[The Princess who was Hidden Underground/Die Prinzessin, die unterirdisch versteckt war]
[地面の下に隠されていた王女]
"SNOW-WHITE?!" Ahiru yelled at a loud volume about a minute later, as she, Pique and Lilie were staring at the Recruited List. "Wow, we didn't think he'd get you a role THAT far!" Pique spoke in shock. "Now the crash of diminished success will be three times as big!" Lilie shrieked happily. "N-Neko-Sensei! Th-th-th-th-this i-i-is-!" "Yes Ahiru, I have given you the lead role alongside Miss Rue. But DON'T TAKE THIS FOR A FREE RIDE! There was a reason I've given this role to you, for if you FAIL, you will be sent to the Probationary Class foreeverr, annnnnnnndd," he panted, with saliva dripping from his jaw, making the trio nervous. "Y-you'll have...to..MARRYYYY MEEEE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHOW!" "Quwaaaaaaaa!" Ahiru spoke in shock as she quickly covered her mouth, along with her friends covering her mouth as well, and Fakir dashing back to grab Ahiru and rushing into a corner behind a wall, confusing the friends and Neko-Sensei. They looked at Neko-Sensei nervously. "W-well!" "We have to go watch Ahiru cry a waterfall of tears!" "Wha-what she said!" Pique spoke after Lilie as they ran off, Neko-Sensei looking after them with cascading beads of sweat, embarrassed.
"Are you done?" Fakir spoke outside the door, waiting for her to finish getting changed. "Yeah," she spoke as she creaked the door open. "Sorry," "What were you thinking?" he spoke with eyes closed and a palm to his forehead. "I was just scared, that's all," she pouted as she came out. "Wait, I thought you were going to the Library?" "I was, but Mytho wasn't feeling well. He kept muttering something about...a light," "A light? Ah-!" she spoke the last part to herself, remembering what he said in her dream. "Stay away from that light...and a gift will be given to you," "What?" he questioned. "Nothing," she spoke. "D-do you mind if I go to the Library with you?" "Yes, actually. I want some peace and quiet, and you're as loud as a bullhorn," he spoke matter-of-factly, causing her to gain an angered, pouty expression, as usual, as he walked away. "Oh...and, congratulations on Snow-White," he spoke without turning around, but he was a little flushed. She became flushed too, at his words. "Fakir..." "Not like a clumsy duck like you deserves it. What's happening to the world?" he couldn't help but add in as he walked away, only making her more angry, not like he cared, for that was his impact.
While walking outside, she saw many students adorning bushes and upside-down 'U' shaped tunnels covered in bushy leaves with red roses, in preparation for the Red Rose Festival, which was in three days time. "Wooow..." she spoke. "Give a rose?" "Huh?" Ahiru spoke, as she wondered where that voice came from. "Give a rose to your potential lover?" Freya spoke as she held a basket of red roses. "Ah, Miss Freya!" Ahiru spoke as she happily walked up to her. "Ah, Miss Ahiru, was it? Lovely to see you again," she spoke with a soothing voice. "Uh, what're these for?" "These are red roses, for red is the color of romance. For the Red Rose Festival, you and your potential lover are supposed to show them to one another. Legend has it that, if the roses glow bright together in the moonlight, so much that you can't see the rose bulb anymore, that you are meant to be together forever," Freya told. Ahiru blushed at those words. "Would you like one?" "A-ah, n-no thanks! I'm not really like that with anybody," she spoke with a flushed face. "Oh, but I insist!" Freya spoke as she tucked two roses in her hand, one with a pink ribbon meant for the girls, and one with a blue ribbon meant for boys. "But I-" "You never know," Freya spoke, as she smiled with both eyes closed. Ahiru stared at it questionably for a few seconds, and then eye smiled back at Freya. "Alright, I suppose. Thanks!"
After walking away with her new rose, there was a ground shaking moment. Literally. There were a few shrieks here and there, as some held onto sides or fell to their knees until the small earthquake had passed, Ahiru falling down herself. "Wh-what was that?" People spoke as there was some chatter now. Right then and there, Ahiru's pendant glowed red. "A heart shard?" she spoke as she put a hand to it, and dashed forward. "Ah, but could it indeed be a heart shard? We'll have to see, Little duck," came Drosselmeyer's voice.
Mytho was practicing his role for the Bear Prince, as Rue was putting on her toe shoes. Ugh. Where is Ahiru? She thought to herself, for they had to practice. Turns out Ahiru was too scatterbrained to read the rest of the flier, saying that practice was scheduled 30 minutes after. "This is just like her, you know," she spoke to Mytho, who just grunted normally in return, while stretching his leg on a practice beam. "And I understand that Fakir's role is of little importance compared to ours, but he could at least show us the proper respect and show up! Especially for you, Mytho!" "..." "Are you not livid?!" "Not really," he spoke. "I have faith in Fakir,"
Fakir was in the Library, as per usual, picking up his books which fell due to the miniature earthquake. Darn it all... he thought to himself. "What was that even...?" he muttered to himself. "Did you feel it too?!" Autor came, complaining. Fakir looked over at him. "Yeah, but I have to get going," "Why?" "Trifle matters," "Oh yes, I forgot that you're a 'ballerina'," Autor teased. Fakir paused a bit, but kept going with his eyes closed. "Perhaps this earthquake was due to a tale," Autor spoke with a finger to the chin in thought, knowing that those words would freeze Fakir any day of the week. Fakir stopped, and looked back at him, a bit nervous. "Shall we check it out?"