She doesn't love me.
That simple phrase haunted Keith the rest of the afternoon.
He was furious. Depressed.
Why didn't she just tell him she didn't feel the same? Instead she got engaged not even two minutes after he confessed his feelings.
It broke his heart. It didn't sound like Azalea at all.
But Keith was going to move forward.
He was strong.
He didn't need her.
He was at the edge of the marketplace.
A burly blonde guard stopped him.
"Where's your invitation?", the guard asked.
Keith was puzzled.
"Invitation?"
"Commander Brenan delivered invitations. No invitations, no entrance."
Keith growled under his breath and turned his back on the guard as he walked away.
Brenan personally denied me an invitation.
Don't worry I'm not stealing your fiance anytime soon, he thought bitterly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lance saw Keith storm off towards the lake.
Poor guy.
He's still in shock.
We all are.
He threw Piflin into a tree. The little Prince wore a bloodstone around his neck to get past the barrier, but getting past the guards was another story.
Lance casually strolled by the guards, flashing his invitation.
"What's up, home slice?"
The guard ignored him.
Lance breathed a sigh of relief and ran to catch Piflin as the boy fell out of the tree.
"Mission accomplished ", Lance laughed with Piflin.
He held the little boy's hand as they walked around the beautiful marketplace. The buildings were all made of a smooth sky blue marble, selling all sorts of knick-nacks and food at each one.
Every time a guard walked past, Lance would hide Piflin behind him.
They were having the best time together, as if they were brothers.
The music was exotic-sounding, and Lance laughed when Piflin squealed on Lance's shoulders as they spun around.
"Hey Lancy!"
Lance stopped and grinned at Azalea.
"Hey flower!"
He whistled at her dress.
"Looking good!"
She chuckled, "Thanks! Hey, have you seen Boots? I really need to talk to him, but I can't find him anywhere."
An idea popped into Lance's head.
"Yeah!", he said finally, "Mullet's down by the lake."
Azalea hugged Lance, then Piflin.
"Thanks Lancy!", she said.
She disappeared into the crowd.
"But isn't Keith upset at Azalea?", Piflin wondered.
"Pfft. He's been ticked at her before. They just need to talk things out."
They just need to work things out.
Things will work out.
Right?