The Only Princess of Ember World

3 - THE THREE PRINCES

While looking at the bracelet, Prince James remembered the girl she saw yesterday. With those pinkish thin lips, a dimple on the right cheek, and the blonde curly hair, he couldn’t help himself but smile at the thought that he was stunned by the beauty of the girl. It was the first time that a girl caught his attention and he didn’t know if it was the right thing.

Guardian Cyrus had already given him the list of the girls who had visited the Terra Kingdom. But unfortunately, none of those was the girl. He was now starting to think about where the girl should come from. And how did she enter the kingdom without a visitation ID?

As he was in deep thinking, he didn't notice the other two princes that had just arrived. It was the first day of the class, so the three princes were in their designated classroom. Most of the girls were eyeing them, wishing that they might hook the heart of the three. But the three princes don't even take a glance at their classmates and schoolmates.

Universal Academy is the most prestigious school in the whole Ember world. It's a well-known school located in the Ignis Kingdom and most of the royal members were alumni of this school. And for this generation, the three princes are the spotlight of the said school.

"What's that?" Prince Zeus curiously asked while looking at the bracelet Prince James was holding.

Prince Zeus is the most childish among the three princes. He's an observant type and always pays attention even to the smallest things. He is the prince of the Aqua Kingdom and the son of King Jude and Queen Sophie.

"Obviously, it is a bracelet," Prince Philip said while giving the two princes a boring look.

Prince Philip is the rudest among the three. He is also the silent type and always serious. He is the prince of the Aer Kingdom and the son of King Ryan and Queen Charlotte.

Prince James smiled. He’s not sure if he will tell the two princes about the mysterious girl from yesterday. Those two were his best friends and, from their childhood, they always shared their life.

"Tell us, James, where did you get that bracelet?" Prince Philip seriously asked.

"I just found it near our palace."

Prince Philip stared at Prince James. Based on his facial expression and the movement of his eyes, Prince Philip knows that his friend is lying.

"You know that we're destined to fight each other for the heart of the princess of Ignis Kingdom, right? So whoever that girl is, just forget about her."

Prince James sighed. This is the main reason why the three princes never entertained other girls, even many of their schoolmates begging for their attention. But their destiny was already written in the books of the world. They were destined to win the heart of the Ignis Kingdom to marry its only Princess.

And after the competition, that’s the only time when the two princes can find their princesses. They can marry any girl with high status in their world when they are not chosen as the groom of the only princess.

“James, tell us, is it from a girl?” Prince Zeus asked suspiciously.

“Well, don’t you think it’s a good thing on your side? I could lose the competition.” Prince James smiled widely as he had come up with a good idea.

“How I wish I could also lose the competition,” Prince Philip said, without thinking that he had been heard by his friends. Honestly, he doesn’t want the idea of a fixed marriage. He can’t marry a girl that he doesn’t love. He doesn’t want to suffer just like his parents.

King Ryan and Queen Charlotte were married in a fixed marriage chosen by the late King of the Aer Kingdom and the family of Queen Charlotte. They were married for the convenience of the two families. And it didn’t come out well as was expected. Every night, Prince Philip always heard the yelling of his mother and after the fight, he, would hear the cries of Queen Charlotte. As King Ryan had a lover before, that might until now, he still loves this girl. And until now, Prince Philip’s mother is hurting.

"Wait, Philip, you mean you don't also want to marry the princess?" Prince Zeus surprisingly asked.

Prince Philip didn't utter any word. Among the three, he is the one who's always reminding the two about their destiny. He is the most competitive in the competition. And who has thought that he doesn't want to win the heart of the princess?

"It's understandable. Even me, I don't want to marry the princess," Prince James frankly said.

Prince James just changed his mind overnight. When he saw the mysterious girl yesterday, he didn't care anymore about the competition. He just wanted to meet the girl.

"Guys, seriously? We've been preparing for this since our childhood. How can you just change your mind?" Prince Zeus said in a disappointed tone.

Even he doesn't want to marry the princess. But because of the pressure from his parents and the rivalry between his friends, he's willing to win the competition. But how can he enjoy his triumph if he knows that the two princes want to lose the competition? It's like he just won the heart of the princess because his friends never wanted to win.

"You know what, you are the best man for the princess. Let's make you win," Prince Philip said.

Prince Zeus shakes his head. This is the first time that they won't agree on the idea.

"If you lose the competition, you might as well lose it also. None of us will marry that princess," he said angrily.

Silence filled the room. Any of the three princes don't know what to say to each other. They were all shocked at what they said earlier. Prince Philip just let out a sigh, Prince James just stared again at the bracelet and Prince Zeus just stared blankly at the board.

What they don't know is it might be a big problem if all of them don't want to marry the only princess of the Ember world.