Chapter 1

James's POV

I will find a bride soon, Victoria" I hissed because she kept bugging me about it the whole day. "You said that a couple of times now, why do I have to trust you now?" She asked while sipping on wine "Because I will, I can feel her getting near me" I replied

She giggled a bit, teasing me "Oh please James, actions speak louder than words" She replied before sipping on wine again. She put the cup of wine gracefully on the table which is covered with fine silk. She raised her left eyebrow randomly, matching her attitude with the purple dress she's wearing right now

I observed the room around me. It's my room, I had a lot of memories here. Mostly me and my mom, too bad she isn't here to give me more though. She died last two years on my 15th birthday. I still remember locking myself in my room, it was definitely the saddest birthday I've had yet

Thankfully Victoria was there for me at the times I was about to give up in life. She may have a lower rank than me, but still I follower her and my Dad's rules because they know best. Her style is always gorgeous, she wore dresses with the finest materials throughout the kingdom

She helps me study being a prince, she helps my study the things around me, she helps me with many things. I wouldn't know what to do. Her job is to keep the palace working, that includes the food, the water, the preparations and more, I don't even know how she still have time for me

I sighed as I observe the poetry I've been working on for days. It's about a family living in poverty, which is found in other kingdoms. We never experience those things here. In this kingdom, we treat each other fairly. The people are nice here and are friends with the king and me.

Father likes to roam around town greeting people when the weather is nice, sometimes I even go with him. Even lower rank people can enter the festivities in the castle. Father dreams of a fair and nice kingdom which he has already done. I wish to be like him someday

"You know, princes like you rarely meets a duchess as nice and concerned as me" She said, looking at me seriously as she returns her left eyebrow to its previous position. And just like that, she made a point, she always does. "maybe it's you" She suddenly said with a smirk

"Maybe you're the reason why you can't find a bride" She continued, as she replaces her smirk with a wide smile. I rolled my eyes at her and back to my poetry "Oh come on, why so serious? I was just kidding" She exclaimed, as she approaches me

She looked at the poetry I made and squinted at it. I looked at her, only to find out that she's switching looks between me and the poetry I wrote. "You are a one weird prince; did you know that?" She described me, which is more of an insult to me

"Why are you even here. Victoria?" I asked her as I put my poetry in the chest next to my table. "Do you even know why you're here?" I continued making her wonder. She roamed around my room for a while, not to observe my room, but to think about my question. Sometimes I wonder if she's really a human

"Did you come here just to insult me?" I added, which made her look at me squinting. She sat on the side of my bed as she slightly tilts her head to the right "You know I wouldn't do that" She answered, making me look at her with both eyebrows raised

"I mean I did" She continued, as if she's making any sense, which she isn't by the way. An awkward silence started invading the room as we awkwardly stare at each other. In this kingdom, there's no normal person, I'll tell you that. "I actually remembered why I came here" She broke the silence as she approaches the coffer next to my bed

"Why are you here then?" I asked her as she takes a bunch of clothing from my coffer. I know what's going on. Something is happening, an event, or a festivity, or a trip. It's the only possible reason why she's picking a formal attire from my coffer

" Why do you sound like you don't want me here?" She asked as she drops the formal clothes on my bed and crossed her arms. I sighed and approached my bed "No, it's not like that. I'm kind of busy right now" I answered as I sat on the other side of the bed, helping her choose an attire

She scattered all the formal clothes on my bed after I replied. She's choosing an attire for me. Most of the times she picks clothes that looks good in me, but not comfortable for me. "I can choose them myself, Victoria" I said, making her glare at me as she crosses her arms once again

"James, it's the king we're talking about" replied with a high tone, she talks like this sometimes but she isn't really angry, for her it's more like an expression. Her serious face was replaced by a small smile which kept getting wider and wider "Not just any king, the king of Khisfire" She continued

I let out a long sigh before giving her a tired glace "But I don't want to go" I replied making her glare at me again. Her expressions just kept changing ang changing, thinking about it makes me giggle. "James, you're a prince, you are a royalty, I think it's time for you to act just like one" She replied as she returns to picking my clothes

"Oh, this looks really cute!" She claimed as she raises my red tunic with a touch of white and my brown trousers. I never really wear that, unless the it's really necessary. I looked at the clothes once again, I still remember wearing that a month ago, it was uncomfortable but many people liked it

"Victoria, why do you pick weird outfits?" I asked her, which she ignored. She took a moment to smile at it, before handing it to me. I stared at it for a moment and then I raised my left eyebrow at her, switching looks between her and the outfit

"Do I have to?" I asked her, which made her annoyed. "Stop nagging and try it on" She hissed, as she throws the clothes at me. I grabbed the clothes which she threw and took a moment to look at it. This is the outfit that mom made me. Yes, she made me this, I didn't really tell her that it's uncomfortable because it might hurt her feeling.

This outfit was a slightly larger when mom made it, she made it like that so I can use it in the future, like now. When my mother was the same age as me, she would join the other servants spun wool. Everyone in the castle was her friend. Mom said that when the world is being cruel to us, just leave it be, and it will stop.

I smiled a bit before glancing back to her. "I'm going to go get changed now, you can go prepare too" I suggested, making her nod and then tap my head, messing up my hair a bit. I looked at her as she closes the wooden door gently. I smiled as I took of the white tunic that I wore, and then my pants

Glancing at the outfit once again, reminds me of memories that had been pasted in my mind for a long time. I smiled as I proceeded to wear the red tunic.

~~

"Do you have a clue why we're being summoned?" I asked as I view the outside world from the inside of a carriage. The color of the carriage is dark blue with blue striped each side. It also has two coachmen, one at the front and one at the back.

This is a royal carriage, yet the design of it is simple, just like the royalties in our kingdom. I glanced at her, only to catch her looking outside, as if she's looking for something, or perhaps someone. I looked at her one last time before looking at the direction she's looking at

It's just a group of servants carrying a cart filled with wool ready to be spun. What is her deal? With this behavior she has the guts to call me weird. I sighed before glancing back at the window next to me. W here are we going? I asked myself trying to recognize the surroundings

But I didn't. I have never been here before, or at least I just can't recognize it. "What were you saying a while ago" Victoria suddenly said making me look at her, but she's still looking outside like something is wrong. So, she did hear me, she just ignored me. Wow

"Where are we going?" I asked her, assuming she would answer my question this time. "It won't be a surprise if I tell you" She said, before looking at me back. "Tell me, I hate surprises" I said, making her grin, before looking at the window again. She is being rude

"Please tell me" I said, making her release a long sigh before replying "We're going to the kingdom of Khisfire" Making me raise both my eyebrows. Is she serious? That's a day trip. How about my clothes? I'm pretty sure we're going to stay there for some days, the king there and my father are very good friends

My father goes there at least twice a month if he's free. He meets the king there to make deals, and also to have a good time. My dad says they make the best products there. For a long time, I've wanted to visit Khisfire but for some reason, I feel lazy to go there

" Well, are we going home after?" I asked her, making her widen her lips at me "We'll stay there for a few days" She replied, making me wrinkle my forehead. "How about my clothes?" I asked with a rising voice, making her do the same "Don't you raise your voice at me!" She hissed

"I already packed them" She said making me, think. I don't remember when she packed my things, and I certainly don't remember giving her permission for entering my room. "What do you mean you packed them?" I asked making her sigh, and look at me with those 'bored' eyes

"Fine, you were asleep that time" She suddenly said, making me angrier and angrier. "You went through my stuff?!" I said with a high tone. I don't really get angry that much, but when people go through my personal belongings, I get mad. And that happens mostly to Victoria. She should really get an award for that

"Lower, your voice James, we're almost at our stop" She replied, making me slightly calm. And that's when I realized, I haven't eaten since this morning. I remember writing my poetry after taking a bath. How could I forget to eat? I've got to take care of myself even more

"What is this place?" I asked her as I look outside the window, viewing the large town up ahead. The towns weren't messy like any other town. It was clean and organized. "The food here is good, I'm pretty sure you're hungry" She suddenly said

"Why do you say so?" I asked her, still looking and admiring the town up ahead. "Well, you didn't come out of your room" She said, making me grin a little. She knows every move I take, nothing creepy about that. My eyes began to sparkle as we drew closer and closer to the town

My smile widens as we enter the town, viewing the beauty of the town. The town is huge, and its streets are huge. The houses are colored with white, and they have perfectly carved door, with various decorations. I see people interacting from the side, some are sitting in a bench, and some are eating foods, delicious foods that made my stomach rumble even more

Those vegetable stews are making me drool. We never usually eat foods like those, mostly pork and fish. But I would like to try a stew like that. In the castle, only me and Victoria eat fruits and vegetables, no one in particular likes fruit in the kingdom

When there's a festivity, mostly served was meat and fish. But if there isn't one, we have bread, egg and cheese. These substitutes aren't used in other kingdom, because bread, cheese, and egg were only for poor people. But in our kingdom, we eat what we can eat. Pretty cool right?

"We can stop in the nearby tavern, we'll be there for a few hours, and then we'll be back on the road" Victoria said to the two coachmen with a smile. I observed the town once more. It just keeps getting beautiful and beautiful. This is definitely going to refill my energy

After a moment of admiring the place, we've reached the tavern. It's wider than I thought, it's made of wood and there are plants in front of it. There's also different kinds of trees and crops at the sides. Maybe it's their source of food. "Did you know that they serve the best food Amaron?" She suddenly said as we get down from the carriage

"We're in Amaron?" I asked in shock. The kingdom of Amaron is also one of the places I've never visited. "Yes, I didn't tell you?" Victoria said. Is she serious? Or is she really that forgetful? I smiled, before entering the tavern. There were numerous things I saw, the moment I stepped in the tavern.

The people serving the foods and drinks, the perfectly arranged tables with cloth that's colored red and white, performers dancing on the stage, and the sweet aroma that roams around the room. I already love this place

How about you go find a table for us and I'll choose a food to eat?" Victoria suggested, causing me to nod. There're no other people who knows what food I prefer better than my father, my mom, and Victoria. I looked for a table around, hoping to find a comfortable area

I approached that one table on the left side of the tavern. I sat at the chair beside it as I watch Victoria talk to the serf (Waiter). I smiled as I observe how nice their conversation was. I looked at the people dancing at the stage. There were two men and three women dancing gracefully on the stage while a flute and harp was being played in the background

There were 6 total music performers, two were using harps, and four were using flute. They were all women. The dancer's dance was in sync with the music, creating a graceful feeling floating around. I switched back my sight to Victoria who was approaching me with a wide smile.

"I ordered the stew you kept craving about" Victoria said, making me widen my eyes again "You did? How did you know I want to eat that?" I asked her as I slightly tilt my head to the right. "Don't act like I don't know you well" She replied with a smirk, before looking at the dancers at the other side of the room

I observed her face while she's looking at the dances on stage. She wore a very wide smile and her eyes were filled with emotions, I've never seen her like this before. "Hey, why don't you join them?" I suggested, making her look at me with those eyes

"I'm not sure if I can still dance" She replied, dropping her smile slightly. I grinned at her, making her look at me directly. "You can take care of me even if you have full schedule" I said, making her smile slightly "And that proves that you can do what you want to do" I continued, making her smile and look at the dancers again

She looked at me one last time before standing up and approaching the stage. She talked to the dancers for a moment, and judging from their reactions, I think it went well. The soft music started, and so did Victoria's dancing. She was the only one different, but she was the only one special.

Her purple dress spins gracefully each time she twirls around to the music. And I can't even spot anything wrong with her dancing. Excuse me, what was she saying about not sure if she can dance? I smiled a bit, not realizing there's a man approaching beside me

"Mind if I sit beside you?" He said, as he smiles at me. I looked around, observing the tables around me. There were about five tables that are empty, why does he want to sit next to me, when there's a lot of chairs available? "There are other chairs nearby" I suggested trying not to sound like a threat

He's wearing the same type of tunic I wore this morning, only much cleaner and ironed, and dark blue pants "I just need someone to talk to, besides, you look like you need the same" He said, as he proceeds to sit next to me. "Uhm, okay. Hi, I'm James" I said as he looks at me directly, which made me uncomfortable, and I don't know why

He's not that tall, has little muscles. Dark brown eyes, peach lips. He looks average. I bet my age and his are the same. I'm just guessing. His hair is all black and messy, and his face is smooth, judging from the looks of it. And he looks pretty comfortable talking to a complete stranger, me

I looked away from him and to the dancers, glancing at Victoria who was happily dancing on the stage with her fellow dancers. "My name is Alexande- "He paused, which made me look at him "What was that?" I asked him, because I didn't really hear what he said

"Alex, my name is Alex" He answered with a bright smile, which also made me smile. "And where are you from, Alex?" I asked him, as I saw the serf approaching our holding two wooden bowl filled with vegetable stew. The sight of it up close is making me more and more hungry, like I just want to eat it right now

The serf placed the stews in the middle of the table. He smiled as he hands me two wooden spoons. People are so nice here. I looked at Alex, only to catch him already staring at me. It became uncomfortable, so I looked away from him and into the stew

The stew was colored red, and there were various types of vegetables in it, making me crave more and more. "Don't eat too fast, you might choke" He suddenly said, making me look at him. Is he really concerned. I nodded at him with a smile, before scooping up one of the carrots and putting it in my mouth

The warmth of the stew makes me want to eat more. I could eat dozens of these. "Or do you want me to choke you instead?" He suddenly said, making me widen my eyes as I look away from him and spit the hot stew on the table right in front of me

I glanced at him, as I wipe the stew off of my lips. I observed him, laughing while both of his arms are on his tummy. "You spit like a camel!" He teased me, as he continues to laugh, but this time, louder. I just realize that I spat on my stew, and also Victoria's

"I do not spit like a camel" I replied as I look for a stain on my tunic. "Aww, my shirt's covered in stew' I said as I pull the lower part of my tunic to view most of the stained parts. "There's a washroom in there, you can ask the serf to use it" He suggested

I lowered my eyebrow at him, which made him laugh even more. "Come on, I was just kidding" He said, trying to cheer me up. I've never met a guy like him before, a guy that's filled with joy. "You're lucky I have an extra shirt" I said making him smirk