The iridescent moonlight passing through the stained-glass window, illuminated the clear crystal display of possibly the greatest artifact concealed within the castle walls. An artifact that Pandora had discovered. The last time she saw it, its cover was crumbling off the base while the crystal placed centrally, a small Elani crystal, beamed brightly, stealing away the attention from the damage. Now as she looked at it, the brown, leather cover had been repaired into an almost like-new condition matching the brilliance of the crystal.

She stopped walking down the hall and stood in front of the case for a second to admire it. Hale might have seen her as the savior, but in her mind the true savior of Elani’s power had been the woman who wrote this book thousands of years ago. Pandora saw herself as nothing more than a vessel for the power within the book. Without it she would have failed to restore Elani.

She was glad that her father kept it within the case. Physical books with pages were almost unheard of on Elani. Most people passing by would think it was nothing more than an old relic. Not many believed the legend of the Ancient Book, as they referred to it today. Pandora thought it for the best because most people would misuse the knowledge within its pages. The reason the author left with her book was because of how the kingdoms were being destroyed because of the knowledge she created. Not everyone had good intentions.

Pandora continued walking down the hall, leaving the book behind. Staring at it was too painful because it made her think of Hale and everything he had done to help her. Hale had been considerate enough, while he carried her unconscious to Elani, to also bring the book with him so that she would have it when she woke up. Somehow, she had to leave him in the past as a memory for good. Considering that she was on her way to meet the Moargans for dinner, it was time to let Hale go. What were the chances he still thought of her?

When she reached the end of the hall, the guards standing by, opened the doors to the balcony for her. A round white table was seated on the balcony. Her father was seated farthest from the door and the Moargan family was placed around him. There was a single empty chair beside Matthias and facing the bright cityscape of Elani. She waved to them and sat down in her chair.

Matthias gazed upon her from the corner of his eye and smiled. She didn’t know how to react. Flirting didn’t feel appropriate at the dinner table with their families.

“Pandora, how are you doing?” Her father asked.

She straightened her posture and set her hands on her lap. “I’m fine.”

Though no one else at the table would notice, her father was disappointed with her answer. “I’m glad you decided to join us.”

Matthias’s mother— Gloria was her name— smiled at Pandora. “Yes, we are especially. At the dinner where we met, we didn’t have much of a chance to get to know you, and you us.”

“I agree,” Pandora replied. She felt Matthias’s soft hand tap hers. She met his jade eyes immediately.

He leaned in her direction and whispered, “You look remarkable.”

She titled away from the closeness of his presence, smiling all the while, smiling in a way that she hadn’t for two months. Looking up at her father and Matthias’s parents, she saw that they were lost in their own conversations without Matthias and her.

Thank you, Pandora mouthed to Matthias, whose eyes had apparently never left her.

She didn’t feel remarkable, though her handmaidens had dressed her beautifully. Her sleeveless mini dress was covered entirely with tiny gemstones. Her shoes were clear platform heels that tied around her ankles with silver strings. Her hair was pulled back into a high waterfall ponytail, elongated down to her hips with extensions. Her skin was dusted with lavender glitter to match the highlighter on her cheeks. Lia and Kara outdid themselves on her outfit and makeup, but she realized she only felt the most beautiful with the one she loved the most in the galaxy.

“Why are you unhappy?” Matthias asked her.

How could he tell? She was supposed to be good at faking a smile for social events. “I’m not.”

“You don’t have to lie for me,” he murmured. “I want to know—” He quickly looked up at her father.

“How are you liking the castle?” Her father asked Matthias.

“I like it very much, your Majesty. The suite is spacious and interiorly well-put together. I must admit my room here is more to my liking than the one from home.”

Her father smiled genuinely and continued asking Matthias random questions about everything he could think of. While surrounded by people who would probably family in the future, she found more contentment being alone in her room than here. She had no idea who the Moargans were truly; the version of them that she knew seemed too perfect. If that were really their character, she doubted she could live up to their standards for much longer. The picture-perfect life they lived frightened her. But out of every family, they treated her with the most respect.

She looked to the view from the balcony instead of the faces around her. The night sky from the horizon was deep magenta that slowly deepened into violet and into navy. The aurora passed over both moons tonight. A comforting image. She could make it through these unnecessary dinners, conversations, and fake smiles because she was doing it for Elani, for her planet and for her people. A marriage would make the nobles more supportive of her future rein, and she would need their support to enact changes that would benefit her people.

She sensed Matthias lean close to her again.

“How was your day?”

“Do you really care?” She asked him, refusing to turn his way.

“Why else would I ask?”

Pandora chose to accept that he was concerned. “I had a good day. I spent most of it reading and preparing for tonight.”

“I’m really glad you decided to come. It would have been terribly boring without you.”

“I’m not exactly engaging in the conversations.”

“I was only hoping for a chance to see you because I was wondering if you wanted to meet for lunch tomorrow. Just us.”

* * * *

“She could have been more talkative,” his mother commented, as they walked through the castle back to their suite.

Matthias tightened his fists, wanting to say something back to her. Though he understood what she expected of his future wife, his mother should have been more sympathetic towards Pandora. Pandora was the princess of Elani and deserved her respect. He decided he couldn’t let his parents and uncle continue to speak ill of her.

“I think she was nervous. The king is placing great pressure on her shoulders to impress us. She spoke to me more than you. We’re having lunch together tomorrow.”

His mother grasped his arm and urged him to stop in his tracks. “When did this happen?”

“At dinner, I asked her. To my surprise, she said yes.”

His father smiled. “That’s wonderful. It would be good to spend some time alone with her. Hopefully, she will warm up to us more”

They continued their path to their suite. Matthias tried not to think much about his parents’ opinions. He didn’t want his excitement for seeing Pandora tomorrow to be ruined by his parents’ sourness. Tonight, for dinner, she had taken the air from his lungs with her beauty. The images of her from dinner flashed in his mind vividly. Her crystal covered dress was so tight around her small frame. Her deeply tanned legs had sparkled in the moonlight from glitter. Already, he wished she would have been his tonight. Waiting for the time they could be together was tortuous. Her father wanted the wedding to be soon, but Matthias was not confident she liked him that way. Who had she been thinking about when she looked out at the city? She seemed distant, but he knew her mind was contemplating something.

“I was so disappointed by the food,” his mother said with such disgust.

He hadn’t thought it to be of poor quality in the least bit. “I enjoyed it.”

“Since we are future members of the royal family, you would assume we would be given the highest quality. The king probably thinks we will be content with whatever he hands us because you were chosen for Pandora,” his mother continued.

“I doubt it, Mother. We were given one of the nicest residences in the castle.”

“Perhaps, you’re right. But I plan to be critical from now on so that you won’t be used. Tonight, you should start thinking of ways you can further this courtship along. I don’t trust Pandora. I wouldn’t be surprised if she declines us.”

“I am unsure whether or not she has a choice in this matter,” Matthias said. “But one thing I refuse to do is rush her. That is a sure way to anger her. I want her to love me one day. That’s never going to happen if I force the marriage to happen when you want it.”

His father patted them both on the shoulder. “We haven’t been here for even a single week. I think we could afford to be more patient with the princess. My son, just try to get to know her better. You know how to win her heart.”

Both of his parents were unaware of how simplistic they made winning Pandora over sound. Marrying her was one thing. Winning her heart was something else entirely. His mother couldn’t be less concerned with the later, but Matthias was. He would only truly be victorious if her heart belonged to him. That wasn’t something the king could force on her. Pandora would marry Matthias to serve her kingdom regardless of her feelings. But he wouldn’t feel accomplished because of marriage. He wanted her to love him alone.

* * * *

When she returned to her bedroom, she noticed a silver box placed in the center of her white vanity. She picked it up and held it in her hands. After turning the box around, she noticed a small hinge. She opened the box, and a small projection of a message hovered several centimeters above the box.

I thought this would look best on you. It’s just a small thank you for your kindness at dinner tonight.

Sweet dreams, Pandora. — Matthias

She couldn’t help but be stunned at the gesture. She didn’t recall saying anything of significance, certainly nothing deserving of this gift. Setting the box on the vanity, she took out the necklace from within. The necklace was a silver choker with baby pink holocrystals shaped like roses covering the entire chain. So, this was Matthias’s idea of a small thank you.

Even royalty had difficulty getting their hands on holocrystals of such realism and such clarity. It must have cost him a small fortune. Pandora sat down at her vanity and clipped the choker around her neck. It fit her nicely, and she could think of over fifty outfits in her closet right now that it would pair perfectly with. Most of those outfits she could wear tomorrow when she met him for lunch. She smiled at herself and touched the necklace, her fingertips passing through the holocrystals and reaching the silver chain.

No… I can’t. Her smile immediately fell in time with fresh tears. How could she be happy that she had a date with Matthias? He was handpicked by her father for her, no doubt. But even so, he seemed to be sweet. At least, he was good at pretending he cared.

She decided she shouldn’t feel guilty for being happy and wanted to enjoy her date tomorrow. It was her first chance to see him alone since the time they met and sneaked away from the party. If Pandora were to ever consider him as a possible husband, she should know more about him.

Pandora unclipped the choker and placed it inside of the case. Almost immediately after she stepped away from the vanity, her handmaidens knocked on her door and entered to help her prepare for bed.

“How was the dinner?” Kara asked, smiling curiously.

“Boring…. My father and his family only talked about the weather. My father is just trying to act like he cares about my getting to know them so that he doesn’t look like the bad guy.”

Lia brought from the closet a deep amethyst nightgown of silk. “What Kara really wanted to know about was Matthias.” She helped Pandora undress and step into the gown.

“I didn’t want to just ask. I know how you feel about him, but he is quite attractive,” Kara said while brushing Pandora’s hair.

“He is,” Pandora admitted. His burgundy hair sweeping back around his ears, the artistic structure of his face— Matthias was more than attractive. “I don’t really know what to say though. Nothing too interesting happened. We’re meeting for lunch tomorrow, but I’m afraid that’s it.”

“That’s exciting though!” Kara said.

“I suppose so,” Pandora replied.

“I think that’s enough questions for tonight, Kara,” Lia addressed the nosy handmaiden.

Although Pandora usually didn’t mind the questions, she appreciated Lia’s boldness because Pandora didn’t have the heart to ask Kara to be quiet.

“Go through your skincare routine, and then you are all ready for bed,” Lia said. “Come along, Kara.”

Pandora told them goodnight, and they left her alone for the night. She followed the skincare steps Lia had arranged for her, brushed her teeth, and got in bed. Exhausted from the stress of her situation with the Moargans and her father, she fell asleep quickly.

Her dreams were the only time she was reunited with Hale, though it happened more infrequently since Matthias had arrived at the castle. But tonight, they were meant to be together once more.

She found herself sitting on a quilt under a tree. The land that surrounded her was grassy hills covered in wildflowers. She looked up and saw branches of the tree outstretching at least one hundred meters from the trunk in every direction. The heart shaped leaves were all different shades of sage and fell occasionally with the wind. Behind the tree was an endless golden sky speckled with white clouds.

She looked forwards again in the distance, and she saw Hale walking towards her. She had been waiting for him.

When he got closer, she waved to him, and he started running to her. Seemingly, he appeared before her in a moment. He fell to his knees and sat beside her on the quilt. She held out her hand, and he grasped it. The touch of his skin was all that she craved, even though she knew it wasn’t real. Hale moved in and kissed her lips. His arms were wrapped around her with his hands gripping her lower back. He pulled her down onto the quilt and fell upon her. The way he could effortlessly remove all her clothes and his own without pausing… oh, he could have whatever he wanted whenever he wished. And what she wished was that this was real.