A/N — yikes it's been nearly a year or two since i've actually wrote another chapter on ffn! now that summer started, i've got interested in trying this medieval AU (and maybe finishing up my other stories if i ever have the enthusiasm), so for now, let's try it! please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the cover art or pokemon.

Chapter One — Gold Eyes

It all started with a dream.

The sight of him made her reverse her thoughts about nobles. He was dressed in a distinguished uniform, the ones presented to the higher level guards of the castle. He wasn't looking at her, nor did he notice her presence. His attention was focused on something else in the distance, and the wind blew against his face, messing up his explosive black hair. Slowly, he turned towards her direction, and suddenly she felt lost in his bright golden eyes. With a cheerful and bright smile, he opened his mouth to say something to her—

Crystal's eyes shot open.

In less than a second, the paradise state ended. She was immediately thrust into reality. She could hear the birds chirping outside her window and feel the sweat dripping down her temple.

I should've known it was a dream.

She should've been used to it by now. Every now and then she would get dreams about the strangest things, and later, she would happen to see the images portrayed later in real life. There were times when she spaces out or daydreams and it just happens.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard loud thuds outside her door. The door opened and a figure appeared behind it, an elated grin plastered across her face.

"Crys! Are you awake?"

Crystal rubbed her eyes to clear her vision. "Yeah, Mom."

Her mother stomped over to Crystal's bedside in an excited manner. "The mailman just delivered a letter from Lyra! I know you were waiting for it for weeks!"

At this, Crystal shared her mother's lively emotions as she took the letter from her hands.

It's been over fourteen years since her sister was adopted into a family of nobility. Since then, her twin sister Lyra have been communicating with her via letter. Every week she would receive one from Lyra, and it's been like that for the past fourteen years. However, she hasn't heard from Lyra for over a couple of weeks now, and she grew worried about it. Lyra has only missed replying back when something urgent happened or she was too busy to reply. It only happened maybe once or twice a year that Lyra does this to her, and every time it happens, she would become restless, imagining things that might've happened to Lyra. Sometimes bandits would kidnap children of rich families, and Crystal would always assume the worst.

Now that the letter was here, Crystal's worries fled.

Crystal placed the letter on her nightstand then pushed the blankets off her body, getting up from her bed.

Her mother frowned and her furrowed eyebrows showed a look of confusion. "You're not going to read it right now?"

"I have to get ready because it's almost time to head to the orphanage. I'll read it later."

The day was starting over again and it was time to do her usual routine.

Just another regular day.

"Miss Crystal!"

Crystal stopped her sweeping and turned around when she heard her name get called. Little children surrounded her, chirping and tugging onto her apron to get her attention. She bent down slightly to face them directly and gave them a warm smile.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Can we play ball over there?"

Crystal followed her little finger to where the girl had pointed towards. "Yes, but make sure to be careful. Remember to not play in the front since the fencing is loose."

"Okay, Miss Crystal!"

The little kids that surrounded her went to gather in the corner of the yard. With a smile, she resumed working.

"Crystal, may I have a word with you?"

She stopped her sweeping again, and this time, she was interrupted by an adult. "What's the matter, Earl?"

The man in his thirties looked apologetic. "I seem to have forgotten to buy some groceries for the children because it slipped my mind. I'm sorry to ask this of you and I hate to leave the children, but—"

"—I'll do it for you," she cut him off, putting the broom aside and already taking off her apron. "I've been meaning to get some groceries for my mom anyways."

He beamed at her. "Really? Thank you so much, Crystal!"

"Hello Crystal!"

"Hi!"

"Good morning, Crys!"

"You too!"

"You need something today?"

"I'm just buying groceries for Earl today!"

As Crystal strolled through the marketplace, she was met with greetings by almost every stand owner. She shopped and lived in this town for years, so it was easy for people to recognize her so easily and become so friendly.

"Hey Crys, I have a good deal on carrots for you today!"

Crystal became attracted to the food stand where a middle aged woman stood behind. She knew the housewife for the longest time, and would even babysit for her child commonly. Upon seeing the woman in the marketplace, she smiled.

"Hello Mrs. Russo! What kind of deal do you have on your carrots?" Crystal asked, looking at the product.

Mrs. Russo held up two fingers and winked. "Just for you, if you buy one, I'll give you two!"

Crystal gasped. "Really? That's great!"

She dug in her purse for the coins and handed it over, exchanging it for the bag of carrots. It wasn't really one of the things on either grocery lists, but she thought it'd still be good to get some while it's cheap.

"Anything for you and your mother, Crys!" Mrs. Russo said, giving her a grin.

"Thank you so much!" Crystal told her politely. "So how's little Kate? Did her fever die down from last time?"

Mrs. Russo nodded and pointed over to the street where a crowd of children gathered. "There's Kate over there playing with her friends. She's doing much better."

"I'll go greet her since it's been awhile. Excuse me!"

Crystal gave the housewife one more bow before leaving her presence and walking over to the children. Just as she turned around and took a step, she felt her world suddenly stop. For that moment, all sound ceased and everyone turned grey. Suddenly, an unfamiliar scene appeared in her mind.

There was a little girl with curly brown hair running.

Kate.

Kate skipped over to catch a loose ball. When she finally got to the area the ball had stopped at and picked it up, she turned to her left once she heard huge clanks coming her direction. Suddenly, horses were in her face.

Crystal's world started again.

She was about to get run over by a carriage!

Crystal hurriedly sprinted over towards the street. As she looked on ahead, she could already see the glimpse of her vision almost happening. One of the kids Kate played with threw the ball too high and it went over her head. Kate ran to chase it, and with the corner of her eye, Crystal saw the carriage coming.

"Kate! Stay back!" Crystal shouted to the child, nearing the group of children.

However, it was too late since Kate did not notice Crystal's shout until after she bent down to pick up the ball. Like in her vision, Kate looked up towards the clanking of the horse's footsteps and the carriage. Crystal threw her basket aside onto the ground and lunged for her. She tackled the child aside, wrapping her arms reassuringly over the girl as they both rolled down in the impact. Upon seeing Crystal's actions of jumping in front of the carriage, the horseman controlling the horses pulled the horse's reigns and stopped the carriage.

Mutters gathered around the scene, and people nearby them started to crowd.

Crystal pulled away from the child, Kate still in her arms. "Are you okay, Kate? Are you hurt?"

Kate looked up at her babysitter, shook her head, and suddenly began to sob. She wrapped her arms around Crystal's body, and in response, Crystal pulled the child's head closer to her chest to comfort her.

"What is that excessive sound?! Why are we stopping when we are not at the castle yet?!"

Someone from inside the carriage open its door and waltz out. Crystal adverted her attention from caring for the child to the figure. The man that stepped out of the carriage was obviously someone from nobility. He wore neat clothes as if he were going to a ballroom party and Crystal could see the genuine gold decor on his appearance. The way he spoke also had that accent that nobles tend to adopt.

When the nobleman noticed Crystal and the crying child, he gave a look of annoyance. "Can't you lower class take care of your young ones? The filthy child's sobbing is quite irritating!"

Crystal's eyebrows pressed together, obviously showing her irritation. She stood up from her seat, carrying Kate in her arms and hushing her cries.

"You're at fault for her crying. If you're going to take a carriage through the town, at least have the decency to stop when someone passes on accident!" she scolded.

At that, he looked offended. "You, a lowly commoner, dare to chastise me?"

"Just because we're that of a lower class than you, doesn't mean you can stomp on us," Crystal told him.

"How dare you run your insolent mouth to me—"

"—She's right, you know."

The two ceased their conversation and turned their awareness to the new person who barged into the argument. At the sight of him, Crystal felt her heart beat faster. From the dream she had in the morning, there stood the distinguished guard. He had the exact same guard uniform on, the same explosive black hair, and more importantly, the same golden tint in his eyes. Just like in the dream, Crystal felt herself lost in them the more she made eye contact.

Eye contact was broken when he looked over to the nobleman who emerged from the carriage. "If you're going to ride your carriage, the least you can do is do it in a less crowded path. There are many citizens that pass the street and it can be rather dangerous."

The nobleman scoffed. "I do not need a mere guard to be lecturing me. I am a renowned baron! I can get you kicked out of the castle by the snap of my fingers!"

"Oh yeah?" The guard took it as a joke, his amused grin challenging the latter. "Do it. My name is Duke Ethan D'oro De Luca of the De Luca house. Please report me."

"De Luca?" At the sound of that name, the nobleman seemed hesitant to speak. "The prince's...?"

Ethan continued to give the same playful act, but this time it was more intimidating. "What is your name? Or perhaps it is not so important for me to know?"

Crystal watched the reaction the nobleman gave, now sharing the same mood as Ethan. He made the man unable to speak and embarrassed just by naming his family name, and the sight was quite humorous. The nobleman, without ever giving his name, just sneered and stated how none of it is his fault before making his way back into the carriage and off again.

What a rude a person. He didn't even feel apologetic, Crystal thought, watching the back of his carriage.

Beside her, the guard let out a low whistle, his eyes raising. "That was quite funny." He looked over to Crystal, his bright gold eyes locking with her blue ones again. "You okay? Saving damsels in distress is kind of my thing."

"U-Um, we're fine, thanks," Crystal replied, ignoring the flirty comment. He actually did help her in the end, so judging his choice of words was out of the question.

"Kate!"

"Mommy!"

Mrs. Russo came running towards them. Crystal gently put the girl down so she could run to her mother. She smiled at the scene of the mother-daughter pair hugging each other.

Guess having visions sometimes isn't so bad, she thought.

Beside her, hearing chuckles intervened her mind. It was then she noticed Ethan's chuckles graduating to bursting laughter.

"W-What is it?" she asked, confused on what he found funny.

"It's just!" He tried to speak in between his laughter. He pointed towards the back of her shirt. "Y-Your clothes!"

Crystal looked down at her shirt where he had pointed at. She didn't notice it before because Kate was covering it, but the back of her clothes was actually really dirty. She took a whiff of it when she saw a different kind of brown substance on her clothes, and it was confirmed.

She had someone's poop on her clothes.

Her face started to heat up in embarrassment. "I was occupied with something! Stop laughing!"

Ethan cracked a smile at her, wiping a tear from his eye. "Sorry! It was hard not to!"

How immature! And to think, I thought this guy wasn't so bad for a nobleman!

Crystal went over to where she had tossed the carrots aside, ignoring him.

Once he notice her leaving, he called out to her. "Hey! Where are you going?!"

"To go change!" she shouted in response, not even turning to look back at him.

She could hear his laughter emerge again because of his view of her back. She just wanted to leave the scene.

"Sorry I took so long, Earl!"

Crystal opened the front gate of the orphanage, dragging the groceries in. She felt so bad that she ended up going to her house to change and had to shop again after the stunt she pulled. On the bright side, Mrs. Russo was so grateful, she gave Crystal half of the things she needed for the orphanage.

When she noticed no one outside playing in the yard, she realized they must've been inside. However, when she headed to the entrance of the building, her path was blocked by two men. Just like Ethan, they wore a castle guard's uniform, but slightly different.

Did that nobleman report this place because of the spite he received?

"Crystal!"

Earl appeared behind the two, exchanging a nervous look with her.

"Earl! I'm back with the groceries! Why are these two guards here?" she asked in a low whisper, going in between the guards. It didn't matter whether they really heard it or not.

"Actually—"

The guards cut him off by slamming their spears into the ground, making a dent in the wood floor, adding onto Crystal's irritation. She was about to chastise their behavior towards the place, but she didn't have the chance to because they shouted in her face, announcing the reason for their arrival at the orphanage.

"Crystal Stelle! We were ordered by Prince Green Quercia himself to escort you to the castle! Please come with us!"

Crystal dropped her grocery bag as she stood there surprised, her mouth agape.

"WHAT?!"

First, she dreams of that amazing nobleman who turned out to be some childish and immature brat; second, a child she loves nearly gets run over by a carriage from some jerk; third, she gets poop on her shirt and get laughed at; and now, she was in front of the ruler of the country himself in a t-shirt with a stain in it because she didn't have time to do laundry. Well, at least she dressed neater with a skirt. It didn't help her mood much though.

She heard the rumors about Prince Green, and well, they were completely untrue. Prince Green was supposed to be a person who smiles upon the whole country. He had the charisma to befriend any enemy and make friends with anyone. His grandfather, King Samuel Quercia, was the same. But when she was in front of him in person, the look in his eyes were so cold and icy, it made herself freeze. He was quiet and aloof, and when she first entered the room, she had interrupted his reading session, and he didn't seem so happy about it.

She stood in front of his desk in his office, she assumed, awkward. Crystal prayed in her mind that he wouldn't care about her appearance.

"You are Crystal Stelle, am I correct?" he asked, his eyes looking through her soul.

Crystal cleared her throat, forcing her voice out. "Yes, I am."

"I suppose you're wondering why you happened to be here. I apologize for the forceful guard escort, but even after the letter was delivered, we needed to reach you quickly."

"Letter?"

Green nodded. "Did you receive one today?"

"I only received one from my sister, but not one from the castle," she confessed.

"Is that so? May I see your letter please?"

Crystal opened her bag and obediently handed the letter over despite the invasion of privacy. The prince's presence subdued her.

Green took the letter from her hands. When he opened it and read through it, he frowned.

"This is the letter we sent you."

"What?"

She leaned over to his desk to see the contents. He was right. It wasn't from Lyra. "I'm sorry. I guess I assumed it was from Lyra since she's the only person I know who would use that envelope. It must be a common one among other upper classes."

Green immediately just trashed the letter aside before turning back to her. "I thought this would be the case. It doesn't matter. Its purpose was to summon you, and now I have you here. The reason why I wanted you to come is because of your twin sister."

"Did something happen to her?" Crystal asked in concern. If the letter wasn't from Lyra, then Lyra's reply is still missing.

"Yes," he answered. "Apparently, Countess Lyra Rosetti is set to marry a duke. The marriage was set by two powerful houses, and it is to bridge a relationship between the families. Unfortunately, Miss Rosetti has ran away with some guard named Lance Carino before she could even meet up with her engagement partner. Currently, they are being hunted down by my castle guards at the moment, but they are still missing. Normally, I wouldn't care so much, but the duke she is marrying is a close acquaintance to the king and it is precious to preserve their status."

Crystal stood there, shocked.

"Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying...?"

"Until then, I want you, as Miss Rosetti's twin sister, to substitute in her place as a countess to prevent rumors between the other families."

It was then Crystal realized that it was not "just another regular day" like she planned it to be.