'Tirus informed me of your urgent request, Kaitus,' said Suarus, addressing the man wrapped in green, barely visible in the shadows.

A gentle wind blew through the courtyard, swirling around its aged trees, scattering the white petals of its full bloom. Kaitus glanced through the archways leading to the clamorous ballroom, taking a step closer. 'I carry a message from The Wise.'

Suarus's blood clotted at the mention of him. The shatterer of her perfect world.

'He requests an urgent meeting after sunrise on the morrow at the usual place.'

A deep frown creased the space between her eyebrows, lost for what to do, fearful of what will come.

'I need a confirmation, Your Highness.'

Suarus nodded, agreeing despite her inner conflict. Kaitus withdrew into the darkness of the courtyard, disappearing.

Kaitus, too, joined the cause. She did not expect it. Never before had she doubted his devotion to The Gaxma Temple and its high priest, Evixrus. How many more supporters does The Wise have within the temple, she wondered, gazing at the night's sky, a dome of bright green. The distant music called her back to the ballroom. She followed the faint tunes that echoed off the stone archway leading out of the courtyard. Tirus stood at the end of it, waiting. She followed when Suarus had passed, walking a step behind, hands folded against her stomach.

'Anything of importance?' she whispered.

'Tell the hostler to prepare the horses for an early ride,' said Suarus, her attention shifting to the young lady approaching their way.

'Princess!' cheerfully cried the young woman, surprised, a smile reaching her eyes, 'What are you doing out here while everyone in the ballroom is having all the fun?'

'I escaped for some fresh air,' Suarus's voice reverberated, smiling back.

Both chuckled as they finally stood face to face. They warmly greeted each other with a hug.

'You look stunning Suarus, has my brother seen you yet? I bet he'll go crazy over this maroon dress.' She winked.

Pink brightly powdered Suarus's cheeks, averting her gaze. 'He hadn't arrived at the time I left, not long ago. What about you?' she asked, 'What were you doing out here, lovely future sister-in-law? Searching for someone perhaps?'

The young woman cleared her throat. 'I was searching for you, sis!' She giggled, entwining her arm with Suarus's, their shoulders brushing.

'I'll pretend to believe that.'

'What do you mean?' She blushed. 'I was looking for you, really!'

'I meant nothing, Nelus, absolutely nothing.' She smirked. 'We better return to the ball,' said Suarus taking a step forward.

'Wait, Suarus,' Nelus uttered, not moving, forcing her to a stop. 'Are you feeling better? You know, after this morning. Lanesirus told me what happened.' A worried furrow grazed the space between her eyebrows that very much resembled her brothers.

'I am much better now, my dear, thank you.' Suarus warmly smiled, placing a hand over Nelus's.

'I am glad to know.'

Nelus had always been the closest to Suarus, even though she was a decade younger than she was. That sisterly bond they shared was always there, even before she was engaged to Lanesirus before he confessed his love to her on that one starry night on the meadow where they had played every night that summer. A moment stolen from time forever engraved in her heart.

'Shall we?' asked Suarus, turning in the direction of the ballroom.

Nelus nodded, and together, they approached the three men's tall double door entrance. The two uniformed doorkeepers on each side pulled open the heavy golden doors unveiling the crowded ballroom where dancers swayed to the rhythmic music vibrating against the walls of red silk.

'Do you see my brother anywhere?' said Nelus, leaning closer, her eyes scanning the guests.

'No, but I see Prince Risanius.'

'What, where?' asked Nelus, searching, cheeks burning bright red.

Suarus chuckled, a hand over her mouth.

'What's funny?' Nelus stopped the search, glaring at her.

'Nothing,' replied Suarus holding back a smirk.

'Oh Suarus, don't joke about such a thing. My heart almost stopped!' She pulled her arm from Suarus's, placing both hands on top of each other over her chest.

'I just wanted to excite you since this gathering is dull enough.'

'Of course, it would be. Your precious fiancé is not here yet!' Nelus crossed her arms, looking away.

'Prince Risanius,' whispered Suarus with closed teeth, nudging Nelus with her elbow.

Nelus ignored her, shrugging her shoulders.

'What a blissful event that gathers us tonight, my lovely princesses,' said the prince with a regal dip of his head.

'Blissful indeed, Prince Risanius,' replied Suarus, glancing at the frozen Nelus next to her.

'How both of you are doing this evening?' he asked, eyes fixed on Nelus, who dodged his gaze the longest possible, busying herself with the strand of hair she twisted around her finger.

'Great, thank you—' The words froze in Suarus's mouth, her genuine smile faded, replaced by a fake at the sight of the alluring woman joining them.

'Where is Prince Lanesirus from this joyous gathering, cousin?' coquettishly, she asked, looking over her exposed shoulders, her fingers teasing the locket around her neck.

'Lanesirus is on his way. He must have been caught up with important matters. Don't be in such a hurry, Astarus. He'll be here soon enough.'

'Oh, I hope he joins us soon,' she said a bit too dramatic, 'I am looking forward to a dance with our noble prince.' Astarus's dark blue eyes locked on Suarus's, a defiant glint to them.

Suarus turned, not allowing herself to engage further in the futile discussion. They never clicked Astarus and her, despite their external remarkable resemblance, being first cousins, sharking their father's blood. However, there was a time when they did. A long, long time ago. Before Laniserus's presence in their life. Before his family moved to the capital, their cold relationship worsened after the declaration of the royal engagement. Astarus had lost the battle of winning Lanesirus's affection, but that never stopped her from loving him.

Instruments fell to a sudden stop, the doors of the ballroom opened, the king's arrival announced. 'His Majesty, King Homokirus, and Her Majesty, Queen Elsanius.'

Saurus's chest tightened, dread washing over her.

Guests parted, creating a path for the king and queen to pass. Eyes followed as the couple walked arms engaged up the dais to the throne.

Suarus excused herself. She was to be the first to greet the king as accustomed, supposedly with the heir to the throne, Lanisirus, who she could not find on her way up the dais. She kneeled in front of her father. Her head bowed, fingertips touching the outspread royal mantle. She lifted her gaze, looking into his greyish eyes, hints of blue rimming its irises. How much she loved them, but today, what she felt looking at them was unbearable. She leaned closer, taking his extended hand, stamping a sorrowful kiss atop it.

'I am delighted to see you feeling better, my child,' said her father, his hand pulled back.

'Blessed be who meets your majesty's face,' she said, forcing a smile as she rose, turning to her stepmother. She dipped her head, knee slightly bent. 'Greetings on this blissful day, mother.'

'Oh, thank you, Suarus. You look charmingly beautiful this evening, as always.'

Suarus thanked her, politely excusing herself, allowing the flow of endless greeters to ascend as she escaped her father's stifling presence. Looking at her hasty footsteps down the stairs, she bumped into someone, and when she lifted her head to see who it was, Lanesirus's ice-blue stare surprised her.

A wave of heat tingled her scalp, burning against the skin of her ears. Words evaporated from her head, leaving her temporarily blank. She glanced back at the dais where he was going, moving aside for him to pass, hoping he would continue on his way. Instead, his hand clutched hers, leading her to the middle of the ballroom, where a soft tune bounced off the enormous domed ceiling. Surprise glazed her eyes as her legs complied, not resisting. Her sight pinned on the dashing man wrapping her waist with his arm as music conducted their moves. His hand tugged her closer, sealing the space between them. Spicy and warm was his scent that evening. It added to his charm, as did the dip of his dimples. They did not speak throughout the dance, but their eyes passionately did. She fought the lump knotting in her throat, wanting to think of nothing but her prince. Drunken with love, she smiled, eyes moistly glinting. The ballroom around her at that moment was nonexistent.

The music eventually came to an end. A little too soon, she thought as Lanesirus's grip released hers. Both took a step back, bowing. She then noticed the guests' amused glances upon them, feeling the burn of its heat.

Flushed, she left the dancefloor, cutting through the crowd, escaping to the quietest corner of the hall. Facing a large, floor-touching arched window, she stopped profoundly breathing the cool night's breeze that seeped through the ajar glass door.

'Suarus,' Lanesirus's voice called warm and alluring.

She turned. Her hands pressed against her chest as if to calm her wild heart. 'I almost lost hope of you coming tonight,' she said, failing to hide the passion in her tone.

He drew closer, whispering, 'I wanted to see if you'd miss me.'

'Not funny.' She turned her back to him, looking at the lush garden outside. The reflection of his towering figure closed in behind her, his breath tickling the back of her neck.

'You look ravishing in this maroon gown,' he whispered, pushing her hair away, exposing her neck.

'Shouldn't you be greeting the king?'

'I can't, Your Highness. I am helplessly under your spell.' His forefinger tackled her dangling earring.

'This sweet talk won't change the fact that you were late. I had to endure Astarus's tasteless comments.'

'Maybe this will make it up to you,' he said, placing a golden necklace on her décolletage.

She gasped, holding its round-shaped pendant, turning to face him. 'Lanesirus!'

A big smile reached his eyes, kneeling before her.

Her hand traveled to her mouth, glancing around. 'What are you doing? People will see us!' she whispered.

'I apologize to you, my love, for the pain I've caused you.'

'Please, stand up!' she breathlessly hissed, grabbing his sleeve in an attempt to lift him off the ground.

'First, tell me if I was forgiven.'

'You are, please, stand up.'

He rose, wrapping an arm around her waist, stealing a kiss from her unguarded lips. She playfully pushed him away, turning her back to him. 'Would you mind?' she said, coyly collecting her golden curls unveiling the back of her neck.

The cold chain of gold tickled her, rapidly absorbing the warmth of her skin once it rested snugly around her neck, the sun-shaped pendant it carried above her chest.

'Let me see,' asked Lanesirus, his eyes devouring her.

She let go of her hair, tuning.

'Perfection. Suarus, the sun of my world.'

She smiled, looking at the floor, beats of her heart racing.

The tolls of the bell washed into the hall. Music and dancing stopped, and the gates opened for the guests to exist.

'It is time,' said Lanesirus, reaching for her hand. She took it, marching with him behind the crowds, fear slithering inside of her.

Outside, green had swallowed everything, and in the courtyard where she had met Kaitus earlier, the obelisk's beaming luminosity intensified, its pillar of light piercing through the sky, visible from where they stood. It hummed loud as its vibrations traveled through the ground. Desirable and sweet was its tune—a honied song of a hungry siren, calling its unaware prey to its fate of doom. Suarus's breathing drastically slowed. Her consciousness slipping, a presence awakening inside of her. Terrified, she clenched onto Lanesirus's arm, fingers digging into his shoulder.

'Suarus? You look pale?' Are you alright?

She blinked, gulping. Her throat felt impossibly dry as she answered, 'I... I need to rest.'

Lanesirus's grip supported her. 'You are unwell. I'll call for the physician to examine you!' he said, his hand raised attempting to call the servant not far away.

'No.' She lifted her head and met his worried gaze. 'I'll feel better once I rest. There is no need for the physician.'

'Alright, then allow me to take you to your quarters.'

'There is no need, my love. Tirus is here somewhere. She'll accompany me.'

He looked around, failing to find Tirus in the crowd. 'But I insist,' he said, his attention back to her.

'Don't forget that you haven't greeted the king yet.' She forced a smile. 'As the heir, you need to be here during the prayer.'

Lanesirus sighed, finally surrendering to her persistence. 'I'll stay, but I'll pass by your chamber once the prayer is over to check on you.'

She nodded, diving into the blue of his eyes, every detail of his face memorized. She leaned and kissed his cheek, inhaling his scent before letting go, disappearing into the crowds.

A blanket of sheer sweat covered her in spite of the striking cold that suddenly clung to her skin. Her chest tightened, the presence sprouting within her stronger. From the corner of her eye, she saw Tirus rush towards her, leaving the gathering of handmaids she was with.

'Your Highness, is everything alright?' she asked, alarmed.

Suarus did not reply, her hasty steps clacking as she walked. In her haste, she tripped on the length of her dress. Tirus braced her, preventing a certain fall. Instead of the expected thank you, Suarus coldly pulled away, her features unreadable and without a word she walked away. Tirus stood there, baffled for a long moment before going after her.

Both climbed the spiral staircase that led to Suarus's quarters. Once in the privacy of the west wing, alone, Tirus grabbed on Suarus's wrist, forcefully stopping her. 'What's wrong, Suarus?' she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of rage and fear.

Suarus lowered her head, panting. Her eyes searched the floor as if trying to find the right answer. 'Tirus, please, I want to be alone.'

'I'll be here,' she said, tightening her grip on Suarus. 'Call me if you needed anything.' Her hand slipped off, conjoining her other behind her back.

'Thank you,' said Suarus in a whisper before continuing her way to her chamber, its door booming closed behind her.

Patterns of light dances in the dim room. The curtain's swoosh and hummes ascending from outside harmonious. A deep sigh escaped Suarus's tired lungs as she walked towards the window, her hand unbuttoning the bodice of her dress that felt unbearably tight. She pulled the curtain, sliding it wide open, unveiling the endless sea of humans gathered outside the palace walls. Her sad eyes glistened. Unspilled tears reflecting the bright green. A memory flashed in her head. Her younger self, a decade ago, standing where she stood today, baffled and mesmerized. So young and naive she was. A girl of seventeen bewildered by the greatest of gods. Little did she know back then of the truth.

With a shrug of her shoulders, her dress ruffled off her body, falling around her ankles. In a state of trance she stood, feeding on the penetrative warmth tingling her bare skin, the foreign ravenousness growing inside of her satisfied.

Her awareness of time and place slipped away, her ears buzzing with an onslaught of voices, a thousand tongues speaking all at once. Fearful, she backed away, turning away from the light. Her welled eyes locked on the painting facing her. The woman in it seemed to judged her existence, her lips of crimson curled in disdain. A present from her father for her seventh birthday, the year her mother died. Was it to keep her mother's memory alive or a clever way to honorably discard of the portrait? She looked away.

A faint chill touched her skin with the sequential booming of the ten fired canons that shook the ground underneath. She reached for the creamy translucent nightgown laid on the bed quickly slipping it on. She then resided to the furthest and darkest corner of her room sliding against the wall, sitting on the ground. She hugged her knees, observing the light's gradual retreat, its green replaced by the tranquil silver of moonlight.

She sobbed, burying her head in her lap. Tomorrow, her day of judgment, what will she decide?