Oh my :) This is ending up being a bit longer than I had anticipated. I'm thinking we're about 1/3 of the way done.

Chapter 6

The guards were rowing slowly and Ulrich was watching the city from a sitting area at the head of the boat. Yumi realized that he had probably expected her to follow him. She took her time looking around the boat before heading over to join him.

It was about three or four times the size of a fishing boat but it didn't seem built to carry goods either.

"Does your family use this boat frequently?" Yumi asked.

"Not exactly," the Prince answered. "Only my mother really enjoyed being on the water. It's rarely used anymore."

Yumi tried to hide her relief. "This river is very…" Tiny? Pathetic? "Quaint."

"I hear that it grows as it leaves the city but I've never seen it personally," Ulrich commented, responding more to her thoughts than her words.

Yumi sighed. Nothing else seemed worth chatting meaninglessly about and she doubted he'd listen to anything sensible.

"Did you sleep well? You look very nice," Ulrich finally broke the silence.

"I did. And Sam was very kind." Yumi tried to answer both remarks in one response.

"Sam?" Ulrich seemed confused before realization hit him. "You'll need a maid!" He said as if the idea was entirely foreign to him.

He ran a hand through his hair, deep in thought. Then, coming to a conclusion in his mind, he spoke, "I'll have all the girls gather before dinner and you can pick whichever you want."

Yumi rolled her eyes. "That really won't be necessary. I can dress myself."

Ulrich frowned. "It's customary for-"

"Fine!" Yumi interrupted. "Fine. I get it. I'll have a maid."

She hadn't meant to lose her temper so quickly but she was quickly tiring of hearing about all the things she was supposed to do.

Ulrich didn't look pleased but he refrained from saying anything else.

Then, Yumi had a thought. "I want Sam."

This seemed like the perfect solution to the dark-skinned girl's problem. This also saved Yumi from getting some other girl she had never met before. Sam had been perfectly nice and she was the most reasonable person Yumi had dealt with since coming to the Palace.

Ulrich regarded her skeptically. "I'm not sure Sam has the proper training for a position like that. I think it's best to wait until we return to make a decision."

Yumi crossed her arms and exhaled loudly in irritation. He had wanted her to choose a maid, so she did, and now he wouldn't even listen to her choice.

What gave this boy authority over her anyway?

"How old are you?" Yumi asked.

"I turned 18 yesterday. You were at the celebration," He added, as if her memory was poor and needed a gentle push.

Oh, great… Yumi thought to herself. She was a birthday present to a spoiled brat.

"Can you get married to someone who's older than you?" Yumi hoped the answer would be in her favor.

Ulrich looked mildly surprised. "Well, there's no rule against it and I don't mind. How old are you?"

"19," Yumi answered, feeling highly superior.

The Second Prince did not look as impressed as she had been hoping. "Does it bother you?"

There was almost a tinge of shyness in his voice and it made Yumi pause. She considered his question.

Theo had been almost exactly two months younger than her but would she have married him if he had been older?

"It's not the age difference that bothers me." She finally decided.

Ulrich's expression looked slightly pained and he avoided her gaze. Yumi wondered if he had completely understood what she meant. Then, she reminded herself that she didn't care.

"Is that the dock?" Yumi noticed a dark shape jutting into the river. She hadn't expected the trip to be so short.

"Yes. We should be there shortly." Ulrich's tone told Yumi that he most definitely had not understood the urgency in her question.

Yumi stood up and walked to the very front of the boat, deep in thought. She looked down at about a fifteen-foot drop into unclean water. She turned so her back rested against the rail. The guards were still rowing, facing in the opposite direction.

She looked at Ulrich. He was watching her, no malice or lust in his eyes, simply curious. Yumi swallowed; this could be her last chance. She met his gaze, trying to summon up all the hatred in her entire body into one stare.

Ulrich looked down briefly and that was all the time Yumi needed. She leaned over the edge and let herself fall into the murky water.

She heard shouts before she even made contact but soon, her years of swimming experience took over and she was powering towards the shore. One minute of strong swimming and she could disappear into the city and find a way home.

Something rough bumped against Yumi's hand. She was about to pause to look around when a large object fell into the water beside her.

Strong hands pushed against her, shoving her towards the sandy shore and Yumi gasped for breath above the surface.

Ulrich was a few feet away, a large spear in his hands. Yumi panicked and tried to back away into deeper water

"No!" Ulrich shouted at her, his eyes wide. Yumi heard another loud splash behind her and turned to find a guard struggling to stay afloat.

Then, Yumi realized the large, muscular man wasn't trying to swim. He was on top of something even bigger than him.

Adrenaline shocked her body as she saw the strong jaws of a crocodile open under the guard. The man wrapped his arms around the creature's mouth and shouted. "Go on!"

Yumi turned to find that Ulrich was no closer to shore than he had been previously. He refused to let go of the spear but it was obviously weighing him down.

Yumi made a quick decision and pulled his free arm around her shoulders. She had never swum so fast in her life.

When she could feel the sand under her feet she let Ulrich go and they both crawled to the dry shore.

"Look out!" The guard yelled and the pair turned. The crocodile was swimming straight towards them.

Just when she thought her legs where done for, a spear slid through the animal's head with a sickening crunch.

Yumi looked up to see Ulrich standing over her. He didn't even spare her a glance though, before hurrying to help the dripping wet guard out of the water.

With the boat secured to the dock, the other three guards quickly joined them. Two of the men took over the job of carrying the other guard. He had a deep bite wound in his forearm and his legs were badly scratched.

Ulrich spoke commandingly. "You two, take him back to the palace as fast as you can." He turned to the remaining guard. "You stay with me and…"

Yumi was still sitting in the sand in shock. She watched the two guards leave at a jog, carrying the wounded man.

She could have died.

She would have died if it hadn't been for Ulrich.

"Yumi."

She stood up as he walked over to her. "Than-"

He grabbed the front of her dress and pulled her forward so her face was just centimeters away from his own.

"You think this is funny?" He practically shouted at her. "You think you can just get away with anything because you're far away from home?"

He shoved her away, letting go so that she fell back into the sand.

"I understand that you're not happy. I get that you don't like me," he vented. The anger in his eyes scared Yumi. "But if you ever put my men in danger like that again, I-I'll…"

Ulrich's hand was raised threateningly and Yumi realized she was shielding her face. This scene was all too familiar to her and Ulrich seemed to slowly understand. His rage had subsided but Yumi knew he was still fuming.

"Let's go." He leaned on the spear, lifting the dead crocodile up. He managed to get about a foot before the guard stepped in to help. Ulrich pulled the animal around his shoulders.

"I'll carry it," he snarled. "Might as well give it to Cook."

The Prince's steps were shorter and obviously labored but the guard seemed to know better than to offer assistance. Once Ulrich was a few steps ahead, the guard turned to look at her expectantly.

Yumi fell in step beside the large man, like a dog with its tail between its legs, and the trio walked in a heavy silence.

.

"Escort the Princess to her room. I'm going to check on Herve." Ulrich ordered.

They had deposited the crocodile in the kitchen, much to the cook's delight. She didn't see Sam anywhere.

Yumi watched Ulrich's retreating figure but finally walked to her room with the guard like Ulrich had told them to.

They sat in the room quietly until Yumi asked, "Will he be ok?"

This guard had not tied her up, electing to treat her like she didn't exist, but this made Yumi even more unhappy.

"I imagine the Second Prince will be in better temper for dinner," he responded.

"I meant the guard. Herve?" Yumi thought that was Ulrich had called him.

The guard finally looked at her. "I don't know," he replied honestly.

"I'd like to go see him." Yumi wanted to do everything she could for this poor stranger who had tried to help her.

"You should wait."

"I won't try to see him if he doesn't want me to."

"I imagine he is still being treated." The guard took a long breath before adding, "and I expect that the Second Prince will still be present."

Yumi understood now. She wasn't being punished; she was being kept out of Ulrich's way.

Yumi held her necklace in her hands, rubbing the smooth stone to comfort herself. She found, much to her surprise, that throughout her time at the palace, this moment was filled with the most sorrow.

"Can we go to Ulrich's study?" Yumi asked after a long time. "I'd like to read to pass the time until dinner."

The guard seemed to think over her suggestion. "Would the Princess settle for the royal library?"

Yumi hadn't realized such a thing even existed but it sounded perfect. "Let's go there."

"Very well." The guard opened the door for her and looked out into the hallway, checking for the Second Prince, no doubt.

Yumi tried her best to look as uninterested in running as possible as they walked across the palace to the royal library.

I was literally so close to having Ulrich actually hit her. Like, it was in my notes and everything and then, I just couldn't do it. Ulrich would never hurt anyone, much less Yumi. But, I did really want to highlight the fact that she's just as much a stranger to him as he is to her. I assure you they'll make up :) I just wanted to give Ulrich a moment to be realistic and remind Yumi that she's not the only one in an awkward position.

So, what'd you think? Anything you'd like to see in the coming chapters?