the Crystal Castle!"
They too just gave a little curtsy and stood aside.
I wondered why it didn't jingle loudly with every step the royal family took, since their capes were made of millions of tiny crystals.
Otherwise, they were dressed rather plainly, no ostentatious gowns or colors.
I turned to Lilly, who was standing right next to me. "Shh, Lilly."
She leaned down to me. "Yes what is it?"
"Tell me this guardian, isn't he one of the guardians I'm supposed to question about my past?"
"No, he's the guardian of the ancient scriptures and he's responsible for making sure the guardians don't lack for anything." she answered me.
"Too bad, could have been," I said, shrugging my shoulders.
Tong, tong.
"King Farel, Queen Senta and his daughter Princess Morai from the Kingdom of Arktika".
All the guests looked very noble, but the royal family from Arktika was just gorgeous.
Blue clothes, turquoise-blue eyes and snow-white hair.
Tong, tong.
"The druid Parapei and the supreme mage Malia from Draya."
Shortly after hearing that name, I forgot all my good manners, jumped up and ran toward Malia. She just curtsied when I almost ran into her.
All the guests in the hall stared at us indignantly, or confused, at my behavior.
That must have been a strange sight, too, how an elf fell into the arms of a small, brunette magician with bright green eyes. And this during an official performance.
"Hey Juna, why don't you sit back down? We're getting a lot of nasty looks right now." she said, patting my head.
"I don't care what they think about me now! I've missed you terribly."
For a brief moment my life stood still and I just enjoyed being able to hold my "sister" in my arms.
King Matteo acted before any more questions would arise. He stood up and started a speech to draw the attention from me, to himself.
"Honored guests! On behalf of my family, I would like to welcome you all to our home! It has been a very emotional day so far, for our little princess and her current reaction, to the high mage is only understandable, as the two share many memories.
I would like to ask you, therefore, to be a little considerate.
Now, before this ends in an endless rambling from me..." He raised his hand as a sign to the conductor, "...let's start the ball with a classical waltz!"
The orchestra began to play and my grandfather escorted my grandmother onto the dance floor.
All the people spread out in the ballroom and started dancing only I was standing around a bit lost in the room.
Then someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"Princess Juna? May I have this dance?" the person behind me asked me, holding out his hand.
I eyed my counterpart closely.
He was almost half a head taller than me, dark brown, almost black short hair, was muscular and had purple-blue eyes that I immediately lost myself in.
He wore a black suit with a small flame on it. His cape, on the other hand, was dark blue.
"I'd love to." replied I, placing my hand on his.
He led me to the center of the hall, bowed to me and we began to dance an ancient waltz.
At that moment I had been very glad of the dancing lessons, in my youth.
Otherwise I would have made a fool of myself.
After several songs, King Matteo interrupted the dancing and announced that the banquet was now open.
I was not a bit hungry, I was warm.
So I went out to the balcony to get some fresh air and to take off that annoying oversized mask for a moment.
I thought of the mysterious stranger I had just danced with.
He disappeared into the crowd after the king had opened the buffet.
He had not been at the official welcoming ceremony.
"Princess Juna? I have some merrelberry punch for you." a voice sounded behind me.
I turned around and the handsome elf from earlier, was standing in front of me with two glasses of punch.
I hastily tried to put my mask back on, but he pushed my hands down saying, "Princess Juna, why don't you take that thing off, it's much better to look at your beautiful face that way."
"Juna will do," I replied. "And what is your name?" I asked him.
He took off his mask and smiled seductively at me. Then he put down the two glasses, took my hand and gave me a kiss on the hand. "You may call me Shadow."
Meanwhile, he bowed to me again.
We stood together on the balcony and looked at the stars, or rather he looked at the stars, because I could hardly take my eyes off his striking face.
I could have spent hours more here together with him, however, unfortunately, at some point it was time to say goodbye to each other.
"Juna, the evening with you was adorable, but I'm afraid it ends for me now, because I'm not on the guest list." he said, winking at me.
"When will I see you again?" I asked him as he prepared to leave.
"Very soon" was his reply, after which he jumped off the balcony and ran off into the night.
My heart was hammering like crazy and I watched him for a long time until he disappeared into the forest.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder again and I was startled.
I whirled around and saw Lilly and Malia looking at me a bit puzzled.
"What's so interesting to see?" teased Lilly.
Malia's gaze wandered to the two empty glasses next to me and a definite grin spread across her face.
"Well do we know the lucky gentleman you spent half the evening with?" she asked, poking me lightly in the side with her elbow.
Lilly immediately went for it and eagerly tried to guess who it was.
"I bet it was Prince Dandelion. His bright green eyes and that fuzzy blond hair that you just want to reach in."
I rolled my eyes.
"Lilly, just because you find him attractive doesn't mean I'm into the same type of man you are," I just shook my head.
"Then it was definitely Peridot. Dark brown hair and gray blue eyes to melt. Can you call him Perry yet?" asked Malia.
I took a deep breath. "Neither was any of the gentlemen present here." I looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on us, then continued.
"It was someone who wasn't formally invited. But he was absolutely gorgeous. Charming, handsome, well-toned, and absolutely melt-in-your-mouth gorgeous."
The two of them looked at me like they were about to start drooling.
"And what is this mysterious stranger's name, or should we call him male 'Cinderella' because he breezed in just before midnight?" they both joked.
"His name is Shadow."
Shortly after I said his name, Malia covered my mouth and Lilly slapped her hand over her mouth in horror.
Why were they reacting in such a panic?
I looked back and forth between the two of them in irritation.
After a while of silence, Malia began to whisper to me.
"Shadow