13 Chapter 13: The Princess

I had never been good with introductions.

When the Princess had left the Empress's chambers, Ying Chen prompted me to follow her.

" She can be a little stubborn, so please be patient with her," he said. I blinked up at him, before nodding absentmindedly.

I had followed the Princess to her private quarters. We entered a garden area, and she headed toward a gazebo that was surrounded by a large pond. The area was beautiful, and yet...I couldn't tear my eyes off the girl in front of me.

Her hair was pure white, the color of snow. Her skin was like that of a porcine doll. Incredibly smooth and unblemished. Her features also resembled that of a doll, soft and serene. Locked in an unchanging expression of cold disinterest. We were the same age, but she seemed to glow with youth and vitality.

With elegant and swift movements, the Princess sat down at a desk under the gazebo. I stood awkwardly at the entrance, unsure of what to do. I looked around the garden and a strange idea came to me. I think I had read somewhere that in some Eastern countries, it's expected that you bring someone a gift when you first meet them?

But I didn't have anything to give ಥ﹏ಥ

I looked around haphazardly before a patch of flowers that we had past caught my attention. There!

I slowly walked back to a large patch of flowers and began my work. I used to make flower crowns for my sister when we were little. I couldn't do anything particularly elaborate, but when I was done, I felt a little proud. The crown was made of serval different types of flowers and the color combination was very pleasing to look at. Satisfied with my work, I looked back at the Princess and saw that her position hadn't changed.

I walked back to her and knelt in front of her desk, and waited patiently to be acknowledged.

After about a minute, the Princess finally looked up. I gave her my grandest smile before bowing my head and offering the crown to her.

" Please accept this offering, as a token of our friendship!"

I held my breath, waiting to hear her response.

" I reject your offering." a cold voice cut through the silence.

(」゜ロ゜)」....

WHAAAAAAAAA?!?!!!!!!

The hands that were holding up the crown I had to meticulously put together started shaking. I refused to look into her eyes and instead stared at my creation. I gently laid it down on the desk and stood back up.

Of course, she wouldn't like the stupid crown. She was a Princess, she had an ACTUAL crown. (╥﹏╥)

Okay, so my first offering wasn't good enough. I'll just have to find a better one! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑

------------POV CHANGE--------------

Ying Yue watched as the little girl began to run around her private garden. At first, she had been uninterested in the girl and thought that after being so blatantly ignored, she would eventually leave.

Instead, the girl had fashioned a crown out of flowers she had picked from Ying Yue's own garden.

' If I had wanted a flower crown, I could have just made one myself' she thought. The crown was actually rather lovely, and Ying Yue had only rejected it because some of the "flowers" were actually a weed that was akin to poison ivy.

The girl had apparently found a small bunny hiding in the bushes.

She was now chasing after the animal. Calling to it in a soft, coaxing voice. Because she had spent so much time, exploring the garden her robes were soiled with dirt. Despite this, her smile never dimmed and her eyes sparkled with unheard laughter.

Her eyes watched the girl's movements as she ran toward the pond after the escaping animal. The corners of her lips turned upward at the sight.

Ying Yue was only vaguely aware that her entire attention was now focused on the girl. But, it was because of her close surveillance, that she was able to see the girl trip on a rock and fall toward the water!

Without thinking, Ying Yue rushed forward. Her arms outstretched to catch the foolish girl.

*SPLASH*

Ying Yue was only halfway toward the girl when she dropped into the water.

It also wasn't that big of a deal, considering the water only came up to the girl's torso.

" HAHAHAHAHAHA"

The young girl burst into hysterical laughter as she clutched her stomach and sunk deeper into the water.

Ying Yue stared blankly at her as her laughter slowly dwindled into a fit of giggles. When she had finally got hold of herself, the girl turned to face her.

Dripping wet and smiling like a fool, she intoned, " I'm sorry to have disturbed, Your majesty" and bowed respectfully. However, her current situation, made it seem a bit strange.

" Are, are you alright?" Ying Yue asked, a bit flustered at the nonsensical reaction of the girl.

The girl bobbed her head and then half swam, half walked to where she was standing.

" I know this is not how this is normally done. And I don't have anything to offer you, yet. But I would REALLY like it if we could be friends."

The girl stuck out her hand and looked up at Ying Yue with a fierce and yet pleading expression.

Ying Yue paused for a moment, before tentatively taking her hand.

The sun came out from behind a cloud just then, and shining rays of light lit up the garden.

' Maybe this won't be so bad' Ying Yue thought...

Then the hand holding hers tightened and then pulled back sharply. Ying Yue gasped as she lost balance and fell forward into the water. Small hands wrapped around her body. Ying Yue looked up into the sun's rays, she squinted, and as her gaze cleared. She saw the young girl, a stupid grin plastered on her face.

She realized that the girl was holding her up, princess-carry style. While her robes were submerged into the water, the rest of her was fairly dry.

" What's your name?" Ying Yue asked, a little breathless. The girl's grin grew even wider, which Ying Yue hadn't thought was possible.

"My name is Yu Yan, your majesty," she said, before letting go of the Princess and letting her drop into the clear pond.