you've got to say, Ariana. How insensitive and immature!" Persephone accused.

"Oh yes! Go on! Baby him like father babies you."

This did it.

"See, Mother! This is what she think of me. Forget about me, this is what she think of father!" Persephone burst with anger.

Ariana had managed to strike the right nerve. She smirked in victory.

"Ariana." Luna pretended to scold. Even Mary didn't fire back as she knew that Ariana's words might seem to be spiteful, but that was the truth.

Persephone tried to calm herself. During the process, her murmurs could be heard.

"Stupid..."

"Jealous..."

"I am better..."

She even laughed in between. Everyone eyed her.

"Mother?"

"Yes, Ariana?"

"We have been talking about the Prince since the day of the announcement of his coronation. But I don't seem to recall the mention of his name. What is it?"

"One does not address the royalties by their name, silly." Persephone tried to one up.

"Bummer! I was thinking of calling the King by his first name and then having a little chit-chat about his feelings, the moment I become acquainted with him."

Mary snickered.

"What is the matter with you people? You all seemed to be obsessed with him." Anwar got up and left.

"I smell of something burning. Might as well tame it before it takes form of a wildfire." said Ariana before getting up and leaving.

"Xavier." She heard as she was at the door.

"Beg your pardon?"

"Xavier Kon Lancaster is the name."