Thoughts

Zao POV

I'm trying to concentrate on what Minister Kibi is telling me while simultaneously pondering the fact that I stole his name. I looked into the eyes of the most alluring woman I have ever met and told her my name is Kibi. Right now, it seems quite amusing to me. I wonder how he would react if he knew.

I force myself to concentrate on his words, leaning further towards him.

Minister Kibi explains his plan to expand palace positions to everybody, including pensants. He is quite an idealistic young man, but at his prime age, he isn't really.

At his age, I was rebellious simply for the sake of rebelling. I wanted nothing that my father wanted for me simply because he wanted it for me. I wanted to create my own part and my own destiny.

Looking at him, I feel a sort of connection as he speaks about his plans, hopefully. It is a dangerous goal he has. None of the other nobles will want it. But time changes things, and I'm honestly tired of the same old traditions.

"Your father would be proud of you," I say to him. He smiled triumphantly at my statement.

His father was just like him, the same pure energy. He was the only clean air I had at court during his time. He was simply one of the kindest souls.

Minister Kibi continues explaining his plan, but my mind twitches once more toward Aurora. The way her smile reaches her eyes How she always waves at me enthusiastically when she says goodbye.

How can I put her out of my mind when she is the only woman who has caught my attention?

"Your majesty?" Minister Kibi calls out to me, interrupting my train of thought. He looks at me inquisitively. "Are you okay, your majesty?"

I try to compose myself, fixing on my neutral facial expression: "Yes, I've heard all you've said, Minister Kibi. We have a long way to go if we are going to implement that". 

He smiles gently, the excitement hidden in his eyes. He places his hands on the table and leans forward to me, saying, "Your Majesty, I don't seem to intrude, but you appear greatly burdened." I look at him, wondering what he is going to say next.

"I cannot begin to imagine how hard it must be for you without anyone to confide in as a friend. Everyone needs one. Your majesty, permit me to be a friend to you, someone you can confide in."

I am slightly taken aback by his confidence and candid manner. I concentrate on him, trying to get a read on his energy in depth. His offer is fascinating, with no hint of self-interest.

"Minister Kibi, I might take you up on your offer, but not today." I say in a tone I hope sounds polite.

He smiles at me as he stands up, takes a bow, and then leaves the room.

Alone, my mind freely consorts with Aurora. Without a doubt, my body will follow my mind's hunger.

The garden is empty when I get there. I wait for her patiently, imagining her smile when she finally gets here.

After some time of sitting, I anxiously stand up, wondering if I'm being too confident about her wanting to see me too. I pushed that thought out of my head. I walk around the garden, plucking little flowers that I assemble to make a bracelet.

The sun goes down in the sky, leaving beautiful colors, but there is no Aurora. I dropped the flower bracelet I made on the bench. It's vibrant colours pops against the bench.

***

I'm watching every palace maiden closely, thinking one of them will be Aurora. Every time I see a lady with similar skin and body structure, I stand up eagerly, even though I know I can sense her energy easily.

Aurora becomes a ghost, hunting me in the corridors of the palace.

At the garden again, I wait on her holding the flower bracelet that is now brown, completely out of color, just like my mind in the days without Aurora. I try to stop thinking of her loss, but every time I try, her face becomes more vivid in my head. Sometimes I feel her energy around me, even though I know she isn't close.

I don't dream of Princess Deze again; all I dream of is Aurora. It's almost like the fairies cannot put Princess Deze in my head when all my mind wants to think of is Aurora.

I am like young boys seeing ladies for the first time. My mind drowns in Aurora.

Aurora POV 

I am constantly amused by the fact that I did meet a demigod. I had conversations with a demigod. I thought a demigod was an assistant cook in the palace. Sometimes the impossible makes more sense; this is one of those times. Kibi was far from looking human; his presence was nothing like that of a palace worker.

For a practice test, I've been assigned to serve a human noble for the day. It was a relief because I needed to stop thinking about Kibi.

I arranged tea cups on a floral ceramic tray as the girls giggled in the other room. They talk about men they think about and who they prefer to court. I take some cookies and arrange them on a smaller tray with the same design as the big one.

Everything comes easily to me now, including bowing to nobles and serving on time. My legs and shoulders don't hurt as much as they used to. The palace is beginning to feel like home to me. As she serves them, they mostly ignore me as they chatter endlessly. They are all dressed exquisitely for an afternoon tea with friends, in my opinion. What I've learned about the palace is that nobles live lives of extreme extravagance. They are all wearing silks in different colors and jewelry that sparkles against their perfect skin, which glistens richly. These are skins that have no experience with the island's sun.

Sometimes Kibi has his dreads tied in a bun, other times he has them flowing free in the wind. I've wanted to touch them several times, but I always maintained the same distance as he did. Now I know he probably avoided touching me because he didn't want to touch a mere palace worker.

 

In the King's personal palace, I peep into hallways before stepping into them, checking to see if I'll see any sign of a royal robe. I don't know what I'll do when I eventually see the king. Being the Princess Maiden, I won't escape seeing him for long. Seeing him would confirm what I already know, and I don't know what to do with it all.

My anger annoys me. I have no right to be angry. The King found it interesting to spend time with me, even though he pretended to be someone else. I should be grateful. Yet I feel betrayed and played with.

The days pass slowly as my thoughts wander endlessly to places I try to avoid. In the room, Soka tries to get me to talk about what I'm always thinking about, and I want to tell her, but I don't know how. Instead, I change the conversation, making sure she talks about her dramatic relations with her rude noble.