Ae-Ra stood in front of the Crown Prince Pest's palace. Constructed of Jade, weaved with gold, with cerulean ink dainty paintings painted on the wooden doors, the palace, a palace inside a larger palace, looked like spring day in full bloom, encased in the most valuable glass shield. Today was her first day of work as his his Imperial Guard. She had been instructed by his Eunuch, Eunuch Lee, that him and her would be by his Highness's side throughout the day, wherever he went. The sun had barely risen, but it was said that His Highness woke extremely early. This was the exact opposite of Ae-Ra, since she had marvellous escapades during the night, she slept mainly during the day, yet here he was, the grand Prince Pest disturbing her sleeping schedule, just like how he had come into her life a firework, leaving her astonished, breathless and stupefied. She stood in front of the troop of Guards which would also be protecting him because clearly, they didn't see her capable enough. Seeing those six Guards hurt her ego, but she knew it was for the best, she… she had never protected some one before. She knew nothing. She just hoping her brute strength and some what quick intellect, would allow her to survive the days to come. She was a luscious rose, in a forest of tall strong trees which looked down upon her. A woman in a man's domain. But roses had thrones, small, but sharp enough to spill blood, the colour it was born of. And so did Ae-Ra. She was not going to give up without a fight, she was a survivor. Beside her and the male Guards were six Court ladies. Eunuch Lee was inside the quarters of the Prince, getting him ready for the day. The Court Ladies gave her disdainful glance, what was she doing n the opposite side. Ae-Ra couldn't stop the glaring eye roll she gave them. So what if she was standing on the side with male Guards. How in the Heavens was it their business?! Seeing her rude haughtiness, they began whispering between them selves with rude curse words. Ae-Ra suddenly gave a bark of laughter. She wished she was the type who could be cold, and emotionless to rude comments and pretend they didn't affect her at all, but she was not, when some rude dog barked at her, she barked back. The Court Ladies looked like she had lost her mind, laughing like an insane person.
"What in the Heavens wrong with her?"
Ae-Ra smiled maliciously and pointed to herself,
"Who me?", she gave deep exasperated sigh, her shoulders heaving with disappointment.
"I simply find it ironic and amusing that Court Ladies, who scorn at me for not behaving like a Noble Lady, use unladylike words to do so. I don't believe Noble Court Ladies are supposed to swear, are they? Nor are they supposed to be Guards for the Crown Prince, yet here we are." Ae-Ra didn't want to start a fight with her fellow women on the first day of work, but sadly she was not a door mat, her temper was too fiery to allow little dolls speak whack of her. The women were horrified by her bluntness, their mouths agape, as some struggled to throw back insults back at her, but alas before they could the temperamental dragon known as Rhee Ae-Ra further, Eunuch Lee stepped out of the Palace announcing the Crown Prince's arrival. Immediately all the Court Ladies stood like timid dolls, ready to please their owner. Ae-Ra scoffed and stood with as much confidence as she could muster. But she couldn't stop her heart from clenching and fluttering like a stray rose petal in the spring breeze, when she saw Prince Pest dressed in Dragon Robes, Robes of Royalty, Robes showing they were the one chosen the celestial immortals. He had the halo of elegance and dignified authority as he walked down the steps of his palace. He no longer looked like a pest. He looked like a King. He looked like the future Emperor Ji-Ho. Emperor. Ae-Ra almost gagged as she remembered who was going to be his Empress. Her. Her cheeks flushed as her body tensed as, what was she supposed to see him as? The prince she had saved and was supposed to protect? Her fiancée? The man who was more annoying than a fly? As soon as he saw her flushed cheeks but confident and tensed body, he smirked, knowing very well he was the cause of her rouge cheeks. The smirk was enough to make all the Court Ladies fall at his feet with their heart on their sleeves. Smirk?! Ae-Ra's nostril flared. She would look at him as the last option, an annoying fly. That was it. She immediately relaxed her posture, to a lazy and haughty one. She bowed.
"Your Highness.", the other Guards and Courts Ladies immediately followed her actions bowing and greeting him. Ji-Ho's lips quirked up at seeing Ae-Ra dressed in a beautiful silken Hanbok, with an ivory blouse and a dewy peach skirt embroidered with golden flowers. Her long onyx hair was left open with only a single golden flower hairpin studded with topazes decorating her hair. She looked ethereal. Outstanding. Perfect. God like, easily the most beautiful woman in the palace, especially, with her confident stance, strict and blazing caramel honey eyes. Her Do hung by her waist of her skirts, that's when Ji-Ho realised she was not a flower. Not a beautiful timid flower like the rest of the noble Court Ladies. She was a weapon, of the sharpest of blade, carved to look like the most beautiful flower. Trying to puck a flower like her would only make the hands who dared to touch her bleed. Ji-Ho tilted his head, was it true, that the most beautiful snakes were the most venomous? Should he by enamoured by his Empress, or terrified of her? Especially after seeing her sweet periwinkle lips turn into a fanciful wicked smile when he tilted his head to look at the lethal weapon, tucked securely in her soft silken skirts. Ji-Ho gulped. He was the future Emperor, the Smug cat, he was supposed to have the upper hand in this game crafted by him, right? Then why did this woman overflowing with charisma and confidence looked at him as though she never considered him as a player in the first place?
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