Virtue (Temari, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Tenten) SLOW UPDATES

King's Chosen 2

PART TWO: HINATA

KING'S CHOSEN

CHAPTER TWO

Easy as Iruka, her dear uncle, made it seem, Hinata found it rather hard to stand with her head tall whilst she was surrounded by more noble women than she had ever seen in her life. They were all dainty and had efflorescent pale skin, donning brightly coloured clothes embroidered with family crests that spoke greatly of their wealth and power. They all had big and beautiful headpins and luxurious well crafted parasols. Hinata paled in comparison to them. The dress she wore was one gifted to her by her village women. The material was not as dull as her usual clothes but it was not as bright as the ones she beheld in this contest. Her parasol was cheap and her headpin was a simple one crafted diligently by her uncle.

Hinata feared the worst. What was she even doing here? Surely the king shall see her a eyesore and demand for her to be thrown out of his gates. She is not fit to be queen, what was she thinking? What was Iruka thinking, what was her whole village thinking?! Whilst in the midst of her self depreciating thoughts, Hinata did not sense a body approaching until the shadow was cast over her. She looked up and a gasp fell from her lips for before her stood the most beautiful woman she had ever cast her eyes upon.

The woman's hair was up in a beautiful bun and adorned with several big and wonderfully crafted hair pins. It was pale and shiny, not even a little bit like Hinata's own dull midnight dark hair. The woman was a pale as fresh milk, her round rosy face sitting upon a very slender neck. Her fingers were long and delicate as she held open a beautiful bamboo and silk fan. Her clothes, oh gods, the worth of her clothes alone could feed Hinata and her uncle for months, not to mention the array of precious jewels adorning her body. She smelled of expensive spices and perfumes. To even a blind person, this woman was wealthy. Hinata knew her not but she must be from a very important family in the kingdom because of the regard at which every person around treated her with. What did she want with Hinata though?

"You, maid. Hold my parasol up for me for the sun damages my delicate skin."

And just like that whatever trance Hinata was in was broken. The dark haired woman knew that she was poor and she was just like dried fish compared to the heavenly beauty before her but she would not accept anybody talking down to her. That is not the way Iruka trained her growing up. Hinata gave a small tense smile.

"I am afraid you're mistaken miss. I am not a maid."

The beautiful woman looked surprised. "You are not?"

"Yes I am not." Hinata affirmed.

The woman's face contorted into a sneer that was unfitting for a pretty thing such as she. "And what, pray tell, might you be?"

Other noble ladies had gathered behind her by then, to make a spectacle of the commoner vying for the king's hand, Hinata knew. At that moment it was difficult to but Hinata straightened her back, stepping up to meet the unknown noble woman face to face. "I am a contestant seeking his majesty's hand in marriage. My name is Umino Hinata and you shall call me by it."

There was a moment or two of stunned silence before the women burst into laughter. Hinata's ears turned red from embarrassment but she'd be damned if she let it show to these women.

"Did you hear that? A mere commoner seeks to marry the king of the entire Fire kingdom!" The beautiful woman's voice was filled with scorn. "Why this is no place for you my dear. You are merely a rat in the presence of the king. Like other commoners like you have done, you should have stayed in whatever trenches you crawled out from and allowed the important people like us do their things. You are nothing but a nuisance, a mere dog seeking for attention. The only attention you would get is the ridicule you deserve so take my advice now sweetheart and go back to the poor village from whence you came."

With that the beautiful pale haired woman spun around and left Hinata to ponder on her words. Hinata was close to tears but she tried not to let them fall. She would not take this embarrassment sitting down, Hinata decided in her mind. Whoever that woman was, Hinata was going to show her that something good could come out of a commoner such as she.

By the time Hinata sorted out her emotions, a servant had appeared to direct the queen prospects to the chamber in which they would be tested. All the women followed the servant in an orderly file, each holding a parasol in hand to shield from the brutal sun. Hinata's parasol was a cheap thing designed to look just as fancy upon first glance but it kept the sun out just as well. Along the way an old woman sat with a weighty looking bag by her side. She begged the women that passed for assistance but none of them helped.

"I am sorry elder but I'm afraid I mustn't miss this appointment." Said the polite ones among them while the others simply ignored her or even snapped at her.

Hinata gazed worriedly at the elder. What was she doing in the king's compound? Was she a servant? Hinata was torn between the decision to help the elder or to politely decline her as a few ladies had done before her. She also did not want to miss the first test. Hinata quickly decided that she would alert a servant's attention to the elder but there was none in sight. She bit her lip. To stay behind and help the elder meant that the other women would go before her and leave her behind. Having no direction to the test chamber she would be lost and eventually miss the test. However, she could not just leave the poor woman out in the sun with her heavy bag. Hinata sighed as she made her decision.

"Might I be of assistance ma'am?"

The old woman looked up in shock at Hinata, stunned that a queen prospect actually risked her first test to help her. "Yes my maiden. I am old and my poor back aches from carrying this heavy bag. Could you assist me to the servants quarters please?" She asked.

"Of course ma'am!" Hinata replied with a smile. "However I'm afraid I do not know the way."

"Oh don't worry my dear, I would guide you." The old woman smiled back at Hinata.

"Wonderful." Hinata said as she picked up the woman's bag, surprised to find out that it wasn't as heavy as she had assumed. Well strength did leave with age, Hinata thought as she lifted the bag in one hand and held her parasol over the old woman with the other.

"My you are so kind!" The elder exclaimed as the shade settled on her.

"It pleases me to help you ma'am." Hinata genuinely replied and they started their journey the opposite direction of where the other contestants were going. Hinata was not blind to their sneers of mockery as she chose to help the old lady instead of going ahead for the test. She sighed. She swore to teach that obnoxious noble woman a lesson but here she was doing just the opposite. Literally. Hinata broke her sad thoughts with a smile. She wouldn't rest until the old lady found assistance anyway, and Iruka would be proud of her for not forsaking a person in trouble. She was happy with herself.

"Tell me young miss," Hinata's thoughts were broken by the old woman beside her. "Don't you think it is rather foolish of you to forsake your appointment with the king in order to assist me? Surely this means that if you were to be queen you would forsake your duties to sate your selfish needs."

Hinata blinked owlishly at the old lady who had stopped walking to stare at her. It was unnerving to say the least. However, rather than being disturbed, Hinata was mildly offended. To think she risked her entire future for this ungrateful old bat.

***

I updated, let's throw a party!

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