Chapter 2: A Peasant's way

This would be his third time this week he wouldn't eat anything. Starving, a peasant walked along, looking for any sign of food. The young peasant was only fourteen years old, and looked as if though he was dying, which he felt like he was. He had white hair ruffled up and blue eyes that looked like the ocean was sparkling within them.

His name was Haru Hikaroa. His older brother, Seiji, was a butler that worked for the princess and prince. Haru had never really met the princess, nor the prince. He had heard stories about how they were twins, and often were mistakened for the other. Although, the young peasant wasn't really interested in the prince, like most others were. He was interested in the beautiful princess.

He had heard stories of how she was generous and kind to the peasants of the kingdom, and very beautiful as well. She had banana-blonde hair and blue eyes that sparkled every time sunlight hit them. Her and her brother, the prince, often came to the town to pick up a few things and the princess, sneaking away from her brother from time to time, often brought food to peasants she saw starving.

Haru knew that the prince was generous as well, but the prince left the princess to tend to those she saw starving. He was more of the type to let someone have a pair of shoes or coat to wear, as he had heard.

Though, never had he heard the names of the princess and prince. Nor did he hear most of the servant's names that worked for them. Seiji had never really bothered to ask for their names, as he didn't need to know them. Seiji had also told him that asking for a princess or prince's name was supposedly rude.

Haru thought that calling a princess or prince by their name with just 'princess' or 'prince' in front of their name was quite alright. He wanted to see the princess in person, learn her name, and thank her for being generous to people like him.

Little did he know that today, he would be able to thank her. Haru stopped dead in his tracks, as he saw the princess through the crowd of people, walking side by side with her twin brother.

The princess looked over to see him staring at her and her brother and she smiled gently, and stopped as her brother turned around to ask her a question. She had told him an answer and pointed to Haru. The prince nodded in understanding and then left without a second word.

Haru continued to stare at the princess, the stories he heard about her beauty was true. She looked beautiful in the dress she was wearing, a yellow long dress with black-laced sleeves. Her blue eyes sparking in the sunlight and her smile fitting her elegant face.

The princess disappeared for a second, and for a moment Haru wondered where she could have gone. Then a split second later, he felt a tap on his shoulder and looked over to see the princess behind him with her hands behind her back.

Haru immediately bowed to her, saying in a soft voice, "Hello princess…"

The princess gave another gentle smile and lifted his head up with one hand, holding something behind her back still. "Hello. You look hungry." With that, the princess showed her other hand. In it were fruits of all different colors. "This is for you."

Haru lifted his head to look at the princess, before looking to the fruits she held in her hand.

"Don't be shy. Take them." The princess said softly as she smiled again.

Haru took the fruits from her hand and looked up to her eyes, being almost absorbed into them. "Thank you…your very kind…Princess…" He stopped, as he did not know her name.

The young princess realized his trouble and said in the same soft voice she had used before, "Princess Rin."

Haru smiled at her. "Thank you, Princess Rin."

Rin smiled back and bowed her head to him. "You're welcome."

He continued to stare into her eyes, smiling still. She was very beautiful. Too beautiful for words.

She continued to stare at him, even knowing that he was a peasant, he looked like a prince. A prince that she would not mind falling in love with and marrying.

Their meeting was cut short as the prince was calling for Rin. Rin looked back to her brother and nodded in understanding before looking at Haru. "I have to go now. I'm sorry." She was about to walk off before Haru gently grabbed her hand.

"Wait, I'd like to see you again." He said to her in a low voice, only audible for her to hear.

Rin slightly blushed as she smiled a bit. "I'm a princess. I must not socialize with peasants. But for you, I will make an exception. Meet me tonight in the gardens on the outskirts of town. Be there by dusk. Do not be late. And, if you can, dress nice. I'd like to show you around."

Haru nodded. "My name is Haru Hikaroa, Seiji's younger brother."

She smiled. "Your brother is a wonderful butler; he helps me with so many things around the palace."
Again, the prince called for Rin to hurry up so they could return home. "I must go now." The young princess said gently, "I'll meet you tonight." And with those words said, she hurried to her brother.

The young peasant couldn't believe that the princess had actually agreed to meet with him. He was expecting a 'no' or that she could not be seen with him. Though, she made an exception and actually agreed to meet him.

Haru smiled and turned away, the fruits that Princess Rin had given him in his hands. He was meeting her tonight. Seiji could not know about this, or he might prohibit him from going to see her.

He walked slowly back to where he and Seiji lived, thinking about how easy it was to just ask her. Had he fallen in love with the princess, that quickly?