Moshimoshi! I own nothing!
I fidget as I look at my reflection in a standing mirror. My mind is still reeling from the bomb Prince Izana dropped on me about being in a different country that he would rule one day. He had summoned three guards to "escort" me to a guest chamber. I barely had time to take the room in, let alone its beauty, before a maid, Aoi, came in with a gown in her arms. She explained that the Prince didn't want me walking around the castle in my current attire, but my gut told me she was paraphrasing. Five bucks he called me Little Mouse. The look on the Aoi's face as she gave me a once-over confirmed both my suspicions.
My white khakis, black ballet flats, and blue Komori-san's Bookstore employee polo stand out in the medieval environment that is Clarines. And body-wise, I am no mouse. So far the only one I've met that's taller than me is Izana, and only by an inch or two. And my skeleton underneath my California-tanned skin is the opposite of lanky, so even though I'm not in the heavy-weight class, no one can call me bean pole. But the deal-breaker is blue-black hair, which I've been dying for years. Komori-san and my parents only let me do so, so long as the dye was washable, so maybe three days from now my natural gray locks will shine through. Like many of my father's relatives, my hair turned to gray before hitting puberty.
Aoi helped me into the dress after I took off my American clothes. She left a while ago and left where I am now, standing in front of the full-length mirror and trying not to squirm. I'm no stranger to medieval garments because of my love of Shakespeare and Renaissance Faires. But looking at myself in the gown, it's making the situation all too real. The navy-blue velvet with its satin white sleeves and panels surprisingly compliments my sunkissed skin and blue-black hair. Wonder how it will look when the gray starts showing.
Clarines isn't a current country, and I know I didn't time-travel because I'm getting a Minor in History and Anthropology. So if I didn't travel in space or time, then what is this place? I think as I stare at my reflection, dread beginning to fill my stomach. Am I even going to be able to go home? The girl in the mirror with her deep-set chocolate eyes can't answer those questions, and she's just as nervous as I am.
I'm startled by a knock at the door. "Excuse us, Lady Memphis," a female voice says, "But we're court herbalists sent by Prince Izana. May we enter?"
"H-Hai!" I answer as I quickly fix myself in the mirror before realizing I spoke in Japanese. A nervous habit since preschool. "I mean yes, please come in."
I turn to the wall on my left where the door is and see a slim girl around my age with green eyes, pale skin, and short apple-red hair. She's dressed in a white uniform that ended just above her knees and completely covers the dress she's wearing underneath. Following behind her is a twelve-year-old boy, petite and pale with messy brown hair and aqua blue eyes. He's wearing a baggy blue shirt and trousers that reach his knees, showing off a pair of black socks and puffed boots. The scarf around his neck has white and purple stripes. The girl said we, so that means the kid must be crazy intelligent to be a herbalist in the castle.
A third figure darts into the room until he's practically on top of me. That's no small feat since I'm taller than him. His yellow cat-like eyes are intense as the stare into mine with suspicion, but I don't care. He's standing too close and after my encounter with Izana, this invasion of personal space is the last straw. So I scream into his face, and he jumps back in shock, landing on one leg and raising his hands in self-defense. Now that he's at a safe distance, I take a good look at him. He's tanner than the other two, and he has short black hair that covers his forehead, but the scar above his left eye is clearly visible. His clothes are the most casual, too, consisting of a black long-sleeved shirt, an olive-gray vest and matching pants, a green scarf around his neck, brown gloves, and dark gray boots.
"...You're not a herbalist," I say to him. He looks at me in confusion before barking out in laughter.
"Milady is a good judge of character," he manages to say through his chuckling. He calms down and gives me a dramatic bow, bending over until his head almost touches the floor. "The name's Obi," he introduces himself after rising, "And I'm the official messenger of Prince Zen and unofficial bodyguard of these two." He points at the court herbalists.
"Nice to meet you," the lone girl says with a smaller bow of her own. "My name is Shirayuki." I struggle to keep my face expressionless as the kid greets me and identifies himself as Ryuu. Shirayuki, as in 'Snow White' in Japanese. And she has read hair, making her Snow White with the red hair. Akagami no Shirayukihime. I take a deep breath to expel my shock and give the trio a smile.
"Nice to meet you," I formally greet them with a little curtsey. "And please, there's no need for formalities with me. Memphis will do just fine. Now that the introductions are taken care of, may I ask why His Highness sent for you?"
"The Prince instructed us to assist you personally for any medical reasons that occur during your stay at Castle Wistal," Ryuu informs me.
"Oh," I say in understanding, then blink at the information while inspecting Ryuu's expression. Oh boy. "You're paraphrasing, aren't you?" Shirayuki gasps as the boys' eyes widen in surprise. "I knew it," I tell them, "You guys are the second, well, second, third, and fourth people to do that. First Aoi, and now you. What is he saying about me? What did he tell you guys?"
"Smart one you are, Milady," Obi comments with a cat-like smile. "What the first prince said was these guys were to attend to you should anything peculiar happen. And he called you Little Mouse." I frown at him.
"That's it? That's mild. And I told you not to call me Milady," I remind him, and then I realize something. "Earlier you mentioned a Prince Zen. Is he the second prince of Clarines?"
"Why indeed he is," Obi confirms, "And he sends his regards and welcome to Clarines. He also asks that you come to his solar for a proper introduction." With those last words, a gleam of amusement shines in his eyes, which in my current situation can only mean one thing.
"I think you meant a proper interrogation, Obi," I reply with a huff, "If you are to continue your job as an official messenger for the Prince, you ought to relay such messages word for word." All three of them blink in surprise at my shrewdness, but I hold my ground and stand even straighter. They are not going to make a mockery out of me. A chuckle comes from the door that one of them forgot to close. We all turn to see a miniature version of Prince Izana standing just outside the room with semi-short hair that's practically white. Prince Zen. He steps inside and approaches me and takes a bow that matches the one Izana did in the library.
"Your honesty and criticism are most welcome, Lady Memphis," he tells me with a grin, his brother's blue eyes looking at me with kindness. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Zen Wistaria of Clarines, and I wish for your stay here in Castle Wistal to be pleasant. And as for the 'proper interrogation', as you kindly reminded my messenger, I think it best that we do it right here. Do you agree?" I give him a smile of my own. I like him.
"Of course, Your Highness. Why don't we all take a seat?" I gesture to the table next to the four-post bed that conveniently has five chairs surrounding it. As we sit, I note that Zen is barely an inch shorter than Obi, and is a noticeable inch or two taller than Shirayuki. He's wearing a blue jacket with a matching blue glove on his left hand, white pants, and blue boots. His has his sword strapped to his side. There's an insignia on the hilt. It's the same symbol from the manga, I realize, but make no outward indication that I recognize it.
When we sit, Obi and Zen sit at my right and left respectively, with Shirayuki on Zen's other side and Ryuu in between her and Obi. I don't fail to see Zen positioned his chair rather close to Shirayuki.
"Lady Memphis," he begins, but I interrupt him.
"Memphis is fine." He looks at me in surprise before shrugging and continuing.
"Memphis, my Lord Brother has informed me—"
"Without the paraphrasing, if you could?" I interrupt him again. His puzzled expression implies that I need to elaborate. "Twice now, these guys being the second occurrence, your brother has said something that others have chosen to rephrase. I am merely asking that you tell me whatever Prince Izana said." He blinks at me before he beams.
"Only if you call me Zen." My lips form a smirk. The others also smile at Zen's words.
"What has your brother told you, Zen?" I ask him.
"He described his side of the incident in the library, which was that while browsing he saw a light flash from another aisle. He approached to investigate and saw you and watched as you explored. He approached you and so began an 'amusing conversation' as he put it, and you told him your name and that you entered the castle by accident. Now how about we hear your side of the story?" They all look at me with encouragement, and I decide to tell them the truth, but nothing about the manga. At least not yet.
"My story starts when I was woken up by cold water dumped on me. At least, I thought it was water..."
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~Navy