A Kiss A Day

5: The Greetings

Arrakis went straight to Cassiopeia and held his hand out to her before anyone else can approach her. She smiles nervously and gives a slight curtsy.

"You look absolutely resplendent tonight. Your gown is a true marvel." Arrakis complimented. And when Cassiopeia placed her hand lightly on his extended arm, he added so that only she could hear, "I especially like the magic absorbing crystals in it." And then looked pointedly at the princess.

Cassiopeia blushed. She didn't think anyone would recognize the crystals. She had specifically altered the dress to have them put in inconspicuously as a precaution for tonight's encounter with the Northern Prince and his new wife.

Since Garrett is not her tether and she had developed strong feelings for him, the dragon's soul within her clashes with her magic core. When the object of her affection is near and she gets this surge of feelings like tenderness or devotion for him, her magic goes haywire. She learned this only a few months ago. Whenever Garrett's touch would make her feel a warm rush of excitement, her ice powers would literally cool her down, freezing herself to death. Whenever she feels jealous or hurt because of him, her ice would be uncontrollable and attack. She realized then that her feelings for Garrett exceeds friendship as this is the dragon's way to prevent her from uniting with someone not her tether as an act of self-preservation.

"Oh, are they that kind of crystal? I didn't know," she easily lied.

"Well they are." He scrunched his eyebrows. "Did Lady Eliana make you wear that?" He looked to Eliana suspiciously. He suddenly felt protective of her. Magic-absorbing crystals are dangerous. They're typically used to prisoners or criminals mainly for blocking their magic or draining one's mana reserve.

"No, I was the one who wanted to wear this. It's pretty." Arrakis still looked unconvinced but didn't say anything else. Cassiopeia tugged at his arm to guide him to the dais where the newlyweds were talking to delegates from the eastern kingdom.

Before the ball officially commences, it is customary for delegates of neighboring kingdoms to introduce themselves to the newlywed royal couple to express their gratitude for the invitation and offer warm wishes for the couple's happiness.

When it was their turn, Cassiopeia held her breath. "Greetings from the Western Empire of Drakonia." Arrakis announced before he bowed and Cassiopeia curtsied.

Prince Garrett was visibly stunned by the sight of Cassiopeia. When he heard that the Empire of Drakonia accepted the invitation, he didn’t think Cassiopeia would arrive with her husband. They haven't talked since that day he won the bet and Cassiopeia collapsed. Seeing her now evoked a whirlwind of emotions and memories.

Memories of their carefree childhood days, a time when they were inseparable, their laughter echoing through the very halls where they are now. Cassiopeia came to live in the palace when she was 10 years old and Garrett was 15. Having received the dragon mark and being orphaned at such a young age was difficult for Cassiopeia.

Like her, Garrett was also struggling at that time with the loss of his big brother, the then Crown Prince and Chosen Dragon, who was very close to him. They found solace in each other, sharing secrets, fears, and dreams, supporting and protecting one another. Somewhere along the way, their feelings for each other shifted, blossoming into something deeper and more profound.

The day Garrett found out that she had feelings for him too, changed everything. What should have been the happiest day for him became a scarring event because she's the Dragon Maiden and he is not her tether. He withdrew from her, frightened that he'll be the death of the person he loved.

"Blessings to the Mage," Cassiopeia greeted and gave a small smile. Garrett clenched his jaw and balled his fists.

Seeing her again now, glowing and radiant in that beautiful white blue dress that matched her eyes, he couldn't help but wonder what life could have been like for them if she weren't the Dragon Maiden or he were her tether. Would she be the one sitting beside him now as his wife?

"Thank you for coming, Crown Prince Arrakis Drakon and Crown Princess Cassiopeia Borealis, Dragon Maiden of Cyranda." Garrett said, formally receiving their greetings.

"Your Highness, congratulations on your union. May your reign be filled with happiness and prosperity,-" Arrakis said.

"I didn't see you at the ceremony," Garrett asked Cassiopeia directly. If Arrakis was annoyed, he didn’t show it.

Cassiopeia offered him an easy smile, "Yes, Your Highness. I'm afraid I was indisposed earlier, I'm sorry to have missed it. But I heard the ceremony was quite lovely," she looked to the bride, "Congratulations Princess Esmeralda, I-"

"Are you feeling alright?" Garrett suddenly stood up as if he was about to reach for her, worry etched on his face.

Cassiopeia stepped back and looked at Garrett in panic. Seeing this, Garrett let his hand fall to his side, sat down again and cleared his throat.

"I'm feeling well now, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern." Cassiopeia felt as though the chasm that had opened up between them has gotten bigger. And that hurt her, making the crystals in her dress flicker from overworking.

"I'm glad to hear that...and I'm glad to see you today. You have to forgive me too, for failing to attend your wedding," Garrett smiled sadly.

"Let bygones be bygones, Your Highness. The gifts you sent in your stead more than make up for it." Arrakis interposed, "I hope you find the gifts we brought to be on par with what you have bestowed us." Arrakis bowed slightly and motioned for Tancred, his second in command, to bring in the presents from Drakonia.

After accepting the gifts from them and other delegates that followed, the Crown Prince Garrett announced the official commencement of the Ball by dancing with his wife.

Other couples followed and enjoyed the celebration and festivities of the Ball. Since her encounter with Garrett went smoothly, Cassiopeia grew confident with the crystals' powers that she accepted his offer to a dance.

"I'm really glad you came, Peia" Garrett started as he led Cassiopeia to the middle of the ballroom. "I thought you were getting back at me for missing your wedding when I didn't see you at the ceremony." He smiled a boyish smile that Cassiopeia always found hard to resist.

"No, why would I do that? Do I look like I'm that petty?" He twirled her for a dip and when she landed on his arm, the two of them shared a look and laughed. They both know that Cassiopeia was indeed the type to do that out of pettiness. "Fine, alright! I am petty, that's why I purposely missed the ceremony," she stated with a laugh before sticking out her tongue. He responded with an awkward chuckle.

They both know that's untrue but wanted to believe it to be so because they missed this familiar banter and easy interaction.

"You look good..." She complimented. "But why are you wearing blue? I thought you said you won?" She raised an eyebrow as she glide to the side.

"Well, since I missed your wedding and the opportunity to see Councilman Laurette's eyes bulged out of its sockets from shock with it, I decided to punish myself just so I could see him get a heart attack." He smiled mischievously that had Cassiopeia giggling.

"Noo...! Did he get a heart attack?" Cassiopeia was still laughing as she did an inside turn.

"No. The bastard's still alive and kicking. I think he expected me to do something like this. I didn't even get a reaction."

Cassiopeia snorted, "that's because I already got an earful enough for the both of us at my wedding!"

"So you wore blue?"

"Of course! A bet is a bet, and I honor my words."

"Ah! What a shame...I would have loved to see you in blue, walking down that aisle towards..." They shared a look that says they were both thinking that the end of that sentence is "me" but it should be left unuttered. The prince cleared his throat.

"Honestly, at this point, I think Laurette would live long enough to play matchmaker to our children!"

That stopped the laugh bubbling from Cassiopeia. She was reminded that they were now married to different people. She wondered if enough time passed, will he find happiness with Princess Esmeralda like Laurette said? Will he think of her from time to time or even at all whenever it snows? The questions swirled in her mind, and a part of her was afraid to discover the answers.

She cleared the lump in her throat, "She seems lovely," nodding to Garrett's wife before he spun her around.

"And he seems...young." When he met with her raised brow, "What? He is younger than me!"

Cassiopeia shook her head and giggled, "He is still somewhat immature, but he's kind." She said thinking about how Arrakis gently calmed her down when she was panicking about their divorce and how he sounded so worried and protective in mentioning the magic-absorbing crystals on her dress.

Garrett noticed the twinkle in her eyes and a certain curve in her smile that reminded him of how Cassiopeia looks when talking about things she's fond of.

"Just don't fall for him, Peia." He said in a serious tone, worried. He touched her cheek and made her look into his sincere sad eyes, "if he's not your tether, don't you dare love him. I can't lose you for good."

And with those words, she felt his yearning. There was an undeniable longing in his eyes, an ember of the feelings that had never truly extinguished because it was left unspoken. He loved her too.

They had stopped dancing now and the crystals have lost its glow. It cannot contain her immense powers. Her hands grew cold and so did her heart.