"It's the exact opposite of Chasm's hair." Continued the prince." His hair is as black as the darkest corners of the world."

“Your reign of being number one ends here, Chasm!”

A loud voice declared throughout the field. Everyone around the training ground looked to see who had made this challenge and saw a badger pointing his wooden practice sword at the dark-haired knight.

“You may be the adoptive son of Sir Meliodas, but I Wolf the badger son of the first badger knight Bear the badger will end this rivalry by defeating you and becoming the new number one knight in training, then the new number one knight! Do you accept my challenge? My rival.”

Everyone stared at the badger and the dark-haired boy, awaiting the mysterious boy's answer.

“Wait, you and I are rivals?” Asked Chasm. “Since when?”

“Since when?! Since you first beat me at our first fencing match, since you first ranked above me in training, ever since you came here that one stormy day ten years ago on Sir Meliodas horse with Sir Meliodas! That’s when you smudged jerk!”

“Sir Meliodas…”

Chasm looked towards the sky as if to search for something.

“Hey! Pay attention to me!” Yelled Wolf the badger. “I’ve been practicing for weeks, so you better bring your all Chasm!”

Chasm shook his head, drifting thoughts disappearing. He nodded sternly, holding his sword in front of him.

“Battle cry! Charge!!!!" Wolf screamed, pointing his practice sword at Chasm.

He ran full speed. The second Wolf's sword came into range; Chasm sidestepped out of the way. Wolf was immediately thrown off balance falling face-first to the dirt ground. Everyone on the grounds went silent until Chasm spoke up.

“Checkmate.” Chasm taped his practice sword on Wolf’s back. “Oh, and Wolf, you might not want to put all your focus on one attack next time. It was way too easy to take advantage of you because I could see you coming. It was also essay to throw you off balance.”

Chasm held his hand out to the badger. Wolf smacked Chasm’s hand away from him, standing up on his own.

“Rrr! You think you’re all that!” Yelled Wolf the badger. “Someday, someone will knock you off your high horse and defeat you, Chasm! Mark my words!”

“Off my high horse?” Asked Chasm.

“Rrr!”Growled Wolf before storming off.

Almost as soon as everyone fell silent, everyone resumed talking and laughing.

“Well, that was over quickly, huh, Luminous?” Laughed the red prince.

“Chasm’s so perfect.” Luminous sighed, not taking her eyes off the dark-haired boy.

The red prince’s smile faded. He took his hands back from her hair.

“Luminous, you, umm...” The red prince looked down, fiddling with his fingers. “You want to ask Chasm to the ball? Didn't you?”

“A-ask him to the ball?!” Luminous’ fair skin turned a tomato red. “I-I mean...umm…”

“Pfft,” a smirk reappeared on the prince's freckled face. “You better hurry up and ask Chasm out, Wolf hasn't taken his eyes off of him ever since practice started.”

The two turned their attention to the honey badger. Wolf was mumbling while breaking fallen twigs that were on the ground with a loud snap.

“Pff! Haha, ha!”

The red prince and Luminous laughed, holding their sides. Luminous took a deep breath standing up.

“You know what, I will ask Chasm to the ball!”

Luminous’ legs felt like jello as she made her way across the field, her heart pounding against her chest as she walked closer to her crush.

“A child born from the worst of storms with hair as black as night, he showed up to the palace after we lost the fight.”

“Huh? What was that?” Asked Chasm, turning towards the mumbling Luminous.

“Squeak!" Luminous jolted in surprise.

“Oh, it’s just you Luminous. Uh, I mean, may I help you?”

Luminous only stood about a foot in front of Chasm. Her fair complexion became a bright cherry color. She became aware that she was so close that she could kiss his perfect snow-white skin. Luminous quickly looked down, grabbing her pink flowery dress.

“I...I was wondering…that would you…?”

But when she looked back, Chasm was looking up at the clear sky. His raven hair was tied in a short ponytail blowing in the wind. He looked just as handsome and stoic as he did when he first came to the palace ten years ago when she first met him. Just like her, he was different from everyone else in the red kingdom. He didn't seem to quite belong. But unlike her, he was quick, brave, cunning, strong, and overall perfect.

“I was wondering...” Luminous bit her bottom lip. “Do you remember anything before you came to the palace? About your old life? Do you miss it?”

Chasm turned around to face her. His crescent moon eyes held a deep blue color like the ocean, and Luminous felt that just like the ocean if she continued staring into those beautiful eyes she would sink. Chasm sighed and turned away again breaking the spell he held over her.

“As I said before, Luminous, I don’t remember anything about my life before. I don’t have anything or anyone to miss. I mean, they would have looked for me by now, if they loved me, right? I just wish, Sir Meliodas was still here...he took me in when no one else would.”

Luminous stood in silence, her brows knitted as she watched Chasm stare at the bright sky. It was as if he were expecting Sir Meliodas to appear over them somehow.

DING DING DING

Luminous jumped, the bell on top of the tower of the courtyard rang, signaling to everyone that it was noon.

“Well, I have to go now.” Said Chasm, turning to leave. “Nice talking to you, Luminous.”

“Wait!” Luminous shouted, reaching her hand out towards Chasm’s lean back.

Chasm turned his head, raising an eyebrow at the tiny blonde girl.

“I, you... that is,” Luminous took a deep breath, her cheeks puffing up. “Will you go to the ball that is?” She said in one breath.

“Well, I suppose.” Chasm drawn out, Luminous froze, her heart skipping a beat as she gripped her chest. “It is required. Especially if you’re noble-born, or a knight in training like I am. So yes, I will be there to fill out my civic duty to the kingdom.”

“Huh?”

Luminous was baffled. What was he talking about? Civic duty? That’s when it hit her; he misunderstood!

“I really must return now, Luminous. It was nice seeing you.”

Chasm walked away with the other knights in training. Luminous quickly gathered up her courage again to speak.

“I mean! You with me! Will you?! Ugh…”

Defeated, Luminous fell to the grassy field. Only laying there for a few moments before Maybell and the other ladies in waiting walked past her snickering to themselves.

“I’m not surprised no one wants to go with her to the dance.” Snickered one of the ladies in waiting. “She’s such a weirdo.”

“The only reason boys like her is because of her abnormally large chest size. Otherwise no one would like her at all.” Pointed out Maybell.

All the ladies in waiting walked to their next destination In their formation like ducks. Luminous hung her head low looking down at her chest.

“May Bell is lying, my chest isn't that huge. I’m only a cup size D…” She paused pressing her hands onto her chest to make them flatten.

When she looked back up the red prince waved his hands, signaling her to come to him. Luminous raised her eyebrows at him. The prince finally rolled his eyes, his hand reaching to the back of the formation to grab hers. He ignored Maybell’s and the other ladies in waiting's glares.

“So, how did it go?” Whispered the prince, his hot breath brushing against her ear. “Did you ask Chasm to the ball? What did he say?”

“Well, umm..” Luminous paused, thinking about the misunderstanding between her and her crush. “Well, he did say he would be there…”

“That’s good.” Said the prince. “I’m happy for you.”

“Ya, that’s right!” Cheered Luminous.

All the ladies in waiting looked back, eyeing them.

“Shh.” Whispered the red prince.

“He didn’t say no.” Continued Luminous lowering her volume. “So, I still have a chance to dance with him.”

Luminous smiled at the idea. It made her feel a lot better.

“Oh, and Luminous. I also...” The prince dug into his luxurious red coat, finding a yellow rose inside. “The gardeners wanted to get rid of it. They said it didn't belong with the rest of the red roses.” The prince looked at Luminous’ blonde hair that stuck out in the sea of red. “But I like it. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen.” There was a pause in the air before he continued. “Uhh, the rose, I mean.” The red prince pressed the yellow rose in her small dainty hands. “You can keep it.”

“Thanks.” Smiled Luminous.“So, you’re getting married to a princess?”

“Yeah.” the prince bit his lip. “I guess so..”

They walked in silence the rest of the way. He couldn't say it. It hurt too much to say. Because he knew no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't change fate.

No one could.