CHAPTER TWELVE

The head servant usually started her kitchen checkups early every morning. Today she has an unexpected visitor.

"On the night of the ball? hmmm, nope, I don't think I saw anyone talking secretly with Princess Emiko." The head servant muses.

"Think it over carefully. This is very important." Kyou insists.

"Well…your Highness will have to ask the maids who catered at the ball. Let me think…oh yes! Mai was there! Please come back this afternoon when she's on kitchen shift."

Kyou thanks her for her time and decides to leave for breakfast. Once he enters the dining room he sees Shigure, Princess Kay and Princess Emiko. Kyou takes a seat next to Shigure.

"Give me a glass of Bordeaux." Kyou raises his fingers to signal a maid and then addresses the table. "Good morning everyone."

"French wine first thing in the morning? You better watch out for your health." Shigure comments to the side.

"It helps me unwind." Kyou says simply.

"Prince Kyou should visit a doctor for that!" Princess Emiko suggests.

"Shall I accompany you there right away?" Princess Kay jumps in.

"Don't you have a hair appointment soon?" Emiko whips her head to the left to sneer at her sister.

Kay rolls her eyes lazily to her right. "I can treat my hair any time…the Prince's health is more important!"

"I'll accompany Prince Kyou to the physician. You should worry more about your dry hair and split ends." Emiko murmurs as she reaches for a Danish.

"Thank you both for your concerns," Kyou nods politely towards them, "but I'm not sick in body but rather, in spirit."

Shigure whispers to Kyou.

"I know the three are all extremely attractive…it is a hard choice."

Iidiot. Kyou scowls. If only it was so easy. It does not matter which Princess he might marry. Kyou was equally uninterested in all three.

"Is there nothing we can do to ease your problems?" Princess Emiko from across the table flutters her eyelashes.

Kyou looks at her sharply.

"If Princess Emiko wishes, she can solve my problems in an instant." Kyou tilts his head to one side with an icy smile.

Emiko suddenly remembers the last confrontation between. He is still suspicious of that time Tohru took over my identity at the ball. She realizes.

However Emiko was a girl who grew up in Royal court, a place with lies and scandals. She was determined not to faze in front of Prince Kyou.

" Could I?" Emiko twirls a strand of hair and blinks cutely. "Oh I know! I'll give you some of my aromatherapy things! Would you like Angel Cakes or Fruity Bunny?"

Kyou widens his eyes in surprise while Shigure desperately tries to keep from laughing.

"I think the Fruity Bunny suits you best Kyou…you always did love animals!"

"No one will mind if you don't talk Shigure!" Kyou yells with a red face.

"Prince Kyou!" Emiko suddenly gasps in an anxious way and hurries around the table to him. "Don't move!"

"Kay! Do you have that thing?"

"What thing?" Kay asks.

"For his …." Emiko nudges in Kyou's direction. Kay suddenly nods as if she understands and turns to dig in her bag.

"Here!" Kay tosses Emiko a bottle quickly. Emiko grabs it and smiles.

"Now don't move Prince! It'll be over in a second!"

"What are you doing?"

"You were frowning so much wrinkles were starting to show! I'm just going to use my ultra-special strawberry-kiwi face moisturizer on you!"

Kyou could only feel dread as Emiko approaches to smooth cream on his face.

"No it's quite alright!" Kyou protests while trying to push Emiko's hands away, which made some of the lotion, go into his eyes and mouth. To add to his humiliation, Shigure continue to laugh ( even louder) as Kay gave Emiko advice on Kyou's face treatment.

"You should rub in circular motion and apply pressure near the eyebrows." Kay says.

"Stay still!" Emiko pats his back caringly as Kyou coughs. "Don't worry! On your wedding day you'll have to go through a body treatment anyways! We don't want anything bad happening to your skin! There…all done!"

"I think I'll take my leave now!" Kyou stands with unsteady feet and bows quickly.

"Isn't it wonderful the princesses care for you so deeply Kyou?" Shigure asks innocently, to which Kyou ignores.

"Goodbye Prince! From now on I will carry this lotion with me constantly…so don't hesitate to ask for it whenever we meet!" She waves at him cheerfully.

"Yes. You have been most helpful." Kyou replies with a forced smile. Aside from this being a horrible experience, it made Kyou even more suspicious of Emiko. Her poor acting skills at being innocent to dodge Kyou's hints were proof of her deceit.

I didn't even get a decent breakfast. Kyou was sighs in annoyance. He folds his arms and puffs him cheeks a bit. Then a couple of ladies walk by and he immediately leans against the wall and put on his serious face.

Prince Kyou is so regal! The ladies think as they walk by.

That was close! Kyou is relieved after they leave.

It is already afternoon. I will go find that maid Mai and see what she knows. Kyou decides and heads to the kitchen.

Mai was polishing silverware when Kyou found her. She was so surprised to see him her hands trembled and dropped the utensils she was working on.

"Don't be afraid." He assures her in a gentle voice. "I just want to ask some simple questions about the ball some weeks ago."

"Y-yes Prince Kyou." Mai nods repeatedly.

"Are you still nervous?" Kyou asks when Mai stood rooted to the spot.

"No…I just." Mai sniffs the air around her, "I suddenly smell a lot of strawberries and kiwi…that's odd…I didn't think we had anything like that on the Ship."

Damn lotion…even though I washed my face twice the smell is still there. Kyou blushes furiously to himself.

"Never mind that. You may stop your chores for now and come with me. I've already talked to the Head Servant for you." Kyou beckons her to follow him.

Kyou brought her to a suite. It was decorated in Italian Renaissance style with Bellacor
Larissa Chandeliers hanging luxuriously from above.

Kyou sat down at a William IV Rosewood table while Mai stood nearby.

"So you catered at the last ball?" Kyou asks.

"Yes Prince." Mai stumbles on her words and then confesses. "But I swear! I never ate those Knipschildt chocolate truffles!"

"It's alright…"

"Alright! I confess!" Mai bursts into tears and sank to her knees. "But they were so sweet I couldn't help myself…please forgive me!"

"Let's just leave that incident alone." Kyou helps her to her feet. "I won't tell if you don't. But what I wanted to ask you was---did you notice anybody in particular who was around Princess Emiko most of that night?"

Mai thought for a while. "She was mostly dancing with you Prince Kyou."

" Before she danced with me…did you notice the Princess leave for somewhere? Or talk to someone?"

"Hmmm…" Mai muses and then smiles. "Oh yes! I remember now! Princess Emiko left to rest for a bit because of something she ate!"

Kyou's eyes narrows. "Did she leave with anyone?"

"Let's see…I think she left with a maid."

Kyou felt his heart tighten. "Do you remember what the maid looked like?"

"No. I only caught her back. I could tell she was a maid from her ruffled apron and cap with streamers."

"I see…and you can't remember anything else?"

"No Prince Kyou, I'm sorry."

It was definitely not Emiko I danced with. Since Emiko wasn't feeling well because of allergies….it makes less sense for her to come back. Could she have switched clothing during the time she was away? Kyou contemplates deeply. Who could she have switched with? It must have been someone she trusts enough to keep this secret…someone she could control easily…like a maid…

Meanwhile at the other end of deck, Emiko was worrying about keeping Tohru's identity a secret.

"He is really suspicious right now…I've already got wind that Prince Kyou has been asking the servants a lot of questions about me and the Ball." She told Tohru. The two girls were in Emiko's suite.

"He is very intent on finding you." Emiko grits her teeth frowns. "We have to make sure what went on stays a hush-hush."

"You do understand what will happen if you're found out right?" Emiko took Tohru's hands in hers gently, "you'll only get hurt."

"Yes. I understand." Tohru grasps the princess's hands tighter. "I will carry this secret to the grave to protect our countries."

"Thank you Tohru." Emiko couldn't stop a tear escaping. "I'm so sorry I asked you to do such a selfish thing for me."

"Don't be. What's done is done and I have no regrets." Tohru brings Emiko into her arms and allows the Princess to cry on her shoulder.

"I'm so glad I have you as a confidant Tohru." Emiko confesses after awhile, "I could never behave this way in public, or even with my sisters."

"And I am glad I have such a kind and beautiful Princess that takes care of me so well."

Suddenly a maid came in and announces. "Prince Kyou has come to call on you Princess."

"What?!" Emiko leaps up and turns to Tohru in panic. "You have to hide Tohru…we can't let him see you! Once he knows you're so close to me he'll definitely try to get close to you for information."

Emiko led Tohru to her Armoire wardrobe and instructs her to hide inside.

"What a pleasant surprise Prince Kyou! Have you come for more lotion?"

"No…I'm afraid not." Kyou suppresses a shudder, "I'm here to invite you to a ball. One where every lady on this ship must attend…even maids."

"M-maids?" Emiko gasps, "Are noble women not enough for Prince Kyou?"

"You all are more than enough for me…but I thought it would be an interesting to see if there's a difference between common and upper-class women when they are wearing the same clothing."

"Of course they might look the same…" Emiko argues, "but due to their different backgrounds and upbringings…the upper class woman will prevail in manner and grace."

"I assure you that's exactly what I believe." Kyou said with eyes that seem to say the opposite. "Which is why I want to see my future bride among women of all class and still shine amongst them. You don't think it's too much of a challenge do you Princess?"

Emiko grips her hands into tight fists behind her back while her face is smiling brilliantly.

"No of course not…I should not disagree with Prince Kyou since you might be my future husband. I will do as you ask and dress my maids all as ladies."

Tohru listens to them outside in between the puffy gowns, silk shawls from China and laces inside Emiko's wardrobe. She was having a hard time staying comfortable because of a feather boa that draped on her face. It was tingling her nose and she fought back a sneeze.

"Ahhh…" Tohru sneezes silently and then sighs in relief…glad she wasn't heard. She relaxes and puts her hands against the bottom of the wardrobe.

"Owww!!!"

Kyou and Emiko both turns towards the wardrobe.

"What was that?" Kyou asks sharply.

"That?" Emiko blinks rapidly. "I didn't hear anything. Oh look at the time…I think you should go now Prince Kyou…I have to change into my evening wear."

"I definitely heard something…" Kyou heads towards the wardrobe and flings it open.

Tohru tumbles out with a dozen other dresses. She desperately tries to keep her face hidden from the Prince with a shawl over her face.

"Who are you?" Prince Kyou asks Tohru.

"I…I…" Tohru struggles to find an appropriate answer.

"I'm sorry to startle you Prince Kyou." Emiko steps in front of Tohru, "My maid has strange habits. Please return now it's getting late."

Kyou ignores Emiko. He bends down and lifts the veil off Tohru.

" You are Tohru? The one I met on deck? And the one who gave me sea sick medicine!" He recognizes her immediately. "What are you doing here?"

"I..I…was cleaning Princess Emiko's closet! And when I heard you two talking I decided to hide because I was afraid you would be mad if I interrupted."

"So you're Princess Emiko's maid?" He narrows his eyes. "You never mentioned that."

"Yes." Tohru admits.

"I also heard from the head servant Emiko has a dressing maid who she favors greatly. That wouldn't be you would it?"

"I wouldn't dare to think of such an honor!" Tohru stammers.

"You're frightening her Prince Kyou." Princess Emiko helps Tohru up. "Please return and leave this matter be."

Of course Kyou did not want to leave. Now that he knew Tohru was close to Emiko he wanted to ask her lots of questions. Could it be? He wonders as he stares at Tohru. But he knew he couldn't get much out from Tohru with Emiko standing by.

"I'm sorry. I'll take my leave now." Kyou gives a curt nod and heads towards the door.

"Oh one more thing." Kyou suddenly turns, "Make sure Tohru comes to the ball. I will look for her."

Emiko and Tohru both flushes red. "Y-yes of course!" Emiko stammers.

"I'd better leave if I have frightened even the Princess." Kyou laughs as he heads out.

It could be. Kyou decides with a smile. END CHAPTER 13