Ever After (BakuDeku)

Chapter Five

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," the woman gushed, grabbing the bag out of Katsuki's grip, her smile growing.

Katsuki glanced over his shoulder to where Eijiro was waiting, watching him with disapproval on his face. 

Looking back at the woman, the blond shrugged, "you said it was life or death, I figured it was important," he paused for a moment before adding with a frown, "it might be a little wet after the little dip in the lake."

The woman's smile didn't even falter at that, "Oh that's fine," she gestured to the material that the bag was made out of with the hand not holding it, "it's waterproof and sealed shut."

Katsuki raised an eyebrow, "so what exactly's in it?"

A mischievous glint entered her eyes as she opened the bag and pulled out...

A painting.

It was a painting of a woman, with long green hair cascading around her shoulders. She was very pretty, the ghost of a smile on her lips.

Katsuki stared at the canvas then looked back at the woman, slightly annoyed that he chased after a bandit and tumbled off a cliff to save a painting, "I thought you said it was important?"

The woman just smiled faintly, looking at the painting with love and affection, "a woman always is."

"Your highness," Eijiro started, appearing at Katsuki's side. The prince waited for the lecture but it didn't come, instead, the redhead gestured to the woman, "this is Signora Ashido, she's been summoned to the palace as the artist in residence."

"Mina Ashido," Katsuki repeated, feeling his jaw drop as he stared at the woman, dots connecting in his brain, "as in the famous painter?"

Mina shrugged, "depends on who you ask."

"You're the very founder of forward thinking while my mother is the queen of backward. Perhaps you can talk her into the 16th century," Katsuki rambled, feeling a tinge of hope.

Mina glanced at Eijiro quizzically, "Captain Kirishima, do translate."

"Prince Katsuki suffers from an arranged marriage, Signora," Eijiro explained before glancing at Katsuki and smirking, "among other things."

The blond narrowed his eyes but Eijiro just turned away, pretending as though he hadn't said anything.

~

"Are you crazy?" Ochako asked, turning away from the open window where she had been watching the Baron and Akumu buy a brooch from a vendor on the grounds below, "do you know what the punishment is for servants who dress above their station?"

Izuku rolled his eyes, slipping his arms into the satin vest.

"Five days in the stocks," the brunette continued, a worried look in her eyes.

"You'd do the same for me," Izuku remarked, looking at himself in the mirror, "admit it."

"Me?" Ochako questioned, "pretend to be a noble woman? I've never even been to court, and neither have you!"

The greenette grinned, "that's exactly why I won't be recognized."

"They'll never buy it," she refuted, "you're too nice."

"They'll never buy a servant with a bag full of gold coins either," Izuku countered, "I am Asui's only hope."

The thought made Izuku sad. 

Asui Tsuyu had been sold to a man in the America's to help pay off Aku's debt. The boat set sail that afternoon, but Izuku was determined to prevent them from taking her. He just hoped they'd accept the money that prince had left, in exchange for Tsuyu's freedom. 

"And the Baron?" Uraraka asked, "what'd you tell him?"

"I am picking wildflowers," Izuku smirked.

T.B.C

Ha, I managed to add a little TsuMina to this book...

Anyways, I DID inform y'all that this story is HIGHLY based on the movie Ever After so many of the quotes are similar to those in the movie...

~A