Chapter 4 - Stubborn Prince

In the heart of Dark Star's capital city, Cherilisia, was the white royal castle of King Raglan. His son, Prince Meelzib sat naked in a hot tub with six naked maidens. One fed him grapes while another rubbed his chest. The other four were chuckling and splashing water at each other.

Two other maidens stood away from the hot tub. They wore nothing but red wrappers, their breasts covered only by golden chains. One held up a bath robe and the other had slippers in her hands. They stood still like statues, taking care not to face the direction of the hot tub.

Prince Meelzib was a handsome and charming man. He appeared to be in his early thirties but was a little over a thousand years old. His wet and long dark green hair with white highlights at the bottom graced his muscular body. His dragon mark was clearly visible on his bare chest as a maiden rubbed and massaged it.

"It has been fun as usual, ladies. You may leave now." he said but they pouted unhappily.

One by one they gave him a peck on the cheek as they got out of the tab. Prince Meelzib, however, put his hand around the waist of the last one. "You will stay with me a little longer." he said, grinning.

Meelzib kissed her deeply. She moaned and wrapped her hands around his neck. The rest of the girls left in towels and closed the door. Meelzib noticed that the two maids that were waiting to dress him up were still in the room. He angrily faced them.

"Get out," he ordered them. They put his clothes down and left immediately.

Prince Meelzib grinned at the privacy he now had. "I have you all to myself now."

"I have missed you, my prince." she whispered seductively in his ear.

****

King Raglan sat on his throne red with anger. He had just concluded a meeting with the Enchanted Seven after a three-hour meeting regarding the gamarax levels on Earth. His wife, Queen Lavila, sat beside him. She fanned herself with a bored look on her face. She was a thin woman covered in precious jewelry and a lot of makeup.

"I am losing my patience with Meelzib. He is such a disobedient boy! I can't believe that he missed another meeting with the Enchanted Seven!" King Raglan expressed his anger.

"Do not worry, my King. I will talk to him." Queen Lavila sweetly said to King Raglan and kissed his hand.

Her words did not sway him. He snatched his hand back unamused, "That's what you say all the time. Lavila, that boy needs to change! He is my sole heir. How will he learn how to lead my people if he refuses to be taught?" King Raglan vented again.

"Please have faith in me, my King." Queen Lavila reassured him. "Our son will change for the better."

Suddenly, the two guards guarding the door to the throne room opened it. Four military officials that were specifically assigned to keep Dark Star in order marched in. The four soldiers bowed respectfully to King Raglan and Queen Lavila.

"Your royal highness." They said at once.

"You are welcome, my brave warriors. Are the reports I asked concerning the kremis attacks on villages ready?" King Raglan asked them.

"Yes they are, our King." the soldier with the highest rank confirmed.

He handed the reports to a maid who approached him with a silver tray. She went to King Raglan, knelt down with her eyes on the floor and held up the tray to him. King Raglan took the reports and started to read through them. As he read, his eyebrow jerked up involuntarily. He looked at the soldiers stunned.

"It says here that a young girl in Gemhules defeated a kremis that attacked them." King Raglan stated, bewildered.

"Yes, my King. She is the daughter of a carpenter known as Sharumez. According to eyewitnesses, she defeated the kremis while drunk, your majesty." the warrior explained.

"She was drunk? Interesting!" King Raglan rubbed his orange beard.

"My subordinate asked her father to allow him to bring her to us but he declined and took her home instead." the warrior continued to narrate.

"I don't understand why a girl of such talent is at home and not at the academy." King Raglan expressed, baffled.

The warrior cleared his throat, "She hasn't become of age my king."

King Raglan got up from his throne and walked to the warrior. He looked him right in the eye and said, "Nonsense! She is a special girl. She has activated her powers early and alone without an instructor. It will be completely stupid not to teach her how to use her powers effectively. Wouldn't you agree, Lavila?" he looked over his shoulder at his visibly bored queen.

"Yes, my King." she supported.

King Raglan smiled at the warriors, "Deliver a letter to her father telling him that I want to see him in three days time. I would like to have a talk with him concerning his extraordinary daughter. She will make a valuable asset to our army."

"Yes, your majesty."

****

Light and Sharaina chatted freely as they walked back home. They passed through the village, and admired the progress made by the villagers doing the repairs.

Sharumez was studying a house plan with Jenu when he caught sight of Sharaina and Light. He squinted his eyes suspiciously at Light, wondering who he was. Jenu caught him staring at Light and dismissed the men with them.

"Who is that boy?" Sharumez asked Jenu.

"He, my friend, is the son of your new neighbor." Jenu replied.

"Oh, he is Velan's boy. I see now." Sharumez said and joined the other men working.

****

When Light and Sharaina arrived at their homes, they found an angry Akirexer with a cooking stick in her hand at the gate. She tapped her foot and glared at Sharaina. A cold sweat run down Sharaina's spine. She hid behind Light who was equally pale with fear. Akirexer stomped her feet and hit the gate with the cooking stick. Light jumped in fright.

"Sharaina! You are an hour late! Because of you, we will have dinner late tonight! What explanation I'm I going to give your father, huh?" Akirexer blasted.

"I'm so sorry, mama. I didn't mean to come back late." Sharaina pleaded and held on to Light tightly.

Akirexer furiously pointed her cooking stick at Light's nose. "Who are you and what are you doing with my daughter?!" Akirexer screamed at him.

"I am Light... your neighbor." Light shakily pointed to the mansion.

"So, it was you who delayed my daughter huh? To whom did you pay dowry to in order to have all the time alone with my daughter?" Akirexer vehemently asked Light.

Sharaina reddened completely humiliated by Akirexer's question. "Mama, why are you embarrassing us? It is not what it looks like." she whined from behind Light.

"Please, this is just a misunderstanding." Light added. He was feeling so embarrassed that his cheeks were red.

"Enough! Go home now!" Akirexer ordered Light and switched her eyes to Sharaina. "And as for you young lady," she pulled Sharaina's ear. "you are going to help me cook dinner!"

Light watched Akirexer pull Sharaina's ear all the way to the house and banged the door shut. He turned and found his own mother scowling at him with her hands folded. Light sighed and bowed his head in shame. He walked past her received a smack at the back of his head before the door slammed behind him.

Alainara laughed so hard at the whole thing. She skipped into the house. When she heard Akirexer still scolding Sharaina, she laughed even more. Sharaina dramatically threw herself face down on the couch and whined.

Alainara sat on Sharaina's back and bounced up and down laughing. Their mother was still complaining in the kitchen on top of her voice. Pots and pans dropped to the floor.

"Alainara," Sharaina called with her face buried in a cushion.

"Yes, Sharaina?" Alainara giggled.

"Mama has finished me." Sharaina whimpered. "Now things will be awkward with Light."

"I found it very funny." Alainara squeaked and clapped her hands.

"You are a mean little girl, Alainara." Sharaina fake sobbed, dramatically blinking her eyes.

Naian walked into the living room with his tools box. Feeling so exhausted, he immediately sat on the couch and unbuttoned his shirt by two buttons. He looked at his sisters and listened to his angry mother in the kitchen.

Naian shrugged his shoulders, and chose to mind his own business. He was too tired to be involved in their drama. He completely wanted no part in it.

"No," he said to himself but Alainara heard him.

"Hello big brother!" Alainara happily acknowledged his presence.

"Please be a dear and get me some water to drink." Naian said to Alainara and she got off Sharaina.

Sharaina sat upright and let out a long agonizing and annoying sigh that forced a groan out of Naian. "What is it Sharaina?" his tone exposed his irritation.

"Mama has embarrassed me for life." Sharaina crossed her arms and pouted in self-pity. She blinked her eyes suddenly and smiled brightly at Naian, "How was your day at the shop though?"

"It was so exhausting I tell you. I'm even wondering if I will be able to go tomorrow." Naian replied and took the glass of water out of Alainara's hand. Alainara proceeded to sit on Naian's lap. "And how was your day, Alainara?" Naian gently asked her.

"It was fun. I played in the garden with my friends and mama baked us cookies." Alainara cheerfully blurted out.

Sharumez walked into the house and joined his children in the living room. He sat down and put the flask that Sharaina gave him on the table. He too was tired. Alainara got off Naian's lap and ran into the kitchen. Sharaina picked up the flask and followed Alainara.

"How was business today?" Sharumez asked Naian.

"It was okay, papa. I was able to finish doing everything but it has left me sore." Naian quickly answered.

Sharumez thankfully took the glass of water Alainara gave him and took it in three gulps. "There's nothing pending for tomorrow. I think we should take a break tomorrow." he said to Naian's relief.

"Yay! Papa will be home all day tomorrow!" Alainara hugged Sharumez.

"Easy there, young lady." Sharumez laughed. "Papa is feeling a little sore from all the work he did today."

Akirexer left the kitchen and went to welcome her husband and son. She was about to do so when they heard a loud knock on the door. Akirexer looked at Sharumez stunned. She wondered who would be visiting them that time of the night.

Akirexer reluctantly opened the door and was taken aback when her eyes fell on two warriors. They took off their hats and handed her a sealed envelope. As soon as she took it, they put their hats back on and left.

Akirexer gasped surprised to see Sharumez's name on the envelope. She was even more shocked with the royal seal on it. Sharumez took the envelope away from Akirexer and examined it. He looked at his family burning with curiosity.

Sharaina joined everyone and found them gaping at the envelope in Sharumez's hands. She watched him tear it open and pull out a letter from it. Sharumez read the letter with shaky hands. Everyone silently but anxiously waited for him to tell them what was in it.

Sharumez wiped his face after he finished reading and everyone drew closer to him.

"What does it say?" Akirexer worriedly asked him.

"The king requests my presence. I am to be at the royal castle in three days." Sharumez replied. His voice low and shoulders slumped.

"The king?" Akirexer gasped.

"But why would the king want to see you?" Naian asked, puzzled.

Sharumez turned to Sharaina. "He wants to see me because of you."