Under the crown

I am thrilled to be standing in my gallery today, which I have opened to the public to showcase my masterpieces. A selection of these pieces are also available for purchase, which will enable me to create even more artworks and expand my collection. As I look around the gallery, I am filled with a sense of pride. Each piece on display represents a part of me from the vibrant colors to the intricate details, every brushstroke and every texture tells a story that I am eager to share with the world. This gallery is filled with a diverse range of artworks, each one unique and special in its own way. Some pieces are bold and daring, while others are subtle and understated. But regardless of their style or theme, every artwork on display is a reflection of my passion and creativity. As the doors open to the public, I am excited to see how people will react to my masterpiece. Will they be moved by the emotions that I have poured into each piece? Will they be inspired by the stories that I have told through my art? Or will they simply appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship that has gone into creating each piece? Whatever their reaction, I am grateful for the opportunity to share my art with the world. I am also a fond of visiting galleries even before and as I stand here in my own gallery, surrounded by my masterpieces, I am filled with a sense of joy and fulfillment that I have never felt for a long time. "This is truly magnificent, Princess Rietta," one of the businesswomen who was touring my HHL Gallery commented. I established this Art Exhibit last year when I decided to showcase some of my masterpieces. Mrs. Cruz was admiring a painting of a woman gazing out of her window, trying to reach the moon. It was me, back when I was still living within the palace walls. Those were the days when I hadn't yet met my friends, and my entire life was spent only inside the palace, with nothing to do but ponder and gaze out at the City of Aurora and the moon, accompanied by the stars that shone brightly in the sky. "That's my Philouran," I said with a smile. Philouran refers to someone who loves both the moon and stars, and I am one of them. "Save it for me, then," Mrs. Cruz said with a smile before bidding me goodbye and continuing her tour of the gallery. As Mrs. Cruz walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. My art had always been a way for me to express myself, to convey the emotions and thoughts that I couldn't verbalize. I continued to walk through the gallery, taking in the sights and sounds of the exhibit. The soft hum of conversation, the gentle clinking of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter all blended together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. As I stopped in front of another painting, I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me. The painting depicted a beautiful garden, filled with vibrant flowers and towering trees. It was a place that I had visited often during my time in Aurora, a place where I had found solace and peace. "This one is called 'Serenity'," I said to a group of visitors who had gathered around me. "It's a place that holds a lot of meaning for me, a place where I was able to find peace and tranquility." As I spoke, I couldn't help but think about the person who had inspired me to create this painting. We had spent countless hours together in this garden, talking and laughing, and just enjoying each other's company. I felt a pang of sadness as I thought about him, about the way things had ended between us. But I pushed the feelings aside, focusing instead on the beauty of the painting, and the joy that it brought to those who saw it. As the day wore on, I continued to mingle with the guests, answering questions and sharing stories about my art. It was a wonderful feeling, being able to connect with others through my passion. And yet, despite the joy and excitement of the day, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. That someone was missing. Ever since I left Aurora, painting has become my passion, my way of expressing my thoughts and emotions through art. Almost all of my works on display in this exhibit are based on my personal experiences and feelings. As I continue to walked through the gallery, I found myself in the farthest corner, where the paintings that reminded me of the person I've been trying to forget for so long was stored. Despite my efforts, he still occupies a part of my heart and life. This section of the gallery features a painting of Taverna University, where our bond deepened. There are also paintings of various places we visited together, each with a silhouette of a man and woman together - sitting side by side, embracing, dancing, standing, and more. While most people may not know, I am aware of who owns those silhouettes. I quickly removed a large painting of a man and woman walking hand in hand down a staircase, with people waiting and looking up at them below. 'The last day we were together, happily'. After removing the painting and placing it on the floor, I glanced back at its origin, and my chest tightened at what I saw. Tears fell involuntarily as I touched the painting. It was an unexpected piece, created by coating my palm with black acrylics and stamping it onto a canvas filled with various colors that served as its background. More tears flowed as I touched the white paint in the center of my palm, a small hand made of white paint. 'The palm of my angel' "Hyllee," I turned around to face him, surprised by the sudden call. "KD," I replied, smiling. Kendric Dewei, my trusted friend, approached me and gently wiped away my tears with his handkerchief. "Here you are, crying again. That's enough, baby. What if someone sees you? They’ll think I hurt you," he jokingly said with cautioned, embracing me and stroking my back. He's always been there for me, especially during difficult times like these. "Hush, remember that our baby is now an angel, always surrounding us and watching over us. You don't want him to see you sad because of him, right?" I nodded in agreement. KD's words brought me comfort, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. We both turned to face the painting again, and this time, KD gently touched the palm print on the canvas. "I'll get some water, I'll be right back. Don't cry again, okay?" he said, calming me down. I nodded, smiling weakly, and he kissed my forehead before leaving. I looked at the painting again "I love you," I whispered, touching the painting one last time. As I turned to put the painting back in its place, I caught sight of a man standing in front of the painting I called "Angel." He was staring intently at it, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "This is so beautiful. It's simple, yet I felt a warmth in my heart the moment I saw it, even from afar," he commented, still gazing at the painting. "Sorry, but it's not for sale," I said, feeling a sense of unease. "That's rude of you, Louise. Can't I just look at it?" he asked, and then turned around looking at me with the eyes I've long wanted to forget, but I couldn't because I'd be lying if I said I didn't remember them, no matter the angle. I was taken aback by the intensity of his gaze. I glanced at the painting nearby, where two eyes were painted. Half of it was a man's eyes, while the other half was a woman's, with their faces merged together. Then, I looked back at his eyes. They were undeniably identical. I then felt a surge of anxiety, but I tried to compose myself. "I didn't mean to be rude, it's just that the painting you saw is... forbidden," I said, choosing my words carefully. The man's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to me. "Why are these paintings stored inside this glass?" he asked, his voice low and mysterious. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Because these aren't for sale," I repeated, trying to sound firm. The man's gaze lingered on mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He turned to walk away, but not before catching sight of another painting - one of a prince without eyes, nose, or mouth. I had intentionally left it that way to conceal the subject's identity. The man's smile was enigmatic, and I sensed a deep sadness in his eyes. "Baby," KD's sudden appearance at my side made me turn to him, and he handed me a glass of water. I took a sip, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Feeling better now?" KD asked, concern etched on his face. I nodded, smiling weakly. "Oh, by the way, Mr. Torres is looking for you," KD informed me, glancing at the man who was still standing nearby. The man's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. "Uhm, anyway, this is Cassian," I said, introducing him to KD, despite knowing that they were already familiar with each other. As they exchanged pleasantries, I couldn't help but notice the tension between Cassian and KD. It was palpable, and I felt a sense of unease wash over me. "If you'll excuse us," I said, taking KD's arm and turning to leave. "Let's go, babe," I added, using the affectionate term that had become second nature to me. As we walked away, I turned back to Cassian and said, "It's nice to see you again. Please, enjoy yourself exploring the gallery,” with that, KD and I continued on our way, leaving Cassian behind. Despite everything that had happened, my feelings for Cassian remained unchanged. If anything had changed that is my desire to be with him again not because I don’t want to but I knew it was impossible. As we walked away, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Cassian was still watching us. I glanced back, and our eyes met for a brief moment. The intensity of his gaze made my heart skip a beat. KD, sensing my unease, wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. I nodded, trying to compose myself. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. But KD knew me too well. He could see right through my facade. "Hyllee, what's going on?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. I sighed, knowing I couldn't avoid the truth forever. "It's just Cassian," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. KD's expression turned serious. "What did he do?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. I shook my head, not wanting to relive the past. "It's nothing, KD. Just forget it, okay?" I said, trying to change the subject. But KD wasn't having it. He knew me too well, knew that I was hiding something. And he was determined to find out what it was. I know that Cassian was still watching us from afar, waiting for his chance to strike. And I knew that I had to be careful, had to protect myself from the one person who could hurt me the most. We walked in silence for a few moments, the tension between us palpable. I knew KD was waiting for me to open up, to tell him what was really going on. But I wasn't ready. Not yet. As we turned a corner, I spotted a group of people gathered near the exit. They were all staring at something, their faces filled with a mix of shock and curiosity. KD followed my gaze and frowned. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice low. I shook my head, my heart sinking. "I don't know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. As we approached the crowd, I saw what they were staring at. It was a painting, one that I had kept hidden away for years. One that I thought I had destroyed. The painting depicted a scene of pure devastation. A palace in ruins, flames engulfing the walls. And in the center of it all, a figure stood tall. A figure with piercing blue eyes, eyes that seemed to bore into my soul. Cassian. I felt a chill run down my spine as I gazed at the painting. How did it end up here? And who could have painted it? KD's voice broke the silence, his tone firm. "Hyllee, we need to get out of here,” I nodded, still in shock. As we turned to leave, I caught Cassian's eye. He was standing across the room, his gaze fixed on me. I quickly turned away, my heart racing. KD's arm wrapped around me, pulling me close as we pushed through the crowd. We didn't stop until we were outside, gasping in the cool night air. I looked up at KD, my eyes wide with confusion. "What just happened?" I asked, my voice shaking. KD's face was concerned. "I don't know, but I think we should get out of here. You're shaking,” he said while holding my hand tightly I nodded, still trying to process what I had just seen. The painting had brought back so many memories, memories that I thought I had long forgotten. As we walked to the waiting car, I couldn't shake the feeling that Cassian was still watching me. I glanced around, but he was nowhere to be seen. The car ride was silent, KD's eyes fixed on me as I stared out the window. I couldn't help but think about Cassian, about the way he used to make me feel. As we pulled up to a secure building, KD turned to me. "You'll be safe here. I promise,” he reassured me I nodded, still feeling a little dazed. As we stepped out of the car, I caught a glimpse of a figure watching us from across the street. Cassian. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met. And for a moment, I felt like I was transported back in time, back to when we were together. I blinked and when I look back across the road, no one’s there already. I knew that he just made sure I am safe after the commotion at the gallery earlier. I immediately answered my phone when someone called [Hey girl, are you okay? What happened?] Lore, my best friend asked “Yes, I am fine and I am with KD now. I don’t know yet what happened but I’ll have it investigate as soon as possible,” I explained [Okay, I’ll tell the others that you’re okay so they won’t worry much,] I thanked Lore before hanging up the call “Take a rest first, I’ll just update you when someone sends the information to me,” KD said when he approached me “It’s fine, I am okay now. I’ll ask Matheo also to go to the gallery now to check,” I said throwing myself on the couch. I honestly felt tired for today