'What have I done? Why did I agree to that woman's plight?' Sasuke just sent letters to many people to begin preparations for his upcoming wedding.
He couldn't believe his eyes and ears while having tea with Lady Haruno. Her behavior was more graceful and composed than what he'd seen through The Curse's eyes. The terror in her emerald eyes was mostly gone, and she no longer trembled at the sight of him.
What Sasuke couldn't wrap his head around was the fact that she was so determined to give her life away. Obviously, something in her upbringing had convinced her she had no choice but to die young. He'd eventually figure out what that was, but for now, he had to try and find a different way to rid of The Curse.
'I'm no better than that demon, agreeing to a young woman's sacrifice for the sake of my future.' He thought that, but he couldn't deny a sense of relief that there may just be a ray of hope. 'Is it truly okay to use Lady Haruno like this? She seemed happy when she left.'
He decided then and there that he'd try to find a way to save her and himself. Only if that failed would he allow himself to cherish her, to open his heart to her so that he may be cured. Until then, he must keep his emotions in check. To remove The Curse, he first has to hold someone dear. When he eventually does, that person would be in extreme danger of assassination from the royal family and his own self-preservation.
'Now, how do I prevent The Curse from getting in the way of our plans?' A startling realization swept over the prince. 'Will he lash out and try to kill The Lady now that she's agreed to this? Surely, he'll be angry for what she said about becoming my sacrifice instead of his.'
For the next few days, Sasuke wracked his brain for a way to come to a compromise with the demon, who was beyond livid about the situation. Each morning and night, he'd scream monstrous curses and threats at the prince.
Finally, he came up with something that could work as a short-term solution. Before dusk, he wrote out a letter and placed it on the floor of the closet before shackling himself as usual. Then, he waited. He didn't have to for long.
Soon, familiar agony crawled down his body from the spot where the wizard Orochimaru had bitten so long ago. Then, his own voice bled from his body, full of bloodlust and hate, "What is this foolishness! You have the audacity to try and make a deal with a demon, Boy?"
"Agree not to kill a single person, including Lady Haruno, until after the wedding, and I'll allow you to roam free at night."
"What do you stand to gain from this?"
Sasuke felt bitterly toward himself for putting an innocent such as his fiance in danger, so he admitted, "I'm giving you a chance to stop me from being rid of you, Curse."
Laughter shook his chest, bellowing loudly throughout the room. After a moment, The Curse mocked him, "You humans, always consumed by useless things like guilt."
The prince didn't argue. He truly was doing this because he couldn't stand the idea of taking another's life for his own. This felt like a sick and twisted way of self-punishment, or at least a handicap to make it more difficult to earn his freedom.
"A selfish man, you are." Sasuke was sure, then, that the demon would refuse the deal but was stunned when his own voice came again, "I agree to your terms. Let us see who the sacrifice chooses in the end."
An electric sensation flooded his veins.
'That must be the magic of the deal. It's too late to go back now. If either of us breaks the vow, the other will have complete control of this body.'
"Have you yet realized what a terrible position you've put my prey in? She'll suffer at the hands of this body regardless of who controls it." Sasuke's heart felt as though it stopped in his chest. He hadn't thought about that at all. 'How dare I pretend to have made this deal for her sake! She was condemned the moment she arrived at this manor.' He was only soothing his guilt by making this deal. No good would come to Lady Haruno regardless of whether the demon was free to pursue her.
The level of the prince's self-loathing grew by the day after that. At night, The Curse would visit Lady Haruno, enthralled by her unique behavior and helplessness. During the day, Sasuke would do his best to avoid his fiance when possible because he didn't want her to grow attached to him or vice-versa. Only when they were made to cooperate on matters of their wedding did they interact, and even then, it was in short bursts.
One week after the couple agreed to continue with their engagement, the official dressmaker of the royal family arrived.
"Yes, please do anything My Lady requests. Do not concern yourself with budget," Sasuke waved a dismissive hand at the tailor, eyes still on the paperwork on his desk.
Someone cleared their throat, and the prince looked over to see Sai and Ino standing on either of his sides. The tailor looked confused but patient as he stood before the trio. Sai spoke hushedly, "Pardon us, but perhaps you should join your fiance for the time being."
Sasuke was bewildered, "Why? Has she requested my presence?"
"It's not that, My Lord," Ino whispered. She glanced at the quiet royal employee nearby and lowered her voice further so he wouldn't overhear, "Rumor has it that our guest has wandering eyes and wandering hands. We believe his behavior would remain appropriate should Our Lady's husband-to-be were nearby."
Disbelief froze the prince's hands. His eyes locked strongly onto the dressmaker's. He hissed to his two employees, "Are you certain?"
The two assistants shared a glance before Ino nodded, "My friends at the castle are the ones who told me. I deem their judgement trustworthy, My Lord."
'How could Uncle and Brother allow such a fiend to continue representing the royal family?' An irritated Sasuke sighed, his glare not lifting from the guest, "Very well. Let us visit Lady Haruno together."
They located her in the library, and the party moved to her bedroom. Sai stood behind where Sasuke sat, sipping tea and having a tense conversation with the dressmaker while they awaited her and Ino to appear from behind the dressing screen. They'd already tried a handful of dresses, all of which suited her slender frame. All that was left were a few ballgowns and the wedding dress options.
"You share many physical traits with the heir apparent, My Lord. Though I must say you favor your mother more than he," the older gentleman offered.
The prince asked, "You were acquainted with my parents?"
"I had the pleasure of constructing Our Queen's wedding gown! What a beautiful and elegant woman she was. All who encountered her fell in love in an instant. Your father was a blessed man to have received her affection."
'Ah, no wonder he's still employed. He's worked there for decades. The royal family believes in tradition above all else.'
"Did you ever see your dear mother in her wedding gown?"
Sasuke's chest warmed as he recalled a massive painting of their wedding day hanging in the king's office at the castle. "Not in person, no, but the portrait of it was indeed wonderful. I'm sure she was pleased with your work."
The dressmaker chuckled, "Yes, well, all boys view their mothers as the most beautiful woman in the world, do they not? In your case, you'd be correct!"
The prince's nostalgia became bittersweet. It was true. In his memories and in the portraits that were left behind, Queen Mikoto Uchiha was graceful and dignified as an undisturbed blanket of freshly fallen snow. He recalled how comforting and warm her voice and embrace had been to him as a child.
Unconsciously, he responded, "I'd have loved to have seen her in her wedding gown at some point."
An understanding, solemn expression met the dressmaker's face, but they were interrupted by the two ladies stepping out from behind the dressing screen. His fiance's face was as pink as her hair. Her hands were to her chest as though attempting to hide her body, "I-I'm not sure this type of thing suits someone like me, My Lord."
"Nonsense, Lady Haruno! I've chosen dresses that will accentuate your figure perfectly. Trust this old man; you look stunning!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed when the worker gestured for Lady Haruno to face the tall mirror, a hand hovering over her lower back as he shooed her hands away. The prince didn't like how friendly the dressmaker was, but he really didn't like the scars on his fiance's back. The velvety blue dress' back was low, baring much of her milky skin.
'This is what that maid was speaking about. There's no way those types of injuries were accidental.'
His glare turned onto Sai, who needed no verbal orders. The butler nodded and excused himself from the room to send orders to deepen the investigation into Baron Haruno's family. Before the tailor noticed the scars, Sasuke got to his feet and approached.
The employee naturally distanced himself. The pink-haired woman's face turned from pink to red as the prince loosely wrapped an arm around her waist to prevent her bare skin from being seen.
Without relenting his glare, Sasuke muttered, "Leave us with your design book and await an order by post."
Undoubtedly, the older man took the hostility as the prince being possessive of his fiance because he lifted his hands in defense and sheepishly grinned, "Of course, My Lord! I'll begin work the moment I receive your orders. Please excuse me."
Ino bowed before guiding the man out of the room and shutting the door behind them, leaving the duo alone. Sasuke immediately put some space between them, averting his gaze, "My apologies for coming too close. I was concerned for your comfort."
"Of course, My Lord. I am your fiance, so you've done nothing inappropriate." 'She says that, but she looks like a tomato.' For some reason, amusement warmed his chest, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched the young woman fidget under his gaze.
"Um, Sir?"
"You are my fiance," the prince teased, not realizing at the moment how comfortable it felt to converse with Lady Haruno, "Should we not call one another by name? I suppose we've become acquainted enough for such a thing."
A small laugh passed his lips, and he tilted his head when she shyly placed her palms to her cheeks, "L-Lord Sasuke, then."
"Lady Sakura."
"Is it truly alright to purchase so many gowns, Lord Sasuke? I fear they'll go to waste on a body as plain as mine. Surely one or two plus the wedding dress would suffice, in case there are balls or parties we must attend before my death."
Just like that, the light-hearted mood disappeared. He cleared his throat, remembering who they were and the nature of their relationship, "The future is not set in stone." He recalled the emptiness of her wardrobe the day he first caught a glimpse of his fiance, "A princess should want for nothing. From now until we part, I wish for you to drown in luxury, if only as a token of my appreciation, Lady Sakura."
The pink-haired woman turned toward the mirror with a frown on her pretty lips, studying her reflection. Her voice was quiet as she admitted, "I do not like this dress."
Sasuke nodded, gesturing toward the dressing screen, "Make yourself comfortable, then."
Sakura bowed, face still bright with shyness, and returned to where he couldn't see her so she could change into one of her old dresses.
The prince watched until she was out of sight before looking at the doorway where the others had left. Sai and Ino were peeking through a cracked door, only to open it slightly with faces that seemed like deer catching a glimpse of a hunter.
He sighed, shaking his head, 'If I'm not mistaken, they're attempting to play matchmaker with Lady Sakura and me.'