DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM
Ema gently patted Miss Shadow admiring her beauty.
'I wonder, they say you're the daughter of my mother's horse. I wonder if mom hadn't left Elence, or made it back with dad eventually, would she and I go riding together with you and your mother. That would be nice.'
Suddenly, Ema heard a loud bang, followed by a horse neighing in fright. She noticed Miss Shadow getting scared too.
"Miss Shadow! Steady! Steady!" she tried to smooth her horse down.
"Ema!" Yusuke suddenly shouted as he reached into the stall and grabbed Ema's arm, pulling her out just in time, as Miss Shadow reard up in her hind legs.
"What happened?!"Ema asked.
"Who knows? Horses do speak easily," Natasha said as she tried calming the horse next to Miss Shadow's stall.
Yusuke turned and looked at her mad.
"Like say when someone kicks their stall door!" he snapped.
Suburu was looking away embarrassed over suddenly asking Rose to come to his match against Richard, in such a way. Especially since the day hasn't been set yet.
"Uh," Rose spoke up, only to get distracted by the sound of several horses suddenly neighing in fear.
"What the?!" Rose said scared at the sound of the horses.
"Whoa!"
Watch it!" both Azusa and Tsubaki shouted as they stumbled out of their stalls in confusion and fear.
"Are you two okay?!" Rose said running over to them with Subaru.
"Yeah, I think so," said Azusa.
"What happened here exactly?" Tsubaki asked.
"Like say when someone kicks their stall door!" the group suddenly heard Yusuke shouted.
They all looked and saw Yusuke standing next to Natasha looking mad.
"Excuse me?" Natasha asked.
"I saw you! I saw you kick the stall door!" Yusuke accused.
"Yusuke," Ema said trying to calm him down.
"I did! I saw her kick the stall door that scared the horse inside that started the chain reaction that scared all the other horses, including yours!" Yusuke insisted.
"I did no such thing!" Natasha insisted, "how dare you!"
"Alright, alright, what's going on here?" Billy said as he came back.
"This bitch tried scaring the horses and get Ema hurt!" Yusuke snapped.
"I did not! I will not tolerate this!" Natasha defended herself. She turned and walked away, out of the barn without looking back.
"Hey wait!" Yusuke shouted, about to run after her.
"Hold it!" Billy said as he grabbed Yusuke by his arm.
"What?" Yusuke asked in confusion.
"You can't let this escalate," Billy told him, "you make a scene like that, you'll only makw yourself look bad," Billy advised.
"But she," Yusuke tried to argue.
"Oh I have no doubt," said Billy, "However, you have to know what's the best way to confront her. Not just flat out accuse her so loudly. I'll explain more later. Let me take a look at you Princess. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Yusuke got me out before Miss Shadow could hurt me. Not that she would have done it on purpose!" Ema insisted.
"I know," said Billy. He actually reached in and petted the horse, "I figured as much. Let's finish up here. You're grandfather's probably waiting."
"Actually he went inside to prepare some things for Ema's lessons," Subaru spoke up.
"Oh, okay, let's get you in there," said Billy.
"Is Miss Shadow all ready?" Rose asked looking inside the mare's stall, "you should be able to go princess."
"Thank you," said Ema, as she headed out herself. Yusuke and Billy followed after her.
"Doesn't this place has security camera or something?" Azusa asked.
"It does," said Rose, "and I'm sure Natasha will be confronted with what she did in time. You just don't casue scenes in front of royalty."
"Hmm," the three Asahina brothers moaned.
"Hey what's going on in here?" Futo asked as he and Wataru walked into the barn with their own horses, along with Ami.
"Nothing Master Futo," Rose said as she quickly walked over to the two boys and offered to take their horses.
"I think this horse wil do me fine. See to it no one else rides him while I'm here," Futo ordered as he walked off, Maid, come."
"Coming Master," said Ami.
"Boy he has that poor girl wrapped around his finger," said Azusa.
"Better him than Tommy," Subaru heard Rose whispered.
"Should we get out or here and do something fun?" Tsubaki asked his twin, asthe headed to the exit.
"Wait a second, I'll catch up," said Azusa as he walked back to his horses stall and made sure to shut the door, and offer his and Tsubaki's horse a carrot.
"That's sweet of you Mr. Asahina," said Rose.
"I figured they could all use one after that scare," said Azusa before walking towards the exit.
However, as he came out, he heard some soft crying.
"Azusa, you coming or not?" he heard Tsubaki call out.
"Uh, meet me inside will you?" Azusa called back.
"Huh?" Tsubaki said, "um okay. I'll see you in the lounge."
Azusa followed the crying sound towards a group of trees. There, he was surprised to see Natasha sitting by herself on a pile of hay.
"God, why am I so pathetic?" Azusa heared her mutter, wiping her face.
Azusa was a little suprised to see her looking so upset.
"And what's worse I got caught this time! Oh god, what have I done?!" she continued to ask herself.
Azusa wasn't sure what to say or do. He actually felt a little sorry for her, seeing her that way.
Suddenly, Natasha seemed to feel his presence and looked up.
She gasped and jumped up at his sight.
"What are you doing here?" she asked quickly.
"Uh, nothing, I was just...," Azusa sputtered.
"Go away please!" Natasha snapped, though still sounding upset.
"Um, okay," Azusa said as he started to oblige, but then stopped, "are you okay though?"
"It's none of your business sir!" Natasha snapped again, "please, please leave go away and leave me be."
"Oh, alright," Azusa said as he turned back around, "I know what my brother said to you back at the barn was kind of harsh, but he...,"
"It's not that!" Natasha shouted, "it's not...!" She stopped suddenly and instrad sunk to her knees, bawling.
Azusa cautiously walked to her and knelt next to her, gently putting his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she started to sputter. Azusa couldn't tell if he was talking to him or to herself. "I didn't want to hurt anyone! I just...," she cut herself off before she could finish.
"Just what?" Azusa asked softly.
Natasha looked up at him with teary eyes. Azusa could tell they were genuine, having seen plenty of fake tears from his brothers over the years, especially from Tsubaki.
"Please don't worry yourself over me," she pleaded.
"Well, I can't help but worry a little. Not only is it worrisome to see a person crying out loud outside like this. But if you are at risk of hurting my sister, I'd like to know if there's a way you can stop it, preferably in a peaceful manner," Azusa said.
"I don't know if that can happen," said Natasha. She scooted away from Azusa and sat up against the pile of hay.
"Why not?" Azusa asked, "please, you can tell me. I won't go blabbing about this to anyone, especially Richard."
Natasha sighed.
"I wish you wouldn't pester me like this," she said.
"If you're not happy with what you're doing though, you shouldn't be forced to keep at it," said Azusa.
Natasha looked at him, confused and frustrated.
"Can I just ask you something? Why are you on Lord Robert's side?" Azusa asked.
"It's nothing personal," Natasha said hugging her knees to her chest, "it's just, he was kind of the best way for me to finally move up with my job."
"What do you mean?" Azusa asked.
"Lord Robert promised me and a few other servants and staff that if we showed favoritism towarss him over the king, he'd make sure to put us in top once he's in power," Natasha explained, "and for some of us, it's probably the only way we'll ever rise the ranks here in the palace."
"Really?" Azusa said, "but wht?"
"Becasue King Stephon has his favorite staff he favors above all others, like Rose. He knows her whole family and because of that alone, he'll always favor her more than someone like me who just started working here herself. I mean yeah she's a good rider and she works good woth the horses. However, I'm just as good as her. Alot of us are, but the king will always pick Rose to do special assignments like ride his horse or train his granddaughter. I'd just wanted to know I could be acknowledged for being a good employee too."
"Have you tried talking to someone else on the staff about it like Mr. Derrick or even Richard about this?" Azusa asked.
Natasha shook her head. "There's really no point," she said, "a lot of the older members of the staff who kind of feel the same way I do have told me, talking to someone like Richard won't do much good. It's nothing personal, it's just the king does have his favorites. The one he likes to be around. And even if you work the hardest out of anyone, unless the king likes you personally, you won't get far. The king wants to be around people he likes."
Azusa listen to Natasha bare her soul out.
"So because he likes Rose, on a personal level, you feel you'll never get farther along working in the palace?" he finally asked.
"Pretty much," Natasha confessed. "Lord Robert started finding people like me, who felt snubbed by the king and kept promising us that if we did things like spy for him, do things to make the loyal servants to the king a little miserable, we would get what he thought we deserved. At first it didn't seem to bad. You just past information on to him you'd thought he would want to know. Hide some equipment on another employee. Nothing too hurtful. But then, when the princess arraived, we started getting different orders, make her and you guys suffer."
"I take it you don't want to go that far?" Azusa asked.
"If anything, I'm happy the king found his granddaughter. It's a little exciting. He should have the right to be happy," said Natasha.
"You want the king to be happy?" Azusa said.
"I may not like that he always favorite the select around him, but he's still a decent guy and a good king. Plus I don't want to actually physically hurt people!" Natasha insisted, "buy...,"
"You don't feel like you have a choice?" Azusa finished, "how could you not feel like you have a choice?"
"Mostly because a lot of other servants who were roped into helping Lord Robert have already said they wouldn't hurt the princess or others, aren't doing too well. I know at least two who have been injured on the job and are medical leave."
"I didn't hear anything about...," Azusa started to say.
"Do you know how many people work here? How could you? I wouldn't be surprised if the king doesn't even know," Natasha informed him.
"So, in other words, you're scared that if you don't do what Robert says, you'll meet with an unpleasant experience?" Azusa asked.
"Hell it was known to happen before the princess came into the picture. Some decided they didn't want to be loyal to him and they suffer for it," said Natasha.
"Did they?" Azusa said, "does Rober know that?"
"Are you kidding? Even if he does, there's not much he can do with little proof," said Natasha.
"Huh, man palace life seems complicated," said Azusa.
"You have no idea," said Natasha.
"I'm curious, has Natasha or whoever, always been like that?" Subaru asked Rose as she led Futo's horse into his stall.
"Well she usually acts like brat, but it seems she's getting worse lately," said Rose.
"Do you think she's going to get fired?" Subaru asked.
"Who knows?" Rose said.
"Rose isn't it time for your break?" Mr. Derrick asked walking past.
"Well yeah but someone has to take care of this horse," said Rose.
"Well get Natasha to do it," said Mr. Derrick, "where is she?"
"I don't know, honestly," said Rose.
"Well you go take your break, I'll find her and make her finish here," said Mr. Derrick, "you work too hard."
"Yes sir," said Rose. She looked at Subaru, "were you going to practice for a little bit?"
"Kind of," said Subaru, "want to come watch?"
"Sure," said Rose as the two walked out together.
Natasha gave off a heavy sigh, "look I'm sorry I vented to you and rambled on like that. It's none of your concern really."
"No, please, it's fine really," Azusa insisted, "I was happy to hear you vent."
"Yesh well don't get use to it. After what your brother said, I won't be surprised if I'm fired this afternoon. And please don't worry about it. It's not your concern," Natasha said, as she stood up, "and I'm sorry about what I did today and yesterday to your kid brother. He's actually a cute kid in hia own way."
"It's fine, it's a little nice to know a something more about you and some of the other staff, like that ine butler, what's his name?" Azusa fished around.
"Are you talking about Tommy the butler?" Natasha asked with a sneer.
"Is that his name?" Azusa asked.
"Oh Tommy's just a prick," said Natasha, "it's just he knows Lord Robert won't do anything to stop his prick like behavior and basically run amok. That's why he sides with him."
"That's disturbing," said Azusa.
"Natasha! Natasha! Were are you? You still got work to do!" the two suddenly heard a voice calling out.
"I better get back," Natasha said. She nodded back at Azusa with a geunie smile, "thanks just the same."
"Sure," said Azusa as he stood up as well.
The two walked off together in the same direction before Natasha turned towards the barn.
As she neared the barn, Rose and Subaru started to come out. However both stopped when they saw her.
"I hope you're happy for nearly killing the princess!" Rose snapped at her as she and Subaru walked off. Subaru made sure to give her a warning look.
Natasha shot them her own angry look before walking back into the barn.
Azusa took a deep breath at the confrontation. He knew what Natasha did was wrong but yet, after listening to her, he felt a little sorry for her too.