It's been days since I last saw Demitri. Like he promised, he never saw me again. Which on the contrary should suppose to make me glad, but why do it felt like I am missing something every single day? "A royal decree is issued!" someone shouted in the tavern's door. "Royal decree?" Thiara looked confused. Everyone went out. If it's a royal decree then it's something that concerns everyone. "What could it be? This is sudden..." I heard the murmurs. "Stated in the royal decree is: every unmarried lady in the kingdom of Solterra must attend the royal ball on this month's full moon! The crown prince will choose the lucky girl to be his wife and future queen!" the courtier announced. "What? Is that true?!" "Oh my! I can't believe that! As in, every girl? Even a commoner?" "Yes, everyone." I don't know how to react. How

"What about Mistress Celestina? She would scold me—" "Don't worry about that. I'll talk to her later," Demitri promised and led me to another secret passageway again. "Where are we going?" "On my private place. Just wait and see." After entering another door for the nth time, I can already see the blue sky outside. And there was a very nice smell everywhere. Freesias? "We are at what part of the palace?" I asked, my eyes fixed at the flowers beside the stone pathway. "East. This is the Crown Prince's garden. No one is allowed here aside from the royal family." "Then why did you bring me here? Do you want me to be beheaded for trespassing in a private place?" "There's an exception. Of course if the prince himself brought someone here, that won't be a problem." "Sure. Unless someone would see us going in such a priv

"May you be blessed a happy life together, son and daughter!" The King said to us after the rites which made me more anxious than ever. Can you imagine? His Majesty himself just called me daughter! I can't believe all of this is really happening."For the kingdom's longevity!" the King shared a toast which was answered by everyone."What happened to the other ladies? I don't see them anywhere," I whispered to Demitri."They were sent home early this morning. I gave them invitations for today's event but I guess they don't want to come."My jaw dropped. "You insensitive son of a witch. You sent them home that early and even gave them invitations? Tell me. Do you even have a heart, Demitri? They must be hurt because they were not chosen. What you did was like adding salt to the wound!""First of all, I'm not son of a witch. My mother is a pure blooded earth summoner. Second, I thought they w

Are you sure this won't kill both of us? I asked Raja in my mind. 'Why would we be killed? Think about who your companies are. The three mighty princes of Solterra, the strongest in their kind. Plus another prince who certainly has another ability aside from charming women. Do you really think they'd let the crown princess die?' Hmm. I guess not. But what if the enemy is stronger? What if in the middle of the fight I'd be alone and helpless? 'And why would you be helpless? You have your ability, Ophelia. Honestly, you can do whatever you want with fire just if you put your heart in it, like it belongs to you, a part of you.' I shook my head doubtly. I agree with that but definitely not now. I'm in the process of practicing my ability yet. I can't do big things. 'Trust. Just trust, my lady. If you just trust that you can, I know you can do it.' That somehow consoled me. After I packed a bit of things, I went down the hall withou

"Blood of the Wise is a very rare wine, Your Highness. It's one of our collection, but we only have one..." Fear was evident on Orion's voice but he sounded like he was implying that he can't give it to us because it's the only one."I'm willing to pay. How much?" Demitri got something on his pocket, a pouch of gold I suppose, and it fell down before Orion's feet."We can give you more if you want. Just give us the wine," Prince David said."We're willing to negotiate in terms of the price, but we don't have lots of patient, Mr. Orion. I hope you understood what I'm implying." Prince Martin was dead serious as he said those words. Gone the playful smiles and smirks. All I can see now is a lethal prince who would not hesitate of killing someone."What is happening here?" I heard a new voice just a second after the door opened.We all turned to see the newcomer.A man probably around Orion's age. Tall, lean, wearing a black cloak and a black h