Is it a bad idea to be simultaneously working on multiple works (for me)? Yes

Am I going to do it anyway? Yes

This is an AU I've wanted to work on for a while now... but the same could be said for my other AUs. I might just say "screw it" and publish my introductory chapters for those too, but for now, my focus is here. Rest assured I am working my way through the third oneshot for Detour alongside whatever I'm doing for this!

I would post something festive because Christmas but IDK. We'll see about that. A separate oneshot, perhaps...?

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this introduction to my new AU! It's not very long, but I'll try and expand the wordcount in the later chapters as I think of more ideas for this AU.

~Temi

I reach the top of the ladder, now hovering by the princess's balcony. Adorned with camellias and hollies, today the plants are dusted lightly with frost, sparkling like starry spectacles in the sunshine; their glittering is almost mesmerising, something worth capturing in a painting. But I haven't the time for that.

Pulling my tools out, I start my careful work on the surrounding foliage, pruning and trimming it where necessary to prevent any overgrowths. A few pesky weeds have begun to house themselves amongst the blossoms, which I peck away at with my shears.

My attention is then turned to the balcony's neighbouring walls; a significant amount of ivy and various wild flora have mapped their entirety – vines and leaves making their way up and around the nooks and crannies of the brickwork. This I have been instructed to leave, upon the princess's request (via the word of my superior). Indeed, it would seem that she has an inclination towards a more… cluttered exterior in contrast to one of neatness, though I would love nothing more than to tidy it.

Only then do I realise my presence has caught the attention of a certain set of curious eyes.

Her gaze is unwavering, concentrated on my every movement. She rests her elbow on the balcony ledge, her head cocked at an angle as she observes my apparently fascinating cutting of the flowers. I don't dare to return her stare the same way I might any other person, of course; you speak only when spoken to around characters such as this peculiar girl, or rather, I may only speak when spoken to. The unwritten rule maintains the eternal distance between us.

"You do a really good job with these plants."

For a moment, my hands tense up and freeze, a warm shiver crawling up my spine. Her voice is simultaneously silvery and song-like, a bubbly air about her that takes me by surprise. Even her words take me by surprise, if her initial interaction hadn't already – that casual tone of friendliness, so uncharacteristic of someone like her, or perhaps the image I had of her, addressing me as if I am but a companion: an equal.

Hesitantly, I look up, returning her gaze with a small smile. "Well, it is my duty to ensure the exterior beauty of the princess's abode after all, Your Highness."

She giggles. "Well, you're very skilled in doing so, if I do say so myself." Straightening herself up, she ambles towards me, now examining the blossoms I have in hand.

The young lady before me is no different to the many descriptions and illustrations I have heard and seen of Princess Nataliana. Many an ode have sung of those enchanting lilac eyes, those dull-brown locks of hair carefully woven into elegant braids (although it would appear that she has opted for a looser pair of pigtails today), and that radiant beam that she currently bestows upon myself and my handiwork. What they did not inform me of, however, was this nature of hers, let alone the fact that she was willing enough to speak to someone like myself.

"… Your praise greatly honours me, Princess."

She seems to wince, as if irritated, but is quick to hide it. Regarding my visage once more, she asks,

"What's your name?"

I blink.

"My… my name is Popo, Your Highness."

"Are you sure about that?" she replies with a cheeky grin. My bemusement at her behaviour appears to entertain her greatly as she meets my eyes, smirking a little.

I can only find it within me to nervously return her laughter. There's a mischievous glint in her eyes, which seem to grin even when her lips aren't quite doing the same, and her majestic attire cannot compete with the beauty of her smile. The image of the reserved, poised face of royalty I had conjured in my head is nowhere to be found – or at least, not right now.

She sighs, briefly glancing towards the gardens below us. "So how long have you been here?"

"A month or so, Your Highness."

"I see. And do you like it here?"

"Very much so, Your Hi-"

"Please stop calling me that."

The princess's eyes might well have rolled to the back of her head, a frown having taken the place of her earlier grin.

I look down, starting to fiddle with the foliage once more. "…My apologies."

Silence falls between us.

"Um… what should I refer to you by?"

A cold breeze brushes past, and the leaves rustle.

"Hmm…" She taps her lip absentmindedly, deliberating over her decisions. "How about Nana?"

"N… Nana?"

"It's easier to say than my full name," she replies. "It'd feel strange having you call me that too."

I scratch the back of my head. "Erm… is it really alright for me to address you in that-"

"We're the same age, aren't we? No need for you to be so formal. Also, you're my friend now."

I find myself beginning to wonder whether this nonchalant girl I'm speaking to really is the princess.

She hops up onto the balcony ledge, plopping down to seat herself nearer towards me and swinging her legs the way a child might. I can only return her gaze with a dumbfounded gawk.

She giggles again. "Lost for words?"

"I… I'm sorry, I'm just… not sure what to say, Pri- uh, Nana. I'm afraid I'm quite confused."

"About what?"

The list could go on, Princess. Where do you want me to start? How you speak? How you look? How you smile so easily at me?

The girl before me could very well pose as any ordinary girl- but of course, now that I think of it, she is but another girl, no different from the others besides in status and background. Indeed, she seems not to think much of her royal status, to be talking so easily to me. I find myself pondering: what am I to her? A servant? An interest of some sort? A peer?

You're my friend now.

A bluster of wind blows past once again, this time stronger and colder.

"Princess! Your presence is requested immediately!"

With a defeated sigh, the princess gets on her feet once more, brushing herself down. "Yes, Charlotte!" She turns to me. "I have to go now. When will you next be here, Popo?"

I blink, briefly shaking myself a little to bring myself back to reality. "I, uh… I tend to this part of the palace once a week."

Disappointment seems to flash across her face, but she quickly perks up, grinning at me once more. "Well, I'll see you next time you're here then, and we can talk more."

And with that, she hurries back into her chambers, her long locks of hair fluttering behind her.

"You can't be serious," Ness scoffs, rolling his eyes. "The princess spoke to you? While you were gardening?"

"I'm still rather thrown off myself." Gathering a few pansies to add to the bunch of flowers, I turn to search for the pink ribbon he requested for its decoration.

"Why would she…" The iron-clad knight hops down from my table, still looking down on me with an incredulous expression. "You're really sure that was the princess? It wasn't one of her maids messing with you or something?"

I look back at Ness directly in the eyes. "I told you, the resemblance was uncanny," I groan. This is the fifth time he's asked me this.

Much of my free time (when I have it) is spent experimenting with floral arrangements for the palace gardens in the gardeners' cabins, a process for which I am granted access to its wide array of seeds and equipment. The permissions for these resources don't legally extend to floral arrangements for "commoners" such as myself and Ness, but with him being my only occasional customer, I doubt the losses of the palace are particularly noticeable.

"Right, but you said she didn't talk or behave the way you expected or anything," Ness counters, staring back pointedly at me. "She could be some random girl that happens to look like the princess and works for her for all you know. And now you're wrapped around her little finger," he smirks, waving his own index finger in front of my face to illustrate his point.

"Ness, we've only spoken once," I sigh, securing the bouquet with a neat bow using the acquired ribbon. "If she's what you say, I probably won't see her again. But I know she isn't, so say what you want."

"Whatever you say, my friend," he chuckles. Taking the bouquet from my hand, he gives me a gentle nudge, flashing his usual cheeky grin my way. "Thanks for the flowers as always."

I nod. "Let me know what Paula says in her rejection this time."

Ness sticks his tongue out in retaliation as he leaves the cabin, slamming the door loudly on his way out.

With a sigh, I start to tidy my tools away, placing them gently back into their respective boxes and shelves. The warm glow of the setting sun radiates through the small windows of the buildings, and it's about time I return to the gardeners' chambers to rest for the next day.

As I'm putting my trimmers away, though, a certain pink bundle of flowers catches my attention, their warm radiance blooming in the corner of my eye. Nestled in a little pot is a small tree of camellias, the flowers still small and growing, but present nonetheless. The shade of pink embedded within their petals is unmistakably reminiscent of the pink the princess had adorned herself in during our earlier encounter – the same signature hue found in that renowned portrait of her figure in glittering elegance, dressed in her formal royal robes.

I'll see you next time you're here, then.

Grabbing my worn parka off the coat rack, I can only wonder whether the princess will stay true to her word, and whether she'll ambush me once more on that frosted balcony.