Mission To The Unknown

Love Beyond The Crown (8)

Green's heart hammered a lively rhythm against his ribs, each beat echoing the excited thrum in his veins. Green was wandering through the streets of Artemis kingdom with Second following behind silently, heading to the palace.

As he breathed in the crisp, fresh air, his face was alight with a kind smile, his hair falling delicately over his forehead; a strange, yet blissful mix of excitement and happiness.
Today was the day. An excuse, however flimsy, had presented itself, a detail his friend, Second, needed for his investigation. A detail only someone with access to the royal archives could procure.

And who had the king practically adopted as his personal songbird? Oh, the delicious torture of it all!

He was on his way to meet the one person who filled his heart with a love so pure, it seemed to fuel his every step. Prince Purple, with his eyes like amethysts flavored with sapphire, held such dominion over Green's affections. Each time his thoughts turned to the prince, a blush erupted across his cheeks. The feeling was overwhelming, like a fire consuming his soul, a beautiful warmth he longed to embrace more than the cool morning air that wreathed him.

Inwardly, Green's heart was fluttering like a hummingbird's wings. And whenever he caught even a fleeting glimpse of the Prince, it felt as though his inner world sparked to life. The Prince's indefinable ice and wind aura had a mystic attraction to him. But despite Purple's cold and unreadable persona, Green felt his heart swelling with warmth whenever their eyes met.

The first time he had met the prince was when he was begging for a meal, strumming his rough wooden violin on the cobblestone streets. His voice, once a soft murmur for those tight on their strings of fate, began to ring through the air over pluck of strings, singing a ballad that exuded grace and enticed even the deaf.

And fortunately, he caught the attention of the king and his son as they were taking a tour of their kingdom, who were a few who halted to witness his small performance. Gliding as if the wind itself controlled his steps, hands lifted to the sky in a wordless appeal to the heavens, it was then his emerald gaze locked with Prince Purple's. Startled by this unexpected beauty, Green stumbled, the music on his lips faltering as he hit the ground with a thud.

There was a moment of stillness that fell over the crowd before it erupted into howls of laughter.

Cheeks burning with mortification, Green was on the verge of burying his embarrassment in his green silken cape when he saw a glint of amusement soften the prince's features just before the shadows fell over him. He gazed up to meet King Orange with a gentle smile, extending a hand to Green, helping him to his feet. Startled by the kindness of the royal, Green remained silent.

The king was impressed and offered Green the position of royal singer for special occasions, a proposal he couldn't resist. King Orange also rewarded Green with a magnificent home, located in one of the best districts, near the palace!

Who would've known that one embarrassing tumble into the burly king's arms, and his life had transformed into a melody of silk sheets and palace delicacies. Yet, the sweetest note in this new symphony was undoubtedly the Prince.

The memory of those charming eyes sent a blush creeping up Green's neck. Eyes that followed him, observed his every move, held an unspoken emotion within their depths that Green yearned to decipher. Was it amusement? Curiosity? Or could it be… something more?

Though, Green knew, the singer could wish for the stars, but never catch one. The prince was universe's precious commodity who deserved the world, a world Green could never provide. He had the whole kingdom, the respect, and the nobility. What could Green offer, a mere pauper, but his voice, his heart? Their worlds were as different as night and day. Yet, when Purple's gaze lingered on him, he dared to believe in the fantastical, in fairytales whispered by the embers of a dying fire.