After that night, I didn't think I'd see the princess for quite a while. The meeting was by chance—as was everything that day. I knew my stockpile of luck would run out soon when I wasn't a beginner anymore. Like fireflies, I wished I could capture that fortune and save its light for later usage.
I soon began my duties as an advisor, and life changed drastically. Despite my parents' roles in the kingdom, I was used to crafting jobs, particularly those for which I made clothes. It didn't make sense why I studied so hard—gaining worthless skills—for such a profession.
The only thing learning about gravity was useful for was knowing what direction a needle would fall if I dropped it. The nasty things hurt when driven into a foot because acceleration was a sneaky bitch. Sure, arithmetic helped me count stitches, and language class made the interpretation of instructions seamless; however, I didn't enjoy stabbing myself to make a living for a few years.
It was nice to have a sedentary job unlike most of the men, but I longed to do something—anything—else. If girls wanted to stitch and sew, that was fine, of course, but I couldn't help but think about the many who would have been fantastic inventors and men who would have been exquisite designers if roles were by choice—not by stick and assignment. This could have been called a preference against the typical designations of femininity, but my clumsy hands always called it self-preservation.
When the opportunity to receive a job more suited to my tastes at the castle arose, I was incredibly eager to take it. Rumors went around about an imminent opening, but I was shocked to hear of my father's wish to resign that night at dinner with my parents. My mother stared at him like he committed the most heinous of crimes—as did I—but we both understood his perspective upon further explanation.
He was tired, sick of the stress of daily affairs; like any older man, he wished to spend the time he had left with his family. Of course, the couple acted all sappy and smitten, and my face contorted in disgust while my mom waxed poetic about him being a "family man". Yet I understood his perspective as well and quickly grew thrilled about getting to avoid a life in a rocking chair or like my grandfather's, coughing up bits of cement while trying to build houses.
The day my job began, I dashed in excitedly since everything finally settled in. I was appointed to the castle's board less than twenty-four hours prior, and it all felt surreal. It was like I floated in the air around me (a feeling which was better in theory than in reality) as I lost touch with my senses. Cold and hot felt the same; anger and happiness were synonymous in my elation. Even Leo's petty comments didn't bother me in the slightest when I entered.
"Someone's looking happy. You get a boyfriend last night at the banquet? A girlfriend? I don't judge," he chirped in my ear as he flew in his tiny form like a pesky mosquito.
I pinched him gently between my fingers and placed him on my left palm. "Not at all! I'm super happy to be here today!" I cheered, deciding not to give him any verbal resistance.
Leo sneered, digging his nails into my skin. "Oh, you definitely met someone. Spill."
I closed my fingers over him to mute his chatter.
"Can't I just be happy about a change in scenery?" I mused to myself, the meeting with Koharu still fresh on my mind.
*Even if he's somewhat right, I'm not admitting partial defeat to Leo of all people.*
When I glanced up, I met a pair of dark, beady eyes as Leo's screeching was muffled. King Inei stood right in front of me in the lavish hallway, grinning softly at the scene. Flustered, I immediately got my act together and bowed, though I accidentally released the little devil in my hand.
"Hello, Your Highness. It's a pleasure to see you—"
"Did Fifi meet—"
Inei clapped his hands vertically, engulfing the fairy in a ball of shadows as our voices overlapped. My eyes widened.
*That's a way to handle that.*
"Your Highness—"
"As loud as you think he is, think about how much of my old eardrums he clogs."
"I can hear you!" screamed the distant voice of Leo through the barrier. Combined with his already high shouts due to his small size, it was comical how the noise from him seemed to recede to distances of miles away.
Inei chuckled. "Did you enjoy the banquet last night?"
"Yes, yes. Though, it doesn't seem as if your son was all that pleased."
"Ah, he's always like that—moody just out of his teenage years. I'm certain he'll be fine."
Because of how stubborn the king was in his diction, I almost didn't hold my tongue. A ceremony of that grandeur being planned in merely a few hours was not only difficult but impossible for the average person. He bestowed a ridiculous amount of responsibility upon someone so young, having excessive faith in Akiyoshi.
"If that is what you say, then sure, Your Highness." I then muttered under my breath, "I'd also be obligated to say the same if you told me the sky was lime green."
Inei nodded. "Now, my hearing isn't great, but I can tell you added an insult there. My own children do it all the time. I'll excuse it. You're new here." He cleared his throat, his friendly demeanor turning more authoritative. "Speaking of my children, did you perhaps meet Ha—ah, Koharu?"
"Oo, I caught you red-handed!" Leo yelled in his comedic voice again.
Inei laughed amusedly, and I pressed my lips together to refrain from smiling.
"Yes, I did, Your Highness."
Leo snickered and jeered. "On top of that, I saw them on the way to Akiyoshi's suite!"
That was the first time my expression was truly vile.
*That's what you're *not* going to pull on me.*
"Leo! She literally thought you were Prince Akiyoshi and was trying to find him."
"Now, both of you halt a bit. I know Leo likes to be like this," Inei said to calm the bantering.
"As do I." Sometimes (most times), I yearned to have the last word.
"I'm glad you were able to meet Koharu, though, Ophelia. That might be beneficial in maintaining a… civil relationship with the other kingdom." His voice went acrid and quiet as he smacked.
"I agree."
"About the other kingdom, have you visited yet?" Inei continued.
"No." I remembered what Leo told me and became equally curious. "Wait… Shouldn't I have seen it during the night?"
"You should have definitely." He peered at his hand. "Look how quiet the fairy is when it's his turn to speak."
Leo huffed like an angry puppy. "Fifi, you may be shocked to hear this, but I was *trying* to be nice. I thought you'd want to stay in the Moon Kingdom for your first day back."
I chuckled. "I'd find that touching if you didn't sound like you were falling from the Galaxy Meadow."
"At least I'm not the one who actually considered doing it!"
"Stop, stop," Inei commanded, authority rising in his voice again as he held back a laugh. "I hope you enjoy your stay there tomorrow night. I'm sure my hus—*Hikaru*—wants to see you."
Almost tasting Inei's bitterness on my tongue, I nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness. I've heard he does."
With a slow nod, he said, "I shall be on my way then. I would like to get a walk through the courtyard in before the morning briefing."
"Have a lovely time. I would keep an eye out for the prince, though, Your Highness."
"Noted," he said automatically. "I will see you soon, Advisor. Have this back."
While stretching his torso, he opened his hand, the shadows evaporating as the smoke dissipated like the small wisps of embers. My bright smile faltered as Inei's shone, and Leo promptly placed himself on the tip of my nose. I looked at him with my eyes crossed, giving me the appearance of a dunce. Leo simply waved at the king as he plodded off contentedly, and I bowed once more while I wanted to scratch my nose.