The Marked Phoenix: Little Red Bird - Chapter 2

Rushed and panicked footsteps surveyed back and forth from the hallways as busybodies ran past each other. Desperately, the maidservants searched for their mischievous little Princess, Emerine [1]. Dressed in a simple and efficient pale green gown, the color of the Western Kingdom, the maidservants were beginning to grow fretful that something malicious had fallen upon their Princess. She was only the solemn age of six, yet her rebellious nature was already prevalent. She was a sneaky little thing who loved to pull pranks and her favorite one was a disappearing act.

“Where is the Princess? His Majesty is returning from the council meeting very soon!” A maidservant frantically asked. She was in such disarray that she did not pause and listen for an answer.

“Her birthday dinner banquet is approaching in just a few hours. We must find her now!” A butler said to no one in particular as he opened the doors to her toy room. Wuxiaworld for visiting.

“We must find her before the governess does! The Heavens know she will be upset by this news!” Another voice piped up, whipping her head to the large window, hoping to catch the sight of a little girl tucked in the bushes of the expansive royal garden.

Her governess [2], Miss Lizbeth, was always reprimanding the little Princess for her unladylike behavior. It was especially worrying that the little Princess was such a havoc-causing child, yet the doting King could do nothing but spoil her rotten.

Everyone could see the King dearly loved the Princess, for she was the last fragment he had of his wife. But no one could see the fear and worry tucked beneath the affection gaze. With each passing day, Princess Emerine Elaine Kastrel was the spitting image of her mother. Not many dared to admit this astounding fact — everyone was too fearful that this truth would crumble the King’s shattered heart into dust.

Many servants, as much as they loved their bratty princess, pitied the child.

Emerine was always bright and carefree with a bubbly laughter to match her personality. Yet, there was a heavy air of melancholy that hung over her head, weighing her down. Her eyes would always linger into the distance whenever she saw a child her age with their mother, who was most likely a servant of the castle. At times, she would abruptly stop smiling and begin to cry. Everyone knew why, and none dared to utter the truth. Even though she was surrounded by the love of her servants and father, she craved the tender touch and affection of a mother.

While everyone searched the palace for the hiding princess, a young boy strolled towards the direction of the forest beside the palace. It was one of the palace’s protective barriers to keep out unwanted trespassers, not that many could even wander through the trees in the first place. Once an unauthorized person was to stroll through these trees, they would never walk out alive.

“Bratty little thing.” The young boy, the age of ten, aggravatedly grumbled under his breath. With a sturdy and trained body, he was no longer the poor orphan that the Princess picked up on the street. Their encounter was unexpected: a Princess and an orphaned thief.

“Always wandering off… Someone should tie a damn leash to her neck.”

The small sword strapped to his waist swayed as he stomped into the forest. His youthful face showed the promise that he would grow up to become a very handsome man. But right now, the beauty was disrupted by a rough scowl.

He was grateful that the Princess took him off the streets and placed a roof over his head, but he was not grateful for her frequent tantrums. Right now, she was having a grand time throwing another one. The fourth time this week. And it was only Tuesday.

“She was so damn cute when I first met her. Who would’ve known she was a devil in angel disguise. Tch.”

He continued complaining to himself until he stopped in front of a large clearing. It was easily one of the most beautiful locations in the entire Kingdom. A large pond sat in the middle of the clearing, glistening water pouring from a stream that assorted fishes danced in. Butterflies fluttered about, whisking their magnificently colored wings upon the flowers that sprouted in all directions. A gust of wind combed through the area and picked up the floral scent.

The boy was peculiarly tall for his age, despite the fact that puberty hadn’t started for him. His above-average length legs carried him to the edge of the pond, where a tiny bridge rested. It led to the beautiful white gazebo where an equally white stone table sat in the center.

His shadow and body loomed over a fancily colored ball. “What is it this time, Princess?” he asked. His teasing voice should’ve irked the ball, as it always had, but this time, it didn’t. The ball was motionless, but he could see she was drawing pathetic circles on the white benches.

“Your highness, if you’re going to look pitiful, at least smear some dirt on yourself and cry.” He sighed, leaning against the pillar of the gazebo. He was just short of an arms-length to her. His rude speech should’ve had his tongue cut off by the law, but the Princess was too fond of him to do that. She actually enjoyed his presence…sometimes.

“Shut up, Kalesin [3]. You’re so annoying!”

“Ah-hah, so the ball can speak!” Kalesin teased with an amused smile resting on his face. His tense posture finally relaxed as he let out a small sigh of relief.

Kalesin might’ve been angry at her disappearance, but deep down, he was still worried about her. She was his first and only friend, as well as the person who took him off the streets. No one had predicted the Princess to have stumbled across him in the center of the capital. He was a foolish thief stupid enough to pickpocket the Princess when her guards were around. He would’ve been brutally beaten into a pulp had the Princess not intervened.

“Why are you so upset, Princess?” Kicking himself off the pillar, he strolled towards her and placed a gentle hand on her small back.

If it had been anyone else that touched her, Emerine would’ve thrown a fit like the brat she was and demanded that person to remove their hand immediately.

He continued on, “Everyone in the palace is looking for you, Princess—”

A tiny voice spoke up, “Papa doesn’t love me.” The ball began morphing into a human girl when her head finally raised.

Kalesin tried to not stare at her hair, so beautiful and radiant, it was the color of gold. Underneath the sunlight, it was the most brilliant shade he had ever seen. He admired how soft and silky it was but always teased that it was the color of a banana. She, of course, would get offended and toss things at him, but he’d always catch it and laugh it off.

“That’s not true and you know it, your highness.” Kalesin deadpanned, a frown making its way to his face. He grabbed her shoulder — an offense that could get him hanged — and turned her to face him. “The King loves you very much, more than his own life—”

“I heard the maids discuss it today.” Emerine interrupted. She lifted her head, revealing the white veil covering half of her face.

Kalesin’s hand twitched to yank the damn cloth off of her face. He praised and respected the King, but he could never respect the King’s decision to cover her face. Because of the veil, Emerine was always self-conscious of her appearance, believing she was ugly. As a result, she loathed herself for resembling her mother, despite not having the ability to change it. The truth was, King Augustus of the West was too pained by the sight of his own daughter’s face, the face that stole his wife from him.

“They said Papa hates me and that’s why he makes me cover my face. They said he hates the way I look like…like…” she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Emerine was so afraid of bringing up the conversation of her mother, that she couldn’t even utter the word. The first time she brought up a question about her mother, the King nearly went insane. He was at first infuriated by the very question that he nearly charged at his own daughter. But then anger miraculously transformed into pain at the sight of her terrified face. He had broken down that day, falling onto his knees in a mess of tears. Ever since then, Emerine didn’t dare to bring up her mother.