Chapter Five: The Past

The sky was blue and clear. The sun shone brightly in the sky. Flowers in the meadows danced as the crisp summer air blew.

A girl in a yellow bell dress sat in the middle of the flower field. She tucked her pink silky air around her ears along with a chrysanthemum she freshly picked.

She stood and spread her arms in the air. Then she lifted her chin and faced the blue sky. With a wide bright smile on her face, she closed her eyes as she breathed the fresh air which smelled like sweet honey - a scent coming from the flowers.

She stayed like that for a few minutes, not aware of the approaching footsteps behind her.

"Princess!" Someone called her from behind, almost a whisper yet audible enough.

The girl opened her eyes as she turn around. Then, she saw a young boy whose face was painted with different bright colors like his robe and pointed boots. He was also wearing a vibrant cap with bells tingling as he walked freely and bounced in the air like a happy monkey.

She chuckled warmly and gave him her biggest smile.

The young boy's cheeks were tinted in pink and his blue eyes sparkled as he stared at the beautiful princess in awe.

"Your highness, you look beautiful like an angel descended to the earth from heaven." His lips moved on their own causing both of them to get surprised.

"J-Jester..."

"Y-Your Highness, I-It's...I apologize if...if it makes you un-uncomfortable," he stuttered. Normally, he was well-spoken.

The princess noticed her unusual behavior, a hearty laugh came out from her cherry lips.

"Where is the jester with a golden tongue?" She teased him.

The jester sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

Then a moment of silence came in between them with both their eyes locked on each other.

"If I am not born as a jester who will I become?" The jester unconsciously spoke out his thoughts. He instantly covered his mouth because of his second-time embarrassment.

This time, both of them laughed so hard that it made their jaws hurt.

"Let me answer that. I think you're the one who will stay with me...forever," the princess warmly smile as the wind blew her hair, fluttering in the air along with the scattered petals, flying in the blue cloudless sky.

Then butterflies started to appear as their hearts started to sing a song only the ones who could feel an undescribable feeling can hear.

At that moment, they could feel as if the whole world stopped, alone, together.

"Your Highness, can you give me your hand?'' The jester shyly asked, hiding his hands on his back.

The princess tilted her head, ''Is it another trick?''

The jester flinched and gulped in embarrassment, ''I-I think...Your Highness caught me.''

The princess giggled as she gave her hand to him, ''Here, take my hand. It's all yours,'' and sent him a wink. Her sudden playfulness made his cheeks flushed and ears turned red.

''Eh!'' His heart felt like going to burst at any time.

She could obviously see his reactions and she felt delighted. ''How cute!''

The jester was flustered that he forget he asked for the princess' hand and now it was free and waiting for him to accept it.

''Will you still take my hand?''

''Y-Yes! I'm sorry Your Highness,'' he stammered as he gently placed her hand on his. He smiled foolishly as he felt the softness of the princess' beautiful hand.

''Your Highness, please close your eyes.'' The jester said.

Then the princess closed her eyes as she anticipated the jester's surprise once again.

The jester skillfully brought a flower bouquet in his free hand. ''Your Highness, you can now open your eyes.''

Once she opened her eyes, the princess gasped in surprise. Her eyes sparkled in excitement once she looked at the flowers. ''This is...this is the flower of eternal beauty!''

''Y-Yes, it is.''

''H-How did you get it? And where? These kinds of flowers are so rare.'' She exclaimed.

''It's a secret, Your Highness.'' He responded casually as he tried to hide a little bit of uneasiness.

Then she eyed him suspiciously. ''Secret, huh. Fine, then I won't force you to tell me.''

The jester laughed. ''Thank you, Your Highness.''

''Your Highness,'' he called her once again, not realizing their hands stuck intertwined to each other.

''Hmm?'' She said while enjoying the beauty and fragrance of the flower in her hands.

''Open it.'' He asked excitedly.

''What? There's more?'' She said, almost squealing.

The jester nodded with a wide grin on his face.

''Oh, then let me...'', as the princess parted flowers arranged prettily, a white dove flew from it, carrying a ruby necklace on its beak.

''That is...'', she was speechless. Her lips parted in surprise. She can't help but giggle in joy. ''It's beautiful,'' she said. Her voice was breathy yet sweet.

''This is my gift to you. I wish you a happy birthday, princess!'' His face glowed in his wide and warm smile. The princess became teary as she looked at his face, and warmth showered within her.

''You remember!'' She bounced in joy.

''Yes.'' He said with a flushed face.

''Jester, do you like me?'' she asked as she focused her gaze on the bouquet of flowers. The white dove gently laid down the ruby necklace in her free hand.

He took the ruby in her hand and then walked behind her. He leaned closer to her and put the necklace on her neck. The princess blushed in this close proximity. She could only wish her heartbeat wasn't loud enough for him to hear it.

''Your Highness, it looks good on you!'' He said excitedly.

''Thank you...'' she said shyly. ''So...what is it? Do you like me be- ''

''Of course, Your Highness. You're a princess! No one could dislike you.''

''No, what I mean is...do you like me as -'', disappointment was evident in her tone but before she could complete her sentence, the sky turned dark as grey clouds started to show up, covering the bright sun in the sky.

Rain began to pour out and thunder and lighting appeared along with a black figure which suddenly showed up out of nowhere.

''Catarina! Stay away from him. He is mine...alone.'' A beautiful girl in a black dress said, as she suddenly appeared in front of the princess and took away the bouquet of flowers in her hands, turning it into ashes.

''Y-Your Highness,'' the jester trembled in fear. ''I apologize, I'm the one who approached the princess.''

But the princess, stood still. Her eyes shot daggers at her elder sister - the next to be crowned as the dark queen. ''Sister, give me back the flowers. That's mine.''

''No. It's mine, not yours,'' she insisted. The atmosphere was tense as the rain was pouring out nonstop. Their surrounding was being showered in the rain except for the spot they were standing.

''He is not an object that you can simply possess as your own. He has his own feelings and freedom,'' the princess said. Anger started to grow within her. Thinking about how she possessively owned him, treating him like a doll she could make fun of.

The jester attempted to come in between them to smoothen up the tension that was starting to build up. However, he was forced to not get involved by the dark princess.

He suddenly felt his body become heavy. He can't move on his own. The feeling was quite suffocating as if the crown princess was giving him punishment for disobeying her. He could feel that if she would desire to, with just one flick of her finger, she could stop his heartbeat.

Princess Catarina didn't stop her sister from restricting the jester to move. She didn't want him to get involved and get hurt.

Moments had passed, and the two sisters clashed against each other. The killing intent was thick and dark as night. The jester could feel it in his bones.

The crown princess was seriously in full range.

''Catarina, I will kill you!''

With heavy breathing and a body soaked in sweat and tears, Queen Vernon woke up in the middle of the night.

She sat on her bed as she tried to steady her breathing. Her two hands ran through her midnight hair, trying to cool down her beating heart. The night was dead silent yet her mind was loud and disturbing.

It was the price of what she had done.

Stolen memories that she thought could bring happiness turned into an endless nightmare that seemed to haunt her forever.

Her head felt heavy as her heart is, and the queen rang the bell placed at her bedside table.

After a few minutes, at the call of the queen, a maid entered the queen's chamber.

''Your Majesty,'' the maid performed a deep bow as she stand beside the queen's bed.

''How was the thing that I have ordered you to do?'' She asked in a low, raspy voice. Her midnight hair cascaded down her body, covering her pale face.

The maid moved closer to the queen and whispered, as a smirk gradually appeared on her face, ''Your Majesty, congratulations! It was a big success.''

Queen Vernon, looked at the maid, horrified but in a blink of an eye, it was switched to a delightful expression.

''Oh my, my, did I succeed?'' A laugh escaped from her dried and pale lips.

''Yes, Your Majesty. The Prime Minister was on his way.'' The mirth in the maid's eyes was visible.

''Oh, poor thing. He didn't know he was offering himself as food in the lion's den,'' she exclaimed excitedly.

The maid nodded passionately as if the thing she was agreeing on was the best good news she had ever heard in her life.

''Quick. Prepare everything for me. I have to welcome my favorite jester as well.''