Hey there, dedicated readers.

I am now going to post the first chapter of this story.

I'm a little behind, aren't I?

Chapter 4

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Sakura trudged to her room, unaware of the people staring at her. She had tried: to be ladylike, polite, modest, and sensitive to the prince. But it wasn't as easy as she had thought. All he did was stare at her, sending shivers down her spine. She would attempt to start conversation, and he would cast it down, preferring to stay silent.

What was it that infuriated her so much about him? His piercing amber eyes? His sharp yet subtle interest in her? Or, the fact that he wore a mask of kindness when all he really was inside... was a demon?

But what did it matter, anyway? All she had to do was escape through her convenient balcony that night, move far away, and start life over again.

Upon entering her room, though, Sakura found Chiharu sitting on her bed. When she saw Sakura she quickly jumped up and hugged her. "Oh, I heard you were wonderful!" she whispered happily.

"Oh, Chiharu-chan..." Sakura looked into the maid's eyes and saw nothing but compassion and sensitivity. "You've made my day!"

"Nani?"

"Thank you so much for making me look way prettier than I really am. I owe you my life!"

Chiharu laughed and hugged Sakura. "My pleasure."

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The next morning, Sakura woke up and looked around. She was alive, and that put somewhat of a peace in her mind. But there was still the fact that she had to spend more time with Li-sama.

Sakura slowly rolled onto the floor with a loud thud.

Chiharu entered the room with her trusty comb and brush to find Sakura on the floor in a pile of sheets. "Kinomoto-san?"

"I'm sorry, Chiharu-chan, but I'm weeping in agony. Can I get ready later?"

"Of course, Kinomoto-san."

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"So... the Li Clan was formed three hundred years ago by Li-sama's great grandfather, Kin Gwan Li-sama?" Sakura droned as she sat in the study, holding a very large book entitled "HISTORY OF THE GREATEST CLAN TO EVER DOMINATE THE EARTH: THE LI CLAN'S RISE TO POWER AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNIVERSE: VOLUME 1."

"...No, Kinomoto-san. We say it suchly: Li Kin Gwan-dono. But you were quite close!" Chiharu said, feeling quite sorry for Sakura.

"You know what?"

"What, Kinomoto-san?"

"Screw this."

"...screw?"

Sakura slammed the book shut and jumped out of her chair. "Yes, Chiharu-chan." Grabbing Chiharu's hand, they ran out of the study and into the immense palace.

"Do you know your way around this place?" Sakura asked.

"Well, not much besides the maid's routes-"

"Perfect!" Sakura grabbed her and flew down the hall in a frenzy of bottled up energy.

"Kinomoto-san! We'll be in monumental trouble if we wander the halls!"

"Perfect! They might even kick me out!"

"But Kinomoto-san!!!!"

"What? Don't you want to be free!?"

"..."

"Well?"

"...Heck yeah!"

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"Should we go in this room?"

"Hm... it says 'DO NOT DISTURB,' but..."

"Do you have a plan?"

"...I think so!"

"Yes!"

"You, being a maid and all, can 'get the dirty laundry,' and I can hide in the basket and spy!"

"Magnificent, Kinomoto-san!"

"Yes, I am good, aren't I...?"

"So, so good..."

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"Gomen... I'm here to get the laundry..." Chiharu knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

"GOMEN! I'M HERE TO TAKE YOUR DIRTY CLOTHES!" Chiharu screamed, banging the door.

"Hmmm... no reply. Go in anyway, Chihrau!"

"Aye aye, captain!"

Chiharu opened the door and walked in cautiously. However, there were no people in the room.

"Kinomoto-san! The coast is clear!"

"Sweet! Now let me out!"

Chiharu opened the basket lid, and Sakura jumped out. "Hey, this is ten times better than my room!" Sakura growled.

"Kinomoto-san!"

"What?"

"I think this might be the Prince's room!"

"..."

"WE SNUCK IN ON ROYALTY!"

"Chiharu! There's nobody IN HERE!"

"But still! It's a MAN'S room!"

"...ew!"

"What do we do?!"

"Don't touch anything! It might give you arrogantitis!"

"...Arrogantitis?"

Sakura's and Chiharu's eyes widened as a male voice appeared from the other direction.

"Um... Well, I'll just get these-" -Chiharu grabbed some random clothes- "-and skedaddle on out of here-"

"Wait for me-"

SLAM

"I'll go too- CHIHARU!"

"WHAT!?"

"YOU LOCKED IT!!!"

"Oh... sorry!"

"CHIHARU!"

"..."

"CHIHARU!"

"..."

She left me...

with a MAN...

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What a cliffie...

HehehehehehehEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEMUAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!

...sorry.

Word of the day: discombobulated

...is that spelled right?

Who knows...