'I can't see him...Huh? What is she doing?' I was furious by the fact that even after all this, I hadn't gotten the chance to see the shadow of that pig. And even more so, because the fifth Princess had made it harder than it needed to be.

Like a guard dog, with her eyes glaring wide and her nostrils flaring, she stood there and scanned the crowd with rapt attention.

She was acting like a crazy person, and though it was not something new by any means, today was a bit different. She usually did that only when someone ignored her warning and intruded on her personal space, which was around two meters or so if I remember correctly.

Seeing the Fifth Princess actively working and riling herself up despite the lack of provocation from the outside source was strange indeed, and in this case, frustrating because I couldn't get a good look due to her standing on guard.

'Crazy girl-...Oh~' I cursed her while skilfully sliding to the side to get a better angle, and I found it.

From the narrow gap of her arms, a figure sitting in a golden armchair could be seen.

Much of him was still obscured, but there he was, hiding behind the fifth Princess like a coward, while his fiancee gladly played the role of a mental watchdog to shield him from the world.

What a match in heaven...

'Huhuhu...Now...Let the show begin.'

With a floaty and elegant stride, I traced myself forward ever so slightly.

Accompanied by the dancing tune, the distance between us shortened briskly.

"You!" Growled the Princess low, catching me.

'Why look at you trying to look proper and prim.' I scoffed inwardly at her laughable attempt to hold herself back from lashing out due to my sudden appearance.

Gushing out with sarcasm, I taunted the Princess with my eyes, making it so obvious for her to notice. Her troubled and rageful reactions felt really refreshing and uplifting.

I was finally close enough to see that pig again and she could do nothing about it.

And my heart drummed with mirth the more her face crumbled down.

So, after having my fill to briefly torture her, I took my eyes off her and fixed it to the boy sitting in the wheelchair.

The helpless limbs that lay weak in the comfort of the chair's cushion first came into view, followed by the pale slender pair of hands that hugged the armrest.

'...Something's...Wrong.'

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Lost in my thoughts, I didn't have the time to find out what it was, before my eyes slid upward.

And I met the pig's eyes at long last...

My mortal enemy...

My bane...

"Huh? You're...Lady Heliard...Right?" A voice of a boy, so familiar, yet so foreign as it could be.

He was not that pig...

Hidden behind the despicable fifth Princess, I found not the pig from my memory, but instead, a holy prince that came from my favorite fairy tale book that I secretly tucked on the upper left edge of my book shelve.

Enigmatic and enchanted by the secrets of the universe, his round and curious violet eyes stared straight at me. It was as if god had fashioned the most sacred and precious gem of the long, endless twilight into the boy's eyes.

Trimmed neat and styled with the latest fashion, his whiter-than-the-snow hair flowed and sparkled naturally in harmony under the rain of regal hues of the royal ball.

When he spoke, the line of his prominent jaw could be seen, perfecting the symmetrical shape of his gorgeous visage.

With a tinge of fragility in those light pinkish lips, I found myself drawn more and more. Lost without escape...Stranded but with hope...

His sweet voice rang like the chime of salvation.

And as I studied the movement of his lips, all color seemed to have vanished from the world. All sound vaporized into the bleak void.

Time crawled still, and there was only he and I...

There, we lived...

There, we existed...

Who was he, if not my beloved?

Who was he, if not half of my soul?

He was my beloved...My soulmate...

The one destined for me.

I couldn't think straight. The fan had long since touched the ground due to my incapability to gather myself in front of my true love.

Did my bearing appear unsightly, ill to his taste? Though I couldn't know for sure what the answer was, I dearly hoped not.

I wouldn't know what to do with myself if he hated me...

And so, with bated breath, I forced my stubborn limbs to fill their sole purpose in this life, bringing me closer to that boy.

'Would he find me pleasing in the eyes? Would he be repulsed by how brazen I am? He looks young, but I wonder how old is he...?'

'Did my feet move correctly? What if he complimented my dress? He seemed to know me, but will he be offended if I ask him his? Would it be too much if I asked him to accompany me to meet my father? Ah~ How sweet would it be if you could call my name once again...'

Standing before him, I nearly choked myself silly. My tool. My weapon...Everything was useless...

His presence alone was like a bane to my brain. The more I indulge, the more I find myself breaking laughably. All forms of rational thoughts of mine had keeled helplessly underneath that overbearing charm of his.

"My name is Giselle Green Heliard. Pardon me, but may I have your name?" I thanked all the gods that presided over Fysi that my tongue hadn't failed me. Although the lack of the ladylike gesture was a miss on my part. Still, I was thankful that I was able to function just enough...

He tilted his head in confusion, squinting his eyes slightly.

What was buried in those eyes? I had hundreds of guesses, but no way of knowing for sure...

'Don't do that...You'll kill me...' My mind begged him to stop, yet my heart craved for more. 'Ah~ So this is what Alicia felt when she met Prince Rodrick...This is what love feels like...'

"Um...I'm Alexander Von Dawson. We've met once already...?"