Three weeks passed so fast for her. It's been the most tiring days of her life. Every morning she'd go and train her self with Van. Teaching her all the techniques needed to protect herself in different kinds of attack. She absorbed every detail, but she still can't beat Van, though she already had more stamina now unlike before and some of her attacks do hit the right spot. It's all because of experience, just like what Van told her. If you have more experience of the real thing you'll learn much faster, your body will help you develop skills to protect yourself, instinct. But she could feel her body aching everywhere! The only rest she has is every evening where Van is forced to stop and let her sleep but there are times that even at night they go on training.

"I'm so proud of you. I could already see the changes these pass days." Yukari said as they walked around the castle.

"Good! Because I'm so tired! My muscles are all sore!" Hitomi exclaimed. She rubbed her stinging arm.

"You haven't had a good night sleep."

"But it's worth it; I've learned a lot of things." Hitomi smiled.

"I'm happy for you."

"Yukari, I'm sorry we haven't had time together…."

"It's okay! No need for you to worry and I don't want you to worry. I can take care of myself. I want you to enjoy yourself and have fun!" Yukari cut her off.

"Thank you…I just wish Allen was here. He would have been proud if only he could see me now."

"He's proud of you, Hitomi…I know he is."

"He should have said goodbye that morning!"

"If only there's time, I knew he would." Yukari smiled.

"Did he talk to you before he left?" Hitomi asked. Yukari's smile faded. She looked away.

"He didn't. He's a man with too much in mind. He would have talk to me if only he's not too occupied."

"You're right. He's much too occupied by the incoming war…" Hitomi nodded.

"That wasn't what I was talking about." Yukari turned and looked at her, slowly smiling.

"Huh?? Then what were you talking about?" she asked. Before Yukari answered, they have reached the front door of the castle. They were about to walked in when they saw Van standing by the front door, down the steps and him facing five horses with riders on them.

"What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be following me?" Hitomi said frowning. Yukari was about to go walk towards Van but Hitomi stopped her. Yukari looked at her puzzled.

"I want to know what's going on…" Hitomi whispered and grinned at her. She pulled Hitomi at her side and then pulled her down. They sat by the bush and hide.

"Can you hear them talking?" Yukari asked.

"They're not talking yet."

"Wait. Are you sure Van won't hear us? You know him." Yukari said.

"I know, but he's too occupied now to even notice. Look at his scowl." Yukari looked.

"You're right. Who are the riders? I don't recognize them. They look to me they came from another country. What do you think?" Hitomi didn't answer. She was far too busy staring at the new comers. * What are you doing Van? Who are they? * She thought. He father then came from the door as the riders dismounted and walked towards Van and the King, now standing side by side. As a sign of respect the riders kneeled down.

"Good Day, my lord!" They shouted in unison.

"I didn't know that you have told them to come here, Van" the King said, smiling at the visitors.

"I didn't." Van answered without turning.

"What are you doing here?" Van asked his voice angry. They all stood up.

"It's because of…" One of the riders said before he was interrupted by an approaching rider. The rider is quite different from them, he's a she! She's wearing a blue gown with her shoulder length pink hair flowing through the wind.

"Merle…" they heard Van said. The rider dismounted and walked towards Van. Hitomi and Yukari looked at each other, frowning and both gasped as the girl threw her arms around Van. Hitomi stared. * Who the hell is she?* She could feel her heart hammering against her chest. * Could it be…his fiancé? But she looked like a Princess. No, it can't be. He's a commoner. He can't marry someone with royal blood…can he?*

"What are you doing here?" Van said. He pulled her hands away from him.

"How dare you! You didn't even say goodbye to me when you left! You didn't even write after that!" Hitomi flinched at the girls' voice. It's quite loud and shrill.

"Merle, I didn't order you to come here."

"Order me!? Order me!" before she could continue the King cleared his throat. Merle then noticed the man standing beside Van. She gasped.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention, my lord." She bowed her head.

"It's alright. It's been a while, hasn't it Merle?" Merle smiled.

"Yes. But I'm angry with you! How dare you take Van away from us?!" Merle exclaimed her smile fading.

"He didn't, Merle." Van said his voice firm.

"Well, in a way I did. But its all Vans' decision, I assure you." Merle snorted.

"I still can't believe it! You can't agree with it Van! You just can't! How can you marry someone you don't even know?" Merle shouted at Vans' face. Her eyes grew wide. * Marry someone…he's here to marry someone…*

"Lord Van…" one of the riders called. Her world stops from there. She stared at Van. * Lord Van… Lord Van… * she could have heard it wrong… she turned at Yukari. She also had the look of surprise in her face.

"Lord Van…my God! He's a Lord! He's a King!" Yukari gasped. * He's a King…but why then did he pretend to be my guard? Why did father tolerate it? Why? * So many questions bothering her. They lost tracked of the conversation.

"So, where is this Princess you're marrying? I wouldn't want you to marry someone so undeserving!" * He came here to marry a Princess… he came here to marry…a Princess…* her eyes widened. * Oh God! He can't mean! * Yukari turned to her, looking shocked.

"My daughter is currently walking around the palace with her friend Yukari. And I assure you, Merle. Hitomi is a good daughter."

"What about a good wife?" Merle asked, sarcastically.

"That is something that needs to be seen." The King said as he laughed. Her world seemed to crumble at her own feet. She sat there shaken. She'd been shocked by the thought of Van being a King but this is… this is different… * Father…no…he can't mean…no…I'm not marrying…no…its all a…jest…yes…that's it…it's all a jest nothing more…in any minute now…Van will be laughing…yes…he'd laughed his head off….* but the next thing that happened proved her wrong.

"Merle, listen, I'll marry Princess Hitomi." * Oh no…no!...no!....no! * She stood up. She couldn't take it any more. She had enough! She walked towards them with Yukari behind her. They all turned; the riders, Merle and her father, who looked pale.

"I'm not marrying anyone!" she shouted. She walked in front of her father without even sparing a glance at Van. She stood there, waiting for her father to tell her it's all a jest.

"Hitomi…you…I mean……"

"Is this a jest?" she asked her voice cold.

"No…it's…ahhh…you see, daughter…"

"No! I'm not marrying!" She then turned to go but her father stopped her. She said without looking at her father. Then flashes of her mothers' image came to her mind, revenge that she had been training for all this years. Revenge that she will be taking soon…

"Is it the way you want to get rid of me? You've had enough of a stubborn daughter? You want to be alone, without thinking of a daughter, who always disobey your orders? Or maybe…you want to get marry again and forget all about what happened to your wife and that includes getting rid of a daughter." Her father forcefully turned her and then felt him slapped her across the face. She heard a loud set of gasp. She then turned cold eyes to her father then laughed. She pushed his hand away from her.

"Stay away from me. Don't you even dare order me to talk to you! If you want me away no need to marry me off. I'll leave." She was about to leave again but before she could even take a step away Van was there, lifting her to his shoulder, carrying her just like before.

"Put me down!" She said as she slammed her arms at his back.