101 Lancelo

It was a very nice weather. The sun was beautiful, giving a fresh cozy heat like spring to summer, as the gardens are blooming with beautiful flowers. The grass are growing and smelled so wonderfully. I inhale the fresh air. And duck when someone told me to duck. I look at the stone that almost hit me and glare at my brother Laurence.

"You almost hit my head. Are you trying to kill me, Laurence?"

"Sorry, just practicing." He smiled guiltily as I only shook my head.

"I smell a maiden of Era." Calvin said as he sniffled like a dog. "Horses and sweet voice." He grins at me. "It was a maiden of Era."

"You said that twice now." I told him. Our sister was the Goddess of Soul and yet Goddess or not, I miss her. I inhale and thought about her. Is she eating well? Is she sleeping well? Are people treating her well? Lots of people here, hates human and she's in the humans' world.

I don't hate humans or despite them. They are just like us but in different way. I sigh again thinking if she's safe there. We vow our loyalty and protection for her. It's been months since she left the château. It's been months since we are practicing the special gift that she's given to us.

"We did miss her as well." Calvin told. "Now fix that—" before he even finishes his sentence, Laurence appear in front of me startling me and already fixing my clothes and my hair and everything. Since I am the one who doesn't care about looks.

These two always look good during meeting of maidens and so on and forth. Well, I am just here being patient waiting for my soul mate. We will meet and meet if we are meant for each other and I decline of going on entertaining woman from other houses.

"Why are you wearing this clothes? You are full of sweat and you are still dirty from the training." Laurence scold me like a child. "Mamman!" he calls. "Mamman, your son didn't even take a good bath for the Princess of Era." I frown at him.

"The princess will be here soon."

"I guess in thirty minutes." Calvin told. "They stop by somewhere and she's talking really, really seductive." Calvin said as Laurence's ears gets bigger.

"Really? What is her name again? I think I had seen her."

"Come here now, Lancelot. Better use that minutes to groom yourself." I exhales and let my Mamman drag me to my bathroom and started helping the servants on my clothing. I pouted at her since I don't like bathing early in the morning after the training. Because I wanted another training after another.

I sat down on the tub and started scrubbing myself that is full of soap and whatever oil they put. I got startled when Mamman came scolding me for being so lousy and started scrubbing my back and my face. She's still not tired on treating me like a baby.

"You are spoiling me too much, Mamman."

"I love you, that's why. But it isn't appropriate not to take a bath after playing with dirt and all. We are accompanying a Princess!"

"As you wish Mamman." I wash my face and rubbed it, then my hair and Mamman left me.

Once that I am done, I put on my inner clothing and servants help me dressed up like a real Lord. Laurence appear on the bed startling us with an apple on his hand and watch me grooming myself. He dismiss the servants and he's the one started fixing me in a very soundless, fast motion. I just held up my hand as I let him do what he wished. I still feel like a child every time Mamman and Laurence do that. I am older but he's the one who look older.

"They are here!" Calvin said aloud from the window and Laurence grab me as he run in very fast motion and I found myself falling down on the grass. Laurence and Calvin laughs at me and I glare at them. I frown and stood remove dirt from my clothes and look up at the upcoming people.

There's no carriage. Just a ten horses, the Commander and the woman in red velvet cloak. My eyes stop on hers, beautiful. It catches my heart, and it is now beating crazy that it never beats before. Her emerald eyes was like the gem that I've been seeking for. Her nose was a bit small, she has a strong expression and her lips was crossbow curves.

I think I stop breathing. They stop in front of us and she break her eyes from mine as the Commander took her from the horse. She wasn't wearing a lady's dress. But a pair of pants and armored like that is made for her. The top that she's wearing has a long sleeve and covers her chest from being shown. Her boots was made of fine leather. She's an utterly beautiful woman.

"Princess Althea of Era was sent with us through the King's order." The Commander Lopez announced.

"Princess," they all bows but I seemed to be stiffen. Laurence nudge me. I walk toward her and bow at her, still mesmerized on her beauty.

"Princess," I acknowledge and offer my hand, she took it and I squeeze her hands. It was soft and there's a hint of roughness on few parts, but everything are soft. "I'm Lancelot, the second son of d'Auvergne." I kisses the back of her hand without leaving my eyes off her emerald one. She did not smile or flinch. She just look back at me as well. She smell heavenly as well.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lancelot." Her voice strong, seductive and alluring. Not too soft and sweet, but it was all seductive and alluring. I could drown on her voice. I squeeze her hand gently and still gape at her.

Someone nudge me and I look down on her hand and gently let it go. Next was Laurence who is playing childish and Calvin who apologize on my actions. My father kisses the Princess's hand and my mother curtsied at her. She curtsied back and smile a little. She's not a smiler, isn't she? Still, she was the most beautiful woman I ever met among all of the maidens that try to seduce me.

"You must all be tired from your long journey. We had prepare a soup and decent foods for all of you."

"Thank you. We all appreciate your kindness." She told. The servants took their belongings and we went on the pavilion for our lunch. The princess is just sitting in front of me, she's with the Commander and her personal knight. Not a handmaiden.

"Our daughter, Guinevere couldn't accompany us. She's been in Outsideworld for her to learn the people."

"My brother has been to outsideworld for years. I am sure that she's getting used on their modern technology and modern living."

"Have you been to the outsideworld, your highness?" Calvin asked. Does I have my tongue tied? I should ask that.

"I had visited." She answer and eat so graceful and don't ask anything else.

"Which flower is your liking, Princess Althea?" I finally asked her with my gorgeous smile. She only look at me directly into my eyes.

"I like all flowers, though it might smell bad or not. Flowers is on our nature for liking." Stupid of me.

"Do you love something especially?" she thought and look outside. I followed on where she is gazing.

"Lilies." She answer. I smiled like a crazy teenage boy in love to someone. Laurence kick me under the table. "Do you always play archer here?" she asked still her eyes are focused on the lilies and the targets that are around.

"We do." Papa answer. "My sons and warriors always have their daily training."

"I see. That's why you have the biggest and strongest warriors in the whole world."

"We do it to protect our people and help people who are in need of our assistance."

"I'm glad that you use it in that way." She told. "The Goddess might be delighted to hear that." Which Goddess is she speaking about? Is it my sister?

"We will be pleased to serve the Gods and Goddesses." Mamman told. She smiled beautifully.

"I am happy to hear such things. Back on our castle, I never heard my father saying such a good thing to keep peace." We are all fall into silent.

"We are sorry about your father." She shook her head.

"He deserve it. There's no sorry about it." What a very cold heart she got. I will have it myself. Her heart and soul and her love. I will make her fall on me. "My brother, the new King has been doing great to serve the people and do his duties. The Queen, Goddess of Universe was protecting us from harm of Abyss."

"It is really true that she's the Goddess of Universe?" Calvin asked curiously.

"Yes." She answer.

The meal was good at all. Mamman escorted her to her suite that is far away from us. Damn, I wanted to see her. I keep sulking while walking around the garden. She's tired and everyone are tired from their long journey. Yet here I am outside her room, looking up on the balcony, as birds chirping there.

"Althea," I murmur her name again. I frown at Laurence who appear beside me.

"Wow, you are in love, my dear brother."

"Please, I need to clear my thoughts."

"I guess she's the soul mate that our sister is talking about."

She got out from the balcony and look down at us. She's more beautiful on that dress of her. Laurence stepped back as she walk downstairs to meet us. We bow at her.

"Is there anything we can serve you, your highness?" Laurence asked. She look at him and to me. Wow, those emerald eyes of her never fail to make my heart beats crazily.

"Yes. I would like to ask about your sister." Why Guinevere? We look at each other. "Adhiti, Queen of Era asked me about the three of you. She wanted to speak with you soon as she's done from her searching. She needed your help, as an apprentice of Goddess of Soul, your sister."

"How do you know such thing?" I ask her formally.

"She told me about it. She trust me that's why."

"That's why you are here?" Laurence asked.

"I'm here for the conference and asking for your people's help to fight darkness."

"Would you wanted to have a walk with me tonight?" she blinks for a while curious and quizzical. "I could delightfully, tell you everything."

"I will be going." Laurence bows and disappear in a snap. She didn't seemed amazed or what like she already knows it.

"You can tell everything now."

"I am telling it tonight to woo you, your highness." Her eyes dilated surprised on what I told. She's a pure good person, though she might act cold. I can see it. She is just longing for a love of a father and a family. I can see that she's brave enough and show enough bravery.

"Why?" I didn't expect that question of her.

"I'll tell you why if you let me visit tonight."

"I'm curious, then visit me tonight, after dinner." I smiled and gently took her hand as I pressed my lips on the back of her hand.

"Tonight it is."