The Lost Prince's

Chapter 21 The Masquerade

I looked in the mirror again, breathing. Although yesterday I was

insisting on coming here, apparently I'm not so sure

own decision. But now is not the time to think. I grabbed

half-face mask that is the same color as my dress tonight—white

gading—used it to cover half my face up to the nose. Returnees

looking in the mirror for the umpteenth time. Singlet arm dress with decoration

crystal-like beads that crush flowers in protruding tendrils

to the bottom it seems to be designed for the masquerade. It looks elegant and mysterious combined with a mask decorated with similar beads. Nevermind!

Stop looking in the mirror. I'm just a little nervous. I'm not even sure for what reason I feel nervous. A lot of it happened

of late. And tonight I will confirm the truth. Maybe I am

nervous about knowing the truth soon. Or am I nervous about

meet her.

As soon as I got out of the room I saw Arion, Shine and Karen were already waiting in the lobby. Our

hurry to the royal square, the place where the party was held. Arion

then she put on her warm smile. I just smiled back and

nods. Arion rented a limousine to take us to the masquerade.

The party was so crowded and crowded. Looks like all the vampires really came here. Somehow my way

found that guy among so many vampires.

"You want to dance with me?", asked Arion breaking my daydream, next door

his hand was stretched out toward me.

I formed a smile and grabbed her hand. Arion led me to the floor

dance, put one of her hands to my waist while the other hand

still holding my hand. And we started swinging to the beat.

"Key." said Arion breaking the silence. "Mmmm...."

"What's wrong?"

"Eh. You look beautiful tonight"

"W-what..?"

"really. You're really pretty"

I felt the red hue begin to warm my cheeks. What the fuck is this Arion? Of all

thing to say, I mean, now's not a good time to.

admiring appearance. But maybe he's just trying to melt my nervousness.

“Thanks”

“Ah, no need. My praise is sincere”

I returned with a small smile. “Not that. Thanks for everything”

Arion. “To accompany you?”

“That too, to let me come here, escort me, and all the things that you

do before. Also to like me”

Arion was just speechless, looking at me with eyes filled with millions of emotions. Impossible for me

I can understand the meaning of his gaze. We were looking for a while until

the olfactory nerve endings in my nose suddenly detected a very strong scent

familiars. The aroma was warm and cool at once like the scent of dew on the tip

the grass is exposed to the morning sun. I looked towards the scent

emanating. That's her! Standing high among the party participants. Eye

the blue looks bright even in the dim light and hidden behind

his mask. Her golden blonde hair still looks like a lion's mane, though

looks like it's been combed this time. The next moment without me realizing I've been

running through the crowd towards him. I threw myself into my body

crashing into his field chest, both of my hands grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him

come close. I kissed her. Zero looked surprised, both of his eyes enlarged so much

our lips touched. But she returned my kiss and hugged me tightly. Our

drowning in a longing embrace and for a while time seemed to stop.

As we returned into consciousness, the tip of my eye caught a few shadows

the people around Zero looked at me with their jaws open. Holy hooch! I took off my arms and took a step back.

Zero grabbed my hand, grasping it with a smile. "What are you thinking

attacking a man with a mask like that? What if you're wrong

people?"

"Of course I wouldn't be wrong. And you!!! What you think goes and

leaving me, huh?!"

Zero just smiled thinly. "Why are you here?"

"To catch you" I said slowly. "Now because I caught you

you have to grant me one wish before I let go"

"What?"

"Let me stay by your side. I don't intend to stop you from doing what you have to

you do, but in exchange you have to let me stay by your side"

Zero sighed, his eyes blinked, still looking at me. "You don't know

involve yourself in what.."

"You" I said short of cutting out Zero's words. "I involved myself in

your life. Go and quickly do what you have to do"

Zero is still flinching. His blue eyes slit into my eyes, trying to find

something's. He sighed as soon as he got what he was looking for. Yeah, he knows

I already know. His hand stroked my hair to the side of my face.

"Stay here"

"OK"

Zero threw his gaze at someone behind me—trust me even if I don't

turning around I knew that guy Arion— gestured, then turned around and

disappear in the crowd. Some people were surrounding us

follow him while they split. They're heading to the party center where the members

kingdoms gather. The vampire king and queen who were also attending the party were seated on some sort of grand palanquin escorted by the warrior. I followed Zero's steps from

distance. Make sure you can see everything. I won't let him

leaving me again. Zero stopped once some great shadows appeared

on the dance floor. Make people run away. Music suddenly died and

someone was standing in the middle of the dance floor that was now almost empty.

"I'm Aaron Rainier hoping to make a wish to His Majesty"

After bowing for a while, he returned with a loud voice. "I

volunteered to complete the position of long-empty heir to the throne. Implore

His Majesty stopped expecting the lost

prince. I can prove that my abilities and strengths are sufficient

for that position"

The sound of bated breathing sounded from all directions. King Arthur did not respond

aaron said, Zero is seen stepping before the king and bowing to give

respectfully. The vampire king and queen stood looking at Zero.

"You..."

"I'm home, Dad"

Zero's words seemed to freeze time, everyone suddenly fell silent motionless.

Trying to re-digest what he just heard. All attention is on

the figure standing in front of the king. Zero grabbed his mask and took it off.

Showing his whole face.

"No way!", cried Aaron, visibly frenzied, disappearing from where he stood

and reappear in front of Zero. "You.." Aaron looked surprised

believe in his own vision. "I won't let you

take the place I just got"

Zero grinned. "You haven't got it yet, my cousin. And let me remind you

again, that place is mine"

Aaron shouted ferociously and then threw a fist towards Zero which was fended off by the wall

sand formed in seconds. Aaron snarling and something like

black smoke was seen coming out from the end

his hands are clenched. Zero's sand walls melted into a formless and

crumble. But as quickly as the wall melted as fast as it did the new wall

teeborm. Zero disappeared and reappeared a few meters in front of Aaron,

keep a safe distance. The power of Aron is the destruction and decay of matter. It

“Enough, Aaron! You never beat me and you never will!! Surrender

now and I will spare your life”, exclaimed Zero who is now issuing

full force to surround Aaron with elemental storms. Ground, air water, air,

even the fire seemed to compose the wall that whirled like a tornado.

Aaron's nearly invisible black smoke in the center of the vortex is now bubbling.

I think this is what is called the power of shadow. The aura around Aaron seemed

getting concentrated. Faintly sounded his voice among the roar of battle.

“I won't lose to you! The one who runs and hides like you

inappropriate for that position”

The fight is so fierce. I'm quite surprised how the royal members just flinch

harmingly. It was true that King Arthur muttered to his guards

to stay in place and say, “This is his fight”. But it's not

they want to defend their prince? Not only that, but the party was just

step away from the center of the square and watch. Looks like that rumor

true, the kingdom and the vampire folk had already lost their faith in the lost prince. Only those who

it seems to include Zero's followers fighting against Aaron's followers

the number is twice. Zero has so far only survived. I don't know maybe just

it's just my feeling, but he doesn't look like he's really attacking. Could it be him

thinking could stop Aaron without killing him, given that

after all, they are cousins. Besides, maybe because it would be troublesome

reassure Aaron's supporters inside the kingdom after this if Aaron is killed.

I don't know I don't understand his mind.

The tip of my eye caught the shadow of someone among the party attendees glued on

sidelen, it seems that he was only paying attention to Zero and Aaron. And not just

watching, but as if waiting for something. Sure enough, a sword was drawn

in his right hand he was ready to throw. I called Phoenix bow, started aiming at him.

Just as my arrow shot out he threw his sword towards Zero who was off guard

because now it is fighting the toxic smoke of Aaron who coiled as high as a mountain.

Without a second thought I darted towards the sword. Lucky I was on time

to block his speed, but damn it the sword went through my stomach. I

it fell into the middle of the arena.

"Key..!", cried Zero dumbfounded. I fell exactly two meters beside him.

"I'm fine", I tried to convince Zero. He can't falter.

Damnit damnit! My blood still draws vampires' attention.

A few eyes suddenly turned towards me as soon as my blood touched the air. I

grabbing the handle of the sword that pierced through my stomach, whipping it out with all my might.

I slashed the sword with one hand, slashing a follower of Aaron

tried attacking me. One other hand covered the wound on my stomach, holding back my blood that was wheezing more. Some other vampires started running towards me,

even among the party participants who had just been watching on the sidelines. It won't be!, I thought

slashing some other vampires in front of me.

Just then the giant stem tendrils loomed around me, forming a wall, and,

and the fire that came out of nowhere burned the vampires that ran towards me. Arion appeared beside me, lowering his tendril wall.

Simultaneously I felt something extremely powerful filling the air in

upon us. The tongue of the fire began to recede and revealed brilliant blue eyes

looking at me full of anger. Zeros!

That was Zero. Is this the power of Great Prince Archibald? This is the shadow

the one he had been hiding all along?

His eyes were still looking at me for the next few seconds before he turned around. Wave

aaron's poison smoke was still piling up behind Zero. Zero lifted up next door

his hand and somehow he turned that pitch-black poison smoke into

white and attacked the owner. Aaron tried to control the smoke but

gratuitous. The smoke took a toll on him, and he could only roar one last time.

Then everything disappeared. Zero flinched in his place. Aaron's followers fall in

on their knees. They do not believe their vision. Thundering

meets sky. And somehow explain it but Zero is the one who

cause that rumble. I got up and stepped to where Zero stood,

ignoring Efterpi who called my name so many times. Curse Zero's hand and hold it.

The anger in his eyes slowly began to dim. So too the rumbling in the sky

started disappearing. The next second all the light disappeared together

my consciousness.

When I regained consciousness I was lying on the bed. Zero sat asleep

next to me, holding my arm. I rubbed his golden hair.

Both blue eyes are open.

"You awake?"

"yeah. I can finally sleep" I said short.

"Basic is fearless! How could you run in the way of that sword? you

it really scared me"

I tried to smile. "Because you're there, so I'm not afraid. I

hurt for trying to protect something important to me"

Geck!Geck!

Someone knocked on the door of the room that swung open. "It's time"

"Alright" said Zero shortly.

"You want to go?"

Zero nodded, smiling thinly. "I have to go. I have to attend the hearing

honesty and make amends"

"I'm coming"

"Key.., you don't have to come. I mean, there's a lie detector and I'm gonna

says everything. You don't need to hear it. It'll only make you

scared"

"I won't be afraid. It's my wish, to stay by your side. So let me

follow"

Zero relented and let me come to the honesty trial. Aleron, the bodyguard

delivering Zero let me sit on the front bench and then come back

escort Zero to the center of the room.

The courtroom is more like a small stadium with spectator benches in three

side, and one side for some sort of magistrate and royal high-ranking. I didn't

sure how many people are in this room, but almost all the seats are filled.

"No need with that chair, right?! You can use one detector"

Aleron protests pointed chairs with lots of detector cables and a restraining belt.

"In His Highness The Great Prince, you can't treat him

like this! It's really demeaning"

"There are no exceptions in front of justice" the white-bearded old man said

magistrate.

"But.."

"Aleron", cut Zero. "It's okay"

Zero looked at Aleron, nodding reassuringly. Then sit in the detector seat.

Some guards tied the restraining belts to both hands and feet and then

attach the detector cables almost all over Zero's body. Alerons

turning his head, unable to see. His eyes still look radiant

fury. The trial began.

"Archibald Rainier, are you hiding shadows to hide?"

"Yes"

"Is it because you killed Aileen's daughter?"

"No" said Zero. The whole room glanced at the computer screen waiting for the red light

lie sign. There aren't.

"What about the witness who saw you eating Aileen's heart?"

"really. I did" The sound of bated breath filled the room. All eyes

back to seeing no sign of lying.