Chapter 23
Akane, you are the princess of fox kingdom. You mustnt forget that you only live for our citizens.
You cant let anyone trample on our pride.
You are the pureblood white fox so you cant anyone tarnish your blood.
The members of the royal family always say something along this line. They say that Im the hope they are waiting for.
No one knows but I really feel uncomfortable all this time.
I have to properly conduct myself to be suitable for this position. It gives me a bad feeling because of this reason. They want a strong-willed person but I cant be like what they want. Im not strong but I cant be weakling either.
I have to do this for our citizens. I live only for them.
When I was ten years old, the war between fox kingdom and wolf kingdom ended. Because they wanted to unite this land, I had to engage with their prince. I understood the meaning of engaging, but that didnt mean I want to get engaged.
I dont have any right to say in this because thiss not for me to decide. Its for our citizens.
I have to do my best because Its my duty.
Id heard that prince Teo from wolf kingdom is a friendly person. He is handsome with a dark brown hair that matches well with his light green eyes. I hope I can be friend with him because of our similar age. Thats what Id thought before I met him. I dont know why but he always gives me a cold shoulder.
Maybe Its because we havent talked yet. I will try my best and be friend with him. This way he will surely open up to me.
We enroll in the elementary school together. I hope this will finally make him open up to me. I will not give up easily.
What did I do to him!?
Hes only acting indifferently toward me!
I try to beg him to accompany me to the mixed bath one day. He questions me as to why didnt I take a bath in my room instead. He finally gives in when I beg him many times and walks with me to the bath even if he goes back to his room after that.
I dont think theres already someone in here. That thing was also moving toward me. I guess from its shape that Its a ghost but Its actually a vampire. She had foul-mouthed and dares to argue with me nonstop. Dont you know that Im a princess!?
Shes insulting me right in front of my face! How dare she!? I cant let her walk away just like that!
I want to get back at her, but I should find Teo first. Later, I see him talking to an unknown girl. Why hasnt he talked to me like that? I walk up to him to chase that girl away. When that girl was gone, Teo turns around and shouts at me.
Stop following me!!!
Arent we engaged?
I will not marry with you, a girl, whos shoved to me by others! Keep yourself away from me, Akane!
T-teo
He disregarded me completely and left me alone in the hallway.
We cant even talk to each other
Teo
Because I have a lot of free time, Im going to make that girl name Shiwa apologized to me. During this time I also find out some information about that girl.
Her name is Shiwa, the oldest daughter of Garnet house and a fiancee to the prince of the vampire. I once heard the name of this house as they are very influential in this demon world. Her mother is also the headmistress of this school, but that doesnt mean she can get away like this!
She isnt afraid of anything at all. She smiles and tells me that I dont have any authority here. She will not kneel down and apologize to me.
I should be angry at her more than this instead
I feel happy.
I think that she and Luler are very close to each other. I always see them together despite studying in a different class.
That makes me curious about how close they are to each other and the reason that makes them like that. I follow her to her room one day. I dont think they are so close that they can come to each other room!
Is it normal for an engaged couple to act like that? Will I have to go to Teos room too?
I want to know her technique! How can I win over my fiances heart just like Shiwa!?
She doesnt tell me anything that I want to hear so I will observe you instead!
Thats my goal at first but when Im with Shiwa, I dont feel alone anymore. I guess that she will be fed up with me but Its not like that at all. She never acts indifferently toward me.
I believe in her even if she told me to give up on Teo. I will continuously believe in her.
Although my heart seems like Its missing some piece.
Your cousin?
Thats right, I have to meet my mother at the directors room today. I feel bad leaving you to eat lunch alone thats why my cousin will accompany you instead.
Shiwa tells me that she has some business concerning her home. Are you ok with me eating with them!? Your cousins are very good looking, you know.
Im standing there gasping at their face for some time. They are a twin. They look alike but different at the same time. I know that Shiwa is cute like a doll but I dont think of her cousin to be this good-looking.
My name is Oden and this is my little brother, Iden. Its my honor to meet you, princess Akane.
Your beauty has far exceeded our expectation.
Ah
They are very charming
Is that because they are an incubus? My heart is throbbing because of them!
I will get going. Please take care of her!
Shiwa walks away not listening to any of my protests. Her cousins escort me to the cafeteria. They treat me like I am a princessWaitI am the princess, arent I? I guess staying with Shiwa made me forget that I am really the princess.
I try to distant myself from Teo but why is he sitting there at the table opposite from me!? He uses that scary glare on me again. I dont understand what he wants from me! Havent I distanced myself from him!? Why does he look so angry at me!?
Humph! He told me not to get close to him so I will not concern myself with him again. I will not look at him too!
Pang!
Akane, come with me now!
W-what?
When Im looking up, he already stops at my table. He pulls my hand to make me stand up.
I dont think what are you doing right now is a proper thing to do, your highness. Oden trying to shield me from Teo.
This isnt your business.
Teo tells Oden off then proceed to drag me to the garden. He touches my ears! No one can touch our ears and tail except for when they are married. His action and that scary glare that he uses on me are something only a barbaric would do. We havent even married yet!
It makes me scared.
Can I marry and be together with this person?
He never acts gently with me unlike Shiwa and her cousins. They make me feel happy.
Im scared to the point that I cry. A princess should be strong not crying and act ungracefully like this.
If I cant do that, how can I rule over my kingdom?
Stop cryingI will bully you again if you dont stop.
Stop using gently voice like that. I dont want to be close to you again!
*sob* It cant stop! *sob*
*lick*
The tip of his tongue is touching my eyelid. His t-tongue!!!
I dont know what to do anymore. Dont he know that for us, fox, using a tongue to lick another body is only meant for a mate?
A-a-ah!!!
*push*
I dont care anymore! Enough is enough! Dont make me confused! I should believe Shiwa and call off this engagement from the beginning!
I run aimlessly into the building just in time to see a teacher walking out of the first-aid room so I enter it. I can still feel his touch lingering at my eyelid. Why did he do that?
It makes me feel warm.
I suddenly remember what I told him that I will call this engagement off. Oh no! This engagement is only for stopping the war. If they know it and displeased at my action, will they start a war again? Because of me.
No.
At that time, Shiwa enters the first-aid room. I dont know how she knows it but she has always been the clever one. It shouldnt be hard for her to figure out where I am. She tells me to stay in this room as she will tell our teacher that I take leave. She cares about me even when shes not my family or citizen in fox kingdom.
She always sees me and stays with me whatever Im through bad times.
This time, shes still willing to stay with me again.
Thank you I only have this word to give to you even if you deserve more than this
tuck
Ah
I slowly open my eyes thinking who is the one that comes toward me. I unconsciously fall asleep but It should be Shiwa who comes to wake me up.
Is the class over, Shiwa? I drowsily sit up not noticing the one who sits on my bed
No
!!!
This isnt Shiwas voice. This one is from a boy and I clearly know this voice.
T-teo!!!
Keep your voice down! We are in the first-aid room.
Why are you here?
You should think that for yourself. Turn your face this way.
What are you doing? let me go! AH!
He cups both of my cheeks and turn my face to face him. My cheeks are being squeezed so hard. He is being rude to me again! Do you think that because of your position, you can do whatever you want, heh!? Shiwa once told me that this isnt your kingdom so you have no authority here!
Your ears are still redLie downI will find something to help that.
What? You dont have to do this. Go away! You cant stay in here! You arent even sick!
Dont be noisy! Are you always this loud?
Yes! My personality infuriate others! People tend to stay away from me! Why do you have to concern yourself with me? Go away and find your loved one!
OhYou sound like you are jealous.
W-whos jealous!? I dont want to stay near you! Ah!! Its cold!
He suddenly presses an ice pack down to my eyelid. My pain subsides by its coolness.
Can you say that again? His tone is a lot colder than this ice pack. H-he cant threaten me with this! Im not scared of him!!
N-nothing
HmmI can see your ears are flatting down so you are telling the truth.
I apologize that Im not brave enoughMotherFather.
Hes continuously pressing the ice pack down to my eyelid. I dont know what hes thinking as I close my eyes tightly. We stay like this for a while until my pain lessens.
Its okay. You can open your eyes.
I open my eyes and find that his face is only an inch apart from my face. My heart is beating so hard that Its almost ripping out of my chest!! No way! I cant be soft-hearted! He will surely revert back to that cold-heart jerk again! Every royalty are like this e-except for Shiwa!
If you are finished then go away
Dont you have to say thank you before that?
Thank you
Hmm
Why doesnt he go away!?
Are you like this normally?
What?
Your twitching ears.
He squeezes my ears again! This time, I will not let you do it.
If you dont let go, I will
What are you doing to me then?
*squeeze*
Ah!! Let go of my ears!!!
He doesnt listen to any of my words and continue to squeeze my ears even more. He is a pervert, right? That must be it! A pervert who likes to touch a girls ears!!
Please let go I can only beg him although that put a big hole in my pride.
Aha! Its more effective than I thought. He stops still then plops himself into the bed pulling me along with him.
W-what are you doing?
I dont hate you.
W-what?
I hate being forced to do something I dont like. I dont like this engagement with benefits
butan engagement with youI will rethink this.
I hate being forced to engage.
This engagement with benefits.
Rethinking this.
Im trying to interpret his meaning. He was angry because of this reason. When he said that he wants to rethink this, does he means
Oh! I get it!!!
We can be friend, right?
*bite*
Ah! Why do you have to bite my ear!?
Think that yourself!
Im being nice to him here. Why did he have to bite me!?