Chapter 394 - Duty (1/2)
Parted at the entrance, Julius headed further into the capital. No cars, no escort, nothing, him and Emi walked. The sheer display of how people loved their idols and stars reflected on the outfits; some bore logos, other the faces, wristbands to shoes, none was left untouched. Amidst said crowd of enthusiasts of which were mainly teenagers, Prince Julius walked at a slow, comforting pace. The lady could but cower behind him in fear, her traumatic past haunted ever so close. Some billboards or posters on shop windows often displayed the Feline Force stood before a captured villain with the caption, '-leave the trash to us.' A single gaze had him brush aside the idiotic sentence.
”Why are you so far away?” asked he with a sudden stop.
”Sorry,” she bumped into him without realizing, the mind spaced out thinking of her sisters, ”-aren't you ashamed to be walking by my side?”
”Why would that be so?” the head tilted to show the attentive mind.
”B-because, y-your walking with me, me out of all people, me…” the face watched all but his.
”Shouldn't be a problem,”
”Wait, no, we can't,” she took a step back for the prince offered his arm.
”Art thou so bold as to reject the advances from a prince?”
”I-I'm sorry,” arms locked, they continued along the pavement. One after the other, the crowd grew denser and thus arrived at one of the more popular shopping malls. Big with each floor taking one-hour at most to explore, her face shriveled in paranoia.
'What if they're watching me, what if the AHA is coming to kill me,' a ghastly paleness engulfed her face.
”Snap out of it,” he tugged, ”-I'm here, don't worry. I'm the son of a hero of the war, if push comes to shove, I'll fight our way out. Lady Emi, thy art in my care – hard a task as it may be, leave the troubles and focus on me.”
”S-sorry…” they resumed at a snail's pace. Soft and gentle climbed the escalators to the upper floors. A shop stood hidden amidst a plethora of others. Obnoxious, the advertis.e.m.e.nt of the rest put it to shame, a quiet little salon for any race and gender.
”Welcome,” said a man stuck to his phone.
”Hello,”
”How can I help you today,” quick to set away from the device, he looked up to be left breathless.
”Good afternoon, Alex, I guess it was true, thy family did run a salon in Alphia.”
”J-J-Julius?”
”The one and only,” said the prince with a cheeky thumbs-up.
”I KNEW IT,” he vaulted over the counter for a tight embrace, ”-it feels like ages!”
”I know,” replied the prince charmingly, ”-I'm so glad you're here.”
”After we graduated, the others were pretty hyped to continue studies with a prince, but then the news came.”
”Yeah, I apologize,” a sense of guilt had the cheery tone lowered.
”Don't be, we understand the circ.u.mstances,” breathing deep, ”-what can I do for you?”
”I have someone for you,” stepping aside, the lady came forth.
”I'm Emi Muko, nice to meet you.”
”Nice to meet you too,” replied the peculiarly dressed man. Dark skin complexion, green eyes, a pierced nose with curly hair. The outfit was as seen in fashion magazines.
”I'm Alex Ford,” he kissed her hands gently.
”Forgive my asking, but are you both friends?”
”Friends?” exchanging glances, ”-obviously,” they slid to stick with one another. ”We're the best of friends.”
”G-great…” replied she unknown to how to respond.
”Still awkward,” coughed the prince as he walked away from the formation.
”I admit, well, what can I do for you?” said he returned to the counter.
”I want you to make her into a model.”
”Seriously,” an eyebrow raised for the request was unique, ”-her outfit needs reworking, she's got the height, skin and face structure. A bit of rework and I can make her into a superstar, why, what's the need for such a thing?”
”It's for my dad,” explained the prince, ”-you know, king of Arda and that stuff.”
”Polygamy?” asked Alex taking a better look at Emi.
”God forbid,” laughter followed, ”-I dare father to even try and look at another woman with a foul intent, mother will have him scolded.”
”Sounds harsh, here I thought the king being the almighty ruler of the battlefield, or so what the papers said.”
”The Argashield Federation propaganda, I can't believe we survived and studied during the war, it feels like yesterday,” reminisced Julius.
”I know, the memories of when an army officer came to Claireville Academy, I was sure our class would have been drafted, remember when Alan broke into tears?”
”How can I forget; the tradition was to have students drafted in case the war grew harsh. I personally wanted to get involved but the Federation had other ideas. They said that students under twenty would not be allowed on the battlefield; strong demand from the king of Arda.”
”I suppose he didn't want other kids to be at risk of growing up on a battlefield.”
”We won the war though,” laughed the Prince.
”That we did, Professor Sophie sure was excited about the outcome, rambling on about the king being her little brother or something.”
”It's sort of true; I never told anyone, but Lady Sophie is somewhat of an Aunt to me. She does come by the castle once in a while – ok no, forget that, by once in a while I mean once a year.”
”Look at you,” said Alex in a smug manner.
”So, what can you do about her?”
”Bring her every day, I'll start her treatment.”
”Good, then we'll be off,” they soon exited to go inside the next room, an office at first glance.
”Good afternoon, how can I help?” asked a lady wearing a white coat.