Earlier Today
Four guards surrounded Soleanna on their way to the tall front door. Deep inside her stomach she had this twisted feeling that something seems off. Just a while ago, she was granted freedom from a person who practically held her captive her entire life and all the villagers were acting nice to her. Like a few minutes ago, a young lady gave her some free apples from her stand. But Soleanna didn't trust the woman's kindness therefore she told one of the guards to test it out. They thought the same way Soleanna thought; the apple might be poisoned somehow. But to their convenience the apple was fresh and juicy. Soleanna thanked the young woman for the gift and left to explore more for this place that she never seen.
"This village is amazing! They have awesome stores where you can buy stuff at! And the clothing stores are just fabulous! I just wish that I could buy them." Soleanna said while admiring a beautiful long lavender dress with pretty purple sandals that matches the outfit. But the only problem is that she wishes that she could buy the dress for herself.
"Soleanna-sama, I had forgot to mention that Mephiles had gave me his credit card for you to spend whatever you want whenever you want for today." Bowed one of the guards on their knees as he held out the golden card to her face which she gladly snatched out of his hands," I'll be taking that." Without the guards knowing it, she ran inside the store eager to buy the dress that was eyeing her through the window display. She lifted up the cover that draped over the small entrance. And through her entrance, a young woman, about in her late twenties, stared at the little princess from the register. She had notice that the young maiden was gawking at that beautiful dress that her grandmother had made from scratch. But her grandmother was greatly ill after she had made that dress for her granddaughter. The young woman didn't want her family to put it into display but they keep rambling on and on about it will cost a fortune for them to be rich since they're already hitting poverty. But no matter what, she didn't care that the dress will make them rich; she wanted to keep it in memory of her sick grandmother. Deep in thought, Soleanna calls for the woman awaking her from her trance.
"Hey miss, I need your help on getting that dress." Soleanna requested. The brown haired woman gave her a quizzical look.
"Dress? What dress?" She asked. Soleanna turns around and pints towards the window that held the dress in it.
"If you mind, I would love that dress." W-what? No! She won't have my dress that my sick grandmother made me!
"Oh that! Well, I'm very sorry ma'am but that dress wasn't meant to be on sale. But you could try out any other dresses available on the market. Soleanna lost hope inside of herself. The hope of her wanting that dress to wear. She had never worn anything nice like that and plus, it was the only dress she liked.
"But I'll pay how much you want for them!"
"I'm sorry, like I said they're not for sale." The woman repeated.
"Then why are they on the display? It's like putting a bag of gold on the street saying it's real even though it's fake!" Soleanna said raising her voice a little from normal.
"Excuse me ma'am are you getting loud?" The woman said even louder than Soleanna.
"I guess I am!" Soleanna yelled in the woman's face. With a twitch on her right eye, she got closer to Soleanna face to face over the counter.
"Marisa! What are you doing to Soleanna-sama?" Another voice called out of nowhere. This is Soleanna? Well I don't care, she won't have my dress! Before the woman, who is known as Marisa, could respond Soleanna spoke instead.
"This woman keeps saying that the dress on the window is not for sale! All I want to know is why did she put a price on it and displayed it to the public! I even offered her any amount of money she wants for it and-"
"Wait any amount of money?" A woman with brown curly hair about middle aged came from the back of the shop and rushed up to Soleanna with a big grin upon her face.
"Yes ma'am. How much?" Soleanna asks but Marisa interrupted her.
"No! Don't do this to me mother! My sick grandmother made that for me! Please don't do this!" Marisa formed tears in her big chocolate eyes crying heavily. Soleanna never saw such emotion before in her life. She remembered when she used to cry like that inside the castle of being alone. That dress must really mean something to her then.
Before Soleanna could object the dress for Marisa's sake, the mother snatched the card from Soleanna's hands and swiped it in the credit card machine.
"Hey ma'am waits-"
"$500,000 with no tax!" The curly haired woman chimed a forced grin.
"Look lady, I don't want-"
"And here's the dress for you! It'll look gorgeous on you! Trust me one of the finest who made this dress was greatly skilled into designing. And it matches your complexion also!" The woman was interrupting every chance Soleanna tries to deny the dress. But as Marisa's mother was there to grab the dress, Marisa herself snatched the dress for herself and hugged it, not letting go.
"No, I won't let go of this dress! I really do love this dress! My grandmother made me this dress before she fell ill! No money in the world can take this dress away from me! Never!" She told Soleanna who felt guilt in her eyes. She really didn't mean to take the dress away from her. It was something made precious to her and for her and she doesn't want to take it away from her. But before the two young girls could notice, Marisa's mother pushed her own daughter down on to the floor and snatched the dress from her hands and shoved it to Soleanna's face.
"Don't listen to her, and here's your card. Thank you for everything and happy birthday!" And pushed the confused maiden outside the store.
"What in the world just happened back there…?" Soleanna wondered as she was brought outside facing her guards.
"Oh I see you have gotten your dress Soleanna-sama. Are you satisfied?" One of the guards asks.
"Yes I am." But really she felt guilty for even looking at the dress.
During that morning and all evening when the sky was getting dim she had went to every store there is in this village. Some villagers were treating her right frankly. Soleanna feared that they wouldn't accept her customer service there but there kindness is really a pleasure. They would even offer to give her free stuff even though she declines over a thousand times. She admits, it was the most fun she had in her life for a long time. Or even ever at least. Finally, Soleanna arrives back at the castle at dark having loads of shopping bags full of clothes and jewelry. She can't wait to try all of them on and show them off! After all, she had always wanted to be the lady in the magazine cover who has beauty. At the front of the gates, she met Mephiles who was standing there waiting for her. But for what? He grinned at her trying to look happy and contempt to see her. Even Soleanna could see it was a forced smile. And she knew something was up. Something she was not willing to do.
"Hello Soleanna how was your day? Did the villagers treat you swell?"
"Yes very." Soleanna answered seeing he was pleased of her reply," I may ask, why are you standing outside the gate? IT's very unusual for you to come here and wait for me." Soleanna asked lifting one eyebrow in suspicion. The king tenses up at the way she was observing him. He could feel her eyes burying inside him.
"Well, you never came out of the house before so that's why I'm waiting for you." Soleanna was about to ask him another question but was quickly interrupted again.
"I have a big surprise for you inside. Guards please escort her inside to meet this person." Soleanna was confused at what Mephiles was trying to say? Who wanted to meet Soleanna at a time like this? She though that the villagers hated her all these years. Soleanna didn't want to move for a second but he ordered the guards to carry her inside as if…he knew she would do this!
Soon they had reached the big elegant door that slowly opened showing the bright chandelier beaming through its cracks. When the door was fully open she saw a tall shadow before her. As she was carried closer it shows a man with a very tall and sleek appearance. His hair was colored jet black and is long with bangs covering half his eyes. And speaking of his eyes, it was the most unique color about it was a red. He looked fairly young and is handsome to any woman's eyes with is skin a little pale but not white. Soleanna felt something from this man when she instantly looked into his eyes: death. The young man grew a thin cool smirk at Soleanna looking her up and down at her physique. Curves at the right places… She would make a perfect mate.
This guy, what's this feeling? His aurora is…dark.
"Hey Soleanna, I've been waiting." He says in a gentle manner as he grabs her hand and gently plants a kiss on it. Soleanna's body felt a cold shiver from his touch on her skin. She reflexively jerks her hand out of his touch which puzzled him for a second. Then resumed on his regular look.
"I hope I didn't frighten you. Because you're beautiful Soleanna." His hand grazed Soleanna's cheeks making her feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry she's not used to talking to other people today. It was her first time getting out and-"
"I get it. I'm sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable around me. I'll see you in a little while."
And with that, the guards sent her to her room along with her stuff.
"What? You say that the princess has run away?" asked Tsunade shocked to hear the incoming news. Never in a million years were she to think that a princess would run away.
"Yes Tsunade-sama. Right before her marriage ceremony that we had planned for her. The fiancé is indeed very worried about her as much as I am. So I'm here to ask you in person, please hunting my precious daughter down. We're really worried about her." The king pleaded sounding worried about the missing person. Tsunade really can't accept this mission since there is a lack of available jonin's and chunin's at this rate. The legendary sucker really hated to miss out on her money on this. She finally made her decision," I'm sorry M-"
"I'll pay triple times the limit of the original cost of the mission!" Tsunade's eyes grew big at what the man was bargaining in the office for.
"You do know that this is considered a D rank mission right?" The reason for it to be a D rank mission was because it causes less of a threat and really isn't that serious no matter how you slice it. Mephiles knew that if it was a D rank, she would send the lowest genin she could find. The only problem is that he wanted to her back now and fast before something disastrous happens… But he cannot tell her that knowing he would really would be dead either by the fiancé or Tsunade.
"Please can you move the rank a little higher? I really need her ASAP!" He said with a little irritation in his voice. Tsunade raises an eyebrow at this man knowing he's not getting an attitude with her.
"Let me get this straight bub! First off you rush into my office and say that your daughter ran away from her wedding last night and now you're telling me how to do my job! You have some nerve to say what you did."
"My apologies Tsunade-sama. I thought The Village Hidden in the Leaf would gladly be partnered with village hidden in the Hills with better money coming your way. That way, your debts will be cleared faster." Mephiles sighs to himself and was heading towards the door to leave the Hokage's office. Damn, he really knows how to push my buttons!
Before he left the door Tsunade calls for him to stop.
"Wait! I'll put this mission up to B rank and that's it."
"It'll be even more if you put it in S rank. If so I'll pay you right now."
"*sigh* ok whatever you say. It's an S rank mission to capture and bring the princess back. As long as you own up to your deal."
"Don't worries I already did." Mephiles throws ten tall stacks of money on top of Tsunade's desk. With this amount I could pay the debt we're in! He's really serious about this," I expect this mission to be done in a day."
"What? That's impossible to complete that in just a day!" Tsunade said.
"Well you better make it possible." And with that he left the room slamming the door leaving Tsunade heated in her office by herself.
"Shizune! Call forth Sakura, Sai, and Naruto to my office now!"