"It's already been three years since you became king yet you still refuse to pick a single bride! Oh the first year there was this, the second year there was that, what other excuses do you have for this year hmmmm?!" Her usual calm manner dispersed as she continued to yell at her stubborn son.

A few minutes later, the regal, former queen sighed heavily, as if she could not be more disappointed in her son than ever. Quietly she softly murmured, " Son, please child I'm growing older by the hour. I hoped that you would have some fancy to a girl. I don't even mind if she is poor... You get hundreds of marriage proposals every year! Just pick one that you like! All I want is for a caring wife to stand by your side, to support you in your time of need, to hold you when you grieve, to calm you when you are angry. You are a king now and I'm not the only person who wants you to have a queen. Those people out there, your people want a queen that they can boast of her kindness and grace. So please, Xiao Lang, do you have any inclination to this matter...?"

A tall, broad-shouldered, young man still frostily stared at his mother. He hasn't even made a sound ever since she came in. The crown gleamed coldly in the light as he replied. "Okaa-sama I still have a responsibility to this kingdom. It is not the time hunting for a wife. Pardon me so mother for I politely refuse this matter."

"Please Xiao Lang?"

The man's, Syaoran's gaze slightly softened as his usual stern mother begged him. " When everything gets settled, perhaps then ill will follow that request, but not now." He knew it as much did his mother that this promise wouldn't be fulfilled for a long time.

Yelan huffed, giving up to try and negotiate with her relentless child. " You leave with no choice Xiao Lang. Just last month, I received a letter from the Kinomoto kingdom. It seems that my friend King Fujioka is having some troubles with his daughter with marriage issues. Since our families are intertwined through relations, we secretly agreed on an engagement between you and his daughter. The deal was that we would first talk about this to you and her. If either one of you an affection to anyone, the engagement would be off. But, since you disagreed, this side of the deal is sealed."

Yelan then whispered, "I'm sorry Xiao Lang, but I do not wish for you to be alone when I die. I want you to be happy with a wife and children." Then, she straightened herself then mentioned firmly, "You'll like her. I heard she is a beauty across the Kinomoto kingdom. Now, I'll be off and let you think. Goodnight, Xiao Lang." Syaoran kept a straight and frigid face as he coldly replied, "Goodnight Okaa-sama."

As soon as Yelan closed the door behind her, all of his composure disintegrated and his coldness quickly smoldered into anger. How dare she make a deal behind his back! Especially an ENGAGEMENT! He furiously paced around his room, thinking of a way to get out of this. Three knocks pounded rhythmically on the door. Eriol. He could barely keep the anger out of his voice as he answered, "Enter."

Eriol looked amused as he glanced at his cousin and king. "So, how does it feel to be engaged," Eriol slyly asked. "So you DID know about this! Why didn't you TELL ME! Now I'm engaged to a girl who I hardly know! 'She's a beauty' she said." Syaoran angrily huffed." I bet all she does is order her servants around. She'll probably flirt, whine, and cry easily like any other girl. Damn it, they are so irritating and it's just my luck!"

He dropped himself onto the chair, slouching and groaning. Eriol was rather amused. He knew that Syaoran wouldn't ever show this side to anyone, but who he trusts. So far it was only him. Huh, maybe he did need someone in his life.

"C'mon my cute little descendent. I saw her myself while I visited Tomoyo. You know when I went last time, she was still as beautiful as ever that Tomoyo..." Syaoran was slightly calmer as he watched his cousin and secretary stare off with a rather dreamy look on his face.

"But did you know that Tomoyo is a childhood friend of the girl you're engaged to? Tomoyo talks of her quite a lot. I met her only once, but she was rather beautiful. Of course, not as much as my Tomoyo, but close enough. I think her name was...Sakura...? But either way, I think you'll like her."

Here, Eriol put on his mischievous smile/smirk."And I even know a little secret that no one else does about her.." Syaoran groaned as Eriol winked. "Isn't that the point of a secret? And I bet that I will not like her!" Eriol pretended to sigh. " Oh how naïve you are. But I guess that's why you are my cute little descendent hmm?"

Eriol laughed as he watched his cousin seethe with irritation and anger. "Well, I'm tired, you're tired, so I'll leave now. Goodnight my cute little descendent!" He chuckled as he left the room after seeing Syaoran's face.

Syaoran tried to calm down a bit as he tried to focus on getting a bit more work done. Let's see... The new tax increase seems to be doing fine...Not too many complaints... hmm... Need to build a few more hospitals... they're getting too crowded... Oh looks like there's an infestations of a strang plant in the northern area...need to get Eriol to tell me more about that...Citizens still wanting me to get married, well, wait until they hear I'm engaged...

Syaoran jolted as the thought of the engagement kept on interfering with his work. Ah...Damn it... I'll just retire for today.. Syaoran thought of the name even after he climbed into bed. Kinomoto Sakura...He wondered about her name as he slowly slept away. "I wonder what she looks like..."