Julia surprises Shay and some of the other workers in the palace with her morning arrival, long before the neighboring king arrives. She explains to Shay that she got back into town late last night and chose to stay at an Inn as to not disturb anyone's slumber. Now she is with Shay, Ambassador McField and another one named Bismark. Bismark is standing nervously in front of Shay with a wedding gift in hand.
"On behalf of King Yuri. . . . I present this engagement gift to you." Bismark bows and hands the gift to Shay. He opens the box to reveal a set of two lockets that are brown cards with a yellow-gold boarder and a black oval in the center.
"Thank you, ambassador." Shay smiles kindly. "Princess Lulu will be quite pleased."
"May I inquire, Your Excellency," Ambassador McField catches Shay's attention. "If you have set a date for the wedding?"
"Will a week from today do?" Shay wonders.
Julia's blood runs cold. A week? A week is when Lulu is meant so marry Yuri? No, no no! If that happens then her plans are all but waste! She must have said something out loud as Shay and the ambassadors are looking at her.
"Is something wrong with the date?" Shay asks.
Julia, as clever as she is, recovers quickly. "No, my king. A weeks time is a most wise and thoughtful decision, Your Majesty."
Just then a knock sounds at the door and Shay allows the person to enter. It's a guard with a note in his hand and hands it to Shay, whom quickly reads it. His face remains stern but Julia can see something in his eyes as he reads it. "I hope this isn't an issue, but my sister's tutor though it best to teach her in the village today."
"Not an issue." Bismark reassures. "King Yuri will be pleased to know that his future bride cares for her people as much as she does her studies."
"Yuto, where are we?" Lulu asks as the carriage stops. Yuto opens the door and steps out first before helping Lulu down. Lulu gasps as she takes in her new surroundings and sees that she is in the village of her kingdom! The village that Yuto grew up in!
"There's nothing like some fresh air and a change of scenery." Yuto tells her.
"I wish it were that simple. Come on, Zuzu." Lulu stays close to Yuto so she doesn't get lost. "Ah, it feels so good to be outside castle walls. Nobody knows who I am." Lulu looks around at the buildings and carts, wondering where Yuto lived growing up. Turning to said person, she asks "So, which one was your house."
Yuto chuckles a little before answering. "More of a room, really. We couldn't afford a house."
"Oh, I didn't mean. . . " Of course! How could she have been so insensitive? She knows from her many economic studies that not everyone has enough money for a whole house and often bought rooms instead. Sure ever since Yuto has started tutoring her she knows that he still lives her but in a place much closer to the place, not wanting to forget his roots and choosing not to live in the palace.
"I know." Yuto smiles brightly. "Third floor on the left." Yuto shows her a room with a window that has flowers on the seal. "Did all my studies there." A cart moves to reveal another where the verdure is selling flowers. Yuto goes over and pays the florist for a flower. "I perfect example of rosa centifolia." He hands her the white flower.
Lulu gracefully accepts it and smells it. The freshness making her feel calm. From her heart beating rapidly around Yuto and the nervousness of her impending marriage. "My favorite! But, you knew that." Then she smells another thing in air. "Mmm, that smells delicious."
"I'll be right back." Yuto tells her before going off.
In the distance Lulu can hear a voice.
Serena: Like a bird that flies in the morning light.
Or a butterfly in the spring.
When your spirit rides on the wings of hope,
You'll find your wings.
Lulu gestures for Zuzu to follow her as she goes to look for the owner of the voice.
Serena: For you're always free to begin again.
And you're always free to believe.
When you find your place that your heart belongs-
"Caroling?" Camula accuses as she gets very close to Serena's face.
"Madame Camula." The green-hair woman then goes over to the metal tin and takes all of the coins out for herself, angering Serena. "Wait, I earned that!"
"And you owe me." Camula repeats to her for the umpteenth time. "Did you really think you could make a living as a singer? Get back to work, or there will be trouble."
As Camula stalks off, throwing the tin back to the ground. Serena kneels down to Yuya, her green-fur cat that has some orange streaks and the most red eyes. He had been the one catching the coins being thrown from every which direction.
"What a beautiful song." Lulu compliments placing a coin in the tin.
"Thanks." Serena stands up as she and the other girl remove their hoods. "My mom taught it. . . . to. . . . me. Whoa." This girl looks exactly like her! Sure she has a different eye color and her hair may be lighter and her side tails are a lighter purple, but still. They could pass as each other.
"We could be sisters." Lulu suggests. After all, how else could a random stranger look like her if they weren't twins or at the very least sisters? If they are, she must have been born after Shay and before Lulu because Lulu doesn't ever remember her mother being pregnant when she was younger. Then again, why would her parents give up their child?
"What's your name?" They both ask at the same time, laughing.
"Please, call me Lulu."
"Lulu? You have the same name as the princess!"
"Well. . . " Lulu places her hands together and she can see the realization in the other's eyes. She quickly curtsies as she notes that not only does she have the same name as the princess but looks exactly like how she is described! Not many people can exactly say they are the princess as no one can really tell what she looks like.
But with how graceful she is and seems so put together she knows it's no impostor.
"I'm Serena, your highness."
