Chapter Four: Sly Schemes

Author's Note: Thank you so much, everyone that reviewed! I really appreciated it. So here is the next chapter, hope you like it.

"Will you be at the celebratory ball coming?" Lady Sara inquired, making polite conversation as she clung tightly onto Syaoran's arm.

"My father insists I be there, so I have no choice," doing his best attempt acting a gentleman.

"Oh do not worry, it won't be quite as boring as you imagine! I will be there Syaoran," Sara replied, emphasizing his name to prove to herself how close they were.

Syaoran smiled graciously, when he noticed he had led her into the palace gardens. Damn his stupidity, there was no way he could get rid of her. Looking vaguely at decorative statues that were adorning the pathways, without warning his mind switched on and his reflexes caught the tiny waist of Lady Sara as she came flying towards him.

"Oh silly me," Sara gushed, as she tripped over a small imaginary pebble flinging herself onto Syaoran. Taking a moment to adjust her dress properly, she caught him staring at her form as she smiled inside. Her plan had worked, he had seemed uninterested in their conversation and a jolt had broken his concentration.

"Are you okay?" Syaoran asked after Lady Sara had practically thrown herself on top of him. There were no boundaries as to what she wouldn't do, but his father would have his head, if he wasn't courteous and charming to her.

"Oh Syaoran," Sara gasped in mock hurt, "I'm rather tired, I think it's the sun rays on my delicate skin," she continued as she traced her fingers across her plunging neckline enticingly.

"Here, you should sit down," Syaoran replied as he led her towards a nearby stone bench that was situated in the middle of the tall hedges.

"Thank you," Sara replied appreciatively. She paused, waiting for him to say something, annoyed when he just stood against the tall neatly trimmed hedges paying no attention to her present state.

She had been used to men drooling over her for as long as she had known, men following her around like lost boys. When she had seen the crown prince for the first time she knew she could make him fall under her spell. She would become Queen, something that her mother, older sisters or cousins could never achieve.

She was bitterly wrong, he was handsome enough, his form built under his extensive years of training. But he was stubborn, she had heard countless rumors from her spies in the palace that he had been a former playboy, charming and elusively sweet to any girl he would come across. Of all of that she had seen nothing, he had not even responded to any of her advancements.

Sara knew she could easily enough seduce the younger brother, she could see in his eyes following every move that she would make he would be up for it, but what would that achieve her? A place behind the scenes at the palace serving a man that would be nothing. Everyone had told her she was beautiful and would marry well; becoming queen would show the world what she was worth.

She sighed inwardly, seeing that he was just standing against the tall green hedges, like one of the garden's frozen statues. Sara was steaming inside, despite her calm exterior. He was ignoring her, doing anything he could to avoid looking in her direction.

"Come, you must be tired, sit down beside me," she invited pleasantly.

"I'd rather stand," he replied, finally glancing in her way. Sara cringed inwardly at his blunt rejection, but she would not give up.

"In that case, I'll stand beside you," she said as she got up from her spot, to stand directly in front of him.

"Is there something you wanted?" Syaoran asked, noticing the closeness of her body towards his.

Sara nodded slowly as her lips found their way onto his own, clinging onto his shirt to raise her up to his height.

Syaoran was startled as he found Sara against him, holding onto his shirt tightly as she engaged herself onto him. He groaned inwardly, this was her little charade. In normal situations he would have responded to her advancements but today he wasn't in the mood, his father was already at his neck to marry this girl which he wanted nothing to do with. He knew she was a gold digger, like all the other girls he had encountered.

Sara stepped back anxiously when she saw he had not responded to her kiss. What was wrong with this man? She was more than adept at making men weak in the knees. She had heard the rumors around the court; everyone had been talking about how she was engaged to Prince Xiao Lang. Sara had been ecstatic when she had heard the news flying around, which made her even more determined to make them true. Yet here he was not even willing to give her a simple kiss.

"I'm sorry," she said as she stepped back, facing away from him. She had never been so embarrassed; here she was, making out like she was some common whore. "I don't know what overcame me, please forgive me," she continued trying to retain some of her credit, as she bowed her head slightly.

"Let's just put it behind us," Syaoran said as he held out his arm to escort her back to the palace. He had never been in such an awkward position. What was wrong with him, sure it had been a surprise but he had never cast off anyone before. Syaoran cringed as he though of his father, he was sure to reprimand him about his behavior.

Sara nodded in response. As if she was going to put this behind them! She was going to let it be known to his father, who was sure to put him in his place. King Alexander would surely scold his son; they both had the same goals. She wanted to be royalty and she could see that he was for her marriage to his eldest son. She was a perfect choice.

Author's Note: Hehe. It was a short scene I know, but please review? It really does make any author deliriously happy to receive a review. Please?