Author's Note: Konnichiwa~ Rakurai desu~!
This is my very first fanfic ever and I'm truly glad to have devoted it to Maki-chan and Nico-chan.
Here are the things that I've done research on for this particular story:
-Medizin: For those who are German, you'd probably know what this means. But for those who aren't, it means Medicine. If this offend those who are German because it's wrong, I'm truly sorry. My sources for naming special things in this story come from Google Trans. Unfortunately, I do not know any trans site, but I'd be grateful if anyone would suggest a reliable one.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything other than the storyline.
Please enjoy!
"The ball is going to take place right here in this castle. It's on your behalf so I hope you will consider your behaviors in the most appropriate ways possible."
The King of Medizin Kingdom says as his daughter now stands before him. A handsome, middle-age man with a rough rectangle face, hazel hooded eyes and a straight-edged nose. He was one of the most powerful kings to have taken over the throne at an early age. This Kingdom's prosperity mainly came from how invested the King was into the field of Medicine and Herbalism. That and combine it with a quick-witted mind who knows how to expand his army well have bring about the expansion of this mighty kingdom. All in all, he was well-known throughout all the holds for his unparalleled strength and cunning mind.
Nishikino Maki didn't say anything. She never wanted to be a part of this ball anyways, much less be there as the guest of honor. Taking Maki's silence as cue, the King continues.
"Maki, I hope you won't disappoint me. You're my only daughter and the only inheritor of this kingdom. If you keep denying every marriage arrangements like this, the aristocrats will start thinking you don't want to success me."
"..." Maki says nothing as she continue to keep a blank expression.
"This ball purpose is for you to find a suitor to rule the kingdom with you. There is no way the Court is going to accept a Queen. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father." Maki's expression is still the same as before.
The king sighs as he says softly. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to force you into things you don't want to do. But, as the situation persists, there's nothing I can do about this."
"..." Maki continues her silence.
Upon seeing her reaction, the King turns his back to her.
"You can dismiss yourself now."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Maki bows as she left the King's Study.
"So... you're force to find a suitor in this upcoming ball, nya?"
Hoshizora Rin asks as she tends to the horses in the stable. She is a member of the Medizin's Knights – the most renown order of Knights in the Kingdom of Medizin. However, due to her good-nature personality, most Knights doesn't give her much respect. Thus results in her being appointed as a stable attendant. Not like she dislikes the job though, she loves animals.
Maki nods without looking at Rin. Apparently, she's too preoccupied with an invisible spot on the stack of straw in the stable. Maki has always hated her status. The one and only Princess of the Medizin Kingdom. The soon-to-be successor of the Nishikino Royals. Her family had always been the Kings and Queens of this kingdom for so many generations. Her father, the current king, expects her to inherit the throne like he had, like her grandfather and great grandfather before her had. However, Maki herself never like that throne to begin with.
"I thought you said you want to become a Knight instead, nya?"
Rin turns around to grab the bucket of water which Maki passes to her.
"Yeah, I did but... with my status, I don't think that's even possible anymore. Especially when you're born a Nishikino."
Rin pours the water into the trough. As she does so, the horses started drinking from the trough, letting out delighted snorts as thanks to the cat-like stable attendant.
"There, there... have as much as you like, nya."
Rin strokes a white horse mane. She is a white stallion with skin as beautiful as the winter snow. The horse whines happily, leaning into her touch. Maki smiles as she watches the exchanges between her friend and the horse. Witnessing her best friend having fun with animals has always been a favorite hobby of hers. Maki never actually know why, but she just feel joyful everytime she witness it.
"Well, I think you should talk to Kayo-chin, nya. I don't think I can give you any advices since I wouldn't know what to do if I was in your shoes, Maki-chan."
Rin says, still stroking the horse mane.
"I know. Just wanted to let you know."
Maki was already half way through the yard when Rin suddenly calls after her.
"Are you really gonna attend that ball tomorrow evening, nya?"
Maki stops in her tracks. Is she going to attend? Yes, for her father's sake. But one thing for sure though, she's not gonna attend it on her own will.
"Who knows?"
Rin stares at Maki's figure quizzically as she retreats towards the east wing where the kitchen is to find her brown hair friend.
"As expected of Hanayo-san! The rice you cooked are always delicious!"
Sakaki – the Head Chef of the castle, squeals with sheer bliss as she taste the freshly cooked rice.
She has been here since childhood, ever since her father was chosen as the Head Chef of the castle because of his flawless culinary skills. She grew up as an amazing chef under her father's training. When she took the annual Culinary Competition established by the King himself to choose the Head Chef for the Royals, she blown all the judges away with her secret recipe that was passed down by her father.
Hanayo shivers as she recalls the first time she met this brilliantly talented Chef. She looked so scary back then, Hanayo can hardly believe they're the same person...
...FLASH BACKS...
"Do you get it now, Koizumi-san?"
The Head Servant asked with a stern voice, causing Hanayo to flinch inadvertently. Hanayo barely able to get a word out as she tried to look at the Head Servant with as much courage as she could muster. The Head Servant was a middle-age woman, but wrinkles had already appeared on her features, along with those grey locks falling behind her ears. Perhaps that was due to the amount of work that she has to cover everyday in the castle. Life here inside the castle is a very hectic, tiring one. To the nobles, it maybe a leisured one but to the servants there is not even a moment peace. Just the thought of it has made Hanayo felt for the Head Servant and the fear from before had vanished from her mind completely.
"Yes, Miss Head Servant."
The Head Servant nodded and turned around to leave, not forgetting to give her one last order for the day.
"Good. You know what to do for the rest of the day."
"Yes, Miss Head Servant. Have a good day, Miss."
She stopped as Hanayo's wishes reached her. Without turning around, she wished the same thing to her and left. Hanayo smiled to herself, knowing that at least the Head Servant has finally shown her soft spots to her.
"Now that was impressive! Not everyone could get on old Goldy's soft side like that!"
Hanayo flinched again upon hearing an unexpected voice coming out of no where. She whipped her head around to find the Head Chef stared down at her with fierce eyes as if inspecting her every move. Sakaki's gaze was intense, her mouth drew into a tight line, her brows furrowed. For a while, Hanayo thought she couldn't breath under her frightening gaze. When she was about to pass out, Sakaki patted her on the shoulders, hard and laughed out loud. Her booming voice scared Hanayo even more.
"Who the blazes are you and where did you learn how to make people go soft like that, huh? I couldn't even sense any malice or pretence from you. I'm deeply impressed!"
Hanayo started whimpering, utterly shocked to the point of unable to form audible words. However, Sakaki did not notice that. She continued in her booming voice.
"Well, I always welcome people like you into my kitchen. I don't like the usual riff-raff that always complain about every damn thing I tell them to do. Who's supposed to be the Head Chef here, huh? They don't get to tell me how to do my job! Always gettin' on my nerves, those I'm-high-class-servant girls..."
Tears sprang out from the corner of Hanayo's eyes as the Head Chef rattled on about the kind of people that she doesn't want in her kitchen. When the Head Chef finished, she turned around to find a Hanayo that was shaking uncontrollably like a sheep cornered by a wolf. Sakaki scratched the back of her head, smiling sheepishly at Hanayo while trying to reassure her.
"Relax, I'm not gonna do anything to you. You sure are one timid kid, aren't you?"
"U-Um, I'm sorry i-if I did s-something to d-displease you, Miss H-Head Chef."
Only when Sakaki try to lowered her voice down while trying to calm Hanayo's nerve did she managed to form audible words without falling to her knees. Sakaki smiled reassuringly at her as she put her hands on Hanayo's shoulders again, but with less force this time.
"Just call me Sakaki. No need to be so formal. I'm just impressed by how pure and shy you are. We don't get that kind of people much in here considering this is the castle. Most servants here are unbearable by how vicious they can be."
Hanayo blinked at her. "But everyone around me are nice to me. They help me when I need assistance."
"True, but you don't know if they're actually being considerate or are they just trying to get on your good side." Sakaki shrugged.
Now that silence has befallen them, each minutes ticking by caused Hanayo to become more uneasy. If she has to be honest, the Head Chef – who calls herself Sakaki, frightens Hanayo a lot more than what the other servants have told her. Her unexpected entrance aside though, just her appearance was enough to make Hanayo quivered in fear. Not like her appearance bore any malevolence. She just happened to have quite a fiery look to her with her long crimson hair, straight nose, rough-looking chin and those ambers orbs that could burn you whole. Well, if looks could kill then she's the definition of it. Not to mention Sakaki was way too tall for someone like Hanayo. But then again, it's just Hanayo being her easy-to-get-scared self.
"By the way, the Head Servant name is Goldia. Also, if you're wondering why I called her Goldy is because we've known each others since we were kids. I figured that since you're already on her good side, might as well give you a few tips on avoiding things that could tip her off. Just don't call her by her name though, she doesn't let people call her like that unless they're really close to her. Oh, and one more thing..."
Unfortunately for Hanayo, Sakaki started rambling again. Hanayo has to listen very carefully so as to not miss any details that the latter is laying out for her. As if she was afraid of Sakaki being mad if she didn't pay attention.
"U-Um..." After what felt like forever, Hanayo had to call out to her, hoping that the Head Chef would stop somehow.
"Oh, I didn't quite catch your name though. What was your name again? Hozumi?"
"I-It's Koizumi Hanayo, Miss Head Chef."
Sakaki apologized to her for misspelling her name, laughing lightly for her mistake.
"Oh, sorry 'bout that. Do you know anything about cooking or helping out in the kitchen at all, Koizumi-san?"
Hanayo blushed lightly while looking away.
"Um, I know how to cook rice properly if that's okay with you, Miss Head Chef."
With that answer, Sakaki raised one eyebrow questioningly, inspecting the brown-hair servant who was new to everything here. Then, with one final 'Yosh!', she patted Hanayo's shoulder again.
"It's decided then. Tomorrow afternoon, come to my kitchen and show me what you've got."
"Y-Yes, Maam."
Hearing Hanayo's stuttering 'Maam' caused her to laugh even louder. When her laughter died down, one of the biggest grins Hanayo had ever seen (aside from Rin's, of course) adorned Sakaki's face.
"No need to be so formal! Just call me Sakaki and from today onwards, I'll call you Hanayo-san! Well, I better let you get back to your job before Goldy finds out I'm hindering one of her servants' work again. See ya tomorrow!"
She waved to her and walked away. Hanayo can still heard her laughter echoed down the hall as her figure disappeared along the corridor.
...END OF FLASH BACKS...
"Thanks for stopping me, Hanayo-san. If you haven't, God knows if I'll survive had all the rice for dinner was gone!"
Sakaki exclaims with enthusiastic excitement, pulling Hanayo back to reality. Hanayo smiles warmly at her overactive Head Chef as she looks for the lid to cover the rice. Right at that moment, Maki walks in. Upon Maki's unannounced arrival, the Head Chef looks stunned for a moment. But she soon recovered and bowed immediately to the Nishikino Princess. In contrast to Sakaki's formality, Hanayo just smiles at Maki, knowing full well that the red head is not gonna be pleased with one of her friends acting too formal.
"Good evening, your Highness! What brings you here to my humble little kitchen?"
"Please raise your head, Sakaki-san. I already asked you over and over to stop being so formal to me. We're all human being, aren't we?"
Despite her protests, Maki knows that no matter how many times she asks the Head Chef to regard her as freely as she wanted to, she can't. Sakaki's over-friendly attitude can get her in trouble if she were to be caught calling a royal by their first name. Some nobles can be quite touchy too. Throwing people into jail just because servants weren't respectful to them. What a joke...
"If that's what you wish, your Highness. Then I shall comply."
"Sakaki-san!"
To start off with, that overly formal answer is embarrassing her. Maki can already feels her cheeks reddening up as Sakaki slowly raise her head.
"It's only natural, Maki-chan. Given that you're born a high class, not to mention a Princess."
At the gentle sound of her friend's voice, Maki turns to Hanayo who is now smiling at her. Maki was about to asks Hanayo for a moment when she noticed the steamy pots and pans around them along with that delicious smell wafting about in the air. Maki raises an eyebrow curiously.
"You're making dinner, Hanayo, Sakaki-san?"
"Yes, but we're almost done. Is there something you need, Maki-chan?"
Hanayo closes the rice pot with the lid she found, wiping her hands into a clean cloth and turns around to face Maki. As for Sakaki, she went about checking a kettle. Maki has no idea what they're cooking though.
"Yeah, I do. I wanted to talk to you, Hanayo and I was wondering if that's okay with Sakaki-san?"
As soon as she heard her name, Sakaki looks up from her kettle to find Maki looking at her, waiting for her response. Then, Sakaki smiles at both the royal red head and the brown-hair servant.
"Of course you can, your Highness. We're about done here anyway, take all the time you need."
With that, Sakaki resumes on stirring soup in the kettle. Hanayo thanked her for her hard work, gathers her own stuff and follows Maki outside into the hallway. Walking side by side, Hanayo is bothered by the fact that Maki is so quiet today. It is one of Maki's quirks for being reserved but normally she wasn't this quiet. Particularly right now. The silence between the two of them is so thick Hanayo feels like she's suffocating. In according to the situation, she tries to lighten the mood in the best ways she could.
"Um... it must have been really important for you to come straight to the kitchen to find me, huh? Me and Rin-chan have known you long enough to know that you prefer not to interfere with everyone's job unless it's really important. Right, Maki-chan?"
Maki glances at her best friend for a moment, then back again to the hall in front of her. The both of them still walking at a slightly fast pace.
"Yeah, it is. I already told Rin about it though."
"You did, Maki-chan?" Hanayo was clearly surprised.
"Yeah, which is why you're with me right now. Rin told me to find you because she couldn't help with my case. Not like I expected her to, I only wanted to tell her about it. So even without her telling me to, I was already planning to find you anyway."
"Oh. I see." Was all Hanayo said.
The rest of their walk to the stable was enveloped in a quiet understanding.
The sound of footsteps catches Rin's attention as she was tending to the horses. When she turned around, she smiles broadly as her two best friends approach her.
"Hey, Rin."
"Hi, Rin-chan."
Maki and Hanayo greeted Rin with smiles on their faces. After Rin greeted them back, she immediately turns to Maki with concern. However, different from what she had expected was a small smile played on Maki's lips. Reliefs flood through Rin as she confirmed her friend is okay.
"Kayo-chin! Maki-chan! You two came for me too, nya?"
Hanayo laughs at how quickly Rin's face light up with joy when they came.
"That's right, Rin-chan. Maki-chan said that she had told you all about it already but she still wanted to come here with me."
Touched by her friend's consideration for her, Rin turns to Maki with almost tearful eyes. Maki on the other hand, flinched involuntarily when Rin looks at her with happiness in her eyes. She started twirling her hair out of embarrassment.
"Maki-chan..."
"D-Don't get me wrong! You know how you usually whine about me and Hanayo always leaving you out of our conversations all the time. I-I just didn't want to be bothered by you again."
"It's okay! Rin knows how much Maki-chan loves her even though Maki-chan never admits it, nya."
Rin exclaims vigorously. The hair twirling habit only intensified after that passionate statement Rin makes. But that's not the only thing that had intensified, the deep shade of red on Maki's face was also the same. Witnessing the rare emotional interaction between the two makes Hanayo smiles even more affectionately. After Maki has regained her composure, the serious subject has finally been brought up by the trio.
"Eh!? You're force to find a groom at tomorrow's ball?"
Hanayo gasps. She didn't want to believe that her friend's precious freedom is about to be taken from her. Not this soon.
"I thought the King would at least let you have your life until you're eighteen, right? Why...?"
A solemn look appears on Maki's features.
"I have no idea why it's this soon. But one thing for sure, Father had already planned this a long time ago..."
Confusing looks were directed at Maki as she answered.
"What do you mean? You're only sixteen! He can't do this!"
Rin becomes furious as she thinks about what the King has said before. He had promised Maki... No, he had promised the three of them. How can he not see that the kingdom is just fine with a Queen? Plus, Maki-chan is smart, serious and determined. She can do anything if she put her mind to it. The thought only fuels Rin's anger more as she thinks about how selfish the King can be. About how he broke his promise to them, to his own daughter.
"What are you going to do, Maki-chan? You're going to attend the ball tomorrow evening, right?"
Hanayo asks but she already knows the answer to that question.
"Yeah, I am. Who knows what Father will do if the guest of honor doesn't show up at her own ball? I don't think 'furious' is enough to describe it."
"But... are you really going to just marry someone you barely know at that ball? No matter how I look at it, it's just not you to do that, Maki-chan!"
That came out more like a plea than a question. Hanayo searches Maki for any kind of emotions but an unreadable expression clouded her face.
"Maki-chan! Think about yourself for once, nya! Your father never considered you much so why should you do the same, nya?"
Unable to contain her anger any longer, Rin lashes out at the now silent, immobile Maki. Both Hanayo and Rin waited for an answer, a rejection, anything at all. But at last, nothing came. Rin was about to say something again when Maki suddenly speaks up.
"Hanayo, Rin, if I ask you whether or not you're with me no matter what happens; will you say yes?"
"Eh...?" Both of them were confused. They tries to understand what Maki had meant but fails to do so.
"I've thought about it long enough. I've also made my decision. But now... it's up to you two to help me decide the final answer."
Still not following what Maki is trying to say, they look at each other with quirked eyebrow and then back to Maki. Finally, when Maki decided to look up, what they've seen caught them completely off guard. Adorning Maki's features is a very distant look. A look that tells them what they're about to decide is either Maki accepting whomever it is that her father has chosen for her or Maki fighting for her dreams, her fate and most of all her freedom.
"Maki-chan..." Hanayo, as speechless as she is, couldn't help but sympathize with Maki.
On the other hand, Rin seems to have catch on and is looking at Maki with a determined look. Nodding at her, Maki continues.
"I'm sure you both know of the ancient secret passageway beneath the castle, yes?"
"Yes." Hanayo answers.
"What passageway, nya?" Rin looks quizzically at both of her friends.
"R-Rin-chan..." Hanayo was shocked that Rin didn't know of that. In spite of the fact that they used to go through those long, narrow corridors underground all the time just to play with Maki when they were kids. Maki just sighs heavily and presses her temples with her fingers.
"Rin-chan, we used to go through them so we could play with Maki-chan when we were kids. Don't you remember those tunnels, Rin-chan?"
"Ooh! Ooooohhhhh! You mean...! It's those tunnels that we've used before, nya?"
"Rin-chan! Not so loud! People might hear us!"
Hanayo has to cover Rin's mouth before she let slip more secrets. Still rubbing her temples, Maki huffs.
"Now that you've remembered, Rin." Maki stares her down hard while she just grins sheepishly, "...My plan was to attend the ball like a well-behave daughter that I am, dealing with all the nobles like I'm supposed to. Meanwhile, you two get all the preparations done and wait for me at the old rendezvous point. When the ball is over, I'll be sneaking down the passageway while everyone's asleep to meet you."
When Maki finished, there was a deadly silence in the air. After what felt like a century passed by, both Rin and Hanayo looked like someone just dropped a bomb on them.
"Y-You're going to leave the castle!?"
The first to lose it was Hanayo, as what her red hair friend had just said started to sink in. In a different manner to Hanayo's reaction, Rin just pretty much gapes at Maki like she wouldn't even think that her normally so reserved friend would be so daring.
"I thought you were the one who told Rin to keep her mouth closed, Hanayo."
"S-Sorry... but I mean, do you even know what you're talking about? You're talking about leaving the castle! Why would you even think of something like that? And what are you planning to do once we're out of castle grounds?"
She tries her best to contain it within a whisper but the shock still make it sounds like a half shout, half whisper. Maki really have to thank the Gods that the stable is a place not many people would visit often or she would be so sure that both of them are gonna get a piece of her.
"Which brings us back to my previous question, Hanayo. Are you both ready for what's to come beyond these walls?"
"Maki-chan... It's risky grounds you're treading on. There are also many things to consider..."
Anyone can tell Hanayo is shaking right now. Not because she's afraid of the world outside of the castle. Well... partly. But that's not the main reason. Oh, it's not just one reason but thousands of them. So, so many essential things to think about.
First and foremost, Maki is the main problem. She's a princess, she's pampered in riches and wealth her whole life. How in the world would she even manage to survive the harshness of the world beyond castle's walls? Sure, she's well-trained in melee combat regarding swordsmanship but does she knows anything about survival skills? The answer is already there for Hanayo. Even someone like Rin can see it clearly too!
Secondly, although Rin was supposed to have the required skills to survive out there. Sadly, she wasn't exactly trained with said skills frequently. All because she was a kind-hearted person that lacks 'the intent to kill' someone. So, like our pampered Princess, Rin maybe exceptional at joust and can handle herself well with a spear. Nevertheless, she was still just a caring knight who's specialty is looking after animals, except cats.
Lastly, we have Hanayo. An almost-always whimpering, scaredy-cat that is quite good at cooking. She knows better than anyone that even with her cooking skill, there is almost zero percent that they could survive. Why? It's simple. She's good at cooking ingredients that has been through preparatory process for culinary purpose, not some raw fresh meat that come from rabbits or deers in the woods. In addition to that, she can't even bear watching animals get killed; much less butcher them apart for meals. For God's sake, her specialty is none other than cook rice... where would she ever hoped to find wheat? She would never, in her wildest dream, imagine that she'll be able to thresh rice from wheat. One, she has no such strength. And two, she doesn't have the required tool for it.
Three girls, two of them not entirely Knights while the other is but a servant. What could they hope to gain from this doomed-to-be trip outside the castle?
"Kayo-chin? Kayo-chin!"
"Ah!" Startled by Rin's sudden shout. Hanayo feels like her heart could bust out of her chest.
"I didn't know you have that many things to consider about that would send you flying through cloud Nine, Hanayo."
Maki pointed out sarcastically. Rin starts pouting at her.
"That's not nice, Maki-chan!" Maki only shrugs.
"Um... Maki-chan? Would you tell us why you would think of something like this even though you know how dangerous it is?"
"..." Maki turns her attention back to Hanayo, "...I know. It's not like me to suggest something out of the blue like that. And doing it means putting all of our lives into danger. But..."
Then, she fell silent. Hanayo can only be sympathizing with her because of how she had lived all these years in the castle. If it's just some other princesses, they'd probably prefer being protected and nurtured all the while enjoying a wealthy life without a care in the world. But Maki. Maki was different. So different, no one would think she's a princess when she's not donning a dress. Moreover, Maki also wanted to taste life in a almost too-ordinary way of approaching it. She craves for adventures, discovering another world, battles and so on. Most of which are things that a Princess should never do.
But that's not the most important thing that made Maki chose to execute this crazy plan of hers. It's all about freedom.
"Hanayo, Rin, you both know how much I listen to my parents. To me, their words are absolute. I obey not because I'm afraid of them but because of how much it means to this kingdom. Everything they ask me to do, all of which benefit this kingdom. None of them, however, benefit me. It only takes my freedom away."
What best friends are for when their friend is in pain or sorrow? That thought crosses Rin and Hanayo's mind after Maki had said all that needed to be said. With a renewed strength, Rin and Hanayo turns to Maki.
"All right, Maki-chan! Rin will follow you to the end of the earth if that's where you're planning to go, nya. No matter where you go, I'll always be right behind you, nya!" Rin pumped her fist into the sky.
"Even though I might become more of a hindrance than actually being helpful, I hope you're okay with me coming too, Maki-chan!" Hanayo smiles at Maki.
"Thank you, both of you. I'm truly grateful." She had meant it. From the bottom of her heart.
"Now that it's decided. Here's how we're going to carry out the plan..." Maki explains the plan as Rin and Hanayo listen intently...
Author's Note: How did you like my first chapter of 'Swords, Blood, Curses and Tears'?
First of all, thank you in advance to those that have chosen to read this little adventure I've created. If you find this story to your liking then by all means tell me all about it.
Your opinion will let me decide whether or not I need to continue this story. Thank you!
Until next time, Rakurai deshita~!