Unconditionally Beloved. Pt 2 (daily post)

As they rode through the city, Kuroi, seated opposite the prince, seized the opportunity to behold his person. He was just as beautiful as the rumours about him, with his perfectly trimmed golden hair, fair skin, and well-defined face. His athletic build made him appear like a man of war. She looked up at his face and saw his silver-grey eyes fixed on her, and immediately felt self-conscious, as she recalled how unkempt she was. However, something in his eyes was so familiar, and it made her truly want to trust him. Yet, she knew she had to be guarded, as she had learnt from experience that men only had evil intentions.

Petros, whom she discovered to be the prince’s knight, was seated beside him, openly scowling at her. It was evident that he wished she was anywhere but around the prince. If looks could send a person to the underworld, she would surely appear in the depths.

“Your Highness, you must have noticed that she has no life-gem and cannot possibly enter the inner kingdom. She must have sold her gem to the lord of the underworld as most beggars do, or perhaps she has never been given one.” Petros said indiscreetly. Kuroi frowned at this. Life-gems were supernatural treasures placed in the hearts of true citizens of Salem. It allowed them to enter freely into the inner city where the palace was located. Before an unknown disaster took place, that caused the master life-gem of Salem to be lost, all could freely enter, regardless of their status. But after it was stolen, a barrier was erected, that prevented those without life-gems from entering the inner kingdom. Since she could not recall the reason she did not possess a gem, or if she ever had one, she remained silent.

“We shall lodge at the Southern castle and Aisa shall be my guest. I expect Petros, that you shall treat her as honourably as you do my guests.” The prince said indubitably, and Petros bowed to this, submitting to the prince’s command.

It was evening when they arrived at the said castle, and Kuroi was awestruck by its grandeur. She wondered how the palace looked if a castle in the outer regions was so beautiful. As expected, the servants expressed shock at the sight of Aisa, but swiftly obeyed the orders of the prince to prepare a dinner like they would any princess.

Kuroi was led to a beautiful room furnished with more gold than she had seen in her life. She stopped by a grand mirror and caught a glimpse of her reflection. Her dark brown skin, brown eyes, flat nose and full lips which were features highly coveted in the kingdom, did not look appealing, being covered in dirt. The curly mass atop her head was tangled and unkempt. She turned away from her image, ashamed of who she was, compared to the beauty around her.

The maidservants went about the prince’s orders judiciously. A bath was prepared, and her hair was detangled and washed tenderly. Kuroi was surprised that they could style her curly hair, for even she, never knew what to do with it. She was clothed in what she thought was the most exquisite, yet comfortable dress.

By the time they were finished, a mirror was brought before her for her approval, and for a moment, she could not phantom that it was her image reflected in the glass. She looked very different to the person she had seen earlier, like a child of nobility. All her beautiful features were highlighted, and even her dark skin seemed to glow in the candlelight. She nodded in approval, and allowed the women to lead her to the large Banquet Hall where a feast was set on a large table.

She was so hungry that she almost failed to notice the two men in the room. Petros looked dazed and stared at her like he had never seen her in the past.

Prince Zova on the other hand, showed no sign of surprise at her transformation. Instead, he smiled pleasantly and offered a hand, which Kuroi shyly took.

“Come now Aisa and dine with me, and I shall tell you all about yourself.”

“I have told you, I am not Aisa, but Kuroi.” She explained, but the prince only nodded as he held out a chair beside his, at the head of the table.

The dinner was silent, and Kuroi had to employ all forms of self-restraint to keep from devouring the food like the scavenger she was. Even though she had been transformed on the outside, she was still the same on the inside. She could feel the eyes of both men on her and wondered if she could truly trust them, or if she was again in danger as she usually was. She decided that even if the latter was the case, she would escape as she miraculously always did.

“Aisa.” The prince called softly to her, causing her to look up at him.

“I do very much wish you would cease from calling me that silly name.” She responded, feigning nonchalance. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Petros scowl return. He was sitting opposite her and had been less antagonistic towards her when she came down to dinner, but at her words, he seemed to recall that her presence was a nuisance.

She expected the prince to act just as contemptuously, but he simply smiled and took off the locket hanging around his neck. He opened it for her to see and she gasped in surprise. It was a small portrait of her image, in which she looked younger, prettier, and more like royalty.

“If you desire Aisa, I shall tell you who you truly are and how you came to be where you are.”