ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴᴛʜ.

"Do I look good?" The Ninth Princess asked her twin brother and he let out a sigh before nodding his head. It's been her nth time asking him if she looked good with the lavender dress she bought earlier at the boutique. 

"Why do you sound like it doesn't look good on me?" She grabbed the chick plushie beside him and threw it to his face. He quickly dodged it and it fell on the floor instead. 

"You've hurt my baby!" She exclaimed as she picked up the plushie and hugged it tight. He gave a smack on every plushie he saw on her bed and ran out of her bedroom. 

"You meanie! Don't ever go here!" She took time on consoling her plushies on what the Eighth Prince did to them that she didn't notice that the Third Prince finally arrived. 

"Do I really look good?" She mumbled, standing in front of the wall mirror again while fixing her hair. The Third Prince opened the door quietly and watched her fix her hair. 

"Even if you only wear pajamas, you will still look good." She was surprised when she heard his voice. Her face turned red and he chuckled softly. 

"Mako-nii told you to go here?" She asked and he nodded. She bit her lips lightly when he approached her and gave her a gentle hug. 

"I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't know that Hoku-chan would be there." She whispered as she hugged him back. If her feelings will turn out like love, she wants to take a risk. 

They proceeded to the garden for dinner. She asked the maids to prepare it at the garden since she doesn't want her parents to see the food she cooked. It didn't look good but when they tasted it, it was good. She was fidgeting when they served the food. She already expected that he would not like or even eat it. 

"It smells good." He smiled while looking at her. She felt her cheeks heating up, so she took her glass of cold juice and had a sip. 

"I cooked it. I asked for Mako-nii's help. It doesn't look good but Nii said that it tastes good." She said and she watched him taste it. The dinner was a simple one. They got fried chicken, steamed rice, miso soup and potato wedges. 

They enjoyed the dinner that night and after that, she asked the maid to prepare some dessert for them. They have classes the next day, so he can't stay up too late. The maid left them alone after bringing the ice cream. She took a cup of it and started eating. He watched her while smiling, sitting closer to her since they are using the wooden bench. She fed him a small scoop of ice cream and she chuckled softly when he got some on his cheek. 

"Why do you want to court me?" She asked while staring deep in his eyes. He got his hanky and wiped off the ice cream on his cheek before answering. 

"Because I like you. I want to pursue you. I know we are still young but planning my future is something I should do now." He said and she blinked. 

"Am I.. your future?" She asked and he nodded while smiling softly. Her cheeks went red and he gently caressed it before placing a kiss on her lips. She gently kissed him back and after that, she rested her head on his shoulder. 

It was already nine when he decided to go back home. He left another kiss on her lips before wishing her good night. He also wished her parents and her twin brother good night. When he left, she quickly went to her bedroom to change into pajamas. She didn't know that her parents wanted to talk to her. 

"Princess, we would like to tell you something." Her mother started and Makoto arrived, giving her a worried look. 

"What is it?" She asked and her father took a deep breath before breaking the news to her. She gripped on her mother's arm tightly and shook her head. 

"Your grandfather already arranged your marriage with Hokuto. You can't see Sho anymore." Her father said as she kept on shaking her head. She immediately ran back to her bedroom and locked the doors. 

She saw her phone vibrating and the Seventh Prince's name flashed on the screen. She grabbed it and answered the call. She can clearly hear how happy he is with her grandfather's decision. She tried to force a smile but she couldn't. She felt like they took her freedom away. She sobbed quietly, covering her lips in order not to let him hear how heartbroken she was. 

"I need to sleep now, Hoku-chan. Good night." She said, immediately ending the call. She threw her phone to the side and hugged her plushies while crying silently. 

She enjoyed the Third Prince's company. She enjoyed everything he did for her. She grew comfortable with the way he handles her. Neither she thought of the Seventh Prince as her future husband but she couldn't deny the fact that they are more than friends. She heard a knock from outside but she ignored it. The door opened when Makoto got the spare keys. He locked the doors again since he knows their parents will want to talk to her once more. 

"Do you like him already?" He asked but she didn't answer. She knows that he is pertaining to the Third Prince. She can't confess yet because she is unsure with her feelings. 

"Try to talk to Grandpa? I'm sure he will listen to you. After all, you're his most favorite grandchild." Makoto added while sitting beside her. She buried her face on the pillow and cried more. She doesn't know how she will face the Third Prince tomorrow.