May had no clue why they grew up in wealth. Her family was just workers in recent years, in odd careers like teaching and gardening, so why they became a distinguished noble family, she had no clue, and neither did her parents. But they enjoyed the life, not knowing they danced on the grave of May's late aunt, who had died of a mysterious accident years ago. No one would guess of the woman's relations with King Aine, their intertwined and complicated relationship that would lead to her murder. King Aine, the ferocious, still felt the guilt, giving all the wealth and status to her family in her stead, which included frequent visits to the castle. Aine was caught off guard by the little girl that showed up, she was Fransis's daughter, and yet- she looked so much like her aunt. It was frightening, and with each new visit, she only grew to look more and more like her. May never realized this would soon cause her trouble, the king growing more creepy with his advances to her, his obsessed eyes unable to tare away from her. She tried to tell her parent, but they refused to believe her. Why would the king be interested in a little girl? Why would he call her by her dead aunt's name?
She was fed up. She hated the castle, and grew bitter to the world. It was hard to keep nice to anyone. Not when it felt the world was against her. But that's when she saw him. When running away from the king, cursing the lotus kingdom and herself- He appeared.
A boy, her age, fencing sword drawing to the dummy as he pocked it, bending and dancing as he did it. He looked so pretty with his long hair and glowing eyes, a smile on his face as he laughing and practiced his fencing. A woman with pink hair sat to the side near him, a book in her lap. "And the Prinital Rule?" She spoke out loud. The boy thought for a moment and nodded. "Um No law abiding by rules of the delicate can properly be put in place unless there is a majority among the people?" He questioned if he was correct. The pink hair women smiled. "Correct!" She spoke. Akitara did a cheer to himself with a smile. May looked on shocked. That was the prince? How could such a young boy be so... pretty? She felt bitter towards him. He was the kings son. Would he treat her just as bad as well. A monster.
May swallowed hard, her feet carrying her across the dark hallway, the blanket huddled around her. She felt like she was going to pass out as she sneakily tried to make her way back to her parent's room. Why did he call her out so late? Again. Just to sit there as he watched. Make her say things, touch her and smell her. The chill ran up her spine. No. She couldn't cry again. She couldn't. She did it every time. She jumped as she heard the sound of footsteps. They were running. May gasped a second when she saw the running steps approach.
It was the prince. He was out of breathe. He look frightened. He looked around quickly before he locked eyes with May. May's heart dropped. He looked to the side of the hallway. The windows at the top only lit half a view with what little moon light they had. Leaving a lot of room for shadow. There was another sound of footsteps coming. "Akitara! Come out!" He was mean, and loud. Akitara's face paled as he ran towards May, quickly grabbing her and ducking for the shadow part of the hallway. He clasped a hand over her mouth to keep them hidden. May jumped and was about to cry out. But there was something in his eyes. It was fear. The same fear she had in that moment. She stayed quiet.
Suddenly a woman appeared. It was the same nurse she had seen before. Pink hair, large chest. She looked angry. "My lord where did he go?" She spoke. Suddenly an older man was right next to her. He had this big grin on his face. The nurse pinched the skin between her eyes. "He was fine last week." She growled. The older man shrugged.
"Maybe because it was a different animal?" He suggested. Misaki shook her head and sighed.
"Just find him." She told him and made her way out of the hallway, the man close behind her.
Akitara released a breath with relief. And as soon as the people were gone, May pushed akitara hard and away from her. "Get off me!" She shouted and hugged herself. Super angry. Akitara put his hands up in defense. "Sorry Sorry!" He said and put his hands together in a prayer like formation. "Forgive me. I just didn't need you telling them where I was."
May crossed her arms and sat against the wall, looking away from him. "Don't you dare touch me ever again." She hissed. Akitara arched an eyebrow but leaned against the wall as well, a good distance away from her. He was confused. "Why?" He asked.
"Cause I hate you." She told him. He was silent for a bit. And May felt a little bad. She did indeed hate him, but maybe saying it out loud wasn't the best. When May turned to look at him, she was surprised. He was looking up at the cobblestone above the doorway across from them. He face seemed peaceful. He didn't look upset.
"Ya. That seems to be the case with everyone." He said simply. Rather then sad at the idea, he seemed a little at peace with it. May glared at the ground. Well if everyone thought so, then that must be the case. Why was he still here? She didn't wanna talk to him anymore. He turned and rested his hands on the floor. "It's cause of my dad right?" He asked.
May was shocked. Ya. It was. How did he know? She didn't answer but he continued anyways. "People always hate me because of my dad. They think I'm like his carbon copy. Like just because I look like him, I'm the same person. And I have to be punished for it. Because of that demon."
That's just like me. May thought. Guilt instantly pooled her stomach. She was just as bad. After spending years of her life trying to convince the king she was nothing like her aunt, and barely knew her. And here she was, dooming this kid her age to something he was never a part of. And it made her feel better when he called the king a demon. He hated the king too. It helped her feel better. She wanted to apologize. But she was still stubborn.
"I'll make you like me." He told her.
May jumped and looked at him shocked. The kid was smiling. "The Kingdom of Lotus is going to be so cool when I'm king." He explained. May archedl and eyebrow and huddled herself together in her blanket, doubtful.
"I'm leaving this kingdom as soon as I'm eighteen." She told him. She needed to get away. She needed to get away from the king. No matter what. He would probably hunt her down. But she didn't care. She just wanted to imagine some sort of freedom.
Akitara pouted. "That's a shame. I hope that by then I can show you what kind of Kingdom I plan to build." he told her. May looked and put her knees to her chest. "I wanna make a kingdom everyone can be proud of. Where everyone is happy and doesn't have to worry anymore." He spoke. He seemed happy to talk about it. May was stunned in shock. Akitara grabbed her hand with this big cheeky smile.
"I'm going to save everyone from the evil demon. Don't worry."
May's cheeks suddenly flushed red as her heart skipped a beat in her chest. He was.. going to save her? The kingdom? From that terrible man. It's like he knew exactly what she was thinking. How could he be so positive? For the first time in what seemed like forever. She felt this new feeling inside her. Hope. For that little prince with so much ambition.
"I'm sorry." May finally spoke out. Akitara looked confused. She continued. "I shouldn't have said I hated you without knowing you." She told him.
Akitara tilted his head and laughed. "It's fine. Thanks for the apology." He told her. May looked around.
"Why were you running away?" She asked.
Akitara looked at the ground. "I don't wanna do training." He told her.
May was confused. Training? Like the kind she saw him do earlier? But it's so late. What a stupid reason for running away. Akitara swallowed but smiled. "I'm just complaining. It's stupid." He tells her with a chuckle. "But now I don't wanna go back cause I'm going to be punished." He jokes. May gives him a sympathetic look. It must be pretty hard being a prince.
"I don't wanna go back to the room." He spoke, suddenly emotionless it barely under his breath. May didn't hear him. "Huh?" She asked, wanting him to repeat that. Suddenly there was a smile to replace any doubts she ever had about him looking sad.
"Are you feeling better?" Akitara asked her. May nodded slowly. Was she that apparent? He was so sweet. She blushed and tucked her head into her blanket. Embarrassed. She glanced at him. He was just so good looking. How was a child so cute looking?
There was foot steps and suddenly. The pink haired girl was in front of them. She had found them. She was angry at first, but took a deep breath and her face change. "Kitty! You worried me." She pouted. Akitara was up in seconds and walking towards her. He pouted. "Sorry Misaki." he said sadly. Misaki got one knee and wrapped her arms around the prince.
"Remember what I told you? If you just obey orders we don't have to be scared." She told him. Akitara tightened his fist and his eyes lost their luster as he hugged her back tight. "Sorry." he said again, like a robot. Misaki looked to May. She had on this innocent smile.
"You should go to your room. It's late." Misaki told her. May looked to Akitara who was just staring up at Misaki. He must really care about her. Just seeing the way he looked at her. May nodded to the woman without saying a word. Misaki nodded and took Akitara by the hand and lead him down the hall, May watching them go.
Suddenly Akitara stopped. "Wait!" he told Misaki and let go of her hand to run to May. He stood in front of her, breathing hard. May was in shock but he looked up with a smile. He held out his pinky. "I forgot to promise you!" he told her.
May was confused. But he took a deep breath. "I promise that I'll make a kingdom you'll be proud of."
May's breath was snatched from her. Slowly, she reached out and linked their pinkies together. He showed his teeth at her and her heart was racing. He shook the pinkies. and she stared at their hands together. She could have sworn... he his wrists. Were they bruises? Or maybe just shadows from the darkness around them. "See you later!" He told her and ran back to Misaki.
May stood there as she realized that was the moment her feelings had started for the prince.
"Isn't this exciting?" May's mother spoke as she crossed the grand living room. May's father agreed. "The King is offering you an elite position in the castle staff. You'll get to work first hand right next to the board. This is huge." He tells May. May sits at the table, fear pooling in her stomach. Her pocket felt heavy with the paper inside it. She didn't wanna work next to the king. She knew what he wanted from her. It made her sick. But did she have the heart to tell her parents.
If she was in the castle... would she see him more?
She took a deep breath and took out the paper. "Mom, Dad. I'll work at the castle. But not as a first hand." She unfolded the paper. "I wanna be a maid." She told them.
They were in shock.
I'm coming. So wait for me. I wanna be by your side. I wanna help you build the kingdom you promised me.
May found herself crying in the maid's closet. She was messing up so much being a maid. And Aine clawed at her every chance he got. She was thinking of giving up. Did Akitara even remember her? His promise? Was she stupid for thinking someone like him could ever even glance at a girl like him? She sniffled and suddenly heard foot steps behind her. She turned around surprised.
"Get out of there. You're the new girl right? If you stay any longer you might smell like bleach cleaner."
