Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

It was a fine sunny day the next day in Gilead. Today is Saturday, and usually all residents in Citadel, you know… the capital city of the country, are pretty much busy doing their individual work in the society.

And here I am, drooling into this king-sized bed where I am currently lying as I cherish the remaining moments that I had where I could still sleep and not worry about a damn thing.

Then there was a knock on the door that would totally blow away that chance I had to sleep some more.

"As much as you hate it, I am now entering the room," I heard Alex scowled at the other side of the door when I chose not to respond to it. 

By hearing his voice, I immediately propped up and sat on the bed, my right hand gently caressing my temples. Alex entered without uttering any other word but his eyebrows were drawn together, forming a crease in between them, as he saw me in this kind of state.

"I think I might be sick, my head hurts like hell today," I said, trying my best to act that I was totally in pain before he could scold me upon waking up a little bit later than the normal schedule. If it was Lucas who entered the room, I wouldn't have to do this.

Alex just stood there and watched me carefully as if he's just waiting for me to crack a laugh or something like that. But I insisted on my acting and feigned the sickness in my eyes.

"Everyone would definitely fall for your exceptional acting skills, but not me," he smirked. "I am not buying it,"

I only rolled my eyes as my response.

"Get up, quick! I will still not tolerate your tardiness that you are manifesting this past few days."

I eventually got up from the bed and saw him now folding his arms over his chest.

Raising one eyebrow at him, I reacted, "Excuse me? My tardiness, you say?"

"Yes, your tardiness. You think I would miss seeing that?" Alex cocked his head, daring me to deny his accusation. He was definitely right though, so I wouldn't dare do such a thing.

"Whatever. Get lost and I will start clean myself up,"

"Do it quickly. There is something that we would like to show you," 

That was his last statement before moving out of the room, closing the door behind him. I stood in my place for a few moments, wondering what it is that they would like to show me. Yet I only shrugged it away and dashed my way towards the bathroom.

---

"An envelope?" I ask, looking confused. "So this is what you'd like to show me?"

"That is not just some kind of a normal envelope, you dummy," Alex reprimanded upon seeing my oblivious face. "You were sent an invitation by Lady Catherine to attend today's luncheon party that she organized in Malcedonia."

Luncheon party? As a commoner, I never heard of such events in my entire life until now.

"In case you are wondering, that is just some fancy term for lunch prepared for some bunch of important people in the society," Lancelot volunteered to explain. Lucas chuckled.

"Ahh," was the only response that escaped my mouth.

"Do we really have to go though?" Alex questioned. 

Due to that reason, all training that I should undergo for today had been canceled for today's event. The next thing I knew is that I am now in a fancy carriage with my three mentors accompanying me for today.

In my seat, I was still trying to remember who the heck is Lady Catherine. 

"Uhm, who is Lady Catherine again?" I asked, feeling embarrassed for forgetting a seemingly important name to my assigned work.

"She was the second annoying girl who randomly visited you the other month together with General Rosa, apart from Princess Marionette," Alex quickly responded then shifted his gaze at Lancelot, who is currently seated on his right. Next to me is Lucas.

"And speaking of her, how does it feel to see your past love interest, huh?" he smirked at the archbishop.

Lancelot was taken aback by Alex's question. 

"For heaven's sake, he is an archbishop. We are not supposed to be talking such nonsense in front of him," I pointed out, trying to fight the urge to roll my eyes towards Alex who is seated across me.

"She is not my past love interest, never will be," The archbishop took the question lightly and only shook his head disapprovingly.

Alex's reaction to that was a single word "Oh," and the carriage continued to move in silence for the next couple of minutes.

I've never been to Malcedonia, another country closest to Gilead that doesn't have to take a ferry boat in order for you to get there. It will only take us four hours via carriage, at least that is what Lucas has told me earlier. 

I've never imagined going there myself. Just by merely thinking that today would be my chance to set foot in that place truly excites me.

I was really getting sleepy by the time we reached half of our trip. Yawns continuously escaped my mouth which I tried to hide by covering my mouth as I yawn. 

And as they say, yawning could be contagious. The moment I started yawning, everyone around me started doing it as well.

"Could you please stop yawning? You had us yawning as well," Alex pointed out, scowling, before putting his hand to cover his mouth when he must have felt the urge to yawn once more.

I secretly laughed at that at the back of my head.

"Sorry," I immediately replied. "I just can't help feeling really sleepy right now. As much as I wanted to take a good afternoon nap to refresh my mind, I can't."

"Me too…" Lucas chimed in. "So, I am kind of feeling your struggle there."

I smiled at the lad who chose to support my statement.

"Its…" I wasn't able to finish my sentence as another yawn escaped my lips. "... normal Alex."

The lad I mentioned only rolled his eyes at me and turned his gaze towards a nearby carriage window near him. I sneaked a glance towards him and a smile emerged from my lips as I did so.

It was nearly one in the afternoon, according to Lancelot's watch, when we finally arrived in the outskirts of Malcedonia. A large, steel gate was opened by two guardsmen after we were able to verify our identities to them. 

"It's a good thing we traveled early huh," Alex suddenly blurted out.

From there, it did not take us that long to reach the mansion of Lady Catherine's family. Its front yard, which is pleasantly filled with different kinds of flowers and other ornaments into it, was the first thing that caught my attention. I have always liked flowers, and seeing them all beautifully arranged here is such a wonder to look at.

The carriage then halted when we reached our destination and the door was soon opened by the charioteer for us to go out of the chariot.

Even though I am currently feeling nervous knowing that I will yet be attending another social event this month, I tried to stay composed as much as possible and keep my poise as I went out of the carriage. I see other guests are already going straight to the mansion's backyard where the luncheon party must have been held, so we did the same.

There were at times that I could feel them staring straight at me, probably wondering why I am here or something like that, but I just kept my head high and walked past them.

"Prince Arthur! It is so nice to see you here!" she almost bellowed, but then her gaze shifted on my three mentors standing at my back. "And you too, though I really don't see the need to invite you here anyway,"

"How rude," I somewhat heard Alex whispering this to himself

The alluring voice of Lady Catherine was the first thing that greeted our arrival. I am now seeing her walking towards us in her pink v-neck gown that doesn't expose too much of her bosom. The sleeves were kept short, and a pair of white gloves were carefully wrapped on both of her hands. A summer hat was put above his head to shield her from the harsh rays of the sun.

She looks just as stunning as the prince's fiancee, so it's such a wonder why Prince Arthur fell even more for his current fiancee' than to this gorgeous lady in front of me…

"The pleasure is mine," I smiled.

"Come, I wanted to show you around to some of my guests for this afternoon,"

Before I could react, she already pulled my hand and both of us roamed around the venue for the next couple of minutes while my mentors stayed to where they were.