Happy Monday! :)

Chapter 11

So, that's it then…

Yumi Ishiyama had decided to stay. She would do her best to be Xanadu's Second Princess and help Ulrich protect their people. No more running away, no more plans of escape, just acceptance of her new position.

She hadn't realized she was crying until Sam finally entered the room and rushed to her side.

"Yumi, what's wrong? Did something happen with Ulrich?"

Yumi laughed at herself and let the other girl wipe her tears away. "I'm fine. It's just been a long day."

She could tell Sam didn't believe her but the maid didn't press the matter. "Do you want anything to eat? I heard you were refusing to go to dinner."

"I didn't refuse exactly. I just said that I wanted to think about some things. Ulrich said he'd bring me something later." Yumi was surprised that word had gotten around so fast.

"All right. Is there anything else I can get you?"

Yumi shook her head. "I just wanted some company." She had remembered that the girl sitting across from her was a wealth of information on people around the castle.

"Can you tell me anything about the Queen's sickness?" Yumi asked.

Sam thought for a moment before answering. "Well, I've never been to see her myself since she fell ill but I've heard about it. Apparently, she's too weak to do much anymore so she spends most of her time in bed. She has a lot of congestion in her chest and she's always drinking water. Like, a lot of water," she emphasized.

"Does anyone know what caused it?"

"No idea," Sam answered.

Yumi sighed. She was almost positive this was the same sickness that had been present in her village before they found the cure but she couldn't be completely sure. "Do you know where the cook gets her fish? And does she ever serve them raw?"

"We get fish from all over the kingdom." Sam shrugged. "She used prepare fish raw because the Queen liked it so much but Cook doesn't do it anymore now that she's ill. The Queen only eats grains and fruits and vegetables now. And water."

"Would there be any way to know which village she got the fish from when the Queen got sick?" Yumi asked.

"We don't keep any record like that." Sam shook her head. "And Cook doesn't always use the fish given to her. Sometimes we just get our fish in the city and they keep even worse track of things than we do. There'd be no way to tell, I'm sorry."

"That's all right." Yumi considered the other girl's answer. It was still entirely possible. But she'd have to see the Queen herself to be sure.

"Why all the questions?" Sam looked at her curiously.

"I was just wondering. I have a theory but it could be completely wrong." Yumi sighed.

"You want to explain?" Sam asked.

Fortunately, a knock on the door saved Yumi from having to explain her silly notion that she knew how to cure the Queen of her strange illness.

"My Prince, come in. The Princess and I were just talking." Sam opened the door for Ulrich.

"Yumi," Yumi corrected her friend out of habit. "I'm sure Ulrich won't mind," she added when Sam looked like she was going to protest.

"She's right." Ulrich agreed. "And you may call me Ulrich."

Sam nodded shyly. "Yes, Ulrich."

He smiled at the maid and then held out a plate to Yumi. It was filled with lamb and the fruits she had loved so much the first night. He shrugged as she took it. "I wasn't sure what else you liked so I just had Cook make this."

"It's perfect. Thank you." Yumi smiled at the gesture. "Why don't we sit outside?"

"If you'd like." Ulrich followed her out onto the balcony and Yumi sat down at the table.

"How are you?" He asked after a while.

Yumi chewed slowly, trying to form her request carefully. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to meet the Queen."

She watched surprise register on his face before he nodded. "I think she'd like that. Would tomorrow morning be a suitable time?"

Yumi grinned. "That sounds wonderful."

They sat in silence while Yumi finished her dinner. Then, she stood and walked over to the edge of the balcony and looked out over the city.

The Second Prince's bedroom was three stories above the ground. The fall would have killed her. Yumi almost couldn't believe she had ever considered abandoning this beautiful city.

Ulrich joined her after a moment, resting his arms against the railing. "Is everything all right?"

He kept his gaze on the setting sun in the distance but Yumi knew he was intently waiting for her answer.

"I… I've decided something," she started, trying to keep her voice steady. The boy beside her was only inches away and the warmth radiating from him made her heart beat erratically in her chest.

"And what's that?" Ulrich was watching her now and Yumi's face grew warm under his stare.

"I'm not going to run away anymore." She announced. "I want to stay here and I want to protect these people. William is closer to becoming eligible than you think and I can't just leave him to ruin the kingdom."

Her fingers were entwined tightly and she bit her lip nervously, not daring to look anywhere but the city below them.

"You really mean that?" Ulrich's voice was surprised but there was also a tenderness that made Yumi meet his gaze.

She blushed and nodded. "It would affect my village too and I can't just abandon my friends and family."

Ulrich grinned in relief before breaking out in incredulous laughter. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Yumi stared at him in bewilderment before starting to laugh herself. She imagined they must look pretty crazy, bursting out in laughter over nothing.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a half-hug. "Thank you." He shook his head and pressed his face into her hair. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Yumi melted into his embrace despite herself, taking in his scent and the way she felt safe and warm in his arms. Then, she realized what she was doing.

She cleared her throat and pulled away. "I'm doing it for the people," she clarified.

Ulrich blushed bright red. "Of course." He nodded and put a comfortable distance between them. "That's what I meant."

Yumi tried to hide her grin, still giddy from being so close to the Second Prince. "Right," she agreed.

For a long time they stood in silence, letting the fading sunlight hide their flushed faces and idiotic smiles. Finally, Ulrich took a deep breath and spoke. "I should be on my way. You need your rest. I'll come by in the morning and we'll visit the Queen."

He touched her arm tenderly before walking back inside.

"Ulrich, wait." Yumi called before she could tell herself how ridiculous she was being.

He turned and looked at her expectantly.

Yumi cringed inwardly and she thought about telling him to forget she had said anything. "I was just thinking… maybe you could sleep in your own bed tonight. I feel bad taking it from you."

Ulrich looked mildly surprised but he recovered well. "I'm fine in my study. I don't know where else you would sleep."

Yumi blushed and gestured to the bed. "I mean, it's a big bed…"

"It-it is…" The Second Prince nodded and put a hand behind his head awkwardly. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's no problem." Yumi shrugged, trying to appear calm and collected.

She noticed over Ulrich's shoulder that Sam was standing in the doorway of the room with Odd. It looked like they had been having a conversation but now both were trying valiantly to suppress their fierce laughter at their Second Prince and Princess. Sam finally snorted, unable to control herself, and Odd lost it.

Ulrich turned around at the noise and quickly realized what the two were laughing at. "I selected you for your fighting skill, Odd, not your ability to entertain the maids," he snapped.

The blonde guard finally got a hold of himself and bowed ridiculously low. "My apologies, my Prince."

He and Sam snickered quietly for another moment before she shooed him away and closed the door. "I'm terribly sorry. I won't let him distract me again."

Ulrich rolled his eyes and Yumi had a suspicion that this wouldn't be the last time her maid became preoccupied with the handsome guard.

Sam pulled out another white nightdress and the girls retreated to the bathroom so Yumi could change.

"So…" Sam raised her eyebrow suggestively once Yumi was dressed.

"So what?" Yumi asked innocently.

Sam rolled her eyes and took Yumi's hand in her own excitedly. "You're so in love with him!"

"Keep it down, will you!" Yumi put a hand over her friend's mouth and laughed. "I am not."

"Oh, for goodness' sake! You so are," Sam crossed her arms and gave Yumi a look.

Yumi found herself smiling again and was thankful for the bathroom door that separated them. "I'm being serious. We're just friends. Besides, what's going on with you and Odd?"

Sam blushed, shrugging. "We're just friends," she responded smartly, mocking Yumi's previous statement.

The princess rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."

Sam grinned. "Go on, now. I'm sure he's in bed already and you need plenty of sleep." She opened the door and pushed Yumi out in front of her.

Ulrich was already changed and under the sheets on the far side of the bed.

"Good night, Yumi," Sam whispered on her way out.

"Night, Sam," Yumi whispered back.

She climbed into bed, trying not to wake the boy on the other side if he was already asleep. She took a deep breath once she was under the sheets and comfortable, trying not to think about the incredible awkwardness of the situation.

"Good night," a small voice said from the other side of the bed.

Yumi put a hand to her head. Even with feet of empty space between them, she could still feel his presence as if he were still holding her close like he had on the balcony.

"Night," she managed to squeak out.

It was going to be a long night.

They're so cute :)