A/N: Yay chapter 2 finally! Just a warning, this whole chapter is basically plot-less and is just to introduce some characters. I'm not proud of this chapter since it's not really my style to incorporate so much dialogues without narration. Chapter 3 will be up soon, I promise 3 I have the whole story figured out (at least how I want it to end XD) and I just need to get it down on paper. Hopefully I can now update on a regular basis (this doesn't mean day to day though. Maybe once or twice a week).
AND THANK-YOU FOR ALL YOUR LOVELY REVIEWS! AND THANKS timmyluvs, Takumisa777 for telling me GOUDA's the name :D (if there are any other minor character names you know of, please tell me)
Chapter 2
Sakura readjusted her simple, pink dress as she sat in her small room, located inside the servant's quarter. From a young age, she had been living inside the castle. A knock was heard before a man entered. He was small and round; about the same height as Sakura herself. She quickly got up and greeted the said man.
"Father, did you wish to speak to me?" she sang in a sweet, innocent voice.
"Ah Sakura, Gouda came by earlier this afternoon; he was so flustered when he walked in! I was shocked that he came here to ask for your hand in marriage!" he said with a loud, booming voice.
"Father, you declined the offer didn't you?! Honestly, I rejected him a hundred times yet, he still has the nerves to ask for your consent," Sakura nervously asked.
"Sakura, have you ever thought that maybe you should accept his offer? I know very well that you do not have feelings for the said man and, although he may not be noble or the wealthiest, he does own a blacksmith shop."
"Father, please don't make me marry that man! I rather die!"
"I'm not asking you to accept the proposal right away but you do have to remember our circumstances. We are merely servants hired by the royal family as a tailor and a seamstress. This may be the best offer you will get considering what little dowry you have," he said in a tone that almost implied that she must be wed.
With that, Sakura ran out the door despite how improper it may be. 'This may be the best offer you will get considering what little dowry you have'. Those lines resonated in her mind as tears, threatening to fall, welled up in her eyes. 'Stupid papa, you never consider my feelings,' she shouted in her mind, 'Not ever since mama died…' Not noticing her surroundings, she bumped into something warm and lost balanced- closing her eyes as she waited for the impact. It never occurred. Instead, she felt two muscular arms wrapped around her waist. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw two reddish-brown eyes staring into her own dark pinkish ones.
"Careful," he said.
By this time, Sakura was blushing furiously. She stumbled out of the young man's arms before she studied him with her eyes. He was a handsome, young man with spiky blonde hair. 'He must be a noble' she thought seeing the ways he's dressed. He caught her staring at him and smirked.
"Umm….thank you for catching me,"
"Just be careful next time," he said as he walked away.
"Wait! What's your name? I haven't seen you around that palace before," Sakura shouted behind him without thinking.
Without looking back he said, "Kuga Sakurai."
The capital of the Northern Kingdom was like a mountain. The base housed the less fortunate: with ruined buildings, crime, prostitution and families that can barely feed themselves. The higher up you go, the more beautiful the buildings become. Those situated on top were mostly nobles and wealthy merchants. The castle was a stone fortress that stood on the highest peak of the city, overlooking its civilians.
"It's so different," Misaki muttered. Back in the Southern Kingdom, the castle rested upon the edge of a beautiful lake. The whole capital was built around the lake to be precise; the people did not have to go too far of a distance to fetch a pail of water. It had been a week since they bid her family and friends farewell.
Letting out an inaudible sigh, Misaki smoothed an invisible wrinkle on her dress that Sakura had instructed for her to wear the day she arrives at the castle. In her opinion, it was unsuitable for travel, but did as she was told. It was pale green with golden, leafy embroidery and a tattered collar. A section at the back of the shirt was layered with pale gold frills.
"Princess, we have arrived at the Northern palace," Yukimara said as the carriage slowed to a halt.
She graceful stepped out of her carriage after a nervous looking guard announced their arrival. Clearly seeing shock and fear upon the servant's faces as she entered the door, she was approached by a tall, young man with the deepest green eyes she had seen.
"Welcome," he said, "To my humble home."
"The pleasure's all mine, your majesty," Misaki said while she curtsied.
"There's no need for such formalities. You must be tired from such a long trip. Your quarters are already prepared for you and I shall introduce you to my court at tonight's banquet. Please feel free to ask for whatever else you need to make your stay more enjoyable."
"I apologize for my rudeness but I would like to retreat to my quarters. There are matters of the state that I have neglected, during my travels, that needs my attention immediately."
"I should be the one apologizing as I also have matters of the state to attend to. The Emperor of the Western Lands is here and I must attend a conference to discuss future trading with him."
"Yukimara, you did what?!" Misaki said as she rubbed her temples in annoyance as she tries to soothe away her ever growing headache.
"Y-your highness, I-I'm sorry but I can't find the book on this month's expenses anywhere. I must have left it at one of the inns," Yukimara said seemingly to shrink away.
"Idiot! Didn't I tell you to look after the account book carefully?" An aura comparable to that of a demon can be seen surrounding her as she spoke. "Write a letter to the Minister of Finance, to tell him to send me a copy at once!"
"Y-yes…"
"And who is that whispering outside my door! They should be working during this hour of the day!"
"Hey we should just go to the brothel. All this cleaning is boring." a man with blonde hair and multiple piercings said. His name was Naoya Shirakawa, also known as Shiroyan.
"What if we get caught? I heard Princess Misaki is currently residing in the castle. We'll be cursed if she saw us!" answered Ikuto Sarashina ("Ikkun").
"That demon will curse us whether we work or not! Let's just let the female maids do the cleaning. Besides, we're just helpers." replied Ryuunosuke Kurosaki (Kurotatsu).
"Would you three gentlemen enlighten me about this 'demon' you spoke of?"
"Haven't you heard…" they replied as they turned around; suddenly shivering in fear as they saw a demonic form engulfing Misaki. "What was it that you were saying about leaving all the chores to your female counterparts?! Have you no shame asking these delicate women to do YOUR load of work?!"
"R-run!"
"Get back here you!" Misaki yelled as she chased after the trio.
"Interesting. So this is the infamous princess of the southern lands," a smooth voiced said as he smirked at the scene before him.
"My Lord, King Usui is waiting in the conference room for you. Is there something here that holds your interest?" A man dressed in a silky black suit said as he bowed. His eyes were closed giving him an appearance of a sly fox.
"Maki, it seems that our little business trip just got more interesting," he said as he slowly walked away.
An hour passed before she caught the three and dragged them to the head maid. The others were shocked to see the infamous idiot trio surrender to a mere girl. On that day, a new rumour had started to spread amongst the male helpers in the castle; gaining her a more notorious reputation. Meanwhile, the female population had started to grow a respect for her since no one had dared to discipline the three in the past.
So I assume everyone knows who was spying on Misaki? Hopefully I haven't lost too many readers with this chapter but I HAD to introduce some major characters some how. And once again thank-you for reading.
