[18] - Are you are kidding me?!?
"You are attracting too much attention!" Erina exclaimed as she got onto her feet as well and gave Risa a faithful slap on the top of his head. It was only after she had gave the slap on Risa's head that she realised she was too attracting too much attention with her actions. She wanted to pull Risa down back behind the bushes but it was all too late. The guards who were guarding at the place entrance had saw the commotion and were marching over towards the two. "Penguin! Take this chance and leave! They are already away from the gate!" Erina pushed Risa away from her and hinted.
"But you - Ai - " Risa tried to response, but was too all too late. The guards were all over and widened the distance between Risa and Erina as they grabbed onto Erina on her arms and pulled them behind her back. "Who are you?" They demanded. "What are you doing over here?" The questioning continued as Erina was pulled to the other end of the wing, while Risa was brought away by the other guards around the area.
"Maybe you can answer that question for me? I was unwillingly brought here by your people and you are asking me what am I doing over here." Erina challenged.
"Sorry, but I have heard nothing of this about someone had been brought back into the palace, Young Lady." One of the taller guard replied before continuing. "Did you sneaked your way in? What's your intention?" The sword was pulled out and pointed at Erina as the question was asked.
Erina nervously gulped her saliva down her throat as the sharp point of the sword pointed right in between her eyes. "I'm did not." Erina bravely stood onto her front. "I was brought in here, without my consent. And all I want, is to leave this freaking place right at this moment." Erina continued in a louder voice than her previous sentence as she stared at the guard fiercely, with great determination in them.
On the other hand, at Risa's side, he was being escorted away by the guard to the opposite end the guards had brought Erina to. "Prince Gaki, are you hurt in anyway?" The guard greeted and concerned. He had witness the attack Erina performed on him and was truly worried about any injuries the violent act may had resulted on the prince.
"I'm fine." Risa brushed the guard away and tried to get away, only to be stopped by the same guard again.
"Prince Gaki, I'm sorry that I can't let you go. The King had released orders about Prince Gaki you. His Majesty had said that if anyone were to spot Prince Gaki around the palace, we are suppose to bring you back to him." The guard explained as he gestured out, showing the way he should go - to the courts were the King was at.
Risa sighed deeply. He had lost the battle. He turned around and began to move towards the direction the guard had gestured.
'I'm going to confront Father about this. There's no way I am going to marry Erina. She so much younger, and . . She's not the one I like. It's her sister. . . Why? Why is it that Erina is the general's daughter and not Strawberry girl?' Upon seeing Risa's entry into the court room as escorted by the guards, the King smiled lightly. "I knew this would have happened. That's why I had made sure that all the guards in the palace are on theirs, making sure that you will make no effort to get away from the palace.
"Father, I really have no intention to marry the general's daughter. I had made an important promise, to this girl, Father. I hope you will understand." Risa tried to explain, trying to sort out the situation in a peaceful way.
"Risa, I hope you will understand that your marriage with the general's daughter is one of my promise to my best partner, who had made his way to the other world without even having the chance to watch his beloved daughter grow." The King replied in the same way, leaving Risa speechless about a rebuttal. "Now that she's coming, I had announced earlier in the day that the royal marriage between you and the general's daughter will be held tomorrow night. The ball is now being prepared, and I hope you will prepare your heart too. Stop thinking about that girl of yours. I don't know where have you met her nor who is she. But I'm sure that she is someone who is incompatible with you, in terms of her status. Remember, Risa, you are the crown prince. Your queen has to be someone of some status. General Takahashi had made great impact to our land. Her daughter is definitely someone of the some status my royal brothers will want. "
"But Father -"
"Say no more, Risa. She's coming soon. You will meet her face to face. Maybe until then you will fall in love with her and forget about that girl, my dear son."
"I won't, Father." Risa bit his lips with determination.
"Your Majesty, we have brought you someone we had found lingering suspiciously around the back wing garden." The guard at door greeted and asked for permission for entry.
"Bring that person in." The King ordered before turning back to Risa. "Now, go back to your room and prepare your heart."
"Father!" Risa tried to whine, but an unexpected call from his back broke his thoughts.
"Penguin?! You didn't managed to get your way out?" Erina wriggled around the guard's hold.
Upon seeing the 'someone' being Erina, the King immediately ordered the guards to release the poor girl. "Release her. Lady Erina is my invited guest." The guards followed the order right in the moment, releasing Erina from their captive hold abruptly, causing the poor girl to almost tumble down onto the ground with her first down.
"Can't you all be more gentle!" Erina whined and instinctively went behind Penguin - someone whom she knew beside Kanon - and seek his back for protection.
"Your Majesty, I will definitely not marry her." Risa changed his way of addressing his father due to the presence of other guards in the room and stubbornly repeated his decision to the King, despite the fact that the King had rejected his decision for the umpteen times. That had resulted a sudden pain at the back of his head.
"Penguin you are going to marry someone?" Erina shouted from Risa's back as she smacked the back of Risa's head painfully. "What about Ai-nee?" Erina continued while the guard held onto Erina, preventing Erina from further abusing the poor prince. "You know what? Ai-nee is going to - " Erina was cut off by the King, who seemed to be unable to get over Erina's rude behaviour towards Risa.
"Lady Erina, please do not be disrespectful to - " Before the King could finish his warning about Erina's rather rough actions on Risa, Risa had intercepted the opportunity and took the time for himself.
"Release her right away!" Risa raised his voice and shouted as he turned around, only to find himself facing a rather angry Erina.
"Sorry Erina, it's about your Ai-nee, and that's why, I can't marry you. . . " Risa apologised.
"Me?" Erina narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head.
"Risa, you knew Lady Erina?" The King raised curiously. Risa's actions was obvious that he knew the younger girl.
"Risa? Isn't your name Penguin?" Erina asked before Risa could rely his father's question.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Risa answered the question from his father first before turning over to Erina. "Sorry I lied. Penguin is not my name. Penguin is the name of the place I came from." Risa looked away from Erina's questioning stare. "I'm sorry, but I really can't. I can't marry the General's daughter."
"Risa, Lady Erina is not the General's daughter." The King understood Risa's misunderstanding and spoke out, trying to clear out that misunderstanding. "Isn't she a little be too young to be general's daughter too? General Takahashi had passed out 24 years ago and this young lady over here is barely 15." The King continued.
Risa's eyes shone up in realisation. "That's right!" He blurted.
"Lady Erina is the younger sister of the general's daughter." the King finished.
"And that means, the general's daughter is strawberry Ai?" Risa turned and looked at Erina in amazing revelations.
"You are the stupid prince Ai-nee is suppose to marry to?" Erina finally understood the situation as she pointed her index finger at Risa, sharing an eye contact with the Penguin.
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"Your Majesty, I have Lady Ai back with me. . ." Hitomi informed as he stepped into the court room. Both Risa and Erina were back in their own respective room. Ai stood aside, revealing herself before the King as she was hiding behind Hitomi all these while.
"Good evening, Your Majesty." Ai bowed her head and bent her knees slightly as she greeted.
"It's you!" The King stood up from his seat in excitement the moment Ai stood before him. He rushed down the flight of stairs and to where the two were standing "How long has it been? You looked exactly like what you were when you were still an infant, my dear child. Ai remained her head bowed, not saying anything to the compliment the King had just gave. The King lifted Ai's face up. "You looked exactly like how your father do, my dear child. " The King continued.
"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment, Your Majesty." Ai responded as she tried to pull her head away from the King's comforting touch.
"Your Father was a beautiful man, my dear. You should be all happy about that." The King commented as he stood away and walked back up the stairs and back to his seat.
"Sorry, but I have no memory about that." Ai continued sadly.
"Your mother was a beautiful woman as well. It's just really a waste that . . ." The King halted in his sentence. He could no longer continue with this topic anymore. He cleared his throat lightly. "Ai. . . Is it alright for me to just call you Ai?" The King asked. Ai nodded her head lightly. "The wedding ball, will be held tomorrow night. "
"Tomorrow night? So fast?" Ai blurted out unknowingly. She sank into a long moments of silence before speaking again. "Can I ask of a request?"
"Speak your mind, my dear."
"Allow Erina to return back to the Land of Strawberry." Ai spoke straight.
"Wouldn't you want to keep your sister with you?"
"I would rather her back in the land of strawberry. Probably, she will like the life back there better."
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With that, Ai was escorted to the guest room where Erina was staying. The younger girl went all straight into her sister's embrace the moment Ai stepped into the room. "Ai-nee!" Erina shouted out with excitement buried her face into her sister's shoulder.
"Erina!" Ai ruffled Erina's hair into a mess as she cajoled the younger girl.
"I missed you so much, Ai-nee. . " Erina mumbled into Ai's shoulder.
"Silly girl. . .It's just a day so . . " Ai patted Erina's back.
"Ne, Ai-nee, I have something to tell you. . ." Erina pulled herself back and looked at Ai in her eyes.
"I have something to tell Erina too. And I will go first. . ." Ai said the same thing as she pulled Erina to the bed and sat her down on the bed. "You are going back to the Land of Strawberry." Ai informed.
"Wait a minute, Ai-nee, why?" Erina stood back to her feet in surprise only to be pushed back onto the bed by Ai.
"You should go find your own happiness back in the land of Strawberry. Maybe, if Penguin really returns, you and him can get together. Erina likes Penguin very much, isn't that so? Now that I am - " Before Ai could finished her sentence, she was interrupted by a panicking Erina.
"Wait a minute Ai-nee, I have something to say." Erina objected as she stood up again. Different from the previous time, she was not being pushed back to the bed. " I - "
"Let me finish my words, Erina." Ai interrupted. " Now that I am going to get married to the prince of this country, Erina you can get together with Penguin. I had told Miki about it already. He will take care of you in my behalf - "
"Ai-nee, listen to what I have to say."
"Erina-"
"Pen - "
The pair of sisters struggled with each other, fighting for the chance for the right for the say, such that by an accident, Ai knocked the back of her head against the sturdy wood of the bed and onto the bed, falling into a state of unconsciousness.
"Ai-nee?" Erina shook Ai's body in panic. Movement of the eyes could be observed through the closed eyelid. "Ai-nee?" Erina shook more but had received no response at all. "Ai-nee wake up!" Erina called out in desperation.
After a short moment, Ai finally flipped open her eyes, waking up from her short moments of unconsciousness. "What happened?" Ai asked in a weak voice, while rubbing the back of her head.
"You hit the back of your head against the bed, Ai-nee. . .Are you alright? Are you seeing any double visions or anything?" Erina concerned.
"Oh yah I did . . . " Ai noted absentmindedly as she continued to rub her sore head. "What were we talking about moments ago, Erina?" Ai tilted her head at Erina and asked.
"About that, Ai-nee, there's something important that I have to tell you!" Erina continued.
"What?"
Before Erina could inform Ai about the identity of the Prince, the maidservant at the door had stopped her from doing so. "Sorry Lady Ai, it's time for you to leave."
"To where?" Ai asked blankly.
"To the Prince room where you will spend the night at, Lady Ai."
"But the wedding is tomorrow. Isn't - "
"It's different in the Land of Penguin, Lady Ai. " Came the simple explanation.
"But I want to spend the night with my sister, is that possible?" Ai tried to negotiate.
"I'm afraid not, Lady Ai."
"It's alright, Ai-nee. . . "
"But the important thing that you have been talking about?" Ai gave Erina a blur look.
"It's not important anymore." Erina smiled. "Ai-nee will find it out by yourself. "
"By myself?" Ai narrowed her eyebrow slightly.
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Ai felt her heart racing as she heard the room door creaked open. She had been sitting alone in the Prince bedroom for a short while. Thoughts about her unwillingness towards the arranged marriage had been flying around her stomach, making her to feel a sense of queasiness at her stomach.
'Since the day I read the letters left by mom and dad, I had dread the coming of this day. I had even swear that I would rather run away that to put myself in this situation. But now, here I am, sitting on this bed, waiting for the return of the Prince. . . ' Ai thought in her mind. She head soft footsteps nearing her and stopped right behind her.
"I see, you are the General's daughter. . . " Risa lowered his voice - a voice different from the ones he usually had - and spoke behind Ai as he rested his hands delicately on Ai's shoulder. He had just returned from Erina's room. He had initially wanted to surprise his bride at her sister's room. But it had seemed like his bride was sent back to his room even before he had the chance to. Erina had informed him that Ai had yet to know about the Prince identity. Therefore, Risa had came out with a perfect plan to surprise his beloved strawberry and this had explained the low voice he had used on Ai right at this moment.
Ai tensed up at the touch. Her heart raced. Without saying any word, she nodded her head.
"Did you accepted this marriage willingly?" Risa asked again, in the same low voice.
Ai nodded her head unwillingly. She was afraid that her honest answer would earn her something undesirable.
"Are you sure?" Risa was pleasantly surprised. He thought Ai would shook her head at this question. Though that, he had still decided to go on with this little game of his.
Ai nodded her head again.
"Do you have a lover or something like that before you accepted this marriage, I'm curious." Risa asked next.
Ai shook her head, much to Risa's dismay.
"Are you sure?" Risa asked for confirmation.
Ai nodded her head.
That was way out of Risa's expectation. But since things had went on to the other direction, Risa had no choice but to go with his play. "If that's the case. . . " Risa started off with the low voice. "I'm going to make you mine tonight. . . " Risa whispered in his normal voice against Ai's skin on her neck, sending chills of shiver down her spine.
'What's this feeling? What's this feeling of familiarity? Ai thought in her mind.
'Shouldn't she realised my voice already?' Risa wondered in his mind when he did not receive the reaction he expected from Ai. Since Ai did not give any response, Risa had decided to go one step deeper and do the thing he always did on Ai's neck. He licked the cold skin before planting soft kisses on it.
'Why? Why do I feel some much familiarity to this action? But I can't remember a thing. . . It's almost felt like I had . . . ' A wave of sadness washed within Ai, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably . She did not know why, but tears had began to flow down her cheeks.
'Why does this feel like I had betrayed someone important? Why? ' Risa felt the trembling of Ai's body and decided that he had went too far with his little prank. He stopped whatever he was doing and turned Ai around, only to find Ai crying. "Why are you crying?" Risa asked in panic.
"I'm sorry that I had spoilt your fun, Prince. I don't even know why am I crying. If you wish, you can continue with what you were about to do. . ." Ai mumbled in surrender as she looked into Risa's eyes.
"Wait a minute, Ai, it's me!" Risa shot his eyes wide open when he realised Ai did not recognise him at all.
"Do I know you ?"
And i did it again :X *hides*
Sorry for such a long wait, but it was a busy week in college. (and more to come in the upcoming weeks
)
Putting that aside, I'm sad to announce that, I will only be able to update once a week (the most I guess) since college is driving me crazy
But . . . Whenever I can, I will update
@ arisa03 : hehehe. they met now
and
heheh
@ Shiawase_Honoo : Nope, I'm not :X
@ risa_ai : It's impossible. . . >.<
@ rndmnwierd : Well, it's slightly longer this time round. . .But. . .I have a feeling. . .I'm going to get killed :X