How the Pawn became the King's Queen

Chapter 1

I looked at the walls of Wendel City. My ridiculous imagination led me to thinking the walls seemed to laugh at me; ridiculing me. I didn't tremble though. No, I couldn't. Going back now is useless, as I would be treated as a traitor. I no longer have a home.

I come from a poor family, one without name. My name is Mikan and that's just that. I have no family name. The poor people in Trident City don't. The nobles get all the pleasure of having it. The nobles say that since we were poor people, our family names aren't important. They say that we are lucky enough to have names, and not be called in numbers.

This may seem cruel, but it is better than before. Before, we were actually called in numbers and not by names. My number was thirteen. When the next king came and allowed the use of names, I barely remembered mine.

Our city is now in deep poverty. Our economy has gone so low. In order to save ourselves, the princess was traded. She was sold to the Wendel City. Everybody rejoiced when the king of Wendel City agreed to a holy matrimony between our princess and their prince.

But no, it wasn't that simple.

The princess of Trident City didn't want to get married. The king tried to coax her, but she never agreed. As one of the ministers of the palace was roaming around the city, he spotted me. Ended up, I looked like the princess.

Clothing me in jewelries and a pretty and expensive dress, they sent me instead of the princess. It was cheating the Wendel City but no one cared. As long as their souls are saved, they don't mind whoever is sacrificed. Nobody stood up to defend me from this. Nobody cared, so I thought I shouldn't care either.

As I entered the gates of the palace, I smiled. I've become a prisoner but I didn't feel like anything was different. Then, I realized I was a prisoner all along. All the poor people in Trident City were prisoners.

The door of the carriage opened. A lady, perhaps the head maid, greeted me. I smiled at her. Her obvious frown became a frightening frown.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS WITH THAT UGLY SMILE!?!?!?!?" She screeched. All the maids covered their ears.

"Madam," one of the maids tapped her shoulder. "Don't be too l—

"SHUT UP!" the lady snapped at her then looked back at me. I smiled at her. Her face grew pale. "And you! Stop smiling!"

I stopped smiling. Was my smile that ugly?

She looked at me from head to toe.

"How ridiculous! Your ears are that of an elephant's. Your face is too long and your forehead is too wide. Your eyes are too slanty and your nose needs nose lifting. Your hair is too messy that you look like you're insane. You're wearing too much jewelry. Does it look like Christmas to you? You look like a Christmas tree! Your clothes are like that of a witch! You're not attending a costume party, for crying out loud! Your arms are too short I bet you can't even hug a bamboo pole. You're slouching! You're too fat. You're not very tall either, and your feet aren't slender." She paused for a second. "You're ugly."

My jaw dropped to the floor. How could she insult a person so openly!?

The maid beside her mumbled, "She reminds me of something."

"A gourd?" Another maid guessed.

"A frog?" The other guessed.

"AH!" The all shouted in unison. "A GORILLA!"

I barely kept myself from frowning, which was, of course, inappropriate for a princess. They were so adept in insulting others that they could put up their own show. I've actually unconsciously started anticipating what their next insult would be.

Along the way to my room, the maids guiding me were all whispering to each other. I could barely call it whispering though, since I could hear it. Hear them insulting me, I mean.

I peeked though one of the corridors. My eyes were captivated by a young man, probably a year or so older than me. He was charismatic, like that of a prince. And maybe, just maybe, I've come to hope he WAS a prince. If so, then there would be a possibility he's the prince I'm going to be married to.

Back in my room, I waited in silence. They said the prince would be coming to meet me. The door opened. I flinched then stood up in haste. A silhouette of a young man appeared in front of me.

In a split second I was pushed back to the wall, a ball of flame pointed to my face. The young man clenched my shoulder tighter, pushing me harder to the wall. I looked at him. He had raven hair and crimson red eyes. He glared at me, as if telling me that I wasn't worthy of looking at him. His other hand held a ball of flame and pointed it in front of my face, threatening me.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"HEY! That's my line, you mother founder! What do you want with me!?!?" I screamed at him.

"You're the girl from Trident City?" He asked.

"Don't change the topic!!" He glared at me, sending chills down my spine. I faked a smile. "Yeah. Jealous?"

Ignoring my last phrase, he closed his fist, extinguishing the ball of flame. He removed his grasp on my shoulder and took a step back.

I laughed in triumph. "HAHAHA! That's right! Be scared of me, you coward!!"

He stared at me in silence, as if I was a fool.

I coughed. "So, what do you want with me?"

"Why are you here?"

I scoffed; annoyed that he always ignored my questions. "I'm here to marry the prince."

He paused for a second then narrowed his eyes. "I don't like jokes."

I frowned. "Do I look like I like jokes?"

"You, yourself, are a joke. I assumed you should like your kind."

"Whatever," I calmly reply, trying to remember that I should act like a princess.

"Either way," he said, "I'm not letting you."

I smirked. "Oh yeah? And who are you to tell me that? I bet you're just a lowly slave!" He glared at me. "Ohhh! I get ittttt!!" He narrowed his eyes, curious what I must be thinking yet not letting it show on his face. "You're GAY!!!!!"

"Say what!?" He asked, confused.

"You're gay and you want the prince all to yourself! HA! I should have known! NYAHAHAHA!" I evilly laughed. The door opened once again, revealing a blonde haired guy. I instantly stopped laughing and regained my composure. After all, I can't act weirdly in front of him. That's right. In front of HIM!!!

He was the guy I saw awhile ago, handsome and kind. He's the perfect prince! Just thinking about it makes me glad I'm actually here.

"Natsume," he said, his voice ringing like wedding bells to my ears that it makes me excited for my wedding with the prince. Gosh, I love him!!!

"Ruka," Natsume, the boy who assaulted me, replied. So the name of the prince is Ruka? What a lovely name!

"What are you doing here? You couldn't actually been trying to rape a maid.. AGAIN.. are you?" Ruka asked in bloodshot eyes.

"No. See, this girl is spurting nonsense about marrying me."

I flinched. I shouted angrily at him, "WHAT!? Who's said I'm going to marry you!? For crying out loud, you are such a liar! Talk about vain!"

"You bitch," he retorted.

"Gay rapist."

"Insolent whore."

"Stuck-up bastard."

"Ugly gorilla."

"Fuck you," I snapped.

"Yes, Fuck me." He said, smirking.

I paused. EHHHHHHH?

"QUIET!" Ruka silenced us. "Natsume, go back to your room!"

Natsume scoffed and grudgingly stomped out of the room.

"I'm sorry," Ruka apologized.

"For what?" I asked, my voice a bit shaky from what the insolent Natsume replied.

"For the childish behavior of Prince Natsume."

I was about to reply when my mind fully processed what he said.

"Prince Natsume??" I asked.

"Uhm, yeah. He's the prince here, didn't you know? I'm impressed you actually insulted him."

I almost puked everything I ate (which is nothing).

"I.. I thought you were the prince!!!"

"Eh? No. Of course not. I'm just a count here," He replied with a smile.

I stood frozen for what seemed like eternity, as the truth slowly.. slowly.. slowly.. dawned upon me.

SO I HAVE TO MARRY THAT GUY!?!?!?!?

please.. pity please.. tell me how to end this story.. i mean, just the pairing.. so.. tell me if its MikanXRuka or MikanXNatsume.. thanks :)