Shielding the Prince

It was midday when I sat in the garden while Prince Cassius played, or rather, attempted to play the violin. Holding the bow at a crooked angle, he would often play a few notes, only to stop to read the sheet music.

“Ah, Janessa, it is no use.”

I burst into a giggle and said, “You'll get there, Prince Cassius.”

A fountain lay beside our bench, and the bushes were cut into various animal shapes, such as swans, mice, and bears.

Yet again, Cassius destroyed the rhythm of the rippling water with the screech of his violin.

Needless to say, soon, I kept closing my eyes until awakening once the note of the strings sounded.

When will this end? I'm bored to death! I really need friends; other people to talk to are quite necessary.

“Please excuse me, your highness!” I said, getting up at once.

“Oh, are you tired of it, too? Not much I can do…” he said.

He kept the violin on the bench and shrugged.

“No, that's not the problem. I just need to take a walk.”

"Alright, Janessa."

I stretched my lips to fake a smile and exited beneath the flowering arches. The pathway was made of colourful stones.

At the edge of the garden, where all the birds gathered on the grass to peck on bread crumbs, I saw Yuko. Her brown and purple hair was tied in a low ponytail, and she was wrapped in a shawl over her dress.

Ah, it's the nice girl from breakfast with Princess Amelia! Maybe she can be my friend!

“Yuko!” I said.

She wiped her face with her hand and said in a teary voice, “Who's there?”

“It's just me, Janessa.”

I walked towards her, gripping onto my pale yellow dress to raise the hem so that I wouldn't trip over.

“Oh. Please, do not come near me.”

She broke down in tears.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

She dried her face with her shawl.

“You see, those pixies have hurt me badly. They mistook me for being on their opposing side.”

My eyes narrowed as I drew closer and said, “Hurt you badly?! We need to get you to a doctor!”

“Please, Janessa, I am alright. I just need some time alone.”

"Oh. Okay…”

This really doesn't feel right.

She averted her eyes, and her back faced me.

I walked away while looking at the ground. By the time I reached Cassius, the violin was already in its black, glossy case, and he looked into the distance while sitting.

“Cass…” I said in a low voice.

He locked eyes with me at once and said, “Please sit here, next to me," while patting the bench.

“Alright.”

I walked briskly, only to trip several times, until Cassius finally caught me.

“That dress is far too long,” he said.

“Do you think so? I'll roll up the hem, in that case, or just make it short.”

Cassius nodded, and I held his hand with a strong grip.

“Janessa, what is the matter?” He asked.

I bit my lip and said, “I found Yuko crying because she was attacked by a pixie.”

“Pesky little ones. I will look into the matter,” he said.

“Really?” I said, smiling. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

He beamed, got up, and ran his fingers through my hair.

Ah, it seems so heavenly. Hmm, no sign of the statue.

A shadow approached us, so I held onto my magic pendant.

Do I have to fight it? Or should I just run? I feel like I can take him on!

I looked at Cass, who had his eyes closed.

How the heck is he going to warn me if he keeps his eyes closed?

“Prince Cassius?” asked Jim from afar.

Oh, wait, it’s just Jim.

Jim dashed into the garden and exclaimed, “Your highness, Lord Luke has returned from his excursion, and wishes to see you as soon as possible.”

The Prince let go of my hair and straightened his back, with his arms behind his back.

“Really? Luke? After so long!” said Cassius. “Tell him to meet me at once.”

“Understood, your highness,” said Jim.

Jim ran off at the same swiftness that he entered.

I blinked profusely a couple of times. The Prince’s eyes lit up.

I’ve never seen such a bright grin on his face as the one now.

“Who's that?” I asked.

“Why, Janessa, Luke is my dearest friend since childhood. I am sure he will be delighted to meet you, as you are my future wife.”

“Oh, that’s great!”

I get that he wished me to be his wife, but there isn’t a ring on my finger yet.

“Janessa, I am certain he will appreciate your lightheartedness.”

Heh, I’m more informal and blunt rather than lighthearted.

“Really? Do you want me to fool around in front of him?” I teased.

“Umm, I am not so sure about that.”

“I’m kidding.”

“Ah, you are lighthearted indeed.”

He wrapped his arms around me in an embrace. His sweet scent filled my senses as I breathed heavily.

Here I go again, fantasizing about the prince. I do wonder what it will be like, but I guess he’ll keep me “pure” before marriage.

“Janessa, I have wondered why you do not speak as much as you used to.”

“Cass, I’ve never been an extreme chatterbox. I do like talking, though. But nowadays, I’ve been thinking a lot.”

“Oh, thinking about what? I did not expect such an intellectual expression.”

Is he making fun of me or what?

“Your highness, that joke was offensive.”

“Ah, I was teasing, dear Janessa. You must counter such remarks. Although I apologize if I hurt you.”

My lavender dress flowed with the wind, as did the trees and our hair. I stared into his gleaming eyes as he looked into mine.

“Janessa, your silence is rather unsettling.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not hurt, I’m trying to come up with a good reply!”

He chuckled while looking away, looked back at me, blushed, and smiled. I felt my heart skip a beat.

Jim rushed back into the garden, nearly tripped, and regained his composure.

After clearing his throat, Jim said, “Your Highness, Lord Luke has arrived.”

“Oh, please let him in here.”

“Understood.”

From a distance, I saw a young man with light grey, long hair tied back, dressed in a loose, white, silk shirt and tweed trousers. His deep-sunken eyes were lost in his dark circles, and he had neither smile nor frown.

Cassius, on the other hand, paced forward swiftly, leaving my side.

“Your highness,” said Luke.

The prince placed his hand on Luke’s shoulder.

“Luke! My good fellow, it has been far too long since we last saw each other. How are you? I hope all is well.”

Luke looked at the ground, and his eyes didn’t meet those of Cassius.

“Indeed.”

Cassius flinched as Luke’s shoulders drooped, and his eyebrows knitted together.

“Indeed? Is that all? Luke, it has been years.”

Luke crossed his arms and looked into Cassius’s eyes.

“Yes, I am aware of that. I am afraid that time is a cruel creature; it robs one of sleep and human bonds and only leaves behind short-lasting memories.”

Cassius moved his hand away.

“Luke, whatever is the matter? You may discuss with me. We should leave the garden,” said Cassius.

“Should I just go to my room, then?!” I yelled, loud enough for him to hear.

Luke glanced over Cassius, and his eyes scanned me. Instantly, he had a crooked smile. I looked away at once, and then at the prince. His eyes had widened as he stared at me, but he soon smiled.

“Luke, she is the girl I am going to marry!”

“Marry? You? I cannot believe you will sacrifice such a… a… Actually, I am not certain if she has any redeeming qualities. She looks at you as one would stare at a plate of fruit. Once the fruit is consumed, the peels are simply thrown away.”

“I beg your pardon!” said Cassius.

“Oh my goodness, stop projecting!” I yelled.

Jim, the guards, and the two friends stared at me, but I needed the garden to be my stage so that the idiot would stop talking.

“Janessa is correct, you are placing your own thoughts into an image of her. She is far more intellectual than that.”

I flinched and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

Am I really intellectual enough?

“Oh, really? I suppose then I may be of more interest to her than you. Not that she has any chances.”

“Are you really Luke? I simply cannot believe it!”

Cassius backed away from him and stood in front of me.

“Prince… Cassius, I must tell you what happened over the years. The Luke you knew from before is dead. It is you who has killed him.”

Cassius mumbled, “Luke, I cannot believe such bold accusations stemmed from your very mouth!”

Luke turned around and said, “And I cannot believe how ignorant you are!”

I watched as Luke held onto the hilt of his sword.

“Guards!” yelled Cassius.

He smirked and summoned a rotating circle of light with his bare hand before coating his sword in it. The shining, silver sword then had streams of green electricity spinning around the blade.

They came forward while my gaze was fixed on the blade. Luke began combating the guards one after another; some of their skin was cut into with electric shocks, and others retreated. Many of them fell to the ground.

“Cowards! If only I had my sword. Janessa, leave now! I will gladly die for you if needed,” said the prince.

No, no! This is bad. I can’t let this happen.

“Without magic, your weapons are useless,” said Luke.

Luke swung it, and an electric bolt approached him while Cassius dodged.

I tightened my fist while tugging on the chain on my neck.

“I summon you, the world of dressmaking!”

It made them both stare at me.

“Janessa, don’t even bother trying to protect me! Just run.”

It was too late for me to back down.

I entered a new dimension where green silk and organza appeared in front of me, and I cut and sewed it into a sleeveless midi dress with a gathered waist in mere sped up seconds. In my hands, there was a great staff covered in vines and flowers with gems. My last accessories were the leafy shoes, a glittery tiara, and shimmery pink wings.

I returned to the current dimension.

Fairy of the Enchanted Forest?! I remember cosplaying as her. I know that this will work!

Cassius carried me in his arms and began running.

“No, Cassius, stop! I can take care of this.”

I flew off at once.

“Janessa, what is wrong with you? We must hide!”

“Heh, it looks like Cassius isn’t the only fool around here. We now have his girl, even masquerading as the fool she truly is!”

He began charging his sword as the green orb began to double in size. I also began to charge my staff with pink energy.

This better work! Please, I don’t want to die a second time.

He stopped charging and was about to swing it in our direction.

“I summon you, protector tree!”

A tree rapidly grew in a few nanoseconds before he could process anything. It blocked his attack and split into fragments.

“Ugh, a silly tree will not stop my attempt!” said Luke.

I spun my staff in circles, and the pink orbs circled around Luke, and bound him in tight vines, all the way to his hands and fingers, causing him to drop his sword.

Jim appeared and said, “Here, your highness! Take this sword.”

Cassius grabbed it, and Jim crept behind Cassius with his own broadsword.

“Heh!” said Luke, with a growing energy orb in front of him.

I couldn’t flap my wings anymore, and so, went back down to the ground.

“I summon you, enchanted spirit!”

A pink orb countered his green one, and the two pushed each other, but stayed in one place.

The tree broke in half as both orbs lost power.

“It looks like your magic is terribly flawed!”

He began to charge another orb while Princess Amelia appeared from behind. She tore away her floor-length skirt, which revealed pants and a glowing, blue wand.

“Stay back, Janessa! I can handle this myself,” she said.

Why is everyone underestimating me?

Amelia’s orb tore the vines as he reached for his sword.

They struck orbs at each other while dodging. Amelia’s orb landed backward and on the ground, creating a hole near my feet. I flew up just in the nick of time.

The hole had shimmering black liquid, and soon, black flames rose out of it.

“Janessa, Amelia will take care of this! Let us leave…”

A huge pink orb rose from within the tree and surrounded Luke with thorns from every angle.

“Stop, I surrender!” he said.

Yet, the thorns stayed as the energy dissipated into hundreds of pink carnations.

Yuko ran across the field and said, "Janessa, you are a hero!"

"It's too soon to tell!" I said.

"Take him away, you cowardly guards!" said Cassius.

Luke groaned and said, "I wish you understood my pain."

"Explain, I am all ears," said Cass.