The following morning, Esther got quite the surprise when she woke up to see a small team of servants in the room– all of which are debating on what the young woman will wear for the festival. Recovering from her shock, Esther climb out of bed as she realize that since the festival is tonight, they would spend all day preparing every eligible young ladies so that they would be 'presentable' to the Royal Family in hope of becoming the future queen. Esther was grateful that she had the foresight of bringing the small bag containing an ocarina with her yesterday in hope of helping her cousin; it was the only thing she have left of her parents… After a while, the young woman managed to convince the servants to leave her hair the way it is and choose a simple, yet elegant blue and white dress with a pair of black flats on her feet. Hiding the ocarina in the sleeve, Esther followed the servants out of the room– hoping that she wouldn't get chosen to be the crown prince's future queen, especially since she didn't want to live a life where she's believed to be a prisoner.
With the full moon and the lanterns lighting the festival, the palace's hanging gardens is bathed in a comforting, yet romantic light. But one young woman was having a hard time enjoying the festival– After looking around for her cousin in the crowd; most of which are of other young women hoping to become the future queen; Esther decided to sneak away to a quieter part of the hanging gardens, albeit close to the party when the time comes. Sitting down on the ledge of one of the fountains, the young woman look up to see the full moon. In hope of that she wouldn't be chosen, Esther reached her hand out to the moon and close it in a way of having the moon in her hand before bringing it close to her chest above her heart as she breathed her wish into it. Pulling out the ocarina, Esther thought about how the other young women were eager… whereas she didn't wanted to be here, even though the Royal Family had decreed it and it is tradition, after all. Remembering the song her mother used to sing to her, Esther brought the ocarina to her lips and began to play a haunting melody.
Not far, the Crown Prince walked alone within the Fountain Court. He had just seen every girl within the festival held in his honour, but he knew that they're either only interested in him because he's the heir to the throne or that they don't exactly have the same interests he does… Although it is tradition, the festival wasn't his idea– but sometimes, he wished that he could be allowed to voice in his honest opinions and not have his life lived out for him. If he had his way, the prince would wait until he had succeeded his parents' throne before going through this trouble– he just didn't like to be forced like this and if he were to marry, he wanted it to be for love. "A little kindness, honesty, and understanding really that hard to ask for?" Xerxes thought to himself as he look up to the full moon before doing the same thing Esther did, "I just wish… that I could be free to just be me and not the prince…"
~~~KH~~~
That is when the clear notes of an ocarina filled the air, shattering the prince's train of thought. Xerxes noted that none of the musicians have an ocarina and the beautiful-sounding instrument sounds closer in comparison to the distant festival. Out of curiosity, the crown prince decided to investigate the source. As he follows the sound, he turned a corner– only to felt his breath getting caught. Sitting on the ledge of a nearby fountain was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen– she was dressed in a blue dress that was inspired by those worn by women in a world visiting Keyblade Wielders had mentioned with the moonlight caught in her soft, silver hair.
Caught up with the song she was playing on her ocarina, the young woman didn't realize that she had an audience until she heard footsteps. Turning her head, Esther noticed a handsome, young man around her age approaching her. She quickly hid her ocarina, "I'm so sorry if I had bothered you. I'll stop playing if you want me to…" Esther began to apologize when the young man stopped her. "No, it's quite beautiful." He complimented with a smile, causing the young woman to blush a bit– there something about this young man… "Thanks. It's a song my mother used to sing to me when I was little." Esther returned his smile as he sat down beside her, "I would like to hear it again– only this time, can you sing it for me?" The young man said, causing the young woman to feel shy… "I- I don't know…" she stated, feeling somewhat insecure. "Something tells me that you have a wonderful voice." The young man encouraged with a smile. Esther blushed at his comment, "All right… But I just hope I don't disappoint you." She stated as she began to recall her mother's song.
"The battle is not ours, we seek Her Grace above.
For she will guide us safely through.
And guard us with her love.
So do not be afraid, we need not run and hide.
For there is nothing we can't face with Her Grace at our side."
~~~KH~~~
Once she had finished, Esther noticed a tear escaping her audience's striking cyan eyes. "That was beautiful… just like you." The young man said as he wiped the tears away out of embarrassment, earning a blush from the young woman. "So, are you here for the festival?" he asked Esther, "Not exactly by choice… I'm only here for the crown prince to choose his future queen. While I respect the Royal Family's authority, I just don't want to live a life where you feel trapped. If I was given a chance, I would like to live free to be myself and not within a gilded prison as a prisoner…" the young woman explained before realizing that her words may be considered as treason. "I'm sorry. I should be keeping those thoughts to myself." She apologized, "It's quite all right. In fact, I feel the same way." The young man reassured her. "Most Azurians I've met usually keep any thoughts like that to themselves. I sometimes like to sneak out to the hanging gardens to escape from the pressure... and to be free to be me."
~~~KH~~~
"Really? My name is Esther." The young woman introduced herself, "Esther… I think there's a royal name to it. 'Hadassah.'" The young man stated after repeating her name. "'Hadassah?' That's quite pretty, but… I actually don't know. I kind of find it hard to marry someone you don't even know, let alone seen before– other than a few rare exceptions, not many Azurians had ever seen the Royal Family. Especially with the punishment of appearing before the Royal Family without being summoned or granted an audience with them." Esther said, causing the young man to understand. "Death…" He quietly said before the young woman faces him, "How do you know about that?" Esther asked, causing the young man to falter a bit. "Well, um…" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "I take it you're a member of the court." Esther guessed, confusing the young man. "The way you talked, especially with you sneaking off to escape your pressure, it's enough for me to tell that you're a member of the royal court." The young woman explains, causing the young man to understand. "More or less… And I take it you're from the Vulpeus district." He stated, causing Esther to be confused. "Your eyes, they remind me of the shorelines in that area."
The sound of bells filled the air, causing the young woman to remember the festival. "I'd better get going before they send guards to find me." She said as she began to head back, only for the young man to stop her by gently grabbing her hand. "Even though you don't want to live a prisoner's life as I do, I hope I see you again." He said before he brought her hand up and gently plant a kiss on it. Blushing and dazed from this gesture, Ester didn't see the young man leave and a guard approached her. "There you are. I was assigned to make sure every young women are present and accounted for. As soon as the crown prince is located, it will be time for the future queen to be chosen." He said, causing the young woman to nod. But as she followed the guard, Esther look back to see that the young man is gone… "I wonder who he is… I didn't even learn his name."
~~~KH~~~
After a while, every eligible young women in Laputa waited in the courtyard where a balcony overlook the hanging gardens. Most of them were anxious, in more ways than one. Another minute has passed and the five members of the Foreteller Union Councils and the oracle walked out to the balcony, "Tonight, Ahasuerus Toel Ul Azuria will begin to take on his father's role as king, and according to customs, he had already chosen his future queen." The oracle said as he gestured to the young women below. The crowd cheered, only to quiet down again when the representative of the Vulpeus District step forward. "Would all the eligible young women who live is the district I represent please come forth?" Esther's heart skipped a beat when she heard this; she knew that when the heir to the throne have chosen their consort, the member of the Council would ask everyone who lives in the district they represent to come forth as a way to narrow the search down, and the oracle would then choose the one to be the heir's consort. Flying up to the balcony with half a dozen others, the young woman hoped that the oracle would choose someone else…
~~~KH~~~
Standing in line, Esther held her breath as the oracle began to inspect each young woman– only to become shocked that the oracle stopped at her. "What is your name, my dear?" the Unicornis Representative asked the young woman, "Esther…" she answered the council, causing the Council and the oracle to smile. "It is our honour and privilege to present your crown princess for the first time… Hadassah Toellas Ul Azuria." The crowd cheered again as Esther bashfully approach the balcony.
The memory of that moment is still fresh in her mind after the festival is over– not only her fear of living within a gilded prison had become a reality, but she would never see that young man again… "Esther! I just heard the news! You're the crown princess of all… Laputa." The excited Mordecai said, only to trail off to see that his cousin is looking down. "Yep…" Esther said half-heartedly, "Well, you got to be… at least a little excited…" Mordecai said. "But nobody even asked me if I wanted to be a princess, let alone future queen." The young woman stated bluntly, sounding somewhat upset that she's stuck in an arranged marriage with the crown prince she had never met. "Oh, Esther… You always did have a mind of your own. I always liked that about you." Mordecai said with a chuckle, only to see that Esther didn't laugh. "I'm sure there is a reason for this…" he said, comforting his cousin. "Look on the bright side– tomorrow, you'll be introduced to the Court. It would be fun to watch." The Lieutenant smiled, "Please get some rest, your highness. My cousin… Crown Princess! Who knew?" he turned to leave when the young woman called out to him. "Mordecai, wait! The Royal Family– What are they like?" Esther asked, "Oh, Queen Vashti is a reasonable woman who wish to see the good– but when she needs to, she is also a just ruler who wanted what's best for her people. And as for her son, something tells me that you're really going to like him." Hearing her cousin's answer, Esther remembers the young man being a member of the Court… "Maybe there's a chance for me to see him again."