The Engagement (AiKou Kingdom AU)

I Will Be Your Knight

Chapter 2
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"My name is Kourin."

Kourin said to Aichi as they shake their hands, she looked at Aichi who was smiling brightly at her. Kourin tried to smile back but it was crooked.

As they let go of their hands, Aichi was the first to speak. "So you are Princess Kourin, it's nice to meet you! I hope we can be friends."

Kourin only nodded, Aichi sweat dropped. "Aha...  I-I guessed you don't speak that much..." He scratched his head and laughed nervously.

"No... not really..." Kourin said, shaking her head. "I was just... not in the mood to speak that much."

"Oh, I see." Aichi said, "But I think you should speak more! I mean, Father once told me that pretty girls should speak more because they hold such beautiful voices."

Kourin suddenly blushed, she was shocked by the blunette's words. "E-excuse me?"

Aichi blinked before realizing what he said, his face shaded with red. "I'm sorry! I did not mean to-"

"N-no don't sweat it! I'm just surprised you can easily say those things!" Kourin told him.

"Well... I admit that you're a pretty girl and... I... I must say you should speak and m-maybe smile more?" Aichi stated.

Kourin couldn't take her blushing anymore, she gripped the grass hardly and tore it, then threw the grasses onto Aichi's face. "A-Are you an idiot?! You shouldn't say that!" Kourin yelled.

Aichi wiped the grass off his face and nervously smiled, then went near Kourin. "I'm really, really sorry for that, princess." Aichi apologized and bowed.

Kourin then sighed and crossed her arms, she became quiet again as she stared at the night sky.

Aichi just looked at her, before looking at the flowers around them. Then an idea struck into his mind, he smirked as he took some flowers.

Kourin heard some humming and she saw that Aichi was doing something, she looked at him as he played with the flowers and smiling to himself.

'What is he doing?' She asked herself.

Then, Aichi turned to her and stood up, he put something on top of Kourin's head and Kourin realized what it was.

It was a flower crown of white carnations and red roses.

Aichi then knelt to his knee and posed like a knight called by his highness. "Princess Kourin of the United Sanctuary. I, Aichi of the Royal Paladin clan, swears to be your knight from this day onwards until the day I die."

Kourin blushed once again, but she decided to go along with Aichi's play. She stood from her seat and smiled, she saw a stick and took it, then rested it on both arms of Aichi just like what they do on coronations of knights.

"Then, I accept you to be my knight in shining armor, Aichi." Kourin said.

Aichi took a look at the young princess and saw her smiling, he blushed at the sight of her. He was right about thinking of her as a beautiful girl.

"You are really beautiful, princess." Aichi told Kourin.

Kourin hit Aichi's head with a stick lightly, "Stop flirting!"

Aichi laughed and so did Kourin, they sat together and looked at each other. Aichi raised a hand and formed a pinky.

"Princess, I mean it. One day I'll be your knight in shining armor, I will save you and protect you from harm. I promise." Aichi said.

Kourin then nodded in agreement, holding out her hand and they made a pinky promise. "One day, Aichi."

"One day."

Later on, the two children played and Aichi would teach the princess on how to make flower crowns. They didn't realize how the time had passed, not until someone called Aichi.

"Aichi! It's time to go!" They both heard a woman's voice, Aichi knew it belonged to his mother. He turned around and saw his mother smiling at him.

"Hello Mother." Aichi greeted her.

His mother smiled and saw Kourin, she got quite surprised and she smiled at her. Kourin smiled back.

"Princess Kourin, it is nice to meet you."

"Hello ma'am." Kourin greeted back.

Aichi glanced at Kourin and gave a sad smile, he went over her and took off a brooch from his wear. Aichi held Kourin's hand and gave her the brooch.

"Princess... I swear I will come back. Then, one day I will become your knight." Aichi whispered to her.

"I will wait for your return, Aichi." Kourin held the brooch close to her.

Aichi and Kourin waved their goodbyes to each other and left.
-
During the ride back home, Aichi's mother suddenly spoke. "Aichi, you know, you're the first one to make the princess smile after a while."

"Eh?" Aichi was quite confused.

"I mean, ever since the former king and queen passed away, the princesses were sad. And the princess Kourin was hit the most. She rarely smile and talk to other people than her sisters, the King, and her servant." His mother explained.

"So does that mean..." Aichi thought for a second, "I... made her happy?"

"Yes you did, dear." His mother replied.

Then, Aichi heard his father chuckle, he looked at his father who was smiling at him.

"Did you do something with the princess?" His father asked.

"W-well..." Aichi blushed a bit, "I swore to be her knight, I gave her one of my brooch and... I made flower crowns for her."

"I see... Shizuka," His father looked at his mother.

"Yes?" Shizuka asked.

"Your son might want to be the next leader of the clan." He said.

"Is that true, Aichi?" Shizuka looked at Aichi.

"Y-yes, Mother!" Aichi quickly replied.

"Aichi son, you did say you're going to be the princess's knight," Aichi's father said.

"Yes!"

"Then you're going to a training with me when you get older."

Aichi's eyes widened, then he smiled widely. "Thank you Father!"

Aichi then looked at the palace that was far from them through the carriage's window.

'Just wait princess, I will be your knight!'

-
END OF CHAPTER 2