Lady of the Stardust Butterflies

-

Sir Squiggleton was nowhere to be found the next morning. That was no surprise to anyone, however. He had a habit of running away, and only returning later on for food. Evil pigs have a way of doing that kind of thing. But he was the Princess' precious pet, Squiggs, as she fondly called him, so that was the way it was in the palace. To the Princess, her little pet piggy would always be sweet little naughty Squiggs, to everyone else, he was the troublemaking creature who seemed to delight in causing chaos, that irritating miniature monster, Squiggs.

Stardust pigs are known to be as small as puppies, which was why Sir Squiggleton found it so easy to duck out of sight and have his way with the palace. The Servants hated having to clean up after the messes Squiggs made, and deal with him when he showed up, trying to knock them over or surprise them and cause them to drop whatever heavy thing they could be holding. It had to be pardoned though, they understood the Princess' condition; she couldn't help but love the mischievous little bugger.

The King of Stardust Kingdom met with his knights that morning. The King from the Shadow Realms, or Shadaryn Kingdom, as was its proper name, was continuing his dastardly tactics of sending hordes of his knights over to cause trouble. The Shadow Realm King was too fearful to start any official wars, realizing he'd lose, so instead he hoped to do any damage he could by creating disarray in Stardust Kingdom. If only he knew the little secret the King kept so quiet, than he'd have the perfect chance to become ruler of Stardust. Only King Yiggie, as was the name of the Shadow Realm King, had not been close with his great aunt, the previous ruler of Shadow Realm. When she died, he inherited the dark kingdom, but the King of Stardust's secret was taken to the grave of the great aunt, along with all her old advisers, as they died previous to her own death. This was a relief to all those who knew of the secret, which was pretty much the whole residence of Stardust palace.

As the King proceeded to get a report on the rise of incidences caused by the shadow knights in his kingdom, the Stardust knights departed, some of them to go on duty, some of them to continue training until it was their time for duty, and one of them to go visit his dearest friend.

- - -

It was almost mid-day, and the Princess could not find her beloved pet. He had not consumed any food since the night before, to the best of her knowledge, and she worried he might go hungry. She paced around the palace, searching the various rooms, and getting accounts from all the servants, when she got an unexpected caller. But then, all of Kao's visit were a surprise, and never unpleasant. She met him in the grand drawing room, the door servants stood at their post, making any private conversations unattainable.

"I would ask how you do, Princess, but I can see you are healthy and glowing as usual." Kaokon took her hand, and bowed his head to lightly kiss it.

The Princess was marvelled by the tingling sensation her skin felt every time he touched her. "I hope you are good health too, though I can see it is so."

He let go of her hand, almost reluctantly, and smiled. "It's been too long since I came to see you."

The Princess felt a frown form across her lovely face. "You haven't called in over a fortnight. Another week, and I would think you had quite forgotten me."

"Ha! That would be impossible, my dear friend—" He began, but then checked himself, remembering the door servants in the room. "—I mean, no one forgets the Princess of Stardust Kingdom." He continued lowly in a teasing voice. "I had hoped though, in light of our long separation, you might want to take a walk with me?"

The Princess' frown did no disappear. "That sounds lovely, but Squiggs has run away again, only this time, he has not shown up for his morning meal."

"What, the little scamp has abandoned you again?" Kao half-laughed, but stopped when he saw the worried look on her face. "Well, perhaps he will come back for noon feast." Kao suggested.

"I can only hope, but I am really worried about him. My dear little pig is probably starving, you know, there isn't much to him, he's quite small."

"How about I help you look for him, and if he's found, then we go for a walk?"

Her frown vanished. "Would you help? Oh, I know you could find him, if anyone could. Yes, it is a deal, I should love a long walk with you afterwards."

They left the drawing room, and proceeded in the search for Sir Squiggleton. Kaokon suggested they check the kitchens. Squiggs would be hungry since he skipped his meal, and he knew his way around the palace. His reasoning turned out to be quite accurate. They eventually found the little pig inside one of the storage rooms, rummaging through the freshly collected vegetables.

When the Princess picked her pet up from the food and tried to cuddle him, the pig began to squeal angrily. She put him back down and he ran off, out of the storage room.

The Princess sighed to herself, and they left the room also.

"As long as I know he's eaten something, I'm happy. " She told Kao. "He'll probably turn up later in my room when he's cold and needs a nice fire to sleep by."

"Then you are satisfied?" He asked.

"I am, now that I know he is safe. So shall we go for our walk?"

The Princess went up to her chamber to change gowns, something more comfortable to walk in, and with two of her ladies-in-waiting walking a few metres behind them, the two friends started off their walk together.

"You know, you have not told me why you have stayed away for so long." The Princess began, as they ascended through the courtyard.

The Knight replied in a low, and much unlike him, serious voice, as not to be heard by the ladies-in-waiting behind them, though he had nothing secret to tell. "There is a rise of terror the Shadows knights are inflicting upon our kingdom. We're all working extra hard keep the villages safe from them. We've already sent five troops out to the farthest villages to protect them, but even the closer villages are being attacked. I believe I'll be apart of the next throng of knights to be sent over to protect the far away villages."

"But they can't send all of you." The Princess observed. "There are so many villages near the palace that need protecting as well."

"There are enough knights for all the villages. We are constantly protecting the main township connected to the palace. I go on duty tonight to patrol the area, but I think we need more knights out in the dense regions of the kingdom."

"Yes, but they don't have to send you specifically, I think you should have word with the general, and tell them you are better suited here."

Kao smirked. "You seem unwilling for me to go. Am I to assume you would miss me?"

The Princess gave him a teasing smile. "You know I would. You could be gone for a whole year, and who would I take walks with, but my servants?"

"Well, for your sake, I will have words with the general, though if we are sent out, you should be happy to know it would not be for another couple of months."

"You know, I am quite envious of you." The Princess noted, as they turned down the winding pathway. "You have such freedom as to roam villages and kingdoms and go wherever you want, and have such adventures as a knight. I am situated in a palace and only allowed to leave it once in a while to visit the outside."

"Is that so bad? The palace is quite big; its grounds are the most beautiful and flourishing in the whole kingdom. You have such nature here, and a lake and wild creatures living in the beauty. Outside the palace, there are commoners, good and loyal men and women, working hard to live, but they are not as lucky as you."

"No, I suppose they are not. But you have such an amazing job Kao. You live both in and out of the palace, you serve a King, and go into exciting battles."

"Fighting in wars is not fun Princess, battles are horrid and full of bloodshed."

The Princess nodded. "Yes, you are right, I imagine it is not fun. I only meant, you have freedom, where I do not."

Kao laughed a little. "Cheer up my friend, no Princess has much freedom. Their job is to be educated and graceful. To marry and continue the royal line."

"And is that all that's to be expected of me? But no, I am less free compared to a normal princess. You know that Kao. I am quite different."

Kao shuddered at the thought, but knew it to be true. It was what made his feelings for her seem so pointless and in vain. "Yes, you are different. A special case in the instance. I cannot argue with you Princess, for you are as free as a caged bird, but you do see the necessity in it? You realize why it must be so?"

The Princess could feel her eyes water a little. She was certain, that in his tender voice she could hear true, honest love…and pain. Had not things been the way they had, she could tell him that she returned his feelings. But no, she must keep them to herself; she could never hurt him like that.

They passed the orchard of apple trees, and the Princess answered him. "Yes, I realize it must be so. I am to be kept hidden away from our enemies, until the day my father finds a pure-hearted prince, or royal of any kind, for me to wed."

"And then together you two will rule, and continue the royal line. Stardust Kingdom will be safe, and I will continue to be to your horribly juvenile knight."

"You are not juvenile," she giggled quietly. "Just not serious enough at times."

"But I'll will be serious for you now. We must all do what is expected of us, as tedious as it is, and that means you do what is planned out by your father."

"And that is what I am to live for? I shall be hidden until I have a husband? My father thinks that will solve the problem, but how can it? The curse will still be present."

Kaokon side-glanced at her, taking in her words. "It is what I have been thinking as well, I confess. Marrying a good man will not break the curse. But, at least with a husband, no evil man will think of trying to seduce you. They do not know of the curse, and they would not touch a married woman unless they did."

"Yes, that must be what my father thinks."

"Sometimes…sometimes I wish I were—" Kao began, but then stopped himself. "No, it does not suffice to say, I am who I am and cannot change it, can I?" He smiled faintly.

"Tell me what you wish you were dear friend?" The Princess asked though she could feel the answer.

A princess could marry a royal, or a man of high rank, suck as a knight. Only no knight in the Stardust knight entertained the idea of marrying the Princess. They knew she could never love any of them, and so would never choose one of them as her husband. This being the case, it was most likely that the King would choose some prince for her to marry.

"No, forget it, it's quite senseless." He brushed it off in mock casual, but added in thought; I wish I had an evil heart, so that you would love me.

The Princess knew what he almost let slip. Kaokon was a good man. He had the purest heart, was loyal and good to the core. He would never betray his kingdom, but he had so much love for the Princess, that his darkest desire was that he could be an evil man instead. If only he knew, that she did love him, regardless of the curse, it might change everything.

But at the same time, it would change nothing. Yes, she would love him, but the first site of any man impure, and she would love that man too. Wickedness attracted her, sins were alluring. A truly malicious man could send her heart and head spinning. It had been so since she was a little girl. The sorcerer Queen of the Shadow Realm had cast the very spell on her, as a token of revenge towards her own father.

"For love of evil will conquer you're soul." The Princess couldn't help but recite out loud.

She had only been six, taking a walk in the gardens; the servants were all out looking for her, as she had snuck away. And there, near the old water fountain, stood a hooded lady clothed in grey. She came upon the Princess and said those very words. Then her father showed up with the servants, and the lady vanished before them all. The Princess never forgot them. She told her father what the hooded lady had said, and realizing it was a spell, the King went to the sorcerers of the kingdom to find what had been done. It was a curse, the deepest revenge the Queen from the Shadow Realm could give. His daughter was cursed to love evil beings, and that could spell doom for the whole kingdom. But they kept the secret to themselves. The Queen soon died, and with her, all her royal advisers. Her estranged great nephew, Yiggie, took the thrown, and was quite unaware of the curse.

The Princess glanced over to her companion. He looked quite surprised and worrisome, as they continued their walk. "Why did you recite the curse?"

"I was only thinking of it, I am sorry if I troubled you." She excused.

"I know it troubles you that your life is ruled by such evil enchantment, but the losses you feel in life, I don't think have so much to do with the curse. You are a Princess, and whether you had the curse or not, the villages outside these walls would still be restricted to you, you would still be constantly looked over, and you would still probably end up wedding a complete stranger."

"Is that so?" She felt a pang of irritation. "You think my life wouldn't be so different?"

"Well, honestly, I don't" He responded hesitantly, sensing her displeasure. "I mean, it isn't as if you have met any evil men thus far in your life, so it is not like you are currently battling any feelings for the wrong man."

"Ha! And what do you know Kao?" She couldn't help but be hurt by his presumptions.

He raised an eyebrow to that. "And what do I not know about it? Tell me, what has happened?"

She looked away from him, feeling stupid for bringing it up. No one was supposed to know of her feelings. "It's nothing, I apologize, I was just being vulgar."

The tips of his mouth turned upwards. "I've known you too long, to know when you are hiding something."

"And you are right, I am. But I wish not to discuss it."

"Why then, bring it up? I am just a foolish, ignorant knight, who thinks he knows everything about the Princess of his kingdom. Please, prove me wrong."

"You are a foolish knight, but it is my own personal matter."

"All the more reason you should tell me, am I not your cherished friend?"

"The most cherished I have." She confessed. "But you will not like it."

They came to the gate that led to her garden. Looking back at the servants who were as good distance away, Kao replied. "Might we go in your garden, and you tell me? I have already anticipated that I will not like it, but I should like to know all the same."

"I should like to rest for a bit in the garden, yes."

They entered through the gate, walked over to the willow tree, and sat on the stone bench. Instantly dozens of Stardust butterflies came fluttering in, several landing on the various flowers around the garden, others continuing to dance through the fragranced air.

Before the servants had a chance to enter, Kao took advantage of the private encounter. He spontaneously took hold of the Princess' hand, held it tight in his own, and said, "Tell me all before your servants catch up with us."

The Princess looked down at her hand clasped in his for a second, wondering if she was just imagining what he was doing. A butterfly came and landed on his hand that enclosed hers, and she decided to open up to him. "I'm afraid the curse on me has such power, that just the sight of an evil heart takes it toll. When I have taken trips to the village, there have been times when…"

"When?" He encouraged her.

The gate opened up. The butterfly flew away as Kao released the Princess' hand and she pulled away quickly. The two servants emerged from the gate, nodded to the Princess and Kao, and turned away from them, looking at the flowers all around.

"When?" He repeated, trying his best to sound patient.

"When…the Shadow Realm knights have been around." She went on.

Kao cursed out-loud in a mixture of disgust and fury, but then quickly apologized for it. "No, I should not expose such offensive words to your ears, do forgive me Princess."

"It is quite alright, I have heard servants say similar things before."

The two servants in the garden had heard Kao's foul words and both were looking at him with apprehension. When they saw he was apologizing for it however, they looked away and distanced themselves further. It was no secret to any of the palace servants that he was deeply in love with their princess. Though everyone knew she would end up being given to some royal, they all took pity on him, and so willingly gave him his private space with her, though stayed close enough so it wasn't considered improper.

"Still, it was wrong of me. Its only…well, Shadow Knights?" He asked, hoping she might say it was only a joke.

"Just one." She said in a timid voice. "The one with the most malicious heart."

"Don't tell me." He closed his eyes, looking like he was going through severe pain. "Wolfe?"

She left out a sigh, surprised he knew. "Is it so obvious?"

Kao opened his eyes back up though his facial expression remained grim. "He is the ringleader of all the attacks happening in the local villages."

She nodded. "I have not seen him in over a month though."

"And you still feel…" He stopped, unable to go on.

"It's complicated. I do not harbour feelings for him now, but when I see him, it changes. Every time I see him out in the village, this aching feeling comes back."

"Then you must not enter the village again." He deduced. "If you are kept away from him, you will not be attracted to him. Your father was right to keep you locked in here. If you can be kept away from the evil, you will not love it."

"How can you say I should be locked up? Whether I love a sinful man or not, how can you suggest it is right to keep me caged? Look me in the eye and say it."

Kao looked her in the eye. "You need to be kept in here, away from them."

The Princess stood up from the stone bench and declared. "I wish not to sit here anymore. I tire from our walk. It's time you leave me."

"Princess—!"

"Let us go back to the castle now, and then you can go train and such."

"Princess wait," Kao said, standing up and striding over to her. "Do you blame me for what I say? Yes, thoughtless question, you do. But how can you expect me to say anything else?"

"I would expect you to be more sympathetic towards me." She argued, exiting the gate. "You are supposed to be my friend."

"I am your friend." He answered, exiting after her. "Don't you see, that I am? I just…I just can't help but be angered that you would have feelings for such a man."

"Or any other man." She retorted, rolling her eyes.

"What? I…" The knight struggled to find words.

The Princess stopped walking and looked back at him. His cheeks had gone slightly pink from her words, and she felt guilty. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that. I just thought you, out of all people, would be on my side."

"I am on your side." He said after a pause, his voice sounding strained.

"But you think I should be locked up."

"I think you shouldn't go into the village when the Shadow Knights are there."

"But we never know when they are going to turn up."

"Which is why it would be better you don't go at all."

"So you do think I should be locked up?" She repeated.

"We're talking in circles here." Kao observed.

The servants exited the gates and began to follow them down the path.

"Let's get back to the palace." The Princess suggested.

They continued their walk down the path, but both still felt ill at ease.

- - -


Author Note:

Many thanks to those who reviewed, I apologize to anyone who got a review reply not from me, but from my cousin "rayko" who gets a kick out of going into my account and replying to reviewers for me. I told her if she did it again, I'd skin her alive, so we've reached an agreement.

The remaining three chapters will be posted within the week.

The lady,

Lady of the Stardust Butterflies