Chapter 4 - Good Afternoon, My Prince

Nakada Ryota is sitting in a expensive carriage that is lined in pure gold. There is velvet red curtains to cover the windows and entrance so no one knows who's inside. A very fine horse tugs the carriage along, which is surrounded by guards on their personal horses. They all trot to the came location, the Fujimura manor.

Ryota is so excited that he's tapping his feet on the ground in impatience. But he soon remembers, 'If I ask for the lady in the window, won't they think I'm a stalker? Or someone who rapes children? I should figure out an excuse to check around the manor for the beautiful woman.'

Ryota thinks hard for a believable excuse, and after he's figured it out, he's already at the manor. The guard in front of the carriage demands to be taken inside because the prince requests so but the servants do not believe him one bit. What if they hurt the ladies?

Ryota hears the argument and opens the curtains. When the servants see his face, they pale and quickly let him in, no questions asked.

The ride continued, and quickly stopped when they came to the entrance. Ryota quickly gets out of the carriage and breaths some of the fresh air. He looks towards the entrance to see for women, but not the woman he was looking for.

*****

Fujimura Miyu follows the nervous girls to the courtyard to great the first prince. Miyu continues to hide, and requests Arata to give her her clothes quickly. Arata runs to grab a decent kimono as Miyu observed the carriage. Anyone could tell that it was from the royal family, with the aura that the carriage and the person inside gives off. Arata comes back once the prince comes out. Truthfully, Miyu is amazed. He's handsome, with curly black hair that she wants to slide her fingers through and and ice blue eyes that can resemble the skies and the heavens above. He smiles as he breath in a breath of air, showing off his adorable dimples. Everyone movement he does, you can see the muscles on his body arching with the movement, which makes many women drool. And many women are, at least half of the maids are and Orino and Ahmya as well. Ryota shakes his head back and forth, making him seem like he's in slow motion.

Miyu doesn't react much, though. She acknowledges his handsomeness, but also his danger. He's powerful, with his mastery of all three gifts, including his rare ice gift. He could kill everyone here, except her of course.

Miyu takes off her dark clothes and slips on the kimono Arata gave her. It's a light blue one, with both white and pink flowers on it. She leaves her hair free, not having time to pull it up, and only brushes her fingers through it. She tells Arata to turn invisible and stay by her side as she calmly walks towards the four other women. Miyu stays behind them, giving more attention to the four than herself. She keeps her head low, showing shyness and a little weakness to maybe draw his attention away from her.

Ryota seems to glow, like he has the essence of the sun in him. He grows interested, and Miyu doesn't know why. She can just feel that emotion directed towards the girls. Miyu glances at her sisters and friends and can see why.

Kasumi has a bit of makeup on that is nearly unrecognizable but enhances her beauty. Underneath, Miyu knows she has a more decent face but Kasumi really wants to be the best in the land. Kasumi wants beauty like Miyu, saying it's a waste on a girl like Miyu who can't do anything.

"Good afternoon, my prince, " Kasumi greets while everyone bows in unison, including Miyu.

Prince Ryota smiles, "I wanted to greet all my Lord's so I can get to know them before I get my crown."

Kasumi pulls a fan literally out of nowhere and fans her face, hiding the blush that swept her cheeks, "Only for the Lord's? No other reason?"

Kasumi puts her hand on her hip and purses her lips, she gazes at Prince Ryota sensually, trying to lure him in. But Prince Ryota only shakes his head,

"I don't know of any other reason. I'm really here for the Lord's. Now, where is Lord Kenta Fujimura?"

Kasumi pouts, but still tries to look graceful and beautiful as she walks inside the main house to look for father. Orino, Ahmya, and Miyu continue to wait outside for father, and Miyu expected it to be silence, but Prince Ryota continued to talk.

"May I know what you're names are?"

They nod as Orino goes first,

"First Prince, my name is Amano Orino, from the Amano house."

She bows right after and then it's Ahmya's turn, "My Prince, my name is Shimizu Ahmya, and I greet you."

She bows, lower than Orino's was, and then it was Miyu's turn. She felt a gaze, a hard gaze, from the prince, and she felt like maybe he didn't believe her 'im a shy girl leave me alone' story. So Miyu decided to stutter,

"My P-prince, my n-name is Fujimur-ra M-miyu."

Miyu bows lower than both girls, acting like she's hiding a blush. Hanae giggles behind her hand as she says her greeting after Miyu, with complete confidence,

"My name is Fujimura Hanae, my prince, and the lady who left was my sister Fujimura Kasumi."

Hanae bows and at that moment Kasumi has her hand in father's as they walk in front of Prince Ryota, closer than the four girls standing there were.

Father bows, "Hello, First Prince, I am the Lord of the manor, Lord Fujimura. What night you need, my prince?"

Prince Ryota greets the Lord back before saying, "I would like to meet your daughters, is that fine with you?"

Father nods his head frantically, like it's about to fall off, "Yes, my prince, this one here is the eldest, Kasumi. My daughter here is the middle child Hanae."

He draws Hanae closer but doesn't make any acknowledgement towards Miyu, 'Thank you, Father. You're doing well. Please, get his attention off me.'

But it didn't work, Prince Ryota's eyebrows furrow before saying, "How about the youngest, Fujimura Miyu, correct? What about her?"

Father glanced over to see Miyu there, not noticing her a couple of seconds ago. He chuckles before telling the prince, "I'm sorry my prince, I didn't see her. She is quite small, isn't she? This is my youngest daughter, Fujimura Miyu."

Miyu walks over to her father who grabs her arm and squeezes it, warning her not to do anything stupid.

Prince Ryota nods, before looking at Father, "You have such beautiful daughter's, Lord Kenta."

"Thank you, my prince. And I'm glad to say, my eldest is the strongest young lady in the empire, and she's growing day by day."

Prince Ryota nods, "May I see?"

Kasumi nods frantically, just like father did, "It'd be my honor, my prince."

She gazes at the prince lovingly, like they're lovers, but Prince Ryota doesn't show any romantic intents back, just interest.

She pouts behind her fan again, but lowers her fan to the ground so she can use both hands. She draws water from the well in the corner of the courtyard and creates an arch between the prince and her, she makes the arch smaller, forcing the prince to come closer to Kasumi. She then goes through her regular routine, making like droplets than forming it into many different animals or shapes. She then turns it into clouds, putting the water right above Prince Ryota's and her head. This caused a great idea to form in Miyu's head. She channeled her water gift and forced the water to fall on the couple. They become drenched, Kasumi coughing from the water that fell in her mouth and Prince Ryota continued to stand there, not noticing the water at all. All the servants gasped, and father did as well. He bowed to the ground, pleading for forgiveness. Kasumi went to the ground and also did Hanae. Miyu took her time to go to the ground, trying to hide a grin plastered on Miyu's face. But Prince Ryota noticed it,

"You'll have to practice more, Kasumi, but it was very impressive. What are he gifts for you r other daughters, may I ask?"

Father gets up from his knees before saying, "Hanae has the gifts of air and water, while Miyu is giftless."

Prince Ryota is taken back, "I've never met a giftless Lord or Lady."

Miyu bows her head, "It's o-okay. No on-ne really h-has."

She makes her voice more high-pitched, making her seem childish, even at her 18 years of age. Kasumi grins, happy that Miyu is embarrassing herself while the prince has his attention on her. She's happy that the prince thinks that Miyu is stupid. The problem is, he doesn't. He feels more suspicious, and he doesn't know why. He should just accept that the one woman he's ever interested in is giftless, but he doesn't believe it. This morning, she was able to detect his presence from a long distance away, now why doesn't she have have any gift and is a shy kid. Ryota just doesn't believe it.