"Are you sure this is the place? The prince's banner is not in sight," Gianni looks over the rows and columns of tents that fluttered, not the markings of Prince Julien. "Golden carnations—the queen.""Indeed," Leon remarks, "the queen has joined the battle. Now we are unstoppable.""Stay here, I must report to the queen." Gabriel says, riding off before Gianni can react and say a word."Report to the queen?" turbulent questions turn his mind to turmoil. "Since when has he served in the army?""He's a butler like you, correct?" Leon replies before giving a look of suspicion. He rides following Gabriel.Gianni dismounts, tying the horse to the branch of a thin birch tree that appears to have had its share of the war. The cuts and slashes of weapons on its bark and trunk are a memory of its part in the war. Gianni sits down on its base, leaning against the slash-glazed body.Meanwhile, Leon follows Gabriel to the queen's tent. The two bow down before her presence. She sat on a birch cha
The coalition army continues its march southward after taking back Posseth in a day. Their successive victories—due to the queen's marvelous employment of tactics—kept morale sky high. The army knew the terrain well, which kept their fatigue to a minimum. The enemy's incompetence in the environment was the centerpiece of the queen's strategies. From flood sections of the city by blocking entire rivers to setting up multiple ambush parties in unexpected groves, the Essenians stationed in Posseth threw their weapons within a day."We should be at Grandiflora by morning tomorrow even if we stop here," Prince Julien traces the road from Posseth to Grandiflora on a map he held. His horse whinnies as he subtly tugs on the reins. "Another day and we'll reach Magnolia.""Two days and all this farce will be over," the queen grabs a fan—one of her servants was using to cool her—and violently blows it on her face. "Let's make sure we grab the enemy commander alive, so that we can sue for peace,
Hidden at the base of the left magnolia tree is a wooden chest covered in dirt and dust. Julien blows on the surface, revealing a gold-plated iron chest. He snatches a key from his necklace and opens the compartment. A flute and a harp—utterly clean and new—were inside."These belonged to my grandfather and my grandmother," Julien retrieves them both from the small compartment. "The harp is one of the symbols of our family. My grandfather carved this himself from the trunk of a giant tree that grew at the heart of the Capital. With the instrument, he used to gallivant as a prince, singing songs love and fervor in his youth. Oftentimes he would get in trouble with the king and the royal staff.""He sounds like a free soul," Gianni walks toward him. He touches the smooth surface of the harp's arch. "This is well-carved.""My grandfather became the Bard Prince, later the Bard King. It was during his rule in Gallia that the arts and sciences flourished.
Wandering the streets of the royal capital Tracy, Gianni’s hunger overwhelms his senses. His family disowned him after finishing second at the Gallia Academy of Medicine. He comes from an extended family of doctors who finished first in the prestigious institution. He traipses along the cold stone pathway and searches the gloomy alleys for food. He has hypoglycemia, which he developed after traversing the streets without eating anything. His consciousness is about to flee him. He searches for anything that might fill even the tiniest space of his grumbling gut. He finds a rotten apple, but its stench kills his hunger. He longed for when he was still a part of his clan, the noble house of House Saint-Amour. He continues his search, enduring the sheer chills of the evening breeze. He desperately holds on to consciousness as he begs God for food. He kneels and prays that he may find something to satisfy his needs. With the sudden stream of the southern wind, the starry night sky become
With his new butler suit entirely fitting him, Gianni swears in his heart and soul to do his best at his new given chance. “It seems you are ready,” the stranger says. “I am.” “Pardon me for the late introduction. My name is Gabriel Clermont. I’m one of the prince’s butlers.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Gabriel,” Gianni smiles. “So, shall we go then?” Gabriel leads the way. While heading toward the exit, Gianni notices that the hallway structure that they are going through is strangely familiar. Strange enough that he would say he saw it in a dream. It is at the tip of his tongue, and he thinks of it until they reach the exit. The front door entrance is now so familiar. When they finally get out, Gianni sees the Gallia Academy of Medicine sign. Surprise colors his face--he stayed at his school. “Don’t tell me you are surprised,” Gabriel smirks while entering the carriage meant for them. Gianni follows Gabriel inside the carriage. The coachman whips the reins and begins their
“So, you are the prince?” Gianni’s face could not hide his eminent embarrassment. “I am Julien S. Montmirail, crown prince of Gallia,” Gabriel, or so Gianni thought Gabriel was, says. “Meet my chief butler, Gabriel Clermont.” “My name is Gabriel Clermont,” the person whom Gianni thought was the prince replies. “I’m sorry if you have to go through this, the prince has a way of doing things.” Gianni stays quiet and looks down. Then, the actual prince, naked up top, approaches him. He holds Gianni’s chin up, whispering, “How does it feel to be spoon-fed by the prince?” Gianni’s embarrassment skyrockets. He blushes redder than apples. He sweats bullets. His knees tremble and shakes. But he stands his ground, acting like he is all right with it. And that he knew it all along. “But it was all right,” the actual prince continues. “I enjoyed feeding you,” he holds Gianni’s right hand and nibbles on his middle finger. “Will you feed me, too?” Now Gianni is sweating rocks. It is all too mu
“Why are you sweating?” the prince greatly wonders as he sees Gabriel’s return.“The great flight of stairs, your Highness,” he replies.“Oh really?” the prince’s curiosity piques on. “It is the first time you are sweating rocks. Something must have happened.”“It is nothing at all, your Highness,” Gabriel answers in haste. “I believe we should go see the adviser now,” he pivots the topic.“Yes,” the prince surreptitiously and silently smiles. “I believe we should go.”Shortly after their small conversation, Gabriel and Prince Julien arrive at the Grand Library for the prince’s lessons. Inside, a sage with a great beard sits at the center of the grand array of large shelves filled with all sorts of texts, manuscripts, books, and scrolls. The old man sits with a sophisticated posture. He studies a large map which shows the great continen
Gabriel enters their room. He slowly and swiftly makes it back. As he holds the steel doorknob, he feels a different kind of heat emanating from his chest. He slowly opens the door, and there he witnesses a sleeping Gianni with a bare top. Before he left, he knew he covered all of him. Surprisingly, Gianni moves a lot when sleeping. He slowly approaches Gianni. He hears the slow and constant breathing that the peaceful sleeper makes for every step he makes. The room is quiet, and only Gianni’s breath is audible. As he gets even closer, he feels warmer. He continues, making his way to Gianni’s bedside. “Gianni,” he clears his throat, “the prince wishes that you take your lunch.” But Gianni does not hear him. He repeats it a little bit louder, but the same result shows. He pats Gianni’s shoulder and tries to wake him up. But Gianni is a heavy sleeper, or so he thinks. This time, he shakes Gianni. His sweat drips from his forehead to Gianni’s chest. He panics at the sight of his moiste