[[ Hello everyone! This story was my very first story on here and I am going through the process of rewriting this fanfic.

Just some details, if you don't mind.

I will be switching form different point of views so please keep an eye on that.

Also, I'm a university student so if I take a little while posting, please bear with me.

R&Rs would be appreciated greatly, thank you!

P.S. I do not own Hunter x Hunter. ]]

"Back straight, chin high, and gentle movements. No, that's not it, please try again Tsubaki-Hime." Maria was disappointed in me again, everyday for the past week, the same routine. I'm surprised she hasn't given up on me. Maria is our current head maid, her mother, Fuuko, had recently passed away relinquishing her title and handed it over to Maria.

Fuuko and Maria were with our family from when my father was a child in the palace. Maria and Papa are about the same age and she's watched over me ever since I was born.

I'm my father's only child and so they immediately started educating me in everything as soon as I was able to comprehend the material. I may be a princess in title but that's all there is to me that's princess-like, even though I may be gifted in playing the piano, that is the only thing I can do right, why do you think Maria is losing patience with me?

"Okay Tsubaki-Hime, why don't we take a break instead and start your Biology lesson early today." Maria was gathering up all the teacups and plates onto a large round silver platter, I guess a break means we're done for the day.

"I'm sorry Maria, I'll try my best tomorrow. I'll make sure to get it right before the Fujiwara's come over." I gave her a small curtsy and she gave me a smile but I can tell by the look on her face that she was tired of going through the same material for almost a week already. I really must master the material soon.

"Maria-San," A man's voice interrupted us and when I looked to see who it was, it was the Head Guard, Shiroki, or Shiro as we call him; he's also my best friend.

"Ah, Shiro-Sama, is there something you need?"

"I apologize for interrupting your lesson but Her Royal Majesty, The Queen, wishes to see you immediately. I believe it is of some importance." Shiro had a gentle yet deep voice, when he talked; he talked with authority yet it was also peaceful.

"Ah, I see. I understand, I'll make my way immediately, thank you for delivering the message." Maria gave a curtsy to Shiro and made her way out of the room with the tray of tea.

When Maria left, it was just Shiro and I and when he took off his officer's hat to reveal his beautiful blonde hair, I could tell why most of the maids liked Shiro but Shiro is mine and always will be.

"Shiro-Nii!" I yelled as I slowly jumped into his open arms.

He chuckled and positioned me better so I wouldn't fall, "Tsubaki-Hime, it seems the lessons aren't doing well?"

"Since the Fujiwara's are from the Southern Sector of Taira, their tea ceremony is performed differently than ours. I think Maria might be getting mad at me; it's taking me too long to get it right. We keep cutting our lessons short."

"Don't worry too much, take your time with it, you'll get it right." Shiro said as he gave me a smile and placed his hat, that was obviously too big to fit, on my head,

"Ne, Shiro-Nii, can we go play a game before Maria comes back?"

"I'm sorry Tsubaki-Hime but I'm on training duty today. We have new recruits coming in soon and I'm charge of their training sessions. Maybe Maria would be willing to take a break and play?" Shiro-Nii doesn't know how busy Maria's schedule is; she'll never have the time to play with me.

I don't know if it's because I was quiet for too long but Shiro-Nii hugged me closer to him and said, "Ne, Tsubaki-Hime, how about you come to the training session with me? You're trying to hide for Maria for a bit, right? Why not get some training in?"

My face lit up when Shiro-Nii said I could train with him, it's been a long time since we were able to play together. However, that excitement was short lived when another guard interrupted us.

"Tsubaki-Hime, I apologize for intruding." The guard that came in was Kazuto, he's the same age as Shiro and is his best friend, "Shiro, there's something here that we need your help with. It's important."

"And Tsubaki-Hime?"

"Maybe it'll be better to hear her orders regarding our current situation instead of the Queen."

Shiro and I gave each other a look of worry, what's going on?

We followed Kazu to a nearby room and inside the room were two other guards and a figure I couldn't make out right away strapped to a chair.

Upon walking closer, I noticed that a boy, only a few years older than me, was strapped to the chair. He looked weak and fragile, like he was starving.

Noticing my presence, he turned his attention over to me. He had bright red hair and big beautiful amber eyes. I wonder which district he comes from, could he be a Southerner? Northerner? More importantly, why is he here?

"Bow before the princess." One of the guards spoke as he forcefully lowered the boy's head. I didn't know who he was, he might be a new recruit since Kazu walked over to him and shook his head at him.

"Even if this child did wrong, we mustn't treat him with disrespect." Kazu explained as he removed the guard's hand from the boy. Just like Shiro, they both possess kind hearts.

"Please, tell us your name, won't you?" Kazu asked as he untied the ropes around the boy.

The boy continued to look at me, his amber eyes piercing. So beautiful. I thought as I found myself getting lost in his eyes.

"My name is Hisoka." He explained as he wrapped his hand around his injured wrist.

"Do you know why you are here?" I asked him.

"I was caught… stealing food from your leftover barrels." He admitted as he focused his gaze to the ground.

I knew it. He's starving. We can't punish him for something like this; we are to care for the people especially if they are on the verge of death.

"How many family members do you have?" I asked him.

He was caught off guard, before answering my question, his gaze returned to the ground, "It's just my mother, my father and me."

"Kazu-Nii," I began, "Can you tell the chefs to prepare a full course meal for three for Hisoka please?"

"Eh? Are you certain you should do such a thing Tsubaki-Hime?" The same guard as earlier asked.

"Yui, the princess's orders are absolute. If you are not going to abide by her orders, I suggest you leave the Royal Guards immediately." Shiro explained.

"I understand we are to follow the princess's orders but what are we supposed to report to the Queen?"

"Yes, what are you supposed to report to the Queen?" A sudden voice caught us all off guard. And when we turned our attention to the door, it was Mama, the Queen.

Everyone in the room bowed down to Mama, even me.

"What is going on here?" She demanded to know.

For a moment, no one answered her but we all know that silence is the worst way to answer Mama.

"Your Royal Majesty, we have apprehended this boy that was attempting to steal from our kitchen." Of all answers, Yui had to tell the truth. He really is a new recruit since there are certain things we do and do not tell Mama and this was one of the things we absolutely do not tell Mama. However, it was already too late.

"I see." She began with a voice full of malicious intent. "And what did the princess order of you?" I already knew where this was heading and it seems like Kazu and Shiro did too as I was able to pick up faint sounds of sighing.

I rose from the ground and looked into Mama's cold blue eyes, "Mama, I take full responsibility for everything that has happened so far. Please allow Kazuto and Shiroki to fulfill my orders and let the boy leave in peace."

A smile formed on her lips as she turned her gaze from Hisoka to me, "I see. Then I shall see you in my Chambers immediately." Before she left, she turned her gaze back over to Hisoka and shot him a glare of death, "Boy, I do not care who you are and I do not care where you come from. However, if you dare come into my home again and steal what is mine, I will not hesitate to have you killed. Do you understand?"

Hisoka just looked at her and gave her a nod, I mean, after all that, what can you possibly say?

After Mama left, Kazu and Shiro each gave me an apologetic look.

"There's no need to be sorry. It's nobody's fault this has happened." I explained.

I turned my attention back over to Hisoka and grabbed a hold of his hand that was injured.

"Hisoka, I hope this food will help in some way and if there's anyway I can help you again, please let me know." I don't know why I told him that, there have been many thieves in our palace before and I've never made an offer like this but there's something about him; his aura, his presence, his life. There's something about him that I want to know more about.

So I leaned in and whispered in his ear to make sure no one can hear me, "There's a secret room near the garden located in the back of the palace. If you're able to get inside the palace, the garden should be a piece of cake for you. Behind the blue rose bush there is a statue with a secret passcode. Tap its belly twice and its head three times. Everyday I'm in the garden so if you leave me a sign, I will be there. Okay?"

He locked his amber eyes with mine and gave me a smile and nodded. There was just something about him that I couldn't let go of.

"Well Yui, since the Queen received the report from you, you and your partner should go guard the Queen's Chamber as she has her talk with Tsubaki-Hime." Kazu said.

"Kazu-Nii…" I know Kazu wants Yui to know the truth about Mama but not like this, it isn't right.

"How do you think we found out Hime?" Shiro explained with his gentle voice.

"We'll find out whose side he's on when he leaves his post." Kazu said.

"I'll send Maria over after as well. Stay strong, Hime."

I could already tell Yui and his partner were worried as they gave each other confused looks but there's no way out of my punishment now so I left the room and both Yui and his partner followed. -

"Who do you think you are?" Mama's tone grew irritated, "What right do you have to order around the guards like that? You think you're better than me? You are the Princess and I am Queen. My orders are absolute, not yours. You didn't even master the tea ceremony yet for the Fujiwara's visit. Why were you with the guards anyway? You should have begun studying for your next subject when I was talking with Maria."

Mama kept going on and on, without me having a word in edgewise. Her lectures were usually the same old stuff; I have no authority, I should only be studying, and everything is to be reported to the Queen, not to me. After about fifteen minutes of yelling (which could probably be heard through her chamber doors), she grabbed her cane that was stuffed inside her closet.

"You know the routine, we've done this countless times already. For today's punishment, the amount is fifty."

Fifty? Fifty whips? That's the most it's ever been. As I was standing there taking in the information, Mama hit me behind my knees that caused me to fall over and bow before her. She pulled up a chair and began hitting my lower back fifty times. There was not a single word spoken for if I made even the slightest sound, Mama would double the punishment and I don't think I could handle 1OO hits.

After Mama finished, she placed the cane back into her closet and told me to leave her sight. I've been caned before but for some reason today hurt the most. Maybe it's because it was my lower back again and it hasn't fully healed from my caning two weeks ago.

When I left the room, I noticed Yui was shaking in his post. Looks like he and his partner have learned the truth. Would they leave? Would they stay? And if they stayed, whose words will they obey?

"Tsubaki-Hime," Yui begin, "I deeply apologize for my actions." Both he and his partner knelt before me, "We pledge our allegiance to you, Tsubaki-Hime."

"That's enough of that." That was Maria's voice and never have I ever been so happy to see Maria today. "Any louder and Tsubaki-Hime would have to return behind those doors. Come Tsubaki-Hime, let's have you patched up, Shiro-Sama would never forgive me if I let those wounds scar your back."

Making our way to my room, Maria treated the wounds on my back and bandaged me up. I feel bad that she's the one that has to patch me up but to me, Maria's the only one that's actually like a mother to me.

"Ne, Maria…"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you." I said as I faced my head down into my pillow.

She put her hand on the back of my head and told me, "No, thank you. Thank you for giving me something to live for and someone to care for. I will always be here for you, Tsubaki-Chan." After hearing those words, I couldn't hold the tears in any longer and cried for the rest of the night.

Maria's P.O.V.

It seems she fell asleep; she's had a rough day. Carefully packing away the first aid kit, I tucked Tsubaki in and made my way quietly to the door. Opening the door I saw the King, Ikuto. Closing the door, I bowed before him and he gave me a smile.

"Maria," He began with a soft whisper, "If you could please join me in the dining hall, Shiro and Kazu are there as well. I heard some news that today was not a good day for my Tsubaki-Chan. I would like to hear a report please."

"Of course, Your Royal Highness." His voice was so gentle. Oh, how I've missed him.

Making our way to the dining room, I saw both Kazu and Shiro sitting at a small round table looking as if they were troubled over something. We all took a seat together and looked toward the King.

"Maria, Shiro, Kazu, first off, I want to thank the three of you from the bottom of my heart for taking care and watching over my Tsubaki-Chan. She's a really strong girl isn't she?" The King spoke with such high regard he clearly loved his daughter.

"We're terribly sorry for having dragged Tsubaki-Hime into today's affairs. We were unaware that the Queen's schedule had been cleared today." Shiro began with a voice of failure.

"Don't beat yourself over it, all three of you." The King explained. "I have tried talking to my wife about her actions but to no avail, she blames me for not disciplining Tsubaki correctly. However, with all the commotion we have going on currently, I haven't been able to spend time with Tsubaki lately. Heh, Tsubaki-Chan must hate me."

"That isn't true!" I spoke out hurriedly. I knew the others wanted to say the exact same thing as well. "Your Royal Highness, Tsubaki-Chan loves you with all her heart. She knows how busy you are and she makes up for your lost time by spending time with us three. I'm sure I speak for all of us here when I say that Tsubaki-Chan always speaks of you in the highest regard. She loves you my King and she always will, whether you are always by her side or not because she knows that you love her just as much."

"Thank you Maria." He looked as if he really needed to hear those words. My King, You have been pushing yourself too hard.

"If you don't mind, do you know how long her punishment lasted?"

"According to the guards that were posted, she was punished for about 25 minutes." Kazu explained.

"After her punishment, Tsubaki-Chan decided to eat in her room and went to bed." I explained. I hate lying to the King but we have all already made a promise to not inform him of the truth. Who knows what would happen to this family when word gets out? One thing's for certain, The Queen and even Tsubaki-Chan has made it perfectly clear to all of this that not a word gets to the King. All he knows is that Tsubaki-Chan receives a strong lecture and has to do trivial things for the Queen.

"I see. I'll have to take some time to see her tomorrow. However, this is not all I wanted to discuss with the three of you. As you all know, the Fujiwara's will be arriving in a few days and they are the rulers of Southern Taira. The Elders have made it clear that they want to unite the two families."

Unite the two families? Then-

"Your Royal Highness, are you saying Tsubaki is-" Shiro couldn't even bear to finish his thought even though we already knew what it was.

"As much as it pains me so, yes. Arrangements will be made for Tsubaki and the Fujiwara Prince to marry. This is what we have been preparing her for, to be the future ruler of Taira."

An arranged marriage, I knew it. I wonder how Tsubaki-Chan will take the news when she learns that she's even restricted from marrying someone she falls in love with. To marry someone you don't even know… How is it possible?

I felt sudden warmth on my hands and when I looked to see whose hands were on mine, it was Shiro-Sama. He gave me a small smile and squeezed my hand tightly; I wonder what he was thinking.

"Your Royal Highness, we care about Tsubaki-Chan as much as you do and we will respect whatever decisions you have regarding the subject." Shiro spoke but I can tell that there was a sense of pain behind his voice. Just like me, Tsubaki was like a daughter to him.

"King, what are we to tell Tsubaki-Chan?"

"You will tell her nothing of this conversation. I will tell her once she masters the tea ceremony for the Fujiwara family. Do not worry you three, my daughter knows what it means to be a royal, she's going to be Queen one day, she knows she must put her country before herself. She will do what is right."

Even though he says that, I can tell even he has doubts stirring in his mind about the subject.

Before we knew it, the clock struck midnight and it was time for us to perform our usual nightly routine. Shiroki and Kazuto were the first to leave as they bowed before our King and made their way to their training grounds.

Following their lead, I got up as well and bowed before the king, however, before I could leave, I felt the warmth of a hand on my wrist.

"Maria," A deep yet gentle voice whispered in my ear, "I've missed you so. Thank you for taking care of my beloved daughter." Before I was even able to respond, he quickly turned me around and we locked eyes. His beautiful amethyst eyes shone brightly in that dark room and I couldn't help but let my guard down for a moment.

"Ikuto-Sama…" I whispered without thinking. He leaned in closer as if he wanted a kiss but I couldn't, not now. "Ikuto- er, my King, we mustn't do such things in public. If Aiko knew of our relationship she would certainly have my head."

"I am King, no one will speak a word of this and besides, it is only us two here. Aiko is asleep at this time doing her usual nightly routine. Have you not missed me Maria? The nights I've been apart from you, the feeling is similar to being away from Tsubaki."

"My King-"

"Call me by my name" He whispered into my ear.

"Ikuto-Sama" It just came out and I couldn't resist him anymore. He leaned in close and the warmth on my lips was something I haven't felt in a while.

"You should head back to your post Maria, goodnight my love." He kissed me on my forehead and his silhouette disappeared into the shadows of the halls.

If only I was royalty, we would have been wed, isn't that right, Ikuto-Sama?