Chapter 1: Beautiful Than Flowers

=IN THE KINGDOM OF AVALOS=

"WAAAAHHHH...!!! Such a nice weather." Melissa said as soon as she opened the windows at the inn she was staying at, she's in the capital city of Avalor, Amala. She's admiring the city's view when her maid Bell comes in.

"Your Highness, the carriage is ready for your departure" Bell said with a sad expression.

Melissa walks towards Bell and put her hands on Bell's shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry I just come here to see what my soon to be home is like, and also its my responsibility." she said cheerfully and smiled at Bell.

"But Your High..." Bell couldn't finish what she's about to say because Melissa interrupted her.

"Let's go now Bell, and also call me Lady Sena for now.." Melissa commanded as she walks out of the room until they rode the carriage.

*That's right, it's my responsibility for the sake of our kingdom and my people I'm willing to sacrifice myself* Melissa said to her thoughts as she closes her eyes.

Minutes passed and finally the carriage stops at the peoples market.

"My Lady we are here at the market, what do you want to do here?" Bell said as Melissa woke up.

"Nothing much, i just heard that the cakes at the Marriott shop is delicious and just wanted to try it."

Melissa said as she gets off the carriage.

"I wonder if we can get someone to guide us from there thou." she said while looking left and right.

After saying that Bell asked the couch man something and comes back to Melissa.

" The couch man said that most of the guides here are kids from the streets like those two over there." Bell pointed out the two girls with a basket of flowers, the kids seems to be selling the flowers . Melissa decided to approach the girls but suddenly some man in a suit looks to be a noble man push one of the kids aside.

"YOU LOWLY BEGGARS !!!... YOU'VE DIRTIED MY CLOTHES WITH YOUR FILTHY HANDS.!!!" the nobleman shouted angrily while stumping on the flowers that scattered on the ground. Melissa hurriedly approach the man who is going to hit the girls but suddenly some hooded guy grabs the hand of the angry nobleman. upon seeing that someone stopped the nobleman she then approached the trembling girls to ensure their safety.

"Stop what your doing now sir" said the hooded guy.

The nobleman got even more angrier for what the hooded guy did and started to struggle to free himself but the hooded guy is stronger than him, as the nobleman man keeps trying to free himself the hooded guy suddenly releases his grip that made the nobleman man loose balance and falls to the ground.

"AAARRRGGGHH....!!!" the nobleman exclaimed

"YOU..!!! I WILL KILL YOU!!! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO A COUNT!!! PAY FOR YOUR CRIME ON SULLYING MY HONOR!!!! GUARDS !!!" the nobleman shouted angrily as his guards supported him from standing,some of his guards surrounded the hooded guy and points their swords towards him.

The people surrounding them and witnessing this are getting more anxious as they know that there will be blood to see.

On the other hand, the hooded guy doesn't seems to worry about his situation and just uttered something to himself and gave out a deep sigh. After that hooded guy raised his left hand and suddenly, knights in black clothing with a symbol of a Lions' head and a two swords, surrounded them making the people gets away for safety in case some troubles occurs.

The nobleman who is said to be a count was in shock as he can't believe what he's seeing.

"Waa...Why is the Black Lion knights that safeguards the security of the Prince here?" he said as his voice trembles in fear.

The hooded guy took his hood off and there reveals a silver haired guy with a pair of ruby colored eyes perfectly pointed nose and a sharp looks.

Abel then started walking closer to the count who's in terrible state,the count dropped on his knees, trembling in fear begged the prince for mercy.

"Your Highness, please have mercy and forgive my sin of being ignorant." said the count then bow his head on the ground.

Prince Abel looked at the begging count and pointed his sword to it.

" Nobles who abuse their power to stomp on the weak and innocent people. I won't mind if you do that anywhere but here? ON MY PEOPLE? YOU DARE TO CHALLENGE MY AUTHORITY AS THE NEXT RULER OF THIS COUNTY ? A MERE COUNT AT THAT... DO YOU WISH FOR YOUR DEATH?" upon saying that, Melissa who's a meter or two away from Abel felt the bloodlust that is directed to the count.

*That's the prince? Prince Abel Von Avalor?!* Melissa can't believe that she saw her soon to be husband that day as she is on a tour and in disguise. Melissa can't take away her eyes on Abel and accidentally meets his cold gaze that made her avoid him unconsciously.

"Take that man and imprisoned him, I will take care of him myself later." Abel said and sheathed his sword.

Melissa faced the girls that are now crying in relief,she hugged them and pats their heads and said with a smile "You both are strong little girls, you both must be really scared but you should first give ur thanks to the prince" she looked at Abel who is talking to one of his knights.

The two girls approached Abel and gave a bow of gratitude "We thank the prince, the little sun of Avalor for saving us,.." after saying Abel just pat them and continue talking to his knights after that the knight left. Abel gave her another glance then followed the knight.

The two girls comes back to Melissa who is now holding their basket of flowers.

"We also thank you My Lady for trying to protect my sister, we don't know how to repay you for your kindness" said the girl that seems to be the older one.

Melissa glanced at Bell who is now calmed after what happened and smiled "You can just pay me by touring me to this place, you see... i really want to eat the cakes from Marriott shop but I don't know where to find it."she said.

As they walked to tour she founds out that the two girls are cheerful and chatty, and now they know more things about the girls. The older one is Anna she 10 years old and the younger one is Nana 7 years old, They also said that in the past her parents are the one working but suddenly their father passed away from an accident while working out of grief and sorrow their mother overworked herself to keep her kids away from starving. Soon her body gave up and now bedridden so her older kids decided to work for their younger siblings, Anna said that she still have one older brother and two younger sibling aged four and two years old. When Bell heard their stories she can't help but cry because she also lost her parents at a young age and become a maid to raise her siblings, she's grateful because her siblings grew up well and now have their own families to take care of.

Melissa and the rest have fun together, they ate lots of cake at Marriott's shop and bought many things for the girls to share with their siblings when they get home.

As the sun's about to set she then says her good byes to the girls " I really enjoy this day thanks to the both of you" Melissa said to the girls who are in tears of gratefulness for Melissa's kindness.

They gave Melissa blue hydrangea flowers and said "This flower's symbolizes gratitude , we are forever indebted to you my lady" they bows their head and bid their farewell as well and took the way to their home.

Melissa and Bell are now left with a smile for a while as they watched the sitting sun. They're about to start their walk but they saw a knight in black that seems to be waiting for them, at the back of the knight is a grandiose looking carriage and suddenly Prince Abel gets off from it and started walking towards Melissa.

Melissa is in awe as to why the Prince is there, she's more surprised when the prince extended his right hand asking for her hands.

"You seemed surprised, I see... you expected that I won't be able to recognized you when your out in disguised Princess Melissa" said Abel in a teasing manner.

Melissa and Bell was dumbfounded as the prince took Melissa's hand and gave it a kiss. Melissa's glanced at Bells direction and saw Bell's darkened expression.

*Bell! Keep it calm, i know you don't like the prince because of the rumor but please bare with it for now.* Melissa prayed in her thoughts that Bell won't do something that may endanger herself.

* Rumors says that Prince Abel is a savage prince, the war lord of Avalor, the mad prince that don't value life of the people, but what i saw today is the exact opposite of it. Prince Abel is kind to his people, values the noble honor and most of all is the protector of the weak.*

"Your Highness may I ask why are you here?" Bell said breaking the silence of the atmosphere.

"I came here to escort my soon to be wife to her place of stay" Abel answered looking straight to Melissa's blue eyes and talked again " Your eyes... they're much beautiful than those flowers" After saying that Abel walked back at the carriage and waited for Melissa's to ride on it.

Because of what Abel said Melissa's suddenly felt her heart racing uncontrollably, she felt her face is getting hot.

"Your Highness, His Highness is waiting for you." Melissa's thoughts comes back to reality after hearing Bell's voice.

"Oh! Forgive me for making you wait your Highness the prince" Melissa said as she gave a bow before accepting the hands of the prince, when Melissa's about to step inside the carriage she suddenly remember the kiss on the hands the prince gave her and remembers his warm breath, because of that she suddenly lost focus and slipped her heels, *Oh God, why now??* Melissa said to her thoughts as she close her eyes and awaits her fall but because she didn't feel hurt, she's more embarrassed for she knew that the prince caught her in his arms.

"Princess you seemed tired on your walk today that your legs seemed to lose their strength, I hoped you take your rest early."

"Thank you for your help and advice i will surely remember it your Highness."

Melissa covers her face with both hands, the prince carry Melissa until she sits on the soft cushion, then the prince gets off the carriage to ride on his horse. As soon as Bell's enters the carriage they departed immediately she gave a peck to see what Bell's doing and saw her feigning innocent on what happened but Bell suddenly said.

"I didn't saw you fall gracefully in his Highness arms so don't think too much my lady"

Melissa now knows what embarrassment mean.