Hello again! This is just a second story I'm working on to fill the time that I don't use (Procrastination is unavoidable for me sometimes, I guess...) But none the less, I hope you like this branch-off series as much as I enjoyed making it!
Chapter 1: The Arrival (Liola's POV)
It wasn't unusual for partners to cheat on one another in this little nation of ours.
Things like that happened almost every day.
But there was something oddly particular and interesting with the one that occurred one warm summer day.
Everyone; or, at least it seemed to be everyone in the nation, was thinking about their next mistake.
Men in full suit and tie hung around the beer halls and the taverns, while women in the frilliest dresses money could buy walked up and down each street and hoped a man would take them home.
I, being the young girl wearing the most expensive gown in our nation because my father bought it for me before he passed, was not interested in the affairs of others, nor did I plan on becoming like everyone else.
Local jewelry store owners called me a gem, farmers called me a choice prize, and even the dukes in our nation took notice of me.
Of course, I really didn't care what any of them said. Nothing they said caught my full attention, honestly; all of them were the same, anyway.
Despite ignoring the many compliments many people gave me, I would always have that empty feeling in my stomach- I never knew why, either.
But on that warm summer day, not many people were out and about and looking for a one-night-stand in broad daylight.
No. In fact, many were indoors. Those that were outside; however, were all standing in order from oldest in the back, to youngest in the front along the entrance street.
"What is this?" I asked one of the old men standing parallel to his family home. Hearing my familiar voice; I was inquired to give public speeches in place of my father, the man almost instantly turns to me with a broad smile on his face.
"Ah, if it ain't the lovely 'lil princess! How 'r things in that big 'ol castle there?" He continued on with such idle talk that I almost lost my posture as a noble and fell asleep on the ground. That was, until he mentioned something that I was dying to hear for so long.
"I heard that someun' new was comin' to this 'ol capital 'n ano'r nation down yonder." He pointed to a warn map that he had taken out of his worn pants pocket and unfolded as he spoke.
"He's a real hit with the lassies, I hear. Real womanizer; that young a boy, a womanizer! Who woulda thought, huh!?" I took a deep breath and exhaled with the same amount of force behind it. "I am not interested in such things. And I was informed that there was to be another coming here with him. Is that correct?"
Without actually answering me, the old man puffed out his chest and bellowed loudly. "Why, 'lil princess, that's correct! You got quite the memory there, if I do say so myself!" He proceeds to puff out his chest even more. "And I do say so, so it must be right, am I right, 'lil princess!?"
By this point in time, I was more concerned as to whether the man would break his back than the carriage housing the two newcomers skidding to a gentle yet audible stop.
Hearing the old man's behavior change almost instantly signaled me to turn in the direction he was facing. Upon doing so, however, I was greeted with a rather handsome man smiling down at me. Taking my hand, the man's smile grew even wider than it was.
"Why, you must be the princess of this beautiful place. Only fitting for a beauty such as yourself. I am the Duke of Varcelles, a pleasure to finally meet you."
Of all the people in the world, I never would have thought that it would be Duke Louis of Vercelles coming to my hometown. I gave a slight bow; It was customary here to do so, and told him that the pleasure was mine.
Alas, there was that empty feeling again. That was, until Louis's younger brother stepped out of the carriage. He looked at me; almost as if in a shy awe, then quickly turned away. His demeanor was so refreshing to me that I couldn't seem to control my own feet.
Shortly after my unconscious actions subsided, I looked up to only have his amethyst eyes meet my own cyan ones. His hair was a beautiful shade of red; almost as though he would be able to blend into my lost mother's rose garden without the slightest chance of being detected. His shoulders were just perfect; not too broad, and not too feminine to be confused as such. Compared to Louis, this young man had a much softer appearance; apart from his brother, whom uses his broad shoulders and attractive face just to woo the women.
"O-oh-" Being this close to him, I couldn't muster up the courage to properly introduce myself to him; not that it would have made any difference, since he seemed too emotionally distant to communicate with. Seeing my small hint of disappointment, Louis smiled and briskly walked over to the young man; placing his arm around the other's shoulders and effectively giving him a slight hug. "Ah, I see you've met my little brother Luke. Luke-" he slightly turned the smaller figure in his direction and continued. "Why don't you introduce yourself to the lovely young princess? She is to choose a man to marry and to aid her in her nation, after all." The young man, now introduced as Luke, held out a hand that I oddly yet gladly took up in my own. "I am Lukas, the duke of Okasa. It is nice to meet you, princess of Neronia." I started to say that it was my pleasure, but I couldn't muster a single word. All I could do was bow and look back into his beautiful eyes. Even though he seemed so different from his brother, I could still tell that they are related by blood. "Now, I do say!" Started up the old man once more, as he slowly yet roughly patted me on the back. "I've never seen this before!" In a flash of confusion, I looked over at the man. By this time, I also looked at the two dukes standing in front of me. "What is it?" I asked, still startled by the sudden shout. I take a look at Lukas, and I immediately noticed that a shade of red had washed over his face. Louis looked at him, then at me, then back at him once more before he let out a hearty laugh. "My, I've never seen my brother look at a girl that way before! Have you, Sir Nicholas?" He gestures towards the old man and I froze. Of all the people that could have been my partial caretaker since I was only a child, I never thought I would be in the hands of Sir Nicholas himself. After a small amount of silence, Nicholas started up alongside Louis. "Indeed, Louis! A sweet and warm look given to a princess of this nation when it was not given to any other!" Patting Lukas's back and smiling broadly, he continued. "I do say, you two would seem to get along well! How about we leave you two be so you can get to know one another?" By this time, Lukas had that look of slight panic before he could speak. "Sir Nicholas, what are you talking about…? I cannot get along with-" "Now now, Lukas. Treat the lady nicely while Nicholas and I catch up." Louis loaded the Sir into the carriage and looked out at us after he closed the door. "See you two later! Have fun!" Before either of us could object, they were already off. I suppose Lukas heard a small whimper, for he turned towards me with a clear look of concern. "Princess, are you-" "I do not know you well enough, do I?" I take a small breathe and look up at him. "Then why don't we get to know each other? At least then we can be on equal terms with one another." I hastily walk over to a small pond slightly westward from where we stood and looked at him. "Why-" "They said we should get to know each other, right? Also-" I turned to Lukas with a faint smile on my face. "My name is Liola. Please do not be afraid to call me by it." As if he were in some kind of trance, Lukas repeated in a quiet voice. "Liola… I- no, never mind. It was quite the odd thing to think…" Thinking back on it now, I realized that his face was a light shade of pink. Then; as if I caught a glimpse by chance, it turned a shade of scarlet before he placed a hand over his mouth and turned away. I had no clue what to think about it, so I just continued to look at him until I hear a faint call from one of my two bodyguards near the castle gates. "Princess, your assistance is needed at this moment! Please, come over here!" "I will be there in just a mo-" Before I could get my last word out, my second bodyguard planted himself in front of me merely seconds after he jumped over the enormous building to Lukas's right. "Milady, I am afraid we do not have much time to speak about the matter and stand around for a moment longer. Please do forgive my rudeness, but this is absolutely no time to be chatting out in the open." He glanced over at the now alerted Lukas as he continued to speak. "It is a matter of safety. If this gentleman wishes to speak with you longer, then please; by all means, invite him inside and stay inside until we receive word otherwise." A small sense of dread washed over us in that moment. Everything fell silent; as if the very fabrics of sound were cut to inaudible pieces by the scissors of the current events of the day. I stared at the ground and tried to think of what to announce to the kingdom, when Lukas's piercing, alarming, yet subtle and soothing voice rung out to everyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, and children alike! Please proceed into your homes until you are announced to do otherwise!" Saying this, Lukas glanced back at me; only for a moment, then turned back and continued on. "This is for the safety of everyone here, so please take these words seriously! Any person seen left outside will be escorted safely back to their homes and out of harm's way!" Not one person was standing idle that day. After hearing those words, everyone did as they were told to do and went into their homes. To assure their safety, some families even barricaded the doors and windows with the heaviest objects in their homes. I stood in awe, admiring every aspect of what was presented by the man I knew little about, and beaming with little to no shame at all. Seeing this when he turned my way, Lukas began to blush again. "Prin- uh, Liola…" Upon hearing my name, I snapped back to reality; but only to see Lukas's frame only inches away from mine. Before I could back away, he gently placed a hand on my head and gave me the warmest smile I had seen in years. Seeing my cheeks flush into a pale pink, he continued speaking in his soothing voice. "You should be more careful and learn to take the advice of those protecting you. They really care about you…" He moved the hand on my head down to my flushed cheek and inched slightly closer, gently caressing it as he spoke. "But they're not the only ones that do. I-" "Duke Lukas, I am afraid I have some bad news. The carriage that Sir Nicholas and Duke Louis left in was spotted in the far side of the path." For the first time since I met him, I saw a different emotion than what he showed before: Pure horror. Quickly removing his hand from my cheek, he grabbed the guard by his shoulders and looked at him with that same expression. "What is your name…?" "Akuma, sir." "Akuma...please… PLEASE tell me you saw my brother near it." Not getting anything from Akuma besides his averting eyes, Lukas slumps his arms to his sides and falls to his knees. "You… you're kidding… r-right…?" "I am not, I am afraid. No one was spotted near or in the carriage; neither your brother nor Sir Nicholas. Do you wish for a search team?" "No…" Raising his hands to his face, Lukas silently urges Akuma to take me into the castle to make sure I was safe. After Akuma obeyed the order and brought me to my room, Lukas stood up; wiping his eyes and grabbing his sword, he walks off in the direction that they rode off in.
Chapter 1 -END-
I regret absolutely nothing :3 I figured I'd make a weird twist in the second chapter, so stay tuned for the update!