Lady of the Stardust Butterflies

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After that day, Kaokon was a little reluctant to call upon her again. He decided to give her a couple of days to forget about it, before visiting. The Princess had been scheduled for a little trip out of the palace, her once a month grant to walk about the village for a small time lot. Though she had her custom group of five knights and two servants accompany her there, this time Kao opted to come along.

He showed up in the village, just in time to find her being helped out of her royal carriage by her two ladies-in-waiting. The five knights riding their horses behind her carriage all dismounted and went to the village stables to tie their horse reigns up, so that they could continue to escort the princess on foot.

"Hello." Kaokon said pleasantly, walking up to her and her entourage.

"Kao—" She stepped back, clearly surprised. Recollecting herself however, she smiled back and replied "Hello knight, I haven't seen you in a couple of days."

"I've been, err…busy." He fibbed, looking around at his five knight comrades who were all giving him knowing looks.

"Well, it is nice to see you again. You find me on my monthly visit to the village, and thankfully, there seems to be no signs of any Shadow Knights."

"Yes, very thankfully." He nodded. "Only yesterday they were here and we had to break up a disturbance they started."

They looked at each other in silence for a moment. Kao could tell she was still a little sore about his comment that she shouldn't venture beyond the palace walls. There was no obvious danger that day of her seeing any Shadow Knights.

Feeling defeated and proven wrong in the current instance, Kao decided it might not be such a good idea for him to spend time with her in the very place he argued she shouldn't be.

"Well, I have business to tend to, so I shall leave you all now." He excused.

The two ladies-in-waiting gave him a little head bow of dismissal, and the five knights all snickered quietly at him, full well knowing he was uncomfortable, but the Princess did not let him go so easily.

"But you just came. Walk with us for a bit."

"No, no, I really have things to take care of." He pressed, glaring at the knights behind her, who were still laughing.

"I insist. After all, you haven't been around lately."

"I'll come 'round later, I promise." He compromised, annoyed by his comrades' looks and laughs, and wanting to get out of there.

"I'll accept that." She consented, totally oblivious to the knights' teasing.

Kao bowed to her, and then took his leave, giving the five men behind her dirty looks.

- - -

The Princess changed her mind. When she got back to the palace later on, she wished she hadn't made Kao promise to visit her. How could she face him, after what happened in the village? Whether he found out the Shadow Knights turned up after all or not, she couldn't help but tell him about it, should he show up that evening. And she knew he would. He was, after all, a man of his word.

Sir Squiggleton came into her chamber as she stood by her window deep in thought, and he purposely made as much noise as possible, trying to bother her. But her thoughts had completely engulfed her, and his entering did not faze her. Giving up on trying to make a disruption, the little pig set himself by her warm fireplace, and laid down on the soft rug next to it, committing himself to a long nap.

Her knight friend soon showed up and they went out for their walk, deciding that the garden was a nice place to converse. As usual, her two ladies-in-waiting followed behind them, but gave the two friends a bit of distance as to offer them what privacy they could. When they reached the garden Kaokon couldn't contain his curiosity anymore.

"Princess, I heard something before I came here. I hope you don't find me intruding for asking, but will you confirm for me if the Shadow Knights were in the village today? I'm afraid I left too early to see any of them."

The Princess sat herself down on the stone bench and kept her gaze to the flowers. "They were there earlier."

"So you saw them yourself?" He pressed.

She looked up at him. "Kao, I know what you're trying to hint at. Yes, I saw Wolfe, and yes, he caught me looking upon him, as usual. Does this make you happy to hear?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why do you go out of your way to give yourself pain by enquiring?"

"I—I just—I want you to see my reasoning. You have admitted that he is noticing your odd behaviour. What if he finds out and tries to take advantage of it?"

"How can he find out unless someone tells him? I imagine he believes I stare at him more in contempt than in admiration."

Kao flinched at the word admiration. "How sure can we be of that? The eyes are the window to the soul, as they say. One day he may be able to read them."

The Princess cast her eyes directly to his, but laughed at the same time. "Kao please, you know you make me laugh when you quote the wise old sayings. They do not suit you so."

The knight shrugged. "I'm aware that everyone thinks it's funny whenever I say something wise and serious, I've become the fool for people to jest about."

"No, I do not mean to offend. You are no fool, but you are so rarely serious as you are now, and it does not go well with your good, humorous nature."

Kao smiled for an answer. "It is true, I am a fool, the court jester, but it is alright, I enjoy being carefree as opposed worrisome. Only, when it concerns you—"

"Yes, I realize everyone becomes worrisome on my account, even you."

"And do you blame me?"

"Of course not, I am grateful, only I wish you trusted me enough not to oppose my outings."

"Princess, after what happened today, are you not a least bit troubled by Wolfe?"

"Kao, he will not find out! Believe me, I do not wear a sign on me saying 'I am uncontrollably attracted to you.' He's quite ignorant still."

Kao, who had been leaning against the willow tree that the stone bench was under, stepped away from it and toward the Princess.

"Still. That is the word, isn't it? Dear friend, it is likely he may find out yet."

The Princess, annoyed that he did not trust her judgement, got up from the bench and proclaimed. "I tire from our argument. I wish to go back to the palace."

"Princess," He sighed, "come on, I apologize, let's talk of something else."

"No, I need some space from you, you've bothered me too much today."

"Please don't say that. Again, I repeat, I am truly sorry. Don't be angry."

The two ladies-in-waiting, who had been walking around the garden looking at the flowers and ignoring the two of them, now looked up when they heard his urgent words.

The Princess was already at the gate and ready to exit.

"Goodbye knight." She said with cold civility. "And please, do not follow, I wish to walk back alone."

"But Midori—!"

Everyone in the garden froze in shock.

"Forgive me!" Kao cried out, dropping to his knees and bowing his head to her.

The two ladies-in-waiting looked at each other in sheer horror.

The Princess deeply blushed. "How do you know my—" but before she could finish, her eyelids closed over her eyes, and she fell instantly to the ground.

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Author Note:

A small note on the names.

Midori, means "Green" in Japanese and since the Princess likes her gardens, I thought it would be nice for her.

Kao is a Chinese/Korean surname, derived from Gao, meaning "High", but I made up his full name, "Kaokon".

Wolfe is a German/English name, meaning, "wolf".

Sir Squiggleton (Squiggs), is an old French name, derived from Squire, meaning "a knight's attendant".

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Just thought you might all want to know. I'll post their ages too if anyone is interested.

The lady,

Lady of the Stardust Butterflies