Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

The next few weeks were filled with agony and a little bit of sadness as the captain of the magic army still carries on with his new-developed habit of ignoring me in the castle, and when we are in the training sessions, that changes to him chastising me most of the time. I felt that everything that I do would always be wrong to him.

I actually do not know what I have done wrong in the first place to deserve this kind of treatment.

Is this something to do about what happened to us the other night? (Good heavens, I don't want to talk about it. And I know neither does he.) Did my confession scare him away, or turn him into the usual heartless, cold jerk like when I have known him first to be?

Why, I have no quite idea that confessing with the one you love can be considered as a grave sin already. That is why he keeps on condemning me for the sin that I have committed out of choosing to act according to my emotions.

Well, I know it is my fault in the first place, but to treat me like this every single day by the one you love can be considered unbearable.

I can't help but merely sigh at the matters that it is currently going on inside my head. Lucas, who happens to stand in front of me at this moment, did not miss the chance to see that and thus interfered with our training here in the prince's chamber for a short while. 

I happened to sneak a glance on a wall clock hanging in front of the prince's chair to where I am now sitting, and I haven't realized until now that it is already past seven in the evening.

"Is there something bothering you right now, Krisella?" he asked, which made my lips parted and caused my eyes to snap in his direction.

I was also the first one to peel away my gaze from him first. 

"N-nothing," I said, clearly the reluctance in my tone to say the truth is visible. But I really hope that Lucas would also see the evidence that I do not want to pursue this kind of topic any further.

And the lad, being the gentleman that he is, did not bombard me with questions of that sort and instead asked me about something else.

"Do you want to stop this training for today and have fun with me instead?"

Confused as I was, I wasn't able to respond to his question immediately.

"What did you say?" was all my mouth could utter after being surprised by what he said just now.

"I said, do you want to go have fun with me and forget about this training for a while?" he repeated, only more loudly this time. It's a good thing that Lancelot is here not with us, for he has something important to take care of today.

Still feeling a little bit bizarre from what I heard, I slowly nod my head, causing the side corners of his lips to form into a smile.

"Come on then, I want to show you something."

He motioned for me to follow him before he spun around and left the room. I guess I do not have the choice but to follow the lad to somewhere that he would like to take me into.

At last, after several minutes of walking, my forehead wrinkled and my brows furrowed when I saw him taking me into the secret hideout that General Rosa had previously taken me during our first encounter. Don't tell me…

"The prince had shown me this place a year ago where we used to view the stars and the moon together whenever we felt to unwind for a while."

Yeah, I knew my guess was right. And General Rosa may have thought that she was the single soul whom the prince gave the opportunity to see this secret hideout leading towards the castle towers.

"Oh. I can't wait to see it," I said, acting as if I hadn't discovered the place myself.

The moment we arrived at the castle towers through the steep spiral stone staircase leading upward (that is quite an inconvenience for me, to be honest), it was also the moment where the full moon, shining in its magnificent bright glory, was the first thing to catch my attention.

"Wow!" I said, being amazed by the fantastic view that is currently laid in front of us at this hour. "This place is beautiful! No wonder you go here with the prince to unwind. The thought of being here starts relaxing my mind right now."

I heard the lad made a soft, husky chuckle that is soothing to the ears. 

"I am very much glad that you liked it here," he replied. "Starting from now on, feel free to go here whenever there is something that is bothering you."

I can't help but smile at him as I look at the full moon, feeling blessed for his generosity that he had shown upon me to let me invade his private space like this.

"Thank you," I uttered from the bottom of my heart. "I truly appreciated this."

For the next couple of minutes, no one dared to speak and interrupt this beautiful serenity that we are both experiencing. We are just here, standing next to each other, as our heads wander upon the moon and the stars that accompany it for the night. 

What a lovely scenery this is, indeed.

"Do you want me to show you more?" he asked out of the blue, finally breaking this momentary silence.

I looked at him, wide-eyed. "There is more to this?" I mused.

"Of course. After all, I am known as a man full of surprises and wonders," he suddenly blurted out, which made me wonder if he is being serious. But seeing the playful expression that is now plastered on his handsome face, I started to doubt it otherwise.

"Alright. Show me then, oh great man, what great things you are hiding from your sleeves." I said, playing along with him. 

I heard another round of brief, soft chuckle escape his lips.

"Yes ma'am. But I want you to close your eyes first, or else this wouldn't be called a surprise if you didn't do so." he smiled.

I immediately closed my eyes after that.

I remained in that state for at least a minute before I heard Lucas's sweet, husky voice calling out my name once again and telling me that I could now open my eyes.

The moment I decided to fling my eyes open…

"Oh my," I looked at the man who is behind all of this right now, looking teary-eyed. "You are indeed full of surprises and wonders."

Gazillions of fireflies emerged from where we are currently standing (that I suspect came out from Lucas's magic) and are now flying all around us. The night just gets even brighter by the light that they are carrying with them.

I twirled around, feeling like I returned to being an eight-year-old kid once again, while I threw my arms into the air in delight.

"This is truly amazing! I haven't seen fireflies in my life ever since I transferred here in Citadel and since my father died." I beamed. 

I was in no control of my emotions any longer when I decided then to throw myself to him and hugged the lad with all my might.

"Thank you, Lucas!" I said gratefully. "I would always cherish this moment with you."

It did not take long before I felt his hands encircling around my petite figure, indicating that he is hugging me back at the moment.

"You're welcome… Krisella."

As the magic of the fireflies started to worn off, Lucas and I decided that it is time for us to return downstairs. When we are walking downstairs, I can't help but stare at him from behind, with his broad back facing me right now, and smile like an idiot.

Thanks to him and his magic, my sadness a while ago had ceased to exist.

---

-THIRD PERSON-

Meanwhile, without Lucas and Krisella knowing, there is someone secretly watching them from the entrance. Someone who preferred to lurk in the dark while his envious stares are fixed upon the two, but more on the happy lass when he found himself quite mesmerized by her bright smile.

Someone who happens to be none other than Alex, the known captain of the magic army.

His fist curled into a ball as he witnessed how happy Krisella is being with his friend Lucas. He cannot help but think it is him who should be in that position, making the young lady smile right now.

But what could he do if there are norms in the society that one should meet?

Therefore. It is only right for Krisella to be better off without him, even if it means crushing her feelings along with it. 

At least, that is what Alex believes as the best thing that he could do for the lass.