Violet looked at the doorway Mr. Daichi had departed through and smiled. She smiled longer than she thought she would and had to shake herself once more before she could return to work. Still, she was unusually distracted as she thought about the dance she would attend with her bodyguard and sent text to her designer about the dress she would wear. That seemed to help clear her mind but she found she still could not focus on her work as she normally did.
Mr. Daichiâs proximity over the next few days only strengthened Violetâs feelings for him. She found him to be a very comforting presence and as much as she tried to tell herself that it was because he was a bodyguard, some small part of her knew that there was far more to it than that. Whenever they were apart she wanted him closer and the feeling was even worst at night. She would lay in bed and imagine Katsuragiâs strong arms wrapped around her. She was a petite woman and she felt she could virtually drown in him. Were these thoughts normal? Violet wondered. It seemed rather unfair to her that she would be thinking such inappropriate things about a man who, for all she knew was not at all interested in her. Still, no matter how she tried she could not put such thoughts out of her mind.
âOh no,â Violet assured Mr. Daichi with a smile when he asked about meeting the prince at the airport. âHeâs coming by helicopter and will use the landing pad on top of the castle. Then I will see him tonight at the party. That will be a sufficient welcome.â Since they were alone she felt safe to add: âPrince Keith is something of a friend of mine, so there is no reason to stand on ceremony with him more than what is necessary for the sake of appearances.â
Truthfully she was not overly fond of the Liberty prince. She trusted him and they were more than amiable with one another but she found his personality trying at best. Of course there were many people she disliked even more. People who were not good people. At least in his heart she believed Keith was a decent human being who wanted what was best for his country, which was more than could be said for some. Besides which, the princes and the princess always seemed to look out for one another. Although she may not totally enjoy him, Violet trusted Prince Keith more than most people.
Later that evening, Violet sat in her dressing room by the event hall where the ball was being held. A collection of maids were fixing her hair and makeup while she was already dressed in an elegant silver gown. Her hair was up accenting her tiara. She had a crown but only wore it on formal occasions and this ball did not require her to wear her formal regalia. She wore a large diamond necklace and earrings from the royal collection and gloves traveling nearly the length of her arms that matched the dress. Because she had a date, she was wearing spiked heals so that the height difference between herself and Mr. Daichi would be less noticeable. Although she was not a tall woman, she rarely wore heels and was not overly happy to be wearing them now.
Her heart beat uncharacteristically quickly as she looked in the mirror before her and thought of Mr. Daichi. She fought the smile that tugged on her lips but one of the maids noticed it and smiled back at her. Still, even as she fought her own excitement, she felt a bit sad knowing that the event she had been looking forward to for days would soon be over. She knew she should not be this excited for it. She knew it was wrong but still she could not stop the way her heart raced or the blush that threatened to appear on her cheeks.
âYouâre all finished, Your Highness,â another maid declared as everyone around her took a step back so Violet could see herself in the mirror. The princess cared surprisingly little about appearances. She wanted to look nice enough to make her grandfather proud and to represent Nobel Michael proudly but she felt she was no match for the actresses and models who always arrived at these events. Normally she did not mind this but tonight, she wished desperately she was taller, that she was more attractive, so attractive that Katsuragi would not notice anyone but her. She wished she could see herself more objectively, to know how she truly looked to others but she suspected that the staff and even her grandfather would seek to flatter her if she asked them and so she had no way of knowing.
âI will go fetch Mr. Daichi, Your Highness,â the maid who had caught her smiling declared once Violet was ready. The young girl couldnât help but grin. She was close enough to the princess to notice the smile and the slight blush. She knew her mistress was in love and it was the most adorable thing she thought she had ever seen.
Katsuragi straightened his suit jacket and checked that his cufflinks were secure, then took one last look at his reflection in the full length mirror. He let out a quiet sigh. He looked presentable, according to his standard at least, but he had to admit that he was finally nervous. And he does not get nervous.
At first he had been rather confident in his wardrobe, mannerisms and international politics knowledge to not embarrass the princess nor Lord Michael. However this morning, when the butler knocked on his door with a three-piece suit on a hanging rack, the waistcoat's colour supposedly matched that of Violet's dress, it hit him: he absolutely cannot embarrass Violet.
Some minutes after he'd politely turned down offers from several staffs to help him change, he was now clad in what was easily the most expensive attire he'd worn his entire life. Everything was comfortable from head to toe, with them being the finest materials and everything, but he couldn't help tugging at his collar out of nervousness.
There were three knocks on the door, and the butler walked in. Katsuragi could see the faintest smile on his face seemingly approved of the chosen attire. Katsuragi didn't dare ask how in the world the staffs knew everything down to his shoe size, but he suspected this man was behind it all.
That small smile unsettled Katsuragi-- combined with the way his head tilted to the side slightly and a hand rested on his waist, the younger man looked like he was rather pleased with something, and it was not just about the impeccably tailored suit Katsuragi was wearing.
Then, he said, "Her Highness will enjoy tonight's ball, I'm sure."
Katsuragi was puzzled at this seemingly disjointed and out of the blue comment, but said anyway, "I hope so. Thank you for going out of your way and arrange this outfit for me." He bowed.
"Oh, please. It was no trouble. I hope you two will enjoy the event," the younger man replied, emerald eyes suggesting more things than what was said. Before Katsuragi could infer more meanings and inquire, however, there were another knocks on the door, followed by entrance of a maid.
The maid bowed from her waist, and spoke, "Sir, Her Highness is ready for you. If you would please follow me.."
"Ah, thank you," Katsuragi said, flashing a kind smile to the girl. When the girl looked up again their eyes met, and Katsuragi might be seeing things but he felt that he saw her eyes widen for a fraction of a second, before she blushed a faint shade of red. "Miss? Are you okay? You look a little red.. Do you maybe have a fever?" Katsuragi asked in concern. He knew how much the staffs had been preparing for this event, and he feared that some might be overworking themselves.
"N-nothing! Ah, please, over here..." The girl hurriedly turned her back to him and exited the room. Katsuragi was not convinced, but followed along anyway.
From behind him, he could swear he heard light chuckling.
Katsuragi followed the girl down the hallway. After passing three rooms, she stopped and knocked on a door. After waiting for a reply, she opened the door, and stepped aside to make way for Katsuragi before politely taking her leave.
He had been working so close to Violet these past days, one would think he was used to how she looked, but what he saw before him was just so unexpected.
Having a high awareness of his body and surroundings, he was fully aware that he stopped moving entirely upon laying eyes on her. She was Violet, alright, there was no mistaking it, only now rather than looking her usual beautiful self, she looked.. devastatingly beautiful.
Something squeezed at Katsuragi's chest seeing Violet; elegant, sophisticated, breathtakingly gorgeous, out of reach--
Naturally. She was a princess, so why the last part pained him so, he couldn't comprehend.
After several rude seconds of staring at the royal family member, Katsuragi had to pry his gaze away from her. "Forgive me, Your Highness.. I just.. You look very beautiful today, I don't know what to do with myself.." He said, with a tone so troubled he could be talking about a collapsing economy.