A Twisted Tale of Love

Based on the famous fairy tale: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

kalen

( kalen_ami@edsamail.com.ph )

PART IV – THE NEW QUEEN

Kouji immediately went back to her house and gave her the message and gift from Tokaki. "That's all he wanted you to know. And also, the king wanted to give this to you"

Soi excitedly stood up and grab the jewelry box from Kouji. As she opened it, she saw a beautiful diamond necklace. "Oh how lovely this is! I've never had such expensive jewelry before!" Soi said excitedly. Soi immediately took off her robe and wear the necklace on her neck.

Kouji silently watch her moved as she dances across the room. His eyes are mainly focused on the beautiful naked body of Soi. He impatiently approached her and laid her on the bed. "Even without that jewelry, Soi, you're still very beautiful."

Soi laughed and said, "Really?! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Soi stood up and opened excitedly a special cabinet with a beautiful mirror. "Tomo, Tomo in the case, who's the fairest of the race?"

A man with a long hair and handsome face appeared at the mirror. "There is no other woman who can surpass your beauty. You're the fairest of them all."

Soi laughed out loudly as she dances across the beautiful room.

For four days at the castle, everyone is too busy for the coming of the new future queen of Sairu. Princess Melissa kept her distance away from the busy people. She doesn't want to annoy them or bring any trouble to their preparation. So, she just decided to spend her time at the vast garden where she usually plays and hang around.

Melissa sat down at the green grass contentedly as Tama runs after the butterflies and dragonflies flying from one flower to another. "My stepmother is going to come tomorrow morning, Tama! I wonder what kind of mother she is? I hope she's as gentle and as loving as my real mother." Melissa glance at Tama and feel disappointed that the cat didn't listen to what she's saying. The cat just continues running after the insects roaming around the garden. "Tama, I was talking with you!" Melissa yelled.

"Cats don't talk, my lady." A voice familiar to Melissa was heard from her back. "Okay, so what? Then, I'll just be glad to talk to you! Okay, fine." Kouji acted as always before hearing the reaction of the person he's about to talk with.

"K-Kouji?!" Melissa turn around and her eyes widen upon seeing him. She's not expecting to see him around there.

"Yap! It's none other than but me!" Kouji bowed in front of Melissa. "I hope you wouldn't mind if I interrupt your chit chat with your cat." Kouji said with a smile on his face.

"But I thought you were with"

"Yah, I'm with your stepmother, I mean your future mother." Kouji approach Melissa and sat beside her. "But I need to beats off to work and have some rest, right?" Kouji wink to the surprised Melissa. "I hope you wouldn't mind also if I'm not that polite!" Kouji paused for a while as she scratches his head. "You see, I'm really not used to in the good manner and right conduct. Well, I know a little but not that much."

Melissa asked calmly, "But why?"

"Well" Kouji turned all red as he catches the word to say. "UhmI know a princess like you wouldn't even care about those subject matter!"

Melissa stood up and held his arm, "C'mon tell me! I really would like to know!" She said encouraging Kouji to tell more about his self.

Kouji embarrassingly said, "I'm once a bandit, princess." Kouji turn his back and said, "I know. I know I'm a pain-in-the-ass-guy.' I'm a shame to the society" TAG! "Ouch!" Cried Kouji. "Why did you hit me?!"

Melissa smiled and said, "Because you're over-reacting mister! I didn't say that bandits are a shame, you know!" Melissa said in front of Kouji with a smile and then continued to speak, "Can you tell me some of your adventures being a bandit, Mr. Kouji? I love listening to adventure stories. You see, the adviser of my father, Mr. Chichiri is dead. He's been the one telling me about his adventures whenever he's a journey. So please tell me about your adventures."

Kouji gave a serious look at the face of Melissa. He sighed and said, "Hah!" He then smiled and gave a look at the fair blue sky. "Your future husband is surely going to be a lucky guy."

The young princess stares at the young man confusedly and then ask, "What do you mean by that?"

Kouji smiled and look at Melissa. "Nothing. Oh please don't address as Mr. Kouji.' It sounds so formal. Besides, I'm not that old!" Kouji said scratching his head.

"Okay. I'll call you then as Kouji." Melissa said with a smile on her face.

"Okay, here let me start my story-telling." Kouji paused for a while as he catches the word to say. "Once, I have a best friend named"

As Kouji narrate his story to Melissa, the young girl listen to him carefully. She couldn't understand why but it seems she's feeling at ease with Kouji. Even though, she's a bandit once, she doesn't feel scared being with him. He's really friendly and very much talkative and so fun to be with.

The next day

A dama of the princess got over-reacted about the coming of the new queen of the land. She encourages Lady Melissa to dress up quickly. "Oh princess Melissa, your stepmother is surely going to arrive any time from now. Please hurry!"

Lady Melissa jumped off her bed saying, "I know! I know!" Melissa started brushing her hair not minding all the damas inside the room. "I can take care of myself. Don't worry. Auntie Houki taught me how to fix myself." She then moved her hand pointing at a part of the room commanding Tama. "Tama, please hand me that pink ribbon over there."

Tama jumped off the bed and got what Melissa wished for. Melissa tied the pink ribbon on her head serving as somewhat a headband. "I'm ready now."

The dama look proudly at the beautiful princess saying, "Oh my lady, you're so pretty! Just like your queen mother, Queen Subaru."

Melissa smiled at the dama sweetly and said, "Thank you." Upon hearing a carriage stopping by, Melissa jumped off the chair and glance at the window. "Oh, I better hurry now!" Melissa excitedly ran out of the room as Tama run along with her.

Tot! Torotototot! Tot! [ Doesn't seem like the sound of a trumpet! ] "Her majesty, Lady Soi has finally arrived!" Proclaimed by the man near to the trumpets.

Meanwhile, King Tokaki is busy seeking for his daughter Melissa. She is still not there at the welcoming ceremony. He then whispered at one of the damas around. "Where is Melissa?" { Oh no! Where is she? }

He paused for a while upon seeing Kouji opening the door of the carriage. Soi went out of the carriage as the crowd around anxiously awaits. Her long red-violet hair softly hangs on her shoulders moving along as the wind touches passes. Her gown was made from the finest silk and on her neck lies the beautiful diamond necklace that Tokaki had given to her. [ Sorry, I'm not that polite! ]

One of the crowd shouted saying, "Hail to the future queen of Sairu!"

The whole crowd chorused together saying, "Hurray!!!"

Soi smiled feeling proud and contented upon the warm welcome of the Sairuans. [ I didn't know what term to use, okay? It's just a wild guess on how the people of Sairu call themselves. ] Tokaki approached her then kiss her hand softly. "Soi, you look so lovely today." { Soi, you're so physically sexy!!! }

Soi bowed down in front of Tokaki while holding her skirt. "Thank you, your majesty."

Meanwhile, Melissa is running so fast just to see her stepmother when she got tripped and fell right in front of her father, Tokaki. "Oh hello father! I'm so sorry that I am late."

Tokaki smiled and reached out to her daughter's hand. "You're being clumsy now Melissa. So, where have my little angel been?"

Soi watched calmly between the two as Kouji watched them with so much curiosity.

Melissa spoke with a grin on her face. "I'm so sorry father. I didn't mean to keep you all waiting."

Tokaki gave a hearty smile as he lift Melissa on her strong arms.

Soi approached the two and went closer to Melissa. She held her chin gently and said, "So, you are Melissa. You're such a pretty young girl."

Melissa forcedly nod and said, "Uhmthank you"

Soi speak out and said, "From now on, I shall be your mother, okay?"

"Y-yes" Lady Melissa couldn't understand why but it seems that she doesn't like Soi at all. It seems as if there's a barrier between them that would hinder their hearts to draw closer with each other.

"I'm glad to hear that!" Said by Tokaki. "We shall all celebrate!"

After a few more days, the wedding between Tokaki and Soi had occurred. It is very successful. The whole kingdom of Sairu accepted Soi as their new queen. Kouji, on the other hand, stays with Melissa all those time serving as her primary bodyguard.