DisclaimerI don't own anything, it belongs to sunrise.

Author's note: the first chapter was from natsuki's point of view, this one is from shizuru's, hope that you guys enjoy it! Please review…

Italics are for character thoughts.

The Silly Tactics to Make You Fall In Love

Chapter 2: Through the eyes of a lady.

I was currently sitting in my family's tea room, my father and mother needed to discuss something important with me and I have to admit that I was willing to hear what they actually had to say. I grabbed my teacup and started sipping my green tea; I wonder why they are taking so much time? They do not usually make me wait. Could it be that the matter that they are going to discuss is extremely delicate?

I hear the sound of the door opening, and my father and mother entered followed by a strange looking soldier, wearing clothes that are suited for cold places, my father was holding a leather scroll, he took a seat in front of me and my mother followed him.

"I am utterly sorry for making you wait Shizuru my dear, but your mother and I were currently discussing an important matter with this gentleman of the Nordic Empire"

"Ara…do not worry about that father, but if I am allowed to ask, what does this gentleman wants?"

"Well this gentleman is a sol-"

My mother with an amused expression interrupted my father.

"Ara ara! Hidemaru…why don't we let this gentleman to introduce himself?"

"uh? Ye-yes you are right my dear, could you please enlighten us?

"Rig-right away sir! My name is Masashi Takeda, third unit in command of the elite royal army! I have come here today on behalf of Kruger-sama, to deliver an important message! The royal council has announced that Kruger-sama has to ascend to the throne! Because of the oncoming birthday and the victory in the tournament of our highness"

Ascend to the throne? I was not very pleased to hear those words, which could only mean that I have to get married. If father and mother took a long time, talking to this servant it must be because they were politely declining that ridiculous offer. It is well known that the Nordic Empire is filled with unmannered savages, just as this brute that obviously shows no respect to father, directing himself towards the emperor in a military way. Norse people lack of everything that is properly.

"Could you please father explain this a little more?"

"Of course, you were wondering why you haven't got married yet shizuru my dear? Or haven't been in any meeting with any suitors?"

I recently celebrated my nineteen birthday, but it is supposed that when a proper lady has eighteen years old has to be engaged, I was wondering why I actually wasn't. Father and mother always avoided my questions always answering me "when the right time comes", finally I am about to know about the meaning behind those words.

"Yes father, you have always told me that "when the right time comes"

"Well the reason for that Shizuru, is because you are already engaged! You have always been since the day that the Heir of Aizen and Saeko Kruger were born!"

I am in utter disbelief, how could father and mother have done this to me? They hid this from me my entire life, sending me to a certain unhappiness in the middle of a country filled with disgusting savages. displeasure was evident in my eyes but I didn't let it show on my face, it is very inappropriate, I just put my mask on and with a fake smile I just tried to keep my posture.

"Please father, continue"

"Aizen and I always were good friends, when I realized that his sole heir was born, I took the decision by myself, and I asked Aizen to accept the hand of my 1 year old daughter, as the fiancée of his heir. He was very happy to hear that finally two of the greatest families were going to become one!"

"Ara isn't Hidemaru forgetting about something?"

"You are ri-right my dear, since his heir was one year younger than you, we would have to wait until your fiancé completed the rituals to become leader, those rituals are only celebrated a month before the eighteen birthday of the heir"

"aren't you happy shizuru-hime? You are finally getting married! You would have to travel tomorrow to meet your fiancée! Ara what a lovely wife you are going to be!

"Shiori dear stop teasing our shizuru, can't you see that she is nervous?"

I was definitely disappointed, I must do this, in our culture it is impossible to refuse an engagement, my family can't be dishonored, I guess that I would have to accept my fate even if I am doomed to be unhappy. I would have liked to know how it feels to actually fall in love and truly love someone.

"Father I would like to know when the wedding is going to take place?"

"In two months my dear, you will have to stay in the Nordic Empire palace, until the wedding, to know your fiancée better"

"Ara then if you excuse me mother, father, Masashi-san I must be packing"

"Um if you excuse me emperor Hidemaru and your highness shiori-sama I must return now to deliver the message to the royal council"

"Isn't she enthusiastic? I can't believe that our Shizuru-hime is going to get married, aren't you happy Hidemaru Otosan?"

"Hai! Of course that I am happy Okasan, if only Aizen and Saeko were alive…"

I was walking towards my room trying to control myself, when I noticed that savage soldier going to the exit of the palace. If all of them look like him, I really do not want to get married with any Nordic people. I entered my room and I ungracefully launched myself in the bed, sobbing against my pillow unable to control my sadness. Tomorrow my sorrow will start; nothing can be done to avoid it.

It was already early in the morning, everything was already packed, and the carriages outside were already waiting for me. I was currently having breakfast with father and mother. Bliss was evident in their faces. My mask was on, I could not show them how broken I was in the inside. After slowly finishing my breakfast, I give them my farewells, and I get myself ready for my unfortunate fate.

I entered the carriage, and I noticed that it was heavy guarded; because father was afraid of thieves attacking it. Since we left Zipang, I have been traveling the whole morning. It was late in the afternoon when we were already entering the Nordic Empire. Everything is covered with ice. Snow is slowly falling making the view even more beautiful, through the windows, I could see the palace not too far away, and it is magnificently decorated with ice towers and statues. How could such uncivilized savages possess such a beautiful structure?

Uncivilized? I just could not control myself this time; I did not want to be unhappy! Just when we were reaching the castle gates, I managed to open the carriage door and tried to escape. The guards were trying to stop me and I was struggling to get away. I heard someone saying something to the guards, and some of them rushed to attack a person. After that, everything happened like in slow motion.

The guards grabbing me were knocked down, and a pair of strong yet delicate arms lifted me. Everything was a blurry; I could not see anything clearly, because we were moving very fast. How someone carrying a person could move this fast through heavy layers of snow? Abruptly we stop and the person carefully leans against a tree.

The first thing that I managed to say after recovering from the previous actions was:

" Ara…thank you for saving me" I said without even looking towards this person

"Eh… uh sure, it was n-nothing!"

So it is a girl, still it does not change the fact that she is a savage…

"My! Were are my manners my name is Shizuru Viola and you must be…?"

"Nat…Natsuki"

She is holding me more that I would like to, I would let her know…

"Can you please let me go; I think that I am safe now"

"Huh? Oh I'm sorry…I did not mean to scare you lady"

"Why does Natsuki-sans face is kind of red? Are you ok?" running that fast could make anyone tired…or is she blushing? No, it cannot be…

"Yeah, I'm just a little tired…ahem you still own me an explanation, why were you trying to escape from the carriage?"

"I was running away because I don't want to get married with a savage" I finally let someone hear about my miserable fate…

"I see…"

After hearing such a sad answer, I lifted my face to take a better look at the girl that saved me.

I was speechless, because of my wrong thoughts I did not even bother to take a better look of my saviors face, the Nordic woman hair was midnight blue, her face was like porcelain and I was even more surprised when I noticed the most beautiful emerald eyes that I have seen. The same eyes that now are staring at me with a sad expression.

I think that I shouldn't have said that, why that sad expression does makes me feel uneasy. I do not understand…

"I…I'm really sorry…" I apologized.

"Sorry about what? If that is your opinion about me, I have to respect that, now start walking or you will freeze"

"Natsuki-san please wait, I'm really sorry about wh-"

"Didn't you hear what I just said? I respect your opinion, so let's keep moving"

I really made Natsuki-san angry…but where is she taking me?

I decided to follow Natsuki-san, I was not in the best situation, so I should do as she says, and maybe I can talk to her later, and convince her to help me escape from my arranged marriage.