Wistful Destiny

Prince Arson lands on the grounds of Elysia. He looks at the soil and the area around it. He had disguised himself as a fellow merchant.

"Their soil is very fertile." Arson mumbles, noticing shrubs growing on the pathway. He watched the street fill with people shopping from one shop to another.

"Aaron." The prince said this before the commander could say the usual greetings.

"Understood, Aaron." The commander memorized the name. "What are we doing next?" He asked, looking at the street slowly being decorated with flowers and lanterns.

"Something is being celebrated here," Arson whispered, pulling his black horse along with him as they stepped inside the market.

"Hello," Arson greets a shopkeeper, who immediately notices their attire and realizes they must be merchants.

"What would you like to buy, sir?" The shopkeeper immediately gestured to the items kept in the stall.

They were accessories worn by women, from hairpins and jewelry to anklets.

"Buy one for your queen, sir. I'm sure she will love it." The shopkeeper sugarcoats his words, hoping the man will buy them.

"This necklace will enhance her beauty tenfold." The shopkeeper picks up a dangling earring. "This earring is made from jade, is specially crafted, and is only one piece. You won't find the same anywhere here."

Arson looked around and noticed that even men had worn earrings. He widens his eyes, looking back at the shopkeeper. Even this old man was wearing a small one. It looks like in this kingdom everyone is fascinated with jewels.

"He doesn't have any queens." The commander comments, earning a glare from Arson. "Aaron, you should find us a queen soon. Look, who will wear this beautiful earning now?"

"You don't have a wife? That's shocking." The shopkeeper mumbled, keeping the earrings down. Surely, this man will not buy it.

"How much?" Arson asked, picking it up again and looking keenly at the earring.

"Just 10 miyan."

Arson looks at the commander and asks, "Do we have...?"

"Here, 10 miyan." The commander quickly gives from his pouch stuck with the waist belt.

"Can you tell us what's going on?" Arson asked, watching the man pack the earrings in a fancy, tiny pouch.

"Today's spiritual festival. On this day, every one of us spends the whole night worshipping Mother Earth. We celebrate with music and folk dance." The shopkeeper gives the pouch to Arson. "You can also participate. If you are here on this special day, It must be Mother Earth's will." The shopkeeper smiled and said, "You might find your queen too."

The commander laughed, while Arson gave a tight-lipped smile. Why are people so eager for his wedding? Even his father doesn't stop nagging him. He would show different portraits of princesses. Arson would only pick up his sword and jump from the balcony, running far away from those wedding vows.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"Prince, let me comb your hair." The servant was standing on the stool. However, the prince's head couldn't stay still. He would look for the color and dip his head from left to right, having full concentration on the painting.

"Today, I'll show my drawings to the people. Let me do one last touch-up." The prince whispered, adding a stroke to the cloth.

"By not letting others know, it's drawn by you."

"Of course, I will never do it. They'll praise me because of my status. I do not want that." The prince shook his head, keeping the brush aside.

They heard a knock on the door. An automatic smile stretched across the prince's lips. "Brother Aaron?" The servant was quick to bow to the crown prince.

The brother smiled, stepped inside the room, and asked, "Is Elric ready for the gathering?"

Elric smiled and said, "Absolutely." He looks down at his long teal-colored robe with floral designs using gold threads and beads. His white pants are tucked into jute shoes.

Aaron smiled, looking at his younger brother, and his eyes fell on the paintings. He sighed, earning his attention from Elric.

"When will you stop painting? We have painters to do this and anything you ask for." Aaron said it with a not-so-happy voice.

He is trying to get Elric to love swords over paint. However, it's fruitless because of his stubbornness and strong disagreement.

"I like painting, Crown Prince. I find solace and calmness in them." Elric replied politely with a bow, bringing a frown to Aaron's eyebrows.

"At least you love archery," Aaron mumbled, pinching his nose bridge.

"Alright, I was here to fetch you. Mother and Father are waiting for you." Aaron informs Elric, gesturing for him to follow him.

"You lead the way, brother. I shall follow you." Aaron nodded and turned away.

Elric looks at the servant and whispers, "Pack and send them to the market. We'll sneak later and see people's reactions." He was quick to follow his brother out.

The servant looks at paintings and complies with the task.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"My dear subjects, today is a beautiful day for us." The king said this aloud while looking at the crowd standing below the balcony. The king continued with his speech and events from earlier.

Elric was standing next to his mother, and Aaron was next to his father. They smiled at the crowd. The crowd was waiting for the final declaration by the king for the evening festival to begin.

Arson and his friend were also standing at the side and watching the scene keenly.

"My prince, they're the king and queen. Shall we address them?" The commander asked, looking at the royal family and back at Arson.

"We are merchants. I'm not the prince now." Arson replied and patted the head of his horse.

"Well, we did have merchants address his majesty to get permission for trading."

"Those are the rules of our nation. We don't know anything about this kingdom. First, we need to understand how this kingdom works. How do they handle trading? How many soldiers do they have?" The prince stopped patting the head.

"Perhaps we can attack and conquer this land too." The commander suggested it, looking at the crowd cheering.

"The wind can be a messenger too," Arson replied, glancing around, hoping nobody heard them.

"I apologize. I was thrilled with the idea of expanding our nation."

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"Prince, hide your face." The servant was quick to press a hat on Elric's head. He tied a veil over Elric's face.

"Don't forget who you are with your excitement." The servant mumbled, fixing the simple, plain robe of the prince.

"My head will be off my shoulder once the king knows about all these." The servant further added, glancing around for any guards.

The prince, who was a step behind the servant, said "And who will tell my father about this?" The servant could only shake his head and look around while stepping out of the palace, using a secret door from the garden.

"Ah, the market is so lively." Elric looks around the market. People were chattering and walking around while buying things at cheaper rates. The kids were throwing rings at items. Elderly people sit in a semicircle and chat with one another.

"Where are the paintings?" Elric asked the servant, who pointed at the end of the market, where there were none.

"Nobody to admire my work?" The servant could feel the dejection in Elric's voice.

"The celebration just started. I'm certain that many people will see your paintings." The servant tried to cheer the prince.

This was the first time the prince brought his paintings to the show. Last year, he saw artists doing the same and earning money. He thought to at least show his paintings and earn praise if not money. However, it looks like no one is interested in his work. Surely he has spent nights without sleep to create them.

The prince sits on the ground with a huff and looks at his paintings scattered around him. His hat hides his teary eyes when everyone passes by him. But none stopped to glance at least once at his creation. Were they not worth at least one look?

The servant kneels next to the prince, feeling helpless. He bites his lips, noticing the quiet prince. The usual chirpy personality is shadowed by insecurity. Perhaps the prince is doubting his talents now.

"I'll buy your favorite sweets." The servant informs him and quickly runs to the shop. He is hoping that seeing the sweets, the prince will cheer up.

A pair of boots stops in front of the prince. Elric, with happiness, looks up at the incomer. His teary eyes locked with Arson's, who was noticing everything from the corner. Whereas the commander went to get booze from a brothel.

"Hmm," Arson ducks in front of the paintings, looking at each one for attention.

Elric blinks his tears. He got emotional, which is not good for a prince who should know to hold and control his emotions. His curious eyes watched Arson scratch his chin.

He gulped a lump and whispered politely, "Are they worth your attention, kind mister?" He noticed his voice had turned softer, and he found it difficult to talk. He needs to drink water. However, he brought none.

"The strokes say it's painted by an amateur." Arson spoke honestly, breaking the tiny hope in Elric's eyes. Of course, he is not professional.

"This painter is thankful for the honest words." Elric bowed his head while biting his lips. Surely, this festival is turning into something he never imagined. He thought people would gather around him just like they did for their royal painter.

"But they sure look quite nice. It warms my heart." Arson further added and locked his eyes with Elric. He picks one of them. "How much?" He saw the beautiful eyes turn wide and close softly. Perhaps the person has a wide smile now.

"Mister, you are the first person to look at my paintings. So, I won't take anything from you." Elric replied with a wide smile.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and a little bit of sand reached Elric's eyes. He immediately closed it, looking away and rubbing his eyes profusely.

"Don't do that." Arson quickly takes his kerchief and gives it to Elric. "Blow on it and press it on your eyes."

Elric does not understand. He pressed the cloth to his eyes and rubbed it in the hope of the sand wearing off.

"Give it to me." Arson snatched the cloth, blew warm air on it, and pressed it against Elric's eyes.

Elric flinched at the foreign touch on his face. "Don't panic." He heard the buyer say it, and his mind calmed down. However, he's hoping for his friend to arrive and help him.

"Try opening your eyes." Arson instructs, watching how carefully Elric opens his eyes.

"You have a pair of beautiful eyes." The compliment left Arson's lips without his permission. Elric quickly looks away with a surpassed smile.

"I didn't mean to offend or anything. It was just a thought; don't take it negatively." Arson clarifies, hoping he didn't make the other person uncomfortable with his words.

Elric shook his head. Arson sighed and took the painting, scrolling it. "I'll take this then." Elric nodded. "But this is for you." Arson slides a fancy, tiny pouch toward Elric.

"Take this as a gift from your well-wisher." Arson further added, and he stood up. "You'll be a great painter."

Elric wanted to decline, but the way Arson had worded it, he couldn't do it. He opened the pouch and saw a pair of earrings. There was scribbling on it.

The moon glows with your brightness.

Elric chuckled; the man surely forgot that this was supposed to be given to a lady as a courting gift. Anyway, he will treasure it as someone who noticed his paintings.

At that instant, loud music could be heard from the central market. People started marching towards it.

"What's going on now?" Arson asked, glancing around. Elric realized this person must not be from here.

"I'm a merchant. I came here to buy herbs." Arson explained as though he could read the questions in her beautiful eyes.

Elric nodded. "Our traditional dance as a tribute to Mother Earth." He explained, and Arson blinked at the change of voice. It didn't sound like a lady. But if he is a man, why would he hide his face anyway?

"Actually, my throat has been itchy since morning." Elric lied. He can't let anyone see him.

"You can read my mind?" Arson asked with a laugh. He saw Elric's eyes close as though he were smiling too.

"I know the best view to see the dance," Elric said and stood up with excitement. However, he looks at this work lying on the ground. He can't leave them behind.

"Uh, you can just say the direction." Arson suggested.

Elric nodded and sat down. "You should take a right and then a left. Go to the extreme corner, and you'll see a huge tree. You can watch by sitting on it." Arson nodded, taking a step back.

With slight hesitation, Arson asked. "Alright, I'll see you?"

"Yeah, I'll be here," Elric replied, looking at his paintings. Surely, it'll take forever for them to sell.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"You gave her the earrings instead!" The commander shouts in between the loud sounds of drums.

"I don't have their money," Arson replied, watching a pair wearing colorful clothes and dancing in a circle.

"My prince, how can you carry money when I'm with you? Now, what will you give to our future queen?" The commander asked, looking at the people one by one, joining the pair and expanding the circle.

"She can get whatever she wants. But the painter had beautiful eyes. Those eyes forced me to pick one of the paintings. I didn't like the sadness filling them. She looked broken when nobody paid attention. I did not like the way she was sitting, dejected. I understand these don't look great. But---"

"Whoa, are you realizing what I'm seeing?" the commander asked with wide eyes, although they were shining brightly compared to the brightness of the lantern around them.

"What?" Arson asked with confusion.

The commander looked around and asked. "Where is she?"

"The other side of the market is probably trying to sell her paintings."

The commander gasped. "Our queen is sitting on the ground?"

"What!" Arson narrowed his eyes. What's this commander trying to say?

"Our queen is trying to make a living by selling her paintings when she can have the whole Amorite palace at her feet." The commander jumped from the tree.

"What are you saying?" Arson quickly follows his instinct and lands on the ground.

"This is the first time you are talking about something other than swords and an army." The commander points it out. Arson blinks and looks away.

The commander wriggles his eyebrows and continues, "Perhaps you liked her eyes first? Later, her paintings."

Arson looks away muttering, "What nonsense!"

"Alright, if we return to where you bought this painting. Will your eyes search for her?"

Arson didn't know how to tackle this question. He will surely look for her and see whether she's successful in her business.

"On which corner of the palace will you place this?" The commander gestured to the scroll secured in the fist of the prince.

Arson didn't think about it. "Uh-somewhere visible?"

"Probably the battleground is a nice, visible place." The commander suggested it while scratching his chin.

Arson rolled his eyes. "Unbelievable."

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"My prince, we should head back." The servant whispered while hastily packing the remaining paintings.

"Why? Someone just bought it."

"The crown prince might be looking for you, " the servant said, looking around, hoping nobody noticed their route back to the palace.

Elric looks at his servant with confusion. "Brother? Why?"

"I do not know. But, I suggest, we should return." The servant pressed on each word and stood straight while fixing his attire.

Elric heaves a sigh and looks in the direction Arson went. He remembers saying that he'd be here. Perhaps destiny doesn't want them to meet again.

"We shall return, then." Elric fixed his hat and stood up. When he stood straight, the fancy pouch fell to the ground.

"What is that?" The servant asked. These two share a bond of friendship rather than that of a prince and servant.

"I shall explain later," Elric says, securing the pouch in his belt.

Another breeze passed through the space when Arson reached the area.

"She said she'd wait for me," Arson said, pointing at the space. "Here," he later added, looking around for the lady. However, he found none who wore a hat, hid her face, had beautiful eyes, and wore the same attire.

"Perhaps she left?" The commander questioned him, looking around the place even though he didn't know who he was looking for.