What am I going to do, Diaage? Stand by and watch Ishtar take him? C'mon, give me some ideas here!

Well, maybe... how about this? I get someone to pretend to be Yuujel. This someone will be so horrible to the princess that she will give up on him.

Doesn't that Ishtar know what Yuujel is like? He is very hard to imposter.

Don't worry, dear Leene. Just make sure that everyone is out of the way.

If I do that then you'd better make sure Ishtar gets full on tricked.

Trust me, by morning Ishtar will be packing her bags back to Pheliosta.


It was so boring. Duzell happened to be sleeping and Ishtar didn't want to wake him up, so decided to evade Darres and have a little walk. The walk also got boring and it was no fun going anywhere without her at, so Ishtar began walking home. She had barely reached the entrance however, when a suspicious looking maid came waltzing up to her.

"Your majesty, the young prince is waiting for you," she declared. "Prince Yuujel of Zi Alda, you must go meet him."

Yuujel of Zi Alda? This was not good. Ishtar didn't want to see her cousin but the maid's grip was strong and she found herself being pulled into her chambers – her chambers. What was this man doing in her chambers? She saw a figure sitting on the chair and the maid let go.

"I am the Princess of Pheliosta, you know!" Ishtar shouted at the maid, her arm burning. The maid curtsied low.

"I apologise, your majesty but it was... necessary. I take my leave." She departed quickly before Ishtar could say anything. The figure on the chair stood up.

"I am honoured to meet you again, dear cousin. Do you remember me?" he said and a lantern was uncovered. The light revealed a young man with blonde hair and violet eyes.

"You are to call me, 'your royal highness'," Ishtar said coolly. "And who in Pheliosta are you supposed to be? Why did you get the maids to drag me in here? How did you get in here in the first place?"

"I was able to gain entrance for I am the Prince of Zi Alda, your majesty. Queen Sonia and Sir Keld both admitted me, and since you seem to have no other business, can I delight you in a walk?" he asked.

"What do you mean I have no other business?" Ishtar demanded. Prince Yuujel chuckled.

"Well, you don't seem very busy, after all. Do you..." his voice trailed off and he looked at her, a smile planted on his face. Ishtar weighed down her options, wondering whether to go. She did have nothing to do and this may be a chance to bag that cousin of hers.

"Fine then, where do you want to walk?" she asked grudgingly, glaring at him hard.

"Wherever your ladyship wishes," came his polite reply. Ishtar shrugged it off.

"Okay, let's walk in the castle grounds then," she suggested and walked out; fully awake that he was following closely. They stopped in the courtyard. "This walk is stupid. I'm going back."

"No, you are to stay here with me, Lady Ishtar," Yuujel said firmly, smiling in his annoying way. Ishtar glared at him.

"And what makes you think that I want to stay here with you?" she demanded. "You know, I rule Pheliosta."

"That I know quite well and that is why you are to become my bride."

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Ishtar shouted, springing backwards. This Yuujel guy was worse than she'd thought.

"Princess, what are you doing out here without Darres... and who is your friend?" someone said and Ishtar turned to see Yujinn approaching.

"Yujinn, weren't you in Pheliosta? Well, this creep says he wants to marry me," Ishtar explained, eyeing Yuujel suspiciously.

Yujinn smiled at Yuujel. "Good evening, dear sir! Welcome to Zi Alda! My name is Yujinn and I am her majesty's tutor. May I ask for your title, good man?" he said pleasantly.

"Quiet you!" Yuujel snarled. "You have no authority to talk to me, fool. Where are you from? What have you got to do with Zi Alda?"

"My homeland should be no importance to you and to my belief; I have nothing at all to do with Zi Alda. This may be the first time I have ever travelled here," Yujinn replied cheerfully. "Now, may I have your name, please?"

"He's Prince Yuujel of Zi Alda," Ishtar said quickly, causing Yujinn to splutter. He quickly recovered.

"You are... the prince?" he asked in disbelief.

"What do you think? Of course I am the prince!" Yuujel shouted. "Who else would I be? Only descendants of Phelios may propose to the princess!"

Yujinn smiled. "And because of your abrupt appearance and rudeness to her majesty, we will need some verification. Now, may you please come with us to see Queen Sonia?" he suggested.

"Get lost!" Yuujel shouted and muttered a transportation spell. Yujinn began to disappear into midair. He tried to grasp something.

"He's not the real Yuujel! I – " he shouted but the rest was lost. He disappeared, causing Ishtar to freak again.

"Oh, excuse me for this rude interruption, your majesty," Yuujel said. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, the wedding proposal."

"You aren't Yuujel, are you?" Ishtar asked warily, remembering Yujinn's words. Yuujel smirked.

"Of course I am. Now, are you going to marry me or not?" he demanded.

Ishtar stepped back and spoke one word, "No."

"So be it," Yuujel spat and reached for her. Ishtar made a run for it, only she ran straight into a wall and Yuujel had her cornered in no time. He smiled widely, blocking all paths of escape. She avoided his gaze, looking desperately for an escape route. "Well, I guess you are mine now. Only, I would love you much more as a vampire."

"Vampire?" Ishtar repeated and stiffened as he grabbed her shoulders and bared his fangs. Yes, definitely a vampire.

There was a flash and a cat scratched his finger. Yuujel easily shook him off and laughed loudly. "Where are all your guards, your majesty? Only a wild cat, only a wild cat."

He leaned forward and Ishtar could feel his disgusting garlic breath. This vampire had a weird taste in food. She closed her eyes, tired from struggling. She wondered how on earth she would spend life now, as a vampire. The bite never came though. His hands were wrenched from her shoulders and she opened her eyes to see him writhing in pain on the floor.

"How?" Ishtar asked and looked around. Sitting on the ground was a young man with long platinum blonde hair and a long flowing black cloak. He was looking at the vampire in satisfaction and stood up, his palm facing Yuujel.

"Did he bite you?" he asked, sweeping his eyes over Ishtar's neck. Seeing no wound, he sighed in relief and then looked harshly at the vampire.

"No... please... spare me..." Yuujel gasped. "My lord... please..." The man looked down at him coldly.

"You should know better than to attack Princess Ishtar of Pheliosta, you worthless puppet," he spat and muttered something else. Yuujel gave a yelp.

"Next time... I will never do it again..." he screamed. "Let me leave... I won't do it next time..."

"Trust me, there won't be a next time," the man said and blood came streaming out of Yuujel's ears. He was breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry, princess!" he wheezed. "I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Please tell me him to spare me! Please!"

Ishtar looked frighteningly at the man and then looked down at the vampire. He definitely wasn't Yuujel, she was sure her cousin wasn't a vampire. Of course he wasn't. With his last breath, the vampire made a rude gesture and then died. The man bent down and licked the blood, momentarily revealing his fangs. Ishtar reeled back. Was the castle streaming with vampires today or something?

"Okay, that was not Yuujel. So Ishtar, care to go back to your room now?" he said finally, standing up and looking around but Ishtar had already fainted from the fright.