"If you've never been stricken with thoughts of insanity, then you do not know love..."
Mistaken Engagement
How foolish it was for the young twenty year old to expect him to show up on schedule. With his responsibilities, there was little to expect of him being late; the son of Johannes Rutabaski was supposed to be free the entire week, but he had not arrived for three days now. It was mind-boggling.
"That irresponsible moron," whispered Boruvia's princess—Yanagi Kaido. She was a fair maiden, with the appearance akin to a goddess as recorded in old lores and the complexion of knowledge that ranked her one of the top 5 percent of the world's greatest minds. Besides being famous for that, many men considered themselves lucky to be rejected by her after failed attempts at acquiring a date. They admired her amazonian aesthetics, finding the mix of exotic phenotypes and stone cold personality a huge turn on, much to her displeasure.
"When will he learn punctuality? If he and I go on to the next stage in our lives, then it is a must that he learns."
"Ah. So that explains everything now. Did your boyfriend stood you up?"
Holly Tsukino, a botanist major whom young princess Yanagi Kaido was fairly acquaintances with. Although much of her identity in public was restrained to mere appearances alongside her father, no one had a clue that the Boruvian princess was receiving her education under the alias of Meiling Hino. Not the most covert of names, but she should have known that when she caved in to Sedrick's suggestion.
"Pftt. As if! With my schedule, it would be a miracle to even spare time for friends. You, on the other hand, have issues keeping your grades in range for graduation."
"Hey! I have you know that we live in different worlds. 'C's get degrees, and I've managed. I still don't get why you were so obsessed in completing a four year course in the span of a year." Daunted the woman. Her recent reveal of the fact she had a boyfriend despite her gregarious nature was astonishing to one's comprehension—especially with the fact afterwards when Holly made her promise extensively to keep it a secret. How strange a fact.
"Speaking of which, what are you planning if you worked so hard for graduation?"
'Establishing international friendships with the Kairnese government most likely. If I have to allow my father to remind me one more time that Sedrick and I would make a perfect pair of newly weds, I will hang myself.' "Assisting my father with businesses and office jobs. He owns a series of Boruvian companies and has been recently working alongside fellow economists on the issue of improving the stock markets." It was partly true.
For several years now, Boruvia was suffering from financial regressions, though not significant enough for the nation to lose monetary value in the global markets. It was rather kept hidden of the dealings Daisuke Kaido and Johannes Greil were making to keep Boruvia afloat; most simply assumed being a trade partner of Kairne made one a low risk partner. Who would expect them to default when Boruvia was secretly being handed a portion of the Kairnese Padrone's accumulated family wealth?
"Wow." Holly's energetic speech was sapped away upon hearing the plan Yanagi had for her own future. Many futures were at stake with the occupation she was speaking of, not just her own. "Then good luck on your career, Meiling."
By the outskirts of the Emperor's property was a stakeout vehicle where a young man of twenty-three was conducting his work as his family requested. He was the youngest of brothers, and the last twin of the Jeung-Chi family. It was said that his older twin had given his all to complete the last mission he would live to breathe through, whereas his elder brother... that dishonorable traitor had abandoned the family—name and all.
None of those facts mattered to him. Not since he understood that he would have greater prestige than they have ever dreamed of. 'No suspicious activity so far. The Emperor of Boruvia hasn't contacted anyone. Other leads are yet undiscovered.'
A stakeout as the Jeung-Chi son was doing was for the honor of the family; their history extended towards the roots of the empire's first Emperors. While they were not entirely satisfied with their positions in the past, they had sucked it up and dealt with their issues. It just didn't sit well with them that the family long lineage of Boruvian Emperors were now in shady business with gaijins. How disastrous it would be when found out!
'Seems to me there's signs of activity. Can't see it from here. Need to get—'
"Onii-san. Hey, onii-san." The voice of a toddler was alerting to his ears as he was caught by a mere child. Before him was a girl with short, jagged locks, wandering far from home most likely. Why would this child be around the Emperor's home?
It was none of his concern though. He had to keep her quiet before anyone heard the commotion.
"You have a pretty hair color, onii-san." She exclaimed aloud, bringing the attention of all nearby.
"Geh!" 'I'm seen too early into the plan. I'll have to improvise.' "Thank you. I take care of it as much as possible, but it doesn't compete with your hair. Does your mother keep care of it?"
"Cinna!" A young, silver hair toddler called out in bit of anger. He found the stranger suspicious as he was alone; mainly for the fact he was wearing pristine clothing and seemed finicky of matters. Like a rat that excessively backtracked to keep its predators at bay. "You shouldn't leave Ojii-sama's house. You could have made him mad... or maybe even this guy mad." He added, to give at least some manners.
"Ah. It's nothing to worry about. I was just waiting for a meeting. Cinna, was it? She's awfully kind, but there are dangers she needs to be aware of. Thank you for looking out for her well being. The future of Boruvia rests on how deeply we care of one another."
"Couldn't agree more," voiced the gruff tone of the Emperor. His hair greying and his clothing well ironed, Daisuke Kaido had remained the majority of his day at rest looking after the two children. It took a moment for him to shift from a stern expression into a softer, much kinder one he was typically known for; the experience he had raising his daughter taught him much for him to be alert. Fortunately he needn't be so skeptical of a Jeung-Chi family member.
"Hayate Jeung-Chi? Why, what brings you to my abode? Wait—your father must have wanted word from me about the loans, didn't he."
'Seems this'll be much easier than what I expected.' "It's sort of shameful for me to come instead of him, but his arthritis isn't making it easy to get out these days. He requested his retirement be used to keep medical research facilities afloat, so he's living on payments. I also brought a gift." He showed Daisuke a bouquet of roses.
"Let's talk inside."
. . . . . . .
"Ah. Then Hiro simply needs the money paid in full to him and problem solved, correct?"
"Nah. He'd rather not take the money."
Daisuke's confusion spoke tales about how nonsensical it was to make such a claim.
"Since he's nearing his end, and doesn't want to leave without being recognized, he'd much rather have something to show for. Paying him back would just leave him the hassle of entrusting my assumption of the best way to honor his memory. That, and he doesn't want me to find a wife who is just hooking up with me for securement in power."
"Undoubtedly the worse of people is brought out by these opportunities. Definitely something you should avoid. Which, if I do recall, was much the same reason why I don't want my daughter to marry without my consented approval."
"Must be a burden having to turn down all the suitors she presents you."
Daisuke chuckled, partly nervous about his confession, and partly proud to admit the fact of his daughter. "Oh, she doesn't want anything to do with suitors. I've been trying to get her to reconsider things, but Yanagi always finds the matter illogical and wasteful of her time. She'd probably make a fine wife to her beloved, but I digress about the details." The Emperor comfortably fantasized of his future family as his daughter would bring.
It was then that Hayate came up with a jokingly harmless thought experiment. "If it isn't much of an issue, do you mind if I court Yanagi-hime?"
"Court her?" He laughed once more, "if you can somehow get to that phase, you might have much more trouble in your hands than she's worth!"
"No, really? I couldn't possibly imagine her as a nuissance. The Boruvian princess is always stylish and punctual. Marriage would surely not be exempt."
Calming down from his fit of laughter, Daisuke Kaido wiped the tears from his eyes and was about to reveal the evidence contrary to the assumption, when both of them overheard the commotion outside the building. What awaited there was not something Daisuke wanted ruined.
"Sorry about intruding on your private familial matters, Yanagi. I'll be going."