[Ohmiya Oneshot] A vow in golden snow I
I've been working on this fic since October, mostly in times of illness and medication. It was once a tumblr drabble, inspired by an old ep of Music Station that got severely out of hand. So out of hand, I drew a continental map for it. It turned out badly, but if anyone wants to see what the rest of the Great Continent looks like, just let me know. The birthday girl has asked, and so she shall receive. The map is now under its own cut. Please overlook the kindergarten quality. Also, I can't for the life of me figure out the genre. What do you call it when you have romancy kingdom stuff without magic? Is it still called fantasy? Or just Kingdom Romance?
Title:A vow in golden snow
Pairing: Ohmiya
Rating: Pg-15
Length: 13.3K
Genre: Kingdom Romance (moments of crack, humor, drama and fluff)
Summary: The story of two princes who happened to incidentally fall in love.
Note: This is dedicated to darkdropout because she is one of the very few people on this planet who might believe Ohmiya is more married than I do. Also, its her birthday and I love her in unhealthy amounts. I'm sorry that this is the best I could do ;_;
Note 2: Due to length, this fic has been cut into three parts.
A long time ago on the Great Continent there were five mighty nations, and a great amount of lesser nations that no one really cared about. Of the mighty nations only two were actually important as everyone else on the Continent wanted to count themselves as their citizens. Especially the unfortunate inhabitants of Sakuraionia. But that is a tale for another day.
Mighty Ohnotopia was an island nation made mighty from fishing and oceanic trading commerce. Two weeks by carriage from Ohnotopia’s capital city on the mainland, Ohnopia, was the glorious Ninomiya Kingdom. Ninomiya Kingdom was equal in size and strength to Ohnotopia, and was famous for its traveling entertainment troupes and delicious meat-based cuisine.
While the smaller nations about the Continent squabbled and fought over trivial things such as opium trade, illegitimate heirs and national borders, Ohnotopia and Ninomiya Kingdom were relatively free from strife. Their countries at peace, their peoples prospered and all were happy.
Peace for citizens also meant peace for the governing class, where the time the royal family and Advisers would have spent in the war room could be spent on leisure activities and enriching court life instead. This often manifested in lavish parties, picnics and balls much to the displeasure of the Crown Princes.
“I hate balls.” Crown Prince Ohno of Ohnotopia was often heard mumbling around his chambers on the day one was due to be held.
More often than not, Ohno skipped out, disguising himself as a fisherman and spending the night so far from shore he couldn’t see the lights of his castle.
Crown Prince Nino of the Ninomiya Kingdom also hated balls. Nino’s tactic was to pretend that he loved attending them before doing something very mean. Nino would then be punished by being prohibited from the ball, and grounded to his wing. Which, it just so happened, was exactly where Ninomiya wanted to spend his evening in the first place.
It was therefore conceivable that these two Princes, despite being the Crown Princes neighboring countries on the best of terms had never met.
They had, however, heard of each other, as Queen Ninomiya was oh so fond of “that cute Ohno boy who thinks he’s disguising himself when he walks out the front gates with a fishing pole; such dedication to his nation’s main economy!”
It was because of his mother’s gossip that Nino was under the impression that Prince Ohno was either stupid, or stupid. Nino tended to think the former.
Queen Ohno was also quite taken with Prince Nino, and made it a point to complain about how she has not seen Prince Nino since the child had learned to walk, and she was willing to start a war, if need be, in order to admire how the wonderfully child had grown.
Unfortunately Queen Ohno had said this in jest to her son, who repeated it to his chamberlain who repeated it to the cook he fancied who repeated it to the butcher she fancied who told the farmer who supplied his beef who happened to be none other than the Chief Farmer in Charge of Royal Cow Products, as Appointed by The Ninomiya Royal Family.
“They’ll declare war if you don’t go, Kazunari!” Bellowed the Queen, nearly knocking over her goblet at dinner when they heard the rumor.
“They will not.” Nino said, trying not to sound as derisive as he felt. He calmly continued to load gravy onto his steak. “Just think about it for a moment. Our armies are equally matched. A war would only end in a bloody tie. They don’t want that. They wouldn‘t declare war just for me. Besides, their princess is already married off, right? Its not like they want me for marriage or anything. It doesn‘t make sense.”
Despite Nino’s strong, logical logic, there was indeed no getting out of attending the next ball, no matter how many of his sister’s dresses he introduced to the stables as rags in attempt to get grounded.
Prince Ohno, for his part was equally unhappy. Someone had removed the fishing gear from his chambers, and left a note saying that the next ball was not optional.
The real reason Ohno didn’t like balls was because of all the attention he received. Ohno hated it when he walked in a room and 300 people stopped what they were doing just to bow at him. It made him uncomfortable. He also wasn’t very good at doing princely things, like working a room full of aristocrats and charming the loyalty off them.
Avoiding the ball meant avoiding embarrassing himself and his family, which Ohno thought was a good choice for everyone. Also, the best fish only bite at night.
Nino, for his part, didn’t mind the attention being a prince gave him. In fact he enjoyed it most of the time. However balls were a stupid waste of time and money, both of which Nino felt could be spent on improving public works in Ninomiya Kingdom’s capital city Miyaiya, or on improving his board game collection.
The two week trip to Ohnopia did not make Nino any more inclined in wanting to go to this particular ball.
“That’s a whole month, round trip!” Nino whined, flopping on the cushion in his private carriage. “That’s one twelfth of a year! Do you not see what a great waste of time this is?”
“That is not for me to say, my prince.” Said his driver as he closed the ornate door.
“Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll die of boredom before we get there.” Nino mumbled to himself, unfolding a lap table from the interior wall of the carriage to play solitaire.
On the day the Ninomiya Royal Family was due to arrive Crown Prince Ohno got lost in the garden. At least that was the report given to Queen Ohno. In actuality Prince Ohno wasn’t lost at all but safely and intentionally hidden in his favorite willow tree near the Lover’s Fountain where he passed the time by serenely whistling a duet with a pigeon and shredding leaves with his fingernails.
“Cut that tree down if you have to.” Ordered Queen Ohno, who knew exactly what her son was up to, as she always did. “Satoshi will attend the banquet.”
And so, Ohno was found, cleaned up and sent to dinner. He snuck in as quietly as he could, behind one of the kitchen staff carrying a large roasted turkey. Aside from a scathing look from his mother, no one seemed to notice or care that Ohno had arrived so late, or so secretively. Heaving a sigh of relief, he signaled to a servant to pour him a glass of wine. He sipped the glass as another servant filled his plate, listening to the conversation between the two queens.
“It’s such a shame that Prince Kazunari couldn’t make it to dinner tonight. He’s grown into such a lovely young man.”
“Oh yes, however long trips like this really take their toll. He’s not really used to traveling I‘m afraid.”
“Will he be fit for the ball tomorrow evening?”
“But of course! Our Kazunari wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Ohno groaned miserably into his delicious slice of turkey. He already felt insecure being a prince in front of so many people. Having a proper prince from another country there would only make him look worse.
As Nino ate his modest five course meal in the guest chambers provided to him, he also dwelled on thoughts of the next evening’s ball. Or rather how shocked he was that not a single one of his tactics along the road to get them to turn back to Miyaiya worked. How could his own mother not believe her son when he said he was dying of fresh air?
Ohno made sure to arrive at the ball early to prevent the horrible pomp and ceremony that was always attached to his arrival.
“My Prince, please do not be offended when I say this, but you are getting in our way.” Said a servant, charged with rolling out a hideous bright pink carpet on the ballroom floor.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Prince Ohno stepped over the roll, and watched as the servants continued on. “I suppose six hours was too early after all.”
“There you are, Prince Ohno!” One of the wise men from his mother’s staff appeared.
Out of all of the wise men, Ohno didn’t mind this one, at least when he wasn’t nagging. It was probably due to their similar age. “I’m where I’m supposed to be Adviser Sakurai. I told Ma I’d be at the ball today, and so here I am.”
“….Price Ohno.” The adviser stroked his forehead, perplexed. Ohno wondered if all people from Sakurai’s mother country were so prone to exasperation. It would explain why no one wanted to live in Sakuraionia these days. “You were due for lunch with the visiting Ninomiya royal family an hour ago. Your mother nearly ordered all trees in the gardens cut down to find you. If Adviser Aiba hadn’t jumped in, the landscape of the castle estate would have been ruined.”
“I’m sorry.” And Ohno really was. He honestly hadn’t meant to skip lunch (Ohno made it a point to never skip meals; they were his favorite three parts of the day) he had just been so worried about making it to the ball before anyone else that he’d simply forgotten. “I hope they aren’t mad at me.”
Queen Ohno was furious.
It would have disturbed Prince Nino during lunch if he hadn’t been so used to his own mother’s blow ups on a frequent basis. Nino really didn’t care if Prince Ohno was absent. It didn’t change the taste of the food or the mindless annoying chatter of the gossiping Queens. It’s not like Queen Ninomiya had threatened war with Ohnotopia if Prince Ohno didn’t show himself anyway.
Now that Nino thought about it, it wasn’t fair that he was being made to enjoy a delicious seafood buffet when the host prince wasn’t there to suffer though it too. Frowning, Nino savored a large bite of buttery lobster. Really, the sacrifices he made for his country.
Later that evening, Ohno hid behind a pillar as the guests finally entered the ballroom. He knew the Queen was going to be unhappy that he wasn’t going to join the royal procession, but she never told him he had to. She only said the ball wasn’t optional. Or so Ohno kept repeating to himself so he’d be ready to defend himself once she swept in.
Except, he really needed to pee. Hanging out in the ball room all day hadn’t been one of his better ideas. Once the trumpets sounded announcing the approach of the royal families, Ohno snuck out a side door and down a corridor.
Balls in Ohnotopia were just as dull as those in the Ninomiya Kingdom, Prince Nino decided, mulling over a glass of wine as he watched pairs swing in the center of the floor.
“Prince Ninomiya,” Adviser Matsumoto appeared at his elbow, “Her Fairness Lady-”
“No. I’m not meeting with any of the local aristocracy.” Nino rubbed his temples, and sighed, “Tell her I’m already engaged, and madly, madly, insanely in love with my fiancé to the point I can’t even touch another woman even platonically without feeling guilty. Make sure the word spreads.”
“I must advise you against spreading such a dangerous rumor in a foreign country.” Matsumoto replied, sternly.
Indifferent, Nino shrugged. “I can always say I broke it off later, when it’s convenient.”
“Understood, your Highness.” With a sarcastic sweeping bow, Matsumoto disappeared back into crowd of dresses and suits.
“Ah, that was a close one.”
Nino turned, his attention taken by a young man about his height and age in a very fine looking suit appearing almost exactly where Matsumoto had departed.
“What was?” Prince Nino asked, conversationally.
“I nearly ran into my mother on the way back from the toilet.” Wiping his brow with an embroidered cloth drawn from his pocket, the new arrival looked at Nino before his eyes darted away, shyly. “She’ll try and set me up with someone to dance if she catches me so….”
Prince Nino laughed, taking a liking to the man for no other reason than that he didn’t seem to realize he engaged the honored, visiting prince from Ninomiya Kingdom in random conversation. How he couldn’t know was beyond Nino, as the stupid royal procession lasted a good fifteen minutes between both royal families and involved more stairs than Nino ever wanted to encounter again in his lifetime.
“I’m avoiding that too.” Nino nodded, wisely. “It’s our fault for being handsome, I suppose.”
His conversation partner laughed, and Nino grinned.
“Wine, Prince Ohno?”
“Ah, thank you. Oh, please don’t tell the Queen I’m hiding over here.”
“Of course, your Majesty.”
Prince Nino stared at his companion, as the servant bearing wine walked away. “Beg my pardon for asking what might be an obvious question, but you are Crown Prince Ohno Satoshi?”
Prince Ohno choked on his wine, or on his formal name, Nino couldn’t be sure. “Y-yes?”
But just then, another servant appeared. “Prince Ninomiya, your sister has asked me to relay that she’s discovered what you’ve done to her emerald shoes and is most displeased.”
“I was wondering when she’d notice. Send her my deepest and most sincere apologies.” Nino waved the servant off and turned to the gaping host prince by his side. “Servants these days, right?”
“…….I’m uh…sorry I was unable make your acquaintance sooner, your Highness Nino-”
“You sound really awkward when you’re trying to come off as formal.”
Prince Ohno sighed, swirling his wine glass dejectedly. “I know. I’m such a bad prince. The whole realm thinks I’m a disappointment.”
“I’ve only heard good things about you from my mother.” Nino said kindly, surprising himself.
“Really? Queen Ninomiya is…kind of scary.”
“Only as much as Queen Ohno. You should have seen her during lunch today when no one could find you.”
“Did she look like this?” Prince Ohno pulled a heavy scowl, with one lip snarled up, and his eyes narrowed. Prince Nino burst out laughing so hard he had to cover his mouth with his hand.
As the princes continued to chat, Adviser Sakurai reported to Queen Ohno once she had finished a round of dancing, who was relieved to hear her son hadn‘t escaped to the docks despite her demands of his presence. At the same time, Adviser Matsumoto found Queen Ninomiya, enlightening her as to her son’s decision to spread the word on his engagement, as well as the fact that he’d met Prince Ohno and wasn’t half as socially handicapped as Queen Ninomiya had feared despite all the years he’d spent obsessing over board games.
Adviser Aiba had nothing to report to anyone, except that the food was good, the band was lively, and four people had to depart the dance floor for suffering trodden on toes.
Prince Ohno sat next to Prince Ninomiya at breakfast the next morning, upsetting the natural order in the universe if the looks on Adviser Sakurai’s and Matsumoto’s faces were to be believed.
“Try our toast, it’s the best toast on the entire Great Continent.” Ohno said, heaping slices onto Prince Nino’s plate.
“How do you know? Have you tried toast in all of the other countries before? What if toast is the specialty of Kanjani Federation or something?” Quipped the visiting prince, spearing a slice with his fork and holding it up for questioning.
“Just try it, Kazu.” Prince Ohno said, patiently. “Oh, or do you want jam on it? What kind of jam do you like? Our boysenberry is good, also the plum one-”
“It’s fine like this, Oh-chan.”
“But our jams really shouldn’t be missed…”
“Did Prince Ohno just…” Whispered Adviser Sakurai, in horror to Adviser Matsumoto. “I’m sure he meant no offence, if you would apologize to her Highness Ninomiya for the breach in formality...”
“We are guilty of the same.” Replied Matsumoto under his breath, thoroughly disgruntled. “Please likewise forward our apologies.”
After the meal, Prince Ohno took Prince Ninomiya on a tour of the castle. Although it was less of a tour and really just an excuse to continue on in each other’s company.
“What do you have as far as board games?” Pondered Ninomiya, after they departed the great library that Prince Ohno didn’t even know he had.
“Board games…hmm.” Prince Ohno stroked his chin, contemplatively. “My mom has some from her princess days, but they’re all in her chambers.”
“Ah.” Nino sighed, disappointed.
“But we do have Adviser Aiba. He’s like a human board game.”
Nino laughed, and rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“When you meet him, it will.” Ohno nodded, knowingly.
Adviser Aiba was found in his chambers, up to his neck in paper work. He looked up, and then jumped out of his plush desk chair when he saw his visitors were not one, but two princes. “Your Highnesses! I’m sorry my chamber is so unbecoming-”
“It’s ok, Adviser Aiba. Have you met Kazu-ah, Prince Ninomiya yet?”
The adviser shook his head, smiling widely. “I have yet to have the honor. I am Aiba Masaki, First Prince of Ailando, current wise-man in training under the guidance of the Ohno royal family.”
“Oh, so you’re one of those outgoing princes who try and learn about the world to become better rulers, like Adviser Matsumoto.” Nodded Nino, propping an elbow onto Ohno’s shoulder for lack of a better place to put it.
“Yes…I am highly concerned that I am not suited to being a king. My country deserves the best, so I’m studying hard.…” Aiba’s voice trailed off, sounding discouraged.
“I should study hard too. But I’m so useless, there isn’t a kingdom on the whole Great Continent that would take me on as an Adviser.” Said Ohno, consolingly.
“Thanks, your Highness.”
“If you’re going to do that, come to Ninomiya Kingdom.”
“You wouldn’t want me.” Ohno shook his head strongly, alarmed.
But Nino only laughed. “Sure we do. Even if you are terrible at first, you’ll learn. That’s the point of the whole thing, right?”
Adviser Aiba watched as the longer Princes Ohno and Ninomiya conversed the closer their bodies seemed to draw to each other. It was nearly indecent, and absolutely un-princely, and Aiba wondered if he should mention how improper they were both being. It’s what Adviser Sakurai would do, Aiba knew, chewing on his lip indecisively, but he didn’t want to make them feel awkward…
“Besides, if you think your food is good, wait until you try ours. We have over 600 different ways to make hamburgers alone. You’ll have to stay for a year and eat two a day to try them all!”
“600?!” Balked Ohno and Aiba, completely distracted, in unison.
“Over 600.” Nino nodded, “More are being invented every day. Maybe, by the time I get home it’ll be at 700.”
“That’s just excessive.” Ohno said, mind-boggled. But he shook himself, and turned back to Aiba. “Prince Ninomiya likes board games.”
“They’re fun, aren’t they?” Aiba nodded slowly, not quite following the relationship between hamburgers and games.
“I’m something of a collector. I was hoping to see some new games we don’t have in Miyaiya.” Explained Prince Ninomiya, his arm now wrapped entirely around Prince Ohno’s shoulders.
Adviser Aiba split into a grin as wide as the Stormy Mountains. “I don’t know much about Ohnotopian games, but want to play a game from my native land? We’ll need about five people…”
“I could call Adviser Matsumoto…although he’s about as much fun as a bag of dead fish heads.” Nino contemplated, scratching his chin with one hand, and Ohno’s with the other.
“Adviser Matsumoto will be perfect!” Aiba laughed loudly, clapping his hands together. “Oh, and we can invite Adviser Sakurai, that way it’ll be all of us princes!”
“But you’re not supposed to be princes right now.” Prince Ninomiya pointed out, with a hint of teasing superiority.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine if we ask the owner of the house to lift the rules for once.”
“I don’t think I want to ask my mom about this. If she finds out we‘re all playing games she‘ll make us go to a boring picnic or something instead.” Ohno shook his head.
“…I meant you, Prince Ohno.” Aiba clarified, and Nino choked back a giggle.
“Oh.“ Ohno blinked once, “Then let’s do it.”
“This is going to be so fun! I have to go get stuff for the board! Spicy mustard… ink… stockings… so much to do! Meet me in the south armory, the one with the checkerboard floor in an hour!”
Frowning, Ohno stared after Aiba, “We have an armory?”
Three hours later, Prince Ohno and Prince Nino limped sluggishly out of the recently rediscovered armory.
“See? Human board game.” Prince Ohno pulled a stocking off of his head and handed it off to the nearest passing servant who took it with a humble but confused bow.
Prince Nino plucked at the holes in his shirt. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so humiliated in my entire life. To make it worse, I actually lost.”
“With a game like that, I‘m not sure anyone really wins anyway.” Consoled Ohno, watching Nino play with the holes.
“There won’t be a next time and stop starting.” Prince Nino ordered.
“I’m not.” Giggling, Ohno looked up, admiring the vaulted ceiling of the hall.
“You were so. I SAID STOP STARING.”
And so Princes Ohno and Nino, and also Advisers Matsumoto and Sakurai learned that when visiting Ailando, it is best at all costs to avoid their native board games.
The following day Prince Ohno decided to show Prince Ninomiya the best the castle city Ohnopia had to offer. Which, according to Ohno, consisted of the bakery just behind the main cobbled street that ran from the castle, and the wharf.
“I’ve never been out to sea before.” Prince Ninomiya confided, enjoying his meat bun as they dangled their legs over the edge of a great stone levy.
Ohno dropped his roll in shock, and it splashed in the salty waters below. “Never been…but how do you survive being a prince without having somewhere to escape to?”
“I escape in my games.” Said Prince Ninomiya, somewhat shyly as he offered the rest of his bun to Ohno.
“It’s amazing that you can do that.” Ohno took a bite before handing it back to Nino, then spoke with his mouth full, “Itfs promably b’ause yo’re a ‘etter ‘ince than I am.”
“Not really.” Nino picked at the flaky crust but didn’t eat it. “Ever since mom took on Matsumoto as a wise-man in training, I’ve come to realize I don’t live up to princely standards.”
“I felt like that when Sakurai came, but when Aiba arrived, I felt a bit better. They‘re both so silly most of the time I forget they’re princes.”
They smiled at each other, sympathetically, before breaking into grins and laughing.
“Well if it isn’t Prince Satoshi!”
“Ah, Captain Machida!” Ohno scrambled to his feet, and waved at the man who had appeared just down the levy.
Prince Nino remained seated and gnawed on his meat bun, failing to notice he didn’t taste it anymore as he watched Prince Ohno greet Machida with a handshake and a half-hug.
“Are you just now setting out?” Ohno asked, and Nino did not like how genuinely interested he sounded.
“Yep, we’re heading out to gather the nets from this morning. The tide’ll be gone here shortly. Care to join us, Highness?”
“I want to but I don’t know about Kaz..uh, Prince Ninomiya.”
“That’s the Prince of Ninomiya Kingdom?” Shocked Machida, fumbled into an awkward, lower bow apologize. “I’m sorry, Prince Satoshi I didn’t realize you were here on diplomatic business.”
“No, it’s alright, I was just showing him the town.”
“I’ve never been on a boat before, it would be interesting to experience.” Dusting his hands of crumbs by wiping them on his pants, Nino joined Ohno’s side, noticing with a prickle of annoyance that Machida’s sea weathered face was young and sort of handsome close up. “Can I come with you also?”
“But of course, your Highness.” Floundered Machida, and Ohno beamed at them both. “I must apologize that my vessel is not a royal one, and might not be pleasing to your-uh-refined tastes.”
“Don’t worry,” Prince Ohno said, with a smile and a strange feeling he couldn’t describe. “Nino’s more of a prince like me.”
Meanwhile at the castle the two Queens were enjoying a relaxing picnic in the spectacular rose garden while their servants and Advisers ran around trying to locate the missing princes.
“I’m going to kill him. I am.” Snarled Adviser Matsumoto, storming out onto the terrace which turned out to be empty. “And I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”
Advisers Sho and Aiba, who were right behind him, exchanged a significant glance which Matsumoto was keen to pick up on.
“Figuratively speaking.” Matsumoto huffed, flicking a lock of hair from his eyes. “I wouldn’t want to start a war, now would I?”
Sho nodded unsuccessfully trying to hide the horror on his face, while Aiba unwisely added, “Then don’t say it like you mean it.”
[To part II]
Title:A vow in golden snow
Pairing: Ohmiya
Rating: Pg-15
Length: 13.3K
Genre: Kingdom Romance (moments of crack, humor, drama and fluff)
Summary: The story of two princes who happened to incidentally fall in love.
Note: This is dedicated to darkdropout because she is one of the very few people on this planet who might believe Ohmiya is more married than I do. Also, its her birthday and I love her in unhealthy amounts. I'm sorry that this is the best I could do ;_;
Note 2: Due to length, this fic has been cut into three parts.
A long time ago on the Great Continent there were five mighty nations, and a great amount of lesser nations that no one really cared about. Of the mighty nations only two were actually important as everyone else on the Continent wanted to count themselves as their citizens. Especially the unfortunate inhabitants of Sakuraionia. But that is a tale for another day.
Mighty Ohnotopia was an island nation made mighty from fishing and oceanic trading commerce. Two weeks by carriage from Ohnotopia’s capital city on the mainland, Ohnopia, was the glorious Ninomiya Kingdom. Ninomiya Kingdom was equal in size and strength to Ohnotopia, and was famous for its traveling entertainment troupes and delicious meat-based cuisine.
While the smaller nations about the Continent squabbled and fought over trivial things such as opium trade, illegitimate heirs and national borders, Ohnotopia and Ninomiya Kingdom were relatively free from strife. Their countries at peace, their peoples prospered and all were happy.
Peace for citizens also meant peace for the governing class, where the time the royal family and Advisers would have spent in the war room could be spent on leisure activities and enriching court life instead. This often manifested in lavish parties, picnics and balls much to the displeasure of the Crown Princes.
“I hate balls.” Crown Prince Ohno of Ohnotopia was often heard mumbling around his chambers on the day one was due to be held.
More often than not, Ohno skipped out, disguising himself as a fisherman and spending the night so far from shore he couldn’t see the lights of his castle.
Crown Prince Nino of the Ninomiya Kingdom also hated balls. Nino’s tactic was to pretend that he loved attending them before doing something very mean. Nino would then be punished by being prohibited from the ball, and grounded to his wing. Which, it just so happened, was exactly where Ninomiya wanted to spend his evening in the first place.
It was therefore conceivable that these two Princes, despite being the Crown Princes neighboring countries on the best of terms had never met.
They had, however, heard of each other, as Queen Ninomiya was oh so fond of “that cute Ohno boy who thinks he’s disguising himself when he walks out the front gates with a fishing pole; such dedication to his nation’s main economy!”
It was because of his mother’s gossip that Nino was under the impression that Prince Ohno was either stupid, or stupid. Nino tended to think the former.
Queen Ohno was also quite taken with Prince Nino, and made it a point to complain about how she has not seen Prince Nino since the child had learned to walk, and she was willing to start a war, if need be, in order to admire how the wonderfully child had grown.
Unfortunately Queen Ohno had said this in jest to her son, who repeated it to his chamberlain who repeated it to the cook he fancied who repeated it to the butcher she fancied who told the farmer who supplied his beef who happened to be none other than the Chief Farmer in Charge of Royal Cow Products, as Appointed by The Ninomiya Royal Family.
“They’ll declare war if you don’t go, Kazunari!” Bellowed the Queen, nearly knocking over her goblet at dinner when they heard the rumor.
“They will not.” Nino said, trying not to sound as derisive as he felt. He calmly continued to load gravy onto his steak. “Just think about it for a moment. Our armies are equally matched. A war would only end in a bloody tie. They don’t want that. They wouldn‘t declare war just for me. Besides, their princess is already married off, right? Its not like they want me for marriage or anything. It doesn‘t make sense.”
Despite Nino’s strong, logical logic, there was indeed no getting out of attending the next ball, no matter how many of his sister’s dresses he introduced to the stables as rags in attempt to get grounded.
Prince Ohno, for his part was equally unhappy. Someone had removed the fishing gear from his chambers, and left a note saying that the next ball was not optional.
The real reason Ohno didn’t like balls was because of all the attention he received. Ohno hated it when he walked in a room and 300 people stopped what they were doing just to bow at him. It made him uncomfortable. He also wasn’t very good at doing princely things, like working a room full of aristocrats and charming the loyalty off them.
Avoiding the ball meant avoiding embarrassing himself and his family, which Ohno thought was a good choice for everyone. Also, the best fish only bite at night.
Nino, for his part, didn’t mind the attention being a prince gave him. In fact he enjoyed it most of the time. However balls were a stupid waste of time and money, both of which Nino felt could be spent on improving public works in Ninomiya Kingdom’s capital city Miyaiya, or on improving his board game collection.
The two week trip to Ohnopia did not make Nino any more inclined in wanting to go to this particular ball.
“That’s a whole month, round trip!” Nino whined, flopping on the cushion in his private carriage. “That’s one twelfth of a year! Do you not see what a great waste of time this is?”
“That is not for me to say, my prince.” Said his driver as he closed the ornate door.
“Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll die of boredom before we get there.” Nino mumbled to himself, unfolding a lap table from the interior wall of the carriage to play solitaire.
On the day the Ninomiya Royal Family was due to arrive Crown Prince Ohno got lost in the garden. At least that was the report given to Queen Ohno. In actuality Prince Ohno wasn’t lost at all but safely and intentionally hidden in his favorite willow tree near the Lover’s Fountain where he passed the time by serenely whistling a duet with a pigeon and shredding leaves with his fingernails.
“Cut that tree down if you have to.” Ordered Queen Ohno, who knew exactly what her son was up to, as she always did. “Satoshi will attend the banquet.”
And so, Ohno was found, cleaned up and sent to dinner. He snuck in as quietly as he could, behind one of the kitchen staff carrying a large roasted turkey. Aside from a scathing look from his mother, no one seemed to notice or care that Ohno had arrived so late, or so secretively. Heaving a sigh of relief, he signaled to a servant to pour him a glass of wine. He sipped the glass as another servant filled his plate, listening to the conversation between the two queens.
“It’s such a shame that Prince Kazunari couldn’t make it to dinner tonight. He’s grown into such a lovely young man.”
“Oh yes, however long trips like this really take their toll. He’s not really used to traveling I‘m afraid.”
“Will he be fit for the ball tomorrow evening?”
“But of course! Our Kazunari wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Ohno groaned miserably into his delicious slice of turkey. He already felt insecure being a prince in front of so many people. Having a proper prince from another country there would only make him look worse.
As Nino ate his modest five course meal in the guest chambers provided to him, he also dwelled on thoughts of the next evening’s ball. Or rather how shocked he was that not a single one of his tactics along the road to get them to turn back to Miyaiya worked. How could his own mother not believe her son when he said he was dying of fresh air?
Ohno made sure to arrive at the ball early to prevent the horrible pomp and ceremony that was always attached to his arrival.
“My Prince, please do not be offended when I say this, but you are getting in our way.” Said a servant, charged with rolling out a hideous bright pink carpet on the ballroom floor.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Prince Ohno stepped over the roll, and watched as the servants continued on. “I suppose six hours was too early after all.”
“There you are, Prince Ohno!” One of the wise men from his mother’s staff appeared.
Out of all of the wise men, Ohno didn’t mind this one, at least when he wasn’t nagging. It was probably due to their similar age. “I’m where I’m supposed to be Adviser Sakurai. I told Ma I’d be at the ball today, and so here I am.”
“….Price Ohno.” The adviser stroked his forehead, perplexed. Ohno wondered if all people from Sakurai’s mother country were so prone to exasperation. It would explain why no one wanted to live in Sakuraionia these days. “You were due for lunch with the visiting Ninomiya royal family an hour ago. Your mother nearly ordered all trees in the gardens cut down to find you. If Adviser Aiba hadn’t jumped in, the landscape of the castle estate would have been ruined.”
“I’m sorry.” And Ohno really was. He honestly hadn’t meant to skip lunch (Ohno made it a point to never skip meals; they were his favorite three parts of the day) he had just been so worried about making it to the ball before anyone else that he’d simply forgotten. “I hope they aren’t mad at me.”
Queen Ohno was furious.
It would have disturbed Prince Nino during lunch if he hadn’t been so used to his own mother’s blow ups on a frequent basis. Nino really didn’t care if Prince Ohno was absent. It didn’t change the taste of the food or the mindless annoying chatter of the gossiping Queens. It’s not like Queen Ninomiya had threatened war with Ohnotopia if Prince Ohno didn’t show himself anyway.
Now that Nino thought about it, it wasn’t fair that he was being made to enjoy a delicious seafood buffet when the host prince wasn’t there to suffer though it too. Frowning, Nino savored a large bite of buttery lobster. Really, the sacrifices he made for his country.
Later that evening, Ohno hid behind a pillar as the guests finally entered the ballroom. He knew the Queen was going to be unhappy that he wasn’t going to join the royal procession, but she never told him he had to. She only said the ball wasn’t optional. Or so Ohno kept repeating to himself so he’d be ready to defend himself once she swept in.
Except, he really needed to pee. Hanging out in the ball room all day hadn’t been one of his better ideas. Once the trumpets sounded announcing the approach of the royal families, Ohno snuck out a side door and down a corridor.
Balls in Ohnotopia were just as dull as those in the Ninomiya Kingdom, Prince Nino decided, mulling over a glass of wine as he watched pairs swing in the center of the floor.
“Prince Ninomiya,” Adviser Matsumoto appeared at his elbow, “Her Fairness Lady-”
“No. I’m not meeting with any of the local aristocracy.” Nino rubbed his temples, and sighed, “Tell her I’m already engaged, and madly, madly, insanely in love with my fiancé to the point I can’t even touch another woman even platonically without feeling guilty. Make sure the word spreads.”
“I must advise you against spreading such a dangerous rumor in a foreign country.” Matsumoto replied, sternly.
Indifferent, Nino shrugged. “I can always say I broke it off later, when it’s convenient.”
“Understood, your Highness.” With a sarcastic sweeping bow, Matsumoto disappeared back into crowd of dresses and suits.
“Ah, that was a close one.”
Nino turned, his attention taken by a young man about his height and age in a very fine looking suit appearing almost exactly where Matsumoto had departed.
“What was?” Prince Nino asked, conversationally.
“I nearly ran into my mother on the way back from the toilet.” Wiping his brow with an embroidered cloth drawn from his pocket, the new arrival looked at Nino before his eyes darted away, shyly. “She’ll try and set me up with someone to dance if she catches me so….”
Prince Nino laughed, taking a liking to the man for no other reason than that he didn’t seem to realize he engaged the honored, visiting prince from Ninomiya Kingdom in random conversation. How he couldn’t know was beyond Nino, as the stupid royal procession lasted a good fifteen minutes between both royal families and involved more stairs than Nino ever wanted to encounter again in his lifetime.
“I’m avoiding that too.” Nino nodded, wisely. “It’s our fault for being handsome, I suppose.”
His conversation partner laughed, and Nino grinned.
“Wine, Prince Ohno?”
“Ah, thank you. Oh, please don’t tell the Queen I’m hiding over here.”
“Of course, your Majesty.”
Prince Nino stared at his companion, as the servant bearing wine walked away. “Beg my pardon for asking what might be an obvious question, but you are Crown Prince Ohno Satoshi?”
Prince Ohno choked on his wine, or on his formal name, Nino couldn’t be sure. “Y-yes?”
But just then, another servant appeared. “Prince Ninomiya, your sister has asked me to relay that she’s discovered what you’ve done to her emerald shoes and is most displeased.”
“I was wondering when she’d notice. Send her my deepest and most sincere apologies.” Nino waved the servant off and turned to the gaping host prince by his side. “Servants these days, right?”
“…….I’m uh…sorry I was unable make your acquaintance sooner, your Highness Nino-”
“You sound really awkward when you’re trying to come off as formal.”
Prince Ohno sighed, swirling his wine glass dejectedly. “I know. I’m such a bad prince. The whole realm thinks I’m a disappointment.”
“I’ve only heard good things about you from my mother.” Nino said kindly, surprising himself.
“Really? Queen Ninomiya is…kind of scary.”
“Only as much as Queen Ohno. You should have seen her during lunch today when no one could find you.”
“Did she look like this?” Prince Ohno pulled a heavy scowl, with one lip snarled up, and his eyes narrowed. Prince Nino burst out laughing so hard he had to cover his mouth with his hand.
As the princes continued to chat, Adviser Sakurai reported to Queen Ohno once she had finished a round of dancing, who was relieved to hear her son hadn‘t escaped to the docks despite her demands of his presence. At the same time, Adviser Matsumoto found Queen Ninomiya, enlightening her as to her son’s decision to spread the word on his engagement, as well as the fact that he’d met Prince Ohno and wasn’t half as socially handicapped as Queen Ninomiya had feared despite all the years he’d spent obsessing over board games.
Adviser Aiba had nothing to report to anyone, except that the food was good, the band was lively, and four people had to depart the dance floor for suffering trodden on toes.
Prince Ohno sat next to Prince Ninomiya at breakfast the next morning, upsetting the natural order in the universe if the looks on Adviser Sakurai’s and Matsumoto’s faces were to be believed.
“Try our toast, it’s the best toast on the entire Great Continent.” Ohno said, heaping slices onto Prince Nino’s plate.
“How do you know? Have you tried toast in all of the other countries before? What if toast is the specialty of Kanjani Federation or something?” Quipped the visiting prince, spearing a slice with his fork and holding it up for questioning.
“Just try it, Kazu.” Prince Ohno said, patiently. “Oh, or do you want jam on it? What kind of jam do you like? Our boysenberry is good, also the plum one-”
“It’s fine like this, Oh-chan.”
“But our jams really shouldn’t be missed…”
“Did Prince Ohno just…” Whispered Adviser Sakurai, in horror to Adviser Matsumoto. “I’m sure he meant no offence, if you would apologize to her Highness Ninomiya for the breach in formality...”
“We are guilty of the same.” Replied Matsumoto under his breath, thoroughly disgruntled. “Please likewise forward our apologies.”
After the meal, Prince Ohno took Prince Ninomiya on a tour of the castle. Although it was less of a tour and really just an excuse to continue on in each other’s company.
“What do you have as far as board games?” Pondered Ninomiya, after they departed the great library that Prince Ohno didn’t even know he had.
“Board games…hmm.” Prince Ohno stroked his chin, contemplatively. “My mom has some from her princess days, but they’re all in her chambers.”
“Ah.” Nino sighed, disappointed.
“But we do have Adviser Aiba. He’s like a human board game.”
Nino laughed, and rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“When you meet him, it will.” Ohno nodded, knowingly.
Adviser Aiba was found in his chambers, up to his neck in paper work. He looked up, and then jumped out of his plush desk chair when he saw his visitors were not one, but two princes. “Your Highnesses! I’m sorry my chamber is so unbecoming-”
“It’s ok, Adviser Aiba. Have you met Kazu-ah, Prince Ninomiya yet?”
The adviser shook his head, smiling widely. “I have yet to have the honor. I am Aiba Masaki, First Prince of Ailando, current wise-man in training under the guidance of the Ohno royal family.”
“Oh, so you’re one of those outgoing princes who try and learn about the world to become better rulers, like Adviser Matsumoto.” Nodded Nino, propping an elbow onto Ohno’s shoulder for lack of a better place to put it.
“Yes…I am highly concerned that I am not suited to being a king. My country deserves the best, so I’m studying hard.…” Aiba’s voice trailed off, sounding discouraged.
“I should study hard too. But I’m so useless, there isn’t a kingdom on the whole Great Continent that would take me on as an Adviser.” Said Ohno, consolingly.
“Thanks, your Highness.”
“If you’re going to do that, come to Ninomiya Kingdom.”
“You wouldn’t want me.” Ohno shook his head strongly, alarmed.
But Nino only laughed. “Sure we do. Even if you are terrible at first, you’ll learn. That’s the point of the whole thing, right?”
Adviser Aiba watched as the longer Princes Ohno and Ninomiya conversed the closer their bodies seemed to draw to each other. It was nearly indecent, and absolutely un-princely, and Aiba wondered if he should mention how improper they were both being. It’s what Adviser Sakurai would do, Aiba knew, chewing on his lip indecisively, but he didn’t want to make them feel awkward…
“Besides, if you think your food is good, wait until you try ours. We have over 600 different ways to make hamburgers alone. You’ll have to stay for a year and eat two a day to try them all!”
“600?!” Balked Ohno and Aiba, completely distracted, in unison.
“Over 600.” Nino nodded, “More are being invented every day. Maybe, by the time I get home it’ll be at 700.”
“That’s just excessive.” Ohno said, mind-boggled. But he shook himself, and turned back to Aiba. “Prince Ninomiya likes board games.”
“They’re fun, aren’t they?” Aiba nodded slowly, not quite following the relationship between hamburgers and games.
“I’m something of a collector. I was hoping to see some new games we don’t have in Miyaiya.” Explained Prince Ninomiya, his arm now wrapped entirely around Prince Ohno’s shoulders.
Adviser Aiba split into a grin as wide as the Stormy Mountains. “I don’t know much about Ohnotopian games, but want to play a game from my native land? We’ll need about five people…”
“I could call Adviser Matsumoto…although he’s about as much fun as a bag of dead fish heads.” Nino contemplated, scratching his chin with one hand, and Ohno’s with the other.
“Adviser Matsumoto will be perfect!” Aiba laughed loudly, clapping his hands together. “Oh, and we can invite Adviser Sakurai, that way it’ll be all of us princes!”
“But you’re not supposed to be princes right now.” Prince Ninomiya pointed out, with a hint of teasing superiority.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine if we ask the owner of the house to lift the rules for once.”
“I don’t think I want to ask my mom about this. If she finds out we‘re all playing games she‘ll make us go to a boring picnic or something instead.” Ohno shook his head.
“…I meant you, Prince Ohno.” Aiba clarified, and Nino choked back a giggle.
“Oh.“ Ohno blinked once, “Then let’s do it.”
“This is going to be so fun! I have to go get stuff for the board! Spicy mustard… ink… stockings… so much to do! Meet me in the south armory, the one with the checkerboard floor in an hour!”
Frowning, Ohno stared after Aiba, “We have an armory?”
Three hours later, Prince Ohno and Prince Nino limped sluggishly out of the recently rediscovered armory.
“See? Human board game.” Prince Ohno pulled a stocking off of his head and handed it off to the nearest passing servant who took it with a humble but confused bow.
Prince Nino plucked at the holes in his shirt. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so humiliated in my entire life. To make it worse, I actually lost.”
“With a game like that, I‘m not sure anyone really wins anyway.” Consoled Ohno, watching Nino play with the holes.
“There won’t be a next time and stop starting.” Prince Nino ordered.
“I’m not.” Giggling, Ohno looked up, admiring the vaulted ceiling of the hall.
“You were so. I SAID STOP STARING.”
And so Princes Ohno and Nino, and also Advisers Matsumoto and Sakurai learned that when visiting Ailando, it is best at all costs to avoid their native board games.
The following day Prince Ohno decided to show Prince Ninomiya the best the castle city Ohnopia had to offer. Which, according to Ohno, consisted of the bakery just behind the main cobbled street that ran from the castle, and the wharf.
“I’ve never been out to sea before.” Prince Ninomiya confided, enjoying his meat bun as they dangled their legs over the edge of a great stone levy.
Ohno dropped his roll in shock, and it splashed in the salty waters below. “Never been…but how do you survive being a prince without having somewhere to escape to?”
“I escape in my games.” Said Prince Ninomiya, somewhat shyly as he offered the rest of his bun to Ohno.
“It’s amazing that you can do that.” Ohno took a bite before handing it back to Nino, then spoke with his mouth full, “Itfs promably b’ause yo’re a ‘etter ‘ince than I am.”
“Not really.” Nino picked at the flaky crust but didn’t eat it. “Ever since mom took on Matsumoto as a wise-man in training, I’ve come to realize I don’t live up to princely standards.”
“I felt like that when Sakurai came, but when Aiba arrived, I felt a bit better. They‘re both so silly most of the time I forget they’re princes.”
They smiled at each other, sympathetically, before breaking into grins and laughing.
“Well if it isn’t Prince Satoshi!”
“Ah, Captain Machida!” Ohno scrambled to his feet, and waved at the man who had appeared just down the levy.
Prince Nino remained seated and gnawed on his meat bun, failing to notice he didn’t taste it anymore as he watched Prince Ohno greet Machida with a handshake and a half-hug.
“Are you just now setting out?” Ohno asked, and Nino did not like how genuinely interested he sounded.
“Yep, we’re heading out to gather the nets from this morning. The tide’ll be gone here shortly. Care to join us, Highness?”
“I want to but I don’t know about Kaz..uh, Prince Ninomiya.”
“That’s the Prince of Ninomiya Kingdom?” Shocked Machida, fumbled into an awkward, lower bow apologize. “I’m sorry, Prince Satoshi I didn’t realize you were here on diplomatic business.”
“No, it’s alright, I was just showing him the town.”
“I’ve never been on a boat before, it would be interesting to experience.” Dusting his hands of crumbs by wiping them on his pants, Nino joined Ohno’s side, noticing with a prickle of annoyance that Machida’s sea weathered face was young and sort of handsome close up. “Can I come with you also?”
“But of course, your Highness.” Floundered Machida, and Ohno beamed at them both. “I must apologize that my vessel is not a royal one, and might not be pleasing to your-uh-refined tastes.”
“Don’t worry,” Prince Ohno said, with a smile and a strange feeling he couldn’t describe. “Nino’s more of a prince like me.”
Meanwhile at the castle the two Queens were enjoying a relaxing picnic in the spectacular rose garden while their servants and Advisers ran around trying to locate the missing princes.
“I’m going to kill him. I am.” Snarled Adviser Matsumoto, storming out onto the terrace which turned out to be empty. “And I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”
Advisers Sho and Aiba, who were right behind him, exchanged a significant glance which Matsumoto was keen to pick up on.
“Figuratively speaking.” Matsumoto huffed, flicking a lock of hair from his eyes. “I wouldn’t want to start a war, now would I?”
Sho nodded unsuccessfully trying to hide the horror on his face, while Aiba unwisely added, “Then don’t say it like you mean it.”
[To part II]