[Fic] The Princess and Her Uncle Part 3a: Ties and Feelings
Title: The Princess and Her Uncle
Segment/Part: 3a of 10
Segment Title: Ties and Feelings
Rating: T
Characters: Princess Clar(it)a, Prince Feliciano, Prince Lovino, Prince Francis, Count(LOLWUT) Ludwig, Arthur the Bushy-Browed Werewolf (Hu, hu, hu...), Alfred the Wealthy Mercenary (Ala n aqng maicp XP), King Antonio, King Ivan (soon, uhurhur), Princess Natalya, Princess Yekaterina, Prince Matthew
Summary (Which wasn’t included): After being commanded by King Antonio, Prince Lovino takes his lover’s daughter, Princess “Clarita,” to safety, and lets his brother, Prince Feliciano, take care of the girl. However, many strange occurrences start to happen, the council, along with the brothers and their other brother Francis, begin to suspect and accuse Clarita of being a witch. Yet as bonds begin to form, Feliciano must decide against keeping their dignity and secrets inside the palace, and letting Clarita live and the dark truth their families have kept for ages, be revealed.
Pairings: Implied(?) Antonio x Lovino, Arthur x Clarita, one-sided love for Clarita, and many implied relationships
Warnings: Royalty and kingdoms, OOCness, segments/parts with titles, ridiculousness, self hate, curse(?) words, semi-own-POV-I-dont-even
Preview:
“Alfie, who is he? Would you mind if you introduce us?” Clarita questioned innocently.
“Come on, Maria, I wouldn’t mind! I’m your temporary knight!” Alfred winked.
“Ooh…does it mean you get to be with her often?” Matthew wanted to clarify.
“Hmm…I guess so, but I am ordered, as a knight, to protect her! Maria, this is Matthew. Mattie, this is Clarita.”
The other two stared quizzically at Alfred, then at each other.
“Oh, never mind. You can call me Matt, Mattie, or Matthew,” the other blond chuckled.
--
When Feliciano woke up that morning, the whole palace was in a buzz. Asking a passing servant, he discovered that Lovino’s fiancée was visiting, along with her sibling and several escorts. Surely, the palace was to invite friends and neighbors for the wedding. Feliciano went to congratulate his brother.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful now that you’ll be married?” the happy young prince mused.
“What?! She’s almost half my age!” Lovino grimaced.
“And you’re 19 years younger than Antonio.”
If it was not for Francis, who came at perfect timing, Feliciano would be holding his cheek in pain.
“Do not put him in any of your foul-mouthed conversations, you two,” Francis growled, “Clarita’s presence is already almost unbearable.”
Speaking of which, the little princess had been playing hide-and-seek with her temporary knight. They had chosen the vast royal gardens as their playground. Alfred was a little dismayed that Clarita did not have a hard time looking for him.
After a while, they decided to rest, opting to have some tea and biscuits.
“Maria, why is it that you could find me so easily?” Alfred asked, taking a mouthful of the treats.
The girl sighed, “Well I just…I just knew it, somehow. I mean, I had a strong feeling.”
“Hmp, not fair!”
“Oh, just be thankful that Uncle let you in.”
“Ah, phew! I have my own ways of -” Alfred swung a fist in the air, and accidentally struck someone in the face, who, in turn, yelped in pain.
“Oh Dios mio!” Clarita shrieked, “Are you all right?”
She rushed to the unknown person’s side, and found that he was a child like them.
Scratching his head, Alfred commented, “I guess he’s all right. I’m sorry, ‘kay?”
When the stranger removed his hand from his face, Clarita made a self note to ask if Uncle Francis already had children, for the boy almost looked like the eldest prince - blond, wavy hair; a handsome face, similar clothes - except for the violet eyes and a looped lone strand of hair.
“C’est bien, c’est bien…” the unknown boy stammered, meekly smiling, “I mean, it’s okay, I’m fine, he, he…”
By that expression, Clarita should be sure enough that the other child was related to Francis, but she couldn’t recognize Rafiancian, a language which would now be known to us as French.
“Wait…is that you, Mattie?” Alfred asked gleefully.
“Oh, it’s you, Al!”
“Alfie, who is he? Would you mind if you introduce us?” Clarita questioned innocently.
“Come on, Maria, I wouldn’t mind! I’m your temporary knight!” Alfred winked.
“Ooh…does it mean you get to be with her often?” Matthew wanted to clarify.
“Hmm…I guess so, but I am ordered, as a knight, to protect her! Maria, this is Matthew. Mattie, this is Clarita.”
The other two stared quizzically at Alfred, then at each other.
“Oh, never mind. You can call me Matt, Mattie, or Matthew,” the other blond chuckled.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Clarita curtsied, “I call myself Maria Clara, yet my uncles call me Clarita. Please use any appropriate names.”
“Whoa, Maria! What’s with the sudden formality?” Alfred intervened.
“I…honestly, well…I don’t know. I just wanted to.”
“That’s not fair!”
The children laughed, trying to shake off the memory of Alfred scowling and Maria’s actions.
“Say, Matt, would you like to join us for a snack?” Clarita invited.
“Merci, mais non...Err, I mean, thank you, but no thank you. Papa sent me here to…escort you,” Matthew looked to the side.
Both Alfred and Clarita were flabbergasted.
“Um…what’s the occasion?” Clarita inquired.
“Uncle’s fian…fian…fiancée is coming. It seems that a message for Uncle Lovino has-”
“Wait. Then it means that we are cousins, right?”
“I…suppose so. Papa told me so. Anyway, as I was saying, a message for Uncle Lovino was delayed, and then I was sent here by Papa to get you to him.”
Alfred frowned, “Aww…I bet I’ll be kicked out. Is your dad the blond?”
Matthew raised an eyebrow, and Alfred winked. Clarita seemed to know what the gestures meant, yet she disregarded them.
“Oui, il est mon Papa-err, yes, yes, my father,” Matthew nodded.
Clarita cleared her throat, “So...shall we go, Matt?”
“Well, Al, I guess I have to go. Good luck hiding!”
“Don’t worry! Luck is always on the side of the knight!” Alfred waved his hand as the pair walked off to the palace.
Meanwhile, in Lovino’s private chambers, Francis had been criticizing the clothes inside his younger brother’s closet, Feliciano was selecting and showing what the engaged could possibly wear, and the ‘lucky’ guy was grimacing in front of a mirror.
“Why did we agree on this engagement again?” Lovino grumbled.
Feliciano tried to answer him, “Because General…General…what’s his name again, ve?”
Francis supplied, “Mon Dieu! Just call him by his nickname General Winter.”
“Why was he called that again?”
“He usually waged wars during winter.”
“Oh. So that means Padre came to their aid because it was summer that time, si?”
“That’s why he’s indebted to us, and willingly engaged his daughter to Lovi.”
“I know how it is to be indebted,” Lovino sighed, “But why me?!”
“You know the rules, Fratello! Our kingdom is smaller and weaker compared to the others, ve! Rafianc is already in our hands, yet our forces are still weak. The negotiations with Amanelia are almost done. Why would we let go of Arsuis?” Feliciano explained.
“You have a point. And who do you think the council will marry you off to?”
“I’m not married to. I marry, and the girl marries.”
“So strict. Just like your best friend, that potato bastard, Lu…Ludwig.”
“Pffft. Anyway, going back to your question, Fratello; perhaps I will marry Princess Mei of the Empire of the East.”
“Ooh, the youngest sister of the missing Empress Chun-Yan?” Francis commented.
“Heard the rumors about her? Of their magic, ve? Oh, Frere, what do you think of this?”
Feliciano held up another set of clothes. Francis took a look, and stared at it, before averting his eyes to Lovino, and back. He smirked, “Amazing. Why not have the servants dress you up, Lovi?”
His younger brother blushed, “Could you please stop teasing me?! For the nth time, it’s a no!”
“Pourquoi?”
“Nessun e no! So shut up, bastardo.”
Lovino grabbed the clothes and went to his own dressing room, or at least, what our idea of a dressing room is.
“You’re not really falling for girls, aren’t you?” Feliciano teased, making his eldest brother snicker.
“Shut up!” the engaged spat.
The other two’s laughter were halted as they heard several knocks on the door.
“Please state your business,” Francis said.
“It is I, Count Ludwig of Amanelia,” came the voice.
“Ve! Get in, Lu! Stop the formality!” Feliciano joyfully spoke.
“Wait a minute!” called the engaged, “What the hell is that potato bastard doing here?!”
“He’s also of nobility, Fratello,” laughed his younger brother, “So he can come, ve.”
“Remember, bastardo, you are three years younger than me!”
Said man merely raised his eyebrow as the young prince hugged him, “So? I don’t care. I’m your brother’s best friend.”
Grumbles and laughter filled the room. Clarita smiled from behind the door, and whispered to Matthew that they should talk to Francis later.
After all the commotion in the mentioned room, Clarita and Matthew approached the blond prince.
“Ah, Clarita! Perfect timing! Go to your room now; your new clothes are waiting.” Francis hurriedly said, “We have to rush. Go.”
Clarita obeyed at once, being an innocent child; father and son behind her. Several servants helped her dress up, and she did not question any of their actions. The blonds, then, escorted her to the throne room.
“Remember, children, do not speak if unnecessary,” reminded the eldest prince, “Bad impressions mean impending doom. Arsuis is a country notorious for its constant victories.”
Clarita and Matthew nodded, and as soon as they arrived, they hastily took their rightful positions. They arrived on time, it seems. Their visitors were not there yet, but a crowd of nobles gathered to welcome the Arsuians.
“Their royal Highnesses, Princess Yekaterina, Prince Ivan, and Princess Natalya.”
Heads turned to the majestic doors as they opened and revealed a pretty young maiden with short hair, a handsome boy who looked like her, and a long-haired girl whose face was hidden by her scarf. The nobles curtsied before each other, and the foreigners drew closer to the throne.
“Greetings from the depths of the hearts of the Lytians, Princess Yekaterina, Prince Ivan, Princess Natalya,” Lovino said almost half-heartedly, “We are pleased that you have come.”
“S-so are we, your Majesty Lovino. I, no, we, are expecting…a grand time in here,” Yekaterina stammered, and shyly smiled.
“We are honored to accommodate such fine visitors, so please, do think of it as merely our duties are your acquaintances,” Francis grinned at Yekaterina, discreetly eyeing her chest.
“Da, spasiba!” Ivan spoke.
“Ah, please do not speak too casually, Vanya,” Yekaterina scolded Ivan politely, “He means, ‘Thank you.’”
“Ve, don’t mention it, Prince Ivan,” Feliciano gestured to the little prince.
Clarita eyed Ivan carefully as more introductions were made. The tall boy looked back, smiling at her. She unconsciously blushed, and curtsied when she heard her name. He gestured at her.
Alfred, meanwhile, was looking at them behind a door, inconspicuously eating some biscuits. He glared at Ivan, hatred and passionate jealousy visible in the cerulean orbs. How dare that Arsuian take his princess’ attention? How dare that stranger smile so casually at someone he just met?
“I wouldn’t take revenge if I were you,” came a gruff voice suddenly.
Alfred looked behind. No one was there, yet he heard several footsteps. Who that was, he didn’t know. He did not even grasp the meaning of what the unknown said to him. Shrugging it off, Alfred went back to the gardens.
For the following days, Yekaterina and Lovino spent time together, talking of their families, own lives, and upcoming marriage. Francis and Feliciano stalked them nonstop, while Clarita, Matthew, and Alfred played. Ivan could be seen running away from the little princess Natalya, who could be heard screaming “Marry me” again and again.
Clarita only smiled upon these situations. In fact, she was jealous. If ever she had siblings, she didn’t know. Sorrow dwelt in her eyes, though she tried to smile.
Once, everyone was out in the garden. Clarita was drinking tea with her uncles and Yekaterina. The other children played, aside from Alfred, who was busy hiding from Francis’ line of sight. Clarita eyed all of them - so joyous.
“Clarita, why are you crying? Is there something the matter?”
Clarita snapped back to reality. Me? Crying? But, but…I’m happy…right?
Feliciano looked at his ‘niece.’ He sighed deeply, and wiped her tears away.
“You know, Clarita, you could always tell me anything,” he sadly smiled.
The girl shook her head, “It’s nothing. I’m just really happy.”
“I’m glad nothing’s wrong.”
Clarita stood and excused herself. She walked further around the gardens, finally stopping at the apple orchard.
“I didn’t know we had such place,” she said to herself.
She gazed longingly at the red fruits, licking her lips.
“Princess, you like apples, da?”
The princess looked around and saw Ivan sitting high up on one of the trees. He held up a ripe apple.
“Y-yes, I do,” she nodded, “Did you follow me?”
“Da. It’s bad to let a girl be in danger, so I decided to follow you,” Ivan flashed his innocent smile.
That smile, Clarita blushed, is so beautiful. If it was possible, I want to take that smile everywhere.
“Here is your apple, da.”
She reached out for the fruit, and Ivan shifted his position to give the red product of nature. Clarita bit on the apple, and remarked, “Delicious. So you know which one is ripe and which one is not.”
Ivan shrugged, “Da. Say, princess, would you like to join me here? The view is very nice, da.”
“Up there?”
“You need help, nyet?”
“Oh, not really, don’t underestimate me. Please hold my apple for the moment.”
Clarita threw the fruit into Ivan’s hands, and looked for a low, stout branch. Jumping and gripping onto one, she helped herself up, and stood on the bough. Ivan was quite surprised. Interesting girl.
“Here I am, Prince Ivan. Now, please return my apple,” she smirked.
“Come and get it, then,” the Arsuian dared.
Nevertheless, Clarita accepted the challenge. As she reached for the apple, Ivan grabbed her hand, and she was forced to fall into his arms, literally.
“Oops,” the boy smiled innocently.
“My apologies, Prince,” Clarita blankly said, and went for the fruit. She sat beside him and softly asked, “Why do you do this to me?”
“I like you, da!”
Clarita went silent for a moment. She let Ivan talk.
“If I could express my feeling openly, da, I would,” he continued, “I’d really like--”
“Clarita!” a voice intervened.
The girl turned to the source, and seeing it was her uncle, she stood up, but slipped.
“Uncle is--!” she screamed, “Help!”
She had managed to grip on a branch, and still hold on to her apple. She didn’t listen to Ivan or Feliciano. I’m going to die here! Help me! Somebody!
The sound of a branch breaking and the feeling of warmth enveloping around her, snapped Clarita out of her thoughts. Her fruit was fine, and so was she. She heard a sigh, yet it did not come from her savior.
“Are you alright, Fraulein Clarita?”
Clarita looked up - it was a very intimidating man, who was obviously from Amanelia, because of his aura. She gulped, and hesitated if she would answer or not.
--
I had to split this into two. It's too long! Urgh.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Violent reactions? And have I tagged everyone included in this segment?
Segment/Part: 3a of 10
Segment Title: Ties and Feelings
Rating: T
Characters: Princess Clar(it)a, Prince Feliciano, Prince Lovino, Prince Francis, Count(LOLWUT) Ludwig, Arthur the Bushy-Browed Werewolf (Hu, hu, hu...), Alfred the Wealthy Mercenary (Ala n aqng maicp XP), King Antonio, King Ivan (soon, uhurhur), Princess Natalya, Princess Yekaterina, Prince Matthew
Summary (Which wasn’t included): After being commanded by King Antonio, Prince Lovino takes his lover’s daughter, Princess “Clarita,” to safety, and lets his brother, Prince Feliciano, take care of the girl. However, many strange occurrences start to happen, the council, along with the brothers and their other brother Francis, begin to suspect and accuse Clarita of being a witch. Yet as bonds begin to form, Feliciano must decide against keeping their dignity and secrets inside the palace, and letting Clarita live and the dark truth their families have kept for ages, be revealed.
Pairings: Implied(?) Antonio x Lovino, Arthur x Clarita, one-sided love for Clarita, and many implied relationships
Warnings: Royalty and kingdoms, OOCness, segments/parts with titles, ridiculousness, self hate, curse(?) words, semi-own-POV-I-dont-even
Preview:
“Alfie, who is he? Would you mind if you introduce us?” Clarita questioned innocently.
“Come on, Maria, I wouldn’t mind! I’m your temporary knight!” Alfred winked.
“Ooh…does it mean you get to be with her often?” Matthew wanted to clarify.
“Hmm…I guess so, but I am ordered, as a knight, to protect her! Maria, this is Matthew. Mattie, this is Clarita.”
The other two stared quizzically at Alfred, then at each other.
“Oh, never mind. You can call me Matt, Mattie, or Matthew,” the other blond chuckled.
--
When Feliciano woke up that morning, the whole palace was in a buzz. Asking a passing servant, he discovered that Lovino’s fiancée was visiting, along with her sibling and several escorts. Surely, the palace was to invite friends and neighbors for the wedding. Feliciano went to congratulate his brother.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful now that you’ll be married?” the happy young prince mused.
“What?! She’s almost half my age!” Lovino grimaced.
“And you’re 19 years younger than Antonio.”
If it was not for Francis, who came at perfect timing, Feliciano would be holding his cheek in pain.
“Do not put him in any of your foul-mouthed conversations, you two,” Francis growled, “Clarita’s presence is already almost unbearable.”
Speaking of which, the little princess had been playing hide-and-seek with her temporary knight. They had chosen the vast royal gardens as their playground. Alfred was a little dismayed that Clarita did not have a hard time looking for him.
After a while, they decided to rest, opting to have some tea and biscuits.
“Maria, why is it that you could find me so easily?” Alfred asked, taking a mouthful of the treats.
The girl sighed, “Well I just…I just knew it, somehow. I mean, I had a strong feeling.”
“Hmp, not fair!”
“Oh, just be thankful that Uncle let you in.”
“Ah, phew! I have my own ways of -” Alfred swung a fist in the air, and accidentally struck someone in the face, who, in turn, yelped in pain.
“Oh Dios mio!” Clarita shrieked, “Are you all right?”
She rushed to the unknown person’s side, and found that he was a child like them.
Scratching his head, Alfred commented, “I guess he’s all right. I’m sorry, ‘kay?”
When the stranger removed his hand from his face, Clarita made a self note to ask if Uncle Francis already had children, for the boy almost looked like the eldest prince - blond, wavy hair; a handsome face, similar clothes - except for the violet eyes and a looped lone strand of hair.
“C’est bien, c’est bien…” the unknown boy stammered, meekly smiling, “I mean, it’s okay, I’m fine, he, he…”
By that expression, Clarita should be sure enough that the other child was related to Francis, but she couldn’t recognize Rafiancian, a language which would now be known to us as French.
“Wait…is that you, Mattie?” Alfred asked gleefully.
“Oh, it’s you, Al!”
“Alfie, who is he? Would you mind if you introduce us?” Clarita questioned innocently.
“Come on, Maria, I wouldn’t mind! I’m your temporary knight!” Alfred winked.
“Ooh…does it mean you get to be with her often?” Matthew wanted to clarify.
“Hmm…I guess so, but I am ordered, as a knight, to protect her! Maria, this is Matthew. Mattie, this is Clarita.”
The other two stared quizzically at Alfred, then at each other.
“Oh, never mind. You can call me Matt, Mattie, or Matthew,” the other blond chuckled.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Clarita curtsied, “I call myself Maria Clara, yet my uncles call me Clarita. Please use any appropriate names.”
“Whoa, Maria! What’s with the sudden formality?” Alfred intervened.
“I…honestly, well…I don’t know. I just wanted to.”
“That’s not fair!”
The children laughed, trying to shake off the memory of Alfred scowling and Maria’s actions.
“Say, Matt, would you like to join us for a snack?” Clarita invited.
“Merci, mais non...Err, I mean, thank you, but no thank you. Papa sent me here to…escort you,” Matthew looked to the side.
Both Alfred and Clarita were flabbergasted.
“Um…what’s the occasion?” Clarita inquired.
“Uncle’s fian…fian…fiancée is coming. It seems that a message for Uncle Lovino has-”
“Wait. Then it means that we are cousins, right?”
“I…suppose so. Papa told me so. Anyway, as I was saying, a message for Uncle Lovino was delayed, and then I was sent here by Papa to get you to him.”
Alfred frowned, “Aww…I bet I’ll be kicked out. Is your dad the blond?”
Matthew raised an eyebrow, and Alfred winked. Clarita seemed to know what the gestures meant, yet she disregarded them.
“Oui, il est mon Papa-err, yes, yes, my father,” Matthew nodded.
Clarita cleared her throat, “So...shall we go, Matt?”
“Well, Al, I guess I have to go. Good luck hiding!”
“Don’t worry! Luck is always on the side of the knight!” Alfred waved his hand as the pair walked off to the palace.
Meanwhile, in Lovino’s private chambers, Francis had been criticizing the clothes inside his younger brother’s closet, Feliciano was selecting and showing what the engaged could possibly wear, and the ‘lucky’ guy was grimacing in front of a mirror.
“Why did we agree on this engagement again?” Lovino grumbled.
Feliciano tried to answer him, “Because General…General…what’s his name again, ve?”
Francis supplied, “Mon Dieu! Just call him by his nickname General Winter.”
“Why was he called that again?”
“He usually waged wars during winter.”
“Oh. So that means Padre came to their aid because it was summer that time, si?”
“That’s why he’s indebted to us, and willingly engaged his daughter to Lovi.”
“I know how it is to be indebted,” Lovino sighed, “But why me?!”
“You know the rules, Fratello! Our kingdom is smaller and weaker compared to the others, ve! Rafianc is already in our hands, yet our forces are still weak. The negotiations with Amanelia are almost done. Why would we let go of Arsuis?” Feliciano explained.
“You have a point. And who do you think the council will marry you off to?”
“I’m not married to. I marry, and the girl marries.”
“So strict. Just like your best friend, that potato bastard, Lu…Ludwig.”
“Pffft. Anyway, going back to your question, Fratello; perhaps I will marry Princess Mei of the Empire of the East.”
“Ooh, the youngest sister of the missing Empress Chun-Yan?” Francis commented.
“Heard the rumors about her? Of their magic, ve? Oh, Frere, what do you think of this?”
Feliciano held up another set of clothes. Francis took a look, and stared at it, before averting his eyes to Lovino, and back. He smirked, “Amazing. Why not have the servants dress you up, Lovi?”
His younger brother blushed, “Could you please stop teasing me?! For the nth time, it’s a no!”
“Pourquoi?”
“Nessun e no! So shut up, bastardo.”
Lovino grabbed the clothes and went to his own dressing room, or at least, what our idea of a dressing room is.
“You’re not really falling for girls, aren’t you?” Feliciano teased, making his eldest brother snicker.
“Shut up!” the engaged spat.
The other two’s laughter were halted as they heard several knocks on the door.
“Please state your business,” Francis said.
“It is I, Count Ludwig of Amanelia,” came the voice.
“Ve! Get in, Lu! Stop the formality!” Feliciano joyfully spoke.
“Wait a minute!” called the engaged, “What the hell is that potato bastard doing here?!”
“He’s also of nobility, Fratello,” laughed his younger brother, “So he can come, ve.”
“Remember, bastardo, you are three years younger than me!”
Said man merely raised his eyebrow as the young prince hugged him, “So? I don’t care. I’m your brother’s best friend.”
Grumbles and laughter filled the room. Clarita smiled from behind the door, and whispered to Matthew that they should talk to Francis later.
After all the commotion in the mentioned room, Clarita and Matthew approached the blond prince.
“Ah, Clarita! Perfect timing! Go to your room now; your new clothes are waiting.” Francis hurriedly said, “We have to rush. Go.”
Clarita obeyed at once, being an innocent child; father and son behind her. Several servants helped her dress up, and she did not question any of their actions. The blonds, then, escorted her to the throne room.
“Remember, children, do not speak if unnecessary,” reminded the eldest prince, “Bad impressions mean impending doom. Arsuis is a country notorious for its constant victories.”
Clarita and Matthew nodded, and as soon as they arrived, they hastily took their rightful positions. They arrived on time, it seems. Their visitors were not there yet, but a crowd of nobles gathered to welcome the Arsuians.
“Their royal Highnesses, Princess Yekaterina, Prince Ivan, and Princess Natalya.”
Heads turned to the majestic doors as they opened and revealed a pretty young maiden with short hair, a handsome boy who looked like her, and a long-haired girl whose face was hidden by her scarf. The nobles curtsied before each other, and the foreigners drew closer to the throne.
“Greetings from the depths of the hearts of the Lytians, Princess Yekaterina, Prince Ivan, Princess Natalya,” Lovino said almost half-heartedly, “We are pleased that you have come.”
“S-so are we, your Majesty Lovino. I, no, we, are expecting…a grand time in here,” Yekaterina stammered, and shyly smiled.
“We are honored to accommodate such fine visitors, so please, do think of it as merely our duties are your acquaintances,” Francis grinned at Yekaterina, discreetly eyeing her chest.
“Da, spasiba!” Ivan spoke.
“Ah, please do not speak too casually, Vanya,” Yekaterina scolded Ivan politely, “He means, ‘Thank you.’”
“Ve, don’t mention it, Prince Ivan,” Feliciano gestured to the little prince.
Clarita eyed Ivan carefully as more introductions were made. The tall boy looked back, smiling at her. She unconsciously blushed, and curtsied when she heard her name. He gestured at her.
Alfred, meanwhile, was looking at them behind a door, inconspicuously eating some biscuits. He glared at Ivan, hatred and passionate jealousy visible in the cerulean orbs. How dare that Arsuian take his princess’ attention? How dare that stranger smile so casually at someone he just met?
“I wouldn’t take revenge if I were you,” came a gruff voice suddenly.
Alfred looked behind. No one was there, yet he heard several footsteps. Who that was, he didn’t know. He did not even grasp the meaning of what the unknown said to him. Shrugging it off, Alfred went back to the gardens.
For the following days, Yekaterina and Lovino spent time together, talking of their families, own lives, and upcoming marriage. Francis and Feliciano stalked them nonstop, while Clarita, Matthew, and Alfred played. Ivan could be seen running away from the little princess Natalya, who could be heard screaming “Marry me” again and again.
Clarita only smiled upon these situations. In fact, she was jealous. If ever she had siblings, she didn’t know. Sorrow dwelt in her eyes, though she tried to smile.
Once, everyone was out in the garden. Clarita was drinking tea with her uncles and Yekaterina. The other children played, aside from Alfred, who was busy hiding from Francis’ line of sight. Clarita eyed all of them - so joyous.
“Clarita, why are you crying? Is there something the matter?”
Clarita snapped back to reality. Me? Crying? But, but…I’m happy…right?
Feliciano looked at his ‘niece.’ He sighed deeply, and wiped her tears away.
“You know, Clarita, you could always tell me anything,” he sadly smiled.
The girl shook her head, “It’s nothing. I’m just really happy.”
“I’m glad nothing’s wrong.”
Clarita stood and excused herself. She walked further around the gardens, finally stopping at the apple orchard.
“I didn’t know we had such place,” she said to herself.
She gazed longingly at the red fruits, licking her lips.
“Princess, you like apples, da?”
The princess looked around and saw Ivan sitting high up on one of the trees. He held up a ripe apple.
“Y-yes, I do,” she nodded, “Did you follow me?”
“Da. It’s bad to let a girl be in danger, so I decided to follow you,” Ivan flashed his innocent smile.
That smile, Clarita blushed, is so beautiful. If it was possible, I want to take that smile everywhere.
“Here is your apple, da.”
She reached out for the fruit, and Ivan shifted his position to give the red product of nature. Clarita bit on the apple, and remarked, “Delicious. So you know which one is ripe and which one is not.”
Ivan shrugged, “Da. Say, princess, would you like to join me here? The view is very nice, da.”
“Up there?”
“You need help, nyet?”
“Oh, not really, don’t underestimate me. Please hold my apple for the moment.”
Clarita threw the fruit into Ivan’s hands, and looked for a low, stout branch. Jumping and gripping onto one, she helped herself up, and stood on the bough. Ivan was quite surprised. Interesting girl.
“Here I am, Prince Ivan. Now, please return my apple,” she smirked.
“Come and get it, then,” the Arsuian dared.
Nevertheless, Clarita accepted the challenge. As she reached for the apple, Ivan grabbed her hand, and she was forced to fall into his arms, literally.
“Oops,” the boy smiled innocently.
“My apologies, Prince,” Clarita blankly said, and went for the fruit. She sat beside him and softly asked, “Why do you do this to me?”
“I like you, da!”
Clarita went silent for a moment. She let Ivan talk.
“If I could express my feeling openly, da, I would,” he continued, “I’d really like--”
“Clarita!” a voice intervened.
The girl turned to the source, and seeing it was her uncle, she stood up, but slipped.
“Uncle is--!” she screamed, “Help!”
She had managed to grip on a branch, and still hold on to her apple. She didn’t listen to Ivan or Feliciano. I’m going to die here! Help me! Somebody!
The sound of a branch breaking and the feeling of warmth enveloping around her, snapped Clarita out of her thoughts. Her fruit was fine, and so was she. She heard a sigh, yet it did not come from her savior.
“Are you alright, Fraulein Clarita?”
Clarita looked up - it was a very intimidating man, who was obviously from Amanelia, because of his aura. She gulped, and hesitated if she would answer or not.
--
I had to split this into two. It's too long! Urgh.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Violent reactions? And have I tagged everyone included in this segment?