Sinthia and The Demon Duke of DeSidea: 27

In the Ophelian palace, everyone was enjoying dinner over causal conversation. The king and emperor were deeply engrossed in whatever they had been talking about, and Cecilia had been trying her damndest to chat with Vicktor. Honestly, nobody knew why she was still trying so hard when Vicktor had been chatting more to Michael than anyone else. The two eldest sisters were also in the midst of some discussion. Sinthia ate her food quietly, wondering how in the world she would tell her father that she wanted to have a wedding and she wanted a big one. He would ask why, and she would explain, and he would continue to try to dissuade her, and she would eventually have to guilt him into accepting, how unfortunate.

“Princess Sinthia.” She heard someone call. Looking up to the direction of the voice, she saw Vicktor looking at her. “Yes, Crown Prince Vicktor. Are you enjoying the meal?” She politely smiled.

“Yes, it’s very good. Ophelian cuisine is delicious.”

Of course he would know considering he had been skulking around the commoner’s town eating Silk buns amongst other street foods.

“It is an honor to heat that. May I ask you a question, Your Imperial Highness?” Sinthia took a small bite from her fork. Vicktor became weary as he looked at the prim and proper fourth princess.

“Yes?”

“May I call you by your given name?” She asked, beaming. The conversation between all the children halted. She felt her sisters’ dagger-like stares dig into her skin. Vicktor looked a bit shocked. He noted how quickly the atmosphere had changed, and the way her other sisters glared at her. “Yes, you may.”

”Thank you so much, Vicktor. Please do call me Sinthia too. It would be an honor.” She smiled back. Vicktor nodded back. “So, Vicktor. To arrive at the palace, you must have taken the forest path. Did you enjoy the scenic view?”

”Yes. It was quite pleasant. I was a bit surprised to see such a large waterfall on the way.”

“Ah, yes. The Mist Falls. It’s a very peaceful area. It’s full of interesting stones.”

”Stones?”

”Oh, yes. For some reason, all the pebbles there are not smooth and circular, but cuboid!”

Sinthia and Vicktor continued their conversation, getting along very well. Cecilia watched on in disbelief, rage flooding through her. Michael sighed as he took a bite of his steak. “Cecilia, calm yourself. It’s very rude, the way you’re glaring at them.”

She briefly turned her eyes to her brother, then to her food.

It had been so difficult trying to talk to the crown prince, and she had tried to pull out any conversational points that could possibly interest him, but he hadn’t followed through with any of them! Michael and him got along well enough, and it made sense since they were both princes. But she didn’t understand why he and Sinthia seemed to converse so naturally. And was Sinthia always so natural with conversation??

Cecilia turned her eyes to her older sisters. They also looked very displeased as they ate.

“Oh, Michael, could you tell us a bit more about that town on the way to the place? The all pink town by the river?” Sinthia turned to her brother, easily inviting him into the conversation. As her brother begun to explain about why the town insisted on being pink and the traditions, Sinthia couldn’t help but smile. She knew what she was doing.

The only thing her sisters hated more than not being the center of attention was Sinthia being the center of attention. In this scenario, not only was she the one who was easily engaging with the crown prince, but she was also skillfully facilitating discussion. Without anyone knowing, she had become the conversation group’s leader, allowing new members into the group or excluding others. She had been keeping the topics of conversation in a ground where the crown prince, her brother and herself were well-versed in, but her sisters were not; travel.

They hated to travel too far unless it was for a party, and even when they had to go, they never paid attention to the sights on the way. So without proper knowledge to contribute, she knew the princesses would refrain from joining to avoid the danger of coming off as ignorant.

“I’ve got to ask, Vicktor. What are some of your favorite sights you’ve ever seen?” She asked, smiling with just a bit of excitement. Vicktor, now much more relaxed and enjoying the conversation, looked up in thought. “Well, that’d quite difficult to pick. But if there was one place... it would be the Mountains of Aepas in the Kingdom of Tyr.” Michael’s face brightened up when he heard that, and he begun to discuss about it.

The huge, green mountains, the mist, the strangely tranquil feeling one always felt when they were there. It sounded very nice.

”And what about you, Sinthia?” He asked, his turquoise eyes inquisitive. To this she giggled warmly. The room fell silent again.

No one had ever heard Sinthia giggle.

It even caught her father off-guard. He turned momentarily to look at his youngest, his face shocked. The emperor followed his eyes, then smiled. He didn’t know the details of this family, but he could guess that the youngest princess had undergone a change so drastic that even her father had no idea how to react.

”It may sound a little strange, but I greatly enjoy watching the Silk Lights glow at night. Towards the end of the festival, as fewer and fewer people go out to the fields, it gets quiet and there’s nothing but a soft breeze that makes the glowing plants sway. And then it looks like a sea of beautiful shining leaves. Over the years I found a spot that you can look and for as far as your eye can see, its nothing but Silk Lights.” Sinthia’s voice sounded very warm and sincere, and it was because she was not lying. SInthia of Ophelia had happened upon a quiet, desolate spot that she could watch the glowing Silk Lights. Whenever she did, she felt a little of her worries fade, and she found strength to go on. It was one of her most precious places. And Sinthia of the Twenty-first felt it too.

”That sounds very beautiful. You must really love that spot.” Vicktor smiled, picturing what it would look like. “Yes, the Silk Lights are very beautiful. I think you’ll enjoy them very much, if you enjoy the Aepas Mountains. They have a bit of the same feeling.” Michael said, now remembering the joys of his home. “Perhaps I should invite you to the spot? I can guarantee that it will be the height of your Silk Light festival experience.” Sinthia turned to Vicktor, sipping her wine. “Oh, would you really do that? It would be my honor.” Vicktor said giving a strange, nearly conspiratory smile. Sintha turned to her brother. “Of course, you too, Michael. I know you’ve not discovered this spot just yet.” She jested. In reality, she only invited Michael because it would not be proper for her and the crown prince to be going around alone.

“That sounds very lovely, Sinthia. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all went to see it?” Emilia spoke up with that sickeningly sweet voice of hers. Sinthia slowly turned her eyes to look at her half-sister. “Why, of course you may come along, my sisters! It would be so much more special if we all were to enjoy it together, right?”

”Yes, you’re right. The more the merrier.”

”Oh, yes! There are lots of insects about at that time. Frogs and bats too. Did I ever tell you about the time I went there and a moth as large as a dinner plate flew right by me? It was absolutely fascinating. But not as fascinating as the time I found a spider with the hairiest legs resting on my shoe! There truly will be more, and it will be merry.”

She watched the satisfied faces of her sisters melt into genuine terror as she chuckled.

//its me borthday so I will be out for the day more or less, so I thought to post this early ^^ please enjoy//