Chapter 8: princess
Most of the people of the palace had gathered on the big piazza in fron of the palace. In the middle burnt a high fire, warming the cool night with the starry sky.
Beside the fire, a platform had been put, with small thrones on top for the royal family. King Midnight sat on his throne, beside him a prince that looked a lot like him but way younger and a small princess that almost seemed invisible. Had Tenno taken a closer look at her, he would have noticed that her pretty brown eyes were quietly observing everything, with a hidden smile and a wave of regret.
The children of the western complex performed their dance, then one of the instructors announced Moris and Tennos surprise.
They stepped forward, both with a bright red cloth over their eyes. They stood opposite of each other, and as the music slowly started, they began moving. It was incredibly synchronous, like a mirror image without a mirror separating the two sides.
As the music swelled up, their movements became rougher, faster, like a perfectly choreographed fight, leg against leg, arm against arm, searching for the other desperately but denying them. The movements were so fluid, so natural that the two kids looked like there wasn't anything more natural they could be doing.
When Tenno looked to his right, Mori looked to his right. When Tenno made a step to the side, Mori went into the other direction, like a perfect mirror but at the same time not.
The king was so impressed that he almost lost his noble composure, the prince was gaping like an idiot and the princess looked like something inside her had been ignited. She whispered something to king Midnight, which made him smile then nod.
When Tenno and Mori were done, they ripped the blindfolds off each others face, staring each other in the eye and freezing as the music stopped.
For a moment, everything was so quiet that one could hear the cracking fire. Then, the crowd exploded with applause and cheers.
The kids breathed out, their bodies drenched in sweat and heavily breathing from exhaustion. They grinned. The surprise had been a success.
Old man Fu and chief Bang came to them.
"That was great! Who would've thought that you can dance like that~!"
"Even a tree can dance! Great job, Mori!"
"Thank you!" said Mori and Tenno. They were still completely in sync.
"Getting to that result in one week... You two are simply amazing."
"How come you're so in sync? I'm jealous~..."
"We're on the same wavelength."
"If we concentrate enough, it's almost like we can feel what the other is thinking."
"It's intuition."
The two looked at each other, nodded, and looked back at their masters. Those two also exchanged a glance. This was really a gold mine!
Ichigo, Mero and Mer also came, saying that they did really good and going to the buffet the chefs had prepared.
Everyone was chatting cheerfully and loudly, enjoying the mood of the festival, so it was hard to notice the inconspicuous butler that went to Tenno and Mori, saying the king was inviting them to a small talk.
Naturally, they agreed. They couldn't refuse the king just because they were busy.
From up close, the king was even more handsome. He still had that powerful aura, but because of his good mood his presence was very comfortable.
"You two were really great. This year's harvest will surely be very good. May I know your names?"
"This one is Mori Wanglu, your majesty."
"This one is Tenno. The kitchen personnel calls me Yan Biao, your majesty. "
King Midnight went quiet for a bit, pondering over something. His eyes seemed to be able to look through Tennos and Moris bodies of flesh, directly into the soul. They let the energy quietly look over their bodies, not resisting the warm feeling. Tenno had already expected this, and said to Mori to trust the king.
"You two... are special. There are some more like you, but you have more courage. Tian, note down for me to take a look at them again in two years."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Since you've impressed me, you are allowed to request something from my daughter. She's the same age as you, so as long as it's in her authority, she can do it."
Tenno and Mori looked at the princess. She was small and slim, with a cute round face, pretty brown eyes and chestnut brown hair that reached her waist, the ends curling into small locks bleached by sunlight. The more one looked at her, the prettier she was. Her lips were rosy, curled slightly upwards and looked like flower petals, her nose was straight, her eyebrows arched and her head raised in a moderate but proud way. There was something about her that reminded one of a peaceful, sunny day.
She looked at them, waiting for their response.
Mori and Tenno exchanged a look, thought a bit and apparently had the same thought.
"We request access to the library."
The princess seemed to think, then nodded. "Father, please give them a pass for the library with the authorization grade... five."
"Five?" king Midnight raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Okay. You'll receive them tomorrow. Thank you for doing your best."
"I'm looking forward to next year." smiled the princess.
The two kids returned to the buffet and talked with their masters. Mori was excited, his cheeks red because he found the princess so pretty.
"She's like a delicate flower!"
Tenno just blinked, saying that Mori seemed to have a crush on the princess, which was immediately denied.
While they were talking, the three royals were also sticking their heads together.
"Little sister, that dryad likes you."
"I saw."
"Oh! Then what do you think about him? You would make a great couple!"
"He's not my type."
Her brother stared at her. "Explain?"
"I can see why other girls would like him. He looks good and has a gentle character, but I don't feel anything when I look at him."
"Oh."
"And the other one?" interrupted the king.
The princess thought a bit, looking upwards. "He... looks also good, has a good character. But there's something about him..." she frowned. "Ah, I don't know how to explain it. One can't help but take another look at him, and then end up staring at him. It's so weird and irritating!"
Her brother laughed. "You're interested in him!"
"It's not like I'm denying it, what are you so happy about?"
King Midnight chuckled. "Leo, leave your sister be. She's almost 6 years younger than you."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Then why does she act like she's older?"
"Oi, without me, you'd be cursed to shrink. By now, you would be smaller than me."
"..."
"Ah, I hope one of you get's a curse to grow real tall, so I can get it and grow..."
Prince Leo laughed dryly while their father smiled and patted the head of the princess.
"Don't worry, we'll find a way."
Mori saw how the princess smiled and tugged excitedly at Tennos sleeve.
"She's so cute when she smiles!"
"Do you even know her name?"
"Uh-... I..."
"There are almost fifty princes, but only five princesses. I think she's the fourth princess. Maybe some servants know more about her."
Mori nodded and then disappeared together with Mero into the crowd. Tenno sighed.
"What is it?" asked Ichigo. "Sad that you don't have a girl?"
"I'm not a single dog like you."
"Oi!"
"But having someone you like is quite good. It can motivate you."
"Then why aren't you searching for a girl?"
"Busy."
Ichigo raised his eyebrows. "I think the princess is looking at you."
"Why would she?"
"Why not?"
Tenno sighed and stared at Ichigo. Why was his guard so annoying today? His gaze swept over the crowd and stopped at the princess. She was talking with her father, showing a wide variety of expressions on her face and often smiling with an amused glint in her eyes. Tenno squinted a bit. The princess seemed to have small dimples under the edges of her lips.
Dazed, he looked at her. He wanted to look away, but couldn't. Then, as if she noticed him, she looked over. Their eyes met. The spell was broken and he looked away, his ears burning hot. SO he missed the interested look on the princess' face.
However, Bang Cheng noticed this series of events, and it worried him a bit. Having peaked the interest of the royal family wasn't bad nor good, but a bit nerve racking. A kid might not be able to handle it, no matter how smart or mature.
The festival went on for a very long time, but Tenno was too tired so he went to bed. But as soon as he lay down, he felt like he was awake again, but his eyes hurt, he couldn't keep them open.
Ichigo was already quietly snoring, Mori and Mero were still out... For the first time since he had come to Everni, he really felt lonely. Just as he was about to lament this miserable situation, he heard the bawu again.
The melody was tranquil and gentle like a breeze. He attentively listened to it, and fell asleep without noticing anything. A slight wind gently brushed against his cheek like someone caressing him. He felt very comfortable.
On the other side, a pair of hands let the dark brown bawu with the red tassel on the end sink down into their lap, sitting beside a window through which the moonlight seeped.
"Do you really have to play for him?" asked a young woman with brown hair and bright blue eyes. Her beauty was mysterious and alluring. She was the third princess, Faye Everrain Cure.
"Why not?" asked a soft voice. It was impossible to say to which gender it belonged.
"It's not like you know him."
The androgyn beauty with brown eyes and a loose braid over their right shoulder smiled. This person looked like a boy and a girl at the same time, relatively tall and lean for such a young kid with a round face.
"And?"
"He's an Ifrit. You know what happened to the other two..."
"Faye, I might be a child, but I know what I'm doing. For now, I just want to quietly observe. You don't have to worry so much about me."
"Ah, but how will I ever do something different when it comes to you... You're so troublesome!"
"Hahaha!"
"You're mocking me, ah! How rude!"
"I'm sorry, beloved sister, but when you care so much about me, how could I not be happy?"
Faye scoffed and turned her face away.
The round room wasn't very big, with many small books in heavy shelves and a warm wooden floor. They sat on red seats with velvet cushions and enjoyed the nightly breeze.
"Your playing has improved a lot."
"Thank you. After all, I'm trying very hard. If it didn't show results, I would try a different instrument."
"Wouldn't fit your thunder."
The androgyn beauty laughed, revealing dimples under the edges of their reddened lips. It almost looked like in the next moment, there would be blood flowing from them.
"You should stop biting you lips. It looks bloody."
"But I just do it sometimes..."
"That's the problem! It's not even a real habit, you just do it because you're bored!"
"Faye, quiet down, people want to sleep..." giggled the beauty.
Faye pursed her lips and shut up.
"Aw, now you're sulking. There, there..."
She froze as her younger sibling patted her fluffy hair.
"You treat me like I'm the child here..."
"Oh, I would even treat an adult like this. But if I really did, father would probably loose a lot of face..."
Now it was Fayes turn to laugh, eliciting a helpless smile from the other person.
"We should go back soon. If father finds us here, he'll be disappointed..."
"Don't worry about it, ah. I'll protect you."
"Thank you, beloved sister."
"No need to be so polite, Riluo."
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