A/N: This was the first CCS fiction that I have ever written (even before Secrets Behind Closed Doors) and I must admit that the plot wasn't really great. Average, I would say or not even, but I was happy to know that there were a lot of people who have taken a liking to this story and I hope that re-posting this again would gather more readers to like this story.
To MoonHikaru i hope you're reading this and tnx for waiting so patiently.
Please enjoy…
Love Unexpected
By AngelStrawberry
Chapter 1: Discontentment.
Tap!
'A bird was born to be free…'
Tap!
'But fate can be cruel to them sometimes…'
Tap!
'And lock them in a cage…'
Tap!
'Or clip their wings permanently until they are robbed of their freedom.'
"Princess Sakura!" The girl with a waist length auburn hair and emerald eyes fell off her chair as the thundering voice of a woman startled her. "Princess Sakura, will you please pay attention? I have been trying to gain your attention for the fourth time, albeit it has clearly no effect on you. I am sorry to say that I cannot tolerate this kind of behavior any longer and must report this to the King." The red haired woman said to Sakura as she took her sit once again.
"Oh please Chiyomi sensei, don't tell father. He will punish me again." Sakura pleaded.
"I am sorry, Princess, but if this is the only way to have you take your education seriously I have no other choice but to do it. I am pleased to announce that we are done for today, you can go now. I'll see you again tomorrow." With a defeated sigh, Sakura left and went to her room waiting to be summoned by her father. It was not her fault that she was busy thinking about… well, about something. She was just so bored being locked up in a room without doing anything, albeit to listen and listen to those boring lectures. What kind of a fool who would be interested in studying the history of war and the kingdoms who were involved with it? Or what kind of constellation was on the sky. Blah blah blah blah! She couldn't help thinking and dreaming about things that she wished she could do. No matter how much people say how lucky she was for being a princess, they would never know the falsehood of their thinking. Sure, she was royalty and all the material things and recognition that went along with it, but never could she have gain the thing she desired the most.
Princess Sakura walked quietly in to her room and sat down at the cushioned sit at her window. She looked longingly at the vast lands that the lush green forest and caramel dessert shared, which all belongs to her father. She enjoyed watching the world light up in the morning and sleep at night from her window though she knew that it wasn't enough. It was never been enough for her to just watch, she wanted to feel; she wanted to experience life other than the security of the stonewalls she called home.
"Have been sleeping again in your class, eh dear child?" An old woman asked as she swept inside the room, holding a tray.
"I haven't been sleeping, Nana." Sakura replied as she turned her attention to her old maid. She didn't notice her maid's presence until she spoke up. The old woman was fat with graying hair, glittering youthful eyes and a big smile. Sakura loves her like a mother and she knew that Nana treated her like her own daughter.
"Sleeping or day dreaming is the same thing, child. You should pay more attention to Lady Chiyomi sensei or your father will have a fit." Nana said as she motioned Sakura to sit in front of the mirror. Nana loves the princess like her own child. She had known the princess since she was a wee babe. She had watched her grow into a beautiful young woman with love and kindness in her heart.
"I'm afraid it was already too late for that, Nana. Chiyomi sensei would have probably told father." She sighed. "I am just waiting for someone to summon me." Sakura watched her maid brush her auburn hair.
"Oh dear." Concern was written all over the old maid's face then as if on cue, a sound came knocking through the door.
"Come in." Sakura called out, knowing full well what it was. A servant boy came in and bowed down.
"The king called for you, your highness." The servant boy said.
'I knew it.' She thought to herself. "Tell my father I will be down immediately." The servant boy bowed down again and left. Sakura turned to her maid with an odd expression on her face. "I better get this thing over with. Wish me luck, Nana." She said with a sigh.
'I wonder what punishment I will be getting this time.' She thought grudgingly as she walked down the halls of the Crystalline Palace to her father's study room. Sakura stopped in front of the door of the room, having taken a deep breath and exhaling it rather forcefully.
'Here it goes.' She raised her hand and knocked.
"Come in." said a male voice from inside. Sakura peaked inside the room, her head sticking out of the door.
"Come here, child, and don't poke your head like that. It isn't proper." The man set aside his glasses and the parchment he was working on.
Sakura curtsied in front of the big man with auburn hair just like hers and chocolate eyes. "You called for me, Papa?"
The King sighed exasperatedly. "Sakura, this is the fifth time this week that you were not paying attention to your lessons. Chiyomi sensei was complaining that your mind was always drifting off someplace else. Tell me, Sakura, is there a problem you haven't been telling us?" King Fujitaka asked his daughter in concern.
"No, Papa, I don't have any problems." She answered, fingers fiddling together on her lap.
"Then what causes this behavior?"
"I… I was just thinking about… about Mama. I missed her." She murmured in somewhat honesty. Sakura did miss her mother very much, but that wasn't the reason that kept her mind preoccupied.
"We all miss her, Sakura. I miss your mother very much, but it is time for us to move on. If she were here, she wouldn't like the fact that her only daughter would not take her studies very seriously. Will you promise me that this is not going to happen again?"
"Yes, Papa, I promise."
"Good, and one more thing, the royal family of Mal de Mer will be coming over tomorrow eve. There will be a small celebration for them. I expect you to be there, especially Prince Ryuu asked for your company for the entire time they are here." He informed, leaning back comfortably on his chair.
"Prince Ryuu?" Sakura asked, aghast.
"Yes."
"But Papa, I do not wish to be in his company!" She protested adamantly. "Please don't make me." She continues, pleadingly.
"Your refusal is unacceptable, Sakura. The Prince of Mal de Mer is very fond of you. I believe he will soon ask me for your hand in marriage."
"No!" She yelled. Her sudden outburst surprised her father. The thought of marriage to a man like Ryuu was horrifying.
"Marriage? What marriage?" A tall man boomed in immediate question as soon as he entered the room and heard the word, marriage. He had dark hair and eyes like the king.
"Calm down, Touya. I was just telling your sister that Prince Ryuu of Mal de Mer might ask for her hand in marriage." King Fujitaka said calmly.
"You mean the slime of a Prince wants to marry our little kaijuu?" Prince Touya asked, frowning. 'Kaijuu' was what he called her since they were mere children. When their mother was alive, she would read them a story amongst the nadeshiko flowers about prince and princesses, knights and maidens and monsters or kaijuus. And they would play a part where they were the hero or monster, unfortunately, young Sakura was always fixed to be the kaijuu. "He cannot marry her!" He added his disapproval loudly.
"He can if I see that he deserves her and if the match will be good for our kingdom." King Fujitaka stated.
"Papa, you cannot possibly marry me to him!" Sakura protested again, panic was in her voice.
"Enlighten me as to what seems to be the problem with the Prince?" King Fujitaka asked in curiosity.
"He… smell." Sakura murmured, shuddering at the memory of his last visit to their kingdom.
"Smell?" King Fujitaka repeated. His auburn brows moved up in surprise and confusion.
"The man reeks like a dead fish!" Prince Touya spat.
"Children, do not judge him so quickly. I'm sure he must have change by now. Sakura, can't you give the young man a chance?"
Silence.
"Will you do this for me, daughter?"
"Yes, Papa. I will." She said with a defeated sigh.
Sakura went back to her room in a sad and silent state.
"You are back! Here, I asked the cook to prepare you a delicious nosh." Her maid informed her as soon as Sakura was inside her room.
"Thank you, Nana, but I'm not hungry right now." Sakura marched passed the table decorated with tea and assorted biscuits.
"What seems to be amiss, child?" Her maid asked in concern.
Sakura sat in her usual place at the window, propping both elbows on her bended knees and heavily placed her head on her palms.
"What punishment did your father bestow upon you?" The maid handed Sakura a cup of tea.
"Papa didn't punish me, but he told me something that might as well be a horrible punishment." Sakura sipped the tea and placed it on the window seal.
"Now, child, do not exaggerate too much. How bad could it be?"
"Marriage." She answered simply. Her gaze was directed towards the scenery before her.
"Oh my." Her maid exclaimed in surprise. Putting one hand over her ample bosom, she continues, "I… This is a surprise. I cannot blame your father however. You are past the marriageable age, dear."
"I am only eighteen, Nana, and I'm not ready to settle down yet, especially the man Papa wants me to marry." Sakura cringed, while sticking her tongue out in distaste.
"You should have been married long time ago when you turned sixteen, albeit your father was worried that you were not ready for such union and responsibility. So, he gave you your freedom until now. I think your father was right. It is time for you to marry."
"Nana, not you too!"
"Do not be like that, child. Now tell me who the lucky man to marry our beloved princess?"
"Prince Ryuu of Mal de Mer." She replied in disgust.
"Oh dear. I… You mean THAT young man?" Nana's salt and pepper brows furrowed.
"Yes! That problem was a quarter of my dilemma for his personality is as awful as his scent!" Sakura shuddered at the thought of him.
"Think positive, child, maybe the young man has change."
"That was what papa said, but I do not believe so. Lady Chiharu wrote to me two months past and mentioned that Prince Ryuu was there for a business. She told me that she had never smelled someone or something that awful in her entire life. She tried giving him a bath, albeit he refuses, because he said it'd only ruin his skin, so she gave him a perfume instead hoping that it would somehow conceal the stench. Surprisingly, the very first time he uses it, it got a lot worse! Chiharu scolded her husband, Lord Takashi, not to let the man step foot in their house again for it'll take time to get rid of his… remarkable scent. Tell me, Nana. Do you think a person like him can change in a short period of time?"
"Well… tis' possible, but it will be very hard for him to change in two months. Tis' a terrible habit long formed, you just have to be patient."
"No! Give me back my mochi… I want the biggest cake in the whole world… Yum yum yum…" Sakura mumbled under her pillow, burrowing more against its softness.
"Wake up, child. You'll be late again for the morning' meal." The old maid shook her Princess's arm.
"Polka dotted underwear… he he he…" The sleeping princess continued mumbling.
"Goodness, what has this child been dreaming of? Wa—"She was cut off when a hand covered her mouth. Nana looked up and saw Prince Touya standing behind her, one finger on his lips motioning her to be quiet. She nodded and he removed his hand from her mouth.
"Prince Touya, what are you doing here?" She whispered.
"I'm here to wake up my sister." He grinned. The maid noticed that he was clutching a bucket of water and shook her head in amusement. Prince Touya moved beside the bed and said, "Wake up, Kaijuu." His tone was average, but Sakura only mumbled, a goofy smile on her face.
"Ooppss!" A bucket full of cold water came pouring down on Sakura's sleeping form.
"Aaaaahhhhh!" Sakura screamed as she bolted out from her bed.
"Good morning, Kaijuu." Touya snickered in pleasure.
"Brother, that was uncalled for!?" She yelled angrily.
"I was kindly helping your maid to wake you up." He answered. His face looked innocent yet smug.
"Why do you have to pour cold water on me?"
"My hand slipped." He said simply.
"Incongruous brother!" Sakura's chest was rising and falling from her yelling. She then picked up a pillow and threw it on her brother, hitting his head as soon as he turned his back on her to walk towards the door.
"Better hurry up kaijuu or no more food will be left for you." He said smiling as he opens the door and ignored the fact that she just hit him on the head, which never bothered him since a pillow weights nothing, and with that, he left.
"Why am I cursed with a brother like him?" She asked as she plopped down on her wet bed.
"Sakura?" He maid called.
"Yes, Nana?"
"What do you mean by polka dotted underwear?"
"Hoeeee…." Sakura blushed in crimson red.
To be continue…
A/N: That's it for now. I'll post the 2nd chapter soon. Till then... )