A festival, his father had suggested. Three days long. Plenty of time to choose a bride, he had said. Of course, the prince had agreed. Three days was more than enough. In fact, heâd know who he would marry the second he saw her face. It was just a matter of finding her within those three days.Â
So as the sun rose to noon on that fated, Akashi wasnât even the slightest bit worried or nervous as he stepped out into where the festival was truly being held, and where he saw a line of women waiting to meet him.Â
Some were pushing their way to the front, like that would give them a better chance of being selected.Â
No, he hardly wasted his time with them at all. Instead, he simply smiled as he looked around, debating on who he would dance with first. It only took a few moments before he saw her.Â
Without taking his eyes off of his chosen women, he made his way through the crowd until he got to her, and immediately held his hand out to Chigusarella.
Sporting his most practiced and charming smile, he spoke, âYoung maiden, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?âÂ
Looking on with mild amusement as the many women pushed and prodded one another, the young servant girl couldnât help but let out a small laugh. It really wasnât polite, but the scene was so entertaining. Sheâd been told that most nobles -- like she had once been before her father had remarried and her mother still alive and well -- were the perfect example of what prim, proper and poised would be. The greatest personification of the finery of things in life. These girls, however, more so resembled the geese she fed at the pond on sunny afternoons; squawking loudly and bumping into each other to greedily take a chance at collecting bread crumbs.
Snrk! Chigusarella quickly moved to stifle her giggles, raising her hand to shield her mouth from anymore chuckles slipping out. Oh, her step-mother looked dreadfully embarrassed a few tables away! Her cheeks flamed and her hands balled into tight fists as she watched her daughters squabble with one another in front of the royal court.Â
It was truly a sight to behold, but her entertainment would quickly come to an end nothing short of a second later...
Deep hues mirroring that of sea-green water grew wide, her laughter quickly subsiding before she realized that all eyes had turned to her. And in front of her was none other than the prince himself, asking her for a dance!
âI-Itâd be my pleasure,â Chigusarella said quickly, her cheeks turning pink as she inwardly scolded herself for not paying more attention to her surroundings. âIf youâll have me anyway, your highness.â