Tip Of The Iceberg

The news spread faster than a rock that was thrown into a lake.

To say Ailen was feeling overwhelmed was an understatement. He's appalled, stunned. There are no more words that could describe his current emotions. People were frantic around him. He felt like he's underwater— voices muffled and indecipherable.

The chapel was dark, and no light could light the chapel because there's a storm outside.

The priests run around the palace, didn't care less about the pouring rain that soaked them while shouting Alien's ancestry power that he inherited.

Meredith was continuously calling out his name worriedly, wrapping her arms around his small figure. They're sitting on the short stairs inside the chapel. It didn't' take long until Irma rushed in with wide eyes, her knuckles turned white from gripping her skirt as she ran toward Ailen.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, oh my dear heavens. What happened to him?" Irma placed her cold, damp palms on Ailen's feverish cheeks, succeeded in pulling Ailen out from his train of thoughts.

"H-He's in a state of shock. What happened outside?" Meredith asked, her eyes searching into Irma's.

Irma chuckled breathlessly. "It's— a catastrophe. Everyone knew about His Highness, and his— his newly discovered power. I'm so shocked when I heard it from the priests. They announced it in the capital. It'll be formally announced tomorrow," she smiled brightly. "Your Highness, it's been centuries since the last royal had the bond,"

"Oh my God," Meredith squeaked, couldn't contain her excitement, and hugged Ailen tightly. She quickly let go with a horrified look. "I-I didn't mean to!"

"It's—fine, " Ailen whispered, still dazed.

"This news will be known by the whole world. Your Highness, you have just created history,"

"Okay,"

"Tomorrow you must attend the assessment ceremony,"

"Okay,"

"Then you'll be blessed by the pope, attend a gathering created by patricians to celebrate your health and also celebrate the Niveus bond that you inherited, formally attending your first introduction with other rulers from another land, giving your first public speech to the kingdom—"

"Irma, Irma. Calm down, can't you see His Highness's current state?" Meredith cut Irma's rambling, looking at Ailen, who stared Irma dazedly. "I bet he didn't comprehend everything that you just said,"

Irma blinked. She gave an apologetic look. "I-I'm sorry. I got a little too carried away,"

Meredith smiled. She got up from the stairs, helping Ailen to get up as well by holding his shoulders.

And then, before Ailen was allowed to breathe, hundreds of people rushed inside the chapel.

The once empty enormous hall was immediately stuffed by cheering servants and priests. Chains of congratulations repeated like a broken cassette; Ailen could only blink— still, in a state of shock, the gears in his mind stopped working.

Meredith and Irma tried to protect the little prince by standing in front of him. It didn't take long for the royal guards to ran through the crowd to guide Ailen back to the sapphire palace.

.

.

.

It's dinner time.

The entire world knew about Ailen within three hours. About his bond, his health, how charming he was, everything. Everyone within the kingdom couldn't wait to see Ailen.

Tomorrow's events are being prepared; Ailen heard from Irma.

His duty as the Crown Prince who held the Nievus bond began the next day.

Ailen had mixed reactions. First, he's very relieved. He held the power to destroy armies without batting an eye. Second, he didn't know how to use it, yet.

He remembered the note he read; his power will be triggered by an emotion. An intense emotion. Ailen was thinking if he should let anxiety to overwhelm him. He's been anxious since he woke up in this foreign-fairy-tale-esque world, so he might've just used that for his advantage.

Ailen stood in the middle of the room, letting Irma and Meredith, and four extra maids from within the palace decorate him since he'll face The Emperor at dinner.

This time, he didn't have to wear an oversized shirt. He wore a white collared shirt with a pale blue blazer adorned in floral patterns, white slacks with a belt, black leather shoes. Then for the outermost garment, he was decorated with gold lacing and embroidery.

This time, he looked like a true Crown Prince.