That evening in the royal mine there are two young women, sisters. One dressed in light-brown pants, shoes, and a green top with a yellow bow-tie. She has blonde hair and the fiercest pink eyes. The other is dressed in dark bow pants and shoes, a blue shirt with a purple bow-tie. She has silver hair and yellow eyes. They are currently mining for the last remaining gold in the mine.

"Okay, what idiot put this in here?" The blonde wonders as she picks up the large rock.

"That would be me!" Her sister informs her.

The blonde pinches her nose before turning to her sister. "Let's review, shall we? We are stealing gold! Is this shiny?"

"No."

"Valuable?"

"No."

"Going to make the boss happy?"

"No."

"Focus Grace. That's all you need. That and a brain." Hearing footsteps, the sisters get into the cart; Grace blowing out a candle as to not arouse suspicion.

A young woman appears over them. She has darkly tanned skin, shoulder-length black hair, and red eyes. She's wearing a yellow one-piece with a blue shirt over it and blue boots. "Hello, girls."

"Mistress Julia, you're back. . . . here. . . . early. Hope you had a good journey." Grace says. Then, Julia's pet dog, a light-brown and blonde poodle named Sylvio appears. Barking at the two hench women in the cart.

Gloria gets out of the cart and hands the final piece of gold to Julia. "Here you are, Miss. The last piece of gold from the royal mine. There's nothing left."

"Yep! 'Cause it's all yours." Grace adds.

"Yes, it is. Very much mine." Julia agrees as she takes the piece of gold and puts into her holster that is attached to the belt around her waist.

Julia: I've been bowing, I've been scraping, I've been lying like a rug. And for ten long years I've had to pay my dues.

But today I am escaping, for the last gold has been dug. It was waiting there, so how could I refuse?

I'm returning home a hero who's discovered mighty wealth, and what better husband could a Princess choose?

I'm the suitor who will suit her, bring the kingdom back to health, and I'll wear the crown, for how could I refuse?

Raise every glass and rouse every cheer! Praise that the reign of Julia is here! Master in charge of all that I see, All hail me!

And by marrying the princess I get all that I desire. Like a moat, an ermine coat and palace views. Even though she treats me coldly, it's a sign of inner fire. For inside she's thinking "How can I refuse?"

Julia has been watching Princess Lulu for years and knows that Lulu only cares for how a person is on the inside not the out. Except now. Once she shows up with all this gold, Julia knows that Lulu will start liking her immediately. Then when they get engaged, Julia just has to get rid of Lulu to take the throne for herself. That is, of course, if Shay doesn't marry and has children or adopts.

"Yes, except for one little problem Boss." Gloria starts.

"Princess Boss, to you." Julia tells Gloria and Grace harshly.

"Right." Gloria amends. "The King decided to marry off to the king of Domino. . . . next week."

"What? Making a royal decision without me? How does he think he is?" Julia exclaims angrily.

"Uh, er, the king." Grace squeaks.

"You simple minded simpleton!"

"He is the king! He has the crown, and scepter and sits on the throne."

Julia: No! I won't let go! This peasant's daughter won't turn and run because some reckless royal chose another beau! Ahh! It's... a... Temporary setback!

It's a momentary loss. But conveniently my ego doesn't bruise. And the moment that I get back, I will show them who's the boss. You can bet your bullion, there'll be no "I do"'s.

Yes, suppose the girl goes missing. So the king says "au revoir". Then I find her, bring her back, and make the news. Then the king will be so grateful, that he'll pledge the heir to moi.

And I'll humbly tell him "How can I refuse?"

When our ceremony's over, I'll arise and take the throne. And that nitwit Lulu can kiss my shoes. For the kingdom and the castle will be mine and mine alone. If the crown should fit then how can I refuse?

"Yeah!" Grace adds before the trio go back to singing.

All: So... get.. ready with the roses and stand by with the champagne. When you've got a brilliant plan you never lose. Yes before the chapter closes. I'll be as big as Charlemagne.

It's a thankless job... but How can I refuse?

How can I refuse?

Laughing evilly, Julia then whistles for Sylvio to come to her side. Grabbing her lantern, the adviser and her poodle leave the mine for the night. Getting ready to make her appearance back at the palace known tomorrow. The Kurosaki-Obsidian family is going to rue the day that they put both of their children in line for the throne.


Sneaking by the castle, Julia lets Sylvio in while she herself goes back to town to the room she is renting in one the Inn's. Sylvio, for his part, goes back inside when Yuto, the tutor to Lulu and friend of her and Shay's, opens the door calling for the dog. Sylvio goes in just as Yuto goes and grabs his bag of books and materials before heading back into the village for the night.

Sylvio enters the throne room and sees Zuzu sleeping on the throne. Growling as he sees her tail swinging side-to-side, Sylvio goes over and tries to bite it. Missing and waking Zuzu.

"Up to your old antics again, Sylvio?" Zuzu asks curtly.

"Keep it up sister, that throne of yours isn't going to be yours that much longer."

"What does that mean?"

"Let's just say that that throne is going to belong to my mistress, Julia, soon. And anything that belongs to here, belongs to me." Sylvio then starts barking, chasing Zuzu around the throne room; under all of the side tables. With her heart beating rapidly in fear, Zuzu then spots a chest up and jumps up on it when she's close enough. Sylvio tries to slow down, but isn't quick enough and crashes into the chest.

"Ow. Lose a tooth, Sylvio?" Zuzu teases.

"My tooth!" The poodle cries. "No no no no! Not my tooth!" Looking in the mirror Sylvio sees that his golden tooth is still intact and doesn't even have a scratch to it. Sylvio turns to Zuzu, ready to condemn her for her taunt; only for the doors to the throne room to open. Lulu enters in her night clothes, a white shirt under a yellow dress that almost reaches her ankles and white shoes.

"Zuzu, there you are. Are ready to go to bed, girl?" Lulu comes over and picks up her pet, while petting Sylvio. "I can't imagine why Julia didn't take you with her, she always takes you everywhere with her. Then again she probably didn't want you getting homesick all that much. After all she has been gone for a couple of weeks." Removing her hand from Sylvio's fur and cradles Zuzu as she walks away back to her room for the night.


The following morning, in carriage outside the palace are two men. One has orange curly-hair wearing a blue shirt under an orange jacket that only has one sleeve. Next to him is a younger man with purple-and-pink-hair wearing light blue pants, black boots, a purple shirt and jacket with a red cape and pink ribbon tie. He's wearing a purple hat to conceal most of his face from others.

"I am Ambassador McField." The orange-hair man tells the guard in his dark green uniform. "Here by invitation of the king." Handing the guard the piece of paper confirming his story. The guard nods and motions to let them through. "Are you sure about this, King Yuri?" Dennis asks his friend and king. When they started on their way here, Yuri came up with a plan to get to know the princess as a page before letting her know of his true identity.

"I am." Yuri states, yet feeling a bit nervous as well.


Lulu is sitting at her desk in her usual gown that is a light-purple, kind of like lavender, dress. It's in a similar design to her soon-to-be wedding dress, just not as puffy. The netting around her neck, her hands, and over the skirt of her dress is a darker purple. Currently she is studying a piece of gold in her hand while examining it with a magnifying glass.

Hearing a knock at her door, Lulu calls out. "Come in!" Seeing her long-time friend and tutor, Lulu can't help but smile a bit wider as she feels her heart beat pick up speed. "Yuto, perfect timing. I classified this as iron pyrite. Pretty, but not considered valuable. Commonly known as "fools gold"

"Well done, your highness." Yuto comments.

"'Your highness'? Why the sudden formality, it's just me."

"The king sent me." Yuto admits, feeling his own heart beating rapidly. "The Ambassador has arrived and has come with a gift for you."

"The Ambassador." Lulu's eyes widen as surprise overcomes her face. "He's here already!"

Yuto nods as he helps get Lulu ready for her meeting of her soon-to-be-husband. Yuto doesn't like the idea of Lulu being with anyone but him, but what can he do? They have been friends for many years and she may not even reciprocate his feelings. Even if she does, what can he offer her? Not much. His parents barely had enough money to allow him to get the books he needed to study. He had to learn quick growing up, and because he did he got offered to study alongside Shay and that's how met the royal family, become a long-time friend of the siblings and is now Lulu's tutor.

"What do you think he will be like?" Lulu wonders as she observes some people from the window in her room. Commenting on how free they are.

"I'm sure he will be. . . . suitable." Yuto replies, ignoring her final statement, as it is more a rhetorical question.

"Oh, I know it's the right thing to marry him, but sometimes I wish... well..." How can she say this? Tell Yuto that she loves him and has loved him for a while now? Years, even?

"He is a lover of music. He plays three different instruments the harp, the trumpet, and the piano." Seeing the sad look on his friend's face, Yuto knows exactly what she needs right now before she meets King Yuri. "Lulu, you're going to need your cape."

"I am? Why?"

Yuto doesn't explain much as Lulu grabs her cream colored cape, and clasps it over her dress, lifting the hood up as Yuto sends word to Shay that he is taking Lulu out to the village to help her calm down and get a clear head before meeting Yuri.