Every Smile isn’t Happiness

"By finding yourself."

Alora's thoughts paused hearing the unknown pleasant voice. Her heart eased for some reason and the confusion arose.

'Finding myself?' She didn't understand it.

Her fingers gently glided over her cheek to wipe her tears as she turned around. Alora blinked twice, hard to believe her sight.

If there exists a man who fits the angels told in tales, the man in front of her is suited perfectly. She almost considered she was imagining a guardian angel coming down to help her.

Bright white, long layered hair smoothly fluttered in the hair, hanging over a spellbinding face. Blue eyes, set charmingly within their sockets, watching her tenderly as though he cared for her.

He had sword-like sharp brows that arced softly. His skin was so fair that it looked translucent under the rays of the sun. A unique kind of black flame-like mark was enveloping his one eye.

His sharp chisel line was complemented with the soft cheekbones that could drop anybody's guard down and get comfortable with him.

Alora blinked when he elegantly extended his hand holding a piece of white fabric towards her. He was wearing a black shirt that had the refined work of vines, a white full sleeve robe was layered on it, hugging his lean frame.

If everyone finds her mysterious, Alora finds him mystifying. He was young, his hair as white as snow was as unique as her hair.

Her curiosity to read and learn was probing her to know about him. Nonetheless, she received the fabric as if she was under the spell of the man.

A soothing smile appeared on his face as he cued her to wipe her tears. Alora gracefully dabbed the soft fabric on her cheeks.

After learning how royals in good clothes and happy faces are malicious, Alora has learned her first lesson in the Royal Palace.

Every smile isn't happiness, kind words could be hostile, and a beautiful face isn't a beautiful mind.

However, she didn't fear meeting the strange but angelic man. She should be scared, shouldn't she?

Rather, she was finding herself relaxing in his presence. She had the urge to ask him what he meant by his words, eerily she also wanted to believe him.

She stood up involuntarily as a form of respect to meet the new person. "Finding myself?" Her soft nasal voice sounded.

The angelic man pointed at the rock for her to sit back. It was an indication that their conversation wasn't going to end soon.

Alora wondered how she was so calm compared to a minute before. 'Probably I would like to get an answer,' She thought to herself. Feeling no sense of danger from the man or his actions, she sat down, holding his napkin.

Some flashed in her mind. The snow-white hair wasn't much different from the silver hair. But the Roosevelts have no prince but princesses. "You!!?"

The angelic man stepped towards the river causing Alora's eyes to follow him. The corner of his lips was in a soft curve as though he could listen to her thoughts aloud.

Alora was still finding it hard to believe such a fascinating man existed. Her eyes are definitely playing with her.

"Edur." His fruity tone floated lighter than air. His lips curled higher as he turned to her, "Little Phoenix, you can call me Edur."

'Little Phoenix!?' Nobody ever gave her nicknames. Definitely not Phoenix, a mythical sacred creature.

He stepped closer watching her fearless eyes. His long finger held her hair strands as if showing her, "Phoenix!! Why don't they call you Phoenix but a witch?"

Alora looked at her hair in his pale hand and Edur. "Phoenix." She uttered slowly. "I am not a phoenix." She was a human born to Eugenie and Zander.

Edur smiled, showing his sparkling white teeth as if he found her innocence amusing. He shook his head denying her words, "You are neither a phoenix nor a witch. I mean Phoenix has red feathers." Yet she was compared to the witches.

He dropped her hair as he stepped away, "Humans feel threatened to accept new. They fear power. Hence they tend to outcast or destroy it." He tried to comfort her.

Alora tried to understand Edur's words. She was being called a witch because people fear her being stronger than them. They wouldn't call her phoenix because the fear of phoenix comes with respect. Whereas the witch's name was stained to maintain the Last King Roosevelt's name.

"I am a mere human with no special power," Alora said. There was nothing to worry about or fear. She was probably the weakest princess of Roosevelt.

The smile on Edur's face flattered. He became thoughtful watching her. A few seconds before his smile returned, ̧

"How did you assume it?"

'Assume?' Alora was more perplexed talking with him than getting an answer to her problems.

'Did I assume it?'

—— Tits and Bits of Past ——

Little Alora saw her parents sending little Freya to Mage academy, "Mother, I would like to join the academy."

Eugenie apologetically smiled at her, "Alora, you don't have magical powers."

Alora didn't like that her parents and Freya had magical powers but she doesn't, "Mother, why don't I have the powers?"

Eugenie patiently explained to her, "Alora, everyone isn't a mage."

…..

After a year,

Alora had grown a bit taller. One day, she ran inside Eugenie's study room holding a book with a wide grin, "Mother… mother… Every Roosevelt Princess has magical powers." She put the book on the table and pointed at a line. The excitement and delightedness evident on her face and eyes, "That means I have my powers too, Mother."

Eugenie closed the book and looked at Alora. There was an apologetic smile again. Her soft fingers gently caressed Alora's cheek, "Alora, I have explained that you are special. Haven't I?"

Alora nodded and happily responded, failing to read what her mother was going to say, "Yes mother, I am a special Princess so I have red hair."

Eugenie nodded, pinching her baby smooth cheek, "Yes my dear. A Special Princess doesn't need to have powers. You should be pampered by us."

However, Alora, who got happy hearing she was special, wasn't happy anymore. "Why, Mother?"

Eugenie patted her head before looking at the scrolls she was reading, "There doesn't need to have a reason for everything, Alora."

Alora's head hung low, despair laced her voice, "Then I don't want to be a special princess, mother. I also want to go out, play and make friends."