Hello world! Here is another chapter for you to indulge in. Aren't you all happy that I updated so soon?

Yes!?

"Yay!"

No!?

"..."

Disclaimer : I do not own KWMS.

The stars shimmered like their usual selves while the milk white orb proudly dominated the midnight sky. While everything around was cloaked in this mysterious raven sheet of darkness, two bright pools of emerald glistened, as if tormenting any foe who dared to stand in their way. It was a mystery on its own how these two orbs could withhold the secret of the raging storms that were ravishing his mind behind a stoic façade. He allowed himself to release a small sigh of resentment after a continuous failure to comprehend with his own heart.

"Why am I troubled?" he thought out loud. "Why am I feeling this anger?"

He was greeted with silence.

Leaning over the balcony, Usui ran his fingers through his hair and sighed in defeat.

"I have been doing that a lot lately, aren't I?" he smirked.

This time he wasn't greeted with silence but by the thumping sound of his heart beat.

…...

"So what are planning to wear to the great event Misaki?" Honoka queried.

"Anything that offers me the luxury to breathe is fine." Misaki sighed.

"Oh Misaki you have to dress up. You are a Princess after all," Honoka scolded in a motherly way.

"I wonder why it no longer sounds exciting."

"Misaki!"

"There there ladies, no need to get all worked up." Hinata chirped. "Honoka, don't you fret. I have the perfect thing for our Princess."

"And what might that be?" Honoka asked intriguingly.

Flashing a cheeky grin, Hinata laid out a pearl white v-necked princess line gown as the jewels that encrusted its bodice twinkled under the light.

Honoka gasped as she ran her fingers along the silk fabric. "Oh good gracious! It's tailored with such finesse."

'There goes my plan of keeping it plain and simple out of the window.' Misaki groaned mentally as she bitterly eyed the dress that was way too fancy for her liking.

"Indeed it is. It is stitched by the finest tailor of the Eastern lands!" Hinata boasted before smiling warmly at his childhood friend, "This is my birthday gift to Misaki-chan. My Misaki-chan deserves only the best."

"Th-thank you Hinata-kun. You didn't have to." Misaki replied as she blushed in embarrassment.

"I would be delighted if Misaki-chan wears this to the birthday celebration party this evening."

"But Hinata-kun it's-"

"Please?" Hinata begged with watery eyes.

"Al-alright." Misaki sighed as she gave in to that irresistible face.

'My softness will be the death of me one day,' she mused bitterly.

…...

Chariots stopped at the royal entrance one after another as the Nobles and the aristocrats descended from these extravagant vehicles elegantly and walked down the red carpet towards the main hall with their heads held up, looking down on every single maid and servant assigned to welcome them with pure disgust.

By nightfall, the castle bustled with hundreds of guests as the event reached its full swing with the males discussing political issues over glasses of champagne while the females flaunted their expensive clothes, jewelries and numerous slaves.

It was in this midst of this 'sophistication' and plasticity where Usui found himself begrudgingly serving to the guests' needs as per His Majesty's orders. He could see the revulsion…the repugnance in their eyes each time a servant approached them.

'Even an insect has a higher social status than us,' he frowned at the deliberation.

Lost in his thought, Usui paid little attention to where he was heading as he bumped into someone making the person spill his drink all over his valuable garments.

"Holy shit!" The person cried out. "Are you visually impaired? Cannot see where you are heading, mister!?"

"He is a slave Tora," one of his female companions muttered as she eyed Usui up and down.

"What!?" The person, now introduced as Tora, bellowed. "A slave!? How dare you bump into me, you filthy creature!?"

"If you hadn't noticed, it was purely unintentional." Usui replied smoothly as he looked straight into his eyes.

"Oh my, Tora! He talks back to his superiors," another companion of his whispered. "…He is not even looking down."

This further enraged Tora as his face reddened in anger. In a swift motion he pulled Usui by his collar before continuing in an intimidating tone,

"Listen you. Do you even know who you are talking back to? I am Igarashi Tora, the soon to be crowned Lord of the Eastern Lands."

Easily releasing himself from Tora's tight grasp, Usui merely rose an eyebrow before replying, "Congratulations."

His reply made the females giggle while Tora's eyes widened in surprise.

"You-"

Before Tora could lash and try to snap Usui's neck in half, he was cut off by King Ayuzawa as he requested for everyone's attention.

"I, Ayuzawa Sakuya, king of Seika Estates want to sincerely thank every single of you fine people to come to my daughter's birthday celebration on my request. I would be highly obliged if all of you give her your valuable blessings to her for she turned seventeen today."

He was greeted by a round of applause from the crowd. Smiling he continued, "Now I would like to call my lovely daughter, Ayuzawa Misaki, to come join us and grace us with her lovely presence."

All eyes now turned to the beautiful maiden, dressed in the most exquisite princess line gown, her raven hair left open as it elegantly swayed as she gracefully climbed down the stairs and joined her father.

A glimpse at her made the eyes of all young men roll back to their heads while the ladies pinched and elbowed their partners for drooling over another girl, in jealousy.

"Ah there you are, my lovely daughter. Aren't you a beauty!?" King Ayuzawa exclaimed before kissing her hand.

"Hello father." Misaki smiled and greeted him in a soft voice.

"Good heavens!" Tora exclaimed. "Isn't she a dish!" he thought out load.

This brought Usui out of his reverie who was too awestruck by the beauty before his eyes.

"I never knew Seika treasured such a jewel." Tora continued, lust evident in his eyes as he hungrily eyed Misaki smiling and greeting the guests, long forgetting his little spar with the other being who stood behind him… now radiating a murderous aura.

"Meet Saya-chan, Misaki." Suzuna said as she introduced another royal friend of hers to Misaki. "She is the first born to King and Queen of Zei."

"Hello. It's nice of you to come." Misaki chanted it like a mantra, like she had been doing for the past one hour, and smiled. 'I think my face is going to snap any moment now. I can smile no more!' she mentally wailed.

"Now I want you to meet my special friend-"

'Oh no! No more friends…' she groaned and hung her head in fatigue.

"- Erika-san, Princess of the Myabigaoka Estates."

Misaki's head snapped up in surprise and was greeted by the familiar face.

Erika smirked knowingly as she said, "I believe we have met before."

That's it for now. Sorry for the cliffhanger! :P

What is Erika going to say? What will Misaki do? What are Tora's intentions? How will Usui react?

Find out in the next chapter… which I will post only if you review.
Until then, ta-ta!