A PROMISE OF OLD

PRINCE ORPHEUS HEMLOCK

Zala knew that this day would come. She was very aware that the time to start the nonsense tournament would begin. And she was glad that Leta took control of everything for her.

The princess was amazed to know that there were over 30 people; royals including nobles who came. She was so used to selling herself short that she couldn’t believe it.

Now, the welcome party was in full bloom. She could hear the music from her room. And she felt like vomiting her intestines out of her body. She was nervous and depressed.

“It’s not so bad.” Anne smiled, helping the princess get dressed. The skirt she wore was elegant, showing her smooth legs through the parting by its side. It gracefully glided on the floor behind her. The top almost seemed like her skin because of how well it matched her skin tone, but the pearls and pieces of jewelry sowed into it made it look exquisite. Anne helped the princess comb her hair and put on her earing that was attached to her nose hanging by her cheeks.

To be honest, Zala looks too elegant to be real.

“I don’t want to do this.”

The princess almost wept. She really didn’t want to do it. She didn’t even want to consider it. But then as Valerie said… she was duty-bound. With that thought, she got up from in front of her dressing mirror. Anne sadly watched her friend, breathe in deeply to calm herself and dry her eyes. It was always that she saw the princess at her breaking point. And it saddened the handmaiden.

“At least, Blaize will be there.” She remarked, trying to cheer the princess up, but she sighed and dejectedly whispered.

“yh”

Zala hadn’t been able to forget what Blaize said and his determination to marry her. She wasn’t bothered that she was a good 8 months older than the man. Her only problem was that she didn’t want to hurt him because she knew that she wasn’t going to choose any of the men who were present. That was if Kevoy did come. But then what next? What does she do again if Kevoy really didn’t come?

“I know that this is probably difficult for you.” Anne clasped her trembling hands in hers, offering the princess what she hoped to be a reassuring smile, “But nothing is going to happen if you don’t do something first. And I agree with what your brother said, I don’t doubt your feelings for Kevoy, but you haven’t heard from him in 15 years. That’s a long time, Zala.”

The princess knew that everything that Anne was saying is true but it was a hard pill to swallow. The words choked her. and she felt like she was suffocating. Her hands tightened in her friend’s.

“Think of it as a chance for you to know if he truly meant what he said. Forget that it’s your parents' wish to see you happily married. And think of it as your way of searching for him. And what you do if you find or don’t find him is in your own hands. No one will force anything on you.” Anne continued. It had been so long since she saw the princess so emotional. Zala rarely showed any emotion or anything apart from stubbornness, annoyance, and joy.

Anne patted her friend’s face dry of her tears. And when she was completely dressed up, she escorted her towards the ballroom where the music was blaring.

Zala said nothing. She had no words to say. She knew how right Anne and everyone was. But goodness was it so hard to see things the way they do. Maybe she was obsessed with Kevoy, but she didn't really care. She knew that it was him that she was supposed to be with. Him that she wanted to be with. She knew that she would spend her whole life waiting if they left her to it. And somehow, she was glad that they were pushing her to do this. Her parents would without a doubt, leave her to find love, but they might marry her off to some self-absorbed asshole who they thought to be right for her. And she didn't want that.

She paused at the entrance of the ballroom, took in a deep breath, and nodded at the guard to announce her arrival. She was used to all the attention so she didn’t mind the eyes that followed her as she walked in, the music was soft and calming. She plastered a fake smile on her lips, it was the best she could do with how she was feeling.

The conversations picked up again when she placed her hands in her brothers’. It was loud and she could taste the excitement in the air, yet she didn't share in it.

“This is hard for you, I know. But don’t think too much into it. Remember that you have absolute control over the situation.” Valerie whispered to his stunning sister and smiled when her stance changed to one full of confidence.

“You look beautiful.” Leta complimented the princess. She herself looked breathtaking, Zala thought. And she voiced her thought, making the soon-to-be queen blush.

"We are glad that you are doing this. your mother and I are just worried about you."

The king pulled her into a warm embrace and she tucked her face into her father's chest. And sadly whispered.

"I know."

For most of the night, she ignored the presence of the men in the hall who were glancing her way. She could literally see it in their eyes, how they wanted her, and it repulsed her. She stayed away from them, dancing with her brother, father, mother, Leta, and even Anne who surprisingly turned shy. Zala didn’t want to think of it all, at least for a little while. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from searching for the familiar face of a certain black-haired, hazel-eyed boy. But of course, she knew that he was no longer a boy. And that excited her the possibility of finally seeing him. But as the night went by and the music slowed down into a slow one and she still hadn’t caught a glimpse of him, she knew then and there that he probably didn’t come. Her mood immediately soured.

“Can we speed this up and get it over with.”

Valarie raised a brow a the almost irritated voice of his sister, however, he didn’t say anything. And instead signaled for the introductions to be made.

The music quietened and the dance stopped as the one to officiate everything started talking. She put on a tight smile while the introductions started. The princess couldn’t remember any prince or noble’s name. She couldn't remember their faces, couldn't remember who gifted her what. She didn't want to. She simply smiled and reciprocated their bows whilst accepting any gift they came with. She found the riches and jewelry that they brought to be bothersome.

“How long until we’re done?” She whispered to her mother who frowned at her eagerness to get it over with and her disinterest in the whole thing.

“We have to wait till all introductions are done and gifts are received. And then spend a few hours socializing before you can choose to leave.” The queen whispered back with a sigh. She had no idea why her daughter lacked interest in marriage.

"But why don't you take the time to talk to some of them. you haven't said a word to any of them." The queen continued, worried about how disinterested her daughter was being.

Zala held back a groan and smiled at the next prince who approached her with a smirk. She almost cringed when his lips touched the back of her hand. It wasn’t that he wasn’t handsome. She had eyes, she could appreciate beauty when she saw it. But she just didn’t care for how handsome they were. For as long as she could remember it has been only Kevoy that she wanted.

It all seemed to drag on forever, but she let out a sigh when the officiator, announced the last prince for the night.

“from the Kingdom of Noctis..” the officiator announced, his voice quivered in surprise and he read the name one more time just to make sure that he had it right. The music almost stop as everyone ceased talking, looking at the officiator as if he had lost his mind.

“Is he sure that is correct?”

Zala’s heart picked up its beat, her mother’s question barely reaching her ears, her eyes were completely glued to the officiator who was making sure that what he was reading was correct, his frown and shock were enough to compete with Valarie's.

“From the kingdom of Noctis..” he repeated, clearing his throat, “Prince Orpheus Hemlock.” Whispers broke out when they all started looking amongst them to see for themselves who the eudaeouro was. It wasn’t always that their kind showed themselves. The crowd was so shocked that they could say nothing. Seconds ticked by when no one made any move to show that they are Prince Orpheus.

When they were about to let it go and think of it all as a mistake, the balcony door flew open. The princess's heart skipped a beat, just like everyone else in there. She knew that their kind was always, unnaturally beautiful, but the male who strode into the ballroom was beyond anything she had ever seen.

His silver hair shined like the moon, cascading down his back like a river; smooth and free. Pieces of it had pieces of jewelry braided in it. Zala sucked in a breathe when she locked eyes with him. Perfection. That was all she could think of. He was perfection impersonated. His ruby eyes were wide and held the same shimmer as his silver hair. He was indeed beautiful.

His movements were fluid. His feet seemed to never touch the floor. But never did the prince take his eyes off of hers. His features were boyish and still so… masculine.

And then there were the wings trailing behind him. crimson red. She had never seen such a shade of red before and she found herself needing to touch them. But despite her desires, the princess clenched her fists by her side, her face giving no way to how enamored she was with him.

“Your highness.”

His voice was soft, alluring, and so hypnotic. And it was enough to snap the onlookers from their trance. It took a few seconds for Zala to realize that he was addressing her. With a hand placed on his chest and the other behind him, he bowed in greeting. And she returned his greetings wither hers. Her hands began to tremble by her side, no words making it out of her lips.

“It’s unusual seeing your kind here.”

Valarie more like stated, drawing the Prince’s stupefied eyes from his sister to him. The prince took no offense to his words. His lips tugged up so lightly that Valarie missed it, but Zala didn’t, and her breath caught.

“That is true.” Prince Orpheus responded. “It’s not often that we show ourselves.” He added.

And in all honesty, he knew that. The eudaeouros tended to stick to their kingdom. They didn’t make it a habit to come to the outside kingdoms. They were seen as untouchable creatures. And everyone had their own view of them. For those who had been helped by their kind, they were seen as gracious. Those who couldn't fathom their existence saw them as beings far from their reach.

It wasn’t unknown that there were creatures that were not human in their world. The nymphs, the fairies, mountain beasts, the tree spirits. The humans knew that they were not alone, they interacted with many of the other creatures. It wasn’t unheard of for a child to tell the parents of a fairy they saw. It wasn’t unheard of for the men to have had relationships with nymphs.

What was odd, was a eudaeouro. His presence there was intense and unique. Not because they haven’t been seen before, but because they rarely stayed amongst humans and not in their true forms too. At least he had hidden his horns, Valerie thought.

They were seen as proud creatures who very rarely married outside of their species. So why would a prince of Noctis, enter into a competition that required him to stay amongst humans for weeks on end? Valerie couldn’t believe that it was simply because his sister was beautiful.

“Our palace doors are open to anyone who needs it to be.” The queen offered a smile, stepping into the conversation between her son and the Prince of Noctis. It didn’t take a genius to sense the tension between the two.

The music roared to life. Prince Orpheus didn't say much but turned to the princess. It was like he could see no one but her. And Valerie noticed it.

It wasn't until another eudaeuro stepped forward that they realized there was another one. Valerie intensely watched with a scowl when Prince Orpheus took a golden jewelry box, shaped in the form of an egg.

"Anne will take the gifts away."

Having finally found her voice, Zala stood straight and said. Just because he was beautiful didn't change a thing, she chanted to herself when she found her heart skipping multiple beats.

Her heart nearly stopped pounding when he smiled at her.

"I think you would want to take this yourself." He said. His voice caused a shiver to run down her spine as it caressed her senses.

"I believe it's from a friend of yours." He added, his smile only grew when she tensed and her blue eyes widened.

so she does remember, Prince Orpheus thought, bitting back his smile.

Zala kept glancing between the egg and the Prince. The only name she could think of was Kevoy.

She wordlessly reached out to take the egg from him, whispering a thank you. She didn't take her eyes off of it.

I need to talk to him. Alone.

She thought to herself when the prince bowed lightly.

Valerie had seen it all. he saw how tenderly the eudaeuro Prince looked at Zala. He saw how she responded to the gift. It made him curious. Made them all curious. What was going on?

Amongst the crowd, Blaize's heart beat with panic as he watched their interaction. The glass in his hands trembled with him and he simply set it down. He could almost swear....