The Princess and The Devil - Karma Akabane x OC

S E V E N T Y - O N E: HIME'S TIME

Normal's POV

A week after Hime returned to SESR

Today, is just like any other day. The principal promises that it will be her last time talking about the horrible lese majesty that has killed her country's royal reign. Hime truly hopes that today will be the last time she will ever speak about it. As she sits in the small conference room of her school with the president of USA and the King of Saudi Arabia, she knows it wont differ from the conferences she had the past week. Usually, their questions are like: How did the lese-majesty start? Who initiated and lead it? Why are you known as Hime Sakuragi now? Why did your father step down? Are always asked.

"Greetings," The principal of the school bows at today's guests. "This is the previous crowned princess of Japan, Princess Higanbara Sakuragi but she has decided to go with a new alias – which I hope both of you would happily address her as such – Princess Hime." Hime took this chance to curtsy at both the presidents as to which they reciprocate her with a respectful bow. "The president and vice president of the student council and I will be here with Princess Hime to observe the colloquy. We and Princess Hime will have the veto to end the colloquy early. If there are no objections on your side, your 90 minutes will start now." The principal said before he, along with Nick and Chen took their seat next to Hime. Hime had told both Nick and Chen that they don't have to be around if they don't want to but they insisted they go with her. Something about being an emotional support.

Hime still remembers the time they have a colloquy with one of the presidents. The whole dialogue thing is still new to her and she didn't know what to expect but it was certainly not jibe. The usually calm and cool Duke of Cambridge had ousted the president when he said something that wasn't related to the lese-majesty. "Princess, I heard thet your real mother, Shiragiku Sakuragi – peace be upon her beautiful soul – kills people for a living while living as an architect. She had deceived the emperor with her starry eyes and birthed you. And then, when she died – killed by a comrade in the same line of work as she, your father stoop as low as to marry her sister. And then she went crazy because she realised that she can never have the same love as her sister did. Whored around, didn't she? Akahana Fujisaki? She's a harlot who slept with anyone during her many fashion weeks. Are you even sure your little brother is really your little broth-" And that's when Nick steps in. Honestly, if it werent for Nick, she would have socked the old man's nose. It was the first time, she ends the dialogue session within 10 minutes it started.

And because of one incident, both Chen and Nick couldn't let her go alone despite Hime reassured them again and again that she is fine with it. But she doesn't have the heart to put any strength into her words when she said that she'll be fine alone. Morever, both the president and vice president have been good to her.

"Princess Hime, please tell us how did the lese-majesty start? Did you notice any signs of weird behaviours from the workers in your palace?" The Canadian president asks, leaning in towards Hime, with both his elbows on his lap.

"It started with a gunshot and then everything went so fast afterwards. The previous corps which was established solely to protect the crown were the ones who turned on us. Murdered their own family in cold blood. It was a well thought plan in my opinion. It must have taken decades to perfect a plan like that. But I think that it could've happened to anyone. We were just lucky that the leader who commenced the lese-majesty stopped at just us." Hime would say, every time. She has never disclosed the fact that her own step mother has tried to kill her despite there are some questions that has cornered her into that direction. "The fallen Empress Akahana was a fine lady. She has carried Japan on her shoulders with her fashion brand and nothing more. It was a shame that we couldn't save her." Some might hear the monotone of her voice when she speaks of her step mother but none said a word.