From the palace building, by the opened windows. Lala, Ana, Elysia and Nino were looking out at the arriving guests in the palace. Lala as curious, asked about the two men coming out from the carriage; with Nino gently explained about the banquet tonight and the two nobles of the neighboring empire's being present as the representation of the Frost Guard empire.
As the three listened to Nino's explanation; Lala for a short moment looked out at the entrance. And in that moment, she made an eye contact with the prince for a split second.
The prince too looked at her; a prolonged, intense stare that differs from casual glances, an intimate focus on the person's face or body with his narrowed eyes.
This sends a cold shiver run down her spine; as she quickly turned away and walked a few steps back from the window. Just then, Mono walked over. And as Nino noticed her, she quickly walked closer and bombarded her with questions; asking where she went to last night and complained about how she was looking for Ray and couldn't find neither him or her. Mono was trying to calm Nino, but then she noticed Lala with a pale face and sweating by her forehead.
"Lala, are you sick?"
Mono asked, slowly walking towards her as the others too noticed the pale expression on her face. Ana had a more worried look, as she asked if Lala was feeling unwell. But Lala gave a small smile, saying she just felt a bit hot and that's all; while she tried to look back at the window. Noticing her gaze, Mono walked over and looked out as she noticed a carriage with a different symbol by the entrance. But before she could ask; Nino beat her to it as she reported about the guests coming over.
"Wait! It was tonight!?"
Mono asked with a panicked tone; while Nino and the rest nodded. She then quickly turned around and began to run back to her room; while stating that she needs to dress up properly before Maximus calls them to greet the guests.
Nino and Lala laughed in unison to it; as they two were also about to walk ahead for breakfast. But just then, Nino noticed another carriage coming up to the entrance. Noticing her, Lala too looked back seeing the carriage coming to halt. The symbol over the carriage was of Hiro's, looking at which Nino wondered if Hiro and Sakura has solved their matters and came to the palace to pick Elysia and Kai.
As the door to the carriage opened, they saw Hiro and Sakura coming out while laughing together. And behind them followed Justin who was talking something with the two. But along them, even Ray walked out as well; which surprised Nino and Lala. As the two wondered how come Ray was with them; they noticed that he was talking with someone behind him who was still inside the carriage.
The two had an idea that it must be Kai who's there as well. And their thinking was right, as Sakura called out for Kai to come out as well. And to her call, he too came out. But his entrance left Lala and Nino in shock.
As Kai came out, he wasn't in his usual wheelchair; neither that messed up hair of his. Rather, he was clean cut; properly dressed and hair done; and was floating in the air with a black-themed cape behind him. Even his legs were moving; as Kai had his legs crossed in the air, in a sitting position while he levitated in the air.
"KAI CAN MOVE HIS LEGS!?"
Nino's and Lala's astonishment rang in unison; as everyone looked up to see the two standing by the window. Both of them had their mouths wide open in shock.
And noticing the two looking at him; Kai waved his hand at them with a calm smile as he spoke up.
"Hey girls," he playfully winked at them.
"HE'S TALKING AS WELL!?!?"
The revelation was too much for them; as the two lost their balance and fell backward. Watching Nino falling backward, Ray quickly leaped forward to the second floor. Following him, Kai too levitated forward as the two looked at the two unconscious girls on the hallway.
"What now?" Ray questioned. To which, Kai replied to carry them back into another room. And following his guide, Ray carried an unconscious Nino; while Kai took Lala. Behind them followed Ana and Elysia, where Ana was in awe hearing Kai's voice for the first time while Elysia boosted that she had knew about it from before.
What actually happened that made Kai move his legs freely? And what about him levitating in the air? Let's go back to thirty minutes ago.
The time when Sakura dragged Hiro and Kai alongside her. During then, three; along with Ray who caught up to them as they all made their way towards the location of now abandoned café. And as they reached there; the place was filled with knights who were searching inside the café. Among them also stood Justin, who was asking questions to the group of women; whether they remember anything. But everyone had the same answer; saying the just felt like they were in a deep sleep and only remembered about being at their homes.
Justin gave a thoughtful, sighing as a knight came by and reported about finding lots of magic gears inside. Saying so, the knight gestured behind him where two more knights stood, and around them were the magic gears on the ground. Just as he was pondering on what to do; he noticed Hiro's carriage pulling by and saw the group walking out of it.
"That was fast," He walked towards the group. "You all came here right after getting the letter right?"
Justin asked his question with a calm smile; while the rest looked at him in confusion. Hiro asked how Justin knew of the letter, to which Justin said that it was his idea to have the land under their name.
"But why?" Hiro asked; stepping ahead to look at the abandoned café as he questioned Justin if the land has anything that holds something valuable or so. Justin just patted Hiro's back, saying that they should discuss about those questions when they will go meet Maximus in a bit.
"Anyways, Kai," Hiro wanted to ask more, but Justin had turned his attention to Kai. "Come here, I got something for you." Justin had his classic smile, as he extended his right hand with the palm facing down; making a scratching motion with his fingers towards his palm. Indicating that he's asking Kai to come to him.
"Something for me?" Kai questioned, as he wheeled himself forward. Justin nodded with a smile, answering that he found something interesting for Kai. But he paused talking, as he stared at Kai with shocked look; asking if he just heard Kai talking.
To this, Kai nodded as he opened his mouth; saying it is him who's talking now. But Justin had his mouth wide opened, looking at Kai, then turning his gaze towards Hiro and Sakura who smiled at him.
"HE'S TALKING!?!?"
"I'm tired of explaining myself." Said Kai, as he wheeled ahead of Justin. "So, where's the thing you got for me?"
Kai asked as he turned back to look at Justin; who was confused, wanting to ask how Kai was talking. But then Hiro walked over to Justin's side; placing his hand on Justin's shoulder. And as Justine turned to him, Hiro gave him a calm smile as he said that he will explain everything to him later on.
To this, Justin agreed with a sigh; saying that something or the other is always happening with Hiro's family. Walking forward, he went up to the magic gears collected all together and stood by as he looked at Kai with a smile.
"You will be surprised with what I got here for you!"
Justin exclaimed, while the others wondered what he might have found.
Back in the present, with ten minutes went by. Ray was currently explaining what happened in the mention and at the café location to Nino and Lala; with Ana and Elysia listening as well. According to which, Justin found a red jaded circlet; called 'Crown of Dominion,' which Kai had worn and was controlling his legs movement through it.
But in reality, Kai was just acting while using a bit of magic on the circlet to trick Justin into thinking that he was able to move cause of the magic.
And for the cap, it was another magic gear powerful enough to create currents of magic winds to attack and levitate in the air; called as 'Crimson Moon Cape'.
"So… Kai was able to talk due to a magic pendant he created?" Nino asked, as Lala followed behind her.
"And… Sir Justin gave him two magic gears for him to move around freely?"
Ray nodded to the two, as Ana raised her hand and with a curious look said that she didn't saw Kai had any form of circlet around his head though. To this, Ray laughed a bit as he recalled and responded that Kai covered it with his hair; saying that Kai didn't like its design.
To this, everyone laughed alongside Ray. But just then, Nino noticed that Kai wasn't there in the room.
"Ah, but… where is he now?"
Everyone looked at Ray, who just sighed with a helpless look.
"Well… He just said that he has someone to meet and went away right after getting the two of you here."
Around the same time, Kai was moving around the palace with his new appearance to the others. He was questioning himself if he should change the circlet appearance himself; or just take it off and toss it aside. But just then, Eva's voice came in.
"Good for you, sir. Now you have to keep up the act all the time. But you're right. That circlet is really not worthy to be worn by you."
Eva stated her thoughts, as Kai nodded in agreement; saying he will do something about it later on. According to him, his first goal is to meet someone who must be walking around here in the palace somewhere. As he searched all around the corridor, hallways and even the servants' quarter as well. But he didn't find the one he was looking for.
Talking to himself, Kai took a turn by the corner wondering if the person he was looking for was not in the palace yet. But just as he turned, someone came rushing up and bumped into him. The person was almost pushed down, but Kai quickly caught it.
Reaching out his hand, he held their hand and pulled up as Kai too noticed that the person was none other than Mono; who was properly dressed up. Clear to be seen she dressed up well with make-up on. But maybe too much make-up?
"Pfft-!" Kai was holding back his laughter as he held Mono up; who had her eyes closed in fear of falling back. Her face was filled with make-up, a clear indication that she had done it by herself.
"No way this is my fiancée…?" Kai thought to himself, then he noticed her slowly trying to open her eyes. And as her eyes opened, the first she saw was Kai's face; which was masked with a calm smile radiating to her. But internally, Kai was telling himself not to laugh at her.
"Huh… where? Eh-! Who?"
Mono's internal process was paused, unable to think properly as she began to blush seeing a handsome face right in front of her. And to add up with it, she was being held up by him in the air.
"Ah… No- Let me down!!" She began to move her arms and legs; making chaos as she desperately tried to have herself freed from Kai's hold.
"Hey- Wait! St-Stop moving around!!"
Kai was trying to reason with her, but just then; Mono's fist connect to Kai's jaw. Pushing him upward, Kai bites his tongue as he got the impact and quickly pulled his hands up to cover his mouth; as Mono landed straight on the floor with her back. The two were groaning; one on the floor, and the other levitating over her.
"Internal injury detected," Eva voiced.
"Medical help needed. Estimated time for healing: Five weeks or more."
Kai just groaned, using his magic to cast heal over his tongue as he looked down at Mono; asking her with a irritated tone that if she wanted to kill him with that punch of her just now.
"What-!!"
Mono looked up, with an angry look as she pulled Kai down as she grabbed his clothe; pulling his face closer to her.
"First of all, who are you!? And how dare you talk like that to me!? Do you know who I am!?"
Mono held her grip tight onto Kai's collar; which was Kai's trigger point. He took a deep breathe, then slowly looked Mono right into her eyes and countered.
"Are you an idiot!?" Kai loud voice echoed around the hallway, which left Mono slightly startled.
"First of all! It was you who came running to me and collided with me! Second, it was me who saved you from falling; but you punched me and then began to argue with me!! And-!"
But Kai was cut off in between, as Mono questioned back if he doesn't that, she was the second princess; asking how can he be so careless to shout at an imperial blood. But this just irritated Kai more, ready to strike his question at her. But just then, the imperial bell rang; a sign for summon by the emperor for all the nobles and guest who were present in the palace to reach the throne hall.
Mono then let go off Kai's clothes, saying that she doesn't want to waste her time with him. But as she let go, she thought to herself that maybe she saw Kai before; since when she looked at his face, his eyes were seemed familiar to her. But as she took a step forward, a sharp pain passed through her as she began to fall to her side, but Kai caught her again. And as she looked at him, he had a calm look; as he said that this time Kai will punch her back if she hits him again.
Mono was flustered to his words, but she just lowered her head with a blush; "He's got a shar tongue under that handsome face of his."
Mono commented, but in a low voice that Kai didn't hear to it. Just then, his earpiece rang as Ray's voice came in; asking him to come to the hall to Maximus's call. To this, Kai responded that he will be there soon as he slowly turned back to Mono. Looking at her flustered and injured, but still trying to act brave; a small smile formed on Kai's lips as he lifted her up into his arms.
"Hey-! What are you doing!!"
Mono was flustered, but Kai quickly responded that she won't be able to walk there anyways, so it's better she gets a ride from him. To this, Mono stammered while trying to ask Kai to let her off; but it was too late.
While she kept pleading, Kai already reached to the hall. Kai levitated from above, as everyone looked at him landing down. Present there were his parents, Justin, Ray and the girls, along with a few other nobles and the guest of the neighbouring empire. Everyone was shocked, mouth wide opened. Celestina and Sakura covered their mouth as they exchanged glanced and smiled to each other. Maximus too was wondering who he was, since he never saw Kai with his bangs up. But when he noticed that he held Mono in his arms; even though Mono tried her best to cover her face with her hands; feeling embarrassed and blushing from the look of everyone.
Maximus stood in anger, seeing his daughter held by a stranger. He pointed his finger at him; as Maximus raised his voice and questioned who he was and called for the knights to capture him.
"OI!" Kai felt a spear pointed towards him from behind, as more knights came around him pointing their weapons. He opened his mouth to speak up; but before he could, Hiro came running and running told them to stop it. But Maximus questioned Hiro, asking Hiro why he was saving the him.
"Because he's Kai!"
Hiro's voice rang through the hall, as Mono shot up from her cover and looked at Kai's face.
"Wait-! Now I remember! Those eyes of yours! You're Kai!?" Mono exclaimed, as she pointed her finger at Kai's face. Maximus at the throne, looked Hiro, who nodded at him. Then turning to Sakura and Justin, both nodded as well. But he was still not sure; as he searched for Ray, seeing him stand by the corner and nodding at Maximus, he had no choice but to slowly take in Hiro's word and Kai's reveal.
"Yup, it's me. Your handsome fiancée~"
Kai responded to her, as he winked at her. This surprised her, but not cause of Kai's boldness, but to the reveal that he was talking. Even Maximus, Celestina, and the other nobles were shocked; as the whole crowd erupted in unison.
"YOU CAN TALK!?"
-To be Continued