She is clever…..

Prince Takumi.

Misaki would have liked to go back on her words and make an excuse. It would have been easy, honestly.

Only that it would not have been.

She could not back away after so honestly offering her help, and part of her was furious that she had suggested the idea before knowing who she would be investigating. Why was she so mindless?

Not that any cleverness would have mattered in the end. The moment Misaki had heard of Shizuko's predicament, she had known she would be helping her, no matter what kind of problem it was.

But Prince Takumi.…..

Misaki bit her lip as she walked through the corridor leading to the Prince's quarters. Her maid's uniform was difficult to maneuver in, too wide at the brim and longer than what she now usually wore. Misaki briefly wondered whether she would be able to fight in the uniform, or whether she would have to tear the skirt. There was a knife hidden in her bodice and one was strapped to her thigh, both weapons she always kept on her; even when going to bed. Their presence calmed her a little. If trouble did arrive, Misaki was confident she would be able to battle it.

Unless the trouble was not something she could simply stab.

She reached the end of a short, dark hallway and paused in front of the grand double doors of the Prince's chambers. They were as cold and uninviting as she had thought they would be. Misaki took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. She straightened her clothes and knocked.

There was no answer.

Pursing her lips, Misaki knocked again; wondering again whether there was any way she could have avoided this situation.

There was still no answer.

Misaki's eyebrow twitched.

"Your Highness?" she called in the sweetest voice she could muster. "May I come in?"

She heard someone shift inside, but the sound had arrived and left so quickly that Misaki was half sure she had imagined it.

A little forcefully this time, she knocked again, making sure to use her loudest, but politest voice.

"Your Highness? Is everything alright in there? Are you okay?"

This time, she definitely heard the sound of a book being closed.

Lips twitching, Misaki called again.

"Your Highness….? If you do not alert me to your presence I might think that you are in trouble, or unconscious. I'm sure that given that you're in such peril that you cannot answer me, I am allowed to come in your room uninvited-"

One of the doors swung open.

Misaki stepped back and bowed as a tall figure appeared in the door frame. His blond hair was ruffled, covering his emerald green eyes that were glaring at her. He was only dressed in plain shirt and pants, both in the same unkempt condition, that anyone who had never seen him would not even mistake him for the Prince of Seika.

Or perhaps they would, because only the Prince of Seika could be handsome in such attire.

Misaki took a deep breath again, bracing herself for the on-roll of emotions that were going to be the highlight of her conversation with him, mostly of which would be anger; because even though Misaki had the misfortune to meet many insufferable people; the Prince was the most insufferable, heartless twat she had ever met. What was worse, of course, was that she could not mention the above to his face.

"I thought I made it clear that I wanted to be left alone." he said softly, but the anger in his tone was clear.

Fantastic.

Misaki bowed again, her mind whirring with information as she tried to be as polite and ashamed as possible. The Prince wanted to be left alone? There were certainly no surprises there; he was a natural loner, never found among people, and if someone had the fallacy to go to him; he would immediately make them realize their mistake.

He was quite charming that way.

Normally the Prince would be easily left to his devices, as his stubbornness knew no end and the King was not interested enough to force his brother to participate in running the Kingdom. Tonight, however, was different, because Prince Igarashi Tora was arriving with his entourage. Him and the Prince were the same age and had once been childhood friends too, although Misaki had found no evidence of it in any of the portraits or stories or rumors that surrounded the castle. Nevertheless, the arriving Prince had explicitlyillustrated in his letters how much he would love to meet his childhood friend again and reminiscence the times gone by.

The said friend avoiding the ball held especially for his welcome would definitely complicate their relationship.

Misaki cleared her throat.

"That was...understood...Your Highness...but the King has given clear orders that you are present at the time of the ball, to welcome-"

"-to welcome another conceited, cocky bozo….." the Prince brushed his hair out of his eyes and leaned towards her, squinting, "...I believe my time is better spent staring at the patterns on the walls of my room."

She should have backed away and lowered her head, like all the normal servants and citizens would do in the presence of royalty. Instead, Misaki stood her ground and matched the Prince's gaze, her own annoyance burning inside her, wanting to come out, even if through a very, very, small chink. In his harried state, the Prince might not even notice such brazenness.

His squinted face cleared; all anger replaced by sudden thoughtfulness.

Misaki looked away and cursed herself.

"Why….." he muttered, sounding too close to her for comfort, "...I'm pretty sure I've never seen you before….are you a new maid here...?"

Misaki's cheeks burned. She had not counted on the Prince to be paying so much attention. He never came out of his chambers, preferred to dine alone, to spend his time reading or things nobody knew about and could only guess. He had only physically been present at the time Misaki was knighted, preferring to stare out a window than look at his brave and loyal subjects. The castle was filled with rumors about him; but nobody quite ever saw him, much less talked to him.

There was no possible way for him to remember her.

But what if he did remember? What if he recognized her? What then? Would she finally cause the blunder that will send her to the dungeons? And worse, strip her of everything she had worked hard for in her entire life?

"Hmm….when you had come here I thought you had an urgent job to do…..but look at you now, wasting time looking at your shoes…."

Indignation shot up Misaki's brain and she whipped her head back to face him; only to gasp and stumble back, because he was standing so close...too close…..

Her face burning even more furiously; Misaki could only stare at the Prince as his eyes twinkled with mirth; the shadow of a smirk on his lips. It was astonishing how quickly this person's mood had changed. And it was because he had caused Misaki to create a fool of herself.

Her indignation returned.

"Yes, Your Highness, " she hissed, glaring at him without hesitation, "It would be good if we could hurry."

He looked thoughtful again, his smirk vanishing. Then he turned and walked back inside his room, leaving the door open for her to follow.

Still angry but breathing a sigh of relief; Misaki entered his broad chambers, keeping close to the door. She had worked as a maid for one Lady Satsuki when she was still training to be a knight; and knew most the tactics required to properly serve people who had been raised to dominate other people. The only difference was that, Lady Satsuki had been a kind, understanding mistress, one that Misaki happily served. This Prince however; was a master she would happily set on fire.

But that could not be done.

She would have to control her anger and focus on more vital things. That was the way of a leader.

"If I may, Your Highness, I would like to ask a question-what are you doing?!"

The Prince only glanced back her as he finished unbuttoning his shirt.

"What..? I thought I was supposed to be getting ready."

Misaki's face burned again; it was doing that a lot; betraying her emotions in front of the Prince. She bit her lip, thinking quickly. Ignoring him; she carefully set his newly washed and primed suit on the nearest cushion, walked back to the door and turned her back to him.

There was very prolonged silence behind her, as if he was watching her. Misaki wondered if she was going to get thrown out of his chambers for refusing to look at her Prince. It was amazing really, the kind of things that might be considered as an offence against the monarchy. Taking deep breaths, Misaki decided that it was still less mortifying than watching the Prince strip himself.

"What...aren't you supposed to be assisting me in getting ready?" came his voice, more amused than insulted.

"I shall assist you if you need it, Your Highness."

"What do you mean by that?"

Misaki's head was pulsing.

"Pardon me, but I am quite sure that, Your Highness is perfectly capable of changing his attire himself."

There was another pause.

She was definitely going to be thrown out.

Instead of that, she heard something quite like a chuckle.…..a very light and soft sound that she would have missed it if it was not for the complete silence in the room. Misaki could not believe that it might have come from the bigoted person behind her.

She heard the ruffling of clothes for a few more moments, before he spoke again.

"Okay, I'm done."

Some of the weight on Misaki's shoulders lifted. One part of this endeavor had been completed, at least.

She turned around and grimaced in shock.

Had anyone ever taught this person how to put on clothes?

He must have noticed her expression again, because he raised an eyebrow at her; his eyes cold, almost daring her to comment. He stood in the centre of his room with his arms raised horizontally to the floor, producing some image of a annoyed scarecrow. The prim suit hanged awkwardly off him, unbuttoned, bulging and wrinkling as if it was too large for him.

"For someone so high-strung, you sure do waste a lot of time." he smiled, "Wonder what I shall tell the King when he asks me why I am late?"

The mention of the King put Misaki into action.

She slipped out a needle and thread out of her bodice, which was just one of the many things she had learned to always keep at hand. Although, to be honest, situations like the present were not what she had had in mind when preparing. She stalked over to him, putting the thread to her lips and then slipping it through the needle, all with the efficiency of an expert seamstress.

His gaze was fixed on her as she started fitting his coat, and Misaki felt absurdly conscious. It was highly inappropriate for her to be alone with him in his chambers, even if very reluctantly. And for her to be actually fixing his clothes as he stood; being so near him? She would be executed without a second thought. Her family would be banished; and all that Misaki had worked towards would end, simply because the Prince was too lazy to fix his clothes.

It was best to be as quick as possible, before anyone-

Misaki's hand paused mid-swing for just a fraction of a second.

Then she resumed her work, her mind thrumming with more pressing thoughts.

"Your Highness, may I ask you a question?" she mumbled through the string in her mouth. It was probably not the most graceful display she had made, but it could not be helped.

There was another pause, before there was a grunt above her; which Misaki took as agreement.

"Where are the guards stationed outside your chambers? I did not see anyone as I came here."

She asked this as generically and politely as she could; sounding just like a very curious and (the thought made her irk) a very scared servant who was in need of assurance from her superior.

There was silence again, but Misaki kept her rhythmic movements, knowing that there was a good chance that he might answer.

"And why do you want to know?"

Misaki almost flinched. Almost.

"...I am..simply concerned, Your Highness. The gates will be open tonight and a lot of strangers will be admitted-"

"Those are hardly things a maid like you has to concern herself with." he said softly, "...but If you must know, I was the one who sent them away."

Misaki did pause in her work this time, her hand freezing in the air, as the other one held his collar.

"What?"

"...You-You sent them away, Your Highness...?" she asked weakly.

"Yes."

Misaki pursed her lips. Something in his tone was telling her that he would not answer if she asked why.

As she stood frozen in her shock, he grabbed her hand. Misaki flinched and tried to pull back, but his hold was strong; stronger than most of the men she had fought with in her life as a knight. She instinctively clicked her tongue and pulled back, already aiming the needle at his skin. He stopped her as easily as if she had presented her hand for him to hold.

Misaki cringed.

Now was not the time…..

"You know I've been wondering for quite a while….." he muttered, leaning closer to her, his emerald eyes shining with intent, " why a new servant like you would be so interested in the castle's security?"

"...Huh…?" Misaki stammered, unable to look away.

Was that what he was thinking? That she was a spy? That she was here to carry out some nefarious plot against the King? Her? If she had not been so furious, Misaki could have actually laughed.

"What are you planning….? I already have most of it figured out, so you'll be only filling out minor details...but if you help I might just save you from execution..."

"What?! No..! I-"

A loud crash reverberated in the corridor outside.

…..