A/N: Here the chapter one of Never Say Never, and I think I'm a little bit (or a lot?) out of character...I'm sorry for that. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Tales of Vesperia belongs to Namco Bandai.

Edited!


Chapter 1

When she woke up, she wasn't in a good mood. She stood up and went in front of the window where she could see birds flying and singing. She would like to be a bird and fly too. She could flee away of the castle and of her fate. Of course, it wasn't so bad, she could read all she wanted every time, but she would like to see outside. Well, she would see it soon, but not in the way she expected it.

Someone knocked at her door and she turned around before authorizing the maid to enter. The woman put her breakfast on the table and the young girl sat down, and began to eat. In the same time, the maid made her bed and all the things she had too. When she finished to eat, the maid helped her to dress up; this time, she wore a long green dress, with earing and the maid dress her hair with a hairgrip which was a memory of her mother.

It was the same thing every morning of every day and, soon, it would change. It wouldn't be the same maid, it wouldn't be the same breakfast, perhaps, she wouldn't be able to take her breakfast in her room. She prevented a sigh and stood up. Thinking that she wouldn't be here anymore hurt her. She wouldn't be able to see every people she loved, her cousin, her best friend and all the others.

"Your Highness, Miss Mordio is waiting for you in front of the door."

The girl frowned, surprised that her friend didn't come in; she never waited.

"Tell her to enter, please."

The maid bowed and went to the door that she opened and, then, her best friend appeared, pouting. Rita Mordio was a little bit younger than her and was one of the few genius mage of the Empire. She knew her since some years now, and she was her first true friend.

The mage waited for the maid to leave before saying:

"I don't agree."

She sighed. Again, Rita was trying to convince her to not leave.

"I do not have choice, Rita."

"Yes, you have! Since when the princess of the Empire hasn't choice?"

"Since a long time."

She never had choice. Every decision, every things she did were decided by the Council itself. It had always been like that. She came near of the mage and, putting her hand on her cheek, she said:

"I am sorry Rita, but even if I do not want, I have to leave."

"I don't want to let you into the hands of these…These…!"

Rita's face was red of anger and she felt sad. Of course, Rita didn't like Danghrest. After all, her parents died when she was little, because of the war against them. She probably was afraid of seeing her dying.

"Estellise…" She whispered. Then, after a moment of silence: "I'll come too."

"Unfortunately, I am not sure that the Royal Family will accept it." Estellise answered with a smile, blushing a little bit.

She felt happy by knowing that someone cared for her, and she felt sad too, because she didn't want to leave Rita. She would miss her for sure.

"I don't care of them! I hate them! They destroyed our country and they take away my best friend!"

She knew that Rita wanted to cry but she wouldn't show it. The princess wanted to say that the Empire had a part in the war, but she knew that the young girl wouldn't listen to her. She was too stubborn for that.

"It is fine, I will send you letters."

"It's not the same!"

"I know. But I told you already, I have no choice."

Rita mumbled and Estellise smile a little, to reassure her. She wasn't happy either. She heard that her fiancé was someone really special, who didn't care about his rank and didn't care about everything but himself. If she listened to the rumors, the heir was selfish. She wasn't sure to like him, or ever love him. Loving him would be difficult, she didn't want to married him. But she must, for the peace.

Someone knocked at the door and she authorized the maid to enter.

"Lady Estellise, your carriage is ready."

"Thank you."

She looked at Rita who wasn't happy at all and then, she left her room that she saw for the last time. Her best friend followed her and she could hear her mumble while every people they met bowed before the princess.

They arrived in front of the carriage, where they found Ioder, Estellise's cousin, and probably the emperor-to-be. She came near of him and put a little smile on her lips. It was a false, of course, she couldn't smile willingly. Ioder smiled her back and hugged her, asking her to take care of her and to send him letters. Then, after last goodbye to Rita and Ioder, she entered the carriage.

And she left her home.


"NO WAY!"

He slammed the door and ran away, anger visible on his face. He didn't agree with this decision. Not agree at all. Why did he have to married the princess of Zaphias? He didn't even know her, and he was sure he wouldn't like her. Or even love.

He didn't want to be married. It meant the end of his freedom (or at least, the few he had) and the fact that one day, he would replace his father and be king. No, he didn't agree with that. He sighed and went to the knights' quarters.

When he arrived, every knight bowed in front of him and he answered them with a smile. If his tutor was here, he would probably be angry because of that. As he was a prince, he had to follow the etiquette properly, but Yuri didn't care at all. He didn't even consider himself as a prince.

He opened a knight's chamber door and went sat down on the chair, a grin on his face. The one he went to visit was in his bathroom, he heard, he would be surprised. And, as he predicted it, when the door of the bathroom opened, the man started.

"Yuri!"

The prince couldn't help but laugh hard and it took some minutes to calm down. When he finished, he looked at the man who wasn't laughing at all.

"It was fun."

"No, not at all."

Yuri tilted while his friend sat down on his bed. His blond hair was wet and drop of water were falling on his face. His name was Flynn Scifo and he was a childhood friend of Yuri. He wasn't from the noble, but he didn't care at all. After all, Yuri didn't consider himself as a prince, and he thought that Flynn was lucky to not being a noble.

Of course, his relation with the blond wasn't seen very well, but he didn't care, and even his father and mother didn't mind it. Flynn was like a member of the family and he even was invited to eat at their table, when some other nobles weren't.

"Yes it was."

Flynn sighed.

"Why are you here, Your Highness?"

Flynn grinned while Yuri looked at him angrily. He knew that Flynn was mocking him, but he didn't like when his best friend dared calling him "your highness" or "my prince" or other stupid names.

"I wanted to tell my poor servant some news, but it seems that he doesn't care at all."

"News?" Flynn repeated, ignoring the word he used. "Which news?"

"I'm going to be married soon."

Flynn began to laugh and Yuri looked at him, frowning. Then, the blond stopped and said:

"Okay, stop the joke. Which news?"

"I just told you."

"Wait. You mean it was—"

"True, yes."

Flynn's eyes widened and Yuri wanted to paint his face right now. It was really fun, and he wondered why he wasn't good in painting.

"With who?" His best friend whispered.

"Zaphias' princess."

"What!?"

He knew that Flynn wouldn't be glad to learn it; after all, his father died during the war and he wasn't fond of Zaphias Empire.

"Why?"

"I don't know. If I believe Father, it's because Zaphias' Council thinks that we need to be tied by blood."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. What a pity excuse."

They felt in silence for a lot of minutes until Yuri stand up and said:

"Anyway, I'm sure I'm never loving her. They didn't need to expect a child from me."

"Never?" Flynn repeated with a smirk.

"Yes, never. What's the problem?"

"Never say never. You can be surprised."

Yuri frowned and raised his eyes when he saw his best friend's smile. Then he left the room without saying a word, but he knew that Flynn would follow him to make fun of him.

What did he expect? That he would love a girl that he didn't know at all and who was the princess of Zaphias?

No way.