Chroma and Achromos

Prologue: The Silver Fox

The pair of golden-coloured eyes looked straight ahead flatly. His feet moved with small steps. The sound of the knocking of his shoes rang out loudly in the vast hallway of the marble floor.

His silver hair was pigtailed high, making him move left and right as he walked. Its slim and petite body makes it look like a silver-haired animal, for example a silver-furred fox—at least that's what people say. And he never once cared.

He stopped his small steps in front of a large carved wooden door. His little hand lifted and knocked on the door three times.

"Lake in." Someone said from behind the door.

He opened the door slowly and then closed it again after entering. He approached someone sitting behind a table.

"Chroma the silver-haired fox," he said as he looked at the girl seriously. "thank you for accepting my offer."

Chroma looked at the old man with a flat gaze. He does not like to mince words with anyone, not least with his clients. He just wants to hear what his job is, get it done as quickly as possible, receive the money, and immediately disappear from their lives. Yeah, like he always does.

"No need to make small talk" he said flatly. "directly explain in detail."

The old man cleared his throat a few times. His fingers were squeezed with anxiety. Reasonable. He was dealing with 'Chroma the silver-haired fox'. Everyone who knew his identity would feel uneasy while talking to him.

"All right," said the old man. "this is the story."

•••

Chroma stared at her reflection in the mirror with an unusually unhappy look. Her silver hair— very special features she likes—forced to be painted in light brown color. They say that silver hair is too conspicuous and very suspicious.

Her brown hair was combed and styled by a waiter, while others were busy applying brushes to her face, tightening the corset that made her claustrophobic instead of playful, and pairing the dress.

Hell, he thought.

I don't know what was on his mind when he accepted this job offer. Oh, naw. Of course because of the money. This job had a reward ten times what he was used to. Without thinking, he accepted the offer. Who wouldn't want the money that could be used to buy a castle and its contents?

Finally—after forty minutes of torment—all the servants left politely. Chroma stood looking at a girl with a dress in the mirror reflection before her. Totally different. Too. He wanted to vomit to see it. Disgusting.

He immediately looked away from the mirror, not long to look at his reflection like a stranger. He came out of the room and found a guard standing by the door.

"Oh, Miss Chroma. Let me drive you to the horse carriage." Word's friendly. Chroma only nodded once then followed the bodyguard.

Srak.. Sruk.. Srak.. Sruk..

Chroma swore in the heart because it was so hard to walk in that very heavy and troublesome dress. He wondered why all women would wear clothes like this. It's very inefficient to move, inwardly.

After arriving in front of the palace, the horse carriage was already waiting for a complete— with some bodyguards. Chroma spread her legs wide, feeling annoyed that it was difficult to walk with a skirt that expanded ten times the circumference of her waist. He then rode on a horse-drawn carriage.

Inside the horse carriage, Chroma immediately put on a serious face. He is already in his working mode. His secret mission had begun as the horse-drawn carriage drove rapidly away from the palace.

•••

Chroma got off the horse carriage gracefully, led by her bodyguards. A faint smile fell on his lips. He walked slowly and saluted the people who were waiting for him.

"Oh, Princess Jane of the Kingdom of Hecca! Welcome!" Excited an old man in luxurious clothes while giving a kiss in Chroma's hand.

"No, no, Princess Jane. I've retired to be King. You don't need to call me Your Majesty." Said.

"Oh no, Your Majesty. You are King Braz, the 14th King of Chraz Kingdom, you deserve to be called His Majesty." Chroma timpal with a smile. The old man laughed a little.

"Ah, Achromos is waiting for you in the park. He does not want to welcome you. I forced it." Braz.

Chroma simply smiled in response and walked slowly towards the garden. He set his little foot in the hallway whose roof was made of vines. The fragrance of the flowers instantly burst forth, making him feel drunk with his scent.

Chroma's eyes caught the back of a man with jet black hair and a robe that was no less black. He sat on the park bench upright, letting the wind lift his robe. Chroma walked gracefully until she could see the man's face clearly. The man immediately looked over as Chroma approached, revealing his sharp and cold eyes.

"Good day, Your Majesty." Chroma said, pretending to be afraid to see the cold expression of Achromos.

Achromos stood up and went straight to Chroma. He held onto Chroma's chin and looked at her fixedly.

Damn men! Chroma in the heart.

"Not bad." Achromos comments after a few tens of seconds staring at Chroma's face. He then glanced at Chroma's tiny body. "But too small."

Chroma glared at the words Achromos. The word 'small' was the most nauseating word in his life. He immediately took a knife and stabbed the man.

Chroma takes a deep breath—trying to calm herself—then smiled sweetly.

"Your Majesty, my name is Jane Frieth Verroxa Hecca of the Kingdom of Hecca." Soft words.

"I know." Tymphal Achromos is short.

Chroma suppressed her growing anger. He can only smile as much as he can, whether Achromos can realize his forced smile or not.

"Bastardly man." Chroma scales as soon as Achromos turns his face away.

Achromos stared at Chroma sharply and a second later, his hand clutching Chroma's neck firmly.

Chroma was surprised not to play. His neck was in excruciating pain and he could not breathe. He beat Achromos' hand as much as he could, trying to let go of such a strong grip. Chroma thrashed, looking into Achromos' vile eyes. Slowly tears flowed from her eyes.

Achromos let go of his grasp violently, letting Chroma's tiny body fall to the ground. Chroma coughed violently while holding her neck which still hurt. He could have sworn that for a second Achromos was late in releasing him, he would have been dead.

Achromos turned around and stepped quietly, leaving Chroma still sitting. His black robe was fluttering among the scorching fragrance of flowers. Chroma. Why would he let go of telling Achromos a jerk? He feels stupid. This time he failed in his job.

"This is just the beginning. Look at it later, stupid king." His whisper.

•••

Achromos looked at his palm that had just gripped Chroma's tiny and fragile neck. The look in his eyes was so cold and sharp—as if it could make anything he saw instantly freeze. Just a moment ago, he could feel something strange about the "Daughter of Jane" he had met. His premonition said that something bad was going to happen, so he got out of control and grabbed the girl by the neck.

"Jane, huh?" the whisper was barely heard.

———