The tension between the three of them was softened a bit as time passed by slowly and as Aurora got distracted by all the new surroundings. The street which their destinated stores were located at was no ordinary in Berlin, but one of the most luxurious streets that sold all the fine brands of fashion and jewellery, the one that would allow people to forget the war.

“Hey, Hubert, I just want you to know that I had no mean intention to tell Aurora of what we’re doing exactly.” Grabbing a perfect moment when Aurora was in the fitting room trying on a dress which was chosen for her, Armond quickly made a claim for Hubert on his behalf, in case of any arrival of unnecessary doubts.

“Then why do you talk about wars with her?” Hubert, somehow, frowned uneasily as what he avoided to do when Aurora was around them.

“We were talking something else and I mention the word “war” randomly. But she seems to forget about the meaning of this word, so…..”

“I wonder when will she remember. I hope that she will recall our friendship.” Something sparked in him that interrupted Armond’s explanation. But that something, carelessly as he failed to observe, was beyond the old friendship they used to share.

***

Aurora looked at the mirror in the fitting room. The figure in it was simply not herself. Pardon my language but at that moment, in her heart, she felt like wearing an undergarment rather than a gown! The navy blue fabric was sleek and soft. However, the fabric was too thin to give her security. After all, this was a much more modern gown compared with the middle eval fashion the Princess used to wear.

Aurora stood in front of the mirror, frowning at her look. She believed the wonderful fabric was wasted in this style. There was no fabric to cover her shoulders and her back and her arms. Why was it no different with any undergarment? Even so, her undergarments would be more satisfying than this dress she was in. If it wasn’t for her long golden locks, she believed, in such chilly weather, her back would not suffer any less than her dignity as a Royal Princess.

“Miss, does it fit?” The shop assistant asked gently and politely at the curtains outside.

“Dear, are you sure that it is indeed a gown? A nightgown, perhaps?” Aurora asked in a similar tone as the assistant but with the company of redder cheeks.

“No, it is indeed not. Miss, it is for a grand party or a splendid ball. It’s definitely…..I do apologise, the gentlemen are waiting.” The assistant took her question rather wrongly on the side in which she thought she was making rude humour on the marvellous art of the corporation.

“ I don’t think it’s appropriate,” Aurora replied straightly in a whisper.

“Gentlemen, the lady is ready.” The assistant found no reason to help the lady if she paid no respect to the design of the corporation she was working in.

Regardless of her inactive protest, Hubert and Armond came in just to wait for another minute as they were outside the room.

Inside the curtains, pacing around, Aurora’s mind was heated up with embarrassment and disbelief. All she wished for at that moment was to possess hair as long and thick as Rapunzel’s which she could use very effectively to wrap around her entire being.

“Aurora?” Hubert was the first one to break the silence in the room.

“Yes?”

Another silent minute passed by, the same voice raised outside the curtains, “Aurora, is there any problem?”

“Actually, there is. But I am fine now, thank you.” Aurora couldn’t gain the courage to demonstrate how pathetically she was in adopting a new culture and how inappropriate it seemed to her.

With a good abundant three seconds of thought, she immediately changed the dress back to the one that she was given by Fraulein Helen, the one that was not in close with the style she used to wear back in her Kingdom but, at least, it was modest and elegant.

“I thought you’ve changed the dress,” Armond commented surprisingly, expecting to see a transformed beauty though she was already one without any other supports.

“Yes, indeed, I have. It is fair and that’s why I put back my clothing.” She smiled, quite plainly.

Perhaps the spark between a man and a woman had evolved from simplicity to a heavy tie with the world glitter and powder. From where the Princess came from, the Fantastical Realm, love was simple and direct. It was neither flattered by fanciness nor by materials, but rather by truthfulness and sincerity. The look was never a matter more important than one’s heart. Because appearances might deceive but a truthful heart would never do so.

***

No matter how much Hubert wanted to catch a quick glimpse over Aurora in the fashion he chose for her, it would be determined, due to respect, that he had to wait to enjoy her glamour till the Christmas ball held at his castle, just a week after.

The entire day was dedicated to the purchase of diamond necklaces and pearl earrings and velvet gloves and, as well as, refined dresses for Aurora’s daily wear. 

Aurora was captivated by all sorts of wonder that her eyes never beheld at. By wonder, diamonds and pearls, of course, were off the list, for what kind of Princesses would ever be so excited for those gadgets which had grown bored to their sight. Instead, the magnificent architectures of the houses and shops and the streets and the moving cars, these were the true wonders in Aurora’s opinion.

Everything was so different from what her Kingdom had ever offered her, so varied that she almost believed the Realistic Realm actually withheld a special enchantment. Given how Aurora loved walking and admired the buildings on the way, instead of taking the car, they walked the first half journey back home.

“Why these blocks are moving by themselves? Weren’t we in the block just then?” Aurora pointed at the vehicles on the road with her eyes glowed with bright curiosity.

“Rosy, they are not blocks. They are vehicles. And surely, they are driven by the one who sits at the front driver seat.” Hubert replied with care-free laughter.

“Rosy?”

“It’s what I used to call you,” He beamed.

“If I were you,” Armond turned to Aurora, “I would call him Berty, very magnetically, and gave his right cheek a gentle kiss. This is, I dare say, though quietly, his ultimate fantasy.”

“Nonsense, Armond, shut up,” the innocent target shoved at Armond in protest against his teasing to him.

Given the record of her dream, which happened to be related with a kiss so similarly that she gave ways of giggles embarrassingly with her lovely countenance facing at the street opposite to her.

Gently, Hubert touched her shoulders and allowed her sight to focus on him, which suddenly made her realise how small she seemed to be beneath his chin and how great his shadow was on the wall behind him. However, this simple gesture didn’t allow her to avoid seeing the darkness that he was trying to hide from her.

Next to his great shadow was the shadow of a great vehicle, people were walking toward it and as the number of people getting greater and greater, so was the shadow becoming darker and darker, as dark as the skin of a demon. There was something horrid about that shadow which Aurora could sense.

Slowly, she turned backwards and simultaneously received a “No” from Hubert and a sudden nearness of Armond which blocked her view to the opposite street.

“What is that?” Aurora gently pushed Armond aside and pointed at the vehicle, the gigantic truck, “and why are the people being assigned to go into that vehicle?”

“That’s a truck,” Armond rectified which was followed by a hostile stare from Hubert, feared he might spill something more than a correction of vocabulary.

“They are going to travel, I suppose,” replied carefully by Hubert.

“You suppose? But you must know. They are wearing the same clothing as you and Herr Armond always wear.”

“Uniform,” rectified by Armond, again.

“Off a wonderful road trip they go. How fortunate! Just imagine the beautiful scenery and fresh air and -”

“But they are weeping! Why should they weep?” Aurora loudly interrupted his low voiced reply which was turned down by his guilt and shame to lie in such a way.

“Yep,” Armond echoed with a sharper touch of irony which was recognised by Hubert, “what a colourful trip, filled with unpredictability and life-threatening adventures.”

“Armond!” Hubert warned firmly, almost as quick as the very second the statement was made.

Being distracted by the scene ahead of her, Aurora was in no interest of their conversation but was more drawn to the complexion of those people. Like the sky above them, their face was grey and gloomed, definitely not the one owned by a group of travellers.

“Let’s go, Aurora,” Hubert forcefully gripped her hand and unlike his usual gentleman-like manner, pulled her along with him.

Though Aurora couldn’t catch her time to observe closely with Hubert gripping her hand and walking at such a fast pace, she heard some murmuring and shoutings, and gradually, wailings.

“Get into the car, Aurora,” Hubert hushed her in after seeing her curious eyes rolling back at the forbidden scene and warned with a serious tone, “don’t watch!”

She couldn’t watch though she wanted. Her view was blocked by a lamppost and the car door. However, the noise got louder and sharper as they all went into the car. Before the engine turned on, without any warning, the sound of a gunshot prolonged an incisive cry which lingered in the cold dry air.

“What’s that!”

“Don’t look!” Hubert immediately covered her eyes with one hand and wrapped around her shoulders with another to prevent her from turning around to remember the ghastly picture forever. At least, he never forgot his first one.

Sitting aside, Armond was an observer, in fact, he was an observer ever since the first time they met. He witnessed how his friend betrayed his conscience and how he was being blinded by the government. However, he was also a successful observer. He saw the pain of his friend and his constant wrestling with his conscience.

His very act proved to Armond that his rightful spark was not yet swallowed by the darkness and it was still shivering, as a weak flame burning a candle, by which the gentle hand never stifled it. The Superior kept it and took it to his heart.

Yet, by far, the cry continued, the crime continued.