Disguised for Love

Part 3

It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun. -  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Serenade Palace

Prince Atticus came back to his Palace after he sent back Fay. Immediately he wrote the report of his annual visit to the different Kingdoms. The Lord Of Travels and Communications will check it later on once he submits it for the records. While writing, he can't help but smile as he remembered the woman he had met earlier.

"Hey, I heard from Lord Taros that you were in Blue Lake Wood right after the morning session in the Hall with grandfather," Prince Atticus heard his younger brother, Prince Celcius, talked upon entering his library. His younger brother always came inside his library without even giving him some advance notice, like knocking. Good thing, his smiling face was not noticed, or else a meticulous probing will occur.

Putting down his magic reed pen, he looked at his younger brother approaching the sofa in front of his table with a smile.

"I can never keep anything from Lord Taros," he admitted while standing up and leaves what he was doing. It was also the time a knock came from the outside. The door opens to a maidservant carrying their tea at the same time; he walked to the sofa that faces Prince Celcius.

He sat down on the sofa before the maidservant pours them each a cup of tea. Once she had finished serving them, she also walked out of the room.

It was only when there are only the two of them in the room that Prince Celsius commented. "You know him, he will record everything that is happening in all immortals and mortals, even you, the Crown Prince cannot escape him," he laughed.

"What to do?" He shrugged.

"But today, you had escaped. Lord Taros only knew that you were there for a long time but had no idea on what you are doing and with whom. So he got curious about what kind of enchantment did you put in the air, which made you undetectable."

Crown Prince Atticus laughed at what he heard and answered, "I only asked my guards I need time to be alone, which I rarely do."

"The truth is, I too got curious. I wonder if my beloved older brother, who is so elusive to women, has finally fallen in love. Will someone fills that empty harem of yours before the little girls grow up?"

"I don't have time for that. Besides, I don't want to have headaches with too many women. I'm sure you know what I mean."

It is a fact that of the two brothers, if how elusive the Crown Prince with women, Prince Celcius is always available; hence he can be compared to a river that never runs outs of surface water.

They have the same build, but their personality differs. The other one is frivolous while the other is too serious, it is maybe because the latter is the Crown Prince, and all the responsibilities as a future King were instilled in him since he was born. On the other hand, Prince Celcius being the spare to the throne has some more freedom to pursue what he wanted.

"Well, well, well...You don't know how to treat women, admit it. When that little girl of yours comes here, you will be swallowed whole," he commented.

"What are you pointing out?

"At least have someone in your Crystal hall, so it will not spoil her."

"How sure are you that it will have a positive effect? You know that she grows up surrounded by monogamous relationships. Besides, we will meet each other soon, and by the way, she is not a little girl anymore. If she turned out as what you've said, that would be the time I will find a solution."

Prince Celcius snorted with laughter.

"What so funny with it?"

"That little girl you only saw once had already bewitched you. How much more if she is beside you always?" he made a loud, deep laugh.

When he can control his laughter, he continued, "I have something to tell you, there is a new trainee that made Lord Taros assistant's stupefied when he saw her for the first time. I only heard it today when I saw both of them. We even went to where the trainee lives, but unfortunately, she was out."

"Who is she?"

"They call her now the green-eyed witch. She is Faye Wildlight, same Kingdom of your little fiancee." With an emphasis on the last two words, Prince Celcius told him. His brother continues, even he saw his brows furrowed. "You will see her once they enter the Palace. I want to catch your reaction too. Who knows she will be the rival of the little girl and the enemies of your harem of an admirer," he laughed.

Prince Atticus shakes his head and smile at his brother, who is full of tricks and always reminding him not to wait for the Princess of Camdenland. Instead, put another woman inside his Crystal hall. Besides, Princess Ainsleigh's father is always postponing there meeting for some reason or another.

If he doesn't know that she is the only daughter that the King has and has no information at all about her, he was long offended. Only five months of waiting, and after that, he can have her by his side.

They were interrupted by the announcement of his guard of the arrival of Lord Taros. A four cubit (six feet)tall man with a balding head (which the two princes teased him because of absorbing all those information, hence the bald). They were close to him and get used to whatever they call him unless in front of the Celestial King, as he becomes the Lord of the Star.

The next day, the girls who had seen Prince Celcius are still gushing of his physical attributes while they are walking on the road going to the other side of the City. Faye, on the other hand, was busy looking at the scenery that they passed, oblivious to what is the topic of conversation.

The Purifying Lake, with its crystal clear water, is so calm, but behind that facade, it can cleanse any deity that comes inside the City of their magic powers. Butterflies are happily drifting from flower to flower that blooms on its glory, which reminded her of Chubb. He will be happy to run after them if he is here. She stopped and inhaled the fresh air that came from the lake and felt refresh on it.

Someone touched her back, "Faye, what are you doing again? Do you miss your home that much?"

She turned around and looked at Kendra and said, "I just want to feel the air as we passed by the lake."

"You can still feel the breeze without stopping," Kendra told her, and they began to walk a bit faster to catch up with other deities who are ahead of them.

They are still babbling about Prince Celcius when suddenly one deity mention about him looking for a deity from Camdenland. Those who hear stopped from walking and turn around to look at her with questioning eyes.

She also stopped walking and looked at them, "Why are you looking at me?" she asked. When no one answer, she then reason out, "I am not the only one who came there."

"As long as you are not competing for the Crown Prince's attention," Tara told her, and then they giggle.

"He is already engaged to our Princess," she reasoned out.

"Don't be naïve. We are in Pantheoceles City. He can have side consorts and concubines. Besides, he never even visits her, and up until now, they are not married". Olivia, the girl with blond hair tied in a blue ribbon, the same color of her eyes commented.

"It is the responsibility of the Princes to add to their lineage. His Majesty had only one son, the late father of Crown Prince Atticus and Prince Celsius, who is already dead." Tara added.

"If for lineage sake, our Queen is the only wife of the King, but she has five sons and one daughter. The couples in our Kingdom who are in a monogamous marriage looks happy and satisfied, so I think there is no need to have many wives just for that reason.

"As I said, this is Pantheoceles City. I, myself, don't mind being a side consort," with one eyebrow raised higher than the other, Olivia insisted.

Only she and Kendra did not agree with Olivia. Amidst the excited voices and giggling and talking about the qualities of both Princes' she became a bit lonely. The reality of vying for the attention of one man is starting to sink in, and everyone is so determined to be a Prince's woman. She will have a hard time for sure, but she tells herself she must be confident and be positive. All negatives thoughts must go out.

Finally, they arrived in the market. Kendra saw a bracelet and urged her to buy it instead of wearing lace on her wrist.

"I am used to having this on my wrist, that it becomes like a bracelet I cannot do without," Faye answered Kendra.

No one knows that behind the lace is a bracelet that she had concealed. At first, she hides it under the cloth because she feels uncomfortable with the eyes of the dragon as if it is always looking at her, but once she decides to come here, it is to hide it from everyone. She remembers her mother telling her that it is a tradition of Pantheocelesian men to gift their fiancee with bracelets and that anyone who sees it knows from which family her fiance came.

"Faye, do you think it looks good on me?" Kendra tried a dangling pearl earring for her to see.

"Well, I think it doesn't suit you" She get cluster earrings of flower design and let Kendra see it, "why don't you try this one it is more practical to use when working?"

"Please, Faye I got bored with that style, I will settle with a drop one."

They only stayed in the market for a short time, and then they decided to go to the open theater to see what entertainment it has to offer, it is free for everyone, and anyone who wants to share his talent is permitted. Some of the girls opted to stay behind in the market as they were busy buying make-ups, clothes, and ladies' accessories.

When they reached the entrance of the open theater, they found out that it's a masquerade event, and everyone who wants to enter must wear a mask. That makes them excited as most of them have never worn one. Faye put on her full pink costume, and Kendra also put hers. Once ready, they entered.

There are so many things to see that are new to her eyes. Some deities are busy blowing fire, and the other one shower it with water, and an elf that dragged an enormous stone. At the far end, a small arena where there is sword fighting, and then there is a stage for dancers. Engrossed on a deity that dances and flies up to do her acrobatic act, without her knowing, she followed it not only with her eyes but her steps too. So engrossed with it, she went far from her group, unconsciously.

Most of the audiences are the deities and fairies that visit the City who came with their Pantheocelesian noble friends or had some matters to do in the Palace. One of them almost toppled on her if not with the hand from her back that holds her steady. Faye turned around and saw the lower breast bone of a male deity, and she tilted her head to see him wearing a mask too. She thanks him, and instead of letting her go, he pulled her in his embrace.