The Five Kingdoms

They were asked to follow a guard to the main ground inside the Keep, it was like a battleground, an arena. A dusty floor awaits them but Princess Railey was not sure whether to enter or stay outside the ground. She remembers how the Queen scolds her when she has a dirty gown or shoes due to playing. "Wait, she's not here. You can do what you want, you're free from them." She thought while watching everyone enter. The dust made her cough, calling the attention of the Princes. They looked at her weirdly, thinking what may be the problem but Princess Railey continued to join them who then walks ahead of the Princes, "Hey, I think she's really that Princess. She's not even used to dust!" Shaune whispers to Asheton who is watching Princess Railey roam her eyes around the arena as if it's the first time she's seen one. Kingdoms have a tradition wherein they will watch a gladiator battle in an arena during feasts but seems like Princess Railey never went to one.

There are five pillars which hold each of the Kingdom's flags. The royalties were asked to stand in front of their Kingdoms, the Princes are beside each other while Princess Railey is in front of them and to their amusement, Princess Railey is 'that Princess'. Asheton looks at Shaune who is amazed because he never thought that her Kingdom will ever let her go, especially to train. The light suddenly shines directly at Princess Railey, making her look like an angel, her sad eyes and long blue hair dances gracefully with the wind and light but after a moment, the clouds once again covered the sun. The Princes' eyes and heart were taken by her beauty. "Now, I think I won't let you marry her!" Shaune said to Asheton who is still looking at the Princess who is in deep thought, "What will I have for dinner?" Since it's the first time she went out, she doesn't know whether they serve the same food as they have in the Manor. "Royalties! Let me introduce you to each other, especially we have a very delicate individual here." The man said while looking at Princess Railey, "Delicate? How am I delicate? I can climb a high gate!" she thought and pouts, Asheton and Shaune finds her cute when she pouts, making them blush. "Ahem!" The man calls their attention, "Prince Asheton of Zafaiahquie," Asheton takes a foot forward, and bows magnificently to make Princess Railey notice him. "Prince Shaune of Vuxforri Kingdom," he then bows in a remarkable manner. Sadly, the Princess doesn't even recognize whether they bowed perfectly or not since she has never seen any man bow before other than the guards and maids around her. "The Kingdom of Ueryr and Kingdom of Phifterio will not participate in this training, so we will move on," Three of them looked at the two flags beside them, they are the most mysterious kingdoms now since Princess Railey appeared today making their Kingdom lose its mystery, "Princess Railey of Weinzoire." Princess Railey steps forward, remembering what Sis Jera taught her, "When you are in front of a man, be sure to curtsy beautifully. This shows high respect for the other party." She then did as what she always does, and it did captured the Princes' eyes. They felt great honor to have Princess Railey show respect to them. When she went to her position, she noticed that the Princes are looking at her so she smiled to suppress her embarrassment about earlier. The Princes mistook it as a greeting smile and they cannot control their heartbeat making them blush and Shaune feels that his legs are losing strength. The man thought he feel sick so he immediately hold the meeting and sent them to the clinic. Princess Railey cannot understand what happened so she went to her room, "Maybe I have an ugly smile," she thought while looking at the mirror. It's the first day of her freedom from the King and Queen, the sun is setting but she wants to see Sis Jera. The keep is not that big, but it has a lot of rooms. Princess Railey roams around and stumbles upon Prince Asheton who is looking outside the window. At first she was hesitant whether to talk to him or continue on her way to Sis Jera but she found herself standing beside the Prince who got shocked. Princess Railey thought that maybe she is a nuisance to him that's why he reacted, but little does she know that Prince Asheton was shocked to see that the Princess would like to come near him. Ladies were not allowed to talk or touch to any man she is not married to, that is why even Prince Asheton is not used to talking to ladies in an unprofessional manner. "I am very sorry about how I acted earlier. I just… I was…. Your hair, it's so pretty that is why I touched it. I am very sorry, Prince Antone." Princess Railey is looking directly at Prince Asheton while saying this but with his name being mistaken, he can't help but laugh. "It's fine." He did not correct Princess Railey because it might ruin the moment, "Thank you. It's the first time that a lady finds my hair pretty." He unconsciously touched his hair and played with it. Princess Railey got quite jealous because he can touch his hair normally but she cannot, of course, because it is not acceptable to touch someone's hair without permission, so she asked, "Can I touch it?" Prince Asheton's eyes widen, this Princess does not really know how to act properly in public. When he looked at her, the moonlight reflects in her purple eyes, and he got so fixed in them that he did not notice that he nodded. Princess Railey was enjoying herself while braiding Prince Ashtone's hair. No one is saying anything but both of them are smiling, "I am turning 21 this year, yet here I am, letting a Princess braid my hair." Prince Asheton thought, "Wow, what a silky smooth hair he has! I wonder what shampoo is he using?" Princess Railey asks herself but a familiar voice caught her attention, "Now, it's the first day, Princess Railey and it seems like you forgotten why you are here." Sis Jera said while walking from the stairs, it's the first time Princess Railey saw Sis Jera have that commanding and scaring expression. It somewhat resembles the Queen's when she is scolding her during her childhood. She let go of Prince Asheton's hair and moved a bit further, "And, I am very sorry, Your Highness." Sis Jera looked at the Prince who made a serious face. A face that a crown prince should have, "But I think you are, taking advantage of my Princess' innocence." Sis Jera holds Princess Railey's shoulders, "Not because she is not aware of public etiquette, doesn't give you the right to act according to her wants. What if someone saw you, can you take responsibility for Princess Railey?" Princess Railey doesn't understand what is happening but she knows that she needs to act. "Sis Jera, it is my fault. Please don't blame Prince Antone." Sis Jera looked at Prince Asheton as if she is ready for a fight but Princess Railey pulled her then looked at Prince Asheton apologetically before leaving. "I know something's not right with her Kingdom. How come her maid can go here without any problem. The barrier between the Keep and the Meister's Manor can only be crossed by the Vantais and the Meisters. How come a simple maid can cross over?" The thought didn't leave him until morning, Prince Asheton had taken an interest in the Kingdom of Princes Railey ever since he found out about the history of the three kingdoms other than his and Prince Shaune, Kingdom of Ueryr and Kingdom of Phiftterio and Kingdom of Weinzoire. They hold secrets that no one ever dared to unfold.