It has been two days since Haru met Humbert. The first time she encountered Baron after meeting him was the day before. When she mentioned the cat to her friend, he could only stutter and blush about how he never told Haru about the cat because she never really asked if he had one.
Today, however, was different. The first thing that happened that proved the day would not be ordinary was when a blue light filled Haru's room at three in the morning. Haru groggily sat up to look around. Lune was sitting on her bed. His red and blue-green eyes were fixated on her.
"Prince Lune?" Haru asked as she rubbed her eye. One of her silk nightgown's straps slipped off her arm. Lune immediately diverted his eyes.
"Miss Haru, I just wanted to let you know that I will be coming over later in the afternoon. I'll…how should I put this…be disguised as a human? I'll be coming to the house to visit Yuki. I mean…if that's alright" Lune said awkwardly. Haru clasped her hands together with a smile.
"That's so grand. I knew you could do magic but turning into a human. I wish I could change shapes" Haru said excitedly. "I'll make sure that I answer the door before anyone else so you don't get left out of the house from nobody knowing you." Lune bowed.
"I would appreciate that, Miss Haru." A blue light filled the room again and Lune was gone.
"He's so remarkable" Haru whispered to herself. A sudden knocking came at Haru's door.
"Who is it?" Haru called out quietly but loud enough for the person outside the door to hear.
"Baron" the voice answered.
"Come in." Baron opened the door at Haru's response.
"Are you alright? I was heading to the kitchen for a glass of water when I saw a strange light coming out from under your door" Baron said in concern. He went over to sit on the edge of Haru's bed. His green eyes locked onto Haru's bare shoulder. She never fixed the fallen strap. Baron's face grew hot. It was a good thing it was dark in the room, or Haru would surely see him blushing.
"I'm fine, but I must confess something to you. You see, to put it bluntly…I can talk to cats. Lune came to see me a minute ago, he's sort of a prince that can use magic" Haru said nervously. Baron looked at Haru for a while and began rubbing his chin with his hand.
"Fascinating" Baron said in awe.
"You believe me?" Haru asked in disbelief.
"Of course! It would explain how you knew the cat's name even though I didn't see it on the gold collar like you said it was. Also, I don't know of anything else that could make a weird blue light. Magic would be a perfect explanation" Baron said calmly.
"Thank goodness. I thought you wouldn't believe me. I thought you were going to send me away to the asylum" Haru cried out in relief.
"I would never do that to you" Baron said as grabbed Haru's hands and rubbed circles in them with his thumbs. Baron savored the feeling of his skin touching hers. It was rare for his hands not to have gloves on, so he barely got to touch Haru's hand with his own with skin to skin contact. Her hands were so soft. "While we are speaking, I would like to ask you a question."
"What is it?" Haru questioned.
"I was wondering if you would accompany me to the Yorks' this evening. They invited me to dinner. Truthfully, they wanted to meet the lovely lady I have been telling them about" Baron said.
"Oh Baron, I'm not sure. The servants have been teaching me ways to be a proper lady every chance they get…but it still hasn't been that much. You've been giving me advice too, I suppose. I'm just afraid I won't know how to act" Haru said sheepishly. Baron shook his head and smiled.
"I don't care how you act. I just want you to be you" Baron said.
"But I doubt the Yorks feel the same way" Haru said miserably.
"Please Haru; I would love for you to come with me. I'll make sure they make no ill remarks towards you" Baron said in alarm. Haru's brown eyes met Baron's emerald green ones.
"Alright. I suppose it will give me an opportunity to use one of my dresses. I can't have them going to waste" Haru said in defeat. Baron smiled and lifted Haru out of bed. He held her bridal style as he twirled her around the room.
"You don't know how happy I am right now" Baron laughed. Haru laughed with him.
Later that afternoon, Haru stayed posted at the door. Everyone watched as she leaned back and forth with anticipation. The doorbell rang a few minutes after Haru's arrival. She squealed and flung the door open. In front of her stood a tall grayish-black haired man, he had two different colored eyes and was wearing a white military uniform. It looked like one a general would wear. On his suit, tiny gold medals lay against his chest. He looked like he was only about nineteen years old.
"Lune?"
"Miss Haru" Lune acknowledged with a bow. Haru grinned.
"Come in, good sir" Haru said with a gesture of her hand. Lune smiled. He stepped into the house with his hands behind his back.
"Where's Yuki?" Lune asked, his eyes scanning the rooms.
"Oh she's in the sitting room in the main wing. I can take you to her. Do you think she'll want to talk to you? I mean…she only knew you as a cat. She didn't even understand you then."
"I plan on telling her that I'm Lune the cat. She told me yesterday that she believes in magic" Lune said.
"Okay but if I hear her screaming then I'm going to have to kick you out" Haru teased.
"Of course." Haru stepped in front of Lune and led him down a few hallways and then in front of a door.
"In here" Haru said as she pushed the door open. Yuki was in the room humming to herself as she dusted all the figurines and wooden surfaces in sight. Lune gasped at the sight. Yuki turned around at the sound.
"Oh hello, I did not hear you enter" Yuki said in embarrassment.
"It is alright. I just brought you a visitor" Haru said. Lune bowed.
"Good afternoon, Miss Yuki" Lune said in greeting. Yuki blushed then curtsied.
"Good afternoon."
"I'll leave you two alone" Haru announced before leaving. She closed the door with a soft click.
"Chicky, shouldn't you be in the bath?" Muta asked as he came out of nowhere.
"Bath?"
"Yeah, you're going to dinner with Baron this evening aren't you?" You should get a bath, get ready, then be on your way" Muta said.
"I didn't think about it like that" Haru said thoughtfully. "I'll do that right now." Haru trudged off to her room.
After bathing, Haru stood in front of her wardrobe. What to wear? What to wear? Haru's eyes scanned her dresses. What color should she wear? Baron was so happy to have her come. Maybe something that he would like? He said purple and yellow were good colors on her. Haru's eyes landed on a purple dress. Purple it is. Haru took the dress of the hanger and slipped it on. The dress hugged her curves. Dark blue flowers decorated the corset of the dress. Ribbons hung on the waist line. It was pretty but the puffy sleeves were a little much. Haru shrugged, it was her dress now, right? She grabbed the sleeves and ripped them off, leaving the elastic behind. Haru smiled and pushed the elastic down to rest on her upper arms. The style left her shoulders bare. It looked much better now.
This was where the challenge really started. Haru stood in front of her mirror. She brushed her hair and stared at her reflection. What should she do for hair and make-up? Haru fluffed her hair in thought. Suddenly, an idea struck. Haru smiled and ran over to the boxes in the corner. She grabbed the one on the bottom and picked it up. She carried it over to her vanity and set it down. Haru removed the lid and shifted through the contents. Haru smiled as she pulled out a ribbon and bobby pin. Haru attached the bobby pin to the end of the ribbon then bobby pinned the ribbon in her hair. Haru weaved the ribbon through her hair then tied it in a bow at the bottom.
It wasn't fancy but it wasn't simple either. Now for the make-up. Haru pulled all the make-up in the box out and spread it across her vanity. She applied a light coating of blush to her cheeks and some purple eye shadow. It was simple, but she wasn't a professional on beauty. Hopefully, Baron would approve of her attire and so would the Yorks. Haru slipped on her stockings then black and white lace up boots before going to Baron's room. Haru knocked on the door.
"Yes?" Baron's voice sounded from the other side of the door.
"I'm ready when you are" Haru called out. A shuffling then crash was heard on the other side of the door. The door was suddenly flung open. Baron was standing in the doorway wide eyed.
"Y-Y-You look beautiful" Baron said in wonder. Haru blushed from the praise.
"Thank you" Haru said with a small curtsy. "You look quite handsome if I do say so myself." Baron's face turned pink. He was wearing a simple dark blue tailcoat and trousers.
"T-Thank you, Haru. I was surprised to hear you at the door. I thought you would have finished getting ready after me."
"Maybe for anybody else, but I did everything myself. I tried to keep it simple yet elegant" Haru explained.
"And you did it wondrously."
"Shall we go?" Baron asked as he extended an arm to her. Haru nodded and laced her arm through his. They walked outside. Haru was surprised to see a carriage waiting for them. Usually Baron liked to walk everywhere. "I think the Yorks would find it strange for us to arrive on foot" Baron said as if he read her thoughts.
"I bet" Haru mumbled. Baron helped Haru into the carriage before climbing in after her. The ride was short, for the Yorks didn't live too far away just a street or two down the road. The carriage pulled to a stop. Baron hopped out and offered a hand to Haru. Haru took the hand and let Baron guide her to the door. Baron moved his cane to his other hand and rang the doorbell.
A maid appeared at the door. She bowed as Baron and Haru entered. "This way please" she said timidly as she shut the door and led them to the parlor room.
"Baron Von Gikkingen and Miss Yoshioka are here" the maid announced to the occupants of the room before leaving. Everyone stood up in greeting. Thankfully, Haru recognized Mrs. Grant and her husband and the familiar faces caused some of her unease to vanish.
Two men and a woman walked over to Baron and Haru. The two men bowed and the woman curtsied. Haru curtsied afterwards when Baron bowed.
"Hello Mr. York, Mrs. York, and Machida" Baron said curtly. Haru looked up at Baron in question. She noticed Baron's gaze trained on the young man behind the older couple. It must be their twenty year old son, Machida. Haru couldn't help but blush at Machida as he looked at her. He was obviously taking in her appearance. Baron growled. "So Machida, how is life like at the university?" Baron asked. Machida's attention went to Baron.
"It's okay. It can be sort of boring. There aren't any high class girls there to court. I'm glad we're on break. It feels good to get away every once and a while" Machida said as his eyes drifted back over to Haru. Baron wrapped an arm around Haru's waist. Haru didn't say anything.
"So this is Haru" Mrs. York said. "You're quite lovely, my dear."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but dinner is ready" the maid from earlier said as she appeared out of nowhere. Machida immediately stood in front of Haru.
"Would you like to sit by me, Haru?" Machida said smoothly. Haru blushed and took the hand Machida offered her. She was ripped from Baron's grasp as Machida escorted her into the dining hall.
Dinner went by with polite conversation. Haru messed up on which silverware to use during each course. Baron didn't say anything unless spoken to. He was too busy watching Machida and Haru converse in whispers. Haru laughed at what Machida was saying most of the time. Once dinner was over, everyone moved back into the parlor room to continue their previous conversations. Baron thought things couldn't get any worse, but he was proven wrong when Machida pulled Haru out of the room to speak with her privately.
When they came back into the room, Haru was smiling and Machida had a grin on his face. "Everyone we have an announcement! Haru has agreed to let me court her" Machida said smugly. Baron bristled in his seat. He clenched his fist at the announcement. No!
Another hour flew by until Baron convinced Haru that it was time to go home. As Haru and Machida parted ways, Machida kissed her hand. Baron threw a glare over his shoulder as he helped Haru into the carriage. Machida sent him a smug look. Baron frowned and stepped into the carriage. The ride home was silent. Upon reaching the mansion, Haru and Baron went their separate ways. They got dressed in their night clothes and got ready for bed.
As Haru slipped under her sheets, someone knocked on her door. "Come in" Haru said. She pulled the covers up to cover her body as the door created a breeze. Baron stepped into the room. "Baron?"
"I'm sorry. I've been rude the whole afternoon. I just need to ask you one thing. Haru, why are you letting Machida court you? You only just met him" Baron said dejectedly.
"He's funny" Haru said simply. Baron gave her a ludicrous look. Haru sighed. "He's a nice guy. I couldn't just say no."
"But Haru, your leading him on" Baron whined. He went over to kneel next to Haru's bed.
"Maybe. But I could also start to really like the guy" Haru said defensively.
"I don't want him courting you!" Baron shouted.
"Why does it matter to you? I'm old enough to make my own decisions!" Haru yelled.
"Because I want to court you!" Baron said without thinking. Haru's eyes widened. Baron's hand flew to cover his mouth. "I-I-I—" Baron stuttered. He stood up. He turned around to leave, but a hand caught his wrist. Baron looked back to see Haru holding him back. "H-Haru?"
"Why didn't you just ask before? I would have let you" Haru said quietly.
"You would have?"
"Of course. I would have been scared because my first friend would have wanted to become my suitor, but I still would have let you."
Baron turned around and smiled. "I promise you won't regret it. I'll beat Machida in the race to win your heart" Baron said confidently.
"Be careful Baron, I don't want you to become arrogant." Baron shook his head.
"Only for you."
A/N: Heehee. I switched the word cool out from the movie to remarkable. I don't think they said cool back then. Haru is being courted by my two men also. What do you think about that? Review. Also, if I get at least five reviews, I might post another chapter tomorrow or on the day after the next every other day.