Chapter 9 : The ball
"We are arrived, your highnesses. Please proceed to the room." Umi said to the prince and the princess after guided them to the meeting hall successfully.
"Thank you so much nyan! You saved us! By the way what is your name nyan?" Rin asked the one who saved her from the trouble.
"My name is Umi, your highness. I am glad I to be your service." Umi bowed down in manner while Rin smiled brightly.
"What a pretty name! Anyway thank you again Umi. We should be going in now nyan. Let's go Kayo-chin." The yellow eyes girl dragged Hanayo in the room without waiting a response.
"Wa…wait Rin-chan! Somebody please save meeeeee."
Umi let out a small laugh then walked out from the meeting hall area knowing that it's not her business to be there anymore.
While Umi is on her way back she met with a purple princess who is running toward to her way. Umi was about to greet with the princess but Nozomi just run passed her. Umi shouted out the princess name but Nozomi doesn't stop. Umi found it strange so she was about to follow the princess but then she saw another person who is also running toward to her way with full speed.
"Captain Eli?"
"Out of the way, Umi!"
With full speed, it's hard for Eli to stop now. Umi who was standing at the middle of the walkway doesn't know what's going on. Her brain isn't fast enough to order her body to move away from the path. As the result, both soldiers are crashing to each other before fell down to the ground.
"Oww…Captain…What's the matter? Why are you running?" Umi rubbed her head out of pain.
"Not now Umi I need to…ouch!" Eli tried to stand up but due to the strong crashed with Umi earlier. She rubbed her head in pain and remains on the ground.
"I am sorry captain…here let me help you." Umi went to the captain side and help the blond hair girl up.
"I am sorry too, Umi." Eli said in soft tone.
After the brief of silence, Umi break it down.
"So…I saw princess Nozomi was running ahead and now you too, captain. Is there something matter?"
Eli hides her face while gritting her teeth. Yes, it was her fault that Nozomi running away like that but she can't tell her friend about it or wanting to.
"Nothing… the princess is already late for the meeting…That's all."
"Oh…I see…"
Umi maybe dense but she is not that dense to not notice the lie. But if Eli chose not to tell anything to her then she should respect that and never bother Eli about it.
"By the way captain, I don't know if you hear it but princess Hanayo was missing awhile ago." Umi is moving on to the new subject.
"Yes…I heard. So did anyone find her yet?"
"Yes…actually I did. I found her at some random walkway and what's more surprised is prince Rin was also there with princess Hanayo too."
"What? Prince Rin? But prince Tsubasa said that he is not feeling well so he is resting in his room. How come he was with princess Hanayo?"
"Beat me…but the prince and the princess seem really close when I met them…" Umi made a comment after recalled what she saw when she found them.
"I see…"
"Anyway, captain…why don't we patrol for a bit? It seems that the meeting will be long and if you like could we do the special training? I would like you to teach me how to get better with the sword. Of course, if you don't mind."
Eli smiled a bit after hearing her friend's request. Before she feels so lost from what happened with Nozomi. But when she talked with Umi now, she feels calm and less worry. Maybe she should forget about what happened earlier and takes some time to fix what she had done to the princess later.
"Alright, Umi"
The meeting is boring, that's what Kotori thought. Kotori was trying her best to stay focus on what her mother and the prince are talking about but it's all boring to her. She didn't even know why she has to be here in the first place but when she saw her elder sister's face she can't help but wonder if there is something on her sister's mind.
Before her mother arrived, her youngest sister along with prince Rin was found by Umi. They both came in the meeting hall and tell Kotori about how cool of Umi is and she is their life savior. They were giggle and laugh when Hanayo was trying to explain where she was and how come she met with the prince. The atmosphere is quiet nice until when her eldest sister came in. Hanayo went to Nozomi's side to show her presence and told Nozomi what happened. Normally, Nozomi would be happy to see the little sister and even say something to tease her but this time something was wrong. The emerald eyes princess only made a short comment with sad smile like "Really?" or "Mhm" Kotori was about to asked what is wrong with her sister but their mother had arrived so the meeting started right away.
"Alright prince Tsubasa I will reconsider your offer, for now I think it should be best if we stop talking about this boring political business and end the meeting, shall we?"
After the queen said that the meeting is over, Kotori wanted to leave the seat and got out right away but she is a princess so she has to be composed. Kotori right now is just keep on smiling and wait patiently.
"Yes, your majesty thank you for your time. We are very honor to have a long talk with you. Although it's just a short time that we are staying here but I believe that we will have a long term alliance contract from now on?" Prince Tsubasa bowed his head then smiled.
"Of course, prince Tsubasa."
"Anyway, we should be heading back to our Kingdom and let our people know the good news soon. So we will excuse ourselves and leave your Kingdom now." Tsubasa got up along with Rin but soon stopped by the queen's request.
"I would like you to stay one more night, prince Tsubasa and also prince Rin. It's almost evening and we don't want our important guests to travel back through the night. It would be best if you leave our Kingdom by sunrise tomorrow. I will even prepare some good soldiers to guard you all the way to the Kingdom."
"Please…no need for that your majesty, we…"
The queen cut off the prince's words as she knows that the price will refuse to stay one more night.
"Actually, I plan to have a ball tonight in our palace to celebrate our friendly contract with Kira Kingdom and I hope that the princes will be an honor to join us as well?"
After hearing the queen's request, both princes can't refuse anymore so they have to accept the offer right away.
"Of course your majesty. We would love to join the ball as well..."
"I knew it, you guys are here."
"Maki?" Both soldiers said in reunion after they saw the doctor came to the training ground while they were swing the swords to each other.
"Yes, it's me. Maki…"
"So you are interest to join the training?" Eli asked after she saw Maki is heading to their way.
"No…actually I came here to tell you that we will have a party today. All of the noblemen and high rank soldiers are invited." Maki rolled her red hair out of her habit.
"A ball? Why?" Umi asked the question while wipe away her sweat.
"Well, they said that the meeting was going well and the princes will be leaving by tomorrow. So yea the queen decided that we should throw the party for the princes before they get back home."
"Oh…" both soldiers react in reunion again. Eli isn't sure how to react though she is kind of happy to know that the prince will be leaving soon but she is also kind of unhappy when she realized that she still haven't made up with the princess.
"So? That's it?" Umi just asked out as if it has nothing to do with her.
"Well…the ball sounds nice to me but Umi and I are busy with training now…so…" Eli also added up.
Maki is frustrating. How come that these soldiers are idiots even thought they are mighty warriors
"Mou…what I am trying to say is you guys should be getting ready is it not? You guys are high rank soldiers right?"
"Well…I didn't hear anything or getting any invite so…"
Eli replied back but not gets to finish the sentence until her blue eyes met with the twin tailed maid that looking around and soon after she saw them the head maid stomp her way toward them, make Eli and Umi both flinched in surprise.
"It took me so long to find you! How troublesome…"
"Ah haha…hello Nico-san…" Umi still didn't forget for what she did to the head maid but it seems Nico doesn't care about it anymore.
"Yea yea save the greeting. You three get ready for the ball, this is a queen's order." Nico handed three envelopes to the soldiers.
"Thank you, Nico." Eli said after received the enveloped
Umi takes the envelope and opened it. Inside there is a card with Umi name on it. It's an invitation card for the tonight ball.
"Hmp! And also you guys need to guard the princes back to Kira kingdom tomorrow morning too. Of course I meant Eli and Umi, not you doctor. Now if you excuse me I need to get going and prepare for the ball." Nico walked away after she had done her task.
"Well…that was quick…I guess we should go get ready then…" Maki looked at the maid who walked away from them then folding the invitation card back in the envelope.
"Yea…"
After the three soldiers separate to their own way, Umi just realized that Kotori should be finish from the meeting by now. The blue hair soldier wanted to see her princess dearly. So she walked back to find the princess. Even though the princess might not be at the meeting hall anymore but she shouldn't be far from it. Umi speed her legs as fast as she could. She wishes that she could catch up her princess and meet Kotori before the ball starts.
Like a miracle, Umi just found her princess not far from where she was. The grayish hair princess is on her way to her own room with Nico and the other maids. Umi walk as fast as she could and make a presence in front of Kotori.
"Your highness…" Umi bowed down and takes Kotori's hand for a kiss.
"Umi-chan…you startled me."
"Ah…Sorry, your highness"
The princess smiled then later told the maids to leave her.
"Everyone please go ahead, I wanted to have a chat with Umi-chan in private. I will be going to my room with Umi-chan later." The maids nodded to their head after received new order while Nico just glared to Umi with threatening eyes but soon they all left as they have been told.
"Your highness, umm I…" Umi doesn't know what to say. All she wanted is to see her princess's face but she didn't think of making any conversation beforehand. But again she was saved by Kotori who always started making the conversation first.
"I see, so you got the invitation." Kotori pointed to the enveloped that in Umi's hand.
"Ah…Yes...your highness…"
"Are you excited, Umi-chan? Even though, it was so sudden."
"Y..Yes" Umi failed to make a normal reply to her princess again.
"I was told that there will be a lot of people attending and we will have a lot of food and music and dances too. I am looking forward to it. What about you, Umi-chan?"
"Wh…What about me, your highness?"
"Are you planning to dance with anyone?" Kotori moves closer to her guard while looking at Umi's face with question looks.
Umi blushed hard before back away from the princess a bit.
"Umi-chan?"
"Ah…your highness…you see…I had training with Captain Eli before so now I am soaked with sweat. I am probably smelled too …"
Kotori giggled softly before moves closer to Umi even more "How silly of you Umi-chan. I would never mind about that."
"Y…Your highness….too…close" Even Umi saying like that but she didn't move back anymore while in other hand Kotori just grab on to Umi's shoulder before smile to her guardian.
"Hehe…Sorry Umi-chan…I just wanted to tease you. I guess we should get going and prepare for the ball. Umi-chan?"
"Yes…We should, your highness."
"One more thing…Umi-chan… Can you come and pick me up later when you are ready?" The princess made a request out of the blue and that makes Umi surprised.
"Eh? Me? Is that okay, your highness?" Umi asked not sure if she heard right.
"Yes…I still remembered your word, Umi-chan…before the meeting you said you will do anything if I can bear for the whole meeting...Isn't that right?"
"Ah…yes I mean…I would be gladly to serve you whenever you need me anyway, your highness!"
Umi isn't sure if her voice sound too happy or not but she can't help it. The princess asked her to come and see her again which means Umi will be the first one to see Kotori in beautiful dress before anyone else beside the maids.
"It's decided then. Thank you, Umi-chan"
Yay! another chapter... and thanks for all the feedback! I will update another story soon. :D
