Chapter 6

Peter exited the carriage after it had stopped in front of the stairs that led to the entrance of the castle. And as he helped Hiromi out of the carriage she said, "Thanks."

He just gave her a soft smile in return as he replied, "You're welcome."

The two then started to make their way up the stairs and into the castle. But while they did this they had not noticed that another carriage had pulled up to the stairway after theirs had left. The figure inside it took a deep breathe as he let out, "Alright, here I go."

ooooooo

Haru watched as her former stepsister Hiromi, and her cousin Peter walked into the banquet hall arm in arm. She then let out a sigh as she quietly let out, "That's funny Father told me that Richard seemed to be the one taken by Hiromi. I guess he was wrong..."

"Haru, did you say something?" The brunette's husband asked, causing her to break away from her thoughts.

The young woman quickly turned her head to face the lavender furred king as she answered, "What? No, I was just thinking out loud."

The mismatched eyed Cat King nodded in understanding and as he looked to where his wife had been looking at he said, "Ah, I see that your former Stepfather did not come to this ball with his daughter."

"Yeah, you're right. I wonder why he didn't want to come?" Haru asked, as she put a finger up against her chin.

"That is a good question, but perhaps he just caught a cold or something and did not want to get anyone else here sick." Lune answered, not really wanting to dwell on the subject. His right ear twitched when he heard the band starting to play as he turned to his wife and extended his hand outward as he added, "Haru, I think it's time we danced."

"Huh, right now?" The hazel eyed young woman asked, as she turned and gave her husband a surprised look.

The lavender furred king nodded as he took her hand and replied, "Yes, I think right now would be the best time."

ooooooo

Hiromi and Peter watched as the Cat King and Queen stopped walking once they were in the middle of the banquet hall. Lune then turned to his wife as they then started to dance with one other instantly getting lost in each other's eyes which surprised the light short haired brunette, but she knew that when you're in love that, that type of thing can happen. She then turned to look at Peter only to find that he was not next to her anymore. And while she looked around for him she let out, "Gee, that's funny I'm certain that Peter was right next to me the entire time. I wonder where he took off io?"

What the grey eyed young woman failed to notice though was that the golden furred half cat had already went back to his carriage while he turned his head slightly as he thought, "I'm very sorry for leaving you like this, Hiromi. But there is something back at mine and my brother's estate that I had forgotten to bring with me before we left." He then got inside carriage and closed the door as the driver then headed back to the estate so that the purple eyed half cat could retrieve the item that he had forgotten.

ooooooo

Hiromi meanwhile lightly clapped her hands together along with everyone else after Haru and Lune had stopped dancing with one another. Before she could approach them though she heard footsteps coming from behind her which caused her to turn around. And when she saw who it was that was walking towards her she let out a slight gasp of surprise. The person who was approaching her was none other then Richard, Pater's sky blue furred twin. But what surprised her even more was the fact that he was wearing attire that seemed more befitting for a prince as his main uniform was grey with black pants along with golden shoulder pads and white gloves. She even noticed a long black cape that flowed behind him as he stopped walking once he was in front of her and bowed to her as he greeted her with, "Good evening, Hiromi."

"Good evening, Richard." Hiromi replied back with, as she tried to figure out what exactly was going on.

She then looked down and saw that he had stood back up and was now extending a hand to her as he asked, "Would like to dance, Hiromi?"

A light blush appeared on the light shorted haired brunette's face as she answered, "Sure."

After she had placed her hand on top of his the two then started to dance with one another. And when the young woman turned with the sky blue half cat she saw that both Haru and Lune were now watching them along with everyone else like what they had done for the two earlier. The youngest Moon daughter then looked back over at the purple eyed half cat who just smiled at her as he said, "Hiromi, there is something that I must tell you. Would it be already if you let me lead us towards the outer part of the castle?"

Again the only thing that young woman could do to response was to nod. But while the two started to turn towards the open doorway she thought, "I wonder why Richard decided to wear something like this to the ball? Maybe if I ask him once we're outside he'll tell me why."

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Peter looked himself over one more time now that he had not only changed his clothes, but he had also grabbed the item that he had forgotten. And as he looked at the small black box that was in his hand he thought, "I hope Miss Hiromi will accept if I ask her this question."

While he passed by his brother's room though his eyes widen when he saw that not only was his bedroom door still open, but so was his closet doors. The golden furred half cat just shook his head and let a grin form on his face thinking that his twin must have been in a hurry to forget to close both doors. When he went to close the closet door however, he let out a gasp when he realized that his brother's "other" attire was not hanging on the rack in the back of the closet like it normally was. He then quickly turned and saw that his brother's small black box was also gone as he let out, "No Richard, wasn't planning on telling Miss Hiromi the truth about us was he? And besides why would he take the ring with him? He knows that I was born first so the throne is mine automatically."

He just sighed as he shut his brother's door and headed downstairs. And after he opened the front door he whispered, "I have to get back to the castle before my brother tells Miss Hiromi anything. I'd rather she come live with me at the palace then to stay here for the rest of her life." He then got back into the carriage as it then made it's way back to the castle where the ball was still taking place.