Unexpected Meeting

The event has not started yet when I came in. I just came at the right time as the royals, the Prince and the Princess just entered the place wearing their traditional clothing, the clothes that signify their high status. I look at the girl walking beside the prince, the one they called Princess Yuki. Aries is right, she has a full cover on her face that no one can take a glimpse of.

There's nothing I can do but watch her with someone else from afar. But I realize that something is off. I put my hand in my chest, I can't feel the fast beating of my heart when I look at her and I wonder why. Why I am like this? I don't have feelings for her anymore? I don't think so. That's unbelievable when I was still hurting just remembering her while talking with Aries. Even now, just thinking of her makes my chest tighten.

Is it possible that the girl is not Shandra? I ask myself. Seems like it since I noticed something odd with the way she moves. Gone is her common mannerism every time she is surrounded by a crowd. I know her way too much to recognize her despite the cover. I don't need to see her face to know.

When the princess stood up from her seat and excused herself, I also followed. I quietly run making sure no one notices, near the door where she will be coming out to check where she is going. I saw her enter the restroom while the guy that accompanied her stayed outside the door, he might be Shandra's personal guard.

I waited for her to come out of the restroom before making a move. She is with her personal guard but that doesn't mean that I can do something carelessly. There's a lot of security scattered in the area, one wrong move and I might be caught. I can't afford to be caught as I still have a mission to do. All I want is to prove that she is not Shandra. I'm not sure not what happened but I am quite sure that my hunch is correct. Shandra never fails to wake different emotions in me but with this princess, I feel nothing. Also, I want to make sure Shandra is safe and I need to know where she is and why is someone is disguising as her.

When I saw her coming out of the restroom, I pulled my hat down to cover my face and walk towards her. The guy guarding outside the door becomes alert the moment he saw me. Before I came close, he pulled her arms and place her behind him. People not part of the royal entourage is prohibited in this area. It's not impossible that someone might try to attack any of the royals thus the security won't ignore any mishap that will endanger their safety. And I do admit that for them, I am suspicious enough. What he did is only natural and his quick reflex to protect her is definitely a trait of a guard.

I stop in front of them, looking intently at the girl behind the guy. "Don't bother to call the security," I turned to the guard when he was about to call the security standing not so far from us. "I just want to ask something with this girl," I said glancing at the girl.

"Impertinent!" the man growled. "What right do you have being rude to the Princess?" he looks at me dangerously.

"Princess, my ass?" I smirk. The girl holds the arms of the man to refrain him from attacking me after hearing what I said. "Where is Princess Yuki?" I ask them in a low hard voice. I heard them gasp hearing my question.

"H- how?" The girl stuttered.

"I know her so well to know that you're a fake," I snap at the girl. "Now, answer me, where is she?" I clasp my hand tightly, holding myself from grabbing the man in front of me.

"Who are you?" The guy asked.

"Chase," I simply replied.

I noticed the girl's hold to the guy tightened while the latter looked at her meaningfully. The girl then let go of the guy's arms and step forward, standing in front of me. "My name is Yoshie, the Princess's personal attendant," she introduced herself and then turns to the guy beside her, "he is, Shuji, the Princess's personal guard." She bowed a little when she looks back at me, I can tell by the motion of her head, "It's our please to meet you, Sir Chase," she said.

The guy followed, "Pardon my rudeness, Sir Chase," he apologize. "The Princess is with Princess Yuuna at the moment and she asked Yoshie to disguised as her to attend this event," he explained.

I was taken aback by what they did. Do they know me? I can't believe that Shandra told them about me. My existence in Shandra's life should not be brought up to the people in their kingdom. As things from the past should be discovered, otherwise her standing in the selection process might be jeopardized. What we have is our beautiful memories but for the others, it can be something useful to take her down.

Before I can ask them more, I hear my phone beep. I look at it, it's a reminder from DC Org stating that it is about time. My first mission is about to start. Looking for Shandra at the moment is not possible. Anyway, she's with Ate Yen so I don't have to worry. For now, I have to get over with this mission. Aries informed me that this mission is very important as the thing that I need to hand over is urgently needed.

I sigh and look at the two in front of me, "Thank you for telling me but I need to go. Please tell her to take care of herself," they nodded. "Also, be careful no one will notice that you are not the princess. You don't want to put her in danger, don't you?" I reminded Yoshie. After hearing her assurance that she will not be discovered, I said goodbye to them and turned my heels to get this mission over within the soonest time possible.

I walk towards the central park, the meeting place, in a hurry. I don't want to be late, this is my first mission and I don't want to tarnish my father's name. I checked my wristband again if it is in the right place that can be recognized easily. How should I know the person again?

I frowned. I need to look at a person wearing a black wristband with the insignia of DC Org. or the green wristband with the emblem of the Kingdom of Daichi. They are the group of secret spies of the Kingdom scattered around the Empire. And I need to give them something, Aries said it is very important to them, in order to win this battle. A battle I'm not aware of and don't have any slight idea.

Instead of thinking about the battle that obviously has nothing to do with me, I started to check the horde of the crowd in the central park. Hoping against hope to find the person I'm looking for fast. I need to look secretly, we can't be sure if there are Yakuza members in this horde of people, or any enemies from both sides. I continued to look around aimlessly as I was not given a specific area where to meet the person, they just said that handover will be at the central park.

As I am busy looking around, I did notice the people near me until I feel someone bump into me. When I look down, I saw a girl wearing a long trench coat with its hood covering her head. She murmured sorry not bothering to look at me and then walk away.

I continued to search but stop on my track when I realize that her voice seems familiar. I shake my head from thinking impossible things. My eyes darted to her walking figure once again but this time something caught my eye. She's wearing a black wristband with gold in it and an emblem of the Kingdom of Daichi. I notice when the emblem sparkle against the sun. Is she the one I am supposed to meet? I ask myself confused.

"Hey, the girl with the hood," I called before I can stop myself.

She turned around slowly. I raise my hand to my head and pulled my hair back making sure that she can see my wrist. Her look darted to my wristband. She nods confirming my silent question if she's the one I'm looking for and we slowly walk towards each other.

"You got what I need?" She asked.

I nod and pulled out the thing that is looking like a book in ancient times, also all the information inside is written in ancient language and style. We stop a few steps away from each other, then, she slowly took off her hood while I'm holding out the book to her.

Shock is an understatement as I can't believe what I'm seeing right now. I only said that I want to take a glimpse of her. But now she's in front of me, I'm not dreaming, aren't I? I can feel my heart beating wildly against my chest, a shred of evidence that she's real, that I am not dreaming at all. As she's the only one who's able to make my heart beat this fast.

"Shandra?" I murmured quietly.

********************************************

I heard him murmur my name. I can clearly see his reaction, he can't believe seeing me here, as I am. We're both undeniably shocked. "Chase?" I muttered quietly not even sure if he heard it as my feet is freeze where I am standing.

I want to run into his arms and make myself comfortable in his embrace. I want to feel his warm body against mine. I want to kiss him senselessly. Tell him how much I miss him. Tell him how much I love him, still. Tell him how much I wanted to be with him again. But my feet are glued to the ground while my mind is going haywire at this very moment. My heart beating faster as if there's a race in my chest. I can feel my whole body shaking and he's staring at me intently, not moving at all.

I slowly lowered my head, I can't meet his intense gaze. My eyes averted to the book he's holding. I raise my hand to hold the book carefully. I feel him avert his eyes from me to book but he didn't let it go. We're both now holding the book, fingers almost touching each other. This book consists of all information I needed, from my father. My father? Then I realize something. Why Chase is the one bringing this? That means--?

I look up, he's eyes met mine. I can feel the tears from my eyes start rolling down my cheeks. "You already know, right?" I ask in a hushed tone between a faint sob.

He pulled the book from my grasp and before I know it I am in his arms. Enclosed in a tight embrace. He rested his head in the crook of my neck. And I silently cried in his shoulder.