Silver Hair

"This calls for a celebration!"

Cynane's eyes search the entire hall. She spots a male servant who is five tables away from them. She raises her hand and waves it in the air in hopes that the servant will take notice of her. After a few tries, the servant finally detects her. The male servant walks towards Cynane in a great haste as he realizes that it is the first princess who is calling for him.

"Your majesty. Forgive me if took me so long to notice you", the male servant apologizes as he bows his head to Cynane.

Cynane touches his shoulder gently. The servant is surprised as he feels the princess hand on his shoulder. Cynane is always kind to their servants.

"It's alright. You were quite far from me, so I understand it won't be easy to spot me. Anyway, could you please bring me a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. I and my friend right here are celebrating tonight."

The male servant is slightly shocked at Cynane's request.

"But you don't drink", Michal says, taking the exact words out of the servant's mouth.

"I don't, but tonight is an exception. And it's not like I'm actually going to get drunk that easily with just a few glasses of wine."

Michal hesitates for a moment. Macedea's wines do have the lowest alcohol level compared to any other type of liquor. One to two glasses of wine barely even have an effect on people who regularly drink. Three to four glasses can probably make someone feel a bit tipsy, but that is all about it. However, Cynane is a different case. She has never tasted alcohol before. What proves to be with no effect for most, may be too strong for her.

Realizing Michal's contemplation, Cynane tells the servant to get what she's asking for immediately before Michal talks her out of it.

As the servant disappears, Michal lightly grabs Cynane by the shoulders. Cynane is taken aback at his sudden action. The tips of Michal's fingers send shivers to her body.

'This is dangerous' she says in her mind.

She quickly composes herself, hiding the fact that just a single touch from Michal can have a huge effect on her.

"Are you sure about this? We don't have to drink to celebrate you know?"

Cynane grabs Michal's hands and removes them off of her shoulders. Michal's eyes follow her hands as she carefully places his on the table.

"Michal, I am an adult now. I can make such decisions for myself, and just like what I have said, it's just a wine. I have no intention of drinking any other type of liquor aside from wine. So just sit back and relax as we wait for our drink. Stop acting so worried. It's not very like you."

Cynane knows that she might have come off a little harsh with her words but there is actually some truth in them. Michal is not really the type who worries over her. When she was just a trainee in the army, Michal was so harsh on her, to the point that she injured her leg. Cynane had told herself that if he was really worried for her, he would not be that brutal on her. Also, Cynane has mixed emotions tonight. She is angry at the fact that she still loves Michal; hurt that Michal does not care about her and does not love her back; frustrated that she cannot easily remove him from her heart; and sad at the thought that she is possibly going to spend the rest of her loving a man who will never be hers.

She needs something to distract her or else she swears she will lose it and she obviously does not want that to happen in front of Michal. She has to maintain the tough act in front of him.

Michal rakes his fingers through his silky silver hair and lets out a sigh of defeat. Cynane can't help but stare at the way his hair is swept by his fingers. He looks so gorgeous. Cynane almost slaps herself with the thought. How can she heal from the heartache and move on if this man is always this close to her - unaware how literally every single thing he does impacts her.

"Fine, but if your brother kills me, my blood is in your hands", Michal half jokes at her.

"As if my brother would really do that", Cynane replies with a lopsided grin.

"Well, you never know. You're his precious sister after all."

Their conversation is interrupted as the servant finally comes back with a tray on his hand. He gently puts down the expensive bottle of wine and the two glasses on the table. He opens the wine and pours on Cynane's glass first then Michal's.

"Thank you...what's your name again?" Cynane asks as she struggles to remember the servant's name. They have too many servants in the palace, and it is impossible to remember the name of every single one of them.

"It's Raul your majesty", the male servant replies courteously.

"Oh right. It's Raul. You're the one who brought me my cake during my thirteenth birthday."

Raul smiles warmly after finding out that the princess still remembers him from that time.

"I knew you looked familiar. Thank you, Raul. I'll call for you again if we need something. You may go", Cynane says as she dismisses the Raul.

"Yes, your majesty", Raul bows his head before leaving Cynane and Michal to enjoy their drinks.

"So, cheers for your marriage soon! And cheers to your soon-to-be wife whoever she will be and wherever in Macedea she may be!" Cynane speaks enthusiastically as she raises her glass to have a toast with Michal.

Michal is quite astonished at Cynane's enthusiasm. He has not really expected such zeal and intense support coming from Cynane. He figured that she would probably make fun of him after hearing the news. However, Cynane's actions tonight prove him wrong. Michal used to tease Cynane a lot when they were younger, and he still does sometimes. That kind of treatment led Cynane to fight back. She would always try to insult him if the opportunity arose or if not, she would just completely ignore him. It has become Cynane's defense mechanism towards Michal's non-stop teasing, and Michal has gotten used to her reactions as well. He expected her to either make a mockery of his sudden decision or to just not give a care at all. Yet neither one of his expectations happened tonight. Instead, Cynane is here, celebrating the news with pleasure, and downing her glass of wine like she has been so thirsty for who knows how long.

"Aghhhhh. With all seriousness, that is one good wine right there. I can taste the hint of the alcohol, it has a little bitterness to it, but still, it's so good. Who would have thought wines can actually be this good!?" Cynane cries out with so much eagerness, as if she is a child who just discovered that the world is actually spherical in shape.

Michal chuckles at Cynane's expression. He did not expect such a reaction from her. She just keeps on surprising him tonight.

"Calm there now. I know you're all excited about this discovery but are you sure you're alright? You downed that wine in one shot", Michal says as he sips on his glass.

Cynane nods and grins merrily like a little kid at him. Michal blinks and freezes for a moment. He has never seen Cynane smile that way before. He admits to himself that he likes this side of her.

'How many more surprises?' he mentally asks to himself.

"I am fine. Give me more."

Cynane grabs the bottle and pours herself another glass of wine. She is enjoying the taste and the sensation that she is getting from the drink. Her heavy heart is suddenly gone. Now, she just wants to laugh endlessly. She kind of understands now why some people like to drink. It's not just the taste, it's how it makes you feel.

Two glasses turn to three, four, five, six...

"Cynane, that's enough", Michal says as he stops Cynane from pouring more wine in her glass.

"But I want more." Cynane pouts at him. Michal's grip is still on the bottle. However, Cynane hasn't budged an inch.

"There's just a little left on the bottle. Let me just finish it", Cynane pleads. She is all flustered from drinking.

Realizing that there is no convincing her, Michal tightens more his hold on the bottle of wine and grabs it away from Cynane. He quickly gulps the remaining contents of the bottle.

"There, finish. There's nothing left", he says to Cynane as he places the bottle on the table.

Cynane glares at him. She does not even hide her anger at what he did. Not saying a singke word, she gets on her feet and storms off the table which is a huge mistake. She feels giddy - her world looks like it's spinning.

"What's happeni..."

Just as she is to about to fall on the ground, two strong hands catch her. She didn't know that Michal followed her instantly after she got up. She feels Michal's hand on her waist, and she her cheeks right away heats up.

"Wha-what do you think are you doing now?" she stutters.

"Saving you, obviously."

"I'm not a damsel in distress".

"Well, you look like one now."

"Pervert."

"What?!" Michal responds, slightly insulted at Cynane's accusation.

"You...you're a pervert."

"Excuse me? You almost fell on your face there. If I didn't come to catch you, you'd have a black eye now. So, how come am I a pervert?"

"Whatever. You're. Still. A. Pervert." Cynane struggles to say the words out of her mouth as she starts to have a hiccup.

"Is this an attempt to annoy me?"

Cynane shakes her head.

"No. I am just a stating a fact."

"Whatever."

"Hey! That's my line!" Cynane complains.

"So what? Am I not allowed to use it? Do you own that word?" Michal is clearly taunting her.

Cynane sticks her tongue out at Michal. He can't help but laugh at her childish behavior.

"Whatever. Let me go. I am going to my room", Cynane says as she pushes Michal away from her. One. Two. Just two steps forward and her world starts spinning again. Michal catches her from behind, touching her bare shoulders.

"See?"

"I'll go on my own. It doesn't matter if I crawl my way back to my bed. I don't need your help."

Michal is starting to lose his patience at her stubbornness.

"I know you hate feeling weak and helpless, but this isn't the time to hold on to your pride Cynane. Do you even realize how vulnerable you look tonight?"

Cynane frowns at Michal's question, obviously not getting what he is trying to say.

"You're clearly drunk. You cannot even walk for a second without falling. How long will it take for you to reach your room? The royal palace is flooded with people right now. How sure are you that you won't meet someone on the way who would take advantage of you?"

"Take advantage of me? What's that supposed to mean?"

Michal sighs. He realizes just how innocent and oblivious Cynane when it comes to things like this.

"Cynane, I am a man myself, and I know enough to understand that if man sees you in this dress tonight, looking like this, there is huge possibility that he will be tempted. You may not realize it, but you do look stunning tonight."

Cynane gets flustered at Michal's words. She did not expect those kinds of words to come from him.

'What? What did he say? Does this mean that he finds actually me attractive?' Cynane can't wrap her head around what Michal said.

"Speechless now? Finally realized that I am right? So, stop being stubborn and let me bring you to your room." Michal sweeps Cynane off of her feet which catches her off guard.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Cynane asks in surprise. She is certain that she is redder than a tomato right now.

"Before you call me a pervert again, let me tell you that I am not. I am carrying you because this is the best and fastest way for me to bring you back to your room."

"Okay", Cynane mutters in defeat. She is way too flustered to even talk.

Michal starts to walk in silence. Cynane just stares at his face. No matter how many times she looks, he is really gorgeous - those red lips, beautiful blue eyes, strong and defined jaw and of course his silky hair as white like a freshly fallen snow.

Cynane's hand moves on its own. She instinctively reaches for Michal's hair. She gently pats it and runs her fingers through the gorgeous silver strands.

"Your hair is really beautiful, isn't it?" Cynane blurts out.

Michal does not respond.

In a few seconds, the exhaustion and sleepiness start to take over Cynane. The image of that beautiful silver hair shining through the moonlight is the last thing that she sees as darkness envelopes her.