Genre: Mystery

A one shot about Ayuzawa Misaki and Usui Takumi.

Title: Thinking of You

Summary: You said move on where do I go? I guess second best is all I will know.

—

"But… but Mom!"

"This is decided, Misaki. You are to help the Prince of the Igarashi family for your wedding ceremony."

I pursed my lips into a hard line before springing lightly to my feet despite the irritating high heels and run off to my room carrying the ends of my long gown.

This is how I live as a royalty. Although I don't want to be married to some random guy, I still have to for political purposes and position advantages. Like what Mom has told me, I was to marry the Igarashi family's crowned prince. According to rumors, this guy—prince—was said to be really conceited and irritating. With my unfeminine attitude, liking this guy wouldn't be as easy as my Mom expects me to be. No one could and will be ever great enough to capture my heart.

Except him.

I stop midway and the sudden thought about him made my heart skip a beat. Yes, except him. He was the only person that is strong enough to capture my heart. The only person who is courageous enough to challenge me and dodge away from my secret attacks. The only person who has the power to overpower me and change my view of the world. The only person who I pledge irrevocable love with until the ends of eternity.

But he was gone now. Someone sent me a letter confirming of his death at his homeland England during the civil war and now, I was left alone for good and is bound to marry some random guy I couldn't even love.

I look away from the floor and made my way to the quiet garden where we used to stay almost three years ago after his death. Up to now, I could quite say that I'm not doing well. I haven't and hadn't tried to move on after learning his death. I've decided to not move forward and stayed lonely for the rest of his disappearance. That's why I don't want to marry any guy but him only.

But he's dead now and he won't come back for me anymore.

I removed the heels I was wearing and throw them off somewhere and went straight to the lake just behind the rose garden. Letting my long gown get soaked, I imagine myself being hugged by a guy which doesn't possess his face only to feel disgusted. I know all this time that I would be betraying him if I were to marry that Igarashi prince but… as a princess, it was my duty.

And I must not fail my people even if I have to give up my heart to a guy I could barely notice.

—

"Misaki-hime!"

I run away from the court lady and went straight to the hall where everyone was gathering without informing me. I almost kicked the door open and walked without listening to the court ladies' pleas.

"Hime-sama! What are you doi—"

"Silence!" I ordered one of my Mom's kinsmen and walked towards the throne. "What is the meaning of this, My Queen? I have heard about the news. Why are you going to send me to England? I don't want to go there!"

My Mom eyed me through her slit-like irises before stifling a yawn. "Well, my dear Princess, you have your own duty to fulfill that's why I want you to help Prince Igarashi for your wedding preparations."

I bit the inside of my cheek and burn holes through her. "I. Don't. Want. To. Go."

"Are you being stubborn in front of the royal council, Misaki-hime?" she shot me dagger-like glares and nodded at the hall guards. "Take her away but most likely, do not let her get out of her room. Not until the preparations for tomorrow's journey is finished."

"Wha—"

"And locked her inside the castle until tomorrow comes."

"Mo—let go of me!" I pushed the guards holding me down and settled on defending myself. I even heard one of the councils saying 'the Princess is really stubborn' but I have no care about that anymore. All I thought was that I would never step foot in England or I'll die.

"Princess, stay still!"

"Shut up!" I pushed one of the guards and dash away from the hall, pulling my court lady with me which is Satsuki-san. Together we run away from the palace guards and hid behind the walls of the back garden, a place unknown to the guards.

I slumped down on the floor and irritatedly threw my shoes again.

"Y-Your Majesty, please watch your manners." Satsuki-san—my court lady—said to me in a loud shrilling voice. "Her Majesty the Queen would punish me if she learned that you are not doing well in terms of palace etiquette!"

"Damn!" I cursed loudly. "Why must I step foot to England? She knows so damn well that I don't want to go to that place!"

"P-Princess! Refrain from speaking such vulgar words!"

I shot her a bored look and sighed. "Satsuki-san, I don't want to go to England! I don't want to step foot on the place where he died!"

"He—you mean?"She eyed me with too much innocence before finally understanding what I'm whining about. "Ah—Usui Takumi-kun, the last Prince of the Usui household. Your fiancé from three years ago."

Once again, I look away and sighed. "Thanks for the obvious."

"Hime-sama, I think it is time for you to move on from him." She said before taking her place beside me. "If Prince Takumi is really a good person, seeing you in such misery would pain him. He must be wishing for your happiness which is not him but can be found to Prince Tora."

"But I don't like him." I reasoned out. "He wasn't for me."

"But Prince Takumi too isn't for you." She replied nonetheless. "Maybe… the reason why he died is because… you and Prince Tora are destined for each other. Maybe… that's what Prince Takumi wants you to accomplish in order to obtain happiness."

Was it really what he wants me to do? Are we really not bound with each other? Am I really destined to love someone else besides him?

"Hime-sama," Satsuki-san held my hand tightly before smiling."You've been in misery for three whole years and seeing you on that state, I could quite guess why Her Majesty the Queen would do such thing. Of course it pains her to see that her only daughter was stuck in a realm of loneliness and she was of no help to you the time you learned of his death. You must move on now, Hime-sama. Because I am sure that wherever Prince Takumi is, he also doesn't like seeing you living a life of sadness brought by his unexpected death."

I fixed my eyes on the cloudy sky above us before signaling her to go.

Usui… is it really your will?

What else… am I suppose to do?

If I marry Prince Tora… would I really be able to obtain the path of happiness? Will I be able to forget all the sadness your death has brought me?

—

To be continued.

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Will Misaki really choose Prince Igarashi? Find out in the next chapter of More Love.

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MandarinOrange13