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Chapter 2 - Zaiteril Town

Henriethasia is in her bedroom preparing for the outing she's excited about. Robert is just standing patiently outside her room, waiting for her to get ready.

Lise, Henriethasia's maid, is now brushing her hair, "Princess, what do you want me to do with your hair?" Lice asked.

Henriethasia thought for a while, then looked at Lice through the mirror of her dresser; she was sitting in front of, "I think I go with the loose twin braids, please." then she smiled.

Lice nodded and started braiding her hair. Henriethasia began to hum a song as she was so excited and delighted about the outing. She only went out once but not in the town, just some dukes' house with her family, but today will be different.

Lice were finishing her hair and putting on some accessories and stated, "It's done, Princess." she smiled and looked at the princess in the mirror, "You look beautiful today as well."

Henriethasia smiled at her, "Thank you so much, Lice." she thanked her. Lice curtsy on behalf. Henriethasia stands up and looks at herself in the whole-body mirror in the corner, then twirls around, checking her dress and smiling.

Earlier, she was having a hard time selecting the perfect dress to go outside, thankfully Lise helped her, and now she's wearing a modest but elegant dress fit for outdoors, white thigh-high socks paired with black doll heels shoes.

As a princess, she needs to be proper. Though she doesn't want to be, she will. Henriethasia stares at herself in the mirror again and thinks, "Something is missing in this outfit."

"What is it, Princess?" Lice asked and looked at the princess from head to toe; the princess looked as gorgeous as she could be, "It's perfect to me. Well, no matter what your highness wear is perfect in the eyes."

Henriethasia glanced at Lise and smiled, "Thank you, Lice, but there is something though," Lise looked at her with confusion, and then Henriethasia looked at the mirror again and flicked her fingers, causing the dress to shine, "Now that is perfect."

"Wow, princess!" Lice looked amazed at what the princess does; the dress is now more in color tone and shining not like before, "The princess power is truly are remarkably gift."

Henriethasia just uses her magic in the dress. Making it a lot more pleasant. She admires her look in the mirror and thinks, "Well, yeah, but I don't know why I have such power."

Before Lice could answer, there was a knock on the doorway. They both lean and saw Robert bow a little and said, "Princess Henriethasia, are you all ready?" he asked, "Our ride has finally arrived, and it's time for us to go."

"Oh, yes. I am finished, thank you." She said to Robert and looked at Lice while smiling, "We'll be leaving now. Thank you, Lice." Henriethasia was about to follow Robert outside, but she was stopped by Lice.

"Wait, princess." She said, then grabbed the cloak on the chair hanging and handed it to Henriethasia, "Don't forget about your cloak."

"Oh yeah, thank you again," Henriethasia said and grabbed the cloak from the hands of Lice and wore it, clipping the gold pin together at her collar and adjusting the ribbon. The cape is a soft white cloth and has a gold embroidery flower that resembles her family crest.

"I'm ready to go now," She told Robert, who was standing by the door, and nodded; she began walking into her bedroom door and glanced back at Lise, who was curtsying.

"Have a safe trip, Princess." Lice said which Henriethasia gave a smile.

Henriethasia looked at Robert and smiled at him too; Robert just gave her a nod.

...

They are in front of the Azalia palace, getting ready to depart. Henriethasia joyfully enters the carriage; they're riding to go downtown. Robert went in after, and the butler closed the door of the carriage. And they went off.

Henriethasia looks out at the windowpane and sees the sight of their field, and the carriage goes out through the open gate. She then looks at Robert, who is watching her, "Sir Robert?" she called.

Robert answered, "Yes, your highness?" Robert Fort is still a young man just like her father, no doubt that he is still freshly handsome. Robert grew up with the side of King Dulcan, which makes them as close as a brother.

"You've been downtown, right?" she asked, which Robert nodded and looked at her with a questioning look of why she asked, "What is the best shop to buy a necklace?" Henriethasia asked again, then smiled.

"Oh, If a necklace you want, your highness, let me think," Robert thought for a moment and then responded, "Helaine's Jewelry Shop be the best."

"Hmm... Is it not too far away from the seashore?" Henriethasia asked and tilted her head a bit.

"Well no, your highness," Robert answered honestly, "Actually, you can walk the seashore from there, princess, when you're at the shop."

Henriethasia's smile grew brightly, "Is that so? then let's go to this shop then." She cheerfully said and giggled a little.

Robert nodded in response and leaned back to the coachmen behind him, "Please go to Helaine's Jewelry Shop, coachmen."

"Yes, Sir." The coachman responded.

Robert glances back at Henriethasia, who is merrily humming a song while looking at the window. Her sapphire blue eyes shine even more as she was thrilled about today. But, Robert also thought about where did the princess get her sapphire blue eyes? Is it because of her magical powers? or something?

The carriage made its way to the middle of the town and stopped in front of a fountain. Henriethasia looked outside the window and to Robert, who spoke, "We are here now, your highness." he said and went out first.

Henriethasia was excited to know that from Robert.

Robert was standing outside by the carriage door, waiting for Henrienthasia to come out. She didn't think for a second and went through the doors, she saw Robert's handheld for her, she willingly accepted it. And then Robert helps her go down the carriage.

As she stepped on the ground, she heard the noise of the busy town, "Welcome to Zaiteril Town, Your highness." Robert said, looking at the Princess astonished look. As she slowly spins around to look at the surroundings. She's never been this amazing before.

The streets are so busy, with more crowded people. People are greeting each other while waving hellos. Chatters between sellers and buyers, old friends catching up, new friends made. The laughter of the children is heard playing around the corner.

It's busy for sure, but the hustle and bustle bring life to this town that Henriethasia wouldn't want to be without.

Then someone interrupts her thoughts, "Pardon me, your highness but," Robert called; she looked at him and asked what it was; Robert motioned his hands to the cloak the princess is wearing, "Please wear the hood of your cloak, Princess."

"Oh," Henriethasia recognizes she forgot to cap the hood in her head. Everyone was looking at her and began gossiping about the princess being in their town. Well, she is the only princess in the kingdom of Azalia after all; it's not a wonder people know her.

She immediately hides her platinum white hair under the cloak and stands beside Robert, "Sir Robert, where is this Helaine's Jewelry Shop, you say?" She asked Robert, who was looking at her.

"Oh, sorry to say this, Princess, but we must walk there from here," Robert said and looked at Herniethasia's shoes with heels, "the road is a bit rough, your highness."

Henriethasia noticed this and looked at her shoes too and back to Robert before smiling, "It's okay I can manage," she said as she demonstrated a walk, "See, It's been a long time too since I walked with a rough road."

Robert keeps a stern look and nodded then starts walking into one of the streets here in Zaiteril Town, "Please follow me this way, your highness," he said, Henriethasia follows him casually, "And do watch your step." She did so.

Robert was wary of the surroundings, and thankfully, no one is suspicious as he looks, but still, he needs to be. He looks at the princess beside him, who's happily looking around at the stuff that is selling outside.

This princess's life is much more important than his own life, so he would willingly protect her from any harm or danger.

Minutes passed of walking, they stopped in front of a shop. The Helaine's Jewelry Shop has been written on the board up above the store, "We are here at our destination now, your highness." Robert announced.

"I see," Henriethasia stared at the shop.

It is an open shop, and they're selling a lot of jewelry too. She also senses magic around the shop, protection magic. No wonder the shop is so wide open. They don't have to worry about anyone stealing something from here because it's protective of magic.

"The seashore is right over there, Princess Henriethasia," Robert spoke. As soon as she hears the word sea, she instantly looks at Robert is pointing his finger. And there it was, the sea she loves. It was so near yet far from where they were standing.

"Wow," She said; she was so dazzled by the calm blue sea. Her sapphire blue eyes sparkle in the feeling of seeing it.

Robert notices Henriethasia staring at the sea so much, he knows the princess loves the sea, so he utters, "After you've finished buying what you need, your highness," Henriethasia looked at him, "We could go stroll by the seashore later."

Her face lightened up by his words, and a smile was placed on her face, "I'll be happy too, thank you." Robert stared at her for a moment, then averted his gaze at a seller, who approached them.

Must be the owner of the shop, "What can I do for you both?" The woman said with a casual tone.

"Good afternoon, Madam Helaine," Robert greeted the woman politely. The woman looked at him and gave a face of where did she meet this man again, and then it lightened up as she remembered.

"Oh, Robert. It's you," She said with a cheeky smirk, "Here to buy another jewelry for that girl you like?"

The words of Madam Helaine make Henriethasia interested and look at Robert, who is trying to hide his blushing face. The madam laughs teasingly. Henriethasia was a bit surprised by this reaction.

She never knew that there's this kind of side Sir Robert has. She always thought of Robert as a serious, polite gentleman. But then she realizes, people do have feelings too, even the stern Sir Robert.

Then a thought crosses her mind, 'The girl Sir Robert's like ha? What kind of a person is she that makes Sir Robert's heart flutter? I want to know.' She giggled at her thoughts.

The little giggle of the princess makes Robert straighten his back then clear his throat, "Ahem. N-No, Madam, not today at least." he replied, "I am here today as a companion with the princess."

Helaine stops for a moment as Robert mentions the princess and asks, "Wait, with the princess?" She then glanced at the young lady beside Robert, who let down her cloak showing off her platinum white hair and her big sapphire blue eyes while smiling.

"Greetings, Madame Helaine," Henriethasia curtsy to show respect. As a princess, she will have to even though she doesn't like it that much.

"Oh my!" Helaine was so shocked, she couldn't move. She didn't know that it was the princess who was hiding beneath the cloak. Then again, she curtsy back as politeness, "Blessing upon the sea of Azalia, Princess Henriethasia."

Henriethasia nodded and smiled at the greeting. So this is the way the people in Azalia greeted the royal family.

Helaine looks at the princess. It was the first time she saw the princess wandering around downtown, "What's bring you here today, your highness?" she asked the princess, who was looking at the jewelry in the shop. The sight of her and the jewelry is dazzling.

Helaine heard about the princess' beauty in the rumors, and looking at her up-close now, she would say the stories did not do justice for her. The princess is so beautiful that no one can compare even the pretty maiden, that they say, from the west.

She is like a fallen angel sent by above. Princess Henriethasia is indeed beautiful; Helaine agrees to that. If she had a daughter just like the princess, she would gladly make her a model, but though the princess's beauty is unique in this world. She admires the princess too much.

Helaine stopped by her thoughts when Henriethasia spoke, "I am here to buy a present for my mother's birthday today."

"Oh, that's right. Today is our beloved Queen Anasthasia's birthday." Helaine replied.

"Yes, and I was thinking of buying a necklace for mother. So I ask Sir Robert here which shop is the best," Henriethasia said glance at Robert and looking at Helaine with a smile, "And he leads us here."

"Oh," Helaine flushed a bit for that short compliment of her shop, "I'm honored, your highness, please choose what there likely to you is."

"Yes, I will," Henriethasia smiled, "Thank you," and then she started looking around for a necklace fit for her mother.

Helaine still can't believe she spoke to the one and only princess that is very kind. 'A total angel,' she dreamily thought, 'She chose my shop too out of all shops in this town.' She can't wait to brag about this to her companions.

As Helaine and Robert are busy chatting. Henriethasia looked around the shop to find a necklace for her mother. She looked through the glass panel box full of necklaces, but she never saw anything that would fit her mother.

Then a shine of light glimpses at the corner of her eyes; she looks back to see what it is. There she saw a beautiful necklace right at the outside corner of the shop; she approached it. The necklace is pretty much candid.

Its pendant is a light blue color heart. It was shinning like it was calling for Henriethasia. This is the perfect necklace for her mother, she thought as Queen Anasthasia like something simplistic and blue.

"I see you like this necklace." She looked at Helaine, who picked up the necklace from its box. She notices Sir Robert in the corner looking at something.

"Yes, It will look good for mother as her dress for today is blue too," Henriethasia replied, gazing at the necklace.

"You have a peculiar taste as a princess, your highness," Helaine said; Henriethasia looked at her with a questioning look, "Oh no, don't take it seriously, princess. Is that I thought you would pick something grande and more on jewelry."

"Oh," Henriethasia said, then smiled, "I like things that are simple yet beautiful, Madame."

"I see. Well then," Helaine place the necklace on her palms, "Take this necklace as a sign of my gratitude that you choose my shop, your highness."

Henriethasia was a bit surprised by the offer, "Oh no, I can't take it for free," She said, looking at Helaine and the necklace, "Please let me pay for it."

"Ah, no thanks, Princess; besides, it was sold for me by a boy I don't know," Helaine explained, "And it is grateful that you picked my jewelry shop, and I hope you will continue so in the future."

"Oh, thank you." Henriethasia gazed at the necklace for a moment and gave Helaine a bright smile, "I promise I will do so in the future."

Helaine stares at the princess in awe, 'My god, such beauty.' She also smiled back at the princess and then went on to entertain another customer.

Henriethasia picked up the necklace in her hand by the string and dazed at it for a while and then suddenly with a flash, it was gone by her hand, she was shocked, somebody snatches it.

She looked around and saw the snatcher running away into the people in the street, "Hey, give me back the necklace!" She shouted, and without a single thought, she chased after the snatcher passing through the crowd of people.

Robert was interested in a bracelet in his hand and forgot about the princess for a moment. Then, when he was done and ready to go, he looked around to find that the princess was no longer nearby him or in the shop. A shiver was sent down his spine; he knew by then, his fears, that he had lost sight of the princess.

To be continued...

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