Wayward [The Princess' jewellery box]

[I] The beginning of the jewellery box

In a grand palace of the great Arbelzea empire, in front of two magnificent doors, the name of the first princess was announced, before her entrance in the throne room.

"The Great Arbelzea empire's first princess, [Ariana de Sekramis], is entering!" Her name was shouted, and the doors were opened for her by two guards standing at each side.

The trumpets were blown, as she entered, as if she was someone with a significant power on par with the emperor's. It may not be entirely false, however not entirely true either.

Many, admired her beauty. In fact, the first princess, is a woman with an extreme beauty, with her gorgeous long wavy silver hair, her mesmerizing amethyst eyes, resembling those of the emperor's. Her porcelain milky skin, and slight rosy blush on her cheeks. Akin to a goddess whom ascended from Earth, Ariana befitting her status smiled brightly.

Wearing a charming smile, she greeted, the emperor, her father with an elegant bow, fitting a princess.

"The Great Arbelzea empire's great sun, his majesty the emperor. I offer my congratulations.
I heard his majesty's loyal army gained a great victory in Balle. 
The people will be thankful towards my father, the King." She said, offering her congratulations to the emperor, who first looked at her blankly for a second, before his face, almost indifferent, changed to one that showed his affection to his only daughter, and fawned over her.

"Hehe~ My adorable daughter Ariana~" The emperor said with a voice full of affections.

"I'm happy you returned safely." She expressed her relief, with as much as affection.

"Of course, our princess is the best." He praised her, which made the first prince, Babylo de Sekramis, grinds his teeth and also expressed his congratulations loudly with a proud look, but was soon disappointed and crestfallen due to the difference of treatment.

The first prince with grey hair, slicked back, amethyst eyes similar to the emperor's and Ariana's own if not darker and, a mole at the corner of his right eye.

"The entire empire is rejoicing at the news of the emperor's victory.
Arbelzea's great emperor's first blessing, first prince Babylo! I applaud my father's achievement!"  He exclaimed, putting his right hand above where his heart would be.

Despite showing his enthusiasm, he was met with indifference.

"Yeah, yeah. I know that." The emperor waved it off, as if it wasn't important, which made Babylo flinches, as he expected to also receive praises.

The first prince's glowed, and then he expressed with a firmer expression, his willingness to follow his father to a war, trying to curry even the smallest encouragement, but he was quickly shot down by his father and belittled.

"Please let me accompany you on the next battle! 
This Babylo will break the necks of our enemies!"

"If that's so, then be sure to diligently attend your classes, as I can constantly hear your swordsmanship mentor groan about you." The emperor pointed out his first son's flaws, with a dark look, making the said prince sweat profusely.

"Y-yes..." He stuttered out, momentarily flustered.

"Wouldn't it be nice if I could bring honour to father on the battlefield, like what my older brother just said?" Ariana took advantage of that moment, to also express her willingness to follow her father on the battlefield.

She was also shot down, but in a gentler and caring manner.

"Of course, our princess has outstanding abilities as well. I can't just take you to the battlefield since it's dangerous. You on't need to be so kind." The emperor said with an embarrassed look and caring in his voice, which made the prince Babylo tremble out of anger and made a tick mark, appears on his cheek. He seemed to be jealous.

"Yes, father~." She said, with a golden aura around her, and a dark aura spread round the first prince.

Though, in her mind, it still left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth: she is a talented young woman, but the issue resides in her identity of princess, but the foremost as a woman.

In the background, the second prince, Haberon de Sekramis was trembling out of fear, while the third prince, Kamal de Sekramis, had a sly smirk on his face.

'Ah, older brother and sister are at it again...! I need to stay quiet to not get caught in their arguments.' The ginger-haired prince, with green eyes and freckles, thought, while looking down and wishing to hide himself in a hole.

Meanwhile, the third prince, who has black hair, amethyst eyes and a mole at the corner of his left eye, was looking at them concededly. 'As expected, watching idiots fight is the most entertaining.'

In the background, the male audience were whispering, about the princess and the fact that despite being the emperor's favourite, it was impossible for her to become the next emperor.

Though, they didn't notice that the princess heard them, and had a sharp look on her face. She looked at them, and it was almost like a sun was shining behind her.

'Those idiotic people.' She thought with a serious look on her face. And then, her face returned to her habitual sweet face, while her mind wandered off to her precious one.

While her mind was elsewhere, she thought of her dear and gorgeous, scarlet-haired friend, Countess Lucetta Archinoe.

The only person, apart from her personal maids, she can sincerely trust and confide to her everything and anything.

Her friend, may not be of a status as high as hers, but Lucetta's beauty is no less. 

Lucetta has short scarlet, wavy hair and also enchanting amber eyes. Eyes that can be compared to topaz, making Ariana compares Lucetta to the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite. 

[If the princess Ariana is Artemis, then the marquess Lucetta is Aphrodite], or so says people of high society.

Her skin is also white and milky ; making Ariana, wants to cuddle with the scarlet-haired woman, when they are in more private and secluded place. Of course, Lucetta never refuses and even let Ariana do as she likes.

"Ariana, my sweet diamond, nobody can equal you, so don't listen to those men. They are only able to open their mouths to say nonsense."

She remembered what Lucetta told her with her honeyed and warm voice, while the two were cuddling against each other. Lucetta being on the bottom with her hair spread around her head, creating a sort of scarlet crown and Ariana being above Lucetta, her face on the scarlet-haired woman's bosom. 

She can still feel Lucetta's skin under her fingers, how Lucetta's bosom would vibrate as she chuckles at Ariana's antics, and the feeling of Lucetta's lips on her forehead.

As she thought about her 'friend', she started to miss her, more and more, but she knows that Lucetta will come back to her. Because Lucetta promised her to.

In her room, Ariana, exceeded by men's stupidity, formulated a plan that can allow her to be on the throne but, also, to be surrounded by beautiful men. The creation of her jewellery box, with beautiful and powerful men, would be placed in.

The thought of adding her dear friend, Lucetta, also passed through her mind.

Walking through the palace corridor, she crossed her path with the first prince, her older brother. Managing to drive him away through some insufferable teasings, she looked out of the window, her gaze falling on the prominent glasshouse, while thinking about the first person, she wants in her jewellery box.

With however, some worry and fear. Worry because she wanted Lucetta to be her first, and fear to be rejected by the latter.