The Devil's Bride

The palace's servants were busy preparing some last minutes works. Although the preparation had been started since the last two weeks, but there seems to be so much more to do.

Some servants can be seen on the main hall, sweeping and mopping, while some were carrying baskets of fresh grubs from the green houses where the vegetables were planted for the palace supply.

The butlers were busily walking and checking every work done by the workers under their section, making sure that everything was in order and perfectly done.

Kathleen, since today was her special day, doesn't have to do her daily routine studies, which include reading, writing, dancing and royal etiquette. Her sisters on the other hand, do not have any excuses to avoid the classes, which they all found it rather tiring and tedious.

The young princess then decided to go out to the garden for a little walk before she starts preparing for tonight's banquet.

"Let me her highness change for suitable attire for a walk" said Lucy, her maid.

She let Lucy pick a dress and help her on it after she finished bathing and washing her face. The dress was in light purple color with a white sash around her waist, which makes her look slimmer and curvier.

Lucy then tied her hair in a low up do, with a braid on her left and right side. Then she put a head piece on the princess beautiful hair, it was a gold flower shaped piece with small diamonds glittering at the end of every petals.

"There, what a pretty princess you are Princess Kathleen. I bet there's no one in this whole country could win against your beauty" said Lucy in her admiring tone.

"No, I'm not. My sisters were way more beautiful and elegant compare to me. How I wish that one day I can be as great as they were" she replied. Kathleen always felt that her sisters were on the highest rank when it comes to beauty.

"Forgive my rudeness your highness, but I couldn't agree to that. Her highness beauty was greater than other women I'd ever met. But of course, this is my own personal opinion, princess" said Lucy, feeling that the princess shouldn't be too humble with her beauty.

"Thank you Lucy, I'll take it as a compliment then" Kathleen winked her eye to Lucy playfully.

"It is a compliment princess and I'm being serious about it" she replied to the princess knowing that the princess won't really believe in her words.

Once Kathleen finished her breakfast, she went out from her room with her maid following from behind.

Walking down the stairs, passing through the main hall, she noticed that the palace were totally different from yesterday. The flower arrangements were over the top, the chandeliers were shinier than ever, and even the floor and windows were as if new.

She praised in her heart for the servants great work. She will surely suggest to her father the king, to give all the servants a bonus for their hardworking efforts.

Walking out of the palace through the main door, Kathleen walked to where her private garden located which in the west side of the palace's ground. Each princess were bestowed their own private garden when they reach the age of fifteen, for them to manage. Each garden was guarded by the royal guards from outside, which mean no other person could enter uninvited.

 Walking in through her garden's gate, she asked her personal maid to get some rest and wait her outside, for she wanted to enjoy her time alone.

The garden was planted with various types of flowers, giving the place a flowery scent. Perfecting the great view were the apple trees with red ripe apples in each tree and also wild berries bushes, making the garden look full and pack, in the same time giving off the peaceful ambience.

Kathleen sat under one of the apple tree, inhaling the fresh air. When she look around, she could only see trees, bushes and flower, she couldn't see people outside her garden and those who were outside couldn't see her inside. Her location was hidden from others. But of course the situation didn't make her afraid; she clearly knows that the guards were outside, readily to barge in whenever she's in danger.

She closed her eyes, listening to the soothing sound from the birds singing on the nearby trees.

The moment was so peaceful that she felt that she could stay there for the whole day, doing nothing and just let the time passed by.

"I don't think this is a good place to sleep princess"

The sudden voice surprised her. She opened her eyes while looking around to see a man sitting on top of a branch on a nearby apple tree. One of his hand was playing with an apple, his other hand was supporting his head while his body leaning on the tree trunk.

"Who are you?" asked Kathleen, readying herself to run to the gate and shout for help.

"I was just passing by when I saw you sleeping" the man answered.

"How did you get in here? This is my private garden" she stated.

"As I said before, I was just passing by"

"How can you say you were just passing by when this place were fully guarded" asked Kathleen curiously.

"You forgot to guard the sky princess"

Although the man look serious while answering her, Kathleen accept his answer as a joke since there was no reason for her to ask the royal guards to patrol the sky, who were they guarding from, birds?

Seeing that the man didn't move from his spot and she didn't feel any danger emitting from the man presence, Kathleen decided not to call the guards, yet.

Carefully looking at the man, she saw his eye hold a unique color. It was like silvery with gold hue. She couldn't explain the exact color but she found it to be very pretty and rare. And then his hair, it was as red as blood and he kept it long reaching his shoulder.

The man presence shouts a mysterious and dangerous aura, but he didn't scare her and she was wandering why.

Thinking that he might be one of his father's guests from other country, she concluded that this man won't dare to harm her.

"Are you lost?' she asked.

"I was looking for someone" he said.

"I can help you if you could give me name"

"No name yet"

Feeling weird with the man's words, Kathleen wanted to ask what does he mean but they were interrupted by her maid called to let her know that it is time for her to prepare for the evening's occasion.

Bidding him goodbye, she turn around and walk to the garden's gate. A few steps before she reach the gate, she turn to see the man was not around anymore.

Out of her private garden, her maid escorts her to her bedroom and helps her getting ready for the banquet.

Though Kathleen was curious about the man, she got the feeling that she will see that mysterious man again.

The man, Kael, on the other hand, had return to his palace.