by Ali Winters
“Do you have any guesses as to my identity yet, Oriana?” he asked. His tone, suddenly playful, hinted that she should.
“Uh—are you the Earthen Prince?” she guessed.
His lips pinched together.
“No, wait, don’t tell me,” Oriana rushed out, his displeased expression making her nerves spike. “You’re… Prince Flynn of Saturn.”
“You are running out of Princes,” he deadpanned.
The music ended with a gentle decrescendo and he dropped his arms to his sides, relinquishing her freedom.
“Thank you for the dance.” Oriana curtsied, plastering a large smile on her face for the Prince. She needed air.
“The pleasure was mine, Princess.” The Prince bowed in return, spun on his heel, and strode off into the crowd.
Great, now I’ve done it. She cringed.
Whoever this Prince was, their alliance would need some work after she offended him.
Her smile wavered as she turned back toward the crowd, dread filling her at the thought of more small talk. She really should go and mingle with more of her guests and get to know them.
However, the slight breeze that floated in from the open doors beckoned to her. A few minutes outside wouldn’t hurt, and she would be back before anyone realized she was missing.
Making her way to the nearest exit, Oriana stepped out into the cool night air. Distant stars twinkled in greeting.
With a sigh, she leaned against the gray crystal stone balustrade.
“Why aren’t you inside dancing, Princess?” a deep voice asked from the shadows.
Oriana startled, spinning in the direction of the voice. It was one of the visiting Princes. She narrowed her eyes in irritation, trying to gauge his origins.
This masquerade was a ridiculous idea.
How was she expected to guess everyone's identity if they were all wearing similar uniforms, and masks, especially when she had never met any of them before?
“I just wanted some fresh air. Why are you not inside dancing, Prince?”
“I’ve never been fond of dancing,” he admitted coolly, ignoring the cutting tone of her sentiment. “I hope you don’t take offense, but I find them to be dull and full of useless small talk.”
She let out a low breath and a smile tugged, involuntarily, at her lips. He was direct—a kindred spirit in the midst of all this chaos. Finally, someone else who couldn’t stand the pointless conversations that were expected for these kinds of parties. If she was going to be forced into this couldn’t everyone at least attempt to be genuine with one another?
Oriana bent down, lifted the edge of her skirt and removed her shoes.
“There.” She sighed with relief.
Tilting her head up, she faced the moon, the pale light bathing her in its glow. “These shoes are awful. You should be glad you don’t have to wear them.”
The Prince raised an eyebrow and stepped closer. “Not a fan of these occasions either I take it?” he asked, measuring her response with his gaze.
“You think I don’t like meeting countless strangers in masks?” She placed a hand over her heart and took a step back in mock horror.
He chuckled in response and leaned a hip against the balustrade, as she let the crystal heels slip from her fingertips and drop to the ground.
Picking up her skirts, she walked around him and strode down the steps leading to the garden.
“Shouldn’t you go back inside and—” he called after her.
“I’ll go back in a few moments; I just want to rest my feet.” Oriana waved a hand dismissing him as she hurried away.
A few seconds later, footsteps crunched along the gravel path in her wake, catching up to her.
Oriana
Walking along the path Oriana let the cool crystal soothe her feet. She skipped down the last steps, descending into the grassy garden and ran to her favorite tree. The night blooming moon flowers along its base were stretching their petals outward, embracing the light of the stars and filling the air with a warm and heady fragrance. Oriana sat in the grass and smoothed her skirt out around her, running her fingers through the pale, green blades that reflected the moon’s light within their facets. The rush of silvery waters just yards away called to her, seductive as always. She longed to dip her feet in the cooling liquid, but couldn’t risk getting her gown dirty before the ceremony. She would never hear the end of it, and her guests would think her an unfit ruler if she couldn’t keep a simple dress clean for a few hours.
“Won’t someone be looking for you?” The Prince continued to pursue her, the crystal shoes held in one hand. Glancing up, Oriana studied him.
Something about his demeanor was unlike everyone else. He wasn’t so stuffy and formal and he carried himself in a way that told her he was entirely comfortable with who he was. It was a reprieve from the strained company of everyone else she’d been conversing with all night. The only conversation she’d had so far had consisted of mind-numbing small talk. This unknown Prince was an exception. He was more careful with his words, more… genuine. His carefree attitude and charming demeanor sent unexpected warmth to her face. If he hadn’t been avoiding the other guests, she would have assumed he was a winset, looking for his next conquest. But she hadn’t seen him flirting with the other princesses once.
She inhaled sharply, struck by a thought that brought a smile to her lips. The others were stiff and awkward around her, yet this Prince spoke openly to her and pursued her without restraint or worries of propriety. Every guest at the party knew exactly who she was. Surely, her betrothed was the only one who would follow her and attempt any unaccompanied socializing.
“Please have a seat.” She patted the grass next to her, sitting upright and remembering her posture lessons. “I just want to rest for a moment. Then I will go back and be a proper Princess.”
He glanced back in the direction of the party, the pale light highlighting his strong, masculine features. Nodding, he sat down crossed legged in front of her, setting her slippers between them.
“I can’t wait for this night to be over.” Oriana exhaled, letting herself open up to him a little more. “There is just too much stress, and too many eyes are watching me, for me to be able to call this a party.”
“I thought girls liked attention.” A playful, lopsided smirk formed on his lips. It was a smile that made her stomach flip. The expression came so naturally to his face; Oriana wasn’t sure if he realized how he was looking at her. The ease she felt now, in his presence, made her hopeful for the first time in months about her future.
“Perhaps… some of them might. But I find it to be a bit much. I am paraded around like some exhibit for everyone to gawk at. I want to be taken seriously, not treated as an object on display.” Oriana let out a frustrated sigh and fell to her back on the grass, looking up. Between the branches, stars flickered, stark against a backdrop of brilliant hues from distant nebulas and galaxies.
A long, comfortable silence passed between them. Like the others, he didn’t speak much, but he didn’t exude self-containment like the other princes.
“Shall I guess which planet you are visiting from?” she asked, lifting herself onto her arms.
“If you would like, but I don’t think you’ll guess right.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“And if I do? What then?” She perked up once more, posture restored, intrigued by his implied challenge.
“What would you like?”
“Mmm.” She pressed a finger to her cheek and looked up, thinking. “I get to pick anything?”
“Should I worry about what you’d ask for?” He narrowed his dark mahogany eyes.
“Your Highness, do you think I would make unreasonable demands?” she asked in faux offense.
He let out a soft laugh. “No, I don’t believe that you would. You may ask for anything your heart desires—but you must guess correctly first.”
“Are you from—”
He held up his hand, to stop her. “But you only get th
ree guesses.”
“Three? Why only three?”
“If I gave you an infinite number, you would eventually guess correctly.”
She found herself already liking this man. He didn’t let her get away with any of her usual tricks. It was refreshing, for once, to have someone to talk to who didn’t stack everything in her favor.
“Fair enough.” Oriana nodded. She would play with him before guessing correctly. “Are you Prince Eli of Uranus?”
“No,” he said.
“Let’s see…” She leaned forward to study the parts of his face not covered by his mask, to get a closer look in the pale light. Oriana wasn’t sure why she bothered; she didn’t know any of the royal heirs here.
“Look all you want, Princess, we’ve never met before, or you would already know.” His voice sent shivers down her spine.
“Are you Prince Cale, from Mercury?” She sat back, adjusting her position once more. His thick brown hair was tousled carelessly. Her palm itched with a sudden desire to reach up and run her fingers through the soft strands.
“You’re getting colder, and you only have one guess left,” he teased.
“I will get it right this time. Are—”
“Oriana!” Celeste’s voice rang out across the garden. “Oriana, where are you?”
She cringed at the urgency in the shrill voice.
“Oh no, it must be later than I thought.” Scrambling to her feet, she hopped in place as she stuffed her feet back into the painful slippers. “I must go.” Oriana turned to run, stopping when his hand grabbed her wrist, holding her back. Looking over her shoulder, she scanned his face. His eyes bored into hers.
“Can…” his voice trailed off.
“I—” Whatever she was about to say died in her throat. His intense gaze said more than words could. What had he wanted to ask her? She needed to go; after all, anything he wanted to know he could ask later.
“You can guess after your coronation.” He pulled her closer to him, his hands resting on her waist. Blood pounding loudly in her ears, the touch of his hand sent scorching heat through her. “And, I hope you guess correctly.” The corner of his mouth lifted into that same crooked grin, a dimple creasing his left cheek.
She nodded as he dropped his hands from her waist. Flames seemed to dance across her skin; her waist, her wrist… her face, just from his proximity. How was it possible for someone she just met to affect her like this? No man had ever been this close.
“Oriana!” Celeste called again, her voice urgent against the sweet hum of music in the background.
She spun on her heel and ran up the path.
“I’m coming!” she called, reaching her maid and panting, “I lost track of time, I’m sorry.”
“Never mind that, everyone is waiting for you.” Celeste looped her arm through Oriana’s and escorted her up the stairs. “Oh, Princess, what am I going to do with you?” she murmured. The quiet admonishment was accompanied with a gentle shake of her head as she tried her best—and failed—to hold back a smile.
Oriana allowed herself to be led back into the ballroom, mingling among the waiting crowd. She finally reached the edge of the plush red carpet; it had been a gift from the planet Mars when they first formed their alliance during her grandfather’s youth. The brilliant crimson stood out among all the glittering crystal of Oriana’s world, as her final moments as only Princess Oriana began to drift away.
The trumpets sounded again, calling everyone to attention. All eyes turned to her. Her face burned with such a sudden onslaught of attention.
Guests formed into two massive groups on either side of the aisle. The music started, and she marched, head held high, forward to where her parents awaited her. Her mother stood, holding the Lunar Scepter, and her father held the Crown of the Sun. She swallowed hard, her heart racing as every person in the room let their eyes follow her most minute motion.
Don’t trip. Don’t trip. Please, oh please, don’t trip and fall on your face. She prayed silently.
She took slow steps, careful to lift one foot and set it down before lifting the other.
A shiver of excitement ran down her spine. She could feel the weight of his eyes on her, the heat of his touch still lingering. Oriana fought the urge to scan the crowd for him. After all, soon they would officially meet. That thought brought a smile to her face and her frayed nerves settled.
Movement at the front of the crowd demanded her attention. The tall, thin man with sharp features, stood at the bottom of the dais. He locked his narrowing eyes with her again. Anger flashed across his features. Had she done something wrong? Who was this man? His gaze unnerved her. She shook it off and focused on walking down the carpet.
Reaching the base of the dais she climbed the steps, ascending. Her parents smiled down at her as they stepped away from their thrones, walking to her.
King Orion held his hands in the air, commanding the attention of all in the room. “On this day of Udaya, Princess Oriana’s centennial, we celebrate the rising of the Sun and Moon. The Tauri ceremony symbolizes the death of an old star, making way for the birth of one that is newer, maybe even brighter. As future heir to the throne, Oriana will shed her childhood innocence, her youth, and arise as a new star in the sky of our regal lineage, shining upon this, our great planet of Soleis.” He stepped back and presented Oriana and Queen Vega to the audience.
The Queen moved forward. “Do you, Oriana, take this, the Crown of the Sun and this, the Lunar Scepter, and swear to protect all of Soleis? By accepting this ancient gift, you are swearing your lifetime, for the sake of the Kingdoms, to the service that is required of you, for all of Soleis,” her mother’s voice boomed throughout the room.
“I swear,” Oriana replied, and she meant it; she would do everything in her power to protect her Kingdom and all of the Solar system if needed.
“Then kneel, Oriana,” King Orion commanded.
Obediently, she did so and bowed her head. The King placed the sparkling, crystal, filigree crown on her head and rested her hand on her shoulder.
“Now rise, Princess Oriana, Guardian of Soleis, and take your scepter.”
She stood, and her mother silently held out the long crystal wand. She turned, pasting a smile on her face and looked out over the crowd. They clapped. Her eyes swept the room. So many new people, but she only wanted to see one face. The face that intrigued her.
There!
In the back, the prince she’d been looking for stepped out into the open. A smile warmed his face, and she returned it with grace. The others could think it was for them, but Oriana wanted to imagine he knew that smile, was for him alone.
“Now,” the King projected his voice across the room. “We have a special announcement.” He held his hands up in the air and waited for the guests to quiet down.
Oriana’s back stiffened.
This is it.
This was the moment she would be introduced to the Prince of Jupiter. Her heart fluttered.
“We are proud to announce the joining of two families. Though we are all bound together, there is no better way to strengthen that existing bond with the mixing of blood. And with that, it is my greatest pleasure, to share with you…”
Come on, come on. Get it over with father.
“That our great Kingdom of Soleis is entering into a marital bond with the Kingdom of Jupiter. Princess Oriana is to be joined, in one year’s time, to Prince Caelan.”
Cheers from the guests exploded around the room in a deafening roar. Her eye caught her Prince’s gaze as he stood in the back of the hall. His mouth hung slightly open.
Was he not made aware of this part of the evening? Her stomach twisted. What if he was unhappy with the arrangement?
“Prince Caelan, please come and join your future bride.”
Her Prince continued to stand, unmoving at the back of the crowd. A movement out of the corner of her eye pulled her attention away from his unhappy expression.
The tall prince she’d danced wit
h earlier, picked his way through the crowd. Confused, Oriana’s lips pinched in a tight line as she watched him climb the steps.
This isn’t right… she raised a questioning eyebrow at him, and he smiled in return, oblivious. He stepped up next to her and clasped Oriana’s small hand in his.
She had made a mistake and allowed herself to spend time with someone other than her betrothed. Her vision swam and dimmed. Embarrassment flooded through her, and she wanted to hide.
With his impressive height, how did she miss the obvious clues that he was Prince Caelan? Oriana focused on her breathing. In and out. In and out.
“Smile, Oriana,” her mother’s voice whispered off to the side.
She plastered on a fake smile and nodded to her audience.
“And now,” her father began, as though there hadn’t been enough excitement for the night. “Prince Caelan and Princess Oriana will share a dance.”
With Oriana’s hand still in his firm grasp, he led her down the steps, and out onto the dance floor once again. Keeping her head forward, her eyes darted frantically from left to right in search of the mystery prince.
Caelan guided her around the floor in a slower dance than their first, his movements were more formal and graceful, a feat she would have thought impossible. Oriana looked up into his face. His mask had been pushed up into his hair. She should have recognized the rich honey color of his eyes and the telling orange flecks of Jupiter. Caelan’s head turned in the direction of the dance’s intricate path.
Your beauty is bright as the sun, blinding me to everyone else in the room. His words echoed through her mind. How had she not known? The Sun was the brightest star. The center of their Galaxy… Caelan had told her who he was, and she had insulted him.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
Caelan turned questioning eyes to her. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I do. I should have known it was you.”
“Don’t give it a second thought, Oriana,” he said with more kindness in his voice than she felt she deserved. Then with a wink, he added, “We will just cross guessing games off the list of things for us to do together.”