♚11♚

Bright fluorescent yellow-green fields, the beautiful transparent rivers, and the bustling town streets full of life and commotion. All of these I doubt I'll experience again, at least from anywhere except from my royal prison.

I had come across a wide window seat and quickly took advantage of its comfort. I draped a quilt over me and just pondered out the window for what could have been an hour. I didn't feel like doing anything I needed to do today. Apparently I had dress fittings, that etiquette training, and my least favorite... dance rehearsals. It's fairly obvious which one I was putting off.

Other than enjoying the landscape view, I had also been avoiding and hiding from anyone who would apprehend me to take me to the watchful eye of the prince. Ever since I had come to the castle, life surprisingly got more difficult.

"Hey! Miss!" A guard exclaimed from a few feet away, peeking around the corner.

I quickly bolted up from my comfortable position in the nook and prepared to book it as fast as possible. The guard looked dumbfounded by my defensive posture and cocked his head slightly in confusion.

"Pardon me for scaring you, Miss. It's me, James," he addressed. Still unconvinced, I kept my unflinching stance.

"What do you need?" I questioned.

"I was sent to fetch you, there are a lot of things you need to do, starting wi-"

"I'm not going," I cut him off rudely, though I instantly had regretted it.

"But Miss," he sighed. "Listen, I'm understand you don't want to be here, that much is evident. There isn't anything we can do, you and I both know that there isn't really a way passed the prince without him knowing."

"Wait, why are you saying this...?" I asked suddenly suspicious.

"No reason! I'm just, nothing. It was nothing. Now the real reason I'm here is to escort your dress fitting. Please, follow me, for the sake of both of us," he stammered quickly changing the subject.

"Fine..." I sighed giving in easily. I knew it was only his duty to make sure I was where I was supposed to be, and I didn't want him getting hurt because my stubbornness.

I followed behind him, keeping my distance, and tracing my steps along the way. I didn't recognize any parts of the direction we were headed in, when I realized we were in a different area. Strange... I thought, The castle seems to just keep getting bigger and bigger.

"What's that?" I puzzled, glancing at large, thick iron doors at the end of one of the hallways. "Some kind of vault?"

"Oh, that leads to the catacombs," he stated without a second thought.

"Catacombs...?" I questioned, recognizing the word but not knowing exactly what it meant.

"They're... for storing wine. A wine cellar if you must. Those doors lead to stairs that travel a few stories underground. The depth keeps

the wine cold, and wine is extremely expensive and rare, so it's common for it to be stored in such a manner," he explained thoroughly.

"Oh..." I mumbled aloud, "Thats pretty neat."

"Anyways, please follow me, we'll be there shortly." He beckoned.

We continued down the hallway making our way to what I assumed was some sort of dressing room, but when we arrived I was sorely mistaken.

As we entered a new unfamiliar territory, I gawked at the prodigious architecture, admiring the dangling chandelier and the monstrous pillars. I couldn't believe my eyes, seeing how each room was becoming more beautiful and impressive every moment.

"(Y/N)!" An energetic high-pitched chirped.

"Aki! I thought you weren't working today?" I exposed.

"Well yeah, but when I heard you needed a fitting, I quickly switched with the seamstress who was originally helping! Heh, so now I get to serve you!" She exclaimed with excitement. She then turned to the guard who led me here, "Thank you for bringing her here so quickly!"

James seemed slightly surprised at her compliment. "Just following orders, thank you though, I appreciate the kindness. Oh, and er, are you sure you're allowed to switch your working hours? I know you're new here, but I'm not sure you know the rules..." He said with concern.

"I mean, I'm sure it's fine. I'm still keeping my normal schedule, I'm just taking over for today, It'll be ok!" She insisted with her still happy tone.

"But even so, you're taking this on you own, and you've not even worked in the palace for a week..." he trailed off, though Aki was aware of what he was implying.

It seemed like a knob was turned inside of Aki's head, and she was just getting heated up.

"I'll have you know that though I'm only a pauper I studied my designing in Osaka, and I am perfectly capable of maintaining this job myself," Aki snapped.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't meant to offend you, I'm only looking out for your safety," he quickly made known.

"Alright, it's fine, but please leave us, I have work to attend to. Work as of a seamstress who is extremely talented who can do it all by herself," she gloated.

I decided I should cut in before Aki had said anything more. "What she means to say is thank you, for your service in guiding me here. Thank you James."

"It was nothing Miss, if you have any questions I'll do my best to answer them in terms of directions for you. I'll leave you be for now, farewell," He dismissed.

With that, he calmly left the room. It was evident that he felt fairly sorry, and slightly disappointed, but being the guard he was he kept his strong stature. I had only the thought that guards were trained since childhood, and now I realized it might have been true, due to his abundance of self-control.

I turned my attention to Aki, whose arms were folded across her chest. "Hmph! Thinks I don't know how to do my job!" She pouted.

"I'm sure he didn't mean any offense, I think he's just looking out for your safety of keeping your job. Maybe you shouldn't be so... difficult with him..." I implied.

"Me? Difficult! As if! Well, actually... I can be rather bothersome... Should I apologize?" She asked aloud. Before I could give her an answer to continued her work. "Never mind that! I have work to do! Now come over here, I'm gonna make you beautiful~!" She sang.

~♛~

"Ugh does it have to be so tight?" I groaned.

"You're skinny enough for it! C'mon it's not that bad!" She argued.

"Are you kidding me? Look at me! I am not skinny!" I scoffed.

"Hey don't you dare say that about my best friend! You are perfect the way you are!" She shot back.

"If I'm perfect the way I am then why do I have to wear- Gah!" I exclaimed.

"Aaaand done! Now look in the mirror!"

My drawn out expression was the first thing I noticed after turning towards my reflection. My eyes trailed down to the gorgeous red oriental themed dress. The fabric fitted perfectly, and it was littered with beautiful cherry blossoms, which increased the farther the fabric went. The sleeves were the same fashion as my last dress, draped on my shoulders, but sure enough that they didn't fall further.

"It's... exquisite!" I exclaimed. "But... I thought I was being fitted for a, well, wedding dress."

"You flatter me (Y/N)! And this was just supposed to be measurements, but I couldn't just let all the expensive silks sit there! So I used to fabrics in the seamstress' working area and used to to my advantage! It's hard enough to believe I made that in just 3 hours..." She trailed off, losing her breath quickly due to her speed-explanation.

"Three hours!? It's been three hours!" I yelled, shocked.

"Yep! And I'm still not done! Just some minor stitching I need to fix, but that's all easy! But it's time I let you go, you probably have lessons and such, so just take that off real quick!" She demanded.

~♛~

"Thank you so much Aki! I don't know what I'd do without your company here!" I beamed.

"Aw it was nothing! Now hurry along, I'm sure you have somewhere important to be!" She said rushing me out.

"Alright alright, Goodbye Aki!" I giggled as the door shut behind me.

I took one step into the hallway until,

"Good evening Miss," a voice greeted.

"AH! James? You scared me half to death! Were you standing here the whole time?" I asked holding a hand over my chest as a weak attempt to slow my rapidly beating heart.

"No ma'am, I wasn't eavesdropping, I happened to be patrolling the area while I waited for you, I assume you need a way to get back," James explained throughly.

"How kind of you, thank you so much. Yes, I  desperately need a guide through this castle," I pleaded.

"But of course, please follow me, we'll be headed for your chambers."

"My chambers? But so early! It's only just 9 in the evening!" I gawked.

"His majesty's orders, and it is really much darker than you'd think tonight. The nights and evenings are becoming longer, and colder," he claimed, though I could vaguely tell he didn't believe his own words.

Rather than fighting it, or questioning it, I decided to condone his words, mostly because I didn't want to possibly endanger the loyal knight, partly because I knew I would be questioning the prince. Though at first I didn't heed the words from the prince, I was starting to get the feeling I should begin to think before I speak.

"We've arrived," James spoke up drawing me out of my trance. "Already?" I asked startled.

"You'd be surprised, it's much easier and faster to travel with someone who's lived here almost their entire life," he stated. Though I couldn't see this features, the sound of his faint chuckle could only leave to the imagination of his smirk.

"I guess your right... also, is it ok for me to call you by your real name? And do you always have to wear that helm?" I pelted him with questions.

"Actually, normally we aren't addressed by our names, unless theirs someone specified the speaker is calling to, that also goes for all the servants as well," he began explaining. "As for your second question... we are not allowed to take off our helmets, unless said to do so by the king or prince."

"Oh... I guess that makes sense?" I replied, though still confused by the strange rules in the castle.

James let out a sigh, expressing his equal thoughts. "Well I should let you go now, after you," he addressed as he politely opened the door for me, when I saw someone at the end of my bed. James and I exchanged glances, I mouthed the words 'thank you' to him before shutting the door behind me. I slowly trotted to where the figure was stationed as we made eye contact.

"Good evening Adrian, is there something you needed...?" I asked slightly worried I might not have been on time, or I had forgotten to do something, but then I remembered our little quarrel from earlier. I prayed he wasn't confronting me again about our dissent.

"I've only come to say goodnight, I just needed to know you were here safely, I don't mean to make you feel discomforted here," he spoke softly, then stood up towering in front of me. "Sleep well my dear (Y/N), I shall see you in the morning," he finished by planting a kiss on my forehead. I slightly felt heat rise to my face, but the dim lights hid my emotion.

"Thank you, goodnight Adrian..." I gushed, really unsure of what else to say. He took his leave out the door, shutting it behind him slowly and cautiously, barely making even the slightest noise. I let out the small breath I had been unknowingly holding and walked up to the door once again. I have to meet that mystery guy... I decided.

I stood by the door a few more moments to be sure the receding footsteps had made their way past the hall. When I was sure the coast was clear, I quietly pulled open the door. I looked both ways, making sure no one was around to see my escape from curfew. Luckily I wore flats, so not even the faint pitter patter of shoes was audible.

I had successfully made it around the princes room and I quickened my pace to make it to the servants quarters. Swiftly making my way down the stairs, I glided across the floor, until something fastened onto my hand and pulled me around the corner of the hallway. This again...? I hisses to myself.

Expecting the same masked man from previous nights, my eye were filled with annoyance. I looked up, but stopped short, replacing my expression with a surprised and confusion. Instead of the man, my best friend stood in front of me.

"Aki?" I asked. "What are you doin-"

"Shhh! Do you want yourself getting in trouble? Never mind that, we need to talk, now. It's something important, and urgent," she whispered.