Chapter 9: The Prince's Discovery

London, England, May 31st 1735.

Walking in his majestic castle, Shizuo was looking for his father to discuss the London Ball. He knocked on the bronze doors of his father's study. "Come

in,"his father said. Shizuo opened the door and shut it softly behind him. "Hello Father, I wanted to discuss the London Ball with you." His father was sitting

in a chair behind his desk doing paper work. Shizuo sat down on the other side of his desk and waited until his father was done. After a beautiful yet harsh

stroke of his signature, the king put his feather down and looked at Shizuo. "What did you want to talk about my son? Do not tell me you have changed

your mind." "No father I have not, I wanted to tell you not to suggest to me whom I should choose to marry or dance with. I would like to make my own

decisions because one day I will have to do that as king." His father closed his eyes and folded his hands, "You are a man son and you are right it is time for

you to make your own decisions." Shizuo sighed, "Good, I am glad we have an understanding of things." He began to stand up and his father slammed his

hand on his desk, "Sit down son, I have something to discuss myself." Shizuo frowned angrily and sat back down. His father got up and gazed out the

window behind his chair, "Son I wanted to tell you about a young woman I had the privilege to meet yesterday; I feel that you will find her to your liking."

Shizuo's anger began to stir, but kept quiet to listen to what his father had to say. "Her name was Orihime Inoue and she is the Lady of London." Shizuo

raised his eyebrows and listened closer to his father. "She has many talents, is young, quite a beauty, and very intelligent. The Lady Orihime is even

making a surprise for you son." Shizuo instantly lost it, "I know you asked her to do it!" His father turned and yelled back, "I am only trying to help you

find a suitable queen!" Shizuo stood up and slammed both his hands on the table, "I do not need your help; I can make my own decisions! I just discussed

this with you a moment ago and it is like you brushed it off!" His father calmed down and came back to sit down, "I am sorry son, you know I only want

the best for you." "I know that," Shizuo growled. "Look, if it will make you happy I shall speak to her at the ball and dance with her. His father smirked,

"Good, I hope both of you get along." Shizuo sighed angrily, "Great, now I shall be leaving, you have angered me and I am going to go take my anger out

on a boulder in the woods." He pushed his chair into a nearby wall and created a large hole, stormed out of his father's study, and left his father shaking

his head at Shizuo's outburst.

Shizuo burst through the castle and exited through the lush rose garden in the back of the castle. He walked for a while and finally reached the woods.

Surrounding him were miles of trees, rocks, grass, and silence. Or that is what it seemed… Shizuo kept looking around for a large rock but could not find

one. Eventually he came upon a large estate with a beautiful rose garden like he had. The estate was white all around with many arched windows with

gold lining, and large bronze doors with gold handles. He quietly moved towards the rose garden and saw a young woman sitting in a white chair wearing a

long and simple aqua dress, her orange hair was in a bun, and her brown eyes looked determined and focused. She was painting something but he could

not see past her. Suddenly a door opened and Shizuo hid on the side of the estate hoping not to be seen. "Orihime, how is the Prince's portrait looking?" She

took one final stroke, "I just finished father, do you think the Prince will love it?" Her father chuckled, "Of course my dear, it looks just like him."

Orihime smiled, carefully picked up the painting and went inside. Shizuo carefully got onto his knees and looked inside the estate. He watched her place the

portrait down in a safe place to dry. Instead of looking at the portrait, he found himself gazing at Orihime. Her beauty struck him like lightning, it was so

shocking he could not stop looking for that moment. When Orihime and her father left the room; Shizuo quickly got up and sprinted back into the woods to

avoid being seen. He found a lonely tree stump and sat on it. "My God," he said aloud. "Father was right, the Lady Orihime is quite a beauty. I cannot

believe my heart beat that fast just by seeing her." He sighed, smiled and realized that he was no longer angry, but was full of wonder and mystery about

Orihime. "I must see her tomorrow at the ball and have that dance." Shizuo stood up and began to walk back to his castle, taking thoughts of the Lady

Orihime's beauty with him.