The Invitation

Anna sure is grumpy today.

Prince Yoh glanced at his personal maid who was standing with the rest of the palace servants at the side as they waited for the royal family to finish eating dinner.

The blond girl had been like that after she left his twin brother's room and caught him prying on them by the door. He quickly apologized and promised that he won't do it again though he was ready to barge into the room when Hao was about to kiss her. His musings of Anna came to a painful halt when Tamao pinched him on the arm.

"Yoh, you weren't paying any attention!"

"I'm sorry…" he rubbed soothingly the red mark. "What was it you're saying?" He remembered vaguely about Horo-Horo's sister giving his fiancée a letter.

"Tsk tsk. You should focus your eyes on your future wife and not on someone else, twin brother." Prince Hao smirked. "Your behavior is suggestive of an adulterous behavior. What a bad example for your subjects."

"Thanks for your concern brother-in-law but I'm confident my husband-to-be has his eyes only on me." Tamao flashed a firm look on the person beside her.

Prince Hao mumbled a word that sounded like 'ignorant' while he chewed a piece of steak.

"As I was saying before, Pirika handed me an invitation from the Royal Patch Academy. They will be conducting a Friendship Ball in a week's time and had asked Kasai to send four representatives to attend the gathering of monarchies from around the world."

"Sounds interesting My Dear… The children should go.. " Queen Keiko placed her hand over her husband's.

King Mikihisa thought about replenishing the gold and silver coins in the treasure room first before they could make any unnecessary expenses. Nevertheless, business with Kouri had been doing great lately and this would be a good opportunity to form an alliance with foreign kingdoms.

"Yes, they would go. Let's make preparations for it."

"Thank you Uncle Mikihisa!" Tamao exclaimed. It was her first time to attend a prestigious ball in a foreign land. She had already contacted the royal seamstress to sew the perfect dress for her even if the king had not yet approved of their attendance.

"I expect you to act regally in that event." The king said sternly. "I don't want you tarnishing the Asakura name especially you, Yoh."

The Kasai heir lowered his gaze. He could clearly see the Asakura family's heirloom pinned on his chest. The small star-shaped brooch had been passed down to the heirs of the kingdom for generations. Whoever wears it must live up to the Asakura name. He was up to the challenge but the current king did not seem convinced.

"Yes father…" he answered meekly.

"King Miki, if I may... " the other Kasai prince raised a finger.

"Please continue Hao…"

"The invitation said that we can send four representatives to the ball. Currently, there are only three of us going. Tamao would naturally be Yoh's escort while I, on the other hand, will go alone. I would like to have someone accompany me, too."

"I'm sure your fiancée will gladly join you when you meet her there," Queen Keiko smiled unaware of the news.

"My Queen," the king cleared his throat. "The arranged marriage had been cut off. Sorry I forgot to tell you."

"Oh… but Jeanne's such a sweet girl.. Who would you be taking then?" the queen asked her son.

"If it is not so much to ask… I wish to take my tutor, Anna to the ball."

Tamao dropped her silver utensils on the plate. Prince Yoh choked on his red wine. The palace maid, Kanna stopped herself from strangling the girl next to her while the rest of the servants stared at their blond colleague who was staring disbelievingly at the long-haired prince.

What are you thinking, you pervert?! Anna wanted to melt away from the unsolicited attention that she was getting.

"But she's not a princess! How can she represent the kingdom?" Tamao stood up in anger.

"Oh look who's talking. Your blood is not as thick as ours." Prince Hao sneered.

"Don't stand up if everybody's not yet done with his meal," Old Queen Kino warned her.

The pink-haired girl grudgingly sat down.

"Hao, that's not a nice way to talk to your relative," the former Kasai queen berated her grandson.

"Distant relative is the correct term, oldie," The prince casually replied.

"Hao, that's not the proper way to address your grandmother," King Mikihisa tried to control his temper.

"Father, please be open-minded about it. Yes, Anna is a commoner but do royal bloods have the sole right to represent the kingdom?" The other Kasai prince eyed his father whose face was hidden behind the bird mask. He couldn't remember what those scars looked like but he could clearly recall how he had inflicted them on him.

"You have once told me that the true representatives of this kingdom are the people of Kasai. By sending a commoner to the ball, we are delivering this important message to the rest of the monarchies. Here in Kasai, we are treating everyone equally."

Wow, brother is really good. Prince Yoh admired his twin from across the table.

"Uncle Mikihisa, " Tamao wouldn't lose to her arrogant brother-in-law, "that reasoning is only right if the commoner who you will send is of exemplary character, someone fit to represent the kingdom. In Anna's case, she's not worthy."

"Not all royal bloods are of exemplary character, too, Tamao. Perhaps you should give her the benefit of the doubt," Old Queen Kino responded to the blond girl's defense.

"I agree with grandma and brother," Prince Yoh beamed at his personal maid who's emitting a dark aura from the palace servants' line up. "Anna maybe a commoner but she surely embodies a good citizen of Kasai."

All this talk just to go to a party. King Mikihisa sighed.

"Very well, Anna will go to the ball. That's my final decision."

After the Kasai royal family dinner...

"Anna, wait up!" Prince Yoh rushed to the blond girl who was on her way to the servants' chamber.

"Don't come near, Yoh. I am in a bad position right now. The other palace maids are not so happy about my special treatment." Anna did not even turn around to look at him.

"I'm sorry but I only did that to help you…" the prince paced after her.

"I know."

"You do?" They stopped at the first step of the staircase that leads down to the sleeping quarters.

"I was angry at first but after thinking about it, coming to the ball is really beneficial for me. If representatives from all kingdoms will be attending, then there is a high possibility that Ren will be there. After all, he is a student of the Royal Patch Academy. I'll find him and ask him to bring me home."

"Yes… That is my idea, too. I'm sorry I can't bring you back myself."

"Don't be apologetic on your failure to fulfill your promise to me. I'll let it pass."

That did not sound reassuring. Prince Yoh thought.

"You should worry more about your twin brother. Don't let him overshadow you."

Anna pressed her finger on the star-shaped gold pin on his chest. "Have you forgotten what this stands for?"

Yoh shook his head and repeated his tutor's previous lecture. "The star symbolizes the king of Kasai. The grooves that form a six-pointed tree at the center of the star represent the kingdom. It is a reminder to the king that Kasai should always be at the center of his heart."

"And why was this given to you?"

"Because I am the rightful heir to the throne."

"Good. Now, don't let anyone especially your brother steal the kingship from you, Yoh. He might not love the kingdom as much as you do."

"My brother is not like that."

"How can you be sure? You have witnessed our confrontation yourself! I do not trust him."

"He is still my brother, Anna… He grew apart from the family that's why he's a little bit… unpleasant."

"You're so naïve, Yoh. There's no point in arguing with you. I'm going to sleep," She scurried downstairs in her frustration.

The stars shone brightly that night. There was a multitude of them sparkling like shards of a broken mirror. Prince Hao marveled at the lovely sight. Stargazing at the rooftop was his usual past time in Mont St. Michel. He brought the hobby back home but the palace rooftop was so high and steep that he gladly settled himself on the balcony of his elegant room. He was enjoying his quiet time when a soft knock came from the other side of the door.

"Go away! I'm trying to rest," he called out.

"Your Highness, it's me…"

Prince Hao opened the door.

The blue-haired woman invited herself into the prince's chamber. Prince Hao roamed the corridor with his eyes. The two royal guards stationed at the far end of the hall seemed to be both snoozing on the job. It was safe to accept unwelcomed visitors.

The prince gently closed the door from behind him. Then furrowed his eyebrows at the intruder of his privacy.

"My dear Kanna, what brings you here?" he tried to mask his irritated voice.

"Why did you choose her over me?" Bitter tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"What are you talking about Kanna?"

"I did everything for you. I had risked my life for you but you neglected my feelings for that bitch!"

"Don't be carried away. I'm doing this because it's needed. That Anna and my brother, they seemed to be hiding a secret."

Kanna wiped away her tears. "A secret?"

"Yes, I'm dubious about Anna's character. I want to find out more that's why I'm keeping her within an arm's reach. Perhaps you could help me again?"

"Yes, my loyalties have and will always lie with you, the true king of Kasai. I'll assist you my beloved Prince Hao in any way I can…"

"Thank you Kanna… Maybe you can retrieve a clue among Anna's belongings on who she really is while we are away. If you find something," Hao brushed his lips on Kanna's ear, "I'll give you an unforgettable reward…"

Kanna's cheeks turned pink. "I will do my best Your Majesty." Then she slowly opened the door and left feeling quite relieved.

Hao waved at her then pushed the door closed. "Women… what a pain they are."