Sakura's heart leapt into her throat at the sight before her.
Syaoran trained a lazy eye on her. "You going to serve me or stand there and gawk?" he drawled.
Sakura blinked. Oh right. The food. She set it down on his table while he continued to caress a servant girl's cheek.
And he said he would never dirty his hands touching a servant girl. Right. She gritted her teeth. 'I don't care.'
The girl shuffled and got up slowly, her midnight blue eyes fixed on the marble floor before her. "Thank you," she whispered softly.
Thank him for what? Harassing her? Sakura's blood boiled while she tried to figure out the weird jumps her stomach was doing.
He nodded slightly. The girl scurried out of the room. Although she was pretty, her actions reminded one of a mouse.
"What is your problem?"
Sakura's head spun to meet Syaoran's handsome face. She hadn't realized she was staring in disbelief at the girl.
"No problem," she replied uncertainly.
He smirked as if he knew something she didn't. She hated his smirk.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," Syaoran commanded.
The door slowly crept open. Two guards accompanying a tall, handsome male stepped in. The male was exquisitely dressed, obviously a royal. With his dark features and mysterious aura, he could possibly be even better-looking than Syaoran.
"Brother," Syaoran spoke softly, bowing down low. "To what do I owe this great pleasure today?"
Brother? The man standing in front of them was none other than the Prince Eriol, first son of the King and Queen?
Prince Eriol frowned. "That servant girl who just exited, what was wrong with her cheek?"
"She had a run-in with the head of the kitchen," Syaoran spat, disgusted.
"I assume you gave her the herbs?"
"Of course."
Sakura let out a breath she hadn't realize she was holding. 'You're so stupid.' A tiny part of her thought she was special. She had thought Syaoran treated her just a little better than everyone else, but now she knew that was dumb. He didn't have any reason to. And as for her thinking he was touching the servant in a special way, she didn't even want to think about it. An unknown sadness crept upon her whenever she pictured it, the scene running through her mind over and over again.
As if sensing her discomfort, Syaoran ordered her out. Fine with her.
Sakura sat on the cool stone bench, absentmindedly fingering the hem of her dress. For once, she had no work to do. Instead of savouring this rare moment, she spent it staring off into space.
Recent anonymous threats were being sent to the Li kingdom, so there were more people on guard than usual. It would be hard for Sakura to snoop for information. While most people shrugged off the threats because they were common and usually without promise, extra protection was still taken.
"Working hard?" questioned a voice from behind her.
Her head whipped around and she nearly fell of the bench as she looked into the amused eyes of none other than Prince Eriol. To her surprise, he was alone. She hastily dropped to a low bow. "I apologize, your Highness."
His eyes left hers. She followed his gaze, off in the distance, not really seeing anything at all.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Pardon me, your Highness, but I don't know what you're talking about," she said, confused (and surprised he was talking to her, as if she was on his level).
He turned around and she could see he was smiling. "Someday, you'll see the beauty in everything." He paused. "I don't think I've seen you before."
"Your Highness, I am but a servant."
His face scrunched up in distaste. "Please, spare me the formalities. My name is Eriol, not your Highness. And contrary to what you might think, I know everyone who serves me."
He was like Syaoran in many ways, yet…they were so different. Eriol had dark features, with the dark colbalt blue eyes and hair so black it had a blue sheen to it. He was known for his caring personality, while Syaoran was seen as cold and callous and had lighter features.
"My name is Sa-er…Mei Ling and I serve your brother."
"Syaoran…I hope he is not too demanding."
"No at all," she spoke. As demanding as he actually was, she found she didn't really care anymore. After all, it was her job.
A faint smile crossed over his face. "I know how he is. Give him time."
She shrugged. "I'm just a servant. It doesn't matter."
"You speak as if servants are worth little compared to royals."
"They are."
"Are they? In what ways?"
"Well," she started, not knowing quite how to respond. "Servants clean up. They do the small stuff. They serve. Royals are waited on. They had the big responsibilities, like running the kingdom."
"And do you think royals do a good job running the country? Is their job so much bigger than servants making the royals presentable?"
"I don't know," she answered truthfully, though his question might've been rhetorical.
"Is war a good part of running a kingdom?" he asked softly.
"Kingdoms will always attack each other. When a kingdom is attacked, they have to defend themselves, don't they?"
"I don't believe violence solves anything."
"But-nevermind."
"What?"
"Nothing. It's not a servant's place to say."
His fixed his hard gaze on her, silently urging her to continue what she was going to say.
She swallowed. "What you say is true, but if you talk to a kingdom about peace, they'll probably laugh in your face."
He looked at her curiously. "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?"
She turned about subtly. "Not really."
He smiled secretively. "You're hiding something, Mei Ling."
Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to keep the flush from her face. "I don't know what you're talking about," she muttered.
"Don't you?" A pause, then, "I'll see you around."
And then he was gone.
The next morning, Sakura woke up with a nasty headache and her whole body felt like it was on fire.
"Fever," the nurse said, shaking her head.
"Am I still supposed to do my duties?" Sakura asked apprehensively.
"What do you think?" the nurse snapped. "Can't have you infecting the royals. Imagine that! You'll just have to work twice as hard when you're well."
Syaoran sat impatiently in his room as servants swept around. Dammit, where was Mei Ling? She was supposed to be his personal servant, meaning she had to do whatever he said. And he clearly remembered to tell her to be punctual.
"Is the room to your satisfaction, Prince Syaoran?"
His eyes roamed the room. It was immaculate. But something didn't seem right…
"You missed a corner there." He pointed his finger lazily in a spotless area.
The young servant girl gulped. "Pardon me, your Highness, but I do know what else-"
"Just clean it!" he barked. He was angry today. Stupid Mei Ling, she better not be still sleeping. Or…what if something happened to her? It wasn't unlikely, there were hundreds of people in the castle and one servant gone wouldn't make much difference.
He decided to check on her- not that he really cared about her well-being, but she was one of the amusing servants he had in a long time, even if she was a clumsy fool.
He stood up, his robes fluttering. "This room better be gleaming when I'm back," he ordered.
She was sleeping. He gritted his teeth in annoyance. Stupid servant, she was supposed to serve him! She must've heard his footsteps because her eyelids fluttered.
"Eriol?" she called out, unknowingly.
Anger awoke in him as his heard his brother's named being called out. What did she know about his perfect brother?
Her eyes snapped open as if she felt his anger. "Syaoran?" she spoke groggily.
"What the hell are you doing sleeping? And calling out the Prince's name in your sleep, you disgust me."
A small blush found its way on her pale cheeks. "I'm sorry. He was the last person I spoke to."
"Why are you talking to him?" he bit out.
She looked at him, eyes wide with panic. "I wasn't aware I'm not allowed to!"
He rolled his eyes. This girl sure was stupid. "It's allowed, but why are you talking to him?"
"I-I didn't mean to," she stammered. "He started talking to me and it went off from there…If it bothers you, I won't talk to him anymore," she said, hoping she wouldn't lose her job because he was angry.
Her last words stopped him. If it bothers you… Of course it didn't bother him, there was no reason for it to bother him. He was probably just angry about his brother's important place in the kingdom, that's all. The great Prince Eriol…that's all everyone cared about.
"You talk to whoever you please, I don't give a damn. Now…" he glared. "…Why are you still in bed and not giving me breakfast."
"I'm not feeling good today and the nurse said I would infect people…"
For the first time since entering her room, he noticed her tired eyes and white face. But he was so bored without her to order around… "I don't care. I expect you dressed and in my room in five minutes."
"But-"
"Do you want to serve me or not?"
He watched in satisfaction as she closed her month. She pulled the covers off the body. As her feet hit the floor, he noticed she was a bit wobbly standing, but he didn't pay much attention. After all, she was a klutz.
When he returned to his room, the servants were looking at him with fear in the eyes. "Get out," he said softly. He scoffed as they scurried out the door. No spirit in them. No will of their own. No wonder he was bored without Mei Ling.
The door opened and Sakura came in. She took one step into the room. And then her body went limp and she fell onto the cool marble floor.
"I told her to stay in bed! Idiot girl," the nurse muttered.
Syaoran felt something strange stir inside him. Guilt.
"When is she going to awake?"
"Don't know, could be hours, but she'll have to stay in bed for maybe a week. She'll be useless for that time, if you ask me. Should get her replaced."
"No," he growled.
The nurse jumped at his tone. "If you say so. I don't think she has a fever, but some kind of flu. I've seen it before, and it's not contagious, but she'll need a doctor for a few days. He's on leave right now…"
"What? What is wrong with you people, not even having a doctor around? What if I got sick?"
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Enough. What now?"
The nurse hesitated. "Well, you don't have any duties this week and you are trained in medicine…"
"You're suggesting I tend to a silly servant?"
"Like I said, you could dismiss her."
He paused. "Tell me what to do."
He grimaced at the thought of him tending to that sickly girl. Him, who was waited on all his face, taking girl of a weak servant. Him stuck in a room for almost a week with a sick girl. It was beyond belief.
'It's your own fault,' he chided himself. He took the sponge the nurse gave him and began cooling down her face. Her skin was so soft…
The door opened. He turned around to yell at whoever it was, but stopped mid-word when he saw his brother.
"Eriol," he said, his tone respectful.
His brother grinned. "I know you don't like me, so I won't be long. Just wanted to see how she was doing." He gestured to Sakura.
In spite of himself, Syaoran felt his eyes narrow. Eriol's grin increased. "Calm down."
"I am calm! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Brother. I know you want this girl all to yourself, but I find her a nice person too."
Syaoran's eyes grew wide. "What do you mean I want her all to myself?"
Eriol shrugged mischievously. "Oh, I just meant you want her tending to your every need all the time. Why, did you think I meant something else?"
"No, of course not. I mean, what other way could you mean it, right?"
"Right. Well, I'll be off now. Have fun taking care of your little friend."
Syaoran fumed as his brother walked off laughing. If his brother wanted her to be his servant, Eriol would get it. Eriol always got what he wanted, in addition to what Syaoran wanted, and more.
