Chapter five

Location: Castle garden

Ei grumbled staring intently at the book in her hands. Since she lost her 'memory' she had been forced to read until Kana could find her a new tutor. You huffed crossing your legs.

"How long do I have to keep pretending I can't read," Ei muttered looking around, she narrowed her eyes when she saw someone she thought she would never see again, the homeless man now looked like a nobleman. He was walking really quick so Ei jumped up and ran after him while desperately calling him but he didn't seem to hear, Ei stopped when he reached the training grounds where the princes were busy training with wooden swords, well they all were except, Rumi who was standing awkwardly.

"Wait!." Ei accidentally yelled which gained his attention as well as the princes.

"Mister! Please wait!." Ei cried lifting her gown so she could reach him quickly.

"Ah, miss Ei. What do you need?." He asked turning to Ei.

"No! Please! Can I talk to you for a while?. "

"Of course."He nodded leading Ei towards a more secluded spot.

"You know I'm not from here, right?!."

"Miss, what do you mean?." He asked curiously.

"We met, the other day! O-on the dock!." Ei said desperately.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've known you ever since you first arrived in the castle, then how could I have met you on the dock?."He asked tilting his head quizzically. " If you didn't know my name is, Hiro, the royal astronomer."

"You were not an astronomer when I first saw you! You were an homeless man! We met in the future!."

At the mention of future his eyes darkened." Miss."Hiro called darkly and Ei flinched when you noticed the dark look in his eyes."In this castle, no one says anything that will get them in trouble, so I'd advise you don't speak of this again. "Hiro said before smiling.

Ei gulped taking a step back sweat running down her forehead.

"Do you want me to call someone to escort you back to your quarters?."Hiro asked but Ei didn't answer. "You'll need your rest for tonight!."

"What's happening tonight?."

"You mean M

miss Kana didn't tell you? Tonight's the welcome ball for Prince Raga."

"I-it must have slipped my mind."Ei murmured walking away.

*Later*

Ei stared at the mirror in deep thought as Heiy helped you dress your hair into something extravagant.

She felt hopeless because the only person she thought could help her back to her time doesn't even want to talk about it.

"Do I really have to wear this?." Ei asked looking at herself in the mirror.

"Of course!." Heiy responded. Ei opened her mouth to protest but a knock interrupted her

Kana and Issey came in all dressed up.

"Are you ready?." Kana asked but frowned when she noticed Ei's hair wasn't done.

"Ei!." Kana scolded walking towards Ei.

"What! I don't like these extravagant hairdos." Ei complained puffing her chubby cheeks.

"You don't want to show up looking like you got run over by a carriage, do you?."Kana asked hands on her hips.

"Let me.'Issey said holding a hairpin." What were you and Hiro talking about earlier?. "Issey asked standing behind Ei.

"W-well, I thought…h-he could tell me where I c-could find ingredients!."Ei stuttered cringing at her poor excuse of a lie.

"Ingredients for what?." Issey asked pining the clip to her hair.

"U-uh… s-soap?." Ei replied unsurely.

"Soap?." Issey and Kana muttered incredulously.

"I thought you forgot how to?."Kana asked.

"W-well, I s-suddenly remembered!."You cried as Kana pursed her lip in thought.

"Very well, I think I can arrange something." Issey said patting Ei's head.

"R-really?."

"But on one condition."

"What? I'll do anything!."

"You have to stop struggling and let Heiy finish working on your hair."Issey said cheekily raising a finger.

"Eh! That's not fair!." Ei cried pouting.

"Sorry, that's my condition!."Issey huffed playfully as Kana watched them interact with a somber expression.