CHAPTER THREE
Maya slowly stand up as her eyes glue to the carriage moving away from her sight.
He is handsome to be real, she had heard rumors about his appearance, today she has seen it with her eyes. Those blue eyes are the most beautiful features on his face.
"Prince Luca is finally back after fifteen years"
"Do you see his face, he is beautiful as a painting"
"I have to used the opportunity to steal the glance. The rumors are true"
"I want him to marry me"
Maya shake her head, all the single ladies in Boland city has a crush on the prince. Maya touch her chest; she can't be like them; It is a wish that will never be fully.
"Sister Maya, what are they reading?"
People have gather to see what is written on the paper place on the wall. Maya couldn't move to the front as she waited for the large crowd to reduce, only four ladies were left. Maya walk to read it.
"Tomorrow is a great day"
"The king is celebrating the return of his son Prince Luca"
"And we are all invited"
"I will put on my best dress to get notice by the Prince"
Maya glance at the single ladies talking. This is serious, Prince Luca has charm all the ladies in one day with his appearance. A dream that will never come true. Society make it that way.
"Sister Maya, let go home, am hungry"
"Alright, Mia" she hold her hand and they walk home.
Susan is sitting as fabric surround her,"my children sit" Maya sit at the left while Mia sit at the right, Susan is at the center together with her fabric.
"Maya, Mia, I have been given a position by the queen to sew every cloth, the Palace Guards and Maids. It is huge for me to be recognize by the queen of our kingdom"
"That's good news" Maya said.
"Father was giving a position by the king, you were giving a responsibility to sew all the garment the palace guards will wear and the dress the royal maids will put on. Sister Maya will be giving a hand in marriage to Prince Luca himself"
Maya jump up and cover her mouth, "stop saying nonsense"
Susan just smile and continue her sewing.
"That was painful, am hungry" Maya run inside and came out with a plate of rice.
"Thank you, Sister Maya" taking the food to the table.
"A ceremony to welcome the Prince back home is going on tomorrow and everyone is invited"
"It is a grand ceremony, everyone is talking about it and Prince Luca"
"Because of sewing all this cloth, I can't go but you should take Mia with you to welcome the prince home"
Maya understand that Susan has to sacrifice going to the ceremony in order to finish off the sewing.
The great day has arrive, people are coming in one by one. The Ministers and Prime Minister are sitted while the people which is known as the commoners stand. Kings from other kingdoms were present.
The beating of the drums start as everyone bowed. The Emperor, the Empress, Princess Aurora and Prince Luca walk in together with large number of royal maids and palace guards.
The beating stop as the royal family sit at their thrones while the people raise their heads
Maya raise her head while Mia tap her,"that lady is the princess"
The lady that disguise herself as a man is a princess. This is impossible; She change herself just to help why? she is the princess.
Group of dancer match forward begin to display their performance. They are called Happiness Flowers, they're all female, they're colourful just like their name, they're using fans and their bodies to follow the beating of the drums.
"Sister Maya, look at auntie Jean dancing"
Maya follow her dancing style as she smile enjoying the Music and dance. "Auntie Jean is good"
They stop as the beating pause reaching the end of the performance. Everyone claps as the girls bowed including Jean. The performance was beautiful.
Another group match forward, they're all dress in dark clothes with their faces cover except their eyes, all female, Dagger are in their hands. They pull out the dark clothes which took the audience by surprise. Their clothes are now colourful, playing with the dagger as they dance, creating a story with it. Heroin are wearing yellow while the villain are in black but their face is visible. They act while dancing with the dagger. At the end the villain lost and fall down dead and heroine win. The audience claps while they bowed to the royal family.
A little girl walk in about the age of twelve, the beating start, she begin to dance to the beating of the drums together with the fan in her hands, her face is cover with veil. She dance and dance and dance then fall to the ground. Everyone scream then she slowly stand up, and brow something from her both hands. Flowers fly and landed on prince Luca shoulder, he drag it with his right hand.
The little girl remove the veil, her face is so bright, what a beautiful performance. She smile then bowed to the royal family and audience.
Everyone claps, someone walk forward, "welcome the people of Boland State for coming to celebrate the return of our Prince, it has been fifteen years since he left home. He was eight years old then not wanting to leave his parents. Let welcome his Majesty"
Everyone stand up while the king walk to the front facing the people, "My people thank you to celebrate with me, Friends from other kingdom coming from afar, thank you for honoring my invitation to celebrate with me. He has said it all; I will used this opportunity to announce the engagement to Princess Kira. Please step forward"
A lady on yellow gown walk to stand close to the king, her aura is beautiful and calm, her hair is long.
"So the rumors are true"
"Prince Luca is marrying from another kingdom"
"I heard that she is his childhood friend"
Maya glance at the women talking among each other. They never change. She move to another place to see better view of the Princess.
"Princess Kira is the only daughter to my friend King Richard and his Wife Queen Hazel of Drew-dom kingdom, they're here"
Maya gaze follow a man and woman smiling at the King. Princess Kira look beautiful like her mother.
"I want to introduce her as the future Queen and Wife of my Son, Prince Luca"
Maya eyes look at Prince Luca, his face is pale. Is he happy about this marriage?
"As our law says when a woman from another kingdom is about to enter the royal family, she will have to stay thirty days in her future husband home to before fully marry into the family"
Princess Aurora stand and leave. Maya look down to see Mia gone.
"Mia" she call searching for her in the crowd, she sure Mia follow her here, "where is she now?"
Maya push herself out of the crowd,"Mia....." She called.
"Sister Maya, am here" Mia is standing close to her. Maya take a deep breath,"where were you?"
"No where"
"Nowhere!? I search for you in the crowd"
"I was right behind you, like this" hiding at her back.
A lady approach them, "Princess Aurora seek your presence"
"My presence!?"
"Follow me"
Maya follow the lady into another palace know as Princess Aurora residence. They pass on a small bridge dividing the waters from the land, flowers planted close to the river bank.
Maya walk into the hut, table and two chairs are arrange, the lady bowed to the princess.
"Maya Otto"
How did she know her name? did she research about her?.
"Your sister and I want to discuss an adult talk"
"You have to give me something in order to leave"
"Already, take this" a plate of meat was place in Mia front, "thank you" she smile then carry the plate. "Take care of her, don't let her cry"
"Yes, princess Aurora"
"Go with her, she will make you comfortable"
"Thank you.., sister Maya meet me outside"
"Have a seat" Maya sit looking at Mia jumping with the plate of meat. Two cup of tea is place in front of them.
"You're wondering how I know your name. You look interesting because of your curiosity. Please drink your tea"
Maya raise up the cup to her lip, "the lady that follow me from the fighting ground to meeting a boy"
Maya chop on her tea as she begin to cough, "I didn't mean to follow you, I was just curious"
Princess Aurora is Sharp to know that someone is following her maybe Maya was not careful to hide well.
"Am happy that you know my identity. You will make a good wife for my brother"
Maya that is drinking the tea immediately stop then raise her head, "Eh! Which brother!?"
Prince Luca, she must be joking, "but princess Kira is engaged to him"
"They're not married yet, you have a chance"
Is that why she call her, Maya stand up, "am sorry, I can't married your brother, he is already engaged"
"Make him fall in love with you"
Maya that's about to bowed slowly raise up her head then sit down. "That's impossible, love is not planned, it just happens. Prince Luca and princess kira love each other, their marriage is already fix after thirty days. I can't do it"
Maya take the last slip and stand up then bowed to the princess."The happiness of Prince Luca is important, you know better than me"
A stone was in front of her, she keep walking without looking then her foot hit the stone, she lost balance at first then stand her ground.
Footsteps approving as she look to see Princess Kira and few royal maids follow behind. She bowed her head as they all pass but they all stop as princess Kira walk to her; "you're not allow to come to the palace again, your class is not here"
Maya grasp as she watch princess Kira leave her sight, "do you want her to marry my brother now?"
Maya turn to the person talking, "do you think am the one for your brother?"
Princess Aurora laughs, "follow the shinning star, it will lead you to your destiny"
How do she know? Are they walking together.
"She said am the shinning star, he is your destiny, you can escape from your fate"