Demian woke up and it was already long past lunch. He looked out of the windows and saw the orange gold stretched far and wide, the colour of fire hearths and tangerines brushing the sky. He felt so exhausted that he had no recollection of time. As he looked beside, the bed was empty and cold. Seraphina wasn't there. He remembered she had gone with Alonzo. Hadn't they arrived yet?
There was a knock followed by a muffled voice with a hint of restlessness, "Your Highness?" It was Alonzo, no doubt, as he knocked some more calling him. He didn't know when he had been knocking.
"Come in," Demian said with a hoarse voice that hinted he just woke up.
The door jolted open as Alonzo entered, his face was carved with worry and his steps were long.
"What is it, Alonzo?"
"Your Highnes, you haven't eaten since breakfast! I came here with the maids but you and Princess Seraphina didn't answer." Alonzo added as his moustache flapped accusingly, "I came back again but you didn't answer! I was worried that something might have happened!"
"No. I was just tired." Demian asked, "Where is Seraphina?"
Alonzo looked at him for a moment as Demian raised a brow questioningly and Alonoz's eyes went large.
"Y—Your Highness!" Trouble carved on his face, "I don't know where she is. I thought she was with you."
"But I sent her to take you while going to buy her gown." And then Demian remembered he had asked Mrs Heartstone to take care of her for the evening banquet.
"Where could she have gone?" Alonzo asked, panicking as he paced around the room.
"Alonzo, go look for her in Lady Cathride's chamber. She could be there," Demian suggested but he was worried that it was Seraphina after all. She could just snuck out of the palace to go on her own and from her pout, it was hinted she wanted to go alone.
Alonzo nodded and dashed there. His heart had been in his mouth and again, bad thoughts accumulated in his head. He took the stairs and went to Lady Cathride's chamber. With long strides, he reached near the wooden door in a few moments.
He coughed as would it be good to trouble the Lady now as she might be preparing for the Banquet.
He was about to knock when Lady Cathride opened the door and Alonzo froze. "Err... Lady Cathride, pardon me for interrupting, but have you seen—"
"Princess Seraphina?" Cathride finished the sentence and opened the door widely as Alonoz's eyes followed behind her where Princess Seraphina stood.
He gasped. Tears poured down of his eyes as his moustache waved blissfully in the air when his eyes witnessed the Princess in her new attire. He sniffed and Lady Cathride seemed to have prepared a set of handkerchief in her hands as she stretched out to give him one.
"Alonzo!" Seraphina exclaimed, "come in!"
"No! Your Highness!" He wiped his nose and gave it back to Lady Cathride who took it by two sticks—she seemed well prepared.
"Please take your time as I go back to Prince Demian," Alonzo added, wiping his tears with another handkerchief that Lady Cathride provided him from beside. He gave it back and the Lady took it with the sticks. Her face had a proud grin and Alonzo's reaction was the best that she had gotten as a prize.
"How do you think Princess Seraphina is looking?" She asked as her nose grew in length.
"Beautiful! I shall carve this memory in my mind forever and die peacefully." Alonzo cried more as Cathride gave him another handkerchief while her smile grew wide and a layer of miasma sipped out of her. She mumbled, "Now, there is one other person who is going to be speechless," and her grin turned wicked as Alonzo looked at her questioningly.
Alonzo realised whom she was referring to and instantly as if Lady Cathride's aura devoured him, his smile—which was hidden under his thick moustache — turned wicked as well.
And poor Seraphina, who was still clueless at what the duo was planning, blinked at them as they gave off some unsettling feelings. "Err... Are you alright? You both are scaring me."
*****
A few maids had come and prepared Prince Demian as he waited patiently for Alonzo. He had gone a while ago and hadn't returned. What was happening? Everyone was going and no one was coming back. What was holding them?
"Your Highness..." Just as he was thinking of Alonzo, the steward called and he said, "Come in."
As Alonzo entered, Demian noticed his moustache swaying in the air merrily. Of course, he couldn't see his smile however, it was apparent, he was smiling.
"What made you so happy?" Demian asked, "Have you found her?"
"Yes. She is with Lady Cathride."
Demian nodded and ordered, "then call her here. The time has come and we shall arrive at the banquet in time."
"There is no need for you to be so agitated, your Highnes, Lady Cathride will personally take her there. She asked if you could wait outside of the hall." Somehow the wicked vibe of Alonzo could be visible from his posture as Demian found something was suspicious.
Demian looked at him for a moment and nodded, "Alright. I will wait then."
Seraphina had never taken that long to dress up but now it seemed she needed time. Women!
He was almost finished donning his dark coloured coat and trousers as a golden brooch was placed above the left side of his chest which had a dragon carved on it, speaking of his origin and power. A half cloak decorated in golden embroideries hung on the right side of his shoulder. He was ready and this banquet would be his opportunity to disclose his plans.
Demian glanced at his suspicious steward who was watching him in adoration and he cringed his nose. "Alonzo, let's go."
"Yes, your Highness!"
Both of them reached at the entrance door and noticed Casian and his attendant, Allison, were coming as well. Casian had worn a silver coat and vest and trousers that complimented his eyes. His long cloak flapped against his knees. As soon as Alonzo's eyes fell on him, he hissed, "What the devil he is doing here at this crucial moment!"
Demian raised a brow suspiciously, "Of course, he is also invited and what crucial moment?"
Alonzo gave him a nervous smile as his moustache flipped suspiciously. What was the matter with the old steward?
"It's nothing, Your Highness," he looked at the arriving guests with a distasteful gaze.
"Don't let them find out that we know of their vile scheme," Demian ordered as a smirk formed on his lips, "Because there is nothing better than to witness them failing miserably."
Alonzo looked at his master with an awe gaze as he nodded and his distasteful gaze was replaced with a happy gaze.
"Prince Demian," Casian bowed as he said, "Why don't we have a glass of wine for our plan to work out?"
"And what plan are you talking of?" Demian said, maintaining his emotionless face.
Casian chuckled, "Dear cousin, you are too naive if you think that I don't have a clue of your announcement today."
"Isn't that obvious?"
Casian nodded, "Indeed. To think that Lord Heartstone would be so wrapped up in his own game makes it very interesting."
Demian didn't display any kind of emotions instead he diverted his attention, however, Casian added, "Come to think of it, where is Princess Seraphina? Wouldn't she be attending this banquet?"
Alonzo's moustache twitched angrily and Demian said, "It takes time to prepare."
"Hmm... The Princess seems to be adapting to royalty pretty fast, I see."
Demian didn't say as it's better to ignore his murky comments but Alonzo, on the other hand, was getting impatient as his eyes occasionally glanced at the passageways.
Demian had been observing for a quite while that the steward was restless.
And as soon as Alonzo saw a movement at the passageway he instantly intercepted them, "Lord Casian, why don't I take you to their finest wine collection? I saw Lord Heartstone has many."
Casian looked at him with a boring look and said, "That, Allison can take for me, Alonzo. I'm not really into wine."
Alonzo gritted his teeth as his moustache twitched some more but he still managed his smile from under his thick moustache. Damn that man! Trying to put his nose again between his Highnesses.
"Err..." Alonzo tried to come up with an excuse as soon as possible and he said what no one would have expected the bachelor steward to say. "Why don't I introduce you to some of the best women from this place?"
Both Casian and Allison were awestruck by the statement and beside them, Demian's jaw laid on the ground. He had never seen or heard Alonzo talking about women. He was too shy even to look at them eye to eye and here he was... Something was definitely suspicious!
"Err... I can very well find myself...a woman," Casian said feeling a bit awkward even though he had always handled any kind of situation coolly, it was Alonzo. He had never expected it.
"I think I should just go and join them," Casian said, taking it as an opportunity to escape from Alonzo's barbaric behavior.
As they exited, Alonzo's chest puffed with pride. After all, he had learnt it from Princess Seraphina!
"Wh—what happened to you? Are you certain you are Alonzo?" Demian asked as the steward wasn't even flushed after his blunt statement.
"Yes," he smiled and added, "Your Highness, I think, I should join them as well." And he left hastily leaving behind Demian in rounded up with questions and confusions.
"Honestly, what the devil has happened to him?" He mumbled in himself and turned to the passageway as he said, "and why Seraphina is taking that lo—"
He got stunned as once again, his jaw found a good spot on the ground as he saw Seraphina was coming at his way with small steps in a deep blue gown. The long gown was puffed like a flower from her waist making her seem like a goddess of beauty. It was off shoulder where her slender shoulders were visible and a necklace hung from her neck. Her curly hair cascaded down behind her back while a fish braid decked her front part. She was looking captivating and Demian found himself speechless.
He met with Seraphina's eyes and as she noticed him looking at her, she blushed and diverted her gaze. Demian himself could not stop himself from showing colours on his cheeks however, he managed to move his eyes from her and noticed there was someone behind her, peeking at them with a wicked grin. A dark atmosphere had surrounded the entity and somehow she resembled Lady Cathride.
Well, he wasn't sure but he felt another one like the dark entity was peeking at them from his behind. He tilted his head back and found the other individual resembled Alonzo. His brows twitched. That's why the steward was acting strange. He shook his head and looked at Sera who was standing before him, her eyes stayed low.
"You took your time."
"I didn't!" Sera exclaimed still wasn't looking at him, "Lady Cathride did. She prepared me and then she dressed herself up."
Demian nodded curtly but it was hard to ignore his beating heart that flipped inside of his chest. He had seen her in a wedding gown and that day, she was looking beautiful too that for a moment, he was captivated by it. Then he remembered their kiss. It was done hastily but he couldn't just forget it.
He glanced at Seraphina and saw she was fiddling with her gown while her cheeks glowed red. Both of them stayed like that, unable to start a conversation. Was it that hard to start a conversation with her? He had never given it a thought but it was never a problem with him to start talking with her. It was Seraphina, after all.
But today, there was an awkwardness dominating them and Demian composed himself as he coughed to regain his posture.
"So, shall we?" He stretched his right hand out to her as Seraphina nodded in a shy way and it intensified the attraction he had been feeling.
She put her left hand on his stretched out hand and they both turned toward the entrance as they started walking toward it.