AN: I did homework for this chapter xD If the Japanese words seem to appear odd, I apologize. My stupid computer won't type in Romaji. I'd copy 'n' paste but...that would be too easy. And it would be cheating T-T Anyway, I hope you enjoy :)
=Chapter Three=
Amy and Tikal, along with her son, Satoshi, made their way to the small dining hall. They were actually about two minutes early. Sitting at the table and on cushions, was a female lavender furred cat who appeared to be much older than Amy and a little older than Tikal. She also sported gold-flecked eyes. To Amy, this must have been Lady Blaze. To the feline's left, were two other female cats who appeared to be identical twins. They also appeared to be in their pre-teens just barely. The twins were giggling and playing around despite Blaze's commands to be more lady-like. To Blaze's right and sitting at the end of the table like a patriarch of a family would, was a young male hedgehog. Amy almost mistook him for Shadow because he was the spitting image of his father. He sported ebony fur with stripes that were a lighter shade of red. His eyes were a deep purple and unlike his boisterous siblings, he sat straight, tall, and silent. The boy seemed to be at least one or two years Amy's junior.
Blaze then noticed that Tikal had come with the sakura hedgehog and looked immediately relieved.
"Oh good you made it." the lavender cat said, standing up.
Amy instantly got nervous again. You could tell by the blush in her muzzle. Blaze walked regally towards the young flower and the terra-cotta echidna.
"I was almost afraid that our new sister got lost." Blaze quirked humorously. Then she curtsied Amy with a little bow. "Welcome Lady Amy."
The sakura hedgehog politely and courtly returned the gestures.
"Arigato." she replied.
"I'm Blaze." the feline continued taking the cherry-pink female's hands into her own. Then she turned to the twins still seated at the table. "And those two trouble-makers over there, are my daughters, May and Cynder."
Amy blinked in confusion as Blaze motioned the two girls to stand up and greet her.
"Um...forgive me, but which one's...?" Amy stammered, trying very hard not to sound rude.
"This one's May, and this is Cynder." Blaze demonstrated.
Amy nodded, taking note that May wore a kimono with flowers and Cynder wore one with little flame patterns.
"Kobanwa, Lady Amy." the twins greeted in unison and giving little bows to which Amy smiled.
"Kobanwa." she replied, returning the gestures.
"I like your eyes!" May said. "They're like jade beads!"
The blush on the young flowers muzzle got a little redder.
"Arigato." Amy replied sweetly.
Then, approaching the females like a Sheppard to a flock of sheep, was the young hedgehog male. Amy blinked in surprise. Because he was so quiet, she almost forgot that he was there to begin with. He gave her a bow and then stood straight again. He was only a few inches shorter than her.
"Amy-sama, this is Damien." Blaze said. "He is the first born and the Crown Prince of the Empire."
The young flower threw a shocked look. Then she had trouble thinking whether she should just give him a little curtsy bow or get on her knees before him. Finally, she decided to get on her knees and bow to him. It was only appropriate after all, since he was the heir and first in line to the throne.
"Your Imperial Highness." Amy said in a sort of low voice.
Damien looked at her like she was something of a simpleton which prompted Blaze to give him the evil eye like she was saying: 'Be polite!' Damien quickly changed his expression as Amy got back to her feet.
"Welcome to the Royal House, Lady Amy." the prince said.
"Arigato." Amy meekly replied.
XXXXXXX
About 30 minutes later, the Ladies and the Royal Children had tucked into supper after the servants came with the dishes. Amy was quietly eating out of a bowl of rice when Cynder spoke up.
"Lady Amy?" she called out.
The sakura hedgehog looked up at the red orange clad kitten.
"Mmm?" she replied.
"Was your house big like this?" Cynder innocently asked.
"No, not quite."
Despite her smile, Amy felt a little distressed when reminded of her homestead. That was the last thing she wanted to think about right now. It made her feel sad.
"Was it pretty?" Cynder asked again.
"Did it have lots of horsies in the stable?" May added.
"Girls, let Lady Amy eat." Blaze said. "She can answer your questions later, alright?"
"Yes, okaasan." the two girls replied in unison.
Both Amy and Tikal let out lighthearted giggles. A few minutes later, Damien set down his empty bowl with the chopsticks placed neatly on top and got up from his seat.
"If my mitresses do not mind, I will be retiring now." he said.
"Already?" Blaze asked in surprise. "You didn't even eat your oden."
"I am not hungry for oden, Lady Blaze."
"Well, alright. Go on then, you're excused."
"Arigato."
"O-yasumi nasai, Damien!" Cynder and May said together.
Damien nodded at them and left without a word. Amy looked at him in confusion. Ever since dinner had begun, he seemed very put off. She wondered why.
XXXXXXX
In a private and smaller dining room, the Empress and Emperor were also eating supper. It was pretty much quiet for the most part, until Shadow decided to open a conversation.
"I've seen that our newest member of our family had arrived." he murmured.
"Yes, my lord." Rouge replied.
Shadow looked at her after hearing the tone in the ivory bat's voice.
"You do not seem happy about it, Yuki Dori." he said.
Rouge let out a sigh.
"May I speak freely, my lord?" she said after setting her bowl of uden noodles.
"You may." the ebony hedgehog replied with a nod.
"She's...a child, my lord. She's not much older than Damien for heaven sakes!"
"She is of age. Tikal was the same way."
"Tikal wasn't barely fifteen. And she certainly wasn't inexperienced."
"What makes you believe that she's inexperienced?"
"My feeling, is that this girl was treated like prized cattle in her home. They didn't even give her the proper education for a noble woman and her duties were comprised of servant chores."
"You sound as if you've been insulted, my love."
"It isn't that, my lord. Lady Amy is a nice and cultured girl and very polite. But she needs work."
"Hmmm. I see."
Shadow continued with his rice and noticed that Rouge was still hung up about the topic.
"Is there something else troubling you, my dear?" he asked.
Rouge made a pause before answering. She seemed to be very concerned about Amy.
"She's just a scared little girl, Shadow." the albino female said softly. "I am starting to think that General Rozu just sold her off like furniture or live stock."
"So what is your point?" Shadow asked.
"My point is, dear husband, is that you should at least wait twelve moons before consummating with her. And you should her tutoring until it reaches its proper level."
"Do you say this with sincerity?"
"I say this, as a fellow wife and a mother."
With that, Rouge returned to her meal without another word. Shadow went deep into thought. Perhaps he should investigate his head wife's claims. But that would have to wait another day.
XXXXXXX
The next morning, Amy awoke to her second day in the Imperial Palace. She heard the flickies outside chirping and singing as the rising sun emerged into the sky. Yawning and stretching, the cherry-pink female climbed out of her bed. She rubbed her eyes, still very tired. Then she heard a delicate rap on her door, causing her to jerk her head up in alert.
"Amy-chan? Are you awake yet?"
It was Tikal.
"Uh-huh." Amy replied with a yawn.
Her door slid open and the terra cotta echidna was indeed on the other side in the hall.
"Ohaiyo Gozaimasu!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
"Ohaiyo..." Amy replied tiredly.
"Come on, sleepy head!" Tikal giggled. "It's time to start the day! And we need to be off to the bath house."
Amy coughed and almost fell off her knees. Tikal had to keep herself from hysterically laughing.
"Oh Amy-chan, your face is beet red! Hee-hee-hee-hee!" the peach-orange female chortled.
"Sorry..." the young flower stammered, while getting back to her knees.
"It's alright. You're still new after all. Come on!"
Tikal led Amy through the long halls of the Palace. Adjacent to the Royal House was a slightly smaller building which was the Bath House. Steam emitted out of the open windows that were opened.
"Maa..." Amy muttered with her ears folding back.
"Don't worry you'll be okay." Tikal said, taking the sakura hedgehog's hands.
They went into one of the smaller rooms and once there, the two females undressed and stepped into the large round tub. Amy was caught by surprise of the warm water.
"Something wrong Amy-chan?" Tikal asked. "Is the water too hot?"
"No." Amy answered. "It's just I never had a warm bath before."
"Really?!"
"Yes, at home I used the waterfall at the lake by the mansion. So the was cold."
Pretty soon, the cherry-pink female's skin got used to the water and she settled beside the terra-cotta echidna. Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the scent emitting from steam and liquid, which relaxed her.
"Smells heavenly, doesn't it?" Tikal said.
"Yes. Are those salts I'm smelling?" Amy asked.
"Mmmm-hmmm. They're Onsen salts. They not only smell nice, but they're also relaxing. A good way to relax your nerves, Amy-chan."
Amy made a face. While the Onsen salts were in fact relaxing, she just couldn't take her mind off of her future here. Speaking of which, it just occurred to the young flower that she had not seem the Emperor yet.
"Tikal-sama?" Amy called out. "Does Lord Shadow even know I'm here? I mean, I don't think I saw him at all yesterday..."
"Don't worry, he knows." Tikal told her. "It's just that it's a very busy time of the year for him. The harvest will be starting soon and then he's got to collect tributes from the provinces. Boy, that's so stressing. But at any rate, you will see him. He always makes time for us."
Her explanation unintentionally hit Amy emotionally hard. It made her mind go back to her father.
'My family had already given their tribute.' she thought bitterly.
Then, the door to the room slid open. It was Blaze in her white kimono.
"Is there room for three?" she asked.
"Of course!" Tikal answered cheerfully.
AN: Update(10-13-12) I want to clarify that Damien is Rouge's son with Shadow. NOT Blaze's.