Chapter Three: Interest

"Who the hell are you?"

My body shook with pure fear, as the male holds me tighter. Suddenly he lowers his hand down towards my chin, down to my neck, a sudden strange feeling pass through me. With fearful eyes, I stare up, as he moves a bit closer. The first thing I have noticed is his eyes. The depth of his blue eyes, it feels like he can see right through my own soul. He has a thin nose, and a very masculine jaw line, with dirt all over his face. As well, I notice a strange marking, a scar, running down his left eye. My chest heaved unevenly.

"Can you let go of me?" I asked kindly, but my voice shook. He arched a brow,

"Why?"

"I'm afraid of you," I told him the truth, not about his physical form, but how he's handling me right now. He gave me a slanted smirk.

"Good." Was all he said, as he lets go of me, and I breathed out. I turned to face him, noticing how tall he is. He has dark hair, plaster down, but short. Looks very silky, which made me want to run my fingers through his hair. He looks pale, and around my age. He seems well built. Something about him, soothe my eyes, his blue eyes lock eyes with me. For the first time in my life, my heart jumps oddly. I'm not quite sure why. The strange man stares, but no words pass his lips.

"Leave the poor girl alone. Noll." I heard behind him. I snap out of whatever spell he placed me, and another tall man appear next to him. His hair is dark, brushed to the side. He's slim just like the man that held me. Smaller eyes and a more gentle touch on the face. Both males wore miner clothes, dirty and some parts so old that it can tear at any moment.

"May I ask why a beautiful young maiden doing in our house is?" he asks crossing his arms. I blushed in embarrassment and bow.

"I'm..." I paused, feeling a pulse rush into me. The dizzy spell hitting me hard this time. I shrug it off, and lift myself up.

"I'm Mai Taniyama, I wanted a place to stay at, and so I found this small beautiful cottage. Please let me stay for the night. I promise to be out of your hair before the break of dawn." I begged him. The older man stares at me, but then a female voice echoed behind him.

"Oh My, are you Princess Mai Taniyama, the King's daughter?" A woman, with wavy long hair, appears next to him, wearing a plain brown dress, noticing a little lump in her stomach. I bit my lower lip, not liking this. Of course, everyone has heard of me, but never seen me in person, though.

"Yes," I told her, not looking straight at her eyes. The other guy moves closer to me, and roughly takes a hold of my injured arm, making me wince in pain.

"Noll, that's no way to treat a princess, and..." but I shook my head.

"I'm no princess, please, let me stay the night. I just need some food and water, I'll repay you handsomely. I don't have anything with me at the moment." I begged. Noll, or whatever his name is staring at me, noticing that his eyes roam my body, down to my bare ugly feet. For a reason, his stare made me shy for the first time in my life. His stare is different from all other males. The woman rushed to his side taking notice of my condition.

"Dear, sorry to say this, but you look like hell." She whispers, as she touches my arm. Automatically I flinch away from her, feeling fear rush in me.

'She won't hit me, but why do I flinch?' I thought, feeling heavy.

"Sorry dear, my name is Madoka, and this is Noll, our God-child, and this is my husband Lin." She introduced us. I nodded, as Noll kept his hand on me. I look up at him, that dizzy spell came in double, as I grasp his arm.

"Lin, get the hot water, this girl looks like is about to…" Madoka words started to fade from me, my breathing started to hitch, as I lock eyes with this strange man. He stares at me, as my vision starts to fade.

"Please…. Save… me." are my last words to him, and everything went dark on me. Not taking notice that the strange man wraps his arms around me, to hold me tight.

..

I felt a warm hand on my feet, I had no idea how long I was out, but my body and my feet and arm hurt so much. I flutter my eyes open and saw a dark hair. He stops his movements and glance up at me. I stare at him as he stares at me. He doesn't say anything. Then again, my vision started to fade once again. Before I knew it, I fell right back to sleep.

..

Feeling a lick on my cheek cause me to wake up. I rub my eyes with a groan, as I slowly open them. The light of the sun that beam in from somewhere cause me to wince.

"She's up, thank God." I heard a woman's voice. I open my eyes, at first it's blurry, but as soon as they become clear, the woman from before sat next to me looking down at me with concern, as well the strange man stood next to her. Their names, Madoka and Noll, right? No matter what, I bounce up, and huddle myself in the corner, bringing the quilt up to my chin.

"Is okay, don't you remember, you came to our cottage, and I wanted to say, thank you for cleaning. I have been so busy with work and now with child, I had no time to clean." She rubs her small stomach. I blinked, and glance up at the man with blue eyes. He was washed, his hair brushed back, wearing normal clothes. He looks breathtaking.

'He's the same person from my dream. No, he wouldn't dare touch me, right?' I flinch in pain, when I moved my arm.

"Take it easy dear; you have been sleeping for two days now. Noll, please bring her soup." She orders him. Noll glance at me, noticing how the scar under his left eye looks profound. Then again, it didn't bother me. I kept on staring at him, like a child that just discovers a shiny thing. Madoka moves a little and clears her throat. Snapping me out of my trance.

"Now, tell me, what happen?" she cross her arms. I move my eyes towards her.

"Snow?" I asked, but my voice cracked. As though Snow heard me. She came running towards me and jump on top of my bed. Tears gather in my eyes, as I wrap my arms around my best friend.

"Snow, I missed you." I whispered to her, but Madoka clears her throat once again. I move my sight towards her and nodded shyly.

"I ran away from home, came across some bandits, but I escaped, and came here." I lied to her, but Madoka seems to not believe me.

"Like I blame you, you were supposed to be wed two days ago." She mentions, and my eyes widen.

"You heard?"

"Everyone knows, everything is rumored around outside the castle walls. Strange, I thought you would know, so you want me to take in a princess?" she seems to be unsure. I nodded, as I move to get on my knees and bowed down.

"I'm good at cleaning and cooking, I can do anything you want. I need to recover before leaving." I begged her. Madoka sighs, as Noll came back with a bowl of hot steamy soup in hand. He bends down and hands it to me. I stare at his blue eyes, feeling strange.

"Eat it; we'll talk about it later. Noll, please keep an eye on her, I need to talk to Lin." She orders him. Noll nods, as he helps her get up. I watch Madoka move away, going towards the stairs.

I glance around the small room. Is a one wood bedroom, with one window on the right side? Is not as big as my own room, but I like it. There's a door, but is wide open showing stairs. Then my eyes landed on Noll. I blushed from embarrassment, and I started to slurp on the soup after I blew on it. For the first time, I could taste someone else's food, other than my own cooking.

'Is similar to Nana cooking.' I thought as my memories of my Nana food came into my mind, not noticing that tears starts to roll down my cheeks. Noll moves his hand, and hands me a piece of bread. I paused my movements, and glance up. I took the bread, and chew it down. I hiccupped as more tears rolled down my cheeks.

'Nana, I endure so much over all these years. I couldn't hold it. Here I am, crying for the first time in front of a stranger. Sorry Nana.' I thought, as I kept on eating with my tears mixing in. Noll stayed quiet, and kept his eyes on me. After I finished, he simply hands me a mug full of water, and takes the bowl away. I gulped it down. Handing it to him. He simply takes it once again, and places it on top of a wooden small table that lay next to the bed.

"Thank you. You must think I'm crazy and uneducated," I whispered to him.

"Not my business." He mumbles low, I frowned, as my cheeks flare up.

I move away, lifting my legs, but on doing so, my bladder started to hurt me. Snow jumps down from the bed and goes on top of Noll lap. He looks down at my dog and run his big hand on her fur, making Snow relax. My eyes widen at his gesture.

"Snow doesn't like strangers. Wow, this is the first." I told him surprised by this. He lifts his gaze and gave me a blank stare. I licked my moist lips, as he looks down once again at my dog. I was about to say something else, but Madoka's voice echoed strongly.

"Noll, bring Mai down stairs take her to use the outhouse, and prepare her a hot bath." She orders once again. Noll barely made a sigh, but he stood up, and headed out. Snow jumps down to the ground and starts to follow him. I was confused, but move my legs, now stepping on the cold wooden floor. A piercing pain passes by me, causing me to buckle.

"Aii, that hurts." I look down, to take notice that my feet are wrapped in a white cloth.

'Did Madoka do this?' I thought, ignoring my pain, I turned, to head towards Noll direction. He was waiting for me, as Snow came towards me. I gather her in my arms only to wince. I look at my arm as well, is wrapped.

'I need to thank her.' I thought, watching Noll walking down the stairs. I follow him down. Each step was painful.

"You're a quiet one." I nervously said, trying to strike a conversation. Noll stops in his tracks, and turn to face me. My eyes land on him, he just shrugs, and kept on going down the stairs. I felt a sweat drop.

Reaching the bottom, I place Snow down, and she ran off towards err, Lin lap, (Since he sat in his chair, eating some soup.) jumping on top. Lin chuckles, rubbing her hair. Noll moves towards the door, as Lin lift his gaze towards me.

"How are you feeling?" he suddenly asks.

"Better, thank you so much, I promise to repay you all for your kindness." I told them. Lin nods, as Madoka came into view, sitting next to her husband. Lin eyes landed on her and his expression softens.

'Is the same expression papa gives to Emilia. I wonder if he ever had that expression with Mama.' I shook my head, as Madoka clears her throat.

"Before you go, how old are you?" she suddenly asks. I lift my gaze, noticing Noll staring at me.

"Twenty-five. As you said, I was going to marry, to the prince of the western lands." I told her. Madoka tilts her head.

"Then why did you run away? Because you didn't want to marry? I mean, is odd, why would a princess run away from her home, having everything that anyone wants." Lin asks. My heart throbs at his words.

'I don't have everything I want, no luxury can give me what I want. All I want is a family and friends. Warmth and love. My life has been hell.'

"Not everything is painted as they say." I murmured.

"What was that?" Madoka asks, since I said it in a low tone. I cleared my throat. .

"Oh, I ran away, because I.." I paused, not sure what to tell them. They won't believe me, right? Noll seems to sense my hesitation. He suddenly moves forward and grasps my wrist. Looking up, Noll bows.

"Noll?" Lin asks surprise. Noll doesn't say anything and pulls me rather harshly. I wince in pain, as we step outside. He slams the door shut and lets me go.

"Are you barbaric? Why did you have to pull me like that?" I hissed rubbing my wrist, now that is turning red. Noll turns to face me and points at his right.

"The outhouse." He whispers, but then glances down at my feet. I stare at him, he frowns at me. Shaking his head, I move forward, slowly of course, and glance at the blue sky.

"Whatever, thanks." I walked down, and slowly made myself towards the outhouse.

Noll follows me, causing me to stop in my tracks. I turned,

"Are you going to follow me?"

"Don't know if the princes know how to use an outhouse." He only says. For a reason I felt insulted.

"Of course I do. I have.." I paused, thinking of the times, when Emilia had me use them, next to the horse stables. I shivered from the memories, and huff.

"I don't have to explain myself to you. Don't call me princess." I hissed through my teeth. Noll crosses his arms, following me. Next to the wall, there's a small outhouse, made out of wood. I didn't even notice it at first sight, probably I was too tired. I went in and close the door…

..

After that, I bathed and change into a clean, green plain dress, a little big on me, but I didn't complain, and I love it, because it wasn't too puffy nor tight. Is Madoka old dresses. They bathe in the house, and everyone had to leave the house. I was grateful for that. Now clean, and feeling better, I sat on the chair, staring at everyone. Noll sat at the other side of the table. His deep blue eyes never leaving me. I stare at Madoka and Lin.

"Now, that you're healthier. Please explain to use more detail. Why would a princess want to live in a poor house?" Madoka asks. I sigh, as I rub Snow fur.

"Once again, I plead you, don't call me princess." 'No one has in years. Nor do I care for that title.' I added in my head.

"Okay, Mai, why?"

"Answer me this first. What rumors have you heard of the Queen?" Oh God, that was hard to say. Lin and Madoka stare at each other, then at Noll.

"I only met the queen once, many years ago. Nice woman. I heard many rumors, she's very kind, and that she'll step out of her way to help those indeed. As well,." She paused in hesitation. I wanted to choke on that.

"What?" I asked, wanting to know.

"It's just rumors, but you were wild, you only spend it on balls, and court gentlemen." She looks apologetic saying those words.

"Do you believe those rumors?" I asked them. How much my heart can take? Not only was I mistreated, but she made lies about me as well? Is that why Leonard treated me like that? Because he thought I was easy? I haven't even hugged a man in my life. I can't stand anyone touching me.

"Well, not really, since we never got the chance to see you in person. Is a just a rumor, now that we have met you. We can tell that you're a very educated and humble person. Who in the right mind cleans a stranger's house? Nothing the less, the next heir to the lands." Madoka added.

"I thought it was the right thing to do. I ran away because.." should I ruin their fantasy? I'm not sure. I felt my heart racing hard.

"You can tell us anything. If you tell us the truth, you can stay to live with us, as long as you want." Madoka tells me. I lifted my head.

'Only half the truth, yes. This is my battle, not theirs. I can't get this nice people in trouble. Just in case Emilia knows that I'm still alive, I can run away, without them knowing anything.'

"The huntsman wanted to kill me, so I ran away from the castle." I told them partly the truth. Madoka makes an intake, as Lin straightens up.

"I knew something was off, no King will leave their child out in the open, even if they ran away." I nodded at her words.

"Yes, I'm scared for my life, and I promise he won't be looking this way. I manage to escape him. I promise to work hard. I'm good at that. Nana taught me when I was little." This time I lied. Noll moves forward and stares at me profoundly.

"Is that so. I can see you are very good at cleaning, and not shy to use the outhouse. You're a very brilliant young woman. How about your future husband?" Lin asks this time.

'Nothing,'

"Don't worry about it. I'll cross the bridge when I have to." I told them.

"Aren't you going to miss him? After all, when you marry, is for the rest of your life and because both of you love each other. God blesses that union and the both of you become one. We should know." She smiles gently at Lin, as he smiles at her back, noticing her cheeks turning pink, and she rubs her small stomach. I smile at that as my heart warms up at the display.

'Mama was like that with papa right? I wish papa would have told me more stories. Nana, I miss your stories so much.'

"Trust me, when I say this. I will cross that road when I have to." I bowed.

"We won't pressure you anymore. Now, about us.." Madoka smiles, as she places her hand on Lin shoulder.

"These are my two boys. Lin and Oliver. Lin used to be my childhood friend. We lived as neighbors in the town of the northern lands. After we got married, about eight years ago, we decided to live here. More tranquility. As for our God-son. He's an orphan. We took him in when he was fourteen. He doesn't talk much, and he's very good at doing the tasks and mining. I do wish for him to find himself a good woman to marry off, but he seems to not like girls. He tries to ignore them. It's a shame. He's very good looking, and many girls tried hard to court him, but nothing. Either way, please ask him for anything. He is very good at following orders." Madoka explains.

I turned my gaze to him.. Our eyes lock, and I couldn't look away. I feel trap in his gaze. Something funny filled my tummy, but I shrug it off.

'Oliver, that name suits him perfectly. He is handsome, no doubt in that. I wonder what his story is. Has his life been difficult just like mine? Why does he have that scar. Wait, why do I care?' I shook my head, not noticing that Lin and Madoka were staring at the both of us.

"Thank you once again for everything." I told them.

Madoka moves around Lin, and comes up to me. My body stiffens, as she raised her hand. My heart racing from fear. She doesn't notice, as she places her hand on my shoulder once again. Flinching, I stood up.

"Huh?" Madoka asks, confused by my actions, I laugh nervously and took a step back.

"I'll start working right now." I told her, as Snow starts to bark at me. I move around her, feeling my hands shake.

'Calm down Mai. She wasn't going to hit me. She's not Emilia. She's not Emilia. She can't harm me any longer, but my father..' I glance out the window, which is near the door, and saw a raven fly by. For a reason, a bad shiver ran down my spine.

"I hope your okay." I whisper, as I turned towards the kitchen. I move my eyes, to scan it, noticing that's there's a back door, moving towards the door and opens it. I can see the Well and the outhouse for the first time, I took notice a small passage road that heads deeper into the woods.

"Mines." I heard behind me. I jump in fright, as I turned to see Noll looking out, noticing how close he came to me. I bit my lower lip.

"Oh, the mines, where you and Lin work at?" He nods, as his cold blue eyes scan the area. He moves his eyes towards me, and bends closer and scanned me. I gulped nervously and took a step back, but no use, the door block any possible space for me to move.

"I'm watching you." He tells me in a deep voice, for a reason, his warm breath brush against my skin, causing me to shiver, in a weird way.

"You don't have to watch me. I'm perfectly fine by myself." I told him. Noll stares at me for another brief second, but he suddenly scares me, when he slams both of his hands on the door, blocking my way of escaping. He lowers himself to my level, a little too close for my comfort. For a reason, I couldn't look away from his deep eyes. My heart pounded weirdly once again. He smirks at me devilish as he is.

"What do you want from me? I haven't done anything to you, please let me be." Noll moves his hand and grasps my chin, tilting my head up. The touch of his hand causes me to feel odd again, is different from Prince Leonard touch. I didn't feel disgusted; it felt strange, similar to papa touch, but more powerful. He leans forward, to whisper in my ear once again.

My eyes widen, as he moves away, and goes outside, heading for the well. I turned with wide eyes, with a sudden weird sensation pass through my heart and my chest warms up. Snow came up to me and jump into my arms. I hugged her tightly, as Noll turns to face me, and an evil smirk passes his lips again. I turned around, and slam the door, and heaved, trying to control my beating heart, as his words echoed in my head. Not understanding why he meant by that.

..

"You just became my interest,"

A disclaimer: I Don't own Ghost Hunt or Snow White. I use them to terrorize with... :)