Chapter 10 : It's you

Umi has already finished preparing herself. She is now wearing a dark blue suit with white long pants and she also spend some time to even tie her hair up. Although, she is a girl but right now she is completely look like a young man. The blue hair girl thought that it's uncomfortable to wear a dress and move around so much besides who would want to see her in a dress anyway.

After the archer checked up herself one last time, she took a deep breath and proceeds to the princess's room.

"You can do it, Umi. Just one dance…"

Umi is talking to herself while she is on the way. The blue hair girl is so nervous to meet the princess but she even feels more nervous when she was thinking about her plan. Tonight, she will ask her princess to join her with one dance. Umi knew that it is wrong to have this wish but this is a rare opportunity and Umi hope that she still has some luck left.

The golden eyes soldier had arrive in front of Kotori's bedroom but she didn't knock on the wooden door yet. Umi needs time to prepare her heart and calm her nerve. Her hand touches her chest to feel the beating heart that roaring like a beating drum.

"God damn it…calm down…Umi…calm down…."

While Umi was trying to calm herself, suddenly the door swings open. The archer jumped in surprise and even let her voice out loud.

"AH!"

The black hair maid who opened the door jumped in surprised too.

"W..What? You surprised me Umi! Mou…How many times that you are going to scare me like that?"

"Ah…sorry Nico-san…Umm I just came here to…"

"I know, you came to pick up our princess right? Can you wait a bit? We are almost done." Nico sighed and shut the door without waiting for Umi replied.

"Oh…Okay…"

Umi wait patiently as she was told. In fact, Umi was glad that she has more time to prepare her heart. The archer touches her chest again but this time she felt something inside the pocket. She took it out and holds on to the wooden badge that her father gave to her carefully. She doesn't know why but everytime she holds on to it she felt so calm. But not for long until the door opened again. The maids came out first along with Nico. The blue hair girl moved herself from the door not wanting to be in the maids' way. She also noticed some of the maids looking at her as well but they didn't say anything her. The soldier started to worry if she looks funny or weird but all the thoughts had gone after her eyes met with a grayish hair girl that coming to her way.

Kotori came out with pure long soft green dress and white gloves. Her hair is also tied up in the same hair style with her guardian. Umi looked at her princess in awe. She has no word to describe how beauty of Kotori is right now. The soldier's mind had stopped thinking and only watches the beautiful princess in admiration.

"So beautiful…"

Umi accidently let out words that are on her mind. She hurried cover her mouth in shame while the princess smiled widely after she heard Umi.

"Thank you…Umi-chan…I am glad…We even have the matching hairstyle."

"Ah…Err…yes your welcome, your highness" Umi scratched her chin while her cheek is now paint in red color.

"You look so nice tonight, Umi-chan. I mean you look handsome now…like a prince."

Now it's the princess's turn to compliment her guard.

"You are just teasing me, your highness…I don't think I look different much…"

Kotori closed the gap between them before whisper to Umi's ear softly.

"You're right…it will be nicer if you are in a dress, Umi-chan"

Umi was shocked to hear that from her princess. She hides her face from the blush.

"D…Dress!? But I am a soldier, your highness…And I don't think I will look good in them."

Kotori giggled then cupped her guard's face to look back at her.

"You will! You are pretty, Umi-chan."

Umi makes a small smile knowing that the princess is being kind to her again.

"Your highness is so kind but you should know that dresses don't suit me well."

"Umi-chan…You know I would never lie to you, right?" Kotori interrupted Umi's sentences.

Umi eyes are staring to the golden eyes princess before she sighed in defeat.

"Yes…your highness…I will reconsider next time but right now we should be going. I will lead the way."

Umi turned her back to the princess and about to move her legs but Kotori's hand stopped her.

"Wait…Umi-chan…I have a request…"

Umi turned her head back to Kotori as she heard her princess.

"Yes, what is it your highness?"

"Umm…can we link arms?"

"WHAT!?" Umi shouted out loud not expect the rare request from the grayish hair girl.

"You don't have to be so loud! Mou…It's just I am wearing a new shoes now and I still not get used to it. So if it's not bothering you, Umi-chan….Can you help me?"

Kotori is now making a puppy eyes. Umi knows that she can't resist for this but she had to get a grip of herself.

"But…your highness…it might be inappropriate…"

Kotori's right hand now is clutching to her chest.

"Umi-chan…"

"Oh no…" That's what Umi thought. It's like she knew what is coming.

"PLEASE!" (ONEGAI!)

Umi's head bowed in defeat. Once again, the princess got what she wanted from Umi.

"Yes…your highness…"

On the way to the ball, Umi noticed that a lot of people have been looking at them or even giggling softly. The archer girl wanted to wear a mask right now before she dies from the embarrassment. While in the other hand, the princess just smile and firm her hold with her guardian harder never let go.

"W...We are arrived." Umi said quietly when she saw the entrance of the party.

When the maids saw Kotori, they all came to welcome the princess and lead her to where she supposed to be. Kotori sits right beside her sisters and queen while on their left side prince Tsubasa and prince Rin are also there. The royalties seem to have their own conversation now.

Umi didn't have a chance to say anything to the taupe hair girl yet but Umi thought that she still has a long night chance to ask her princess.

"Hey, Umi…so...you and the princess are finally together?"

The red hair doctor came from behind Umi said after she saw how the archer and Kotori came together.

"No! How could you say something like that Maki?" Umi is now blushing mad.

"Well…I heard some maids said that you and the princess are so close to each other so I guess it's true after all."

"MAKI!"

"Give Umi a break, Maki. Umi might die if you keep teasing her like that." Captain Eli came in to their conversation while hand the drink to Umi.

"Thank you Captain…"

"Don't mention it. Anyway, I saw a lot of famous noblemen here. So I guess this is not a regular ball." Eli drinks up her drink on her hand while Umi and Maki do so.

"Of course…it's a ball to celebrate and farewell with the prince from another Kingdom. It's supposed to be big."

"Ah…Hello Nico-san." Umi greet with the head maid who just pop out of nowhere.

"You sure know everything huh…" Maki added up after heard the maid gave them information again.

"Keh…nice to see you too… anyway tomorrow you guys suppose to be guarding the princes on their way home in the morning so don't party too hard or else you will bring shame to our kingdom."

"You are right…I guess we should be preparing for tomorrow too…"

Eli looks at the royalties after commenting but soon her face become frown after she saw prince Tsubasa and her princess Nozomi are now sitting near each other and chatting.

"I see…I guess we should then." Umi drink again until her cup is empty.

"Hello, everyone" The orange hair maid came in to their conversation while she offer another drink to Umi.

"Here, Umi-san…you can have this."

"Ah…Hello, Honoka-san… and thank you." Umi took a cup from Honoka's hand.

"Captain Eli, I heard from prince Tsubasa that you will be guarding us all the way to our home. I trust our princes to be in your care tomorrow and also I am deeply sorry about what happened before. Please know that our prince meant no harm." Honoka bowed down to the blond hair girl while captain just waves her hand.

"Ah…don't mention it. It was me who was wrong at the first place…beside…" Eli turned her head to look at where the royalties are but not a word came out later.

"Captain?"

"Oh…umm nothing…anyway…nice dress."

Honoka smiled before gently put her hand on the orange dress that she is wearing.

"Thank you…This dress was prepared by prince Tsubasa…He asked me to wear this tonight."

All of them were making an o shape mouth but no one bother about it except Nico.

"Must be nice huh? Even though you are a maid but the prince treated you so well. Look at me, even in this big party I still have to wear the maid outfit. Meh…no dance for me tonight again."

"Nico…" Eli sighed after hearing the maid complain.

"But you are so beautiful, Nico-san. I believe that tonight you will get a dance for sure." Honoka smiled brightly to the head maid.

After the twin tailed maid heard what Honoka said, her self confidence became to max and smile proudly.

"You're right… Of course! I am number one maid after all. At least, there should be some soldiers who want to dance with me!"

"Pffts…" A snicker sound came from the red hair doctor mouth. Maki is trying her hardest to hold out laugh but she can't manage it.

"What!? You got a problem?" Nico glared to the doctor unsatisfied with Maki's reaction.

"No…It's just to think that someone wanted to dance with you…kind of make me want to laugh…" Maki answered while wiping away her tears from laughing.

"God damn it! I will show you, doctor! Tonight I will get some dance for sure! You stupid red head!" Nico stomped out from the group.

"Why did you do that, Maki?" Umi whispered to Maki's side.

"What do you mean?" The red hair doctor played with her hair while looking at Umi with confusing.

"Aren't you going to dance with Nico-san tonight?"

"W..WH..WHA….WHAT THE HELL?!" Maki's face is as red as her hair now after she heard the archer's question.

"Am I mistaken?" Umi taps her chin thinking that she might be wrong.

"UMI You…how did you get that idea! I would never want to dance with that annoying maid! Not in a million years!"

"Ah…I see…I am sorry." Umi bow her head to apologize to Maki while the doctor just turned her head to another side refuse to let anyone see her face now.

"What's going on?" Eli asked a question when she saw her friends whispering to each other privately.

"Nothing…" Both Umi and Maki answer the same words.

The music suddenly change the tone, most people knew that it's time for dancing. Umi gulped down after she heard the melody. She looked to where her princess was at and hopefully she will have enough courage to ask Kotori for a dance.

After noticed the music tone changed, Eli looked up to where her princess belongs. Tonight she plans to make up with her princess but she doesn't sure how. When she heard the music, she thought that this could be her chance. But everything was not going to her way when she saw prince Tsubasa asked Nozomi for the dance before her. The purple hair girl took the prince's hand and head to the dance area. Everyone applauded to them while start to join in the dance as well.

"Captain Eli" Honoka called the blond hair name to make Eli look back at her.

"Yes, what is it."

"If you don't mind a maid like me…Can we have a dance?" The blue eyes maid offers her hand to Eli. The blond hair soldier looked at where her princess dances with the prince one more time before nodding her head.

"Of course…"

Eli took Honoka's hand and pulled her to the dance floor. The soldier hold on to Honoka's waist firmly to close the gap between them made the ginger hair girl let our surprised noise but they still continue to start dancing. While they were dancing, they could notice that a lot of people were watching them including the prince and the princess too but Eli's blue eyes is focusing on the maid that in her hold.

"You are quiet a good dancer." Eli smiled while Honoka moves her hand to lie on the soldier's shoulder.

"Ah…thank you. You are too…Captain."

"Well…It seems like our servants are close to each other huh?" The prince said to Nozomi after saw what happen.

The purple hair girl just downcast her eyes and not a word came out from her mouth.

Tsubasa noticed the silence but still keeps on going.

"I guess dancing with me is boring? Princess Nozomi."

"Ah...No…I was kind of tired…" Nozomi denied.

"I see then maybe we should stop dancing so you can rest?"

Nozomi shakes her head softly.

"Thank you…but I am fine. Tomorrow you will be leaving right?"

Tsubasa turned Nozomi's body around one time before whispering to her ears.

"Yes…I hope you will not miss your soldier much. After all, she will be coming with me until I get to my homeland."

The emerald eyes princess gently pushes Tsubasa away from her body and not looking to his eyes.

"I don't know what you are talking about…"

Tsubasa smiled before point his finger to where Eli is.

"You are in love with her…I can tell by the way you are looking at her."

"I…"

Nozomi about to say something but her words stopped when she saw Honoka who accidently tripped from her dress, just fell on to Eli's body. Furthermore their face is almost touching each other. But in the emerald girl eyes angle, they were like kissing to each other.

"Ah… are you okay?" Eli asked when she managed to grab Honoka before the ginger hair fall down to the ground.

"Yes…I am…"

Honoka doesn't even have time to finish her sentences. A hand just pulls her away from Eli instance.

"Honoka, I am kind of tired now…Let us go."

Prince Tsubasa pulled Honoka out from the dance floor while everyone is still watching them.

Honoka doesn't know what's going on but she has to do what the prince command. So she obey him without any protest while in the other hand, Eli was confused on the price's action. The blond hair girl is trying to reach her hand to the maid.

"Wait…"

In the instance, Tsubasa slapped Eli's hand away from his maid's while looking at Eli with such scary eyes that the blond hair girl never see before.

"Don't bother us…"

Eli looked at the maid and she can see that Honoka's eyes are refused to meet with her. So the soldier just moves away from them.

"Yes…your highness"

The prince and the ginger hair maid left from the ball but the party is still going on. Eli sighed then walked back to get more drink but when her eyes land on the purple hair princess she stopped.

"Your…"

Eli didn't get to say anything to Nozomi yet, the emerald eyes princess just walk away to the balcony. The captain scratched the back of her head before went to the drinking table and pours a lot of alcohol to her cup before drink it all.

"Captain Eli…"

The archer came from behind while tap on the captain's arm.

"Hey…Umi"

"I know it's not my place to say but…you need to fix it…"

"What do you mean?" Again, another pour in to Eli's cup.

"You and princess Nozomi had a fight right…?"

"Fight? We don't…"

"Don't lie…Captain…I know about you and the princess…I am sorry but I saw you and the princess at the garden before. But I swear I didn't tell anyone…"

Eli's eyes went wide but soon calm and continue drinking her cup.

"I see…well it does not matter now. She hates me."

"Of course not…"

"How do you know?" Eli looked back at Umi who is trying to cheer her up. The archer went quiet but not for long.

"I don't know…but the only way is to find out is asking from the princess herself, is it not?"

Eli drinks one more time before smile to Umi.

"You're right…"

A cool breeze touched Nozomi's body. The purple hair girl hugged herself at the corner of the balcony. The place where she stands is so dark only the light from the moon can be seen which make nobody walk nearby. Nozomi was trying to hold her tears for so long but now she can't hold it any longer after what happened. So she let out of her tears and cries softly.

"Your highness…"

A gasp could be heard from princess's mouth. Nozomi quickly wiped away her tears but not looking back at the source of the voice knowing who it is that standing at the dark.

"I am sorry for what I did to you before…I know I had let you down and made you hurt…"

Eli decided to come out from the shadow after a minute and try to get near Nozomi but not too close to scare her away.

"Nozomi…I…"

"Don't…Don't call my name…"

Finally, words came out from the purple hair girl. Even though it shows no good sign but Eli's heart knows that this is what she deserved. At least this is a sign to shows that Nozomi does not plan to ignore her forever.

"But you said that I can call your name…"

"That was before but now don't ever call my name."

"Okay…Your highness…I will not say your name and I won't ask for the forgiveness…I know you hate me now and I know I can't take back what I did to you but…tonight it's cold out and you might get sick later if you standing here for too long…So at least please take my coat and I will not bother you again."

Eli takes out her coat and gently put them on Nozomi. The princess didn't show any sign of refusing but she doesn't turn her head back to the soldier either.

After Eli was done, she smiled one last time before turned back to the party.

"Goodnight, your highness…"

"Wait"

Eli stopped her track and immediately turns back to her princess.

"Yes, what is it your highness…"

"Do you like that girl?"

Eli made a confused look before asking back to Nozomi.

"What girl, your highness?"

"The girl that you were dancing with"

"Ah…You meant Honoka…well we only had one dance…so I don't know…but she has the brightest smile…and also pretty too."

"I see…"

Eli noticed the princess's tone. Her princess is not satisfied with her answer so she had to make things right this time.

"But the only girl who is the most beautiful and I fell in love with…is you…your highness…"

The princess doesn't response back after that but Eli didn't wait for it either. The blond hair girl bowed down one last time before leaving her princess for privacy.

"I should be going your highness. Tomorrow I have to leave at dawn and I will ask someone else to take care of you when I am away, your highness…In the meantime, please take care of yourself…Goodnight."

The soldier left the balcony to the ball after that. When there is no sound of someone else nearby anymore, Nozimi whispered to herself before holding on to Eli's coat tightly.

"You are an idiot, Elichi…"

At first I planned to end it at chapter 10 but it seems like it's impossible now ;3; I will try not to make it over 20 chapters...