The Big News

Saya Goldschmidt is the only daughter of King Joel Goldschmidt and therefore, the only heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Miriador. She was very beautiful to the point that it was unearthly. Some said it was because her mother, the late Queen Nadeshiko, wasn't human at all, but of course, that was all just a rumor that people, who were jealous of the Royal Family, spread about. As her father and the old servants and ministers would say, Saya had definitely inherited her mother's features. She had the same brilliant ruby-red eyes that seem to be on fire, soft and silky dark hair that reached halfway down her back, skin that was smooth and pale like the finest porcelain and a smile that was ever so radiant as the brilliant sun. Everything around her seems to be something that was merely accompanying this rare beauty that she possesses.

Being an only child, Saya grew up rather spoiled, proud, arrogant, strong willed and as expected when growing up with only her father and men, she was a bit boyish in her interests and activities such as fencing, horseback riding on the country side, and hunting with her father, things that weren't exactly what normal girls, what more, princesses her age would do. But she didn't expect that on one particular day in early spring time that she took her horse out for a ride, her life…will be turned upside down forever.

"I'll be out to go riding in the country side later on after lunch Father." Saya told her father while they were having breakfast.

"Would you like me to send some soldiers to accompany you?" King Joel asked.

"There will be no need Father. I can manage by myself." She replied with a cheerful smile as she took a bite on her toast.

"Alright then, just be careful and be sure to be back here for tea time."

"Why so father, are you expecting some visitors?"

"Yes, and you have to be here with me to welcome them."

"I see, it'll just be a short ride, don't worry Father." She said with a reassuring smile. "I'll be back in about an hour.

After eating her full at lunch, Saya went off to her room to get ready for her little trip. She picked out her latest dress out of her countless ones in her walk-in closet. It was a simple, white cotton dress that reached halfway down her leg. A few ribbons adorned her midriff and abdomen while small ruffles ran along the hem.

When finished with changing her garments, she then put on a pair of black riding shoes. And with the help of her lady-in-waiting, Saya's long hair was braided in twos and tied with silken ribbons adorned with small, fresh white roses.

"My, my, you look breath-taking as always Your Highness." Her lady-in-waiting, and surprisingly, her trusted confidant, Kaori, happily told her mistress.

"Why thank you Kaori." Saya replied with a contented smile as she took one more glance at the mirror before she left her room and headed for the stables to get a horse.

She was having such a good time enjoying the scenery and the fresh air when she suddenly hit the horse too hard with the whip causing it to panic and get out of control.

"Owww…." Saya cried out as she fell down her horse. "That stupid animal ran off too!" She said, slightly wrinkling her nose. She attempted to wipe off the fresh grass stains on her garments with her intricately embroidered handkerchief but it was no use. My new dress is ruined! I knew I should've worn my riding outfit instead!

In frustration she was about to scream when a tall, handsome young stranger got off his carriage and approached her. "Are you alright Miss?" he asked and extended out his hand to her to help her up. He had warm, kind onyx eyes, midnight black hair that was tied with a thin, blue ribbon into a small ponytail and he had a calm, sweet face.

"Of course I'm not alright! I just fell down my horse you idiot!" Saya replied angrily, swatting his hand away as she raised her head to face the man. "What the--?"

"Princess Saya?" he asked, looking quite surprised.

"Don't tell me..Prince Haji?!!" Her eyes widened in shock when he confirmed her question with a nod.

Saya and Haji have known each other since childhood but they weren't sweethearts or anything like that but rather serious rivals in pretty much everything! They would also pull pranks on each other all the time and bicker about the most trivial matters.

"So, what brings you here to Miriador, Prince Haji?" She asked with a smirk. "Missed me, or maybe you've finally realized that you've fallen in love with me?"

"Me missing the dear little Princess Saya? You must be dreaming Princess. I believe it must be the other way around." He replied smugly.

"That will never happen, not even in a million years! You make even the lowest of commoners likeable!" Saya said with her arms crossed squarely over her chest. She was still sitting on the soft, green grass not minding the stains she might get since her dress was already ruined anyway.

"Well back to your first question, your father sent a messenger to Armador asking for me to come a few weeks before your birthday banquet for he has something important to tell me." He replied. "So now Princess, do you intend on sitting on the ground the whole day?" he added with a laugh.

"Hmph." Saya pouted and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Come on. I'll give you a lift back to your castle since I'm headed there anyway." Haji said, stifling his laughter. Once again, he offered her his hand but she still refused. "I can manage by myself thank you." She said in her trademark, proud, as-a-matter-of-factly tone before then proceeding to stand up but before she can finish, she felt a jolt of pain in her ankle and was about to fall to the ground when Haji managed to catch her by the waist just in time.

"You must've injured your ankle when you fell down. I'll just carry you over to the carriage" He told her and lifted her off the ground before she could even protest.

"Thank you." Saya said stiffly as he placed her down on the seat. She could feel her cheeks burn from embarrassment of being helped and carried by her 'worst enemy'.

"No problem." He quietly replied.

And after that, none of them uttered a word to each other as the carriage drove on towards the castle.

"Welcome to our humble kingdom Prince Haji." King Joel greeted as the young prince stepped out of his carriage. "I am glad that you were able to heed my request."

"It was nothing at all Your Highness. I'm always happy to visit Miriador, brings back a lot of memories." Haji replied. "And, before I forget, Princess Saya is still in the carriage. I found her on my way to here."

"What happened? Why isn't your horse with you?" her father quickly rushed to the carriage. "You should've have brought soldiers with you like I told you to!"

"The stupid animal panicked and ran off when I accidentally hit it too hard. It dropped me and I injured my ankle in the process. But other than that, I'm fine father." Saya explained looking rather irritated because she's just been bombarded with questions.

"It's a good thing that Prince Haji found you, otherwise, you might not have gotten back here. King Louis was right to ask for you two to be engaged so many moons ago." King Joel told them happily.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!!" Saya and Haji both shouted in unison.

"Yes." He said simply before he proceeded to tell them how the engagement came to be. "It all began ten years ago, when the Royal Family of Armador invited to Miriador for your seventh birthday Saya."

Start of Flashback:

"Haji, give me back my doll or I'll hit you with my sword." Young Saya threatened, holding up a small wooden sword shakily. Her bright red orbs seem to be on the brink of tears.

At the age of seven, Saya already showed promise of becoming a beautiful young lady when she grows up. Her mother, Queen Nadeshiko would often dote on her and dress her up in frilly clothes. And since today was Saya's birthday, the Queen had Saya to wear a beautiful red and white gown that perfectly complimented her bright red eyes.

"If you want it, then chase after me for it!" the mischievous prince waved her doll in front of her before running off.

"Hey! Give it back now!" Saya shouted and ran after him. But they haven't gotten that far yet when she tripped on a rock. A small cry of pain escaped her lips, alarming Haji who immediately ran back to where she was.

"Are you alright Princess Saya?" he asked her, eyes filled with worry.

"My knee..sniff..i scraped my knee." She said in between sobs. Indeed, there was a large gash on her knee extending to her leg that was bleeding profusely. Young Haji tore off his sleeve and bandaged it around the wound. "This should work for now I guess. Can you get up?" he asked her.

Saya shook her head. "Alright then, just climb my back, I'll carry you back to the castle." Haji told her as he knelt on one knee. Saya placed her wooden sword behind her before climbing on to his back and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Am I too heavy?" she asked.

"No, not at all Saya. In fact, you're surprisingly very light." Haji replied as they went back to the castle.

"What happened? Are you alright dears?" Saya's mother, Queen Nadeshiko, approached them. A very beautiful woman that had men flocking after her back in the days when she was still just the Princess of Guildor, the Queen looked like an older version of young princess Saya. She was wearing a beautiful midnight blue gown adorned with exquisite pearls and roses dyed blue. And as a sign of her position as Queen of Miriador, a beautiful diamond crown rested upon her head.

"We were running around when Saya tripped on a rock." Haji explained to the Queen. He gently placed Saya down on one of the chairs.

"I wouldn't have run if you didn't take my doll." Saya said defensively.

"You wouldn't trip if you weren't so darn clumsy" he retorted.

"Now, now, I don't want any fighting you two." Haji's mother, Queen Hana, said as she came to check up on them.

"I want you two to make up and shake each other's hand." Queen Nadeshiko told them.

"And you have to mean it." Queen Hana added.

"Yes Mother dear." The two youths groaned and were forced to so as what their mothers told them to.

Not far from where the children and their mothers were, the two Kings were watching them with great interest.

"King Joel, don't you think your daughter, Princess Saya and my son will make a fine pair when they grow up?" said King Louis, the father of Haji and the King of Armador.

He was a nice, jolly old man with quite a chubby yet tall figure and a neat beard. He is often seen wearing strange clothes from faraway countries and in loud colors too for the final touch of his attention-grabbing outfits.

"Indeed my good friend." King Joel replied. Quite opposite to King Louis in appearance but their personality is pretty much alike. King Joel is a tall and thin man in his mid-thirties with a trimmed moustache and no beard. His clothes mainly composed of neat, well-ironed black ties and business suits, the very image of a modern king though there are times that he wore the traditional clothing of his country but those were just on special occasions and traditional festivities.

"I would like to have my first son, Prince Haji, marry your daughter, Princess Saya when they grow up."

"A splendid offer that I most gladly approve of. When Saya reaches her seventeenth birthday, their engagement will be announced to the country. A year after that, their marriage will take place."

"Wonderful! Now let us drink up to celebrate the future union of our kingdoms."

They both clinked their wine goblets together before heartily emptying them.

End of Flashback.

"And that is how your engagement came to be." Said King Joel with a satisfied smile when he finished retelling the past events.

"This…can't…be…happening…" Saya mouthed before fainting to the floor.

Yuki's Notes:

Hi everyone! I made this for all those who've been requesting for another Blood fic. I'm not sure if it's as good as my previous ones but I do hope you'll like it. I've put all my heart and soul into making this. lol. Now my next dilemma is how will I start up its next chapter?

I'll be waiting for your reviews everyone! No flames please.