Bound Beneath the Moon [ONC 2021] ✔

Chapter 8

Economic problems. That was today's challenge. And to say the least, it was duller than half these suitors' personalities.

    All I heard was talking. Blah blah blah, yip yip yip, etc etc etc. They seemed to be taking their sweet time, too. Mom and Dad forced me to sit in the royal hall with them in thrones. They didn't move a muscle and had an interest in the suitor's responses to the problems. I don't know why, all the answers given were simple and boring, sometimes violent. The way some of them were staring at me, you could tell what they were trying to do. Word everything to my liking, do anything to win my approval.

    Erie, though? It was my favorite part. It was the only part of my day where I could sit there and pay attention to what in Taquib's name was happening. She was kind, considerate, somewhat meek with her voice. You could tell she put thought into her words. She always hesitated, eyes sealed shut, hands cupping her face as she thought. Her voice was angelic as always, like a blissful melody whisking through the air. Her giggles made my heart fly, her ears perking to the roof when she came up with a good idea made sure I stayed around to listen.

And don't even get me started on her actions. Instead of sitting on a spare throne provided for her, she sat on the floor with her legs crossed. She said it was for respectable reasons and she didn't feel she had the worth to sit on a throne.

Her answers were remarkable. Are two farmers having a dispute over colliding land? Relocate one of the farms to an area where it has more room to grow crops and raise livestock. Our planet's crystals are becoming less bountiful? Raise the price, but also lower the price of common goods so we can still get a proper amount of money in exchange for the export. Her responses were simple, peaceful. She said she didn't want any violence to spread out as a result. I know she's settled the storm in my mind.

    I thought she was just looks and muscles. Never again am I going to judge someone by their cover.

    "Princess Azalea?" A voice takes me out of my daydream. I was so lost in my thoughts of Erie I forgot where I was.

    It's after the competition. Thus the buffet. But unfortunately, I wasn't able to skip this one.  Mom and Dad forced me to come. They wanted me to meet the suitors, get along with them, talk to learn more about them. When I mean them, I mean Axelo.

    And of course, it's Axelo again. The same man who's been begging for my attention since the first time I laid eyes on him. He's looking the same as always, but instead of the axiziba mask, he's changed to a katawing one. A glittering gold katawing one. Someone told him about Kavas.

    "What is it?" I'm glaring. I don't even notice until I see Mom cast an upset look in my direction.

    "Nothing much." His slight smile has some confidence in it. "Just would like to ask if you're feeling better. I heard you didn't attend yesterday due to being nauseous."

I clear my throat. "Yes. I'm feeling much better."

"That's good to hear. I was worried you were trying to avoid this whole competition."

Avoid is an understatement.

I turn my attention to the plate I was attempting to make. I wanted some sweets, but it seems like I'm not going to get those.

Before I get a word in, he keeps talking. "And I apologize for our first dance. I thought you would appeal to someone submissive, but I can tell you want someone who has confidence in his stride."

I bite my lip. "What told you that?"

"Your general reaction, mostly. Then the first day of the competition where you seemed much more intrigued by someone who has some dependence in himself."

He takes my hand in one of his, kissing me on my knuckles. "How about I make it up to you? Another dance, if you'd like."

I can't say no. People would get more suspicious than they already are. So I try to resist biting my lip and put on a phony smile. "Yes, I would like that."

He takes me by the hands into the middle of the dance floor. Yet again, that song is playing. The song Vanila and I first danced to. The song I heard when I first met Erie. It's reassuring, in some sense. It brings me some peace of mind when he's starting to get closer. Hands firmly grasped on my hips, body pulling me closer, his grin as spiteful as ever.

But over his shoulder, I see her. Erie. She's still in her traditional black trench coat with a slim-fitting black outfit. She flashes me a toothy smile. It's easier than before to put up with Axelo.

I should get a conversation started. Just something to get him distracted. "Do I get your real name yet, or will you forever keep me in the dark?"

His chuckle is stupid. "Ah, I think we've already been over that. Are you sure you don't want me to remain anonymous?"

"How could I get to know you if I don't even know your name?"

He spins me, my dress skirt almost getting trapped underneath his traditional hunting boots. Those things are filthy. Has he ever washed them? "Jhorlauhin. But, Lauhin works much better."

"I see."

He keeps talking. About his home planet, his family, his traditional Laytive mannerism. He's a merchant's son, his father had traveled to many places to exchange the finest goods. He said he lived in a home "like mine" with a pet aizibia. It worries me. This man isn't noble. Why does he talk of my palace like this palace is something he's experienced? It's worrying, the way he's eyeing this place like the richest place in the galaxy.

His parents come up a lot. But every time, his expression is even more bitter than my thoughts of him. His nose scrunches in disgust, his eyes dart to the floor, his fangs bite his lower lip. Why does he keep bringing them up so much if he hates them? It doesn't make sense. But then again, nothing about him makes sense.

He says he's rich and can bring good fortune to Zophoria, yet he treats everything around him like a speck of dust.

He says he has a wonderful, loving family, but the look in his eyes says otherwise.

He says he would be honored to be by my side and to treat me right, but his hands are telling me a different story.

I don't know what word I could use to describe him. Secretive? Disloyal? Honorless? I know how I can describe Erie. Erie is a joy. She's just a bundle of joy who can make me smile with every stolen glance. But I don't know anything about her. Her parents, her lineage, Her home planet...

Maybe I should ask. If I see her again, that is. That's the only thing I can think about. Erie being her adorable self and sneaking into my room through the balcony. We can have tea and she can talk about herself. Every single little detail.

I want to hear about it all from the woman who's stolen my heart.