Part 1: The Flee
"Blank! Where are you going?" the girl called for a boy as she rushed up to him.
"You're as loud as usual..." the boy complained.
"Well, you're making me..." the girl replied in an annoyed tone.
Blank smiled at the sulking girl. Tiara looked away, puffing her cheeks. Her dark scarlet hair was unusually tied in twin ponytails that day.
"I'm not going anywhere, don't worry," he assured her.
"Really?" she asked.
"Of course! I promise!" the boy said, grinning.
Tiara hummed. She was still in doubt. She gazed into Blank's crimson red eyes. The boy flashed a smile at her.
"Here," Blank said, holding out a blue flower.
"Huh? Is this a forget-me-not?" Tiara asked, taking the flower into her hand.
"Yep! I secretly took it from my mother's garden," he whispered to her.
"What'll you do if she finds out?" Tiara asked, watching him walk away.
"I'll just tell her that I had no idea," he said, turning to her with his hands on the back of his head and a grin on his face.
My eyes flashed open in shock. The sunlight pierced through the curtains. I got out of bed and made it. The bath was refreshing. I put on my maid attire. That day was an important day to all; Princess Garnet's birthday. I fixed my hair, hoping to look not too messed up.
I need to make sure Her Highness is ready as well.
I briskly walked to Princess Garnet's chamber. After knocking on her door, I softly pushed it open. I saw her sleeping on her chair by the window. She was in her usual dress. I walked up to her with a smile on my face. She suddenly woke up and gasped. I heard her take a deep breath before looking out through the window.
"Princess, it is almost time..." I told her.
"Yes," she replied gloomily as usual.
"Do you have something on your mind?" I asked, concerned.
Her expression always looked as if she had a big burden placed on her, apart from her quite childish mother that is. I had a sense that she was looking for something which had been missing for quite some time. She shook her head to me.
"No, it's nothing. They say that a band from Lindblum will be performing tonight," the Princess said.
"Yes, that is right… Is everything alright, Your Highness?" I asked. My eyes blinked in curiosity.
"I wish to sneak into their ship. I want to go see Uncle Cid regarding my mother..." the Princess confessed.
"I s-see… But...how will you do it?" I asked, thinking that she was a princess and all.
"I have my way," she said, turning to face me, "Will you assist me?"
"I..." I looked into her eyes and sighed.
She held my hands in hers. I smiled at her and said, "I will do anything in my capable hands to help you, my Princess."
She flashed a smile and thanked me. I looked out through the window again and heaved another sigh. I hoped everything went well for her. I offered her a cup of tea to make her feel more at ease.
I changed into my knight uniform. After that, I followed Princess Garnet to the balcony to watch the performance. Queen Brahne was already on her seat, all excited. I bowed to greet her.
"You're almost late, Garnet," she said to her daughter.
"My apologies, Mother..." I heard her reply.
Steiner and Beatrix were on each side of the balcony. The Captain of the Knight of Pluto saw how sad the Princess looked. I watched him as he raised his swords and faced it down as a sign for the orchestra to start. He smiled proudly to himself as if the Princess was excited, but no. She was still gloomy as usual. I tapped her shoulder once. She flashed a vague smile.
The lights on the stage of the ship turned on. A man dressed like a noble with a mask on his face walked out to the bridge of the ship and bowed to us. "Ladies and gentleman!" he shouted, his arms wide. "Tonight's performance is one that takes place long, long ago…"
"We'll have to head out soon, Princess," I whispered to Garnet, earning a nod from her.
The man then announced, "And now, Your Royal Majesty, Queen Brahne, Your Highness, Princess Garnet, noble ladies and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents I Want To Be Your Canary!"
My head snapped and immediately turned to the stage. "Tantalus?" I was stunned by the title.
My feet were stuck on the ground. I was frozen on the spot. I watched as three boys came onstage, acting as if they were fighting King Leo, the man dressed like a noble just now. My eyes were locked on one of them, a red haired boy with his headband covering his eyes.
"Let's go..." the Princess whispered to me.
I nodded and excused myself to Beatrix and Steiner. I went to the Princess' chamber and waited for her. A few minutes later, she came in.
"Now, let's get change," she said to me.
I nodded and gestured to what I had prepared for her. She wore an orange tight-in with a hood. She put on a white blouse inside it. I chose an ordinary red dress with the skirt going down only to my knees. I wore my regular black boots to cover the other parts of my legs. I put on my breastplate to add protection. I rested my axe on my back, in its holster.
"Let's head out soon enough," I told the Princess and she agreed.
The Princess put on her hood as she did not want anyone to recognise her. I nodded to her, satisfied that she was being careful.
"Let's go!" she said to me.
We rushed out of the chamber. I followed the Princess from behind. When she reached the stairs a blonde boy in a Knight of Pluto uniform almost tripped into her. I raised a brow. Do we have a blonde knight?
"Umm… Would you please let us pass?" the Princess asked politely.
The boy examined her face. I gulped.
"Let's see..." he mumbled.
"Is there something on my face?" the Princess asked.
I was sweat dropping at that time, praying that we were not caught.
"Oh no. You see... I just thought maybe you were the one I'd been waiting for all this time," he said so suddenly.
I wondered how many girls had fallen for that line! I started to get annoyed. If I was the Princess, I would have knocked him dead by now!
"Excuse me? You were waiting for me?" she asked the boy or knight or whatever.
"Yeah! I've dreamt of meeting you here ever since I was born!" he exclaimed shamelessly.
"Hold it, lover boy!" I suddenly spoke up.
I went to the Princess' side. She stopped me from hitting him.
"Do you mock me?" the Princess asked the knight.
"No, of course, not..." he drawled.
"Then, I shall take my leave of you!"
I smiled when the Princess said that. The boy's expression changed into a sad one. We were about to pass but he stopped her again.
"Just a sec!" he said.
Did he finally realize that the hooded girl beside me was the Princess? I gulped nervously.
"Haven't we met before?" he asked her, earning a growl from me.
"NO, I don't know you..." Princess Garnet said sternly.
The boy started to circle the Princess. She was growing annoyed and worried at the same time.
"Maybe you're right... I'd never let someone as pretty as you get away," he said to her.
"You should get away before I strangle you to death," I mumbled.
Another knight popped in by the stairs.
"Hey, what's goin' on, Zidane?" he asked.
"I..." the Princess stuttered, "I must go!"
She rushed down the stairs, pushing her way through the fat knight. He fell onto the stairs. I tried to stifle the giggle. I watched the scene in front of me.
"Who the heck was that?" the fat one asked.
"Get up, Blank! That was Princess Garnet!" Zidane said to him.
He jumped over his comrade and rushed up to catch up with the Princess. When I heard that Zidane called the fat one 'Blank'...I thought of Blank from my childhood.
"Are you serious?" Blank asked as he followed Zidane.
"Blank..." I muttered to myself.