Crescent Shaped Soul - Amethyst of Deception

Chapter 1: A Cheeky Little Devil

„Auntie Kalliopa, Auntie Kalliopa!", an energetic little girl screamed. She was running towards the commissioners office, holding a bow in her hand which she had stolen from a solider that fell asleep on duty. „Look what I found!"

Kalliopa looked up from her paperwork, laying her pen down. She stood up and walked towards the door, but as soon as she opened it, the child already jumped in her arms.

„Slow down, Celyne. You're going to make us both fall to the ground, you little energy bundle", She laughed, amused by the little girl. Celyne in turn clung close to her Auntie, gripping tightly on her strong white hair, „Hide me! Uncle Aquilus is chasing after me!"

But before the Commissioner could react, Celyne was already hinding behind her legs. The woman once again chuckled to herself before poking the child with questions." What did you do this time, Princess? I'm very sure Aquilus wouldn't chase after you without a solid reason." She asked the child before setting a sassy look on her face, whilst pressing her hands against her hips. „And what's with that bow in your hand, you lil' midget?"

Celyne stuck out her tounge at Kalliopa, refusing to talk. She was still holding her newly aquired good close to her, never wanting to let go of it. „Oh fine, give me the bow, and I'll get you a pack of sweets. Deal?", Kalliopa said again, the stubborn expression on the little princesses face quickly lighting up at the mention of sweets. Despite her initial reluctance, she quickly handed over the bow to Kalliopa, who was already getting a handful of colored candy from the drawer of her desk.

As the little child was nagging on her sweets, Kalliopa leaned back against her desk, admiring the craftsmanship of the bow. It was a delicate design, but her admiration was cut short when she heard a voice screaming outside her office. It was her colleague, looking for his niece that just so happened to have ran into her office barely two minutes ago.

„We're over here Aquilus!" Kalliopa yelled into the noble hallway. Aquilus soon entered the commissioners office, glad to see both of them. He was still panting from running behind Celyne, who was now peacefully sitting on Kalliopas desk, her legs swinging off the edge of it.

„So that's where the little brat decided to hide, huh?" he said, taking the bow off Kalliopas desk. „ She's been doing this since early in the morning! First, she smeared lipstick over her entire face, then she made a pillow fortress with pillows from the entire castle, and now she stole the bow of a solider who fell asleep on duty, and itˋs just 10 o'clock!". Aquilus collapsed down on the sofa as he was rubbing his eyes, annoyance eteched over his face. „ I never knew i signed up as a fulltime babysitter when I became a government official."

Kalliopa couldn't help but chuckle a little as she heard of the antics of the young princess. She pushed herself off the edge of her desk again, strolling to the bookshelf in her office to retrive some documents off it „ Geez, didn't realise a civil war broke out while i was sitting here in peace. What's Cecilia doing?"

„Be glad" Aquilus replied with a loud sigh, hand on his forehead. „ Cecilia's packing her and Celynes stuff for the trip they're about to go on. To Zaralith, remember?" He was still leaning back in the sofa. „ They're gonna visit prince Sohail and princess Soraya, since Prince Sohail had recently been crowned"

„Oh, right. Then better we get this little shrip back to Cecilia, don't you think, Quilus?", The commissioner returned and placed the heaps of of paper on her desk before picking up Celyne and gently stroking her brunette hair.

„I'm no shrimp, let me down!" Celyne yelled while trying to push herself off Kalliopas grasp, without any luck. She really was a lively child.

„ So that you can go and cause more mischief? Don't think so, Princess.", Kalliopa replied, her voice clearly amused. Both adults couldn't help but laugh a little as Celyne was carried back to her mother. Their footsteps were muffeled by the carpet as they made their way to the Queens sleeping quarters. After a minute, Celyne tried to wriggle free again, but was stopped by Aquilus, as he took her from Kalliopas arms. „Aquilus, are you sure it is not too much trouble carrying her? I can take her if you'd like," she asked him, softly stroking Celynes hair. Yet the man just shook his head, keeping quiet till he reached for the doorhandle.