A/n: Finally! A new story! This is the long-awaited (well, not really long-awaited…) sequel to Lady in Waiting!! Hope you enjoy!

Summary:Rhiana's court in England is by far the most peaceful. With Alicia back, the three Hyuuga siblings are content and happy. But then, they get word that ladies have been disappearing in different courts throughout Europe. Alarmed by this, the Hyuugas start investigating…then even her best friends disappear! What will happen now that Rhiana's best friends have gone missing?

I don't own Gakuen Alice!

PS – Sorry for the very long summary! I didn't know how to make it short.


Coat of Arms

I believe we promised you another story to tell.

Yes, another one! What did we say about this again?

Oh yeah.

A few years had passed since we came here to the court of Queen Rhiana Hyuuga of England. As nearly everyone well knows right now, we are her ladies.

Well, we still consider ourselves her ladies. A lot has changed since we were here. Our ranks have changed, as well. So we are no longer her ladies-in-waiting. We can, however, continue to be her best friends.

The year Rhiana turned twenty was one of the worst years for us, for her and for the kingdom. By then, Alicia was twenty-one and Natsume was nineteen.

It was a pretty hectic year. And by hectic, we mean stressful and dangerous.

But, we'll start from the very beginning. We're sure you'll understand better that way.

Chapter One: Insolent Letter

"Ladies, good afternoon! Come, take a seat and I'll order some sweetmeats and some ale."

Mikan, Hotaru, Anna and Nonoko smiled in reply and sat on the silken cushions provided for them by the queen. Even she, the most powerful woman in all of England, stood from her throne and sat in the company of her friends.

"Rhiana, where did Alicia go?" Mikan asked suddenly, peering around the room.

Rhiana laughed. "She's with the Privy Council. She'll be with us shortly, Mikan."

"Aww…I want Alicia to be here, too."

Nonoko smiled. "Mikan, you still act the same as always," she stated.

"Why? Must I change because I am a princess? I don't see any reason why I should! Anyway, I am only looking for my sister," Mikan replied, suddenly composed. She burst out laughing right after. Her friends joined in a few seconds later.

"She's your sister-in-law, you know," Hotaru said pointedly.

"I know. I just want to call her a sister. Sister-in-law is too long a word and too troublesome to say."

"I hear ladies having fun without me," said a voice.

Everyone turned towards the voice.

"Alicia!" Anna cried.

"The princess has been looking for you," Rhiana supplied.

"Oh, really?" Alicia beamed. "How very nice. What are you doing?"

"Conversing," Hotaru countered promptly.

"I believe we'd like it very much if you joined us, sister," Rhiana said. "Come and sit with us."

"Of course." Alicia walked towards them and sat in between her two sisters, Rhiana and Mikan.

"So, what has the Privy Council been up to?" Rhiana asked.

"Not much, Rhiana," Alicia replied, smiling. "The kingdom is peaceful."

"But what about France? We lost our alliance with them," Anna pointed out.

"I still have no idea. At the very least, there is no talk of any plots. And besides, we have Spain as our trusted ally and Scotland as well." Alicia glanced at Rhiana.

"Oh for heaven's sake, what are you looking at, Alicia? I did what I had to do to make our little brother happy, and you know that. It is not my fault if some spoiled, pampered princess acted up and refused to be friends with us when we broke the engagement, and it is also not my fault if her family's pride cannot take that blow," Rhiana retorted promptly.

"Yes, I know that," Alicia countered, unruffled by her sister's retort. "I simply cannot understand why they would not accept that."

"Well, I cannot, either," Rhiana said obdurately. "We have gone through so much more! We were the ones who lost a princess and a lady in one day! We lost our parents, and Natsume and I fought day after day after day after I became the queen at eighteen! Our fights were part of the daily conversations in every alehouse in England! And that is only the beginning! Heaven knows we've been through more!!"

"Yes, Rhiana," Nonoko told her soothingly. "We know. The whole kingdom knows. We know it was not your fault. Calm down."

"Of course. I am sorry." Rhiana took a sip of her drink and set the glass down again.

"By the way, Rhiana," Mikan began, "I have a letter for you. It's from France."

"Thank you, Mikan." Rhiana took the envelope from Mikan's outstretched hand. She scrutinized the handwriting. "Who wrote this? It isn't Sumire's handwriting."

"She has a new favorite in her court," Hotaru supplied obligingly. "Her name is Luna."

"Luna?" Rhiana's face twisted into a scowl. "Luna? Sumire knows we hate her! Is this her way of getting even?"

"I guess that is a reply to your letter," Anna said, "the one you wrote to Sumire inviting her over here."

"Yes. I'll read it now." Rhiana opened the envelope and read it. Her already scowling face twisted in rage as she read each line. She suddenly stood. "How dare she?! How dare that woman?! She is writing to the Queen of England! The Queen of England!! How dare she!!" She screeched. "I invite that French Brat over with all the politeness I could muster for her and all I get is this note!!"

"Rhiana, cam down!" her ladies chorused.

"Read it out loud, Rhiana." Alicia was the only one not standing.

She gripped the paper tighter. "'We apologize, Rhiana, we cannot come to your court. Perhaps if you would consider not marrying royalty off to commoners for once, we might reconsider coming.''"

Alicia nodded. "I suppose that is quite a disrespectful retort, especially since you have expressed in your letter to them that you are so sorry for the broken engagement and wished to make up for it and be friends with them, but come now, Rhiana, you said it yourself. You're a queen! Go throw that letter in the fire and let's forget about it."

Rhiana sighed. "Hotaru, if you please," she said calmly, handing Hotaru the letter, "I'd like you to throw that in the fireplace."

"Alright," Hotaru replied and took the letter.

"Shall we go riding, Rhiana?" Anna suggested.

"Oh yes. You said you wanted to go for a ride in the country today," Nonoko added.

Rhiana smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"I'll go make sure that the horses are prepared!" Mikan volunteered.

"No need, Mikan. Let's all go there and wait for the horses to be prepared. I'd like to get some fresh air as soon as possible. Hotaru, you may throw that in the fire already."

Hotaru tossed the paper, along with its envelope, into the fireplace.

"Thank you, Hotaru," Rhiana said as they all walked out of the room and as the paper burned in the fire, taking with it its offensive intentions.


A/n: Chapter one is finished!! Thanks to those who read this! And sorry if it's too short (again). I tried to make it longer…I'm working on that since it's my number one problem...haha...so anyway, I won't updating as quickly as before because of school so...yeah...

Please review! Thanks! :)

--Sakura--

PS--Sorry if the summary is bad. I can't make good short summaries for some reason...