AZALEA

I heaved a breath and pleasantly smiled at the guests.

I finally cleared my throat and uttered the words to grab everyone's attention which was focused on the Crown Prince's arrival. I knew they wanted to pay their respect and greetings to Prince Dion but I could no longer delay the event.

It was also peculiar that Lady Candice and Lady Jaera had chosen the same time today for their own events. Was this just a coincidence? I wondered if these two had spies on my servants or maybe some noble ladies just mentioned the contents of my invitation.

I heard Lady Candice will auction some precious gems from their family's mines while Lady Jaera decided to sell some antique and unique jewelries she managed to buy from a merchant who was brave enough to go to other kingdoms to trade goods. Of course, that merchant hid the fact that his heart was not normal—that his heart was made of glass.

Lady Candice and Lady Jaera targeted the noble ladies and jewelers as their main guests. I heard Lady Shirdine will have an art gallery tomorrow. She was into painting. She had enough artworks to showcase since she started painting when she was still a child.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to my fashion auction. I would like to acknowledge the benevolent presence of our Crown Prince, Prince Dion Harrison. . . the first Princess, Princess Avi, and Duke Ross for coming here and joining us today."

An applause emerged from the crowd. The three people I mentioned nodded at me and stood from their seats and greeted the crowd with a little wave before sitting down.

I continued. "And thank you to the noble families and businesswomen and businessmen who accepted my invitation. I am beyond grateful that you made time to clear your schedule for this event. Today, I prepared some dresses and suits and designs for auction. All the proceeds will be donated to Blue Hope Charity."

Everyone applauded. Two servants moved a mannequin—covered by long white cloth—in the middle of the stage. Some servants also distributed the bidding numbers for each guest to be raised when they wanted to bid for an item .

"This is the first item for auction, this dress is made of thick fabric with furs as laces, specifically made for winter." I gestured to the servants to reveal the dress. The dress was white as snow. It was a long gown but not the typical layered dress but something that would reveal someone's sexy curves. It was sleeveless but with a special thick and white coat that served like a shawl to be wrapped around the exposed arms.

"For this special winter dress, the starting bidding price is ten thousand silver coins. We can actually adjust the size if there will be a problem with the fit," I said with a smile.

Someone raised his number.

"15 thousand. . ."

"20 thousand. . ."

"21 thousand. . ."

"25 thousand. . ."

The bid continued to rise until Princess Avi finally spoke. "45 thousand silver coins. . ."

Of course, everyone was speechless. Who was insane enough to fight with a princess for a dress?

But someone raised his number—13. It was Prince Dion. "50 thousand silver coins."

Princess Avi pouted. "Are you giving that to me?"

"No," Prince Dion grinned.

Princess Avi's gaze sharpened, unhappy. Maybe she was the stubborn type. She wanted to get the things she already set her mind upon.

"55!"

"60!" Prince Dion still raised the price. I wondered what he was up to.

"70!" Princess Avi continued without planning to back down.

Prince Dion smiled a little. "You can have it."

"You intentionally raised the price? But you didn't plan to really buy that dress, right?" Princess Avi asked with an accusing gaze.

Prince Dion innocently smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "I just changed my mind."

"Going once. . . Going twice? Sold!" I announced. Was he helping me or what?

The bidding of the dresses and designs continued. Prince Dion was always messing around his sister whenever she would bid for a dress and a design. Because he messed with her too much, she outwitted him to buy a dress. Prince Dion just chuckled and accepted it.

"For the designs, you have all the rights to reproduce them." I prepared some designs for winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons. It was actually a productive day and most of the dresses and designs were sold at a higher price. Even Duke Ross and my brother, Forrest, bidded for a suit.

Most businessmen and businesswomen successfully bidded for the designs and they were all excited to display the sewn dresses in their shops.

"Thank you everyone. We will give the items once the payment is made. Please pay here on the backstage. I will be leaving this stage now. Please enjoy the food and the wine and the rest of the day," I said with a smile.

After the bidding event, the guest started to socialize. Some of the guests went backstage to pay and receive their bidded items.

Prince Dion approached me "Congratulations on the success of this event." I nodded a paper bag in his hand. Probably the dress he bidded on.

I bit my lower lip. "Thank you. You helped me out there, Your Royal Highness." He really helped me raise the dress in an unexpected way.

"Nah, I'm just messing around with my sister," he grinned.

Princess Avi and Duke Ross approached us when they completed the payment backstage. Their items were already handed to their servants.

"Hey! Don't tell me you really fell for Lady Azalea? Are you both in a relationship?" Princess Avi suddenly asked without bothering to pay her greetings first. "You intentionally raised the prices to help her, right?" Princess Avi's blue eyes were accusing. Her ash blue long silky hair was clipped on the side but she let it down. She was also wearing a stunning white and gold turtleneck dress.

I blushed at her sudden accusation.

"As if you don't love Duke Ross," Prince Dion teased back with a knowing grin. I was flabbergasted by their shameless banters. As if teasing each other related to love was just a normal topic.

Princess Avi's face suddenly heated up. "You! Don't say such things! What if our mother heard that? Or some other people?" She suddenly lowered her voice into a whisper, scolding his older brother.

Prince Dion chuckled. "Then don't accuse me without proof."

Princess Avi bit down her bottom lip. She immediately turned to Duke Ross. "Don't believe my brother. He was just getting back on me," she explained, a little embarrassed.

Duke Ross smiled a bit. "I know."

"Anyway, how about tea at my palace?" Princess Avi asked with a smile. She was different from the cold queen. She was a little cheerful when she was not being formal.

Duke Ross nodded. "Okay." Duke Ross turned to us. "Congratulations, Lady Azalea. We will be going ahead first."

I nodded and smiled. "Thank you for your time, Your Royal Highness. . . Your Grace."

They turned to their heels to walk out of the function hall. The crowd was slowly dispersing. I was left with Prince Dion and my mother, father and brother approached me.

"Congratulations Azalea!" My mother gleefully said with a wide smile. "The designs you made are all great and gorgeous. I'm so proud of your achievements!" She was so vocal about her feelings that it was a bit awkward. She even held both my hands and squeezed it a little. "It's been a while since I last saw you. Are you eating properly? Are you sleeping well? Send some letters to keep me updated."

"Okay. I will send letters," I said with a small smile.

My father cleared his throat to subtly reprimand his wife due to her inappropriate behavior in public. My mother frowned and stepped back from me. My brother's face remained blank but he slightly nodded at me when my gaze landed on him. It seemed my family was doing well without me. I wondered if they also missed me.

My family paid their respect to Prince Dion but he immediately dismissed the formality.

"We will head home now, Azalea. Take care of yourself while you're staying at the palace," my father formally said without a slightest expression from his face. "You don't have to see us out."

I nodded. "I understand. Thank you and take care on your way back home, Father."

My mother gave me one last squeeze on my hand and smiled a little. "Take care," she whispered.

They left us and the servants were already cleaning the chairs and tables. We were the only one left.

"I will accompany you back to the Ruby Palace," Prince Dion offered.

"You won't visit the other ladies?" My brows furrowed.

"I already greeted them before heading here," he answered with a shrug.

"The queen won't be happy about this," I said.

"I spent most of my available time with them these past days. I almost didn't manage to see you. Well. . . I know you're busy with the preparations so I didn't dare distract you. I've been behaving myself, you see."

I sighed. "Alright. I'm already tired. I want to rest. My feet already hurt."

Prince Dion nodded with a small smile. "Good job today. You did well."

I gave some final instructions to Yumi before heading out.

When we left the main palace, it was already dark and chilly outside. The wind was already cold and I was certain anytime soon, snow would finally fall. Prince Dion covered my shoulder with his thick coat.

I smiled a little. "Thank you."

"By the way, keep this dress as a gift," he said and lifted the paper bag on his hand for me to see.

"Why don't you just give it to some other girls?"

"They will misunderstand."

"Ah I see. . . I'm different from them?"

"No. It's okay if you misunderstand."

My head suddenly whipped in his direction. My eyes wide. "What?"

He chuckled. "Nothing. Anyway, let's meet in the library from now on. Since the third trial is already on going, I don't think the fourth trial will be announced soon. Let's find a way to break this curse."

We stopped in front of the Ruby Palace's entrance. I turned to face him. I looked up on him with a curious gaze.

"You really wished to be normal?"

"Not really. I already feel normal when I'm around you."

My heart abnormally pounded on my chest. I hated the softness of his blue eyes. My stare lingered on his face wondering what he meant by that. Because it sounded like some kind of a cheesy pick-up line. I was also wondering if he meant every word he was saying.

I was startled when something cold fell upon my face. When I looked up it was already snowing. It was the start of the cold winter and I suddenly felt like I had to be cautious. I should remind myself not to find warmth and comfort from somelike like the Crown Prince.

He handed the paper bag to me. "Go on inside. You'll catch a cold if you stay here."

I nodded and accepted the dress without uttering a single word. I turned to my heels and walked straight inside the Ruby Palace without a proper goodbye—with my heart clenching tightly inside my chest.

~~~

Winter seemed long. We continued with some of our classes. And Prince Dion was spending more time with the candidates. He would also visit me sometimes in the dead garden but he was following the queen's order to spend more time with the other candidates. Sometimes, we were also having tea in the drawing room. We do it seldomly when we only want to relax and breathe.

It was not that I was annoyed but I felt somewhat strange about this setup.

Today, I spent my time in the library with Prince Dion to research about the witch.

Prince Dion browsed through the shelves while I stood a meter away from him. We were in the history books section. He grabbed a book and opened it.

"Before we carefully hired some trustworthy Sorcieres, Warlocks and Mages to possibly break the curse or ask for their advice but magic was useless. We still haven't found a way to fix our glass hearts. So I think doing some research about the curse will help us," Dion said.

"I couldn't find any escape clause from the curse that could set us free," he added with furrowed brows. He was staring at the book in his hand.

He read what was written on it. "I placed a curse upon this kingdom. . . For all the citizens. . . And for all generations to come. . . Your days be filled with indifference and strife. . . Your heart will become the window of your feebleness. . . Fragile like glass. . . Easily crushed and destroyed by a broken love. . . I now bind this curse to start. . . With my death, the curse is done."

"She said it as if she didn't want anyone to escape the curse," he carefully mulled over the written words.

"What about 'With my death, the curse is done'? It sounded vague," I said with a knotted forehead.

"But she's already dead."

"But what if she's not entirely dead?" I asked, sounding a little ridiculous. Well, I randomly asked this question to help him think a little deeper.

"She was burned to ashes," he said. "How can she still escape that? Unless, she's alive somewhere. But a hundred years have already passed." He was babbling in confusion as if he was racking his brain to find the correct answer to my question.

I shrugged. I randomly touched a book and opened it. But something overtook me. I froze in my position and oddly, I suddenly saw new images of the king—King Steve—and that palace maid—Celeste.

"Can you read?" King Steve asked. He turned to her with a smile before his gaze returned to the books sitting on the shelves.

Celeste nodded hesitantly. She was a spoil of war but she came from a noble family. She wasn't illiterate. She loved reading too. She wanted to read but as a lowly palace maid, she didn't even have the right to touch a book.

The library was grandiose with bookshelves already reaching the ceilings. Some movable stairs could be seen around. The library was gigantic and they were the only ones here. It was awkward.

She had no idea why the king summoned her to the library. She was still embarrassed for not knowing the face of the king of this kingdom from their last meeting. She stood in the distance, as he browsed through the title of the books, leisurely scanning the vintage book spines and glittering gold letterings.

She even accepted a rose from him which made her more ashamed. He was still too young to be a king that was why she never suspected him to be one.

"Do you want to read some books? Please do as you please. You can sit on the empty chairs. It will take a while for me to finish my research," King Steve generously offered.

She blushed and shook her head. She didn't want to cross the line. She was curious why she was here with him but she was afraid to speak. One wrong word and she would be dead. She was actually secretly trembling on her feet with just the thought of it.

"You can speak freely. Don't be afraid. I will not hurt you. Please be at ease and be comfortable with me," he said with a reassuring smile. "Are you surprised? That I'm the king?"

She bit her bottom lip but she decided to finally speak up. "It is surprising, Y-Your Majesty. I'm sorry for my rudeness the other day," she answered, stammering a little.

He chuckled. "You did nothing wrong. I gave you a rose on my own volition—on my own accord. You won't be punished for that. Don't think too much."

Her face heated up. "Thank you for your benevolence, Your Majesty."

"So where did you come from? Why did you end up here?"

She gulped. She wasn't certain if she should answer the question but she couldn't ignore a king. "From the Kingdom of Elodia. A war broke in my kingdom. We lost and we were sold—forced to move here as slaves."

The King's back turned stiff but he turned to her with an apologetic gaze. "I'm sorry to hear that, Celeste. I can't heal your bruises and scars. I can't mend your brokenness. As a King... I really don't know what to say. It was tragic. I will look into this—the illegal trade of slaves."

So he didn't know anything about this? The selling of slaves in the market? In his own kingdom?

She just nodded. She was sure he was acting like this out of pity but it was a little awkward for her.

"It's alright, Your Majesty. That's just life. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. We can't escape the damage."

All we can do is survive, she thought. She stared at the books lying in wait on the shelves. She extended a hand and gently touched its spine. Nostalgia and regret hitting her senses—a little cruel.

I was stunned when a warm hand grabbed the book in my hand. Prince Dion was already standing next to me. A worried gaze registered on his face. He pulled me back to reality.

"What's up?" he asked with curiosity. Removing the book from my hand. "You suddenly turned stiff—unmoving—frozen. As if you're stuck in another dimension. Are you not feeling well?"

He also checked the temperature of my forehead.

I was still in a daze but I shook my head. What was happening to me? I had been seeing some strange images in my head. As if someone's memories were implanted in me. I sighed. "It's nothing. Don't mind me. Have you found something interesting?"

Prince Dion shook his head. "Not much. Not that helpful."

I walked away from him, walking to the next section as I scanned the shelves. My mind was still a little hazy. I needed a walk to clear my head. I suddenly saw books about reincarnation and soul fragments. These caught my eyes because I felt like some of my questions would be answered through it. But I didn't have much time. The break time was already over. I must return to class.

I heaved a deep breath. I would make sure to research about this next time. I clenched my fists and walked back to Prince Dion. "I'll be going now. I still had a class to attend to," I said.

"Alright. But are you really fine?" He asked, a little worried. His blue eyes were the same with the eyes of King Steve. They had the same light.

I nodded. "I'm alright. You don't have to worry, Your Royal Highness." I absentmindedly walked out of the library and headed to my next class.

A series of questions suddenly infiltrated my head.

What if I am really connected to the witch? What if a fragment of her soul is inside of me? Or what if we are actually one?

With my death, the curse is done.

And if I'm really connected to her, what if I have to die to end this curse?

Am I prepared to do that? To sacrifice myself?

***