"Haaash! That was fun!" Vivia stretched her arms, satisfied. She had achieved a whole new glow on her face from dancing to her heart's content.
But down below, Eurus was practically dizzy and panting. The vigor of the dance performance had left his little body breathless.
She chuckled. "You didn't have to mimic the dance, silly."
Eurus was now regretting his choices.
Vespera was flabbergasted. "How did you do that? The fire dance takes a lot of practice and training! You cannot learn by just looking at their steps."
It earned her a glare from Captain Valtor, who was standing right beside her. "Mind your tone, Vespera. You're talking to the royal princess!"
Vivia coughed.
I probably went too far earlier. I should've controlled my enthusiasm!
"Well, as a princess, I take quite rigorous dance lessons in Emberlain…"
Vespera's eyes narrowed. "I fail to see how that answers my question. Royal dance lessons are far different from a festival's dance. The two cannot be compared."
"I believe I'm naturally talented."
Her expression contorted.
"You-"
"Enough," Valtor put a halt to her endless questions, much to Vivia's relief.
He faced her and said with absolute seriousness, "That was a beautiful performance, Princess."
"Thank you!"
Her gaze then fell on a large cart filled with fruits and vegetables that followed the dance procession. Their fresh juiciness sparkling in the sunlight made her drool.
"What's the cart for?"
Valtor took a look and answered. "It's a custom in our festivals to celebrate food and the miracle of it satiating our hunger. We bring the freshest harvest we receive from the Human Realm and distribute it among the citizens. At one point, the bloodshed and war between our races centuries ago had triggered a massive famine in our realm."
With a somber expression, he remembered the stories passed down by his grandparents and great-grandparents.
Vespera snorted. "And whose fault was that? If the Human Realm's blessed hadn't unleashed their Harbinger's powers and disturbed our seasons, then our land would've never become infertile for agriculture!"
Vivia remained silent. If she could, she would have retorted that the demons hadn't done anything different. The blessed of that era had misused his divine powers of the moon and poisoned the Human Realm's water reservoirs forever, which brought forth a deadly drought upon Emberlain.
Valtor's eyes narrowed. "We had done something very similar too, Vespera."
She glared. "Because humans started it! They messed up our land for food, so we ruined their water. That's called revenge, Captain Valtor."
Again, this was a moot point, Vivia thought. The history was so distant now that nobody really knew who used their blessing to wreck havoc first and who simply retaliated in response.
Naturally, humans think that demons did it first…
"And now we're forced to be in a treaty with the same humans, begging for food from their land who brought ruin upon us!"
Vivia somberly smiled. "Humans are no different, Vespera. We cannot live without Rudaheim's water either."
Valtor thought to lift the depressing mood. "But our revered Varkhail's valor eventually brought the war to an end. He played a very important role in bringing peace."
Vivia beamed. "Oh! We had such a figure on our side too. We respectfully address him as the Luminar. It isn't very clear to us, but he was certainly responsible to calm the royal family at that time."
Vespera's eyes narrowed. "Doesn't matter who was on your side, but the war definitely ended because of our Varkhail. We take all the credit."
"Vespera!" Valtor glared at her.
"I'm just speaking the truth," she frowned.
Vivia coughed. "Well, I think it's important that we aspire to be like them. With that said, we have a similar custom in our realm. We host a water festival to celebrate life and vitality. We also pray for the souls who departed us during that era of horrifying drought."
This was something new to them.
"I see," Valtor blinked. "It seems some practices are common between our realms."
We've a lot more in common than you think, Captain Valtor, she smiled.
One of the dancers brought a bowl filled with fresh, juicy plums. He glared daggers of frustration at Vivia, especially after witnessing how a human was able to match their beats so flawlessly.
"*Ahem*" Valtor cleared his throat, signalling the dancer to tone down his displeasure.
"Ah, plums!"
Vivia took two and bent, handing Eurus one. "Eurus, here. Have a bite."
Eurus carefully took the plum with curious eyes. The deep purple hue was fascinating to stare at. He took a bite, his face instantly lighting up as the fruit's sweetness exploded in his mouth.
"Delicious!" Vivia joined in too. "Should we take some plums for Chef Andras? I'm sure he'd bake a delicious plum cake," she drooled again.
"That's a good idea," Valtor agreed.
Vespera snorted. "Chef Andras doesn't need plums. He needs the secret ingredient to bake the most delicious desserts - the dream of every chef!"
Her ears perked up. "Secret ingredient?"
Before Vespera could explain, her gaze flickered, noticing someone at a distance. Her expression changed immediately.
She hastily bowed. "I've some business to attend to, Princess. May I take my leave?"
Valtor didn't appreciate her sudden request. "No, you cannot. You're here to serve the princess during this festival. You can't just leave like that. It's disrespectful."
Vespera glared.
Vivia didn't mind and quickly said, "It's fine, Captain Valtor. Vespera can leave. She wouldn't have asked unless it was important to her."
Vespera bowed. "Thank you for your graciousness, Princess. I'll return to your side as soon as I finish my business."
"No worries. Take your time."
Valtor grimaced with displeasure.
In the distance, Vivia caught sight of another fun event happening.
"Eurus, do you want to go there next-"
She looked down only to find him gone.
"Eurus? Where's Eurus?" She gasped. "Did I lose him in the crowd? But he was just here!"
Captain Valtor blinked once and pointed to his right side. "He's not lost."
She followed his direction and noticed Eurus trotting towards a tent on his own. The interior was cloaked with darkness and seemed detached from the festivities.
"Eurus, wait for me!"
She rushed over and caught his shoulder. "You shouldn't leave my side like this. What if you lose your way?"
Eurus lowered his head guiltily.
"What is this place anyway?"
Vivia studied the place but couldn't find any information. It only evoked a spooky aura.
Valtor answered from behind her. "This must be Madam Drisennia's tent. She makes a living by fortune-telling."
"Oh my," that piqued her interest.
Why was Eurus drawn to this place though?
Wait, does this tent remind him of that dark cave where he lived?
Tears welled in her eyes, and she squished her cheeks against his. "You should remember happy places from now on, Eurus!"
Eurus tilted his head questioningly.
A small, eerie voice whispered from within the tent. "You should come in, Princess."
Vivia almost stumbled as the ghostly voice brought shivers down her spine. A demoness cloaked in dark robes, her eyes gleaming like embers, beckoned her with a voice both soothing and sinister. Haunting darkness floated in every corner of the tent. She stared at her in recognition.
"You're that lady who came forward to thank the Crown Prince during his address."
"Indeed."
She looked so sunny at that time, and now it's a complete contrast…
Drawn to the silvery chimes hanging at the wall, Eurus left her side again and jogged towards them.
Vivia stepped further in, albeit with hesitation mixed with a tinge of thrill. Valtor stayed close by her side, alert and cautious.
"You should ease up a bit, Captain Valtor," Drisennia smiled at him. "Always so stiff."
"If all the demons visiting you lose their minds one way or the other, then I've every right to be cautious about you, Madam Drisennia."
Vivia choked.
Lose their minds? What do you mean, Captain? Am I not going to return from this tent sane and sound?
"Rest assured, Princess. I'm just a humble demon making a living from people's twisted fates," Drisennia smiled, reading her mind.
That sounds dark, Vivia maintained a polite smile on the outside but felt deep concerns on the inside.
She took a seat at the small table after much insistence. Drisennia eyed her from head to toe, her watchful gaze never wavering for even a moment.
"You're not the real princess."