The Hunt for the Royal Runaway

Chapter 2: The Royal Show-Off

Akisha Diamond’s Point of View:

“Couldn’t we at least eat first?” I complained before imagining myself munching down mango tarts and drinking warm milk as I hear my stomach rumble in hunger.

“You can help yourself a little later in the after event’s banquet, Your Highness. For now, let’s keep moving.” Lady Lana declared as she helped herself search for the appropriate gowns in my closet that I would be wearing in that stupid event.

I sat down aggressively in protest.

“But—“ I was about to argue with her once more but she was quick to bring out her wand and motioned it to my direction. Quickly, a sprinkle of dust magic fell over my head down my magic. And soon enough, the rumbling in my stomach suddenly disappeared.

Hunger-easing magic, eh?

“I didn’t ask you to do that…” I mumbled as I furrowed my eyebrows in despair. Now, I have no reasons for excuses anymore.

“Since when did I became a part of that event, anyway?” I raised, looking straight at Lady Lana’s back who’s almost done picking up my gown. Indeed, when she turned around to face me, she’s making the light pink-colored biggest one float in mid-air.

Oh please, I’m going to wear a corset again. Can you just kill me instead?

“Oh please, I’m going to wear a corset again. Can you just kill me instead? I bet that is what is in your mind right now, Your Highness.” She mentioned.

My body suddenly tensed up. My lips parted in shocked as she spoke exactly what I’m thinking of.

“How d-did y-y—“

“It’s all printed in your disappointed face. Don’t worry, no matter how you dislike the event, just think that it will be over in a day. You just need to endure this day. And when you do, I will be waiting for you behind the curtains. I will listen to all your experiences and stories of the Royal Show-Off, Your Highness.” She explained. For some reason, her words encouraged me a little bit. I realized that I’ve been complaining with things that others are dreaming about. Every year, only royalties were allowed to join the Royal Show-Off. Peasants, merchants, majority of knights, even maidens weren’t allowed to peek for one second. If they do, their actions would be punishable by death.

“Fine…I’ll do this.” I gave in with her instructions because of guilt. I knew that lady Lana is longing to be a part of the event even just once. I can see it in her eyes and hear it from her voice. It’s not just her. Everytime I walk the alleys of our castle, I would hear other maidens talk about and picture beautiful things from the event. It is a big deal for them but not for me. If only I could switch places with them, I’d gladly do so. Besides, Lady Lana is more of a princess-like than I could ever be

After a minute of helping me get ready with her magic, I’m finally ready to go. I looked at the mirror and was impressed at how I look. Lady Lana did a great job at putting me together. Although I couldn’t quite breathe, she managed to make my figure smaller through the corsets. She did my hair in a side braid with flowers at every edge. My make-up looks naturally too, the way I prefer it to be. Overall, I looked like a different person from 2 minutes earlier when dried drools and morning tears were still residing on my face.

“Thank you, Lady Lana….I love it.” I said with a genuine smile as I circle my body to see how the end of my ballgown would flow. Lady Lana laughed a little bit as she eyed me from head to toe. When her eyes wrinkled upwards, I knew she was satisfied with her efforts too.

I wish I could share moments like this with my mother.

“Hey Lady Lana…” I suddenly turned seriously as I looked straight to her eyes, gently grabbing her hands and holding it tightly.

“Yes, Your Highness?” She countered.

“I will tell everything about the event to you after it’s over…everything! I will not let a single detail for myself….so promise me, promise me you’ll wait for me behind the curtains just like what you’ve said earlier, okay?” I said continuously. Her eyes started shining and she started blushing. Despite her graceful demure, I could tell that she is excited.

I will make your once in a lifetime dream, come true, Lady Lana.

“I promise, Your Highness.” She replied quite embarrassed but thrilled at the same time.

--

After a second of snapping her fingers, time and space started have warped before our eyes. I’ve been holding Lady Lana’s hands as we rip the distance from my room to the Royal arena through the use of her teleportation magic. And just like that, we arrived on the event on time.

“Go on, Your Highness. This is the farthest I could go.” She bid me farewell with me from the stairs at the back of the stage. I nodded in return. As she disappeared from my sight, nervousness filled my system.

I took a step forward to reach the curtains leading to the front of the stage. One sway from my hand and I will be exposed to thousands of royalties from different Houses. For some reason, I felt pressured to act dignified and respectable so I wouldn’t shame House Diamond.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome our next guest enchanter from the bloodline of the heaven’s favor, one of the hopes of our kingdom’s future…the daughter of the Stonheart Kingdom’s most powerful and mighty royalties, King Stephen Diamond XXIII and Queen Leah Diamond…Princess Akisha Diamond!”

That tacky announcement was my signal to enter the scene. Geez, I didn’t know there was such a big entrance prepared for me.

“Okay, let’s do this…just endure it for a day.” I mustered to myself before I brushed the red curtains away from my face and stepped out, revealing myself in front of a sea of royal enchanters.

Loud claps and cheers almost made me deaf to the point that I started to feel uncomfortable. All of these enchanters are strangers to me. How could they welcome me this lively? Some of them even threw colourful fireworks revealing my face up the sky.

What the hell?

“Princess Akisha! Finally, we’ve seen you!”

“You’re as pretty as the queen!”

“Hail the House Diamond’s future!”

Different words of praises shower my entrance almost non-stop. As I stood there, forcing a smile in front of people I didn’t know the names of, I wish for this ceremony to end already so their eyes would gaze away from me.

If only they knew I wasn’t that special. Heck, I’m already 15 and I’m not even able to master any specific techniques yet.

“A pleasant morning, proud citizens of Stoneheart Kingdom! Thank you for your warm welcome…Let’s all get along well!” I spoke aloud, exerting efforts to remain composed as I waved my right hand gently towards the crowd. The moment I stepped foot forward to connect with them a little bit, their cheers and claps went louder and livelier.

Feeling guilty of all the praises and cheers from our people, I decided to walk straight to the empty chair beside where my mother was seated.

“Your Majesty…” I bowed down to show my respect to both my parents. In return, they gave a pair of cold looks which eyed me from my head to toe. When I realized that I’ve stepped on both their capes, I gasp in embarrassment.

“So, how’s your lesson going?” My mother whispered while her head remained focus straight to the crowd. All the Royal Houses’ representatives started lining up to be recognized before they showcase their skills and here I am, having difficulty answering such a simple question.

“I-it’s pretty good, mother. I’ve been learning everything.” I lied.

“Is that so? Tell me then, who is the fourth king of House Diamond?” She raised, sending my blood to rush up my head. How would I know that person? I’m not studying at all.

“K-King Philjohn Dia—“

“Grey Diamond II.” She interrupted me midway my wrong answer for obvious reasons. She sighed. Of course, I disappointed her again and there’s no way I could speak again after what she just said.

“I heard that you sneak out last night.” She followed and this time, I almost choked on my own saliva. I lost the composure of my tensed body as I turned all the way to her direction while she maintains her dignified posture.

“H-how did y—“ I said like a fool before she cut my sentence again.

“Listen to me, Akisha. I know that you are in the phase of rebelling against your duties and obligations. But you have to remember that you are a royal enchanter and a lot of responsibilities are imposed to your existence even before you were born. Someday, you will lead the House Diamond with your own strength. Have you no shame of how little you’ve come? If you could balance the joy of your youth and the weight of your surname, that is the only time you are allowed to have fun.” She uttered monotonously without looking at me. She managed to stab my heart with words without feeling an ounce of guilt from it.

I was left to feel empty after her words entered my ear. However, she stood up and faced the crowd once again with the most genuine smile like nothing happened between us. Sometimes, I wonder if she really is my mother.

“I made Randall’s wounds disappear with my m-magic.” I whispered in disappointment, imagining that I am still talking to her. After a few more minutes of announcing and recognizing the different Houses. The annual friendly battle finally began. In the battle, two representatives of each House would fight the other House randomly. The winning team would fight the other winning team until there are only two left for the final round.

The last one standing would be hailed as the year’s second strongest House and would be compensated with a lot of gems. Of course, whoever will be the winner would still be considered a level below the House Diamond…because that is how things are in our Kingdom.

It sucks.

“Round 1, House Sapphire versus House Amethyst.” The royal spokesperson announced. Mumbles and whispers filled the whole arena afterwards. Everyone is on the edge of their seat in excitement as Prince Raymond and Prince Vayne from House Sapphire, home of the earth-fire powers, faced head on Prince Vincent and Princess Emma from House Amethyst, home of the wind-fire powers.

“Woah…” I muttered in amusement. From my seat, I can sense how intense their powers are. It looks like they really prepared for the Royal Show-Off. Starting from their gears and weapons to their overall aura, everyone who would look at them would not mistake them from any other regular enchanters.

Everyone else in the crowd started placing their bets on either sides.

 Shortly after they saluted to the king and queen, it was Prince Vincent who attacked first. He emitted a tornado-figure manifestation of his powers that almost make his enemies flew away. When House Sapphire was struggling to make offenses, he stretched out his left hand to spark a little amount of wind that fuelled Princess Emma’s fire powers.

Cheers of excitement among the crowd intensified when Princess Emma materialized a bird figure out of fire and attacked the enemy with intense amount of fire. But this time, the other side was quick to defend. Prince Raymond summoned the rocks on the arena’s ground and materialized it to a solid shield that hid him and Prince’s Raymond for a while. While the House Amethyst continued to attack, the 2 princes moved forward while having the solid shield to protect them. When they were close enough to House Amethyst’s representatives, Prince Vayne released fireballs that made the House Amethyst fall.

“House Sapphire won!” The royal spokesperson declared 3 seconds after Princess Emma and Prince Vincent did not get back up their feet.

“T-that was intense…how about the fallen enchanters?” I hurriedly asked the king and queen after I witnessed how forceful the attacks have landed to the both of them.

“They will be rushed to the infirmary.” My father uttered in an emotionless face as if he had seen worse than this.

If I could develop that light powers maybe I could help them recover quickly.

The rest of the Houses were given a chance to showcase their powers and reveal with the other remaining Houses just as planned. In the end, House Emerald, which holds the wind-water powers lost to House Garnet, which manipulates the earth-wind powers. A swift blow was all it took for the House Alexandrite’s fire-water powers to defeat the House Peridot’s earth-water powers. In the end, the battle took place between the House Sapphire, House Garnet, and House Alexandrite with House Alexandrite winning the title.

“Let’s give a round of applause for Prince Alleoh and Princess Shanne Alexandrite! House Alexandrite is this year’s central Royal House!” The spokesperson announced with joy as she lifted both the royalties’ hands and celebrated with the crowd.

I joined their celebration by clapping my hands humbly and watching my parents take steps forward to award them with gems and badges. I bet the winning team feel nothing but pride.  I wish I could also wish my magical powers strongly like them.

After the awarding ceremony, each House presented their achievements for this year. It turns out that House Sapphire was the one who made bridges from realms to realms and House Amethyst made the enchanters’ catches bountiful this year. On the other hand, House Garnet focused on strengthening our land’s agriculture while House Emerald proposed an underwater prison for criminals. Lastly, House Peridot contributed in building new libraries as House Alexandrite helped in preventing calamities.

“Wow…so they’ve been doing all of these for the whole year!” I exclaimed at how unbelievable they were. They were presenting their achievements in hologram-like forms through their spatial magic and I can’t help but freeze in awe.

“Before we conclude this day’s event, let us hear from House Diamond’s achievement this year.” The spokesperson broke my focus by announcing that we are to present achievements too.

I thought we were always exempted?

I sat in silence, clueless of what’s about to happen. If earlier, the crowd is always cheering on the achievement presentations of other Houses, this time…they were dead silent. It’s as if they were witnessing something new for the first time.

The king, aka, my father proceeded to walk at the center of the stage with the clanking of his boots the only audible sound from everywhere.

“Ehem…” He cleared his throat before taking a deep breath.

“Proud citizens of Stoneheart Kingdom, it is an honor to present our House’s greatest achievement this year…” He followed and everyone started whispering at each other.

“What’s going on?”  I thought, but I held myself back from speaking aloud.

“In the name of the House Diamond’s first royalties, we now announce to each enchanters of this Kingdom that Princess Akisha Diamond is the chosen one to be our country’s next queen.”  He declared proudly, leaving me hammered down my seat.