"Young master, wake up. You need to get ready for the ball". The sunrays shine on my eyes like always. I sat up to saw my ever lasting servant beside my bed, holding out cup of water. I sigh as I grab my water then chug it slowly. "How many time I told you, you can call me Mika when father or father's servant is not ar-". They clear out their throat as they point father's servant with their eyes.
"ah, good morning everyone. What brings you here?" . I cup my hand, fiddling them. "Young master, the Queen demand me to bring this outfit for you. Hence, I shall take my leave now" . He bow down and went out the door. I take a look at the outfit, more specifically, a suit. "now then Mika, your breakfast will be in one hour. How about you go change first?". I nod as I let go of the suit. "also wear it 1 hour before the ball, King's order". My servant wink at me. Which mean I need to do it even if I don't want to.
I hop into my bath tub, letting my hair get soak as well. "hey Alex, can you hear me?". As expected, he answer pretty quickly. "Hey, when do you think you'll get a lover?" . Well I'm bored what else I can do?. "well, I personally think I'll not be able to find a lover, since all I do is become your servant". I blow some bubble and let it float to Alex face. "hey now, don't be like that. I bet some people in this kingdom like you. I mean look at you, you are polite, respectful and good looking". I giggle while saying that to them. Honestly what kind of backstory they had though.
We talk a while for like a full 10 minutes. "Well, I don't care what weapon I use in combat but if you make me choose between bow and sword, I'll take both". I step out of the bath after rinse myself. For some reason I feel like today might be the worst day of my life. Even so, I went into my closet, to find myself in there then I grab my everyday outfit. "Alex, can you help me?" . I exit the closet and sat on my bed. "yes?" . I button my shirt. "can you do my hair? dry it also" . Its not that I wanna be a brat or something. I mean my parents won't allowed me to have mirror in my room after -that- accident. "sure".
"oh, good morning, nana". A maid who is clearing some dust greeted me back. "Oh, Dammy!". I ran to my brother and hit his back. "ow, that hurt mo-" . His servant pat his shoulder. "no cursing sir. and Young master, please don't run in the hallway" . I nod and let out my tongue as a tease to my brother. "I- how can you let her slide?" . His servant shrug and follow my brother to the library. "hey, you not gonna greet them?". I pull his corset string a little, making sure not to untied it. "Imma put these book back" . He continue to climb up the spiral staircase. "well then, lets go. Alex"
We climb down the stairs in silence with only the sound of our footstep. "young master, we are here". They open dining hall door. "thank you" . I pat their shoulder and went inside. "mother?". I look at every inch of the room. "Kitchen honey". I took my step to the kitchen seeing my mother helping one of the maids. "good morning, everyone. By the way imma search for father for a while. and happy anniversary mother". She smiled at me. "now then" . I put my gloves on. "lets go to the usual". We walk down few halls to go outside to the green house. "Mika, I don't think the King is here". I tip toed inside the hall. "if not here then the soldier training ground" . I creak open a glass door. "Michaela, how many time I told you. Knock before you enter" The man startle me. "awe father you caught me, well good morning and happy anniversary father" . I take a sit beside him then his servant pour some tea on an extra cup. "thank you".
We don't do much afterwards. As time pass, it's already 1900 which means the ball gonna start at 2000. I made Alex do my hair as I put on my suit like always but a lil different. They made a braid crown. Honestly, whoever get Alex must be lucky. "young lord, the Queen wishes to meet you" . I almost turn my head with my undone hair luckily Alex got me. "Noted, I shall take my leave now" . The door close. "Alex, does the hairstyle take this long to make?" . While reading a book. "well in this speed, it will not take that long. just a few pin and there." They turn my chair around to touch up my bang. "now lets meet the Queen". They lead way to the Queen then we stop by a mirror. "woah, this one different. Where did you learn this?" . Last year I have really short haircut since join the soldier training. "Last night, when you study" . Literally, I was amazed. "what it called?" well yea I know it's braids crown but yea. "it's crown twist braid. It suit you by the way". We continue walking down the hall to the garden.
"mother". I walk up to her. "Good evening, my child. and you to, Alex" . They just nod. "Now since you both here, help me with preparation shall we?" . She put down her tea cup and excuse herself. "your brother is already in the hall". We followed her to the hall and began to set up the hall while Dammy and Alex help with food. "mother, where is father?" . As a maid hand out a pile of cloth to attach it from pillar to pillar. "his usual Friday, walk around the town, greeting people and stuff". I climb up the stairs to attach the cloth.
For the last minutes accessories, the maids lay out carpet down the hall. As expected, we all gather for a family meeting for one last briefing then we all separate on our own ways. As for me I help the guards with their guess list. Around 30 minutes later guess start filled in the hall, chatting with each other. The weird part is, mother never tell this going to be a masquerade ball. "Alex, you know about this?" . I look beside me. They look at me. "I forgot, every maid, guard and assistance need to wear mask. But do you know this?" . I start to fiddling my fingers. "young master, we go trough this while briefing, aren't we?". Oh god I literally forgot about this. "well do you have my mask, somehow?" . I stutter some some words. "yes young master, here" . They hand out my mask. "thank god you are a savior". I bow down to kiss their hand before I put on the mask.
The event went pretty well I must say. Through out the event I would just spend time up stairs, looking down seeing people dancing. "Alex, I'm gonna take some pudding for us, just stay there". I walk to the staircase while waving at her. I got greeted by some guess also. "young master, may I know what you will be eating tonight?" . The maid show me a special table full of appetizer. "may I have two serving of caramel pudding?". The maid do their work quick. "here you go, young master. Enjoy your night". We greeted politely as I make my way back up stairs. "Alex". I gave the pudding to them. "It may be look rude but I can't eat it due to allergy. I'm sorry". They bow. "oh, don't worry then I'll give it to one of the guess then".
As I turn around, a man push a women to the wall and kabedon her "Sir, I don't meant to be rude but your action is inappropriate here. If you don't drop your act I might kick you out and cancel you for our further event". Alex interrupt them. The man clicked his tongue. "you don't know who I am? I am the prime minister of Zephyr. I can contact the Queen and the King here to kick you out instead." . wow, I never get a second hand embarrassment before. "Then, I shall introduce myself like a princess should . "Good evening, sir. I am the *heir* of the royal family of Halcyon. Pleasure to meet you, Sir". The man stutter in gibberish. "and also, Zephyr doesn't have prime minister". I said as Alex drag him to the nearby guard.
"As for you". I girl turn towards me. "I'm sorry for interrupt your date". She bow down. "I'm sorry but They are my butler. Here". I hand her the pudding from earlier. "I can't accept something from higher ups, I'm just a minister of medicine butler". Hm interesting. "A girl like you are to beautiful to be a butler though". She is both expressionless and can express her expression. "Thank you for you compliment and this pudding. I should go back to the minister now". I grab her arm, wanting her to stay. "can we chat a bit, until the last dance?". As a lesbian princess I am, I take out my hand, hoping she hold the hand. She accept it.
We walk to a balcony at the same floor except no one will saw us. "Hey, here". To my surprise, she got distracted real quick. "is it true you are a princess?". I look at her. "well people do often mistaken me. But I don't really care. All those 'being a princess is fun' no. Its not". I climb the fence in front of us and sat on it. "hey be careful". She leans against the fence. "its okay, I've been doing this for 17 years now". We , make some small talk while finishing our pudding.
"You can use a bow? that's cool!". I back up my body to met her head. "I don't like close range combat that's why" . Her orphanage is cool though, it let kids above 13 do combats. "well then," . I hope back down and wear back my mask. "shall we dance?". I hand out my hand once again. And once again, she accept it.
We made it to the hall before the announcement of the last dance. The night pretty much that's it. At last we end our event with the Queen speech and blessing. "well, I hope we can meet again soon-". She cut me. "I hope you'll be able to found me". She bow and go back the minister's side. 'what does that means?'. "Young master". A voice startle me. "what, Alex. You almost kill me". I baby punch their shoulder. "where did you go? and why do you know her?". They sound angry. Well doesn't change the fact that... "wait. I didn't get her name-". We stood there for a second. "on the scale of 1 to 10, rate your dumbness". Alex said as I rage on them.
For 3 month I've been waiting, today, a day before Christmas. Even Christianity is not the main religion in these three kingdom, we still celebrate it to show our respect to them. "Mother". It is very rare for her to show up in front of me when I woke up. "Oh, good morning mother. You have something to talk about?". I sit up as Alex pass me my cup of water. "Father want to met us at the green house. Alex, you can rest a bit. This is a family meeting". They nod in respond and walk out the door. "what is it this time mother?". She stood up and pull me up. "go change first. I'll wait". She give me a headpat. Yep something wrong. This a 5 star rare one.
I finish washing myself and off to the closet we go. Since it is 5 Celsius outside, I put on my everyday outfit, just add 3 thick layers of coats. "mother?". I walk out of the closet. "Let me do your hair". Oh how the table have turn. "Does father want to talk about marriage?". The Queen choke on her saliva. "oh honey, we'll save this for later, there your hair done". Just a simple pony tail but it's cute. But yea I need to come out as soon as possible. I don't want to marry person I don't like. Like hell no.
I kick some snow as mother just mumbling about something. "Mother, can we stop a while?" . I pull the edge of her sleeve. "what is it dear?". I start to fiddling my finger. "wait for a second". I went to a nearby pole-light then crouch under it. "What are you doing honey?". Mother said as she pat my shoulder. "a small snowman". I stood back up and point to the snowman I made. She chuckle and pat my head again. "That is cute, you can do a even bigger one after this. Lets go". She follow the path in front of her to a building.
"Good morning, father". I enter the building and sat beside Dammy. "hey you know what happen?". He whisper. "nope not a clue". A loud -ehem- echoing the room. "Sorry father". We said together. "as you know, Damien, our son, and your brother turning 25 soon". Yep we know where this is going. I baby kick his foot, he respond back with a kick. "and that is the legal age of marriage". Hold on I almost laugh. "mother, father. I have something to tell you". He joined both of his finger together. "I might be a disgrace and wouldn't be the next heir but". He kick my foot, wanting confidence. "I am bisexual with male leaning. I know this is hard for you guys. But I have been this way for a long time now and I can't just stay in the closet for to long I'm sorry". I need to save my lines. Don't say it yet. "Oh honey. My mother went to hug my brother. "Why would you apologize? you found yourself in that way. Why would you be a disgrace?". Well at least she does not overwhelm. "father? anything wrong?" .He sigh. "well, good thing I have both male and female in your line". I choke on my saliva. "Is the other one for me?" . Father shake his head. "each of you have female and male suggestion". My brother almost cry I mean it took a lot of courage to come out. "so.. how is it like to have 2 rainbows kids?". Finally I let out my line. Well it go out smoothly afterwards anyways. Who knew the heir of the royal family of Halcyon both rainbow?
"hey, you okay?". I sat down beside my brother on top the hill, looking at the scenery. "yeah. Thank you". I made a small snowman again between my leg. "for what? and why are you being nice?". I gently put a leaf on the snowman. "first of all, I am not being nice. Second of all, at least I'm not alone". I throw a snowball at him. "oi, what's that for?". I throw another snowball at him. "You drunk". He throw back a snowball at me. "Young master". A very familiar voice come from behind. "Alex!" . I pat the open space beside me. "it's okay. I'm here to tell you something. Mind if we go somewhere else?" . I got up and take the scarf they bought me. "sure, hey don't die okay". I threw a snowball on his head and run back to Alex side.
"So you said the butler quit her job? Where is she now?". I wield my sword ready do destroy those wood dummy. "Sorry but we can't track her down". I slice three of them in one swing. "Alex now!". An arrow fly over to the wooden dummy loosen head. "Nice shot!" I gave them a high five. "Well she might be near here right? since the Ministry of Medicine live around here, right?". I put the remaining of wooden heads and bodies in a box to recycle it. "probably. Do you want us to search for her?". I shook my head. "nope, you and I gonna find her ourselves". I put down the box on the table. "Then, I shall ask the King for permission. But why are you so eager to find her? there are thousand of girls like her". There it is, the line I expect they to said. "well um you know we do met for like half an hour. But how do I said this... I attract to her". I rest my chin on my sword handle. "Mika be careful, the blade might slip". I nod, hearing their speech.
"come in". Father said as I knock the door. "Did you find her?" . I sat beside his work place. "no...". I answer while he stamping some papers. "Well, what are you going to do now?". He stop stamping the papers and lean back on his 'throne'. "Well, I was thinking about searching her around Elysian though". I said, turn the globe on his table around. "Hey don't play with that. Well it's up to you if you want to find her yourself. BUT". I flinch up hearing he raise his voice. Honestly, that is unnecessary. "I would not provide money, horse, and maid to help you. But you can bring Alex for safety". That was a good deal but not provide money though. "But can I have at least have 1 thousand money?". Reminder that our currency is coin-like so it is easy for wayfarer to carry around. "fine, use it wisely". He order his servant to pack my money. "Speak of Alex, where are they?". I took the money from father's servant. "They just helping brother in the library". No, I don't think my brother like them or whatever. "Now then, if you excuse me. I need to get more file to sign". He left his office to his another office. Well that escalated quickly isn't it?
"I won't allow you to do such of thing!". Mother rage in our second family meeting for this week. "Maybe I was right back then when I said she can't do soldier stuff". She sat back on her seat frustrated. "Yo you seriously gonna go out of Halcyon alone, WITH A GUY?". Dammy whisper at me. "first of all, they are genderfluid. Second of all, yes.". I lean back to my chair, huffing. "She is a grown woman now, she is not a child. Even she is a child, we have Alex to protect her". Father said, backup my idea. "Don't you remember the -accident-? She almost-". Dammy slam the table. "Mother, beg me pardon, please don't bring that up". Father clear his throat out, making the argument turn into silence. "Alex been abandons by their family not once but twice. They thought themselves before I decide to put them under my care. They have clear record. I trust them and anything happened to her I will no hesitate to slaughter them". Father stood up, walking towards the glass door. The room went silent for the second time. "It is up to you. You are 17 now right? Probably can care of yourself from now on". She walk up towards the glass door, again leaving us in silence. "Well, I don't know what to say.". He got up. "Good luck I guess".
I look around the library hoping to find some book that might be useful. "Mika? you should get some sleep, it's not you gonna go tomorrow...". Alex stood behind me. "Alex, sorry" . I turn around to met his face. "Mika why are you crying?". Tears fall down on my cheek per drop. I don't really like it when I cry in front of someone. "I'm sorry". I drop down to the floor, hugging my knees. The creak of the wooden floor stated that Alex start move around. "Kaeya said he don't like to see you cry". Kaeya huh? never heard that name for so long. "Sorry Kaeya, I was not as strong as you." I smile under my shudder breath. "well, Kaeya think you are very strong! Remember you save Alex from falling?" . I giggle through the statement. "Thank you, Kaeya". A bop on my nose startle me. "Kaeya said he done with his duty to cheer you up". Its Alex of course. "Where did you found it? I literally lost him when I was five". I grab the plushie. "Sorry for keep Kaeya hidden, I've been keeping it since that time when I have to go butler training." He left me with the demon while back when they are ten. "You should get some sleep, Princess of the Mist Garden". Oh no. How can they keep a ten year worth memory. "Hey! Don't call me that. It was ten years ago". I throw a paper at them. "sorry". They chuckle. Knowing Alex, it was the third time they chuckle in this entire year. Yes. Year.
"There you go, nicely cut". I look at my reflection. "Alex, please tell me what the thing you can't do perfectly?". I did some touching for my new hair. "Picking a gender, choose between male or female, kids". The last one. I agree with that. "I like the last one". I go to the nearest waterfall to rinse my hair, letting some cut hair fall. "Hey, there are Tavern over there". I look up and Alex pointing at a huge tree. "We can earn money from there, but we need to do Quest to earn it though". I dried my hair with my cloth a while. "That's cool, also your arrow are not limited. But we can make arrow so that's okay. But my sword? It'll not last longer than my life". I fidget with my sword before put it back in my pocket. "To the Tavern we go". Well, we start to go outside Halcyon little by little. It's just a little adventure. What could possibly go wrong?