DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. This is a fanfic written for entertainment only.

A/N: Hello again in another HM story. XD I'm finally done with 'Paper Cranes' (though I haven't post up the last chapter. Still debating whether I should proceed with that ending or make another… XD), here's another of my short series story. English is not my first language. Pardon the bad grammar and stuff. (n.n);

Italic words - Thoughts

DAHLIA

- 1 -

Chelsea stared absentmindedly at the countless droplets of water running down the window of her room. She reached out a hand, tracking the falling water with a finger, her other hand supported her chin as she let out a deep sigh. She had always like rainy days – it provided her a shield from all the noise she had to dealt with that surrounded her everyday life; she had always preferred listening to the drum of the pouring water rather than fake praises and compliments thrown to her – those empty, useless, sugar-coated words that served only as to preserved said people's good image in front of her eyes. Who knows what kind of things they spoke behind her?

Sure, she was one of the luckiest person on earth-as people tend to say when they were asked to describe her-but the brunette young woman would've thought the opposite – she was the unluckiest girl ever. As the only daughter of the King and Queen of Sunny Kingdom, Chelsea Eve Springfield, the Princess of said kingdom was blessed with a fortunate life – a luxurious life that she was sure many would've kill to live with. As if that's not enough to say that she's got Lady Luck by her side, said brunette princess was blessed with an attractive feature; she was a fine-looking lady with a kind personality to boot. Many were said to be head over heels over her; though she was never interested in any of those many people.

It was that kind personality that Chelsea sometimes cursed and blamed herself for her current situation. She didn't hate that she never opposed to the things her beloved parents told her to do but she wished that she somehow got the guts-even a little-to stand up for herself, to make a decision for herself – such as in this matter that occupied her mind since two weeks ago.

Why can't she choose, on her own, the man that will bear the title 'husband' to her? Why can't she live her life as a full-fledged adult with someone that she knows, that she love?

Why, if her parents care and love her, arranged this with the King and Queen of Sunshine Kingdom?

Why was she, Chelsea Eve Springfield, engaged to someone that she never met before? Why was her betrothed turned out to be an unknown young man from a neighboring country – someone that she knew absolutely nothing about him?

Harvest Goddess must have hated me. I must have been very bad during my previous life to deserve something like this. Chelsea closed her eyes in disappointment – she felt defeated, she felt weak and she felt disgusted at herself for breaking a promise she had made to her childhood friend.

"Princess?" a voice snapped her out of her reverie. The sound of the door creaked open followed after. "Are you ready?" footsteps approached her as Chelsea turned around to see said person who owned the voice and who'd entered her room.

"Mark," she called out the blonde's name as she rose from her seat, looking once again at the scenery outside her window before walking closer to the other person. "I thought I have told you not to be so formal with me when we are alone?"

Mark gave out a small smile. "Ah, yes. I am sorry about that, Chelsea. It is a habit of mine," he chuckled as he explained. "Are these your belongings?" he asked, pointing to a couple of suitcases lying on the peach-coloured bed sheet of her bed.

"Mhmm," the brunette nodded. "I will have my own room there, right? I think those will be enough to cover up some of my early days there," she smiled sadly as she turned and stared at the brown suitcases.

"Chelsea," there's sadness in the blonde's voice. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking a step closer to her and tucked away a single strand of her brown hair behind her ear.

Chelsea closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before opening her eyes again. She locked her aquamarine orbs with the young man's emeralds. "I am okay," she answered, trying to fight back the tears that threatening to fall. "I am…fine," she added, moving closer to the blonde and closed the small gap between them when she leaned into him, placing both hands on his chest. "I…I…"

Mark circled his arms around her, pulling her closer to him as he embraced her. "If you want to cry, go ahead. I am here," he said as he stroked her hair and sometimes paused to pat her head.

The young woman in his embrace shook her head as she tightened her grip on his white shirt. "No. I have made up my mind to go through this," she looked up at him as soon as she finished her words. "If there is any regret about this decision of mine, it is only that I will not be able to keep the promise we made to each other when we were kids."

I do not want you to be worried about me so I will be sure to marry someone that I love so that he will take good care of me! That will make you happy, right? "It cannot be helped, can it?" the blonde smiled bitterly, still stroking her hair. "You cannot go against the words of the King and Queen," he pulled her away and stared at her as she stared at him. "I am sure you will be happy with the Prince, Chelsea."

"Will I, Mark? I know nothing about him yet I am engaged to him and now I am going to live at his castle even though there is still a season away from our marriage."

"Why not give yourself a chance this one season to learn more about him and know him better?"

"…I shall try."

Mark patted her head once more before moving towards her bed, bending over to reach out the princess's suitcases. "You better do. Heck, I will make sure you do," he replied as his hands settled down on the handler of the suitcases – one on his right and two more in his left hand. "Come, Princess. The King and Queen were waiting for you in the Hall. They will be seeing you off," he continued and made his way towards the door, motioning the brunette to follow him.

Chelsea nodded and tagged behind him. She kept her gaze at the older blonde as he opened the door with his right hand. She was surprised to see someone was outside of her room – he was clad in black outfit, a silver sword attached to his waist and was standing still on the entrance of the door, as if guarding the room from unwanted visitors. He turned his back so that the princess can get a clear look of his face and she froze as her eyes made contact with the silver-haired stranger's violet ones.

A/N: First chapter done. I used Sunny and Sunshine as the kingdoms' name because I don't know what else to pick. Lol. XD