Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Marigold

"Good Morning Princess!" The young prince of yellow greeted the princess who just woke up.

"Hm?" Maria replied as she scratched her eyes.

"We brought you something for the morning! Normally, my family would be against this, but let's keep this our secret." Eric smiled at her.

Hans came in the room while holding a big tray of food with three glasses and chocolate.

"Uh... Uhm... T-thank you..." Maria was in a state of shock. She didn't know that she would be treated like this by her fellow royalty.

"It's okay princess. No need to thank us." Eric said. "Call me Eric. Okay?"

"O-okay..." Maria smiled faintly. "Then Venice will do for me."

"Venice?" Hans asked.

"Yes... My full name is quite a mouthful, but my people call me Princess Maria. My brother calls me Maria or Paris. You can call me Venice." Maria explained.

Hans distributed the plates and the utensils to the three of them then they each took food from the tray. Maria was feeling happy with the prince and his companion.

"Have I not seen you before?" Maria asked Hans after swallowing her food.

"Yes... I was in your brother's coronation." Hans blushed.

"Oh, so you know each other?" Eric asked, surprised.

"I never knew that he was from this kingdom specifically." Maria explained.

"I haven't introduced myself formally yet. I'm Hans Van Rensselaer of the Northwestern Isles, son of Howard Van Rensselaer." Hans introduced.

"Maria Venice Victoria Elizabeth Helen Paris Cordovin Wordsworth is my name and I am the crowned princess of the kingdom in the east, The Orient. I am the sister of the present king, King Cedric Sky Loki Sebastian Michael Alexander Cordovin Wordsworth." Maria told the two.

"I'm just Eric Zephyra, the prince of Madara." Eric smiled awkwardly.

Hans was smiling as his cheeks were blushing. He developed a liking towards the princess of the east and wasn't hiding it.

Maria was about ti put the spoon in her mouth when she noticed Hans' face. He was as bright red as a tomato and it really bothered Maria.

"Hans, are you okay?" Maria asked.

Hans looked at Maria with a more flustered face then he replied, "U-Uh... Yeah... I'm fine." Before smiling at the princess.

Maria put her plate down then went closer to Hans. Their faces were near to touching as Hans' face got more red and warm. Maria put her hand on his forehead then asked again, "Are you okay? Are you sick?"

Hans pulled his head away until he hit it on the floor, which made both of the royals worry until they heard Hans laugh, in which they also laughed.

"You okay, Hans?" Eric asked as he chewed his food.

"Yes." Hans sat again then continued eating his food.

Maria felt the hospitality of the Madaran people. She used to think that they were nothing but savages, but she realized that they are just like these people. They are all human.

As they laughed the early morning, the sun was about to set on the east. The clouds were starting to go grey while the sunset was still visible.

"Sire, might I ask you to go inside and take a rest. You have been training for hours." Clara asked as she held an umbrella on her arm.

The rain was starting to pour, but Cedric didn't care. He wanted to be strong for his sister.

"I don't care. I will retrieve my sister from those savages." Cedric said as he continued slice his way through the training grounds.

"Sire, please..." Clara pleaded.

The rain poured harder on the king and he could see the raindrops on his brown hair. He started crying, but he couldn't distinguish the raindrops on his cheeks from his own tears.

"Sire, I shall ask one last time." Clara sighed. She was getting worried for him but she didn't want to interfere for he is her king after all.

Cedric stopped abruptly. It took Clara by surprise that the king collapsed on the mud under him. He was on his knees as his blue eyes stared blankly on the brown mud.

Clara ran towards the young king with the feeling of worry and disappointment in her eyes. She sat on the mud, her red gown stained with brown. She placed her hand on Cedric's shoulder then a vivid colour of marigold flashed before her.

She let go of the young king's shoulder for she was shocked of what she's seen. It was the same colour that the king was seeing.

"Sire..." Clara said, she was out of words.

"I see you saw a glimpse of what I could see." Cedric said as his voice cracked. He felt so helpless and vulnerable.

"It is truly horrible." Clara was really trying her best to comfort the young king.

"Please go inside... Leave me to be for now. Check on the townsfolk, they deserve your attention." Cedric ordered.

"But I am your royal advisor, and I shall advise you to go inside." Clara refuted as she stood.

"As your king, I order you to tend to the people of the Orient." Cedric told Clara sternly.

Clara stood up from the mud then sighed. She bowed in front of Cedric to show her respect before teleporting back to the castle while carrying a heavy heart.

The king was still under the pouring rain as he knelt on the mud. He felt pathetic and furious.

"Marigold is what I see and I'll make sure you feel it." Cedric mumbled under his breath.

His despair showing off his aura and his dark lineage was showing. His eyes were no longer blue but glowing turquoise.

"I'll be taking Madara by a storm." Cedric got back on his feet then went into the castle all drenched and a mess.

Maids and butlers went to him trying to give him towels and offer him help in which Cedric continously declined.

"Thank you, but I'll be fine." Cedric said as he walked with the servants behind him.

When he arrived in his room, he changed his clothes into something comfortable for travelling then looked at himself in the mirror.

"Oh it has been a long time..." He told himself as his eyes glowed more vividly. "Get ready for a hurricane."

He took a look at his crown by his journal one last time before taking his journal and putting it in his satchel then everything he needed was already mounted on his horse. He also kept different weapons under his sleeves, inside his boots, under his belt and more places.

He left his crown with the Orient and he rode into the rain towards the west. Clara didn't know about his quest, but she saw him ride to the west.

"Oh dear, guide that boy..." Clara whispered as she watched Cedric.

Cedric rode through the wind and the rain. It didn't faze him for he wanted to see his sister so badly.

"I'm ready as I'll ever be and I shall be by your side again my dear sister."