To all u reviewers and readers: I am so very and truly sorry that I haven't updated in a while. These past two weeks have been full of final exams and I had to study really, really hard. All my exams are now over though and as of yesterday, I am officially a sophomore now! Anyway, since school is over 4 the summer, I shall be updating a lot so keep reviewing and reading. Thank u all so much!
~Charissa~
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~The palace in Alexandria later that day~
"What would you like to do, Serenity?" Lani asked at around 2:00 in the afternoon after they had just finished their lunch, which consisted of fruit (again) and bread. (A/N Egyptians eat lightly)
Serenity look at Lani and replied, "I have no idea what there is to do around here, Lani."
"Well, we could go out and look at the gardens in the palace courtyard," Lani suggested. "Or we could find your brother and shop in the market with some guards."
Serenity looked appalled at the thought of having guards following her around the market and said, "I'd rather look at the gardens."
"Great!" Lani exclaimed. "I haven't seen them yet."
Just as Lani and Serenity were heading out of the room, a servant came up to them and bowed to the princess. "Your highness," he began, "The queen has sent me to tell you that your first meeting with Prince Duke will be right now. You must follow me there." When the servant was done speaking, he bowed again and motioned for Lani and Serenity to follow him to where the prince was.
They were led through a maze of halls and Serenity whispered nervously to Lani when the servant stopped in front of a door, "I'm nervous, Lani. What if the prince doesn't like me? What if he actually hates me? What if~"
"The prince will love you, Highness," Lani interrupted with a reassuring voice. The servant near them heard that remark and smirked. Everyone in the palace knows the prince doesn't want to be married, he thought. Why is she telling her that the prince will love her? The servant then left to do his chores.
Lani knocked on the door and a voice said firmly, "Come in." Lani opened the door and she and Serenity stepped into the room. It was even more royal than the room where Serenity stayed. There were golden trinkets and jewelry on all the bookshelves and painted pictures with golden frames on the walls and the doors of closets. Serenity gasped at the sight of all this wealth in one room. Then her eyes came to rest on a tall, handsome man in the middle of the room, who was surrounded by a few servants.
"Well, hello there, Princess," the man said rather coldly. He made a motion to his servants, which signaled them to leave the room. He looked at Lani, who had gotten on her knees and bowed to him. "Get up!" he said roughly. As Lani did so, he gave her a questioning look and she nodded, confirming to the prince that this was the messenger he had been promised. Then his eyes turned to look at the nervous princess. He was surprised at how she looked when he laid eyes on her. He had thought that she would be a fat, porky girl from Canaan from what his half-sister, Anzu, had said.
"Forgive my rudeness from before," the man said then. "I was getting a little annoyed with my servants. I am Prince Duke."
Serenity said nervously, "It's okay. I'm glad to meet you. I am Serenity."
"Well, Princess Serenity, how was your journey here? I do hope it wasn't too tiresome."
"It was okay," Serenity answered. "I don't like traveling too much though."
"And how is your servant?" Prince Duke asked. "Is she satisfactory?"
"Oh yes, definitely. She's the best servant I could ask for." Serenity looked at Lani and grinned. Then she whispered, "You can talk to him, you know."
Lani didn't know how she was going to get a message from the prince without coming right out and saying it but she knew it couldn't wait too long or his servants would be back in the room. So she said, "Um…Your Highness?"
"Yes?" the prince asked.
"Is there something you would like for me to do? I could get you something."
"As a matter of fact, yes. Go over to the closet over there~" he pointed to a closet that looked like it was rarely opened, "~and get the paper from behind the picture."
"Yes, Your Highness," Lani said. Then she did as she had been ordered as Serenity and the prince carried on with their conversation. Lani smiled and thought, Wow! It really seems like Prince Duke likes her. How wonderful! Lani took out the slip of paper from behind a picture of a garden. Then she looked at what was written on it.
'Meet me at the mark of 11 with Lord Yami'
That was all it said. Lani quickly closed the closet and took the piece of paper over to Prince Duke. As the prince took the paper and put it in his pocket, he gave Lani another questioning look. Lani yet again answered him with a nod.
Serenity saw this and became curious immediately, but knew that she shouldn't say a word.
There came a knock on the door at that moment and Prince Duke said, "Well, it was nice to meet you, Princess Serenity. I'm afraid our meeting will have to end now though." Then Prince Duke said to the people at the door, "Come in!"
His servants entered the room then and Serenity and Lani left.
As Lani and Serenity started walking back to Serenity's room, Lani asked, "So, what did you think of the prince?"
"Oh, he's wonderful!" Serenity exclaimed. "He's so nice and charming. I hope our next meeting comes soon."
"I'm sure it will," Lani said and smiled. She became quiet then though because she had so much else on her mind at that moment.
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Well, I hope u all liked this chapter. As u know, I would like at least one review b4 I continue. Keep reviewing cuz I'll be writing a lot from now on.