I got off of Viex to face him fully. I have to admit that I almost forgot that he was going to be here with all that has happened.
Fred, the new King of Hazel, was accompanied by two attendants who were looking at me warily. I frowned at their gazes. It was pretty obvious which side they were on.
The king of Hazel followed my gaze when he noticed the look on my face. “If you two have a problem with me talking to the princess then you are both dismissed.” He simply told them.
One of them, a brown-haired man who looked like he was in his mid 30’s, started to protest. “Sire, she-”
Fred cut him off. “Have I not made myself clear? Very well, then. The two of you are dismissed.”
The man started to speak, but the other attendant, who seemed a bit older than the other one, stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. He shook his head at the other man as a warning.
“Go. Before I change my mind and fire you both instead.” There was an edge in his tone like he was silently threatening them. The two attendants immediately bowed and went away.
“You didn’t have to go that far you know.” I said as Viex and I came closer to him.
When he turned around, he simply laughed like it was the best thing that he ever did. “Don’t worry about it. I have always wanted to do that. I just found an opportunity and grabbed it.”
“Gee. Nice to know that I was of service to you.” I offered him a small smile. Even as a king, Fred still finds everything around him amusing. After all, he was crowned pretty early, which makes him bear a lot of responsibilities. Maybe it is his way of dealing with stress.
“You know it is not like that.” He reasoned and his lips quirked to the side. Then his eyes fell on the huge fox at my side. His eyes beamed in wonder. I almost forgot that Fred never met Viex before, nor has he seen either one of them morph. “He’s new.” He commented while still looking at Viex.
“He is. His name is Viex, the second spirit that I told you about.” I said while slowly cutting off my magic from Viex and turning him back into his smaller form. Immediately, he jumped into my arms and studied Fred.
“He looks magnificent.” Then he moved closer to Viex. “Nice to meet you, Viex.”
‘Does this man know that you should not inch your face closer to a spirit with claws and fangs? I could scratch him if I want to. He’s lucky that he’s the king and I don’t want to get you into trouble, princess.’
‘Thanks, Viex. Very reassuring.’
“Are you guys talking? What did he say?” Fred asked curiously.
“He says that you’re too handsome and young to be king.”
‘But I didn’t say that!’
‘Hush!’
Fred simply laughed. “Really? Well, give the ‘actual’ sender my thanks for their compliment.” He smiled and started looking around. “Where’s Custard?”
“Oh, um...I asked him to do an errand for me.” I admitted and started to clear my throat to change the topic. When I think about Custard, my mind wanders back to Ace and I just can’t deal with it right now without breaking down. “So, Fred. Would you like me to escort you to the meeting room?”
The young wizard King raised a brow at me. “What’s happening? Why are our roles suddenly in reverse?” He was laughing as he said this. “Please don’t tell me I have to wear a dress as well.” He scrunched up his expression a bit to show his distaste at the idea, but he looked like he was considering it as well. “Just imagine...a handsome young king like myself in a jeweled ballgown.”
I gasped and immediately slapped myself to destroy the image of Fred wearing a dress in my mind. “Stop putting strange images in my head!!” I gave him a warning look.
Fred simply laughed loudly. “It’s your mind, not mine.” He says. “But can you imagine?”
“Stop it you!” I lightly punched his shoulder as we both made our way towards the castle. There were already a ton of royals and selected nobles inside. I paused just a few feet from them and moved back to hide just outside the door. “You go on ahead.” I told him.
“You’re not coming?”
“Nope. I don’t have a reason to go.” I said and started to walk away, but then I noticed that Fred simply followed me. “What are you doing?” I asked him as I turned around to look at him.
“Walking.”
“I know. But why are you following me when you should be heading inside?”
“I am?”
“Yes.” I said. “Now, go turn around and head back to the castle where you’re supposed to.” I started waving him away with the back of my hand as if shooing him away.
Fred studied my gesture before crossing his arms over his chest. “Are you dismissing the king of Hazel?”
“Oh don’t you get started with titles with me, Fred.” I gave him a leer. Fred pouted and still refused to move. I threw my head back and groaned. Normally, I would have enjoyed his company and his attention, but I wasn’t in a mood right now.
I haven’t been for the last few days.
“Please?” I pleaded. “I don’t want to be another reason for any more gossip, Fred. It’s just…” I trailed off. We stood there in silence until Fred placed his hands on both of my shoulders.
“Alright. I’m sorry. You take a break and I’ll handle everything. Let me take a few burdens off of your shoulder.” I looked up at him, surprised and confused at what I just heard. “Don’t forget, I may be the King now, but to you, I will remain as the Fred who will always side with you no matter what.” He says before turning around and headed inside.
I stood there guiltily. It was happening again. They are still trying to help me. I was happy and worried at the same time.
I sighed as I sent out a silent prayer to the heavens that nothing bad will happen in the meeting.
I turned around and started to walk aimlessly again for a few minutes. The palace was currently peaceful as most of the attendants are busy entertaining the guests. I can just imagine all the chaos that would be in there right now.
“You!” I turned around to see who was talking, only to find a white-haired fairy prince. It was Chace. The other known winter fairy in the realm. I raised a brow at him for how he addressed me.
Viex was growling at him and seemed ready to attack, but I blocked him with my hand. “Yes? What do you need?” I asked politely since he was just a kid.
The fairy prince marched towards me angrily. I took a step back as I saw icy wind coming off of him from his untamed emotions. It wasn’t my first time seeing him, but this is definitely the first time that I saw the kid looking at me with hatred. “It’s your fault! It’s your fault that he turned out this way!”
“Um...who?” I asked, and then soon regretted it.
“Prince Ace!” He says and he looked like he was just about to burst into tears as he said it. “He was my hero. He was the perfect prince. But you just have to exist and ruin him!”
Now I remember, this kid is a huge fan of Ace since the very beginning. Though I am not sure why and how. But all I know is that his words seemed to punch a hole in my chest. It started to hurt again that I could not even speak to defend myself.
The words were stuck in my throat and I feel as if I have lost my tongue.
I need to get out of here.
I started to leave, but Chace grabbed my wrist and I started to feel a little numb from the magic emitting from his hands. I watched in horror as the ice began to climb from my wrist and up my arm.
‘Princess! Morph me!’ Viex yelled out in a panic.
“You took him! You killed him. Why?!”
I tried to. I tried to focus on Viex but I remembered Ace again. I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t even speak! The ice was already climbing up to my neck at this point.
‘Princess!’
I closed my eyes when it was just about to reach my cheek. But then, the progress of the ice stopped as it slowly dissipated. Ice began to evaporate from my neck, arm, and wrist. I looked at Chace and wondered why he stopped, but he was confused as well.
Chase tried casting his magic once again but every time that a piece of ice would form, it would immediately evaporate.
Then his hands were suddenly covered in a huge block of ice - encapsulating them. “What the hell?” Chace breathed in confusion as he tried raising his hands, but the block of ice holding his hands together was just too heavy.
“Get away from my sister!” Stella ran to my side and took the hand that Chace previously froze. “Amy? Are you okay?” She asked worriedly. I could only nod at her.
Stella breathed out a sigh of relief. When she turned to Chace, she glared. “How dare you!? Don’t you know that ice is dangerous!? You could have cut off my sister’s arm with that temperature!”
Chace simply glared at her. “How’d you do it?” Chase’s voice was hard and threatening. “How did you steal my magic!?”
Stella raised a brow at him. “Steal? What are you talking about? I never stole anything from you.”
“You took away my magic! That was why I couldn’t use it earlier. And..” He raised tried raising his hands that were still in the huge block of ice that Stella created. “..froze my hands! Give my magic back, you damn tamer!”
Oops. I guess someone did not get the memo that he was no longer the only winter fairy in the neighborhood. Sad kid. I pity him.
Stella’s jaw dropped as she crossed her hands together. “Excuse me? I am a winter fairy and not a tamer. Do you see me carrying a spirit animal? NO! Is your brain made out of ice? Or do you just lack the comprehension part? Or maybe, your IQ is so low that if I jump off a cliff with the same digits but in terms of height, I would float!”
Well, damn...I never knew my sister could be so...sassy. Wonder where she got that from.
I was so shocked at I silently placed my uninjured hand over my lips as my eyes darted between the two and took a step back. Viex and I exchanged an awkward look at that moment.
Chase was stunned for a moment at her words that he happen to ignore her insults. “You..? A winter fairy?” He blinked a few times before his eyes turned to anger again. “Lies!”
“I am not lying.”
“Then how were you able to stop me from casting magic earlier!?”
Stella gave him a look like what a teacher would to an idiotic kid. “Simple theories. I scattered the magic molecules.”
“Mole-what?”
“Molecules. Like this.” Stella says and brought a fist up and opened them. The block of ice from Chace’s hands immediately vanished, leaving him even more confused.
Chace looked at her and blasted her with bits of ice shards.
“Stella!” I screamed worriedly, but Stella simply did the gesture that she did earlier and turned the solid ice to mist.
“That is so rude!” Stella yelled and brought her other hand up. Ice spikes protruded from the ground and trapped the fairy prince.
“Let me out of here!”
“Oh, cool off! You started it. And get out of there yourself. Come on, Amy.” Stella grabbed my hand when she stopped and turned back to Chace. “By the way, I highly advise you not to use your magic to throw more shards at us. You will only attract more of the magical particles similar to your magic’s nature. It will only increase the temperature of the ice. If you can’t get out then wait for it to melt. Bye!” She said cheerfully and started dragging me away.
I know it was my sister who taught the kid a lesson, but I just couldn’t help myself. I turned back to the kid and gave him the more sarcastic smile that I could show before I stuck my tongue out at him.
Stella and I made our way to the garden pavilion where she made me sit on one of the benches and examined my ice burns that I got from them being frozen. Her brows furrowed with concern.
I patted her head with my good arm. “Don’t worry about it. Viex can heal them.” At the mention of his name, Viex climbed down from my shoulder and started healing the burns and flaking skin. “See? All better.” I said while showing her my arm while I scratched Viex’s chin with the other.
“Wish I could have arrived sooner.” She said solemnly.
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” I reassured her. “At least I got to see a heroic side of my sister. Man, I wish I could have gotten it on camera.” I sighed.
That got a smile out of her. But then she started to look troubled again. “They still blame us, don’t they?” I didn’t answer her because if I do, I would have to lie. And Stella hates it when people lie.
“Everything will be sorted out soon. I hope.” I let out a long and heavy sigh as I got up. These days, it was been stressful for both of us. “You know what? Why don’t we go around and do some exploring? Viex will give us a ride. You know, a little sister bonding!” I said as I started walking backward while pulling her hand.
Stella giggled. “Amy, you should watch where you’re going.”
“I have Viex! He will tell me when I am about to hit something.” I said it with confidence.
‘Princess, you are about to hit someone and not something.’ Viex said in a deadpanned tone while hitting my face with his tails.
“Hear that?” I said, still not stopping as I was walking back. But I was definitely spitting Viex’s tail off of my face as he kept slapping it to me to get my attention. “Viex is my eyes and I trust him.”
‘Princess, you FOOL! I SAID-’
Oh shit. Viex, was serious!?
I stumbled back and hit a person’s chest. The familiar scent of the forest immediately registered into my mind. My heart pounded inside my chest and, before I even heard his voice, I already knew who I just bumped into.
“Are you okay?” My body tensed up immediately at the sound of his voice.
PRINCE Ace’s voice.