it's just a book-thing

Once upon a time, in a kingdom so far away, there lived a princess who had been struggling to sleep. Her parents, the rulers of such distant lands, had done everything - like every thing - just to make her fall asleep at night. It was rumoured that the princess would rather stay up at night, play with her dolls and ask her servants about the handsome princes who saved princess from their mundane lives.

But no matter how hard the servants tried to ask her to retire for the night, she remained sleepless. The chances of sending the princess to a sound sleep was like the narrow possibility of finding a needle in a mountain of hay. She was always singing and dancing with her dolls. She talked about the princes and their journeys, and she dreamed of meeting one someday. These thoughts had kept her up all night.

And though her lack of sleep could have damaged her health and her so-called body clock, the princess remained the fairest lady in their entire kingdom. Her hair was known to have the same shade of carnations, wavy and long. Her skin, might not be as fair as snow (for having such complexion was basically being dead), it was blushing against the sun. Every person who had laid eyes on her was convinced that yes, she was indeed the prettiest of them all. Besides her looks, her calming voice could send birds to sleep. The royal guards situated near her quarters had always talked about her pretty voice, smooth like a velvet curtain. The princess was a perfect being, they said. But in reality, she wasn't that perfect. She was a nubile lady, however her stubbornness subtracted a great deal of beauty factor.

The dilemma started not so long after a grand ball was held for her birthday. A week after her eighteenth birthday, she remained sleepless. Maybe the tales her servants had been telling her since she was younger (tales about princesses taken away from their kingdom after a marriageble age) left imprints on her brain. It was rumoured that the princess expected to meet a handsome prince that night (to be more precise, the princess expected to meet someone who would take her away from the kingdom), only to realize that her parents never invited a single male royalty.

For several nights, she stayed up late as a protest to her parents' decision (the prince-less party held for her. It was done anyway, what could she do?) and these were the nights where she played with dolls and talked with the servants. She ordered them to tell more stories about them (the handsome princes and their escapades) - for which such story-telling nights amplified her yearning to meet her own prince.

The King and Queen were aware of how attractive their daughter had become, and they believed that it would be dangerous if the princess was to meet a prince. The Queen was convinced that no prince would desire her daughter's hand out of genuine affection (love, if you couldn't tell what the fuck was this genuine something), knowing that the princess's beauty was a poison that could kill at one bite. Nevertheless, the princess seemed to loathe such "precautionary measure" her parents did, for she only wanted to meet a prince and become a typical princess. Hearing such nonsense, the King believed that it was the servants' fault that Princess Luka was changed into a love-sick puppy.

One more week had passed, the princess' condition worried the palace's physician. Her beauty would soon fade if she wouldn't take proper rest and wouldn't eat proper food (because you see, she grew a liking to cakes and other sweets). The Queen, being a worrywart herself, convinced the King to spread the news. The kingdom needed someone who could make the princess sleep. May it be a beggar or a merchant, so long they knew a way how to send the princess to sleep, they shall be rewarded. And so, the every thing mentioned at the opening paragraph happened.

The first person who tried his luck was a blue-haired prince from the next kingdom. He was Prince Kaito of the Shion Kingdom, a handsome prince with a kind heart...or maybe not kind at all. The story needed no elaboration because he was thrown out of the Megurine Kingdom since his real intention was to marry the princess. When the King realized this, Prince Kaito was forbidden to see the princess.

The next person was a commoner, too pretty to be a drunkard. Meiko, as she called herself, was an attractive woman, not older than the princess, hair falling an inch below her ears. The brunette claimed that she was a daughter of a brewer (yes, she was a poor fellow), and her father's booze might send the princess into a deep sleep. And so, she was the very first person to actually help the princess to sleep. Meiko was introduced to the princess and together, they tried to empty the bottle the brunette had with her. The next morning came, Meiko woke up seeing the princess sprawling on her bed, counting the stars pasted on the ceiling. Meiko was just the first one to fail. It so happened that after the third glass, Meiko fell asleep and the princess was left alone. Princess Luka hated to drink alone so she gave it to the guards, who also fell asleep after third glass.

Soon, another person tried her luck. It was a girl named Miku, and the princess knew her by name. She was a known singer from a circus visiting the kingdom, and it was said that her voice could tame wild animals. That evening of her visit though, the princess was more awake than usual. The whole night was spent with the two singing together, and the royal guards were asleep once again. Like Meiko, Miku failed with her task. Princess Luka enjoyed singing with her and so, the Princess never felt weary at all.

The next day, twin merchants from the far east presented themselves before the King and Queen. They brought a certain potion that could send the princess to a deep sleep. Since it was the first time the royalties had seen the twins with golden hair, they refused to accept their offer. It might be a plot for the princess' assassination (who knows?) so as much as they wanted to try the potion, the twins were sent away.

Soon, a fair-looking gentleman appeared before the King and Queen. He had a guitar with him and he claimed that he could play well. His kind smile promised the queen that he would lull the princess to sleep with his guitar and that his intention was purely to aid Her Royal Highness. The young guitarist was named Kiyoteru from Fidelis. The servants said he was a real gentleman and he could really make the princess sleep. When the moon claimed its place in the sky that night, Kiyoteru began playing melodies for the princess. However, just like the people before Kiyoteru, he failed. The princess was way too entertained with him that she managed to keep her eyes opened whilst enthralled with his music.

Hundreds of people tried to help the princess but to no avail. Countless remedies were tried after Kiyoteru, such as Lily's green tea and Clara's incessant talking - but the princess remained sleepless. However, the search was stopped when a ridiculous advice from the palace's physician suggested that the princess should find a husband, and on their marriage bed she should feel tired. Unfortunately, this insolence wasn't tolerated by the King and Queen. The palace's physician was beheaded the next morning.

Once again, the princess asked her servants to tell her new tales about princes, since nobody was coming to help her meet slumber.

One listless morning, the King and Queen heard that someone had come to help the princess. In front the throne, a young gentleman (whose long lilac hair was pulled back and tied into a single tail) curtsied gracefully. He was a scholar from the most prestigious academe of the Megurine Kingdom. He introduced himself as Kamui Gakupo, son of Kamui Tonio, professor emeritus. The King and Queen was delighted to find a nobleman who was willing to help them sincerely, of course, but they were rather surprised when the young scholar asked what reward could His and Her Majesty offer to him. His service wasn't free for his family's credibility was at stake when he chose to try his luck the moment he stepped inside the palace.

'Anything that you wanted shall be given,' said the King. 'As long as you can make her sleep, the Queen and I will be more than pleased.'

'Then I shall ask for the princess to be my wife,' said Gakupo, head still stooped as he talked to his King and Queen.

It was considered rude to ask for the princess to be his bride, knowing that the noble families with male children was not invited to the Princess' eighteenth birthday. So when the king snapped, Gakupo had anticipated just as much.

'Then the princess shall suffer the consequences of being restless,' claimed he. 'You fairly know that her body will grow weary soon. She won't face people with such unhealthy complexion and her beauty shall fade sooner than her mother's.'

Gakupo said a lot more, but to cut it short, the king agreed with his barter. Make the princess sleep and she will be his bride. The night came and Gakupo met the beautiful princess sitting quietly on her bed. She was a goddess, he believed but he didn't let her beauty overwhelm him. He had to do his business so he could win her hand. When he entered, the princess was astonished. He was a pretty man, he was aware, and his comely appearance had an effect on her.

'Your Royal Highness, would you mind to read me this book, ma'am?' he gave her a textbook from his integral calculus class. 'I am told that you can't sleep, neither am I, so I think I shall seek your aid as I study my lessons.'

The princess shot her a bewildered look, eyes asking why she was handed an academic book. Nevertheless she accepted it, flipped it open and scanned the content.

'Are you a substitute for my governess or are you trying to make me sleep?' Princess Luka asked, putting down the book on her lap.

'I can be anything. Now, if you will do the kindness to read the content printed on the 168th page...'

She huffed 'fine'.

And the night was spent that way. Gakupo was solving math problems whilst Princess Luka was reading about the principles. After several minutes, he heard the princess yawn and mutter that reading his book was boring. She stretched her limbs and sprawled on her bed. For another couple of minutes she watched Gakupo to write a great deal of numbers and symbols she couldn't understand...and she was asked to read again...and again...and again...

Gakupo was on the last equation when he asked the princess to read it to him. But he got no response so he looked around, and there, the princess was lying asleep on her bed. With her chin resting on her arms, her lashes touched her cheeks. It was true. The princess was an attractive woman and she was the fairest of them all.

Several months had passed when a new announcement was posted on the downtown. Everyone was invited to attend the wedding of Princess Luka and Gakupo Kamui.


"Are you serious? I'm not even dreaming of a prince charming!" Luka chuckled as she lifted the mug of hot chocolate to her lips. "That tale is ridiculous. You are full of yourself."

"But I think you're a beautiful princess, eh?" Gakupo leaned his arms on the table, eyes glued to stunning lady seated before him. "My role isn't a prince. I'm a handsome scholar."

"I'm sorry but I don't think I need a prince or a scholar," she laughed again. "I'm an independent woman, sir. Anyway, I need to get going now. Let's meet again some time. See you around, Gakupo. Thanks for the...hot chocolate and your wonderful tale." Luka rose from her seat and picked up the books she brought from the shop earlier and with a sweet smile, she started to walk away.


ChubbyFeline: im glad you liked it and yes, this ship needs more love.

thanks for reading.

-ivan.