28The Prince looked agitatedly at Narci and Jade and then back to Azure. She breathed heavily, but this she only did.
Azure felt a rush of warmth go through her whole body and opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes were blurry, and there was a figure in front of her. As her eyes came to focus she saw the handsome prince.
"Br... Brave?" She said slowly and he nodded. "Brave!" She lifted her head and kissed him again, for she was barely there the first time.
"She's alive!" Jade said through a hole in the door. "Let us go down into the garden and have some lemonade! There is much to talk about!"
Azure watched as the Jade and Narci headed down the stairs in a cheerful way. She caught sight of Crimson's cold glance, but when she blinked Crimson was heading down the stairs with the other two.
Azure turned back to the prince who immediately said, "I thought I lost you. I- do not understand, still, of this happening."
Azure's was silent as she tried to make simple of the situation. The book she was reading yesterday... she was the daughter of Azurno. "I think- I understand..." She blinked. "Oh Brave, we need to talk, I need to tell you everything-"
"You're a little weak. How about you freshen up and we go down for lemonade?" The Prince said, helping her sit up.
"No, no... I must tell you... now..." Azure said slowly. She had to. She knew now she was definitely in love, for Brave had even proved it. It saved her.
"It can wait," The Prince said slowly. "Do you need help getting to the bathroom?"
"No, no," Azure said. "But we will talk- later?"
"Naturally." Brave said, leaving the bed and breaking the door down. He smiled and left. Down the old stairs and saw Jade fixing the table.
Jade immediately greeted Brave. "Come outside, the lemonades ready, Honest and Crimson are getting the bread."
"I think Honest is a little weak to be getting bread," Brave said, with a frown.
"Nonsense, she's the strongest woman I know," Jade said as they sat down outside in the sun. "Strong, beautiful... I am in love with her."
"In love? You mean, you love her like a friend?"
Jade laughed. "Sure she is a good friend... but we are engaged."
Brave's shock showed through his now wide eyes. "That can not be true because... I am engaged to Honest."
Jade frowned. "Are you sure?"
"I'm pretty sure when she screamed 'yes' that we were engaged," Brave answered politely with a trace of irritation. "When did you propose to her?"
Jade breathed heavily. "This... morning."
"Ha!" Brave said. "I proposed to her about three days ago, if I am correct, which means she was already engaged when you asked her!"
"What?" Jade said with rage.
"She probably didn't want to break your heart, but you saw what happened..." Brave was sure Jade had saw them kiss. "I am her true love."
"You are not her true love, I thought you loved Azure!" Jade said, standing. "How about we fight- then Honest can marry the one who lives!"
Brave stood also, bemused. He put his arms behind his back. "Surely we are not going to engage into a- fist fight?"
"What's wrong with that, *Brave*, can't throw a punch?" Jade said, showing off his muscles and throwing abrupt punches into the air like a madman.
"I just think there are better ways to settle this," Brave said firmly, tempted but resisting. "We could see who wins a horse race- a sword fight like fencing perhaps- or a dare, whoever can live the longest in a dragons cave-"
Jade stopped. "What the hell- lets settle this now!" He rolled up his sleeves.
Brave looked at him uncertain and then saw Narci come out. Jade followed his gaze. "Ah, there she is," Jade said smiling. "She will settle this."
Brave stood, baffled. He smiled as Narci came to Jade and planted an elegant kiss on his cheek.
"Tell me, Honest, are you engaged to this- *Royal*?" Jade said nastily.
"Of course not..." Narci said smiling and then her eyes widened. Honest... She turned to Brave trying to keep him from telling the truth.
Brave smiled and ignored her. "Excuse me, Jade Barry, that is not Honest in your arms. It is my cousin, Narcissistic Arnold. Also known as Narci, a Royal."
Jade looked at him and then at Narci's guilty face. "Narci?!" He said disgustingly, and released his grip on her.
"I'm sorry- I just- I thought I'd..."
Brave turned and saw Azure coming out of the house, followed by Crimson with a platter of bread.
"Ahh... here she comes."
Azure went to the prince, who quickly took her in his arms. "Tell me, Honest, are you engaged to this- *aggressive fool*?"
Azure looked at Jade, eyes narrowed because of the hot sun. "No, I am not."
Jade smiled and Narci made a face that Azure could not comprehend. "Excuse me, Prince Brave IIII, that is not Honest in your arms. It is my neighbor, Azure Lynn also known as Azurno's unknown daughter!"
The Prince looked at Azure. Azure's blue eyes widened. "No- Brave- I was going to tell you-"
"A- Azure?" He said the name disgustingly and freed Azure from his loving hold.
"I- I was going to tell you, you wouldn't let me..."
"All this time... you lied? Your name is not Honest- its Azure!"
Azure hated the way he said her name. It made her hate it. Azure looked down in shame.
"Looks like we've both been played," Jade said coldly grabbing the lemonade jug and pouring some into a glass. "Would you like a glass?" Jade asked politely, as if he were a friend of Brave's.
"Certainly," Brave said courteously and they sat down together to have a drink.
"No!" Narci shrieked. "You don't understand- I- We- we didn't mean to! I knew that there was no way Azure would let me come here, so I pretended to be Honest, the sick girl- to come visit you... I fell in love with you through the glass figurines Azure had given me!"
Jade drank his lemonade stubbornly. He was about to forfeit but when he shared a glance with Brave he nodded and continued to ignore them.
Azure knew she had to speak up. "Look- it was wrong of us- I had to pretend there was a girl sick in Hopias so I could come see you- because I love to see you... I didn't tell you my name because I was the daughter of Azurno, I suppose..."
Brave drank his lemonade as if he never heard her. Narci rolled her eyes. "Brave! I ordered Azure to change her name, because I thought you and others would dislike her just for a name!"
"Other's might of, but cousin, you should have known that if I am in love, I don't care if their offspring's to a- a troll!" Brave said, staring straight ahead, sipping his lemonade.
Jade turned his head sideways to look at Brave. "Really?" He said, unconvinced.
"Jade! I didn't like the fact I was lying to you and that my lie came true with Narci coming, and I shouldn't of let her play along but Narci is a nice girl who wants to fall in love and I know how you feel about people not acting the way they should..."
"You know that I was looking for love, and I do not like being lied to! If we were meant for each other, then we'd find each other wouldn't we, without- fake names!"
Brave turned his head to look at Jade. "Meant for each other? There is no need to sound like a Foreseen."
"What do you want from us?" Narci said. "Jade I am in love with you! Are you going to just let me go off, after all we've been through?"
Jade sighed. "No..." he said. "But trust..."
"We can trust each other, just please... don't leave me." Narci said, unsteadily. "If there was some way I could prove to you-"
Jade sighed. "There is no need." He leapt up and swept Narci into a tight embrace. "I am sure we can- work this all out."
Azure looked at the back of Brave's head. "Brave... I was unsure about the way things were going with us but I do want to marry you... I know now that you are my true love... I'm sorry it took a whole family curse to realize that."
Crimson snorted, the first sound she made in a long time. She, obviously, had been watching silently, ready for them to kill each other off.
Brave turned. "I don't care about your heritage... I care about you." he smiled and tightly embraced her. "Azure..." He was still uncomfortable on saying that name.
Clapping came from behind them and they all turned to see Mrs. Dim beaming at them, two houses down.
"Excuse me everyone but did any of you realize I have lived here my whole life?!" She called.
They all continued to stare.
"I saw when- Miss Azure, if that is in fact her real name, dropped off." Mrs. Dim stood, rubbing her leathery chin. "The Queen- did not tell Crimson the name of the child, but did name the child." With that, she disappeared into her home.
Azure looked at Crimson. "Is that true? She didn't tell you my name?"
Crimson looked at all of them. "Well- yes... I assumed-"
"So- what is my real name?" Azure asked the crowd, as if they could tell her.
"The Queen has been sending me letters all this time, that is how I am able to afford everything. She only referred to Azure as 'little princess' but did mention a book- by the Healer- was very accurate. Perhaps it can have your name in it," Crimson said dully.
"So- you did lie to me," Azure said.
"Of course. I hated getting some of those letters, how she loved you so," Crimson looked jealous. "But she's dead now, and I decided to put the family curse on you, hoping you'd die but..."
"You placed the spindle in the room!" Azure said in shock.
"She probably put that Dragon blood on the door too!" Brave added.
Crimson rolled her eyes. "I will be rid of you now, for you'll marry the Prince."
"Let's do something bad to her," Narci said nastily.
"Wait guys-" Jade said suddenly. "A book by the healer, you said?"
Crimson nodded.
"I have books by the healer on my bookshelf- by the window- it might have your name-"
Azure was already running into Jade's home searching for the Healers books. Brave, Narci, Jade and Crimson followed and saw Azure search the books.
Azure flipped through the last book... Azurno... the Queen... then she stopped.
"Well? Does- does it mention your name?" Narci said, impatiently.
Azure nodded. Everyone gasped.
"What- what is it, my love?" Brave asked.
Azure stared at the name, threw the book aside and smiled. She went up to the prince. "I was always honest with you." She smiled. "I am named after my mother- Honest."
Brave smiled. "Yes!" Everyone was happy and Crimson reached for the book, searching its pages. "Now you can rule with me- and no one will know that you are heir to Azurno, unless they ask." Brave bent down and they shared a kiss.
Crimson searched the book, her hair falling out of its bun and finally turned to the page and read.
*The Queen gave birth to a baby girl and named her Azure, to always remember her wonderful husband.*
Crimson looked up and caught Azure's eyes. They shared a dangerous look.
Azure smiled. "I now know the importance of being Honest." The prince kissed her cheek.
Crimson looked at her for a while, the ends of her mouth curving upward then delicately closed the book.
Jade and Narci married in month's time, Brave and Azure married in weeks. They all lived happily in their own castle and Brave continued to call her Honest. Azurno was never found.
They all lived happily ever after. The End
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Yup, I had the "Importance Of Being Honest" ending. Hope you liked it! You can see now what I took. Thanks for reading.
4eva ryter Undraya