My pov:
I tiredly sigh, going through my hair as I let it loose.
"You really never learn your lesson, Douma."We were walking towards our shared carriage.
"Aww is little Haru mad?"He grins as he hops inside.
"I don't know, am I?"I ask with sarcasm and a shrug as I follow him inside.
"All right all right I promise to behave better."He held his hands up with a smile.
"We both know that's a lie."I sigh, placing my chin onto my resting hand, staring outside as we travel back to our kingdom.
"So does Haru have a little crush?~"He singsongs, blinking innocently at me for an answer.
"Douma, I just met her today..."I deadpan at him before covering up a yawn with my hand.
"Anywho I do think she's pretty although she's shorter than me."I chuckle, removing the mask.
"Does this mean I have a new ship?~"He smiles widely.
"I don't know? How do you think will happens if she found out I was a girl hm?"I point the mask at him, in between my index and middle finger.
"Pfft, Did you see her reaction towards me? She was so ready to hit me!"He whines while closing his eyes.
"Yeah because you made her uncomfortable."I sigh at him before we fall into a comfortable silence.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember is getting a piggyback ride to my bedroom.
I groggily open my eyes when the sunlight shines into the room. I sit upwards and look around my room.
"Mm, I suppose it's time to get up."I stretch my arms up to hear a 'pop' sound from my back.
"Oo that hit the spot, "I mumble while getting out to change into my attire for today.
"Princess?"A knock was heard on my double doors.
"Yes, Katie?"I call out while fastening my belt.
"Your father and mother want to see you in the dining room after you're done."She answers calmly, waiting for my reply.
"Very well, I will be there shortly after I get changed."
"Understood."She does a quick bow before leaving.
'Wonder what they want me for...' I step outside and started walking towards the dining room.
"Morning father and mother."I beam at them, giving a small wave.
"There's our little volcano."Takibi ruffles my hair when I got closer.
"Haha, am I really little right now?"I playfully grin as I sit down.
"So what did you guys call me for?"
"Right, so the king of the Butterfly Kingdom sent a letter to us today, about her daughter wanting to visit us after her birthday party."
"Say do we a new ship here?~"Sora wiggle her eyebrows up and down at me.
"Mom, I just met her yesterday..."I look away with a slight blush due to embarrassment.
"Anyways do you want her to come? It's your decision."He hands me the letter.
"I'll think about it but I should eat up and get on with my duties."I hurriedly rush out so that they wouldn't ask me any more questions.
"Daring, are you thinking what I am thinking?"Takibi looks over to his wife with twinkling eyes.
"Oh ho, you read my mind."She looks back with the same twinkling eyes.
They both rush out to their study room.
I look at the target board, angling my bow into position.
"Remember Haru, take a deep breath, aim and fire!"My instructor was on my left with her arms crossed.
'Deep breath in...'
'And...Fire!'
I let go of the bowstring, the arrow flies seamlessly and strikes the target board right in the middle.
"You're a natural at this."She smiles with pride as I got the hang of a bow rather quickly.
"All thanks to my wonderful trainer."I smile back.
"And how is my group coming along?"I focus back on drawing the bow with another arrow.
"They are getting the hang of it."She looks at the arrow as it strikes the board again.
"Good. I want them to be prepared for anything that might happen."I quickly empty my quiver, nodding approvingly at the board which was full of arrows now.
"I'll see you next week, Miss."I gave her a wave as she leaves the training grounds.
I make my way back inside to wash up, greeting the people that work here when I pass by them.
'Mm, I feel like painting today~'
I sat myself down with a canvas and paint supplies, humming a soft tune while thinking of what to paint.
"How about freestyle today?"I nod to myself, unscrewing the paint tubes.
After a while I just let my brain go on autopilot mode, aimlessly painting as I hum.
"And...Done."I finish the last few strokes, leaning back to take a good look at it.
"Hmm...Why does it look so familiar?"I tap the paintbrush on my cheek as I try to remember where I had seen this person before.
"Oh it's no good, I can't remember where she's from."I sigh as I clean up the area.
I look up to see the sun setting down, signalling it was going to be nighttime soon.
'Better head to dinner.'
I walk inside to see everyone else eating already.
"You guys didn't wait for me?"I pout as I take a seat beside Rui.
"Sorry, we just assumed that you were busy and all, "Rui replies with his mouth full.
"Hey, Don't talk with your mouth full mister."I gave him a soft flick to his forehead.
He hums in response, continuing with his food.
"So...Honey..."She calls out in a soft tone.
"Thought about the letter?"
I sweatdrop at them, "Not really..."
She hums in response while stealing a glance at father. I stop what I was doing with a confused look.
"Okay, what's going on here?"
"So...We may or may not have said a letter saying yes in your stead."
I stare at them with my mouth open, "You did what?"
They look away while whistling, I just groan while facepalming myself.
"Why are you giving me even more trouble."I tiredly sigh at their antics.
It wasn't the first time they did something like this, accepting things for me without telling me first.
"And when is she coming?"I 'sweetly' smile at them.
"This week..."
"While I wouldn't agree with what you did, I was going to write back that it was fine for her to come..."I mumble while taking a bite.
"Great then!"They both cheer out with happy smiles.
Rui was just watching the show while eating, "Who's coming?"
"The second princess of the Butterfly Kingdom."I get up as I finished my food.
"Goodnight you guys."I exit the room to go have my much-needed sleep.
I take a deep breath in as I hit the fabric of my bedsheets, almost knocking me into dreamland.
"Comfy..."I murmur as I close my eyes and blacked out.
.
.
"Hey, Shinobu!"I cheerful call out as I spots the black-purple haired girl.
"Haru! What brings you here today?"She smiles at me as I got closer.
"I got injured on my last mission."I chuckle at pointing to a fresh bandaged arm.
She shakes her head with a disapproving look before looking at me with puffed cheeks.
"I told you to be more careful didn't I?"
"Sorry, I got a bit too reckless while battling.."I sheepishly scratch the back of my neck while looking away.
"Just be careful next time all right? Now come on I want to show you something."She interlaced her fingers with mine, dragging me to where she wanted to go.
I laugh hearty as I follow her but before I could see where I was being dragged to, my vision starts to blur.
I snap my eyes open as the dream ends.
"Shinobu...Kocho?"I shake my head.
"She looks just like the painting I painted today too..."
"Maybe I should look at the paperwork before I sleep, that always knocks me out cold."I slip out of bed, opening the door to see it was dark, the only source of light was from the lanterns as guards were patrolling.
I carefully make my way to my study room without making too much noise to alert the guards. Taking a deep breath as I close the doors, starting up the fireplace and taking a seat at my table buried in papers.
"I should have taken care of it today..."I sigh before getting out a quill to write.
"Mm, the trades are coming together well."
"Accept the routes..."
"And..."I pause when a slip of paper caught my eye.
"Ah yes, the group that targets princesses."I stare at the notice before crumpling it and tossing it into the fireplace.
We had to stay hidden for 19 years because of this group, I furrow my eyes when I remember the upsetting memories flooding in. I shake my head as I hear a knock on the doors.
"Who is it?"I suspiciously call out.
No one should be knocking on my doors this late at night, especially when no one knows I am in here.
A moment of silence before the doors were open slightly.
"Sorry Haru, I caught this person walking about the hallways. Mind if I come in?"
'That tired voice!'
"Mako?"I question as I walk toward the doors, opening them fully to see him in simple clothing, holding a man by his shirt collar. The man seems to be unconscious as Mako drags him in.
"I got up when Kazemi woke me, saying that he felt a disturbance of negative emotions."
'Ah that's right, Kazemi is more prone to sense something like that..'
"Anyways, I was walking around the castle when I heard footsteps that I didn't recognise. I peeked around the corner to see this man hiding a dagger in his clothing before knocking."
"Thank you for checking this out when you could have gone back to sleep."I sigh in relief before glaring at the body on the floor.
"The first thing they sent when we reappear from the shadows..."I mumble as I kneel down to search the man's clothing.
I managed to find a small piece of paper, containing information.
"Do inform the others."I pat his shoulders as I walk past him to leave the room, giving him the piece of paper after I had read it.
"I want security to be tightened when the princess visits."I turn my head to give him a side glance before continuing to walk back to my room.
"Understood."