“Good morning”, Luna Rose entered her elder daughter’s chamber, trying not to step on the fabrics scattered on the floor.

“Good morning Mother”

“Good morning Luna”

Maria and Mary greeted and returned back to inspecting the fabrics. Seamstresses in the room bowed and stayed still. Luna motioned to continue what they were doing before her arrival.

Maria walked through bundles of fabric, held both hands of her mother and made her sit and made her sit beside Mary. She picked two pieces of gorgeous and expensive looking fabrics. “Which one will look better on me, mother?”

Luna inspected for a while before answering, “ The blue one, dear”.

“I told you”, said Mary with a smug look on her face.

“Blue it is then”, Maria put aside the other one and started lecturing seamstresses about how the design of the gown must be and threatening them with their lives if anything goes wrong.

Meanwhile, Luna sent a maid to fetch Tricia.

Tricia was singing and swaying on her feet. Her movements came to a halt when she heard a knock on the door. She composed herself before speaking.

“Come in.”

The maid entered and bowed slightly. “Luna has requested your presence at Lady Annabelle’s chamber, m’lady”

Tricia nodded and led the way to her sister’s chamber followed by the maid.

“You called for me, mother?”

“Yes dear. We are preparing dresses for the ceremony. Have you given any thought about the dress you would wear?”

“No, I haven’t”

“You do not have to worry at all. You have your mother and sister at your aid. Come, take a seat”

Maria rolled her eyes, “Yes, of course”

While she and Luna busied themselves, a cool gust of wind entered from the windows, directed towards the bed. Accordingly, Tricia wrapped a shawl around her. Mary couldn’t find another so she snatched Phoebe’s shawl. Tricia did not let go of the shawl either. Tug of war started between them. It terminated when Tricia let go of the shawl abruptly making Mary loose balance and the upper half of her body crashed on the bed.

Alpha Iroh and Frederick entered the chamber at the same time, witnessing all of it. Tricia and Felix’s eyes met and they both let out a chuckle.

This infuriated Alpha even more.

“Tricia. Apologize to Mary. Right now!”, his voice boomed.

“What happened?”, Luna inquired.

“Oh, it is a trivial matter mother. I am sorry Mary”

“You are?”, Frederick who was behind Alpha, silently mouthed. Tricia shook her head and gave him a toothy grin.

“Tricia, Frederick. Your father would like to have a talk”.

“We shall be leaving for the capital at the end of this week-“, Alpha started

“-We already know that”, Maria interrupted.

“Maria!”, Luna scolded.

“It’s okay”, Alpha dismissed.

“As I was saying, we shall all be leaving for the capital soon. Now your Luna and I have been there several times before but this will be the first visit for you children”

“See. You’re a child too”, Tricia whispered. Frederick rolled his eyes.

“All of you will be representing our pack and I want you all to be on your best behavior “.

“But Father, we always do”

“Some of you always do”, Alpha commented eyeing Tricia and Mary.

“Personnel of high ranks will be present there. You will be scrutinized by them. The way you walk, the way you talk, the way you deal with whatever question thrown at your direction will make a lasting impression on them.”

Everyone was hanging onto the wise words of Alpha Iroh. A knock on the door broke the trance.

“Come in”, Luna answered.

Person at the door bowed before speaking, “Beta Richard has been looking for you, Alpha”.

“You may go”, Alpha nodded before walking out of the chamber himself.

Mary waited for him to reach far enough before closing the door herself. She let out the breathe she was holding. She then sat next to Maria.

“Luna, can you tell us about the capital and our future King?”

“Sure, my child “. She went on talking about the magnificent structures and statues built during the reign of the former King and how civilized the people of Balsion were.

“Why do you and father talk Iike we are savages”, Frederick huffed.

Luna smiled. “It was not our intention, son. In the city of Balsion, the nobles and courtiers reside. Once you get there, you will see for yourself”.

Meanwhile, Mary and Maria gave each other a look which suggested that when Mary had insisted Luna to talk about Balsion and the King, they wanted to hear about the former less and latter more.

“What about our Crown Prince mother”, Maria quickly diverted the conversation.

“Your father and I were present at the funeral. He was devastated. We only saw him when he came out of his chamber to perform his rituals.”

“He was very young then, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, he was”, Luna answered looking at Phoebe.

“Rumor has it that he has these mesmerizing emerald green eyes”, said Mary dreamily. Maria too seemed to be intrigued.

“Yes, he does”, Luna chuckled.

“Over these years, he had been training, as well as pursuing his formal education –“

“-Formal education? From where?”

“I am not sure. It should be from the human world”

“Oh! So the precious little Prince is allowed to complete his education there, but suddenly the human world is too dangerous for me”, Tricia rolled her eyes.

“What is wrong with your sister? Here we are talking about the Prince and all she could think of was her ridiculous obsession for studying “, Mary whispered to Maria and she nodded.

“Now, let us talk about something less trivial, shall we?”, she said with a smug look on her face.

“Yes, because color of the Prince’s eyes is matter of utmost importance “, Tricia fired back.

Dismissing the whole ordeal, Luna continued.

“He came back three years ago and started fraternizing with Alphas of the seven packs. Now, he is highly revered by all of them”.

“Mother, I know all about that. Could you tell us more about how he is person?”

“He is a man of few words”

“As a King should be”, Tricia added.

“Our poor Prince has been affected by the death of his parents so much that he doesn’t even talk and that is all you’ve got to say, Tricia. How insensitive and immature!”, Maria accused.

“Oh yes! Go on. Baby him like Father babies you!”.

This did it.

“See Mother. This is what she thinks of me. Forget me, this is what she thinks of Father!”, Maria burst with anger.

Tricia had managed to strike the right nerve. She smirked in victory .

“Tricia”, Luna pretended to scold. Even Mary didn’t fire back as she knew Phoebe’s words could seem to be spiteful but it was the truth.

Maria tried to calm herself. During the process, her murmurs could be heard.

“Stupid…”

“Jealous…”

“I am better…”

She even laughed in between. Everyone eyed her.

“Mother?”

“Yes, Tricia “

“We have been talking about the Prince since the announcement of his coronation but I don’t seem to recall the mention of his name. What is it?”

“One does not address a royalty by their names, silly”, Maria tried to one up.

“Bummer! I was thinking of calling the King by his first name and having a little chit-chat about his feelings, the moment I become acquainted with him”

Mary snickered.

“What is the matter with you people? You all seem to be obsessed with him”, Frederick stood up and left.

“I smell of something burning. Might as well tame it before it takes the form of a wildfire”, said Tricia before getting up and leaving.

“Damian”, she heard as she was at the door.

“Beg your pardon?”

“Damian Heth Salvatore is the name”