A/N: This fanfiction came about as a way to reconcile my frustration with the hiatus of the project: Yumemiru Koto by Hoshino Lily. Do check out the original manga.

The first few chapters will entail what exactly is in the manga, afterwhich will be entirely my own plot.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

She stood beneath the cluster of leaves, beneath the castle, beneath the clear sky.

It was raining.

How quaint, to have the rain fall when the azure still peeked beyond the green crown. Sunlight trickled through the leaves. But the tree kept weeping.

The water rolled down her cheeks as she tilted her head upwards to receive it all.

"Princess Olga," footsteps were hastening towards her. "I knew it."

Olga looked over her shoulder, surprised. "Well, that was fast, Giotto," she admitted.

Giotto stared at his errant princess and sighed, "Would you please not make your ladies-in-waiting cry?"

"So you were sick of hearing them cry?" Olga suppressed a smirk. "Is that why you're here?"

"Not at all," he looked at her steadily. "It's because I'm the captain of your guards." He bowed deeply before her. "I'm to be by your side, at all times."

"At all times," Olga stared down at his uniformed back. She was crossed. "And you didn't even notice I was gone!"

"My deepest apologies."

Giotto straightened himself as Olga walked towards the horse. "We must leave at once," he advised.

"I don't really care for this husband thing," Olga complained as she climbed up the horse. Her captain remained silent as he watched her settle herself into the saddle.

"Well then, please forgive my rudeness," Giotto apologised as he climbed onto the horse behind her.

"Hey, what are you-"

"We really must not be late," He grabbed the reins and twitched it.

The horse neighed and started galloping.

"Woah," the ride made her breathless, and it went on and on.

Olga did not realise that she had wandered off so far away from the castle. But now they were nearing its town.

The gates passed by in a flash.

As they rode up the kingsroad, Olga saw a crowd had gathered at the square.

"It's the Dulcedo troupe!" someone had cried out.

Olga turned her head, and saw a glimpse of acrobats and fire-breather performing at the square. A voice rose somewhere in the midst of the cheers - a high-pitched lilt that sounded sad and beautiful at the same time.

She wished she could have seen the performance, but it faded into the background as castle grew closer.

^e^

"Olga. Olga!"

Olga turned to the voice.

"What is wrong with you?" Her father demanded.

"Nothing, Father," she replied, careful to keep her voice flat. Her mind was still lost in that single glance. She thought she had seen the singer of the Dulcedo. She was sure that singer was a faery. The singer had looked so otherworldly - that small stature and slim waist. Her light-coloured eyes and the long crystal lashes that looked upwards as her arms stretched towards the sky - beckoning for someone or something to reach for her. Olga had been contemplating what it was exactly, when her father, the king, had so interrupted her daydream.

The princess turned back her attention to the latest suitor. He was still kneeling before the throne. His dark cape cascaded from his back and his cap was slung low onto his face. Honestly, Olga could not remember his name for her life. But her father seemed generous with his words.

"That was excellent. You have our gratitude for coming here," her father was saying.

"It is my honour," the man scarcely replied before the sound of trumpets cut him off.

Olga grimaced as she heard the crier's voice reverbed through the hallway, "The heroes are back!"

Well that's not good, she thought.

"The heroes are back from the fifth trial!"

Olga gulped. She did not think that it was truly possible for anyone to return from that quest.

Around the throne room, the silence broke into hushed whispers as the nobles discussed eagerly with each other.

"Perhaps she'll choose one of them this time."

"The princess? I doubt it."

"But it's already the fifth quest."

The susurration irked her.

The doors were flung open and servants filed in, bearing heavy trays. Across the room, Olga saw that Giotto standing still, hands clasped on his waist, ready to pull out his sword in case there were gifts that were...too outstanding.

Then, with military precision, the servants set their trays onto the ground and stepped back, except for one.

The servant walked towards a tray that held a filled glass pitcher with gold writhing its bottom and neck. She picked it up carefully, and walked slowly towards another tray.

The second tray contained only a fish in its tank.

As fastidious, she poured the liquid into the tank.

The fish squirmed a bit, then slowly formed the shape of a human - except with a tail instead of legs.

Olga gasped as the creature sprung into the air, circling the trays, causing a lit lamp to shriek - no it was not a lit lamp, it was a group of faerie sitting on the lamp, their bodies giving out light - and then around the room.

"That is not all," announced the same servant.

And it was not.

Olga's eyes feasted on chess pieces, that would kill each other as pieces claimed each other's place. A lewd piece where a bull-like figurine ravaged a female one. A diadem that...did absolutely nothing.

All the while, Olga sat back, holding her emotions in, keeping her face carefully void of any interest.

"The heroes await your decision."

But this was it.

This was magic.