“Announcing the Forth Lord under Heaven. The torchlight into the future and brave heart of Borya, Prince Huang Jie Li, the Mad Dragon.”

All rise to their feet as he walks into the hall with his wife and twin daughters. They take their seats on the banquet table directly opposite the guests, and the tension in the room is as delicate as a blade as he locked eyes with Nafy Hassan.

“Announcing the Cherry Blossom of our great Kingdom. The most beautiful treasure of our land. He whose presence rumbles the earth and the heavens. A future King as mighty as a Dragon born in Spring; the only powerful one. His Imperial Highness, Prince Wang Wei Li.”

All heads bow as the doors pull opened to the mesmerizing image of the young prince. He is in a blush pink dragon embroidered silk robe with a gold dragon sash tied around his waist. His gold crown is standing tall on his head with a matching fire-breathing dragon Li family crest brooch attached to the lapel of his robe. Mesmerized eyes follow him as he walked down the hall. His head touched the floor, along with his knees, as he bowed before the dragon throne. His Majesty blessed him, and he raised to his feet and sat between the Emperor and his mother.

“Announcing the beautiful and talented Miss Amira Hai nu shen Hassan Akimitsu.”

Claps filled the hall as the doors opened once again to reveal her ethereal image. A flower basket filled with Cherry blossom petals hung on her neck, and she had a glittery pink microphone in her left hand. Prince Wang swallowed as she glanced at him. She smiled, and he blushed pale pink. The man sitting on the Grand Piano stroked the first keys to the song, and all rose to their feet as she began singing. Her angelic notes flowed through him like spring waters of the Hai nu shen temple. Her voice, smooth sailing up to the highest scales like a nightingale and melting through deep tones like raw honey. He squeezed the table cloth as his legs weakened at the sound of her voice. She was soul, spirit, and heart.

Her first steps were wobbly, but she stabled as their eyes met, and her smile caused his dimple to burrow into his cheeks as he warmly smiled back at her. With each movement of the song, she flowed down the aisle, spreading cherry blossom petals along the way. The closer she came, the more oxygen she stole from him, rendering him breathless. She got to the middle of the hall, and her second hand gripped the microphone. She held his gaze as the pianist made a smooth transition to the ceremonial Birthday song, and he couldn’t contain his smile as she sang to him like no one else was there in the room. She stopped singing and placed a hand on her chest.

“Happy birthday, my prince. Please, make a wish.” Her soft, deep, sultry speaking voice dazed him. His eyes drew close, and he made a wish. “Blow out the candles, your highness.” With his pouty pink lips rounded out, he blew the candle, and his cheeks broadened into a bright smile.

“What is wrong with him? Why is he smiling like that?” Said the Mad Dragon.

“I don’t know, honey.”

“Smiling in public is the weakest emotion a man can display. I must stop him.”

“Smile is not a sign of weakness but strength. I have never seen Wang like this. He usually hates his birthdays, but he is happy for once, and that makes me happy.”

“Maybe he is happy because he saw something that makes him happy.” His Majesty said.

“And what could that be?”

“Not what but whom.”

The Mad Dragon followed his father’s gaze to Amira, and his brow creased.

He could not put a definition to Amira, but he could tell she was a rare beauty. Her curly mane of long dark hair frames her small diamond face. She has high arched brows, upturned phoenix eyes, high cheekbone, narrow jawline, little round Nubian nose, and full brown lips. An expensive painting from a famous Boryan artist depicts a series of ethnic marks on her arms and forehead resembling fish scales. This Goddess look makes her a secret fantasy among the men of Jialong. They say she can bewitch you just by looking into your eyes. Parents tell their sons to avoid her eyes. Her musical talent shot her to stardom at seven when they cast her as the leading role in a musical,

His brow ticked as she smiled at his son, and he smiled back at her each time she did. Almost as if she had control of his emotions, and that left a sour taste on Mad Dragon’s tongue.

“It is time to cut your cake, your highness.” She giggled as he shoved the knife into the cake and winked at her. “On the count of three. 1… 2… 3.”

“Happy Birthday.” The hall chorused. She raised the last part of the birthday song and brought it to climax as he cut into the cake, drawing applause and cheers from the guests.

“My prince, I hear this song is dear to your heart. You fell in love with this song the first time his Majesty sang it to you on your first birthday. This song represents the essence of Borya, and brilliant musicians have sung it at every birthday celebration you have had. I hope I can do it as much justice as my predecessor. It is called Borya: Where the wandering birds come to nest. It is a song composed by our founding father, Emperor Artem Borya. Please join me as I sing.”

The ensemble of Borya traditional Orchestra instrumentalists by the side of the hall filled the air with a melodious tune of oriental instruments. Everyone rose to their feet to honour this song, popularity recognized as the kingdom’s ceremonial anthem. She turned to the guests with her right hand on her chest and her eyes closed as the bamboo flute ushered her in. An intoxicating force pulled his eyes closed as the sound of her voice raised beyond the heavens. The distinct operatic tone was angels personified. There were no words to describe her tenor riding the tune and raising above mountains and sailing across the Boryan seas. She hit that delicate and watery point of the highest note, and he gripped the hemline of his lapel as his heart swelled. And it was as if his ribcage could not contain his organs anymore.

In all of Prince Wang’s years of living, his coldness is admired by all who know him. Just like a true Li man of steel who never shows his emotion, his father taught him that tears are the second weakest emotion a man can show in public. The first is a smile. But both, he is displaying shamelessly. There is no doubt the Mad Dragon is bringing his son up to be the strongest man he can be, but all of his fifteen years of hard work crumbled as a tear ran down his son’s cheek. He never cried when his favourite uncle died. He didn’t cry when his dog died. He didn’t shed a tear through his rigorous training, and neither did he cry when his dog died. But at this moment, a human’s mere voice moved him to tears as she descended the scales like the taste of Ice cream going down your throat on a hot sunny day. His core vibrated, and goosebumps covered his skin as she raised the note and brought it to climax. He dared not open his eyes for fear of losing this fragile emotion he has never experienced. Everyone clapped for her stellar performance, and he exhaled as she bowed before them and joining her parents at their table.

“How can anyone bear to take their eyes off her? She is so painfully beautiful.”

“You like her?” His Majesty asked.

He inhaled deeply and held her gaze. “She is the first one who has looked into my dark eye and not fears it.”

“And that is special to you?”

“People always look at me like a mythical creature. But she looks at me like a human. Like a normal boy. The dark eye does not border her.”

“You know; I was hoping you two would hit it off today.”

“Why?”

“She is a candidate to be the future bride of the Forth Lord when you become the Forth Lord and the future Empress consort when you become Emperor of this great kingdom.”

“Grandpa, you are saying.”

“If you like her so much, she could be by your side forever.” He chuckled as Prince Wang’s brows furrowed. “My son, I am sure you are aware of the conflict arising in our kingdom, and you know that her mother and your father are the leaders of the opposing sides.”

“Yes, grandpa.”

“Then you know we have been seeking a peaceful resolution, to no avail. The key to that resolution would be a union between you and Amina.”

“What?”

“I know. You are both underage, but we are desperate. Know that I will not force you if you are not interested.”

“Grandpa, liking her does not matter, because my father would never agree to that. It is impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible, my son.” He chuckled and looked around. “There was a time when having Nafy Hassan and the Mad Dragon in one room was impossible, but here we are. A marriage between you two would make us one family and end the conflict once and for all. Your decision would either kick off a series of discussions to make that happen or nip it in the mud. Is she someone you can bear this sacrifice with?”

His eyes settled on Amira, and she held his gaze. Everyone in the room can see where his interest rests because he can’t look away. And neither did she.