Soleil’s POV

  On my way to the palace’s library, a guy who introduced himself as Prince Uji descendent smoothly up from the chandelier to the same ground and it scared for a moment. But yeah, people here aren’t normal so I think he has super powers to glide down without getting hurt. 

  After claiming that he is Alipia’s cupid, he blocked my way expressing slightest curve at the mouth’s corner and a youthful confidence worn in a light rise of the eyebrow above a joyful eye.

  ‘Cupid huh. Isn’t that the angel image I always saw on Valentine’s card? Not that I received a love letter that much. The first time a boy gave me one was when I was in grade 4.’

  Anyway, Prince Uji has facial features as innocent as white rabbit, a perfect baby-face. His eyes are rounded as marble and they are stunning in blue green like the clear sky today. His nose isn’t that pointed but it’s cute, as well as his thin rose pink lips. He has face that might be smaller than me and damn, I’m getting jealous over his no pores skin.

  ‘Are there skincare products in this land? I wonder where I can buy it.’

  The prince is wearing a smile as we exchanged stares at each other. He is standing few meters away but I could tell that his height is something below 180cm. ‘I see. Cute people tend to have cute height too.’

“Where are your destination, princess?” he asked me in a way he sounds like he doesn’t curious at my answer at all.

  So I found myself gawking at him without a word. To be honest, I am sorting out my thoughts on how I will respond except saying; ‘Please go away.’

  “I asked you where are you going, you didn’t hear it?” Prince Uji repeated his question out of annoyance. Listening to his apathetic question for the second time though felt like getting slapped in the face. 

  So I loosened my strained face and carefully detached my lips. “I am going to the library Prince Uji.”

  This time, it was him who stayed silent. He stopped our conversation in somewhat weird point. The hush emitted frigid atmosphere, like the silence became a poison. It seeped into my blood and paralyzed my brain to think for the next word.

Awkwardness was, however, simply solved by him. “I can’t read your mind,” he murmured that pierced the stillness around.

  ‘Those lines are something I had heard before. Déjà vu.’

“I see that something is special about you,” he said in dry and flat voice. He displayed a look of curiosity for the first time and then opened his mouth for another words, “I’ll experiment a little bit more.”

  Wondering what kind of experiment he was saying, a bow and an arrow appeared behind his back. I was sure there aren’t there before, but for it to suddenly make an appearance have really surprised me. It does give a sense of justice on his so –called ‘cupid power’, but… what was that for? I mean, where will he use it? To me?

  “My power is too create love,” he murmured under his sweet husky voice. He got both the arrow and bow then lined his body perpendicular to me. Standing upright as he placed his feet shoulder-width apart, the prince pointed his bow down and attached an arrow to the silver string. “If I hit you…” he said after using his 3 fingers to lightly hold the arrow on the string and aimed me as his target.

  ‘What the hell! He’s going to shoot me!’

  I freeze on my spot, widening my eyes when he slowly pulled the bow’s drawstring back toward his face.

  ‘Is he really going to kill me?!’

  I closed my eyes, preparing for the impact after he released the arrow from his hand.

  No pain. I feel no pain at all. I opened my eyes and found the arrow stuck on my left chest.  Then it suddenly disappeared like thin bubbles.

  When I looked back to him, I saw his mischievous smile buzzing me to the point I’ll kill him if it’s possible.

  ‘This guy is playing with me.’

  Once again, he placed an arrow to his bow’s string. Stretching his arm for the second time, he aimed a target away from me. I believed it is for the person behind. ‘Who?’

  “And if I shoot that palace guard from afar…” He said while aiming with one opened eye.

  ‘Palace guard?!’

  I looked back and saw a palace guard from a good distance.

  ‘Don’t tell me…! He is trying to make me and a random palace guard a couple?!’

  “Wait!” I gasped, but too late to complain because he already released the arrow. It was too fast I barely saw it speeding pass by me. I tilted my head in wonder and in hope that he missed.

  Someone is blocking my sight towards the palace guard.

  There is a man behind me,  a guy with round one lid pinkish eyes, very pointed nose, sharp jaws and thick straight brows. His shoulder is broad and he is wearing a knight armor which makes him looks more masculine.

  “Prince Uji, why did you shoot me? You know it won’t work,” the man, or should I say, another Prince appeared.

  “You came at the wrong time, Prince Dk. I was aiming at the palace guard behind you,” Prince Uji complained then I noticed that his bow and arrow have disappeared.

  Walking closer, that Prince Dk uttered, “What? Were you trying to make our princess fall in love with our guard?” He paused to look at me and to greet, “Hi Princess!” A smile form, I’m sure it’s legit out of respect, and then he pulled it back when he diverted his eyes to Prince Uji.

  It feels more intense standing between two Princes.

  “Why are you here?” Prince Uji asked.

  “I was looking for Princess Soleil. Mingyu told me she’s righ-”

  Along with Prince Dk’s sudden stop was loud thunder cracking up the sky. It seemed to crack the air as if the very heavens might split apart. The strong wind blew through the opened window with a powerful passion, scattering anything around like they are leaves of fall: chandelier is shaking, same with the curtains with gold tunic, my hair, this princess dress of mine as well as its petticoat.

  ‘I’m sure it was a sunny day! What’s wrong with the weather?!’

  “Please control your emotion, my dear brother. Stop messing with the weather,” Prince Uji said in nonchalant tone.

  ‘Weather? Does it mean that Prince Dk can control the weather? That’s crazy!’

  “I’m s-sorry,” Prince Dk stuttered. Though not looking back at him, I can feel a pierce gaze on my neck. “When I felt the princess presence my heart suddenly beats so fast.”

  “There’s thunder when you feel mad though,” Prince Uji shared.  “Are you mad to our princess?” he added with a smirk.

  I slowly turned around and saw Prince Dk is staring intently at me just like I thought he would.

  “No I’m not,” Prince Dk declined to the devil’s whisper.

  “If you aren’t comfortable with me,” I fetched a sigh. “Then I’ll rather go aw-”

  “I think I like you.”

  The thunder stopped as well as the strong wind after his remark. Sun peeked from the clouds and the weather is all good.

  The cycle of those Princes saying they took an interest on I, repeated again. But differ from my reaction before, I guessed it was all because of my identity as Deces which I would search for information at the library.

   Despite of my unmoving lips, Prince Dk said in somewhat cheerful tone, “Your cupid works! Prince Uji! Your cupid works on me!” he shouted while holding his chest.

On the other side, I heard Prince Uji whispering, “IDIOT.”

To be continued…
……