Finley Cai Aies Hall May 1st, 20XX

I was in a bad mood.

Negativity rolled off me in thick, almost visible waves and I made my frame of mind very clear through my expression but Mei, who stood beside me dressed in full formal wear, had on an indulging smile that only served to deepen my bad mood as she led me into the room.

If I were in a better mood I would only be able to describe her as goddess-like but in my current temper, she could only achieve being described as beautiful. After all, while I didn't hold any particularly strong feelings towards her, I was neither blind nor impotent.

She leaned in towards me and whispered into my ear in a friendly manner.

“ You look enchanting your highness. Just relax and follow my lead.”

She then pulled away from me and sent me what I refused to acknowledge as a doting expression.

I wasn't sure if I was happy being described in such a way but I chose to believe that her intentions were harmless and she wasn't just teasing me.

By now we’d achieved what I would describe as a friendly relationship and spending time with her was something I had started to look forward to more and more as time passed. Aside from more casual dates such as her taking me out to see the country I had inherited, she would also help me on my research and would make sure to find me a decent resource for anything she didn't know.

The large courtyard which was filled with different guests, all from different clans and races fell silent as the golden doors swung open and announced our entrance.

“ Welcoming the Prince of the fairy queendom, Cai Regalis and his fiancee Mei Ruan, daughter of the Ruan family to the first interspecies ball in the past two decades.”

An interspecies ball was simply that. A place for people of the different species to interact and make noise to one another.

It was an occasion proposed by my late mother to have the higher echelons of all species attend a ball to intermingle and if need be to make connections with each other. It was also a political hotspot where people could make their alliances clear to others and possibly form new ones.

As Mei escorted me around the room, I couldn't quite block out the various whispers that attacked me from around the room and they ended up ruining my mood even more.

“So that is the legendary prince?”

“He’s a looker.”

“But if he’s useless at magic then what's the point?”

“I heard rumors that he can barely use any at all.”

“Yeah! That's why he’s only being shown to the public now.”

“He has been sick for so long, it would be a miracle if he could even fly.”

“One has to feel pity for the general."

"I also heard that he is a total airhead, and talentless as well."

"I just can't believe that our respected general is being used as a political pawn like that.”

“ But this way she becomes the ruler of the fairy kingdom. Besides what else do you expect from a male?”

“ Yeah, why do you judge the prince by a female’s standards? As long as he is pretty and virtuous then who cares if he can use magic.”

“ But I heard he’s a louse who spends most of his time in the human world. I doubt he can cast a single spell.”

Before I could storm over there and show them exactly what type of magic I was capable of Mei’s grip tightened around mine and she whispered into my ear once again.

“ Don't bother with the riff-raff.”

She directed a look at Lillian and then cocked an eyebrow towards the gossiping idiots.

Almost too quick to catch, a black shadow swept across the room and aside from a few muffled yelps there was no trace of the gossipers ever even being there.

Mei turned back to me with no change in expression, as if she hadn't just ‘Vanished’ three fully grown fairies.

“They have been taken away. Are you happy now?”

I blankly nodded as I was still stunned from what had just happened.

“ Where did they go?”

“ Away.”

And that was all she said on that matter. I wanted to ask more but the crowd had been organized and they began to come forward to pay their respects to me as a member of the royal family.

The worst part was that no matter how many times I tried to get Cai to switch out with me he stagnantly refused and had even put himself into a temporary hibernation.

Once I had received all of the offerings I immediately headed out to find Mei, who had drifted away at some point to deal with whatever she had to deal with.

As I walked around I dodged offers to dance with my engagement as an excuse while taking in the sights of the different races and cultures.

A good example being the fairies who barely showed any skin, save for the face, hands, and wings and the almost comically contrasted the witches, who seemed like they were a vigorous dance away from being stark naked.

It was as I walked around that I finally saw them. Other male fairies. Or rather a group of them. I almost instinctively ducked to the side in an attempt to hide from them but decided against it. After all, I had nothing to hide.

They all stood to the side and chatted amongst themselves, away from the females who walked around openly and confidently. Even when faced with dance invitations they would only look embarrassed and would only be persuaded after a long stream of courting.

As if she had sensed my growing repulsion towards them Esmeralda suddenly popped up repulsively close to me and whispered in a not so quiet voice,

“ That is how you are meant to be, Prince Cai. I would encourage you to go and befriend a few of them..especially that one.”'

Her long green fingertip aimed itself at the man who, despite his less ornate clothing, stood in the center of the gaggle.

He was not dressed as flashily as the others, who wore bright loud colors such as turquoises and yellows and had settled for simpler colors in various shades of copper that complimented his violet wings.

“ What's so special about him?”

Under both of our gazes, he suddenly walked out at a harried pace as if he had suddenly remembered somewhere he had to be.

“That's the person Mei was courting before she was told you had returned. If not for her previously made promise to marry you that would have been her future husband.”

A scowl impressed itself onto my face but I quickly got rid of it, not wanting to give her any ideas.

“And why would I care about that?”

Esmeralda simply chuckled unpleasantly and strutted away towards that same crowd of males, obviously intending to attempt to woo one, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Now I was in a really bad mood.