Chapter 2
Now when one insults a woman's pride, one usually doesn't expect to see or hear from that woman in quite a long time, until one apologizes - but not so with the Moon Princess. In her, nature's effects worked to the opposite effect.
When the White Prince brushed away her concerns, the Princess Serenity was insulted, but by no means discouraged. She was in accordance with nature in this one respect at least: she was blessedly stubborn. Once she made up her mind to do something, nothing could move her. It was, of course, Prince Demando's own fault. He had stirred her curiosity, sparked her interest, and inadvertently set off the princess's natural tendency to reach out to those who were troubled.
She knew he was troubled. In addition to her stubbornness, she had the gift of reading souls. It was no great wonder the child was considered the heart of her people, the living symbol of their peace and harmony, even more so than their queen. Those who beheld her presence would often speak of a "golden light" that came from her.
The Princess knew she ought to leave well enough alone. And perhaps she would have if there had not been something more there underneath the surface that kept nagging at her soul, in much the same way as a small child will tug at the hem of it's mother's dress - subtle, yet relentless. Strange, there was no conscious decision on her part to seek out and decipher the stoic young man who intrigued her, but it was rather a desire kept hidden even from her own awareness. In fact, what she told herself on the matter was completely contradictory. She told herself, as she had before when she had first witnessed him among her friends, that she really didn't wish to bother herself with him after all. He obviously had no desire to have any sort of contact with her, and she knew better than to obsess over something so inane.
"What do you think of that man, that prince from Nemesis?" asked Princess Jupiter in a low whisper over dinner. The man she spoke of was not present (he avoided human company at all costs), but gossip and the like was always discouraged among the princesses, so they were forced to keep it hushed.
"Hm?" Serenity felt the concern rise in her throat, but she ignored and suppressed it.
"I believe his name is Demando. I thought he was handsome, when he first arrived, but now I think I've changed my mind. He's so moody, and he never talks to anyone. What's more, he's completely oblivious to my signs."
"Signs" was the code word the flirtatious Princess Jupiter used to represent her less than subtle advances.
"Yes, I know who you mean. I don't really know what to think of him," she said honestly. "When I saw him the other day, he spoke rudely to me. But I suppose it doesn't matter."
* * *
It didn't matter what she thought of him, but he couldn't help wondering nonetheless. He had wanted her to leave him alone. He was pleased that he had hurt her that day . . . but he was also a little disappointed. His characteristic indifference was not coming into play as well as he was accustomed. He had grown used to its ability to keep him at a safe distance from other human beings. He dismissed it from his mind and tried to focus on his agenda.
But as soon as he had made up his mind to ignore the one dilemma, another one pried away at his subconscious. He found that he couldn't stop thinking about the tingling light he had felt - that strange aura she emitted. It was calming and intriguing, and if he had known a little bit more about the subject, he would have decided it was also pleasing.
Demando paced about his room. He couldn't concentrate.
* * *
She paced outside his room. What had happened? She had thought she was heading out to the terrace to meet her friends. They had intended to go to the marketplace to have some fun before the Festival of the Flowers tomorrow and amuse themselves with pretty trinkets, but absorbed in her thoughts, Princess Serenity had let her feet lead the way and she had ended up here, near the guest apartments. In the recesses of her mind, she had somehow retained the information of where the royal visitor was staying and now here she was.
She knew he was there. She wished he would come out. But what she would do or say when she did, she didn't quite know.
The decision was made in less than an instant. For the second time, it was she that approached him. She walked up to the door and knocked lightly.
* * *
Someone knocked lightly, almost imperceptibly at his door.
When he opened it, she was standing there, left hand raised in a fist - obviously the one she had been knocking with - and her aqua eyes swam large with innocent anxiety.
He was very still as he watched her lower her arm. But their eyes were fixed steadily on each other.
"May I help you?" in his characteristically even tone.
Then he proceeded to watch as a range of contradictory emotions took turns flickering across her face. She drew in a breath, about to speak, then stopped. She shook her head no in staccato-like movements, then altered to yes, up and down after left and right.
Demando shifted his weight to his other leg and looked at her with disinterested curiosity.
"Actually . . . yes," she finally said.
* * *
"That one," Princess Serenity pointed, standing on her tip toes.
Demando looked skeptically at the gray, molding book at the on top of the high shelf.
They were in the palace's ancient library, a large, high-ceilinged room lit with lamps wrung around it and starlight streaming in through four gargantuan gothic-inspired windows in the eastern wall that faced a courtyard. The other three walls were covered floor to ceiling with a conglomeration of books of every shape, size, and color imaginable.
It was Princess Mercury's pride and joy.
The skeptic look trailed down from the shelf above to land on Princess Serenity. The young woman wondered for an instant if her face looked as hot as it felt.
But to her relief, the prince didn't question her outlandish request. Instead he glanced around the room, searching for an object he could use to help him reach the desired object. Nearby, he spotted an exquisitely carved stepping stool. He fetched the stool, lifted up on it and carefully stretched out his arm to obtain the gray book. With the stool, it was in perfect reach. He retrieved the large, heavy volume and carefully lowered himself to the floor again.
Blowing off dust from the peeling cover, Demando read, "Irrigation on Uranus."
He looked at Serenity and disinterestedly held out the designated book to her.
He was so hard to comprehend. If only she could read him!
"Th - thank you," she stammered, flushing.
He only looked at her with that cool, blank gaze.
She hugged the huge book tightly to her chest in an attempt to gain control of her thoughts. Inwardly she chastised herself for being so childish. Why in the world had she gone to all this trouble simply to get a book on Uranian irrigation? Despite what had possessed her to create such a ruse, she knew she needed to say something soon, before he left and she lost her chance to further study her enigma.
"If Her Grace will now excuse me - "
"Mm - Prince Demando?"
"Yes?" His voice took on the slightest edge of impatience.
Her aura was getting to him again, and two opposing wills clashed inside him: he felt as if he wouldn't be able to stand her eyes on him for yet another moment longer, but the thought of leaving that warmth of hers and going back to his solitude made him feel terribly cold and lonely, such alien emotions to him that he came to the conclusion that this woman was simply not to be trusted.
Nothing could have prepared him for what she said next.
"Would you escort me to the flower festival tomorrow evening?"
He would rather not. He detested all sorts of public gatherings, especially those that involved the overly-merry and carefree people of the Moon Kingdom. He would prefer to take advantage of the nearly empty palace tomorrow night and take the opportunity to go about his studies in seclusion forgoing the excessive triviality of a celebration . . . dedicated to flowers, of all things!
One could imagine the utter astonishment for Prince Demando, then, when he heard himself saying as if another will other than his own (or rather, yet another contradictory will of his which had somehow gained the upper hand) took possession of him, "If it pleases the Princess, I will escort her to the festival tomorrow evening."
Her eyes lit up and she beamed sweetly. She had expected him to say no. Even if he did not sound the least thrilled, he had agreed, and Serenity sensed that Demando was a man who kept his word. A little twinge of excitement fluttered over her heart.
Normally, Prince Endymion would have escorted her to such an event, but her fiancé was not to arrive until midsummer. He was caught up in necessary work among the people of his own kingdom. The opportunity to spend more time around the un-personable White Prince had showed itself just now. Mentally, Serenity commended herself for her quick thinking and immediate action.
Now she looked up at the pale young man. She just caught a glimpse of his white brows furrowing ever-so-slightly, as if in confusion, before he regained his apathetic facade and smoothed out his features once more to cold perfection.
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Question, comments, concerns? There's always the *point down toward the bottom of the page* review button. Hint, hint. ^-^
Now when one insults a woman's pride, one usually doesn't expect to see or hear from that woman in quite a long time, until one apologizes - but not so with the Moon Princess. In her, nature's effects worked to the opposite effect.
When the White Prince brushed away her concerns, the Princess Serenity was insulted, but by no means discouraged. She was in accordance with nature in this one respect at least: she was blessedly stubborn. Once she made up her mind to do something, nothing could move her. It was, of course, Prince Demando's own fault. He had stirred her curiosity, sparked her interest, and inadvertently set off the princess's natural tendency to reach out to those who were troubled.
She knew he was troubled. In addition to her stubbornness, she had the gift of reading souls. It was no great wonder the child was considered the heart of her people, the living symbol of their peace and harmony, even more so than their queen. Those who beheld her presence would often speak of a "golden light" that came from her.
The Princess knew she ought to leave well enough alone. And perhaps she would have if there had not been something more there underneath the surface that kept nagging at her soul, in much the same way as a small child will tug at the hem of it's mother's dress - subtle, yet relentless. Strange, there was no conscious decision on her part to seek out and decipher the stoic young man who intrigued her, but it was rather a desire kept hidden even from her own awareness. In fact, what she told herself on the matter was completely contradictory. She told herself, as she had before when she had first witnessed him among her friends, that she really didn't wish to bother herself with him after all. He obviously had no desire to have any sort of contact with her, and she knew better than to obsess over something so inane.
"What do you think of that man, that prince from Nemesis?" asked Princess Jupiter in a low whisper over dinner. The man she spoke of was not present (he avoided human company at all costs), but gossip and the like was always discouraged among the princesses, so they were forced to keep it hushed.
"Hm?" Serenity felt the concern rise in her throat, but she ignored and suppressed it.
"I believe his name is Demando. I thought he was handsome, when he first arrived, but now I think I've changed my mind. He's so moody, and he never talks to anyone. What's more, he's completely oblivious to my signs."
"Signs" was the code word the flirtatious Princess Jupiter used to represent her less than subtle advances.
"Yes, I know who you mean. I don't really know what to think of him," she said honestly. "When I saw him the other day, he spoke rudely to me. But I suppose it doesn't matter."
* * *
It didn't matter what she thought of him, but he couldn't help wondering nonetheless. He had wanted her to leave him alone. He was pleased that he had hurt her that day . . . but he was also a little disappointed. His characteristic indifference was not coming into play as well as he was accustomed. He had grown used to its ability to keep him at a safe distance from other human beings. He dismissed it from his mind and tried to focus on his agenda.
But as soon as he had made up his mind to ignore the one dilemma, another one pried away at his subconscious. He found that he couldn't stop thinking about the tingling light he had felt - that strange aura she emitted. It was calming and intriguing, and if he had known a little bit more about the subject, he would have decided it was also pleasing.
Demando paced about his room. He couldn't concentrate.
* * *
She paced outside his room. What had happened? She had thought she was heading out to the terrace to meet her friends. They had intended to go to the marketplace to have some fun before the Festival of the Flowers tomorrow and amuse themselves with pretty trinkets, but absorbed in her thoughts, Princess Serenity had let her feet lead the way and she had ended up here, near the guest apartments. In the recesses of her mind, she had somehow retained the information of where the royal visitor was staying and now here she was.
She knew he was there. She wished he would come out. But what she would do or say when she did, she didn't quite know.
The decision was made in less than an instant. For the second time, it was she that approached him. She walked up to the door and knocked lightly.
* * *
Someone knocked lightly, almost imperceptibly at his door.
When he opened it, she was standing there, left hand raised in a fist - obviously the one she had been knocking with - and her aqua eyes swam large with innocent anxiety.
He was very still as he watched her lower her arm. But their eyes were fixed steadily on each other.
"May I help you?" in his characteristically even tone.
Then he proceeded to watch as a range of contradictory emotions took turns flickering across her face. She drew in a breath, about to speak, then stopped. She shook her head no in staccato-like movements, then altered to yes, up and down after left and right.
Demando shifted his weight to his other leg and looked at her with disinterested curiosity.
"Actually . . . yes," she finally said.
* * *
"That one," Princess Serenity pointed, standing on her tip toes.
Demando looked skeptically at the gray, molding book at the on top of the high shelf.
They were in the palace's ancient library, a large, high-ceilinged room lit with lamps wrung around it and starlight streaming in through four gargantuan gothic-inspired windows in the eastern wall that faced a courtyard. The other three walls were covered floor to ceiling with a conglomeration of books of every shape, size, and color imaginable.
It was Princess Mercury's pride and joy.
The skeptic look trailed down from the shelf above to land on Princess Serenity. The young woman wondered for an instant if her face looked as hot as it felt.
But to her relief, the prince didn't question her outlandish request. Instead he glanced around the room, searching for an object he could use to help him reach the desired object. Nearby, he spotted an exquisitely carved stepping stool. He fetched the stool, lifted up on it and carefully stretched out his arm to obtain the gray book. With the stool, it was in perfect reach. He retrieved the large, heavy volume and carefully lowered himself to the floor again.
Blowing off dust from the peeling cover, Demando read, "Irrigation on Uranus."
He looked at Serenity and disinterestedly held out the designated book to her.
He was so hard to comprehend. If only she could read him!
"Th - thank you," she stammered, flushing.
He only looked at her with that cool, blank gaze.
She hugged the huge book tightly to her chest in an attempt to gain control of her thoughts. Inwardly she chastised herself for being so childish. Why in the world had she gone to all this trouble simply to get a book on Uranian irrigation? Despite what had possessed her to create such a ruse, she knew she needed to say something soon, before he left and she lost her chance to further study her enigma.
"If Her Grace will now excuse me - "
"Mm - Prince Demando?"
"Yes?" His voice took on the slightest edge of impatience.
Her aura was getting to him again, and two opposing wills clashed inside him: he felt as if he wouldn't be able to stand her eyes on him for yet another moment longer, but the thought of leaving that warmth of hers and going back to his solitude made him feel terribly cold and lonely, such alien emotions to him that he came to the conclusion that this woman was simply not to be trusted.
Nothing could have prepared him for what she said next.
"Would you escort me to the flower festival tomorrow evening?"
He would rather not. He detested all sorts of public gatherings, especially those that involved the overly-merry and carefree people of the Moon Kingdom. He would prefer to take advantage of the nearly empty palace tomorrow night and take the opportunity to go about his studies in seclusion forgoing the excessive triviality of a celebration . . . dedicated to flowers, of all things!
One could imagine the utter astonishment for Prince Demando, then, when he heard himself saying as if another will other than his own (or rather, yet another contradictory will of his which had somehow gained the upper hand) took possession of him, "If it pleases the Princess, I will escort her to the festival tomorrow evening."
Her eyes lit up and she beamed sweetly. She had expected him to say no. Even if he did not sound the least thrilled, he had agreed, and Serenity sensed that Demando was a man who kept his word. A little twinge of excitement fluttered over her heart.
Normally, Prince Endymion would have escorted her to such an event, but her fiancé was not to arrive until midsummer. He was caught up in necessary work among the people of his own kingdom. The opportunity to spend more time around the un-personable White Prince had showed itself just now. Mentally, Serenity commended herself for her quick thinking and immediate action.
Now she looked up at the pale young man. She just caught a glimpse of his white brows furrowing ever-so-slightly, as if in confusion, before he regained his apathetic facade and smoothed out his features once more to cold perfection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Question, comments, concerns? There's always the *point down toward the bottom of the page* review button. Hint, hint. ^-^