This is a side story of A Knight's Prophecy Series! It takes place in Eli's memories, and it does show you a little of what happened to Eli prior to meeting Nozomi and Nico. This is also intended to be an update for Eli's birthday, although it does not take place on Eli's birthday here heheh.

This happened before A Knight's Prophecy, let me repeat for clarity.


Chocolates for the Princess?


/Unknown time before A Knight's Prophecy/

Ayase Eli, princess of the Galanthus Kingdom, sighed wistfully while sorting out a pile of letters. Well, not just any letter. She had gotten wedding proposals many times, and all of those had been flung into the fireplace without a second glance, even before she had the slightest bit of interest in anyone. These letters in front of her were different. They had been from the Princess of the Syringa Kingdom, every single one of them.

The Syringa Princess was now one of her closest friends, and maybe even her best friend. It was not an insult to Honoka and Yukiho, who had been around Eli for more than ten years. It was just that… the Syringa Princess was so charming, so understanding, and just… perfect. That very thought summoned a silly grin on Eli's face. The usually stoic and stern Princess would have been sent to a doctor if anyone saw that. But she couldn't help it. She knew she had somehow fallen for the Syringa Princess, and she just had a feeling that it was mutual. The Syringa Princess was fond of teasing everyone, groping chests, telling fortunes, and helping out around the castle as much as possible.

While she had never met the princess in person, tales told to her by the Princess's trusted friend and knight-in-training, Sonoda Umi. Eli got along quite well with Umi, and they had even sparred a couple of times. She was impressed with Umi's swift and decisive swings of the sword, but Eli usually won, dragging the battle long enough for her brute strength to disarm Umi and knock her to the ground. If they competed in archery though…

She was really glad for Umi's friendship. Without the blue haired archer, she would never have met Umi, or have a worthy rival. Of course, her younger sister Arisa just had to be attracted to Umi, which thankfully she was unaware of. Knowing Umi, she would become extremely awkward and freeze up while thinking of a polite way to reply Arisa. Come to think of it, Umi hadn't changed that much since Eli had met her two years ago. She was still easily embarrassed and could never work with contractions. Eli chuckled and closed her eyes, allowing memories to take over.


Eli frowned as she looked down towards the empty grounds as she walked along the corridors. The training grounds were currently deserted, seeing as it was smack in the middle of winter. For some reason, Galanthus always experienced the coldest weathers among all kingdoms during mid-winter. And for that very reason, most people took a vacation to the warmer Kingdoms, like Syringa, which was known as the 'eternally spring' kingdom due to its abundance of blooming flowers and nature. There was also the Otonokizaka Kingdom, known for its bustling markets and busy streets. It sounded incredible to Eli, who never had the chance to venture past her kingdom. Princesses weren't given that much freedom, especially since other Kingdoms held grudges for scorned Princes.

During midwinter, most people left Galanthus, and few entered. Which was what made Eli think the King of Syringa was mad, meeting her father for business when the weather was horrid. Eli loved the cold, but this freezing temperature made some of the toughest soldiers grumble about their chilled bones. In the castle, it was definitely warmer, but Eli still found her clothing to be thick and cumbersome to move about in. She approached the main hall, and smiled while her father introduced her.

While regurgitating lines she had been taught to say, she couldn't help but let her eyes wander towards the tall and lean figure beside the king. She looked about as young as Eli, barely 20. The woman was stiff and standing straight. Eli wondered her business was with the jovial King of Syringa. King Toujou was always ready to smile, so that woman couldn't be his daughter.

"Ah, let me introduce this young talent." King Toujou grinned after the Ayases' introductions.

The dark haired woman flushed and her eyes widened.

"This is Sonoda Umi, Knight-in Training, and bodyguard of my own daughter. Although I'd say she can just remove the 'in-training' and become a full fledged knight."

"Ah, n-no, I must admit that my swordfighting is in much need of improvement, my King." She stammered, and Eli raised an eyebrow. So much for stiff! This Umi was amusing.

"That's incredible! A knight at such a young age! I'm sure she'll get along with your daughter just fine, and do well to serve her." Eli's father replied, and Umi bowed perfectly.

"Ah well, we old geezers might take some time." King Toujou nodded towards King Ayase, who got the hint.

"Ah. Indeed. Eli, do bring Sonoda around for a tour. Toujou and I have much to speak about."

Eli nodded, and walked forward briskly, expecting Sonoda Umi to follow her. She was reaching the door when footsteps pattering behind her eased to a slow walk. She smirked, knowing that the Syringa knight was nervous.

They walked in silence, the Syringa Knight's shoulders raised squarely, and her gaze boring straight ahead.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Eli chuckled, and the knight seemed to be both ashamed and insulted. "It's alright, everyone gets nervous their first time. Although you look too serious now. This isn't a mission. I'm here to show you around the castle." Eli added, noting Sonoda's sharp glare.

Umi jumped, and waved her hands in front of her. "T-that is not really, I-I am just-" She took a deep breath. "I apologize. It is rather nerve-wrecking to visit another Kingdom, and to meet with royalty. I had no idea of the possible difference between royals of different Kingdoms. Please excuse my behavior, Princess Ayase."

Eli waved dismissively. "Look, you're one of the young people I'll ever get to meet outside of Galanthus. I'd like it if you wouldn't be so formal." Eli smiled. 'And not to mention, a friendship outside of Galanthus would be good. I could be forging new relationships with the next generation. One built on friendship and mutual agreement instead of threats and false alliances.'

"Ah, then… how should I address you, Princess Ayase?"

Eli tapped her chin as she looked at the startled knight.

"Eli is fine."

"EH!?" Umi covered her mouth. "I. I mean, but surely I could not address one with your rank without any formalities, it simply is not proper."

"Look, Umi," Eli said, observing Umi's reaction. "I am not here to order you around. I don't want you to prioritize my rank above my actual person. Calling me Eli is fine."

"Ah, t-then, E-eli." Umi said and shivered a little.

"Yes, that's right, Umi! No formalities!" Eli smiled, and extended her hand, "It's nice to meet you, new friend!"

"Guheh?!" Eli's newest friend fell backwards.

Eli later learnt that such behavior was not common of a royal, and she had taken that first and last crazy attempt with a complete stranger. It took Umi 4 minutes to recover from her shock, but after that, they started to talk, Umi first sharing her goal of being a top-notch archer and knight, and Eli nodding appreciatively.

"Say, shall we spar? You are a knight, right?" Eli offered, and once again, Umi was about to faint.

"B-but what if I hurt you?" Umi shook her head.

"Oho, you're thinking of me as a dainty princess, are you?" Eli smirked. "I'll have you know that every member of the Ayase royal family has to take weapons classes while growing up. I will not be giving you a handicap." She stood up, and Umi followed, her legs unsteady.

"But-"

"Oh, come on, Umi. It'll be fun! I haven't lost to anyone yet." Eli reassured the worried woman. "I have an unusual amount of strength." She winked.

After much protesting, cajoling, and waiting for the two kings to give their permissions, Eli dragged Umi to an indoor sparring ground, and knocked Umi's sword away with a heavy knock after fifteen minutes.

"See, I told you I wasn't so weak." Eli laughed. She had blocked all of Umi's strikes, which were swift and accurate. It was tiring trying to keep up with her, but Eli's strongest point was dragging out the match, and using her natural immense strength to disarm Umi's sword and crack her own sword.

"That is a surprising ability." Umi nodded. She was now in awe of this princess, and would surely tell her own princess all about it. "I do hope to be able to spar with you again, someday. Unfortunately, I think it is time for me to take my leave. The Kings had ended their talk before we started sparring, after all."

Eli nodded, and placed her sword away. Unless it could be repaired, it was now useless. Umi sheathed the sword provided and hung it back where it came from.

"I do hope I will be able to meet you again, Umi." Eli smiled genuinely. This woman had been pleasant to talk to, awkward but sincere, and it was refreshing. She seemed devoted to her princess, having told Eli bits and pieces of their lives. The Syringa princess seemed like quite the character too, groping her servants and friends, teasing everyone, playing pranks and forcing Umi on this trip so she could return and tell her everything. She had learnt that the Syringa princess was also near their age. It would be a shame to let Umi leave empty handed, now that she thought about it.

"Hold on, Umi." Eli said, and rushed to the pantry. Her childhood friend Honoka was on duty, and greeted her cheerfully.

"Eli-chan! What's up?" Honoka waved to the blonde princess.

"I, well, guests from Syringa are leaving, and I want to present a gift to them."

"Food! Food is always good!" Honoka suggested.

Eli laughed. "I know. That's why I came here, Honoka."

"Eheheh." Honoka rubbed the back of her head. "Aha! What about this! It's top-quality beef that I had seasoned myself! It should be good!" She produced a package of wrapped meat. "Seasoned with my family's secret recipe, I add." Honoka beamed proudly, and Eli eyed the suspicious package.

"I assure you it tastes good, Princess!" Yukiho, Honoka's sister popped her head out from behind one of the shelves. "I tried it and I hate to admit it, but it seems like my sister is capable of something good after all."

"Hey! What do you mean by that?!" Honoka shouted, and Yukiho ducked back behind the shelves. "Anyway, take it, Eli-chan." Honoka thrust the package towards Eli insistently.

"If you say so, Honoka. Thanks!" Eli grabbed it, and ran back to the waiting Umi. 'I hope this doesn't ruin things between our kingdoms.'

"Umi! Sorry to keep you waiting! I got this for you and the princess." Eli explained, seeing Umi eye the package curiously.

"Meat?" Umi sniffed and blinked. "It might be a coincidence, Pri- Eli, because my princess loves eating meat. I thank you on her behalf, Eli." Umi bowed again, and the two made idle chatter before reaching the main hall again, where Umi rejoined her King and set off for Syringa again.


The first letter that Eli held in her hand now was a thank-you letter from the Princess of Syringa, Toujou Nozomi. Eli was surprised to see a letter addressed to her one week after Umi had left Galanthus, and was about to fling it in the fireplace, thinking it was another marriage proposal, before she spotted the royal Syringa seal on it.

Princess Toujou Nozomi had also sent in a brief introduction of who she was, and mentioned she would be glad to keep in contact with someone who had treated her own childhood friend so kindly. Eli had jumped at that request, and sent a letter over, and thus started their two-way exchange.

They kept at it for 2 years, sharing their joys, their dreams, and their sorrows with someone they had never met, but strangely felt a connection to. Nozomi gave Eli a nickname, and what started as Eli's joke reply turned into a flirtatious banter. Eli knew she had fallen for Nozomi when Nozomi's reply of 'You suck. Elicchi, but I love you anyway.' sent waves to her heart and made her fall on her bed in dizzy happiness.

And it got even better when Nozomi started to end all her letters with "I love you and hope to hear from you soon.", after she sent Umi on a quest to deliver a present to Eli for Christmas. Eli saw it as a plain abuse of authority and pitied the knight, even if she was invited to the Christmas banquet in the Galanthus Castle

Eli later ignored that when she bit into the handmade chocolates Nozomi had made, each of them in a little container. She wouldn't mind Nozomi sending the poor woman on trips to and fro Galanthus for those heavenly chocolates.

'I know that Elicchi loves chocolates, so I tried to make chocolates from scratch. I poured a lot of love in them, so I hope you like them. If possible, would you like me to make some for February as well? Sometime around the second week. Don't be shy about it, my dear Elicchi! I love you and hope to hear from you soon.'

She nearly choked on her chocolate, but managed to savour it properly before shouting 'HARASHO!' and making her attendants scramble to her in panic.

And today, the 14th of February, she sighed as she walked up and down in her room. She had been pacing outside, but her sister had pushed her back to her room, telling her to 'let me know when Umi-san arrives, and stop all that racket."

Her door was knocked twice, and she was worried that Arisa was about to complain about her pacing, when she heard her attendant's voice.

"Princess Eli? Sonoda Umi is here to meet you. She's waiting in the grand hall."

Eli flung the door open, and the attendant flinched. "I'm sorry, you may take your leave, Christina." The other woman bowed and shuffled away hurriedly, her heart still beating rapidly.

"Arisa, Umi is here." Eli knocked on her sister's door, and Arisa burst out in a similar fashion, this time startling Eli.

"Arisa, please slow down."

"That's great! Let's go!" Arisa ignored her sister, and dragged her along.


Sonoda Umi stood in the now familiar grand hall, holding a wrapped box delicately. She sighed, knowing that her princess had been overworking herself to produce the perfect chocolates for Ayase Eli. Her princess had worked hard, and she hoped that she would eventually confess to Eli one day. She was in no position to act as middleman for this situation.

"Umi-san!" A youthful voice broke her out of her thoughts and she smiled gently at the shorter blonde running towards her.

"Arisa. It is nice to see you again." Umi patted the younger Ayase princess's head, unaware of the blush spreading across Arisa's face. "Eli." Umi turned towards her, and tilted her head towards the box.

"Oh." Eli tried to maintain a pokerface, but the edges of her mouth was already creeping upwards. "Oh."

"Yes." Umi cleared her throat, and Eli received the gift.

"Well." Eli sputtered, and the stalemate carried on, until Arisa broke it.

"Umi-san! Happy Valentine's day!" Arisa brought out a smaller box, and pressed it into Umi's now empty hands. "I – thank you for always looking after my sister and her potential girlfriend!"

"Arisa!" Eli gasped, horrified, but Umi accepted the box calmly.

"No problem, Arisa. Thank you for these. I am very happy. Meanwhile, is there any message you would like to pass to Nozomi, Eli?" Umi looked pointedly at the flustered princess.

"Oh my goodness. You knew. That's why your expression didn't change. Oh my GOODNESS, UMI!" Eli groaned, her face now redder than her sister's.

"Please hurry, Eli. I am due to return to Syringa. Nozomi would want a detailed report of your reaction. The longer I stay, the more I get to tell her."

"This is a betrayal, Umi. Remember this! I. I.. arghh! Just tell her… just tell her I'll definitely give her chocolates sometime in March too, a month from now." Eli blurted out, and would have smacked her face if her hands were not carrying something.

"Stupid sister, don't you have something for Nozomi-san too?" Arisa asked, now no longer that excited.

"Ah. That's right. This." Eli took out a small box.

"You intend to propose to her through me? How shamless." Umi asked, raising her eyebrows and eyeing the box's size, taking it from Eli.

"N-No! I just made her something she could wear… maybe it wouldn't even fit her finger…" Eli muttered, and tried to cover Arisa's mouth.

"Sister has a similar ring too, on her lef-mmph!" Arisa swatted Eli's right hand, but Eli laughed nervously, keeping her grip firm, but not too firm.

"I see. I… this is shameless. Shameless! But as long as my princess is happy." Umi's face was now joining Eli's for a red party. "T.. this message will be properly conveyed. I shall take my leave now."

"UMI DON'T GO YET!" Eli pleaded desperately, but Umi kept the box safely, covered her ears, and started running as Eli's volume increased.

Eli sighed as she looked at her box, and couldn't stop her smile once again when she spotted familiar handwriting.

'Happy Valentine's, my Dearest Elicchi. I hope my feelings reach you through these chocolates. Ah, what am I writing? Nevermind, and please enjoy your favourite food, you glutton!

P.S. I Love You, forever and always.

Toujou Nozomi'


Author's note:

Galanthus is also known as Snowdrop, and also means Hope, Consolation, Faithful in adversity, Expectancy in the language of flowers.

Syringa is also known as Lilac, and it's so pretty when it's purple, isn't it? It's also used to symbolize love, future happiness and memory. I did a little bit of research for the names of the kingdoms since nothing else came to mind.

If you're curious about Umi, Honoka, Arisa, and Yukiho, they won't really be major characters in the story. Well, not that major anyway.

Do leave a review/feedback if possible! And if you find that the story could be improved, please state where it could be improved, or how! It would be great to know which parts I could work on! Also, if you spot any mistakes, please let me know, since proofreading my own works doesn't seem to work much.