Chapter 4: Swan
It was a very beautiful day at the Moon. Everyone was busy and excited preparing for the special banquet that was going to be held tonight, except for the Terran party who just arrived two hours ago and was now resting from the very tiring journey from Earth.
"I still can't believe that our prince here is going to be a married man in a couple of months, especially when I found out who the bride is." Jadeite said. Shaking his head as he remembers the fat girl with the hideous dress at the ball years past.
"Do you think she still looked the same? Have you heard what she looked like now?" Nephrite asked as he turned to his prince.
"No one knows exactly what she looked like now since she left. Rumors said that she'd grown more big and some said that she lose weight, but still looked the same." Jadeite answered for his silent prince.
"You know your story, eh, Jed? Been spending time with a Lunarian so soon." Nephrite snickered.
"Anyway, they said that the princess asked the queen if she could study in another planet. The Queen would only oblige the princess's wish in a condition that she will be back in time for the wedding and so, she promised that she would. No one knows exactly where she went after she left; even the highest-ranking official of the Moon was ignorant about her location. Some said that she went to Mars, some said she went to Mercury, Jupiter, or Venus." Jadeite continued, ignoring the look in Nephrite's face and his annoying remark.
"No one knows where she wass? How was that possible?" Zoicite voiced out the question from their faces.
"The princess told the queen that she planned to go to Mercury since the people there are very smart and knowledgeable. She sent dutiful letters to her mother every month. However, one day the queen had found out that she was no longer in Mercury when she sends someone there to fetch her for the sacred day of the Moon. On the other hand, the princess still sends letters to her mother just like before, but she never told her any information to where she was." Jadeite said, shrugging.
"Whoa, you have an adventurer here, Endymion. I would never believe it." Nephrite said.
"Her looks or her little escapades are not my concern. The only thing that I am concerned about is the future of the Earth and the Moon and no other, but I am glad that even her irresponsible behavior had never made her forget her duty as future queen. However, I will not tolerate such childish acts and will expect her to be the proper queen once we get married." Prince Endymion said seriously and the others just nodded their heads in agreement. His guardian's knew that the Prince was in a lot of stress lately, being the next King of the Earth and soon the Moon was going to be very pressuring. They just hoped that the girl was not going to be a problem for their prince's sake.
"You will be home soon, Cousin." A young woman's voice announced. Her hair was of deep color of gold that reaches past her waist with a red ribbon tied on the back of her head. She had light blue eyes as beautiful as her face that was now smiling at the person beside her.
"Yes. Home... Let the fun begin." The other young woman said, whispering the last four words. Unlike her cousin, her hair was of much lighter color of gold, it was more liked silverish. Even if she tied it up in odangos, her hair still pooled down to the ground. She had silver crystal eyes that were perfect for her beautiful face.
"I don't like to spread any more rumors, your highness, but my husband and I are just concerned about the matter concerning the princess. Are the rumors true?" Asked the Queen of the Earth in concern.
"I afraid some of it are true, Queen Amelia. I haven't had any vaguest idea where my daughter has disappeared to from the past three years, but she kept her duty to write to me every month. Not that I am very happy in the whole way she thinks, but I am glad that she is learning how to be more independent." Queen Serenity said calmly. A knock came from the door and a servant went in.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you your majesties, but it is time." Said the lunarian servant girl as she bowed in respect.
"Thank you, Zira." Queen Serenity said then turned to the royal couple of the Earth. "I believe my daughter has arrived. We shall meet her at the banquet." Then she motioned the couple to follow her.
The whole banquet was a smaller one than the ball at the Terran's last visit to the moon, which was almost nine years ago. This banquet was held to welcome home the crown princess Serenity and at the same time, her betrothal to the crown prince of the Earth. Everyone in the kingdom was agog for the arrival of the princess and to see the truth in the rumors. The whole room was decorated beautifully. Every table was covered with the finest cloths and fresh picked flowers. Food was extremely exquisite and the music was played perfectly. The royal family of the Moon and the Earth was sited at the center behind a stretch table. Prince Endymion's guardians were also given the privilege to sit by the royal table.
Suddenly, the music stopped when a manservant announced the arrival of the crown princess.
"Her serene highness, the crown princess Serenity Usagi of the Silver Millennium and the crown princess Minako of the planet Venus." The servant announced. Every one's attention was directed to the big doors as it opens. Stunned expressions and several indrawn breaths could be heard- the look in each individual's faces said as much- as the two young women glided in. Both women looked almost alike, but both of them hold different beauty.
Endymion was not different from the others as he gazed upon both women, particularly the one with the odangos. He could never forget the weird hairstyle no matter how long since he last saw it. Endymion studied both women as they walked down the grand staircase. He had noticed some resemblance between the two, but that was not very surprising considering he heard that both princesses' were related. The young woman with the golden hair and beige ribbon at the back of her hair was unquestionably beautiful. A true epitome of the Goddess Aphrodite. She wore a halter style beige silk gown baring her shoulders and showing her flawless back. She looked utterly beautiful. Princess Minako walked with grace, dignity, and poise, which added to her Venutian beauty.
Endymion settled his gazed back to his betrothed. She have changed a lot and oh, boy! Her hair was no longer honey gold, but a lighter one, more like silverish. Her eyes were a crystal silver color instead of blue and were no longer hidden by her ghastly thick glasses. The body that once plump with fat was now exquisitely slim and have curves in the right places. A kind of body a man could lose himself into. She wore a strapless white gown that bares her creamy shoulders and perfectly hugging her womanly figure.
'She is breathtakingly gorgeous!' Endymion thought. Desire was beginning to burn in his stomach. Her eyes alone could ensnare any man and her beauty could bring warmth in the most coldly days. 'She is a Goddess. A true Goddess and she is MINE!' Endymion finished smugly.
"I am back, Mother." Princess Serenity said as she stopped in front of the royal table and curtsied. Queen Serenity stood up and walked to her daughter.
"Yes, welcome back, my daughter." The Queen replied as she hugged her daughter.
"How are you, your highness?" Princess Minako asked as she also curtsied to the Queen.
"Minako, my you have grown into a beautiful young woman." Queen Serenity said as she turned and looked at her Brother-in-law's daughter.
"Thank you, Aunt Serenity." She said in a low voice.
"Come, let us sit." Queen Serenity motioned the band to start playing. Endymion gentlemanly stood up and helped Princess Serenity to her sit that was next beside him. Serenity silently thanked him and gave him a small smile.
"It is good seeing you again, Prince Endymion." Princess Serenity greeted as she turned her attention to him.
"Yes, and the pleasure is all mine, Princess." He said, giving her a smile that made a lot of women swooning.
"I'm glad that you are back. I believe it's the perfect time for us to spend time together since we haven't got the chance the last time we saw each other." Endymion continued.
"Are you telling me or asking me, Prince?" She asked.
"I am sorry. I said it wrong. Will you spend some time with me tomorrow, Princess?" He asked softly.
"I shall think about it, Prince." Princess Serenity said giving him a single nod then turned to her right to talk to her mother. Endymion was surprised and confused from her silent rejection of his invitation, but that would not deter him.