Chapter Four: Snow's Story
She stared at him, still thinking that he was a stalker.
"I thought I made it clear that I don't need your help."
"I'm hearing a different story from everyone else, including your sister. I can be pretty stubborn too, and this is a problem that needs to be fixed before everyone down there decides to fix it." He gestured down the hill, towards the village. "You're not a very popular person right now."
The brunette laughed harshly, turning up the hill as he started walking beside her.
"I never was. I'm too serious for their liking." She looked at him. "I'm not getting rid of you until I accept your help, am I?"
He shook his head firmly. It was his duty to care for his new people, and he had no inclination of disappointing them so soon. Haru sighed tiredly.
"All right; I'll cut to the chase. What do you know about my problem?"
"That the Cat King is trying to court you, you aren't cooperating, and the feud's disturbing everyone in the area. Could you please tell me why he became so interested in you specifically?" He hadn't meant for it to sound like an insult, but a fire burned in her dark eyes shortly before answering.
"I saved his son's life. He had dropped by the town square to pick up a gift for a girlfriend. A wagon nearly ran him over, but I spelled him into my arms; safe out of harm's way. He thanked me politely, and left. That night, the Cat King comes by my place and tries to talk about repayment." She looked at him sharply.
"I have a strong policy about accepting payment for a life. If it's something people can see coming, and they ask me to help before I do it, then I accept payment. If they can't pay, I try to work out a different arrangement that works for both sides. If a kid falls into the river or something quick like that, the only payment I need is a 'thank you'. You can't put a price on lives, so I don't. I don't need a lot, and I feel better when I don't get something physical for my efforts."
The dark blonde man looked at her, obviously impressed.
"It takes a good strong person to do that."
She wasn't expecting the compliment, but brushed it off.
"It was the last thing the Cat King was expecting. After that, he kept coming by, asking if I was sure that I didn't need anything, and I kept turning him down, telling him that the only thing he could do for me was leave me alone. He decided that he liked my attitude and offered me his son's paw in marriage. I don't interspecies, and Prince Lune already had a bride in mind. Yuki's a sweet cat, and is perfect for him. The Cat King wasn't happy about his son's choice, but let him marry his girlfriend. After that, he started harassing me to marry him instead," she said with a shudder.
"I can barely stand his presence, and have told him plenty of times to beat it. I've hexed him… I don't even remember how many times, but he just won't leave me alone!" She suddenly slammed her fist into a tree, getting it to shudder terribly. "I wish he'd just take a hint, and never approach me again!"
Her companion handed her his handkerchief, getting her to look at him strange. She looked down, noticing that she had scraped her knuckles badly on the tree. Baron shook his head angrily as he gently wrapped and tied the offering around her hand.
"If I had known something like this was happening, I'd have asked to come here sooner. When does he usually approach you personally?"
She sighed.
"Since I started hexing him, he tries to keep his visits in as random a pattern as possible, so I have less time to think of a new and interesting thing to do to him."
He growled, wondering who else had tried to listen to her before deciding she was public enemy #1.
"When did he last approach you?"
"Last night. He went home as a sticky mess, since I doused him in syrup. All sorts of insects started swarming over him."
The green-eyed man looked at her, and started laughing. It wasn't the polite kind either; it was full-belly laughter. She blinked, since the brunette usually couldn't even get people outside her family to smile at her without magic. Then again, he was the first person she described a hex to.
The lord regained control of himself, his eyes tearing slightly.
"Syrup? Where did you get the idea for that?"
"I was thinking about making pancakes for breakfast this morning, and he hates getting dirty. He's a longhair too, so his fur absorbs a lot." She finally smiled a little, the first one the new lord had seen on her. He chuckled again, shaking his head at her.
"I can't believe I could ever think, even for a second, that you were like my brother!"
She raised one eyebrow at him.
"You have a brother?"
"Yes, my twin. That was partially what was so disturbing about you and yours." He shook his head again. "He's dark and great at everything, so I kind of get pushed aside a lot."
She smiled sympathetically.
"I work like a dog on my craft, but everyone likes Rose better, because she smiles more. I'm better at magic and cooking, but she dominates everything else."
"I can understand that. I'm better at swordplay, studying, and my tea blend. Everything else belongs to Duke."
She looked deeper into his eyes, and gave a bigger smile.
"It bites, being in second place no matter what you do."
He smiled back, thrilled to have found someone that completely understood his feelings.
"It does. That's mostly why I came here; so I wouldn't have to live in his shadow anymore. I love him dearly-"
"-but you want to break away, and do your own thing without having everyone compare you to your twin," she finished, clearly feeling that way herself. Baron nodded again, smiling brightly at her.
They stood there for a few seconds before continuing up the path.
"Just out of curiosity; why do you and your sister have such unusual nicknames for each other?"
She smiled again.
"Remember the two rosebushes outside my mother's gate?"
He nodded.
"Well, Mother planted them when she was pregnant with my sister and me. When we were born, we reminded Mother a lot of her two rosebushes. I'm Snow White because of my skin, and Hiromi's Rose Red because of her hair. A bit silly, I guess, but it works for us."