It wasn’t long till the garden was full of the sons and daughters of higher royalty. They were arriving by the boat loads and they all filed in to garden whether they had traveled into the maze to occupy the many sitting areas surrounded by fountains and luscious collogues of rose buds of various colors. Several persons have passed Lance he had occupied a particular bench, several princes had frowned their disapproval of him and several princesses have verbally stated their disapproval just loud enough for him to hear, all of which had addressed him as a freak at some point during they’re passing. It irritated him, that because of the simple fact that he had a tail, people were generally disinterested in him, possibly viewing him as a victim of an incurable disease. Even if he were to have it removed, it wouldn’t change everyone’s notion of him. Besides, his tail has proved extremely useful whether it be for simple daily actions and routines or for use as a weapon on the battlefield. His tail has proved it’s wroth in more ways than one, and parting from it would cause a lot of gaps in his person. He had decided then, finally sticking to the thought this time, that he wasn’t living to impress others with his appearance, the notions others bestowed onto him were worth nothing, their opinions of him didn’t phase him much, but they surely didn’t matter anymore.
Someone had sat beside him then, only to up into the face of a grey hair feline who’s green eyes were as radiant as her smile. “What’s up?” Mita said, tilting her head in a friendly gesture. She was princess to forests of the far eastern lands. Lance himself had been there before, living in the castle as a guest to the region under her mother’s request as his mother had planned to negotiate an alliance. Lance’s mother had been unsuccessful at the request but the two queens have been long lived friends. Lance had met her in a hall one evening and they had socialized, since then, the two have become close friends.
Lance was smiling now, glad to see a friendly face now. “Nothing much, just bored as hell really. You?”
“Well,” she paused in thought. “I’ve been getting better at playing the violin.”
“Oh, really? We’ve got to have a duet sometime.” Lance suggested.
“How about a trio?” A voice asked from behind him. Prince Ryan of the mountain regions that neighbored Mita’s forest, was leaning down toward them, the smile under his snout was wide, his sharp teeth blaring. “Been a while hasn’t it?” The wolf asked, coming around to plant a seat on Mita’s left. She had to sit facing forward so that both men can turn to face each other.
“Yeah, it has!” Lance said. His mood was becoming more positive by the minute now that his two friends were here, accompanying him. “What have you been up to lately?”
“Ahh… Same o’ same o’. On the battlefield taking out the bad guys of course.” Ryan, like Lance and very few other princes were warriors of sorts. The two of them have served on the battlefield on more than one occasion, all of which were conducted out of defiance, and were out of boredom. The two had spent quite some time sparring one another, despite the fact that it was against the royals for subjects of royalty to practice and participate in combat, whether it be with a foe or friend, and it acknowledged an act of war and conflict. The sparing between the two had often caused commotions amongst the kingdoms and great measures had to be taking to avoid war. Since such situations during Lance’s stay in the eastern regions, sparing had been conducted in secret, and during the day as to be less likely to be heard of the maintenance of castle grounds. “What about you? Still sneaking out at night to mingle with the locals?”
This is what Lance liked about these two. Like himself, they didn’t exclude themselves from the peasants, they viewed peasants and classed them by a profit status rather than a social one. Amongst the three of them, people were no more better or worse than themselves, they just had more money and a much larger roof over their heads. They never referred to people of a lower class as peasants or slaves to the throne, people were known to them as locals or citizens. “Yep, still at it. But mom says if she receives word that I have snuck out of castle walls again she’ll cut off my tail.”
“Yeah but I thought you wanted it removed?” Ryan replied questionably.
“I thought so too, but then I really don’t care what people think of me, especially amongst all the meat sticks here.” This got a laugh from them as a group of royals passed, frowning their displeasure.
“Wow,” Mita said with surprise in her tone. “I’ve never known any of the woman here to frown at you like that.”
“They aren’t frowning at him, they’re frowning at me.” Lance answered before Ryan could speak. Lance had noticed one of the princesses, a pretty girl who looked young in age sporting silky velvet hair, blushed as she passed with her group, her stare directed to Ryan. “Care to explain?” he said with a bit of sarcasm and interest.
“About~ that… ” Lance and Mita had already drawn conclusions about this, but still waited for his explanation “Yeah, I um… kinda had sex with her in the men’s restrooms.” Ryan spoke with embarrassed amusement. “I sort of snuck her in.”
“And?...” The two could tell that there was a bit more which Ryan hadn’t said, hinting at his disclosed and bewildered expression.
“I kinda forgot to pull out…”
Mita’s smile was wide. “Oh wow! You’re gonna be married!” She hugged him.
Getting married was probably the last thing on his mind. “It was a total accident! I saw her and she saw me, then sparks flew, you know?”
Mita knew exactly what he meant, but Lance on the other hand just stared at him. This wolf of sorts had gotten himself a female companion, a human at that that, in less than a minute of arriving here, where as Lance, on the other hand, hadn’t even so much as received at glance of general acceptance.
“So Lance, You have anyone special yet?” Mita asked, recomposing herself.
“No… Not yet, not really looking either.”
“What are you waiting for? You keep up this wait, an all the good ones will be gone.”
“I dunno, I guess.” Lance shrugged.
“Well, do you have any knew drawings?” Mita took the book from Lance and began searching through the pages.
Lance thought about the blonde girl had drawn earlier upon his arrival. If he had kept the picture, he’d have to make excuses as to why he had her illustration, plus they would probably con the two of them into a greeting, which, remembering the expression upon her face, was something he would avoid if possible. It’s a good thing he had given the illustration to the girl, because if his friends had seen the exotic wear he fitted upon the still life, he’d have a lot of explaining to do. How ever, the thought of being in a relationship with her was highly appealing to him. After all, she was very cute, sitting across from him looking agitated and oblivious to her surroundings. Unfortunately, she probably dubbed him a freak if anything else. He sighed then. “No, nothing new, besides the roses I drew a little while ago.”
Mita and Ryan were starring a particular picture which caught their attention immediately. “Didn’t I pass her on my way over here?” Ryan asked, studying the page.
“Yeah, I think she was by the restrooms having an argument about some guy,” Mita replied as if fascinated by what she saw.
“Pass who?” Lance asked. He followed their eyes to the page, his jaw dropped and his eyes almost fell out their sockets. That princess was starring back at them, this time, only have her body was shown. She looked serine but carried a bored expression. This particular illustration startled him because of the amount of detail he had bestowed onto the page. She was drawn to the up most perfection, every detail of her eyes and facial features perfectly mimicked, right down to every single strand of the golden hair was portrayed in a harmony of colors. He looked up to see his friends starring back at him with mischievous smiles. Lance hadn’t been aware of the fact that he had drawn that princess a second time. “Yeah… That isn’t anyone here.”
“Yeah she is,” Ryan contradicted. “I definitely seen her here, she has the same short blonde hair as this picture, the same eyes and face, and the same dress, only you colored this one emerald green when she is wearing one that is red.”
“Care to explain?” Mita asked, leaning closer to him with emphases.
“Yes!” Lance was at a lost for words and wasn’t sure how he could get himself out of it. So he told them how he had come to draw her, also claiming boredom. It’s a good thing they hadn’t seen that illustration, otherwise, they’d conspire to have him marry her.
“Well, luckily, you’ll be seeing a lot more of her.” Ryan said.
Lance knew exactly where he was going with the comment. For the past three to five years, a faction bent on overthrowing all kingdoms to pronounce themselves rulers, had risen and began to invade countries and their kingdoms. These factions fight using dark magic’s and rituals of sorts, all of which have been neutrally deemed forbidden to practice by all nations and kingdoms. Ever since twenty three of the eighty seven kingdoms had been concurred, meetings and safe havens have been established as means of gathering alliances and retreating when necessary. The purpose of the current meeting now was to decide which of the four remaining safe gardens all the princes and princesses would be moved for safe keeping. Somehow, the faction has discovered a way to open demonic portals almost anywhere, and this new discovery had been used to its advantage. But the meeting hadn’t been called till someone had broken into the Ienothian castle, raiding Lance’s room, stealing nothing but scrolls which Lance himself had written and created. Mita and Ryan needed to discuss the content of the scrolls and why those were the only parchments stolen from the castle, they already had a good gist of its content, but they would not bring up such a fragile topic since they were the only two who know of Lance’s… discoveries. All of which pertained to the use of dark arts, punishable by death. These two were the last he wanted to have involved in his experiments, but they had caught him and swore secrecy. The three would have to wait till they have been escorted to a designated garden before the topic can be brought to light.
“Yeah that’s right, I gotta get you two acquainted somehow.” Mita said, letting the possibilities run over her mind. “You two are going to be seeing each other quite often.”
“Looks like we found you someone, well, looks like you’ve found her yourself!” Ryan said beaming.
Lance had to admit that he did like the idea of being promised to that beautiful girl. She probably carried the same views and attitude he does. Having the opportunity to not just meet her, but to socialize with her and grow a relationship with her too? He discarded the thought, realizing that fantasizing about something so foolish would only add to the stresses he already bares. He was getting hungry then, wanting a bit of nourishments to pass the time. “Hey, lets all go grab something to eat at the lounge?” The others agreed, following Lance toward the restrooms. The luxury dining area was just on the other side of the restrooms, but connected to the building and sharing an intersection.
He was the first to enter of the three, turning his head spotted Archie, sitting in the small adjoining library. HE had stepped in, his attention on asking him to join them when he froze in his steps, starring at the short haired blond girl. She was starring back at him. Lance wasn’t sure what to do, but the moment he heard the laughter of his companions, he spun on his heels rushing quickly pass them toward the restaurant, putting his hands around the two as to lead them frantically away from the room. They were both asking him why was he in such a hurry to avoid the library doors when they both turned to see the princess, the picture made from a still life to living person, sitting in antique leather chair, peering over the book she held at them. Both Ryan’s and Mita’s smile widened from ear to ear.
“Lance, go talk to her!” Mita whispered as a bundle of royalties had been gathered in the intersection, apparently hanging out in the furnished area.
“What?! No!” Lance hissed, becoming more and more nervous. He didn’t look back, but only continued to shove his friends into the restaurant.
“Stop being such a puss and introduce yourself,” Ryan urged. “Hell, if you don’t then I’ll introduce you, how about that?”
“I said no!”
“Why don’t you give her that picture?” Mita suggested.
“Are you nuts? I bet she’s still stuck on the first one I gave her.” The three of them stopped then, Lance looking beyond embarrassed and the two glaring at him for leaving out details. They were waiting for an explanation. “Please don’t ask.”
“So you’re not gonna give it to her?” Ryan asked, looking quite disappointed. “I think you should. Personally, I’d give her the whole book since it’s filled with illustrations of flowers and roses and natural nature still-life’s. It’ll be a very good gift to get a relationship started, you know. You got well over a hundred pages, front and back, of lillustrations of this garden as well as forest and plain grounds and exotic birds, beasts, and insects from our home in the east. I’m telling you it’ll be perfect.” Ryan took another glance at the young lady. “She is gorgeous I tell you.”
Lance stained with all his effort not to turn to look at her. Every so often, she’d look up from her book at him, showing no interest. Lance was getting irritated. “Look, can we just eat now? Where’s Mita?”
They both looked back toward the library to see Mita standing before the girl, her mouth in motion but Lance couldn’t hear from their distance. His jaw nearly fell from his face as he saw Mita handing over his sketch book to her.
Ryan had both ears trained in the girl’s direction. “She’s telling her that the arts are a gift from you.” Ryan smiled then. Lance, however, almost screamed as the girl watched him as she received the book. Mita bowed. “Now she telling her that you hope she considers your gift, and she asked to see the illustration you had given her earlier.” They saw the girl hold up the images for Mita to see. Mita blushed upon seeing the illustration, bowed and thanked the girl for her time and sundered her back to them.
“Oh my,” Mita said, still blushing. “That was some illustration he drew. It was definitely… exotic… By the way, where is Lance?”
Ryan looked around. Lance had escaped them. He didn’t appear to be occupying a table, so Ryan must have figured he was in the restroom or maybe returned outdoors to escape into the garden one again. “That little coward!” He retorted under his breath. “Why try to do him a favor and he bails on us!”
“Then we’ll just have to try harder.” Mita swiveled in place, rocking on her heels.
Ryan smiled at her. She was always trying to find ways to get Lance promised to someone. “Okay,” he said then. “You grab us a table and I’ll fetch Lance.”