Chapter Two: The Veiled

The windows were draped with heavy purple and blue draperies with gold tassels to hold it. A male servant went inside and opened these, letting the sunlight flood all over the room.

"Young master. Its almost noon" the man said while hovering over the person lying on the bed.

"Hmmnnn. Five more minutes Levi. I am still sleepy." the young prince replied while burying his face in a pillow.

The servant prepared on his bedside table, plates and silver cutleries for breakfast. He then sent in the other servant, which was waiting outside, to bring in the food. Levi neared the prince's bed and pulled him out of it.

"Come on master. Your breakfast is here. Don't keep the food waiting."

The prince didn't budge.

"Zion, if you continue this, you will never give a good impression to the king."

"You know i don't care anymore about what he will say to me."

The prince continued,

"He never cared about me as my father. He only cares about his duty as the king, nothing else."

"That might be true. But still its your responsilbility. You are a prince. Future King of Beodora"

Zion don't  want to hear further arguements with his bestfriend. He will never win and it would just bore him to death. He just got out of bed, put on a shirt and sat at the table. He washed his hand in the basin beside his chair and dried them with a cloth.

"See! That is what you always do. Which is why-"

"Which is why what?" "Which side are you really on?" angrily but spoken in low voice, said Zion while scanning the food laid on the table. All that Levi could do now is to just keep quiet.

The prince picked a slice of a lamb fricassee with a silver fork and ate it. He waited for Levi to speak, but his bestfriend remained silent. So he continued to eat.

Levi neared the window and looked over the vastness of the kingdom. Which is protected by four layers of walls. The palace was floating and the waters are falling endlessly from its brim. It is connected to the wall through three bridges-Zypae, Winfil and Sinbors bridges. One to north, another to east and another to west.

This wall is named Kori, named after the maiden of Chéreká. The She-elf who once protected the king of Beodora three hundred years ago during the war of Garghúl.

Next to Kori is Mossmoon. The wall protects the land of the elites and the second headquarters of Beodora Legionnaires. It also houses a great portion of the kingdom's supplies apart of the ones stored in the palace for time of need. The supplies will then be marketed at the lands beyond this wall.

The land of the villagers, protected by the wall of Akrem, is defended by the elite troops of the kingdom to ensure the safety of the populace. Last is Ardent, this wall embraces the farm lands, pastures and the fisheries, which provides the needs of the people.

All of these, in the hands of the king. And in the future, will be Zion's. But what will the kingdom become if its future king is as stubborn as him?

All that Levi could do now is sigh. He hasn't any idea yet on how to fix his bestfriend's mindset and not to mention -his behavior. He was sure of it though that he can come up with a solution. But it has to be found as soon as possible.

Zion starts his day with some formalities, court meetings, checks on in some recent palace activities, flirting with the lady royals and after that, the usual, hanging out on the top of the wall kori.

Normally, no one can pass the bridges easily in and out. But because of the amulet his old friend gave him, he can easily transport from the palace to there and stay undetected. All he is going to do except the last. For he is to meet someone today.

"I guess the royal guest has just arrived."

Zion looked over to where his faithful friend was pointing. No royal carraige, just a scarlet veiled rider and two horsemen. He wasn't sure if its a man or not. The only thing in his mind now is why would a royalty be riding for a journey with only two men with him or her. That would be preposterous. He noticed something though. A crest. He hasn't seen that symbol before. This made him even more curious.

The horses halted halfway the bridge and the rider raised its head and looked to where he was.

"Now that was weird" the prince thought while fixing his hair and clothes.

"Yeah, weird to have a guest who wants to talk only to you and you alone. "

"Am i hearing it right? That guest wants to speak only to me?"

Levi nodded.

"Well this is interesting", he thought.

For the first time Zion felt eager to meet someone. This guest is peculiar. Well, all of their guest are special in their own ways. But this, this one is totally different.

The guest chosed to have their private talk in the palace's Mytrii garden.

The prince's outfit is stunningly gorgeous for a rebel prince like him. He wore a no collar, red fitted leather shirt with buckled chest and leather pants. On its sleeves are cuff links paired with black fingerless metal studded gloves, and to complete the look, a brass knuckle chained buckled boots.

As he entered the garden, the guest is already there. Sitting, sipping a cup of cammomille tea. And it was not a man, it's a woman! Zion felt that his pace has quickened. He was full of excitement.

The woman turned and saw him. She rose and courtesied.

Such a beauty. Sultry lips, fierce yet appealing eyes, thick lashes, platinum blonde volumed shiny hair, slender body and very fair skin. And just weird because her left eye is electric blue and the right is sea green. Astonishing and somehow, he finds it quite sexy.

Damn, this girl is hot.

He saw the woman's cheeks flushed. She might have felt that surge of attraction i have for her.

The leaves of the trees rustled as the wind blew. The enchantment of her eyes seems to imprison me.

As i neared her, i could smell the sweetness of her scent. It blends well with the citrus fragrance that radiated from the fruits in our garden. The more i came close to her i feel aroused. She is so tantalizing.

"Good day my lord"

"What bring such a fair maiden in my kingdom?

"I am here for personal matters. I am Arya. I do hope you still remember me, Zion."

"My deepest apologies milady. But i haven't recalled meeting you. But i must say it's my first time meeting such a fine lady as you. And it is a pleasure to know you."

Deep inside my head, oh goodness! What am i saying! My brain is out of control. But i tried as hard as i could to compose my words carefully.

Arya just smiled and she replied,

"You might say that, given that we have meet only for a short period of time and we're still kids back then."

Zion motioned for them to sit down and Arya gracefully sat back down. As they were about to continue talking, a speck of dust went to her eyes. He then quickly reached for her face and blew gently on the eye.

"It seems that the past has been repeated."

The prince frowned. A memory flashed back. A picture of a girl and a boy playing in the same garden they are now at. The boy was him, and the girl has dark ash brown with ash blonde highlighted hair and baby aqua eyes. It couldn't be her.