The next morning, the palace became so busy. It is, of course, the day of the banquet.
I remained seated inside my room enjoying delicious snacks slash breakfast prepared for me.
“Excuse me, Princess. Someone is here to see you,” Cecil popped her head out of the door and smiled lovingly at me.
She was the first one who greeted me with a happy birthday.
Then the door widely opened as someone hurriedly push it open.
“Happy birthday Fifi!!!” Ashwin hurriedly ran inside towards me.
“How are you? Are you excited about your banquet? I am excited as well!” Ashwin jumped up and down in front of me with a wide smile on his face.
“Ashnor prepared his gift for you, although you have already seen it. I told him what the use of wrapping it up is.”
I chuckled as I continued helping myself to the food. Cecil found out that I could already do it by myself. Even called me a genius for being able to do so without spilling food.
He then stopped jumping up and down as he saw I was eating.
“Why is your maid not feeding you?”
He looked back at where Cecil once, but she already left after she let Ashwin inside. He looked like he was about to scold Cecil for leaving me and was about to stand up, but I picked up a portion of food and handed it over to him.
“Eat with me!” I smiled as cute as I can to him, so that he may forget about scolding Cecil.
He was taken aback by what I said as he put his hand on his mouth. He looked at me and little by little his face flushed red and tears started to form in his eyes.
“Fifi…” He stretched his hand out and took the food and sat beside me.
“I’m eating breakfast with Fifi, alone.” He then giggled as he ate too.
Cecil was out preparing for everything, and although they assigned a maid to take care of me in the meantime, I refused to have someone I am not familiar within the same room with me. Although I am sure I am not entirely alone, guards are stationed outside the room and even outside below the balcony.
And somehow, I feel like someone else is watching me.
I scanned outside but no one is there.
“What are you looking for, Fifi?”
I looked at him and shook my head.
“Ashnor would be so jealous if he finds out that I’m here with you, eating with you, alone.”
He laughed to himself and had a smug look on his face as if saying that he won first place in a competition.
“Oh, before I forget,” He took something out of his pocket.
“It’s not much but I hope you like it, Fifi. Happy Birthday!”
He took out a golden necklace with a cute heart as a pendant.
“I’m not sure if babies are allowed to wear this? But I’ll give it to Cecil later, so she could keep it for you.”
I looked at the necklace in his hands and though it was pretty simple compared to everything that is inside the palace, it is much more beautiful.
“I did not wrap it, because I don’t want it to be part of the mountain of gifts that you will receive later. I want to personally give this to you,” He looked down as his face started to turn red again.
“I want to wear it!”
He immediately looked at me with wide eyes. I don’t know if it’s because I am talking straight or because I want to wear the necklace now.
He smiled happily at me, “Okay! I will put it on you. I made sure the chain is short so that the necklace will fit you perfectly.”
He put the necklace on me, “There! The necklace fits you perfectly Fifi.”
I took his hand and jumped off the couch.
“Where are we going, Fifi?”
I pointed to the dressing room where the mirror is located.
“Oh, okay!”
Indeed the necklace looks so pretty on me. The heart pendant is not too big and not too small, and there is no other design on it. Just plain and simple. This kind of accessory suits me best.
“Thank you, Ashwin!” I raised my hand towards his head to he bowed his head, letting me pet him.
He sat down and I sat down with him. He closed his eyes and leaned on the mirror, so I snuggled in closer to him and closed my eyes too.
We stayed here for a while, not talking. Just breathing and being there for each other. Alone inside the dressing room, away from the responsibilities that are waiting for us when we grow up.
“What will happen to us when we grow up?” Ashwin suddenly asked.
When we grow up? I heard that when we turn fourteen if we aren’t chosen by the red dragon, we’ll leave the palace and fulfill our roles in our respective duchy. Of course, I have none. I have nowhere to go back to.
“You can live with us in the South, Fifi. We’ll always be together.”
I guess that is not so bad. Being together with the twins, with Lucil. Being part of their family.
“But, I just know, you’ll be the one who will be chosen to rule this empire someday.”
He opened his eyes and looked at me with a confident smile on his face.
“I just know. I know you are special, I know you will become an amazing empress someday.”
He stared at me with a sparkle in his eyes, as if he knows me more than I know myself.
“Princess?”
“Princess, where are you?”
“Your maid is here,” Ashwin sighed, “We are going to go back out again.”
He smiled sadly at me.
This is my first time seeing this side of him. Without Ashnor nagging him, without his mother babying him. It’s as if this is the real Ashwin. As if he really thinks hard about what’s happening around him and what’s going to happen in the future.
“Oh, here you are!”
Cecil smiled at me and then noticed Ashwin with me, so she greeted him.
“The emperor wants to spend time with you while we are preparing the banquet.”
Cecil picked me up, so Ashwin stood up too.
“I’ll be excusing myself first Fifi. Thank you for your time and happy birthday!”
With that, he bowed down and smiled then left.
“Was that really Ashwin? Or was it Ashnor?” Cecil asked herself.
*****
Ashwin left the princess’ chambers and headed to nowhere in particular.
“I guess I did great being a gentleman in front of Fifi. I’ve got to go tell Dad!”
With that, he went back his way and ran towards his parents’ chambers.
Before entering, he knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Ashen answered.
“Daddy!”
Ashwin ran inside and into his father’s arms.
Ashen picked him up, “So how was it? Did you give her your present?”
“Yes! And we ate breakfast together too!”
“That’s great! What did you talk about?”
“About the future, and about how I believe in her. You told me to always appreciate her, and remind her that she’s very special, so I did.”
“Hmmm, did you only tell her that because I told you so?”
“No, I truly believe in her. Although she’s just a baby, I can tell she’s special. I know she’s special, daddy. What do you think?”
“I think so too, son.”