Chapter Three
"Chiharu!" the prince snapped. "What the fuck are you doing?"
Sakura backed away and under the light, she saw the "man" was actually just Chiharu with her hair tied into a tight bun. As for her looking like Syaoran, Sakura didn't know what she was thinking. The library was dark, with only lanterns at the tables. The shadow of the bookcases caused illusions.
Chiharu bowed low. "Please, your Highness, I just need to talk to Meiling."
Syaoran looked at her suspiciously. "You have one minute," he growled. "Meiling, I expect you in my room afterwards."
As soon as the prince was out of eyesight, Sakura turned to Chiharu. "What the hell was that?"
"Sorry, Meiling. I just came to tell you I'm transferring to the south wing. We're not supposed to be in the library, so I was trying to pull you away," she said sheepishly.
"But your smile! It was pure evil!"
Chiharu rolled her eyes. "You try smiling for ten damn hours when you've just had the worst day of your life."
"You alright?"
"Yeah, fine. Listen, I really, really don't have time right now. I'll see you around from time to time."
Sakura didn't even get a chance to reply. She watched as her last chance of having a friend in the castle walked away. Chiharu paused at the door to wave, then broke into a fast run.
Sakura remembered that the prince was expecting her and she hurried too. She gasped for breath as she opened his door.
"Stand up straight and close your mouth! I won't have my servants looking like dogs."
"Sorry."
"What were you doing in the library?"
"I-I thought I'd clean it. I had nothing to do after I cleaned your room."
He leaned in, his face mere inches from her own. 'He has really nice eyes,' she thought, for the hundredth time.
The sound of palm hitting cheek filled the air for a millisecond. This time, Sakura didn't even flinch. "Do you ever learn?" Syaoran growled. "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm giving you one last chance. Don't lie to me."
"I wanted to read." That was true. She had wanted to read. It was just that her intentions wert far deeper than pleasurable reading.
"And why do you want to do that?"
Shit. She was going to have to risk lying again. "I have interest in reading." That was partly true too. She had an interest in finding out some information. The library was useless, though. She had had time to search through the books on foreign lands, and the war records. Nothing.
Syaoran tossed a book onto the table. "Read it."
She did.
"Who taught you to read?"
She was never going to get out of this one… He'd see through her lie in a second. Luckily, he saved her from talking. "Servants can't read. Who are you?"
"I am just a servant. In Megera, I was present when the prince was being taught the languages. I couldn't help but overhear the lessons." She avoided looking into his eyes, which he caught quickly.
"You're avoiding my eyes."
"Sorry. Is it not disrespectful to look into the eyes of a royal such as yourself?"
"Never stopped you before."
"I don't want to be slapped again."
He chuckled. "You're a blunt one."
She peered up at him. "Is that bad?"
He looked down at her. Her huge emerald eyes were peeking up seemingly-shyly at him. Stupid eyes. No one else had such beaut- ugly eyes. Yes, her eyes were hideous. A weird green colour with golden flecks in them. "No."
A pause. "When was the last time you took a bath?"
She blushed. "Three days ago. The servants-"
"Enough," he silenced her. "You smell like a sewer rat. Go and take a bath in there."
Sakura looked to where he was pointing.
"But that's-"
"I know what it is! What do you think I am, a stupid common servant like you?"
Sakura hung her head. "Forgive me."
She walked across the room and opened the door. The bath was big, almost three times the size of her room in the castle. If she had been any other servant, her mouth would be hanging open. But she was a Kinomoto princess. Her heart ache as she thought of her friends and family. How she missed them terribly. That thought gave her determination to hurry up with her mission. The faster she got information, the faster she could go home. Then, she would be free from the Li Prince. If it wasn't for him and his stupid family, she wouldn't be in this boat.
She sighed blissfully as she lowered her body into the warm water. Unlike the servant's baths, this tub could actually fit her whole body comfortably.
She scrubbed all the dirt and grime off her body and in minutes, her body was sparkling clean. She felt better too, and for a minute it was like she was home. She realized she had been soaking for a long time and the prince was probably annoyed.
Wrapping a towel around her body, she wondered why he had let her in here. Many times, he had said she was nothing but a low, filthy servant, but if that was so, why would he let her taint his bathroom?
Sakura looked around her and groaned when she discovered she had no clothes to wear, but the dirty ones from before. There was only one thing left to do- but she couldn't, could she?
Still with the towel wrapped securely around her body, she stuck her head out the door, only to be greeted by the prince's piercing gaze. "Um…"
"Hurry up and get out!"
"I don't have any clean clothes…" Her face turned red as a tomato.
He sighed in exasperation. "Come here," he commanded.
She hesitated.
"I said come here!"
She clutched the towel self-consciously and slowly walked towards the prince.
"Hurry up, I haven't got all day," he snapped.
She watched him carefully behind heavy-lidded eyes. He did not seem to be glancing at her body. Maybe the rumours about him were wrong after all? She hoped so. The only look he had on his handsome face was one of irritation.
Syaoran fought hard to keep his face neutral. Damn, was it hard. How dare the stupid servant have that glowing, milky white skin, and long, silky legs? How dare she smell so much like faint roses that he hated so much, but now he couldn't seem to get enough of?
She was waiting patiently now. Glaring at her, he tossed her a simple cotton dress. "Put it on and get your ugly body out of my sight."
By now, she was used to his snide comments, but this one was a new low. So...he was looking? Her cheeks heated up again. That pervert… But she supposed it would've been hard not to.
When she reappeared in Syaoran's room, he barely glanced at her. "Get me dinner."
She did as she was told, and when he was finished eating, she picked up the dishes. She was still not used to the heaviness, and she tripped over her feet, sending the dishes and herself crashing onto the floor.
She felt the angriness in the prince's gaze and numbly, she began picking up the glass. She didn't notice the prickling sensation of the glass cutting into her skin, or the blood spilling out of her cuts.
"What are you doing?" she heard Syaoran hiss. She felt his big, strong hands grab hers, making her drop the pieces she had picked up. She apologized and began to pick the up again. The prince knocked the pieces away.
He took her hands in his again and took a roll of white gauze and a bottle of grounded herbs from the bathroom. Her hands were shaking now, but he held them still as he applied the herbs onto her cuts. It stung, but she didn't flinch. Her cold hands in his warm ones felt…heavenly. A thrill ran through her body and she wouldn't have minded if she stayed like this for a long, long time….even if she hated the prince.
He was wrapping her hands now. His hands were moving gently, carefully. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, those hands had slapped her. She studied his face, wondering if he knew what he was doing. Wondering why a royal, especially him, would be bandaging her hands.
He placed her hands back on her lap.
"Thank you."
He watched her for a few seconds. She turned away, unable to meet his gaze. His words surprised her, which he had been doing a lot lately. "You're a clumsy one, aren't you?"
Mute, she nodded. Why did he have to be so…confusing? He was rude, crude, and a controlling bastard. But he could also be kind, gentle…and he was heart achingly good-looking. Not that the last point mattered, because even if he could be kind, he didn't want to be. It didn't last.
"You should get a good rest. We'll be out all day tomorrow."
"May I ask what we'll be doing?"
"Do you like the forest?"
She nodded.
"Then you'll be fine."
Syaoran was true to his word, as she found herself being awaken at six in the morning by a servant. She got dressed and they ventured into the woods. She looked around cautiously. "Um…isn't there going to be anyone else coming?"
"No."
"What do you need me for?"
She was met with the full ferocity of his fiery eyes. "You're getting too damn mouthy. Don't forget your place."
"Sorry," she said, dipping her head down. It seemed like she had been apologizing to the prince a lot.
Truthfully, Syaoran didn't know why he needed her along. During stressing weeks, he liked to go into the deep forests and take a break from everything. Alone. And here he was, with a servant no less. Her presence was slowly comforting, but he supposed it was because he liked having someone to do things for him. He liked the knowledge he had full control of someone, and Sakura was no different. Even if she was prettier than the rest…
They had barely made it halfway into the forest when a strong wind blew and the season's first snow drifted down. He hadn't counted on this. The continued walking, but the wind seemed to get stronger with each passing second. The snow was coming down faster now. A heavy white blanket covered the forest floor. Suddenly, the wind gave a great roar and the snow swirled around them. Syaoran could barely make anything around him.
He felt a shove from behind and knew Sakura had bumped into him. "Syaoran?" he heard her ask uncertainly. He could barely hear her voice.
Without thinking, he grabbed her hand and he blindly tried to find his away around, but it was no use. There was a snowstorm, and they were…
Stuck.
