Tea Time

Anna found herself pouring another cup of tea for the old queen, Kino Asakura who had taken a liking to her. For the past 3 days she had been invited over by the former queen of Kasai to join her during her lonely tea time. Old King Yohmei had still not yet recovered from his arthritis and was spending the whole day resting in the royal chamber and being cared for by at least five young pretty palace maids. The aged queen seemed to be annoyed at the current setup but this was something she had to bear for the sake of her husband's fast recovery.

"I would make him pay when he's already well," she told the blond girl. "I'm sorry for asking so much of your time. I know your duty is to my grandson."

"It's fine, Your Highness," Anna took the usual seat across the queen. She appreciated the invitation to a hot cup of tea for she was feeling a little cold since morning. "Our tutoring session is over and I have already cleaned his room. Besides my company is unwanted since his fiancée is keeping him busy all the time."

The old queen chuckled, "Do I sense a hint of jealousy in your voice?"

The blond girl blushed. "Oh no, Your Majesty. It's just that they were always inseparable to the point that I always carry out our lessons with both of them in the room. Princess Tamao is whispering the answers to the prince every now and then." Anna recalled how she angrily slammed the book down the table and walked out of the prince's room earlier. Their tutoring session ended abruptly because of this. She thought she heard Prince Yoh called her as she closed the door of his room but she was not in the mood to listen to his apology.

"Hmmm… Tamao is quite a nuisance then?"

"I'd rather prefer that the prince be fully concentrated with his studies."

"I'm sorry if Tamao's causing you trouble…" the old queen sighed. "She must have taken my words seriously."

Anna gave her a questioning look.

The old royal continued, "Tamao's not like that before. She was a timid little girl whom I thought was very gullible. I did not approve of the family's decision to betroth her to the next heir of the kingdom but there were no other decent ones to choose from. I told her once that if she wanted to become queen, she must live up to our expectations. Whenever I see her around the palace, I always advise her to toughen up and carry herself with a little pride. She must have interpreted it a little differently."

No wonder she is like that. She must have been afraid to lose her fiancé that's why she is so clingy to him, thought Anna.

"No matter how sorry I am for turning her into what she is now, it's already too late. I have to accept what she had become. After all, she is part of the family and she loves my grandson…"

Anna could feel the old queen's sincerity. She is not bad as I thought she was.

"Perhaps that is the magic of love. You'd be willing to change or give up a part of yourself for someone you think is worth everything." Queen Kino smiled. "I gave up being a headmistress of a school in our town just to marry Yohmei. Have you ever done something outrageous for someone, Anna?"

The blond girl thought for awhile. The only crazy thing I did is to become a palace servant to the prince of an enemy kingdom. But I did it to save myself…

"Don't tell me you have never fallen in love with someone yet?" teased the aged queen when Anna gave no response.

"I did…" The blond girl said reluctantly, "when I was younger…"

"Is he a childhood friend of yours?"

"Yes…" Anna finally confessed to someone that she was secretly in love with her best friend.

"So what happened? Why didn't it work out?" Old Queen Kino asked with keen interest.

"Well, he left me for three years and he never wrote to me. I thought he had totally forgotten about me. I guess all my affections towards him were replaced with anger." This was also the first time that she had admitted to someone how she was deeply hurt when he had left her.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Perhaps he had his reasons. Why not give him a chance?"

"Maybe I should…" Anna looked down at her tea cup which was almost empty. But by the time I get out of this place perhaps he has completely forgotten about me. There's no reason he would think that I'm still alive. She poured herself another hot cup for she was feeling cold again.

"Grandma!" Prince Yoh burst through the door leading to Queen Kino's favorite balcony where she's spending her tea break with Anna. He panted heavily and seemed to be in a rush. "I'm sorry… for disturbing your tea time… but can I… borrow Anna from you?"

"You have disrupted an interesting conversation Yoh," the old royal answered him sternly. "…but you may do so for she is at your disposal."

Anna stood up and thanked the old queen for inviting her again. She then went over to the prince who instantly apologized to her, "I'm sorry if we had offended you in some way… Mother took Tamao for shopping at the central town. We can continue with our tutoring session."

As soon as they were out in the hallway, the blond girl folded her arms and glared at the prince, "I don't feel like teaching you anymore."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Anna! It won't happen again," the prince bowed down. He could feel his personal maid eyeing him from head to foot.

"Come."

Anna had uttered the word with extreme calmness that he was sure she was planning on doing something sinister to him. They ended up walking towards the training grounds. Yoh wanted to sink to his feet.

"50 rounds and make it quick!" the blond girl pushed him when he merely gaped at the dusty ground.

The prince sweated hard as he jogged under the scorching heat of the afternoon sun. He swore to himself that he'll ask Tamao not to bother him anymore during his tutoring sessions with Anna. He glanced over the tree where his personal maid was staying to check how she's doing. Before she left his room earlier, he had tried to tell her to take a good rest first for she did not look so well but she had already slammed the door behind her.

The Kasai heir approached his personal maid by the time he had finished his fifty rounds of non-stop jogging. He found her lying down on the ground probably sleeping due to boredom.

"Anna, I'm finished…" Yoh whispered audibly but the blond girl did not budge.

"Anna?" He touched her cheek to gently slap her awake but her hot skin had told him of her feverish state.

The prince carried her in his arms and hurriedly walked towards the palace ignoring the weird stares he received from the servants that he had run into. He gently laid the blond girl on his large soft bed then took a basin of warm water and a towel from the bath room. He wiped her face and arms before placing the damp towel on her forehead.

"You don't look so scary when you're asleep, Princess Anna…" Yoh smiled as he gazed at her then he slapped his forehead in embarrassment. He would have received a good spanking had the blond girl been conscious at that time.

"Don't…" a soft whisper came out of Anna's lips.

"I'm not doing anything. I swear!" Yoh raised his hands as if proving his innocence.

However, the girl did not respond to him and continued murmuring in her sleep.

The Kasai heir sighed in relief. She was just sleep talking after all. She's probably having a dream or a nightmare. He listened attentively so he could understand what she was saying.

"Don't… leave… me…"

Prince Yoh hesitantly took her hand. He blushed furiously as he wrapped his fingers over hers.

"Don't… leave me… "

"I won't Anna…" he whispered to her.

"Don't go... Ren…"

He felt a slight pang on his chest. Why is he suddenly wishing for her to call out his name instead?