She kept stroking the emperor's hair until he finally fell asleep. He looked so cute and innocent that she couldn't help but caress his cheeks. She tried to stand up but he was holding her tightly so she gave up and relaxed till she finally fell asleep.
**THE NEXT MORNING**
"Your highness, the breakfast is ready and the guests are waiting for you. Are you joining them or should I tell them to eat without..." Jimmy stopped talking and stared at Arizona who placed a finger on her lips to tell him to stop talking.
"What is going on?" he whispered and came closer. He was very surprised that she was sleeping on the emperor's bed, even beside him.
"The emperor is sleeping. You shouldn't wake him up," Arizona said gently.
"Sleeping?" he asked and looked at the emperor. A surprised gasp left his mouth. Since he had been serving the emperor, he hadn't seen him sleep once. He was always on the chair because of the spirits that always disturbed him but here he was, lying comfortably on the bed.
"Why are you looking so surprised?" Arizona asked with raised eyebrows. She didn't believe that the news of the emperor sleeping could intrigue Jimmy that way.
"How did it happen? I mean how did the emperor end up sleeping on the bed with you?" Jimmy asked.
"I came to the palace last night after the lanterns were sent to the sky. I met the emperor talking in his sleep. He looked so stressed. I think he was having nightmares. All I did was console him and hug him. He calmed down and then fell asleep. He hasn't woken up yet and I can't even stand up because he is holding on to me," she explained cutely.
"Wow, I can't believe that," Jimmy said while looking at her in admiration. He was shocked that she put the emperor to sleep.
"Why are you looking at me that way?" she asked with raised eyebrows.
"I am just surprised. You are amazing," Jimmy smiled. Maybe bringing her to the kingdom was not that bad.
"Stop making me feel like I did the most amazing thing," she said and sighed out when the emperor moved to the other side. She was finally able to stand up.
"I guess I will just tell the guests to eat without the emperor then," Jimmy said while looking at the emperor who was still sleeping cutely.
"Yeah, I think he is very tired," Arizona said as they both went out of the room.
"I like the way there are many guests at the palace. Too bad they will all be leaving tomorrow," Arizona pouted sadly.
"They have to go back to their kingdoms, you know," Jimmy said.
"I don't think we have talked before. You were cold to me the first time we talked," Arizona said.
"I am sorry. That was so rude of me. I promise to treat you better now, my princess," Jimmy said and bowed.
"You should be free with me," she said.
"I can't, not now that I realized you are kind of special," Jimmy smiled.
"Here you go again," she said and left.
"I really think you are special," Jimmy thought while looking at her back.
Arizona walked gently into the orphanage. She just wanted to check the place out. She loved to watch the happy children play around.
She watched a boy around fourteen years of age painting a beautiful lady. She smiled while looking at the painting until she heard
"Princess Ari!" Her eyes widened and she looked toward the voice to see about fifty children running toward her. She was so surprised but she went to meet them and hugged them tightly.
"I told you it was Princess Ari that brought us here but you didn't want to believe me," a cute boy said to his friends. They were all from the Moonlight Kingdom. She recognized them because she always went to give them food when she was still at the kingdom.
"How did you get here? When?" she asked in surprise.
"We don't know either," a girl shrugged.
"It was last night. I was fetching water for my master and the next thing I met myself here," a boy around twelve years old said.
"Me too. I was crying because I was beaten for breaking a plate. The next thing, I met myself here too. Do you know what is going on?" a girl asked.
"I love this place. Look at the clothes—so beautiful. We eat a lot of food too. See the children here like us. I am so happy right now," the first boy said excitedly. Arizona smiled happily. Without being told she knew what was happening.
"So he will help me," she thought with a smile.
"They told us to think about what we want to do. I love singing. That is what I will do," a girl said.
"You all should go and play. I will come back later," she said and ran out of the orphanage.
The emperor was wearing his clothes with Jimmy behind him. He had been silent because he was surprised that he actually slept.
"How long did I sleep?" he asked gently.
"I don't know but when I came this morning, you were sleeping with Arizona. She said you have been sleeping since last night. I wanted to call you for breakfast but I didn't want to wake you up," Jimmy explained.
"You mean I slept with my nightmare?" Emperor Raven asked.
"Yeah. I don't know how she did it," Jimmy smiled. The emperor closed his eyes and remembered everything—how she calmed him and he relaxed and slept. He was still confused.
"Your highness, Princess Arizona is here," the guards announced.
"Come in," the emperor said and collected his garment from Jimmy who left the room immediately. Arizona closed the door and went closer to the emperor. She was smiling broadly.
"What?" he asked without looking at her.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?" he asked.
"Thank you for bringing those kids to the orphanage. I know you would help me," she said and hugged him tightly.
"You shouldn't hug me without my permission," he warned but she continued to hug him with her head on his chest. The emperor didn't hug her nor did he push her away. He just allowed her to hug him to her satisfaction while his mind went through what had been happening.
He knew he had to see Flower. He was going to force the words out of her little mouth.
**THE PARTY**
A lot of people trooped into the palace. They were all smiling because of the party. They entered the large castle made for partying. There were thousands of chairs and tables present for the people as they found somewhere to sit. There were so many that it was shocking that the seats contained them all.
On a taller side, the princes and princesses sat down, followed by the kings and queens. The dancers were preparing to entertain the people. There were three groups of dancers—one from the Crystal Kingdom, while the remaining two were from some kingdoms who also wanted to entertain the people.
The people anticipated the arrival of their princesses and emperor.
It was Madam Sara that first came in. She was looking so beautiful as she walked gently to her seat which was beside the emperor. She was considered the queen mother.
The emperor came in with Samara beside him. She was smiling broadly while acting like a queen though her dress gave her away. She also sat beside the emperor. Arizona pouted sadly from where she was watching. She was among the princesses. She was sitting beside her two sisters though she couldn't stop looking at the emperor and Samara. She was really jealous. Damon's eyes were on her since they were just a few steps away from each other.
The emperor's personal guards came in and went to stand behind him. Gael couldn't stop looking among the princesses, wishing that he would get a glimpse of the girl he saw yesterday but strangely she was not among them. Logan on the other hand couldn't stop looking at Princess Arizona. He could notice that she was sad too.
The one and only princess of this kingdom, Princess Alicia, was called. She was the last person. She was dressed in her princess attire. A lot of accessories were attached to her styled hair. She looked really pretty that all the princes' eyes were on her. Jimmy couldn't stop staring either. She really looked beautiful.
The party was about to start when someone suddenly came in. Murmurs filled the place as everyone looked at him in surprise.
"Master River is here. I can't believe this."
"He looks really handsome than before."
"Look at his broad chest."
"How is Princess Alicia going to feel like now?"
"I am so happy he is back. I miss him anyway." People murmured as the handsome young man moved toward the princess. He had a smile on his face.
He bowed before all the kings and emperor before focusing on Princess Alicia who was looking everywhere but him. She could never forget what happened between them five years ago.
"How are you, my princess? It's been so long. How are you doing?" he asked and grabbed her hand. He pecked her hand. Jimmy's hand was folded beside him as he watched them.
"I am… good… and you?" she asked nervously. She was still avoiding his eyes though his were on hers.
"I am good. I miss everyone, especially you," he said and sat beside her. He chuckled while seeing how nervous she was.
Soon the occasion started and people watched as different people entertained them. It was so fun. There was a lot of food to eat. Arizona couldn't stop staring at the emperor. He also looked toward her and their eyes met. She quickly looked away and focused on the dancers that were performing.
Samara whispered some things to the emperor. She was smiling broadly though the emperor's expression was void. He looked at Arizona again and saw her smiling at Prince Damon who had managed to get her attention.
The last group of dancers came to the stage and people openly watched them, especially the lead dancer. She was so pretty though she was very young. She danced well. People couldn't help but wonder which kingdom they came from.
"That is the girl I am looking for," Gael said and smiled happily as he watched the girl dance gracefully.
"So you fell in love with a dancer," Logan smirked.
"I don't care. She is so pretty," Gael smiled. Jimmy's mind wasn't with them. He was busy looking at River who wouldn't stop looking at Alicia.
Jade looked at the girl as tears escaped her eyes. The girl she was looking at right there was her younger sister that she had been looking for five years. The girl was too young to be dancing. She didn't even look like she was happy. Jade watched sadly. She had been a bad older sister but she was very happy that she finally found her sister. The Goddess had granted her wish. As they concluded the dance, the people cheered happily. The girl looked around and her eyes landed on Jade who was also looking at her sadly.
"Janelle," she called sadly. The girl looked away and they left with the other dancers.
It was time for dancing. The emperor and Mistress Samara were the first to dance. The kings joined them with their queens before the princes and princesses. Prince Damon asked Arizona for a dance and she accepted sadly and they danced around the place, his hand on her waist. The emperor couldn't stop looking at her. Samara was just smiling broadly. It seemed like the Goddess had finally granted her wishes.
River's hand was on Princess Alicia's waist. She looked away but he brought her head up again and smiled.
"You look more pretty than the last time I saw you," he said but she didn't respond and just stared at the ground.
"You look tense around me. Is it because of what happened five years ago?" he asked gently but she didn't respond. He spun her around and grabbed her waist. Her breath hitched. Jimmy was watching everything sadly.
"Who is he?" Logan asked beside him.
"He is an important person," Jimmy said.
"Can we go outside and talk, princess?" Prince Damon asked with a smile as they danced around.
"You mean right now?" Arizona asked.
"Yes," he smiled.
"O…kay," she said nervously and followed him out. The emperor's eyes were on them till they were out.
"Why did you want us to come outside?" Arizona asked after they had walked for some time.
"That is because I want to tell you something," he said and stopped to look at her.
"What did you want to tell me?" she asked with a smile.
"Princess, since the first time I saw you, I have fallen seriously in love with you. I love you so much that I can't think straight anymore," he said while moving closer to her.
"I don't know what to say," she said nervously while moving back until her back hit the wall and he caged her in.
"You don't have to say anything. I will have you anyway," he said and started leaning closer but she quickly stopped him with her hand.
"Please stop. I belong to the emperor," she said.
"That's what you think. He didn't even show you to any of the guests," Prince Damon scoffed and started leaning closer.
"Please stop," she begged nervously but he didn't listen. He started forcing himself on her as he tried to kiss her forcefully. She was also struggling but he was stronger. She almost lost hope when he was suddenly lifted off her. The emperor was holding him up with one hand. His eyes were pure red. He was so angry.
"Emperor Raven," Damon called in shock.
"How dare you touch what's mine?" the emperor asked while making a fireball with his spare hand.