The Scarlet Princess

1. Roses fall, but the thorns remain.

A beautiful young lady stands at the edge of a hill surrounded by roses, her long wavy red hair sways everytime the wind blows.

Thin lips hummed along with the chirping sound of the birds while her blue ocean eyes are fixed on the town below the hill.

Townspeople are busy with their usual morning routines while childrens happily run around in the town. She have always love looking at them because of how hardworking they are and the joy they find from spending time with their family, through thick and thin.

Just watching them is enough to make her feel warm and contented.

She closed her eyes and just enjoys the cold breeze of the morning and takes in the smell of the roses until someone called her.

"Big Sister Arin!"

Arin turned around when she heard her name and saw a young girl at the age of 5 running towards her.

Arin crouched down and reached out for the little girl and hugged her.

"Good morning, little Lily." Arin separate the hug and smiled at Lily while running her hand through Lily's silky pink hair.

The pinkette smiled widely and said "Good morning!"

Arin chuckled, "Did you run away from the maids again?"

There was a guilty expression on Lily's face, "I just don't want to attend those boring lessons!"

"You're a princess of Cathyria, Lily. Those lessons are important." Arin said.

Lily is a Princess and 3rd in line for the throne. She may like escaping from lessons but she is smarter than any girl at her age.

Lily pouted, "Big sister is also a princess, right? Why are you not attending any lessons?"

She crossed her arms and continued, "I will go to my lessons if Big Sister Arin also attend the lessons with me!"

Arin pinched Lily's cheeks gently and said, "I have no privilege to have any royal lessons, Lily. I don't have pure royal blood like you."

Arin looked down and thought of her mother.

"I see.. I understand." Lily said and saw Arin staring at the ground, as if its the most interesting thing to look at. Lily knew Arin is trying to hold back her tears.

Lily's small hands grabbed Arin's hands and squeezed lightly. "Are you sad?"

"No, don't worry. I'm not sad." Arin stopped looking down and smiled at her. "Anyway, lets go back to the castle, shall we?" Arin hold Lily's hand and stood up.

"Okay~"

Just as they were about to walk down the hill, Lily suddenly stopped on her track. "Ah wait! Bis Sister, please wait here for awhile."

Lily ran back and plucked out a rose and hand it to Arin.

"Here!"

Arin took the rose and thanked Lily.

"You know, you're just like a rose. Gentle and beautiful and may be crushed easily. They know that but they still have the thorns to protect themself. I know Big Sister is as strong as that no matter what others said." Lily grinned widely, trying to cheer Arin up.

Arin's eyes widened and she chuckled, "You're such a smart and kind little princess."

Arin ruffled Lily's hair, making Lily let out giggle and she shifted into her Cat form.

Royal members of Cathyria are able to turn into a small Cat at a young age and once they reached adult, their form turned bigger, similar to the 'zodiacs' Tiger but way smaller and weaker.

As for Arin, she have quite a unique case. She have turned 19 and yet she is still unable to have her adult Cat form. It's strange because she was able to train herself to transform into small Cat form when she was young.

Ever since her 18th birthday, her 'inner cat' have not respond to any of her calls.

"I see now you're getting better at shifting forms." Arin looks at Lily proudly as she run around in circles below Arin.

"Yeah! I will protect you with my stronger form once I reach adult, Big Sister!" She purred.

Arin laughed when she heard those sweet words coming from little Lily. "I can't always get protection from you, my cute little Lily. Big Sister will protect you as well."

Giggles and laughter came from the two of them as they make their way back to the castle.

Today is just like usual. Peaceful and quiet.

No one would have thought and aware of the danger that will arrive soon.

A/N : Thank you for reading!

I'm sorry if there is any grammar mistakes, English is not my first language so yeah. ^-^V