10 more years later
The well-trained smile plastered on Serenity's face wavered slightly as she struggled to stifle a yawn in the back of her throat, careful to keep the smile as convincing and natural as possible. It was extremely difficult considering the fact that she was practically bored to tears at the moment.
Though giving a grand tour of the castle was one of her more favored duties of being a hostess, it weighed down heavily upon Serenity like so many unwanted chores when she was obliged to escort a crud-mannered, gossiping noble around; even French class couldn't be more tedious than this.
She listened listlessly as her companion droned on about himself in a such flattering manner that Serenity seriously doubted any of it were actual truth. Walking through the Grand Ballroom, she inconspicuously quickened her pace in vain hope of ending the tour and ridding herself of her companion just a little faster.
Finding it impossible to quench the yawn still in her throat, Serenity held the back of her hand in front of her lips, forcing a few giggles out of her mouth before the yawn took over. Thankfully, her garrulous companion failed to notice as he was busy laughing along with her at some humorous gesture he had made.
She didn't think it was possible for a noble to be so completely self-absorbed and vain that he acted like it was a privilege that others be in his company, especially a dignified, cultured young Lord of such high prestige. That was until she had to accompany and entertain Lord Lucius for the afternoon. Damn her father for trying to set her up for more marriage proposals. Just because she was particularly selective in picking a suitor to court her didn't mean that her father had the right to call every noble male in the country out to the castle! She would find a eligible suitor to her liking...eventually.
Serenity nodded her head with feigned enthusiasm as Lucius took it upon himself to enlighten her with the details of how he had won the top prize at the annual archery competition held in the Southern Parts of Dante. Serenity inwardly cringed as he openly slandered the pitiable skills of the other contestants in the competition and maligned about the boorish festivities the local people held for the valued sport. The temptation to snort with distaste at his attitude in a very unladylike fashion was compelling but Serenity quickly crushed the notion.
Boorish, indeed.
"Aside from winning the title of top archer, the winner was also awarded the prized golden arrow and granted a kiss from the fair Lady Kakyuu. Aye, a fine, foreign beauty that Lady is, with hair as red as the sky when the sun sets and a perfect pair of lips that can make a man ache." Lucius didn't catch Serenity's harsh glare as he continued to praise Lady Kakyuu and all her "fine" attributes.
How dare he presume to unabashedly parade the affections of another in the presence of a lady, a lady which he'd come to woo in hopes of courting and a princess at that!
Serenity forcibly bit her tongue as not to lash out at the surly Lord with a shrewd remark of her own. Instead, she settled for a series of vague, threatening innuendos that were open to interpretation and a few insults to bring that ego of his down a notch.
"I do admit that I am surprised, Lord Lucius. Here, I was thinking that you were dull and dim-witted without an honorable quality in your entire being but you do have one admirable trait, your boldness. I warn you though; that kind of trait can be quite dangerous. 'Tis not wise to be talking of such manners in irrelevance in the presence of a Lady, especially a gracious hostess." Never faltering in her stride, Serenity's lips twitched in the beginnings of a smug grin when she saw Lucius out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to be caught somewhere between the thresholds of chagrin and confusion. She couldn't tell if his face was reddening from anger or embarrassment.
Rude and childish as it might be, she hoped it was from both.
"I did not think such remarks were becoming of a lady but forgive me, I forget whom it is I am addressing. After all, it is what should be expected of such an impertinent, young princess who cannot acquire a suitable husband for herself." His voice fairly dripped with venom as he spat the words, walking ahead of her stiff form to the doors of the Grand Ballroom and turning to face her.
"I bid you good-day, milady." He snarled in disgust as he walked out of the Ballroom with as much pride as his ego would allow him, showing an upsetting amount of disrespect for Serenity by neither bowing when he left or addressing her by her royal title.
She crossed her arm and huffed in outrage. So much for chivalry...
With the intent of telling her father of Lord Lucius' gauche behavior, Serenity burst through the large, double oak doors and stormed straight into the throne room unannounced, her purposeful strides and burning blue eyes speaking volumes of her belligerence.
Her father, King Odyrius, sat on the throne imposing as always while speaking with his advisor over another tax law they were proposing to pass. That's all they ever seemed to be concerned about these days, making some new tax laws in order to better the large kingdom of Athynia.
King Odyrius snapped his head up in attention at the sonorous booming of the heavy throne room doors being thrown open. His piercing azure gaze came to rest upon the svelte form of his obstinate-looking daughter, his lips thinning into a straight, tight line of annoyance.
"Serenity..." His strained voice held a commanding warning to it that any child would recognize from their parent; a command that clearly stated that he was not to be bothered at the moment. However, Serenity paid no heed to it.
"Father, I understand that your time is currently occupied with more important matters." She unconsciously quoted that redundant speech he always gave every time she interrupted something "important", sorely tempted to roll her eyes at the thought. "But I feel that this is something that must be addressed..." Her voice faded into the background as a light knocking was heard from the other side of the now closed oak doors.
In the middle of Serenity's self-righteous speech, the doors slowly opened to reveal a small, skittish servant boy in specially made clothing whom looked a tad uneasy as he bowed low; the color and the embroidered crest on the boy's clothing signified a pledge of allegiance to a certain noble. "King Odyrius, ruler of Athynia, may I present his Highness, Prince Sei of Traitador." The fidgety boy surprised everybody in the room by speaking with a calm confidence that only years of service and trust in one's master could incite.
As the boy quickly moved aside, a set of four guards, their armor dressed in the same manner as the boy's clothes, streamed into the room with a flourish, standing proudly off to the side while all focus was drawn to the silhouette standing in the archway.
A tall, distinguished gentleman dressed in silk and leather finery strode fearlessly into the room, his head held in an arrogant angle, a secret smile playing on his lips.
Oh, but he had to be a very self-assured nobleman; nobody in their right minds would risk approaching the King unannounced lest he unleash his wrath upon them.
King Odyrius' brows drew down tightly in bewilderment as his nose flared with his intense ire of this impudent man who showed little regard to his authority. The advisor gawked overtly while Serenity, whose face had been previously drawn into a deep scowl, now had a giddy expression brightening her face.
"And to what do I owe the honor of having an unexpected appearance by the likes of you?" Odyrius' imperial voice cut sharply through the thick air of tension filling the room, the disdain so clear in his voice that it was nearly tangible.
Prince Sei bowed slightly as he stopped before Odyrius' throne, his eyes glinting in mischief as part of his midnight hair fell forward. "I have some private matters to discuss with you, Majesty; I know that you shall find it very...interesting." His brooding voice was mocking even as his posture and smile seemed almost child-like but a crucial tone stressed in his words forewarned Odyrius that it was a certain matter that could not be ignored.
With narrowed eyes and a muffled snort, the King grumbled a few words quietly to himself as a flick of his wrist motioned for the advisor to take his leave. "Fine, then I shall meet you in the drawing room shortly. I have some pressing duties that I need to attend to first." Odyrius coughed so his voice did not sound quite as strained; though, the thought of being alone with Sei made his skin crawl.
Still standing beside the King, the royal advisor shook himself momentarily before the command settled in; then he began to vocalize his disapproval. "Sire, I understand the Prince has come here with matters of his own to speak of but with all due respect, he has approached you with no previous knowledge of this engagement." His normally croaky voice squeaked oddly on a high pitch as Odyrius fixed him with a piercing glare as he proceed to point out his majesty's error.
"It is dishonorable, My Liege. How will it look among your peers if they were to know that this haughty, young Prince demands your time and that you would throw aside your royal duties for him? What kind of king will they take you for?" The advisor spoke in hushed tones, his throaty voice only audible and coherent to Odyrius.
Odyrius tensed in his sitting position as he cautiously watched Sei with something akin to a predatory look; he seemed almost disturbed by this mere boy's presence. "The kind of king who is wise not to risk such a valuable alliance on the count of a conversation." His Majesty never moved an eyelash; he sat perfectly tall and erect in his mighty throne. If it wasn't for the fact that he had seen his King's lips move, the advisor would have easily believed that the voice had come out of thin air.
"And Wiseman, next time I want your opinion on something I shall ask you. Otherwise, it would best be wise to hold your tongue, do I make myself clear?" The intensity of the King's grave voice displayed his barely restrained vehemence all too clear as the threat of disobedience remained. To whom that vehemence was direct to, Wiseman didn't know.
"Crystal, My Liege." Wiseman paused a split-second to bow low at the waist as he weakly responded apologetically, dipping his face low in his ignominy as he silently retreated into the shadows.
King Odyrius carefully rolled up the taxation documents as he heaved himself up from the throne, nodding cordially at Sei and walking away with the grace and sturdy poise of a royal member. Serenity stood dumbfounded for a second, her mouth slack and hanging wide open as she watched her father leave the room without any kind of acknowledgment towards her and without hearing her argument on Lord Lucius' tactless behavior.
Twice in one day were she had been brushed off by two men, one being her own father. The nerve!
Casually sliding her gaze to Prince Sei, Serenity eyebrows shot up in surprise as she watched the prince head towards the doors that her father had just left through. Her mouth quirked to the side in a gesture of defiance as her eyes gleamed with interest. Did Sei honestly think that he could initiate such a grand entrance and not even say a word to her after all the years they've known each other? She always enjoyed Sei's company and absolutely refused to be ignored by another nobleman; so she took matters into her own hands.
Slyly side-stepping directly in front of him, Serenity faced Sei with a mischievous smile that belied her juvenile, flirtatious intentions. "My Prince, would you be so brash as to accost the king and not even address the princess while she is in your company?"
"Serenity." He breathed intimately, the name almost a caress on his lips. "Could you ask me that when you know full and well I would offer you anything you asked of me?" He inclined his head to the side as he fixed her with hypnotizing hazel eyes that would make any woman's knees weak.
A strained laugh somehow squeezed its way past the lump in her throat as Serenity waved her hand in mid-air as a gesture of brushing off the comment, hopefully distracting the handsome prince from watching her cheeks grow a pinkish tint. "It is relieving to find an ally in a palace full of ruffians." She admitted solemnly, miraculously maintaining an even tone.
Sei was taken back at first by her off-hand comment, causing his composure to waver for only a second. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as they skimmed over her facial features and figure, examining her body language closely. Serenity shifted uneasily under Sei's scrutinizing gaze, could feel the heat of his stare all the way down to her bones. Suddenly, he grabbed hold of her hand, pulled her close and said in a low, almost dangerous voice, "I assume you are speaking of a particular ruffian. What, may I ask, has this hoodlum done to upset you?"
She ducked her head shyly as his grip on her hand tightened, his piercing eyes never leaving her form.
For as long as she had known him, Serenity had strained for Sei's approval and depended on his guidance as a mentor and a friend, the only real friend she had outside these cramped castle walls. In her younger years, he frequented the castle so often that he sojourned for months at a time; a day seldom went by without Sei escorting her around the castle.
So how could she tell him that she had been told off by a meager skimp of a man in Lord Lucius' position? She couldn't; her pride as a princess and a woman wouldn't allow her.
With a feign bravado, she lifted her head high as her blue gaze meet his dark features. "Why, my prince, you of all people should know that the kingdom is overflowing with hoodlums that would rather bask in the superfluous glory of a royal wench then that of a true lady that speaks her mind. Now if you will please be as kind as to drop the matter, I would be very grateful."
"And I would be grateful if you gave me his name and status so I can personally amend this matter myself." He quietly argued, his voice roughened by his fury, his body tensing in preparation of a fight.
Serenity averted her gaze as she watched her free hand absently pick at the silky, white material of her dress, successfully avoiding his eyes. She knew Sei only acted this way to defend her honor and sense of dignity but his strong, bestial nature could be overwhelming at times. When she swore that Sei had growled low in his throat, Serenity became alarmed and took a small step back, attempting to pull her hand free from his grasp. Holding her hand fast to make sure she didn't run away, Sei brushed back a stray strand of her shimmering platinum blonde hair from her face.
"It pains me to see you hurt and know that I'm powerless against it. What kind of ally would I be if I did not try to help my little one in a time of need?" He raised his hand slightly with the intent of touching her cheek but thought better of it. There was no need to alarm her more with his pursuit of her affection.
Removing both of his hands solemnly, Sei straightened his demeanor and held out his arm invitingly to Serenity, his face expressionless.
"Come, escort me to your father's drawing room. After our business is settled and agreed upon, I will come and find you." It wasn't an invitation; it was a command.
Sei's mannerisms shouldn't have come as any surprise to Serenity. He'd always been a bit of a mystery to her and as a man of such high power and status, he was accustomed to having others submit to his every wish that he willed. Still, the princess couldn't help but flinch at the seriousness of his tone and the way in which he was clearly unaffected by how he addressed her.
Had she done something to upset him?
With a tight smile and a mind full of boggling questions, Serenity obliged to his less-than-courteous request. For if she didn't, an odd sense of foreboding in her heart told her that she would regret it immensely.
...cause truth be told, Sei sometimes scared her.
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AN: Truly, you guys are amazing. I haven't updated in nearly a year and still I get reviews every now and again from people giving good comments and critiques. It is very inspiring and sweet. So this is for you guys. This chapter has been sitting on my computer for nearly a year and I could never find it in my heart to upload it because I wanted to make it longer. However, I find it a good stopping point. So I shall upload it as is. Thanks again everybody for your encouragements and reviews. Much love! 3
I know this is a little OOC for Serenity's character but it's myslightly exaggeratedversion of Serena's crybaby-ness. Trust me, she gets much better as the story continues but her attitude now is essential for later chapters.
btw, this is the unedited version. I haven't had contact with my editor in awhile so for now, this will have to do. Sorry!