"How dare you touch what's mine?" the emperor demanded angrily while making a fireball. Prince Damon was trying to avoid his red eyes as he struggled to free himself from the grip.
The emperor had actually come out a few minutes after they left. He was following them gently until someone suddenly grabbed his arm. He turned to see Amira. She was grinning from ear to ear.
"Your highness, you haven't given me your reply?" she said with a cute pout. The emperor ignored her and looked around because he couldn't find Prince Damon and Arizona again. He tried to go but Amira held his arm tightly.
"That sister of mine doesn't deserve you. She is a slut. I can see the way she was all over the prince. She doesn't even care that people are watching. She doesn't deserve you at all. I think I am a better option. So what do you think?" she smiled seductively and started moving her hand toward his chest, but she suddenly yelled and dropped her hand because of the burning sensation she felt.
"Thank your stars that you are related to her. If not, you would have been dead for touching me without permission. So you said I should tell you what I think. I think you are the worst sister ever. You are so disgusting that I can't bear to look at you. If you love your life, stay away from me. Next time you try that nonsense with me, I won't hesitate before I end you," the emperor said and left. Amira stood at a spot. She was still in shock. She couldn't believe the emperor said all those things to her. She went back to the hall in deep anger.
The emperor looked around but still couldn't get their direction. He closed his eyes and then he saw them. He saw Damon trying to force himself on her. The moment he opened his eyes, he was already there and that was when he carried him up. Without doing anything to him yet, the prince had started bleeding from his nose because of his strong grip. Arizona watched fearfully as the emperor got ready to hit him with the fireball. Without being told, she knew the fire could kill him.
"Emperor please," she begged in tears. He didn't listen.
"Please don't kill him," she begged again and hugged him from the back. He looked at her before releasing Damon. He hit the hard ground and groaned heavily. The emperor vanished with Arizona immediately.
Jimmy arrived at the place with some guards and saw Damon who was unconscious. Without being told, Jimmy knew who was responsible for it.
"Take him to the physician," he said and the guards carried his body. Jimmy went back to the party to announce that the emperor was no longer attending. Samara looked around the place worriedly but plastered her fake smile.
The emperor removed Arizona's arm from his waist the moment they got to the room. He looked at her and scoffed.
"Why did you agree to follow him out of the party?" he asked angrily.
"Because he is a friend. I don't know if he has other intentions," she muttered.
"Didn't I warn you to stay away from those princes, didn't I?" the emperor asked.
"You didn't have the right to be angry with me. You also abandoned me and put all your focus on Samara. Do you know how unhappy that made me feel? I was alone while you had fun with her," she yelled at him. The emperor didn't say anything and just walked out of the room. Arizona sighed and sat on the bed.
The party was finally over and the people returned to their houses. The kings were drinking wine with the ministers. Some princesses and princes too were drinking wine while catching up.
River was holding Alicia's hand as they both sat down on a table.
Jimmy, Logan, Gael and Jade were on another table also drinking wine.
"What's between that man and Princess Alicia? She is so tense and quiet. That is unlike her," Gael said.
"I was about to say that too," Logan said and they both focused on Jimmy who couldn't stop staring at them. Jade was in another world. She was actually sad because she wanted to see her sister but wasn't allowed.
"It was five years ago," Jimmy said and drank from his wine.
"Master River was Princess Alicia's teacher. He taught her a lot of things. He was the one that taught her archery. Everyone in the palace knows that she liked him because she didn't hide it then. She would keep telling the maids that were looking at him that he belonged to her only, so we all knew about it.
"Master River was going to travel after the three-day festival five years ago. He wanted to learn a particular skill from the English country, so Princess Alicia decided to confess her feelings to him.
"It was the first day of the festival when it was time for the color riot. She applied the colors on him and confessed her love to him in public, in the presence of people.
"He patted her head instead and told her she was like a little sister to him. He also told her to get rid of any feelings she had because she was not his type of woman. Princess Alicia was very embarrassed as people kept talking about it for days. She didn't attend the remaining days of the festival and Master River had traveled then but I guess he is back now," Jimmy said with a scoff and gulped his wine.
"But why does it look like he actually likes her? His eyes said so," Logan said.
"Stop saying nonsense. He doesn't," Jimmy snapped.
"I think he does though. I mean look at him," Gael said.
"Shut up," Jimmy yelled at him.
"You guys should keep it down. I am trying to sleep," Jade yelled beside them. She was heavily drunk.
"What is going on with her?" Logan asked with raised eyebrows.
"I have found my sister but I can't even see her again," she scoffed.
"She is drunk. You should take her to her room," Jimmy said to Logan.
"Why me?" he asked.
"Because I am your boss," Jimmy said.
"And because I can't carry her," Gael said. Logan scoffed and carried her in bridal style out of the place.
"The mask man," she said and smiled drunkenly.
"Where is your room?" he asked her.
"I am going to reveal your identity. Just wait and watch," she said and touched his mask before falling asleep.
With the help of a maid, he was able to get to her room. He dropped her on the bed and removed her shoes before staring at her face.
"Let's see. Maybe truly, you can reveal my identity," he muttered and left.
Jimmy's eyes were still focused on Master River and Alicia. He watched as Master River poured wine for her. She took it and gulped it at once.
"Wow, now you are drinking alcohol," he chuckled and filled the cup again.
"You are so different from five years ago. I mean you look more beautiful and mature," he said and she gulped the wine without saying anything.
"I miss the kingdom too, especially you. I keep remembering your face. I am just happy I am back now," he said and filled the cup again. She gulped it down.
"That jerk. Why did he keep giving her alcohol?" Jimmy thought angrily from where he was watching them.
"Why aren't you saying anything? I have been the one doing the talking since I arrived and that is unlike you," he said. Instead of responding, she carried the wine bottle and started drinking directly from it.
"You are drinking a lot of wine. You will be drunk," he said and collected the bottle from her. She rested her head on the table.
"Are you okay?" he asked and touched her cheek.
"Don't touch me, jerk," she snapped and slapped his hand off.
"What is going on?" he asked.
"You know, I can't believe you are acting as if nothing happened. Or do you think I have forgotten about it?" she asked.
"Alicia, you are drunk," he said.
"Don't try to change the topic. You hurt me so much and now you are back and it hurts more. People remember now and keep talking about it. Even those that didn't know will have an idea now and you are acting like nothing happened," she complained. Her cheeks were so red because she was drunk but that made her look even cuter.
"I am sorry," he said gently.
"Don't apologize to me," she snapped.
"I regret it too and I hope it's not too late to make things right. I am here because of you," he said while looking at her face. He realized she was already out and wanted to carry her but someone held his hand.
"Master, you are just returning from a journey. I know you must be tired. How about you go and rest? I will take the princess to her room," Jimmy said with a smile. River hesitated but he allowed Jimmy to carry her. He watched their backs till they were out of sight.
Jimmy entered her room and dropped her gently on the bed. He removed her shoes and covered her well with the blanket. He touched her cheeks and she suddenly opened her eyes. Their eyes met. He quickly removed his hand and wanted to go but she grabbed his hand and dragged him on the bed with her. His eyes widened in shock.
"Jimmy, why is he suddenly back?" she asked drunkenly.
"I was doing fine but now I can't stop remembering that day," she pouted.
"Everything is going to be alright. You shouldn't care about what they say. I didn't even see anything bad in it. I just saw a brave princess expressing her feelings," Jimmy said gently to her.
"Thanks Jimmy. That is the nicest thing you will ever say to me," she said and hugged him. Jimmy's body tensed but he finally relaxed and hugged her back.
"You should sleep now. Tomorrow I will bring hangover soup," he said and disengaged from the hug.
"You are weirdly nice. Is this Jimmy?" she asked with a chuckle and they stared at each other.
"That is the other side of Jimmy that is only for Princess Alicia," Jimmy said seriously. She started leaning closer to him. Jimmy was confused so he just stared at her until their lips touched. His eyes widened and the princess continued to kiss him. He didn't respond and he didn't push her away either. She finally fell asleep and her head fell on his chest. He touched his lip and listened to the sound of his heartbeat. He laid her back on the bed before going out of the room.
River entered his room and went to sit on the bed. It was actually in the palace. He lived in the palace because his father was a great hero that sacrificed a lot for the kingdom, so he was respected a lot.
"Everything is still the same," he muttered while looking around. He suddenly smiled when he remembered the princess's cute face.
"Didn't know she is this pretty. That means I have two things to achieve," he muttered and lay on the bed. Jimmy's image flashed to his head and he frowned.
"I hope you won't become a problem for me," he thought and closed his eyes.
Arizona couldn't sleep. She just sat on the bed. It had been hours since the emperor left her in his room and he hadn't come back. She regretted shouting at him. What if he didn't want to have anything to do with her? Just the thought was making her nervous. She suddenly heard the sound of the door and the emperor came in.
"Your highness, I am sorry for shouting at you. Please don't be angry..." She was cut short when the emperor suddenly hugged her.
"Who says I am angry?" he asked as they were suddenly on his bed with her head on his chest and his hand around her waist. She gasped in shock.
"Something happened yesterday but I am not sure where it came from, so let's sleep together today again," he said and drew her closer.
Samara smiled prettily as she went toward the emperor's chamber. He always had sex after going through stress, and the party was enough stress so she was going to use it as an opportunity for herself. She had already taken a drug that would boost her fertility so if the emperor released inside her, she was surely going to get pregnant.
Getting to the door, she was stopped by the guards.
"His highness is very busy now. No one is allowed to enter," one of them said.
"Busy? I hope that witch is not in there. Your highness, please open the door!" she yelled and kicked the door loudly.
"Are you not going to see her?" Arizona asked the emperor.
"No I am not. You should stroke my hair like you did last night," the emperor said and put her hand in his hair. She started stroking his hair while he closed his eyes and enjoyed.
Samara's voice sounded more distant. It seemed like the guards were taking her away.