Sora smiled as she watched the young maiden dance with the prince. She had never seen a bigger smile on Kari's sweet face although she was a bit worried about Davis, who stormed off with a rather morose expression on his.
"Love is such a confusing thing" the seamstress muttered to herself. She made her way through the masses and went back out onto the balcony with a drink in hand.
Sora sighed as she watched the stars twinkle above her head. "They're beautiful, aren't they?"
That hadn't come out of her mouth although she was thinking it. Even if she had been the one to say it, she would wonder why it was so deep. She turned around and saw the older of the two princes standing there. "Yes, they are" she said absentmindedly. It didn't even occur to her that she was speaking to one of the most important people in the land until after he joined her by her side to stare at the sky.
"Are you not enjoying the party?" he asked her.
Sora turned back to him and stared at his eyes, there was something sad behind them. "It's not that, your majesty, sir. I was just thinking that I needed some time alone. Festive dances like these just aren't my thing. You see…I'm just a servant of Princess's Mimi's court. I'm not used to things like this."
"I see" the prince replied. "I don't really like balls though. Particularly this one."
"Hm? Why not?"
Matt stared at the partygoers and waved to one of the marchionesses who were trying to get him back inside. After getting the girl to go back to the festivities, he looked back at Sora and she saw the flash of sadness behind his eyes again. "My father is only throwing this ball to try and get me to fall in love with a maiden. He's worried about the future of this kingdom and he believes that I need a queen by my shoulder when it is my time to rule."
Sora looked back at Kari and her dance partner. "It looks like your brother already achieved that."
"I can tell" Matt sighed. "And I'm happy for him. He deserves it."
"Then what's wrong with you?" Sora asked. "Is it this whole dilemma with the warlock?"
"It's not that" he shook his head. He seemed to be saying that a lot that evening. "I just don't think I'll ever find a maiden for me. It's not like I feel like I'll be alone for the rest of my life but I just don't think one will fit with me."
"Why not?"
He hesitated, not sure if he should actually say anything but one look at Sora and he opened up. "I was in love once before but it didn't exactly work out. I had my heart broken and I just don't think I'm capable of falling in love again because I'm too afraid of getting hurt."
"You were in love before?" Sora asked. "Who was she? Actually, I'm more surprised she rejected you, it seems to me that almost every maiden at this ball wants you to fall in love with them."
Matt didn't answer so Sora decided to change the subject. It was rather fun really, just having a conversation and it felt like the two of them had completely forgotten their social class differences and they just that they were both human. That was the only thing that kept them talking with each other like normal people. Suddenly, Matt answered her question from before even though it had been left hanging in the air for the past hour.
"It was Mimi."
"What?"
"The maiden I had been in love with" Matt clarified. "I was in love with her for such a long time and I had tried to confess to her. But on the day I tried to, she told me that she was with the merchant, Michael before I could even say anything. I had thought for sure that she had felt something for me but I suppose I was wrong. I was left with my heart shattered. And I feel ashamed now too because I felt this little joy when I found out Michael was dead."
"Do you still love the princess?"
Matt shrugged. "I don't know."
Sora wasn't sure what to say, she was absolutely dumbfounded by this revelation. She remembered in her youth, that Mimi would always talk about how handsome Matt was and how she wanted to marry him one day. So it seemed strange that these two royals were unable to fall in love. "Maybe you could try again. You never know."
"No, I don't think so" Matt replied. "Something tells me that she won't be able to move on from Michael for a long time. Not after what had happened. Do you know if she's doing okay?"
Sora searched for the right words and it seemed as if she was expecting to find those words somewhere in the stars. "She…She took it pretty hard actually. I thought that she was actually thinking about not coming here. She seems more cheerful now but it might just be a front she's putting up. Perhaps you should go talk to her. You never know, you might make her feel a little better." 'You might be able to cheer yourself up while you're at as well.'
"Maybe later…"
"Geez you're stubborn."
"I'll be taking that as a compliment."
-X-
Izzy walked up the castle and was stopped by the guards out front. When they had realized that it was the red-haired wizard, they immediately apologized and stepped aside for him to pass through. It's not like he had royal blood running through his veins but these knights sure did act like he did.
"I'm not here to visit or anything" Izzy shook his head. "I just wanted to make sure this castle was secure. I have a feeling that the warlock may target this place."
"We thank you for your concern but we promise you that we have this place locked up tighter than the maximum security prison" the head guard replied.
Izzy didn't like the sound of that analogy, it definitely made the place seem secure but still, comparing it to a prison was probably taking it too far. "Perhaps I should drop by for a little a while" the wizard said shortly. "I could visit the royal family and see what the king thinks about all this."
"I'm not sure if that's such a good idea" the head guard replied. "Or at least not the best time."
Izzy almost forgot about the ball the royal family had thrown, oh wait, no he hadn't. The entire castle was lit up like the firefly fields down south from the kingdom, it would be impossible for someone to miss it. As a matter of fact, Izzy could see it two miles away without having to use any clairvoyance magic.
"I guess not" Izzy muttered. "Well, I suppose I'll just stick around. You never know when you'll need magical assistance nowadays." Before any of the knights could protest, he snapped his fingers and vanished into thin air.
-X-
"You are a truly marvelous dancer" TK smiled warmly.
"Thank you" Kari giggled. "But I don't deserve all the credit. I do have a wondrous dance partner after all. If it was anyone else, I'm pretty sure I would've stepped on their feet already."
The prince chuckled in amusement. "You don't give yourself enough credit."
"Maybe I don't" Kari giggled. She soon stopped dancing and TK did as well. "I'm sorry. I just feel like, we just met but it feels like…I don't even know how to describe it. It's just this weird feeling that the two of us have…"
"Met somewhere else?" TK finished for her. Kari's face is flushed red but it doesn't stop her from nodding. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It feels like the two of us have known each other in another life or something, some alternative universe. A place where we know that neither one of us could exist without the other."
"Are you…Are you in love with me?" the maiden finally asked.
"I think I do."
TK was slowly leaning in for a kiss and Kari knew that but instead of kissing back, she just pulled away when he is a mere millimeter away. The brunette apologizes several times as she walks away from the dance floor, followed right behind by the prince.
"I'm sorry" she said for the hundredth time. "I just don't think this is right."
"I don't care if you're not a royal" TK said quickly, thinking that was the problem.
She shakes her head as she rubbed her sleeveless arms. She wasn't cold; she was just trying to find some sort of justification to what she was thinking. "No, it's not that. I just think that it's better for us not to rush into anything. We barely know each other and suddenly…It's all just happening so fast. I need time to think about some things."
TK grabs her arms and turns her around so that he can look her in the eyes. "I'm the one who should be apologizing; I treated you like I already had you to love me. It was narcissistic and arrogant of me. I will give you as much time as you need, I can promise you that. Please forgive me, fair maiden."
"It isn't your fault for anything but I thank you for giving me such an enchanting evening" Kari smiled. TK knew that her lips were off limits but he was still able to plant one soft kiss on her cheek which made her blush. "You know Prince TK, if you wish to court me, than we should really be getting to know each other a little better."
"I agree" he chuckled. "Why don't we stand over there so that we can get a little more privacy?"
"I don't mind."
Davis watched as the laughing pair ran off towards one of the balconies to talk in private together. It made him feel sick to his stomach but seeing Kari smile so beautifully was enough to keep him from swinging his sword and committing high treason. He then noticed that the older of the two princes was conversing with Sora and he had to wonder if Tai was dealing with it okay. It didn't exactly seem like the prince and the seamstress were having any romantic connection like his younger brother was with Kari but still. These two were basically strangers but they talked as if they had known each other for the longest time.
"You're not bothered by it?"
Davis glanced over to his right and bowed respectfully when he saw that it was Princess Mimi who had spoken. "I am afraid you have to elaborate milady. You see, I'm not quite sure what you mean by that."
"I'm talking about Kari's interactions with the prince" Mimi said knowingly. "I know how you feel about her. Tell me, how are you able to handle seeing the one person you hold so dear to your heart, taken away from you by another?"
"Honestly, it hurts. But as long as she is happy, then I will be as well,"
Mimi looked from Davis, and then to the pair of Kari and TK. For a moment, the knight through he saw the princess glance over to Matt and Sora as well but that may be because of Tai's affections towards Sora, which makes sense since her eyes did wander to Tai as well. "You have a strong will Davis. It is much stronger than mine that is for certain."
"Are you talking about what happened to Michael?"
"My heart is pained and drenched in sorrow over his death and I think of nothing more than to find his murderer and have him burned at the stake. But at the same time, I know that Michael would not have wanted me to become so vengeful. My will is weak compared to yours, noble knight. You have my respect."
Davis was surprised, there was genuine sadness and regret in her voice although everyone in the kingdom would love to see the evil warlock burned on the stake, he understood her reluctance to actually enjoy the very thought of it. No matter how you put it, no matter how much you try to justify it, it is still murder. But that's going to be Ken's punishment if he is ever caught, not getting re-sealed, because that went so well the first time, but death.
"It must be hard" Davis muttered. "To see your loved ones disappear before your very eyes."
"Do you know of the rumor surrounding our kingdom wizard, Izzy?" Mimi asked.
"What rumor?"
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, Izzy seemed to fade in from the background but no one really paid any attention to him. He was there but everyone walked past him as if he wasn't. He was just leaning against the wall, arms crossed, staring as princess conversed with the knight. Even from afar, he could hear them loud and clear.
Mimi glanced around, as if to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Her eyes glazed over the very wizard she was talking about but she didn't seem to notice his existence at all. "Apparently, decades ago, when he was still a fresh teenager, he had fallen in love with a beautiful princess who reciprocated those same feelings. But of course, back then, they could not marry for they were not of the same class. She was a royal, and he, a simple villager at the time.
"But nothing could prevent them from being together; they shared many secret nights, where they found only the deepest love for each other. Rumor has it, the princess bore his children, and not her husband's but they kept it secret and they ended all communication with each other to prevent any suspicion. It broke Izzy's heart to watch his children grow up without him as their father but he was forced to put up with it. It is really a sad story."
Davis looked around at the gathered royals. "So you're saying that someone here could be that princess's illegitimate grandchild?"
"It's possible but it is only a rumor" Mimi shrugged. "But you know what it means?"
"That they've been living a lie."
"No" Mimi giggled. She then turned towards the nearest balcony, staring at the twinkling stars with a pleasant smile. "It means that that person has grown up with a little magic inside of them. Something so special and rare but they don't even know it."
"So what?"
"It's not just them though. I think this rumor was made so that it could be a lesson to us all. There is something magical inside each and every one of us, we just can't see it. But hopefully, one day, someone else will."
Davis blinked, he knew that Mimi was always honest and spoke her mind, meaning you never know what could come out of her mouth but this was just surprising to him, in a good way. He couldn't help smiling and laughing a little as he did so. "That was really beautiful."
"Thanks" she smiled. "But what I was trying to say was that, even if Kari can't see what a great guy you are. I can guarantee that some other beautiful maiden will."
"Perhaps" Davis nodded. "How old do you think Izzy is?"
Mimi shrugged. "I'm not so sure. I think someone once said that he was over a century old but I don't think anyone bothered to actually ask him. It must be kind of sad, to live so long and watch friends and family die and even forget your own birthday. I wonder if he feels the most pain out of anyone in the kingdom."
Izzy finally turned away from the conversation but he did not make himself visible to anyone, he simply walked towards the entrance of the ballroom. At the entrance, he sees knights Cody and Noriko standing there, talking about the evening and how they should try and protect the princes if something happens. At this point, the wizard finally makes his presence known to them and they aren't even shocked when he suddenly appears from thin air.
"Izzy, what are you doing here?" Cody asked.
"I heard about your fight against the warlock earlier" Izzy replied. "I wanted to make sure that the two of you are all right."
"We're fine" Cody said but then the female knight glared at him and he huffed in exasperation. "Noriko is fine" he corrected himself. "I got poisoned and the doctor prescribed me to stay safe. No vigorous training or anything potentially extra stressful."
"I can understand that" Izzy nodded. "Now I want both of you to listen very carefully to me but don't repeat it to anyone else here." He waited for both swordsman and swordswoman to nod before continuing. "Ken is here right now."
Neither of them seems very surprised by this revelation as the wizard found his own entrance in despite being not invited to make people feel more secure. Magic wasn't the most trustworthy thing in this time and age, especially with their history of evil mages.
"What can we do about it?" Noriko asked. "I mean, obviously, Cody is in no real condition to fight."
Cody unsheathed his blade a little. "I'm capable of cutting him down to size if it comes down to it."
Noriko shot him another glare. "It's like you want to die from the poison in your system."
Izzy turned away from them and his presence slowly faded in with the background noise but they both knew that he was still standing there in front of them. "Just leave it to me. Trust me; I can handle him on my own. Just make sure to evacuate everybody from the castle if Ken does plan on striking."
It's clear to Izzy that neither of them can make that promise but they nod nonetheless.
"I just hope you know what you're doing."