Chapter IX
The first visit at the palace soon turned into many as Haru seemed to become the favored companion of the Prince. She wished she could say that she discovered the hidden qualities of the Prince, some hidden aspect he secretly kept hidden from the world. He wasn't cruel, uncaring, or pompous. All and all, he was as average as any townsperson except for the royal title. At home Haru thoughts leapt from romantic moonlight walks, deep talks, and even future children. She quickly squelched these thoughts. Prince Machida had given no indication of his affections, if any, and the Queen would probably prefer someone of higher standing or wealth.
"Her majesty would have immediately stopped your meetings if that were true, Haru."
Blinking rapidly Haru realized that she must have been voicing her thoughts aloud in front of Hiromi. Blushing fiercely she did realize that what the girl said was correct. She was eligible to marry the prince; any girl within the kingdom was regardless of status. The Queen herself was from a working class of farmers before gaining the attention of the King. Like most rulers, he was busy surveying the land so she had not had the opportunity to meet him yet. Personal glimpses of the royal family were few and far between. She inhaled and exhaled to calm her scattered thoughts. Everything was happening way too fast. It seemed as if divine providence had played her hand to have the Prince walking by her window. By wearing the dress she felt fantastic, beautiful, and playful. In fact, it was those exact feelings she had when she was around Baron.
Baron, meanwhile, curled up in the classic Thinker's pose as he pondered the information before him. One week was all it took for the complaints to come rolling in. He returned from touring the southern counties' holdings to a flurry of visitations from distressed kittens and crotchety staff members.
"The mean girl slapped me! All I wanted to give her was a welcome hug!"
"That foolish girl burned the King's meal and blamed it on the workers around her for being negligent."
"Peony tracked mud all over the freshly scrubbed floor and expected someone else to clean it up."
And the list went on….
She would have to go. Baron himself realized he had stayed longer than usual when he was making his rounds in order to avoid her company. She wasn't very abrasive, nor was she idiotic. She was just extremely vapid and when her temper was up, shrewish. Her opinions always complimented whoever was speaking to her and was typically weak willed. Muta attempted to rile her to speak her mind but she merely squeaked in terror and begged him to leave. Yuki spent a day with her offering to teach her how to run a household as large as the palace but the raven haired girl merely questioned why they did not just hire someone to perform the job. Peony was content the way she was. It was what she was trained to be all her life by her mother. It was a pity though. Baron's background information on Kana had depicted a strong person who emerged from a poor, large family household, to owning a stately home herself. All this was before she met Haru's father. It was true Kana did use him as another stepping stone but she also arranged his stagnated finances after the death of his first wife into a stable income.
As night approached, Baron found Peony sitting in the living room idly playing with the bracelets on her arms. She perked up at his appearance.
"Do you need me for anything, Baron?"
"We have decided it is time for you to return home, Peony."
"Alright, if that is what you all wish."
Again, it was another startling difference between her and her predecessor. It had taken a viable threat to her life in order to get Haru to leave and that was still under a whole night's arguing from her.
"I'd like to give you a parting gift, as a remembrance of your stay here."
She bowed in thanks and begged an hour to get her items ready.
She emerged after the allotted time in a plain white dress lined with several pockets. Together the two walked to the shed through the moonlight and Peony nearly shouted with glee at the appearance of the two large vats. The next morning after Haru had returned Kana and Peony had managed to glean the information on how she had gotten the golden dress. It was then that the two decided to send Peony down to the Cat Kingdom to repeat Haru's success. Of course a specially made dress was prepared to maximize the benefit of Baron's generosity.
"Which vat do you deserve to be dipped in?"
"The gold."
The response was immediate and blunt. The sparkle in her eyes positively glowed with the prospect of easy money.
"Why?"
The light faded from her eyes for a moment. Haru was never asked why. She thought quickly.
"It will be very difficult for me to return to my mother after having that terrible argument with her. The gold will help me get into her good graces again."
Baron's eyes narrowed in anger. His yellow-green eyes pierced directly into her soul and seemed to unravel all the falsehoods which were about to spring to her lips.
"Enough of these lies!"
With one move, he bodily lifted her from the ground and completely submersed her in the oil. Spluttering she rose to the surface as the weight of the viscous liquid clung to her. Pulling her out, he threw her into the ash and dust pile. That combined with the oil seem to cake her skin and dress. Looking like a demonic goblin she screeched in horror.
"What have you done to me?"
"Given you what you deserve. You came here seeking nothing but to use us for your own benefit. You refuse to take responsibility for any of your actions and prefer to secure your future by leeching off others. I have given you what your actions merited you to have. When you hear a donkey bray, look towards it. Don't ever return to this place."
With a wave of his hand, Peony found herself being surrounded by a solid mass of black feathers and cawing. After the tumultuous thrashing she found herself dumped at the bottom of the hill just outside her village. Fuming with rage she picked herself up. The lateness of the hour prevented her from calling a carriage but luckily her home was within a tolerable walking distance. A donkey's bray echoed throughout the night. Now one who had just been dumped in oil and ashes might reconsider anything their tormentor might order them to do. Peony, always the blind follower, did not stop to think about her actions. She turned towards it and immediately a donkey's tail sprouted in the center of her forehead.
Panicking she ran frantically until she saw the welcoming presence of her front door. Rushing inside she ran straight into her shocked mother. Shrieking in horror it took Kana a few moments to realize that the monstrous form was in fact her beloved daughter. Yelling for Haru to help her, it took 2 cakes of soap to remove the oil and ashes from Peony's skin. Initially Kana tried using brute force to remove the donkey tail but it refused to come off. Haru tried to help remove it but it did not have the same mechanism as her gold star. Peony would just have to unfortunately have to live with the tail for now.
With her precious daughter back Kana quickly relayed the latest gossip and rumors from around town. When Peony heard of Haru's fortune with the Prince she threw a tantrum and didn't leave her room for three days.
Haru expected Peony to stay in there permanently when she found out that the Prince proposed marriage to her. She remembered it fondly. It was a moonlit night as she was sitting by her window when his tousled head popped up amongst the bushes. They spoke pleasantly for a few minutes of superficial things. In the silent lull he whispered shyly.
"Will you marry me?"
She flushed and ran her hand nervously through her hair. His attention to her had ensured a proposal but she never expected one so soon.
"Machida, this is very sudden. Please give me some time to consider."
The boy, confused as to why she would need time to think the decision over, decided to leave her be. He bowed politely to her, told her to take as long as she needed, and left back to the palace.
Haru threw herself on her bed weeping bitter tears. A marriage proposal from the Prince! Why could she not consent? It was every girl's dream and written in every fairy tale. A tall cat in a white suit drifted across her mind. She gave a loud groan and buried her head back into her pillow. He was the one person she most desperately wanted to talk to about her problems but also the one she could never tell.
The next morning dawned cloudy and grey with the threat of rain. Despite the impending weather she decided to foray into the town center to clear her thoughts. Haru could hear the whisper of the townspeople around her. Everyone seemed to know her status as a potential bride for the Prince. A few even tried to get into her good graces by selling her items at a special discount.
The rattling of an approaching carriage startled her pursuers into scattering as they spotted the royal crest on the ornate door. Alarmed she saw it was the Queen herself. The royal lady beckoned her to join her for a morning cup of tea in the royal gardens.
"Now my dear, tell me your troubles."
At her surprised look the Queen chuckled kindly. Haru tried to blink away the sudden headache which had suddenly bloomed. The Queen was probably used to having her son confide in her. Having an only child ensured some, if not all, of his confidences to be shared.
"Prince Machida did ask me to marry me but I could not say yes."
"Is it someone else?"
Haru gaped like a fish gasping for air.
"Yes! No! I mean…" Her mind seemed muddled all of a sudden. If only the headache would go away.
"Has the man given you any indication of his intentions towards you? If there are even any feelings at all?"
"No, no he hasn't. In fact, he even said some harsh words about me behind my back."
"Then I don't see what the problem is. As my son requests though, I'll give you time to think about it." The Queen earnestly pressed a hand against Haru's.
Taking it as her cue to leave Haru finished her tea and departed back to the village square. She felt the beginnings of a full blown migraine coming on and her thoughts refused to stay tangible, like she was grasping at clouds of mist. Sitting by the fountain where she heard Baron's cruel words she idly ran her hand through the sparkling water. A tiny kitten mewing for scraps pawed gently on her dress. Cradling the small thing against her chest she cooed softly to it.
"Hello little one. Looking for something to eat? I'm sorry I don't have anything for you."
The kitten purred contentedly despite the lack of food and its soft whiskers made Haru giggle.
"Should I marry Prince Machida? He is handsome and kind and I'm sure Baron would admit that it is a good match. Perhaps I should."
She was so lost in her thoughts that she neglected to keep a hold on the suddenly squirming kitten. The tiny thing scampered off and disappeared through the crowd. Deciding to make her way back home she set off.
Marry him? Perhaps I shouldn't.